(Check it out, peoples! We're writing the chapter of January in January!
Wow, who'd have ever thought I could catch up to myself? True enough,
there's a bunch of little glitches in the past three chapters, but I'll be
sure to go through the book in its entirety once I'm done writing it. And
to get there, the next step is this, Chapter 10. Jeez, who'd have thought
I'd get to double digits? Crazy. We're in January, yes, and we're dealing
with pure Takari stuff. Maybe it won't sound like it for a while, but give
it a chance. I'm playing with realism in adolescent relationships;
regardless of whether they're destined or not, they've still got to deal
with life. To that end, I ask that you have faith in my writing, read this,
give me a review, and above all, enjoy the story!)
The Ivani Chronicles : Book 2 - Reminiscence : Chapter 10 - After the Rain Has Fallen
The school bell rang shrilly through the building, alerting everyone to the end of classes for the day. Kari, whose focus on her algebra course had been flagging in preference of her own thoughts, quickly shot her head up at the sound. She smiled as the echo of rustling notebooks and backpacks took over the sound of her teacher's voice. Checking the board for her homework assignment, she gave a second silent prayer of thanks when she saw nothing there.
"I guess that's all for today, kids," Kari's algebra teacher, Sensei Rukato, said with a laugh. "I'll let you off this weekend due to the circumstances. Just be sure to have a good time this weekend and knock 'em dead at the dance tomorrow night!" Kari could only shake her head. Her algebra course, on nearly every day, always made a good end to the day. Unlike so many other educators in the building, Sensei Rukato loved his subject and had developed a very effective way of getting his message across. He did seem eccentric at times, but without that energy she would have fallen into her thoughts all the more deeply. Following the lead of her classmates who were already filing out of the room, Kari quickly threw her school things into her shoulder bag. When she looked up again, Sensei Rukato was sitting on a desk beside her with a concerned look in his eyes. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked her.
"Sure," Kari said, doing her best to hide her fear of being in trouble for not paying attention.
"I was just curious if you've been feeling alright," the algebra teacher continued. "You haven't raised your hand to answer a question once all week, and that's most certainly not like the Kari that came into my class five months ago." Sensei Rukato sighed lightly, leaning back and propping his weight with his hands on the desk. "I didn't really want to bother you about it before, because your marks have always been outstanding and our class is usually in the middle of the day. But, since I have the opportunity now, I was wondering if you might mind letting me in on what's been bugging you."
Kari dropped her gaze to the table. She had thought she'd been subtle about her emotions, but they had apparently been noticed. She was halfheartedly wishing that her school didn't maintain the rotating schedule that it did, which placed her in the classroom with her most personable teacher at the end of every Friday. But, with a shake of her head, she looked up at her teacher. "It's just me and my stupid little problems," Kari said with a forced smile, "I'll be over all of them by Monday." Sensei Rukato cocked his head to the side, looking intently at Kari for a minute.
"Well, if you're sure," Kari's sensei said after a minute. "I won't press you on it if you're not in the mood to talk." Then, in a far lighter tone, he added, "Just be ready to lead the class on how to multiply polynomials on Monday." Kari shared in laughing with her teacher as she stood up and shouldered her bag.
"Don't worry, Sensei," Kari said with a bow, "When I get back it'll be like this whole crazy week had never happened." With that, Kari turned to walk into the crowded hallway. However, a call of her name from within the classroom caused her to face Sensei Rukato as she stood in the doorway.
"I was just curious," Kari's teacher said quickly, "Are you heading to the dance tomorrow night with anyone?" Kari stood on the threshold for a moment, thinking of a plausible response. At length, she shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess that remains to be seen," Kari said in an attempt to sound nonchalant. Sensei Rukato tilted his head to one side, looking concernedly at the brown-haired girl.
"Well, I'll be on chaperone duty there," He told her, "And I'd really like to see you there. I bet it would get your mind off of whatever it is that's bugging you. Even if you go alone, I know you've got enough friends in this school to show you a good time and then some." Kari nodded at the thought.
"Yeah, knowing them I wouldn't be allowed to sit at home if I broke all the bones in my body," She said with a smirk. "I'm just waiting to see what happens between now and then." Sensei Rukato nodded understandingly.
"Then I'll hope to see you there," Kari's teacher said with a smile and a wave. After a second bow, Kari turned and walked quickly down the hallways of her school to her locker.
"Wow," Kari said to herself as she reached her pale blue locker. "I guess I've been more obvious than I thought. So much for being able to mask all of this stuff from everyone." As she fiddled with the combination of her lock, Kari pressed her head against the metallic door before her. "I can't believe it's been like this for a week, now," She whispered. "It's been a week everything he does has just been getting more aggravating. If he keeps this up I'm going to end up suffocating."
"Kari?" a tentative voice came from behind Kari. Slowly lifting her head, she turned to face the person she knew would be standing there. He came every day after classes, and as of late she couldn't stand it.
"Yeah, TK?" Kari said blandly. She didn't bother to bring her gaze to meet his. When his fingers touched her shoulders, her body jerked backwards sharply. TK's hands returned to his sides, his eyes growing more worried as he looked at her.
"What's wrong?" He asked hesitantly. Kari shook her head and turned back to her locker.
"Nothing's wrong, TK," Kari stated dismissively. Her hands returned to spinning the combination of her locker's lock.
"There must be something wrong, Kari," TK said as he leaned his shoulder against the locker beside Kari's. "You've been avoiding me all week, and I've barely gotten so much as the chance to hug you once in the past month." Hurt became slowly more evident in his voice.
Again Kari shook her head dismissively. "There's nothing wrong with me," Kari insisted as her lock clicked open. "Just deal with it, okay? There's nothing wrong, I just need to be left alone right now."
"Why do you need to be left alone?" TK asked. His eyes dropped, studying the grout of the school's tiled floor and how it resembled the sole of his sneakers.
"I just do, TK," Kari said definitively. Her hands rifled quickly through her few schoolbooks in her locker. "You coming and pressing the matter on me is only going to make things worse."
"I'm sorry, Kari," the blond-haired boy replied lowly. "But seeing you upset like this is making me worried, and I don't like it at all." Kari only shrugged her shoulders as she pulled out her history book.
"Oh well," Kari said dryly, "I don't like it either but that's the way it is." TK looked back up at her, slightly shocked at hearing his girlfriend talk like this.
"What about the dance tomorrow?" TK asked, looking for a slightly brighter angle. " Do you still want to go with me to that?" Kari stared at the contents of her locker. Her algebra book was in her hands, but her hands had paused partway on their placement of the book on the top shelf.
Kari let out a heavy sigh after a moment and shook her head slowly. "No, TK," Kari said, annoyance evident in her voice, "I don't think that I'll be going and at the present time, I certainly couldn't bring myself to go with you." TK, who had felt only left out before, noticed a new surge of aggravation surge through him.
"You really don't want to go with me?" TK clarified for his own sake. He tried to keep the disappointment and anger from his voice, but it didn't work too well.
"TK," Kari began. But no other words came to her mind to back up her statement. She could feel TK's eyes boring on her shoulder and knew that she had been unnecessarily rude. Her mouth opened again to speak.
"Don't bother," TK said shortly. "I can tell when I'm not wanted. You've left me out in the cold for a week and now you're cutting our plans for the dance we'd been rejoicing over for the past three months." TK shook his head slowly, leaning back from the locker. "If this is the way you want it, then I won't argue." At his last words, TK crossed behind Kari and walked briskly for the main entrance of the school. Kari's eyes darted up, looking after the blond-haired boy as he moved purposefully away from her. With a glance back in her locker, Kari saw that everything she needed for the weekend had been extracted. She then promptly closed the locker and slammed her forehead against the metal.
"What happened?" Kari's voice asked miserably. "It's been nine months now, and he's only been trying to care for me like he should." Her arms wove up around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort herself. "What's happened that made me feel so badly about him? I'm supposed to love him." One of Kari's hands dropped in front of her. With a twist of her wrist, Kari watched as the silver chain shook lightly on her wrist. She closed her eyes and clenched her arms more tightly around her shoulders.
In truth, she was fully aware of the situation. It had been perhaps three weeks that she'd been feeling more and more locked in and, with TK's lack of attention to anything but playing his affection on her, she felt distressed and ignored. TK had, for all of their time together, always been very affectionate and she had never wanted anything else. She always treated him with the same care as he did her. But now, as they entered their ninth month of an official couple after some five years of friendship, she felt like there wasn't anything else to welcome her. The friendship that she had always treasured seemed to have faded, leaving only the sense of romance. TK's demeanor hadn't changed and, though she had subconsciously known it would, it was beginning to feel repetitive. He was great, she admitted, but her heart desired a change of pace. And as TK continued to treat her as he always had, Kari found she was feeling that TK didn't want anything but the same repetitive feelings and emotions played out over and over again. It felt like a sign to Kari that she didn't have as much value in the boy's eyes as she thought she did.
She knew it wasn't the truth; TK cared about her more that she gave him credit for. His concern all week had proved that if all his months of devotion hadn't. But she wanted him to simply understand how she felt; she didn't want to have to explain it. It was hard enough for her to admit the real reasons for avoiding him to herself. But again, his coming to her every day that week showed that he didn't understand on his own. She knew she only had to explain it to him, or even just ask him to try a new approach to showing her how he cared. But just as she had avoided explaining her feelings to Sensei Rukato, Kari couldn't bring herself to tell TK what was wrong. She was afraid he'd take it the wrong way, or so she excused herself. Unfortunately, her solution pushed him away all the same.
Kari sighed, standing up straight and rubbing her head at the sore feeling she had caused. "Just give it time," she assured herself. "He'll need some time to cool off, and then we'll get everything set straight." The pain that reverberated in Kari's heart made her shake her head in a vain endeavor to dismiss her thoughts. Thinking about TK and losing his love was only making Kari more depressed. She lifted her shoulder bag wearily, heading towards the double doors with a slow walk.
"Kari?" A voice asked from behind the girl. Kari could feel her insides groan. The last person she needed to talk to was the owner of the voice. But, as Davis leapt up and started walking beside her, Kari found that she couldn't get away from him. "What's wrong, Kari?" Davis asked when he saw Kari's face. "You look really out of it."
Kari only shook her head. "It's nothing," Kari said glumly. "I've just been feeling a little ignored by TK." Davis looked at her, surprised.
"TK, ignoring you?" Davis asked with wide eyes. "That's the biggest lie I've ever heard in my life." Kari looked up at Davis from the floor.
"How would you know?" Kari questioned with slight irritation.
"Well, we're all friends, aren't we?" Davis said in reassurance. "There hasn't been a day yet that I think I've seen TK ignore you. And every time you come up in conversation, he always goes all dreamy-eyed on us." Davis shook his head with a nervous laugh. "If anything, he could only be giving you too much of himself when you aren't ready for it." Kari blinked, glancing up at Davis again.
"Since when are you so insightful?" Kari asked incredulously. Davis grinned.
"I've picked up a few tricks from my family," he said dismissively. "But I can see how that might be a bit annoying. You just have to learn to relax a little. Most guys like to be caring, and I'm sure TK's no exception in that respect. If it gets to be too much, then just tell him to slow down or something. TK would understand."
"But he hasn't," Kari said as sadness crept back into her voice. "That's the reason that I've been feeling so badly. I've tried to tell him to give me a break, but he doesn't seem to understand."
Davis dropped his head in thought. "So how are you gonna go to the dance with him?" he inquired after a moment. "I know you've both been looking forward to it, but if you can't handle him, what're you gonna do?" Kari shook her head.
"I'm not going," Kari replied. Davis's eyes jumped once again.
"You're not going?" Davis repeated in disbelief. "That won't do, that won't do at all. You're gonna go to that dance if I have to take you myself." Kari's head shot up.
"What?" Kari said quickly. "Wait, no, I'm not going with anyone. I'm-" Davis put his hand up for silence. He then moved his hand to open the entrance doorway.
"If you aren't going to go with TK, then I'm going to take you there and get you two straightened out myself," Davis declared as he stepped out into the brisk January air.
"But Davis-"
Again Davis cut her off, saying, "No 'but's about it Kari. We'll go together as friends, we'll get Yolei and Ken to come with for some additional company, and we'll get you and TK to sort this whole mess out." Kari stared at Davis for a long while, not moving from the top step of the school's exterior. Davis looked back, an unusual seriousness written in his brown eyes. Kari dropped her head.
"I would like to get all of this figured out," Kari said slowly. "I'm still crazy about TK. If anything, I like him more now than I did back in April. And I'm really starting to miss the time we spent together." Davis nodded understandingly.
"You miss it, but the situation needs to be clarified," Davis simplified. "Between the four of us, we'll get this all sorted out for you. Until then, just use me as your distraction." Kari looked at him, a slight smile at last coming to her face.
"You really are a goofball, sometimes, Davis," Kari said. Davis grinned, scratching the back of his head in nervousness.
"Whatever it takes to keep my friends in high spirits," Davis explained. Then, springing down the flight of concrete stairs with only two steps, he called, "Now come on, let's get you home before your parents get worried."
"Alright," Kari said slowly. She descended the steps, warily watching Davis as he stood patiently for her at the sidewalk. He kept pace beside her from the school to the street corner at the end of the block. Kari, who had once again found a particular interest in studying exactly what it was she was walking on, looked up to see Davis already halfway across the street. "Wait, where are you going?" Kari called after the boy. Davis spun around, looking at her curiously.
"I'm heading home," He called back as if it were obvious. "I've got a lot of planning to do if we're gonna get everyone to go to the dance together with one day's notice." Kari watched him, and then shook her head with a smile.
"All right, you nutcase," Kari yelled, waving as Davis walked away to her left. Kari then turned to her right, following the sidewalk in the direction of her apartment complex. "Thank you," she added in a whisper.
At the ring of her doorbell, Ms. Takaishi looked up expectantly. Ryan followed her gaze, his small hands letting go of the blue block that they held. Ms Takaishi stood up slowly, stretching her legs after sitting on the ground for so long. Ryan looked up at the woman expectantly. She smiled at Ryan's yearning eyes and picked him up. "Of course I'll carry you," She answered the child's unasked question. Ryan squeaked delightedly, hugging his arms around Ms. Takaishi's neck. "Now let's go see who's decided to drop in on us this afternoon."
A quick few steps brought Ms. Takaishi from the living room to her front door. Using one hand to support Ryan's weight, she used her free hand to open the door. Ryan's face lit up instantly at the sight of their guests.
"Mommy!" Ryan cried, his arms instantly reaching out for the brown-haired girl. Ms. Takaishi struggled to keep from dropping the baby as his weight shifted so suddenly. However, Maddie's reflexes let her grab her son quickly before Ms. Takaishi's arm gave out. "Mommy," Ryan repeated in a more sedate tone as he gleefully gripped Maddie's neck with his arms. Maddie laughed, bouncing the child in her arms gently.
"Sorry about that," Maddie apologized, "I know he always gets a little excited when we come by to pick him up. Ms. Takaishi shook her head.
"It's alright," the older woman said, "I would hope he was excited to see his mom after such a hard day of playing."
"Did you have a long day?" Ivan asked of the baby as Ryan's eyes nearly closed on his mother's shoulder. A slight nod gave Ivan his answer. "Then I guess it's about time we get you upstairs for your nap, huh?" no nod came to his second request - Ryan had fallen asleep already.
"Thank you again for watching him," Maddie said gratefully. Ms. Takaishi shook her head again.
"I'm glad to do it," Ms Takaishi said pleasantly. "I haven't been able to take care of a little one in a long while. But speaking of my own little one, have you seen TK around?" Maddie looked behind her at Ivan, who shrugged his shoulders.
"Not since lunch period," He said. "He hasn't gotten back yet?" Ms. Takaishi nodded. "He usually beats us here, too," Ivan added as he dropped his head in contemplation. He looked up after a moment and said, "I'll go out and see if I can find him. Maddie, would you be able to go and take care of Ryan?" Maddie shook her head in agreement.
"I'm sure he'll be back soon," Ms. Takaishi said. "You really don't need to go running out to hunt him down." Ivan shook his head.
"I'd like to talk to him anyways," Ivan informed TK's mother. "He's been looking out of it lately and I'd like to see what's going on." Ms. Takaishi sighed before nodding her consent.
"Just make sure that both of you are back before the evening," Maddie instructed her boyfriend. "I don't want you missing dinner." Ivan grinned at her.
"If you're cooking, I wouldn't pass it up for the world," he said in her ear. Then, with a kiss on Maddie's cheek, Ivan bounded for the elevator car. Maddie shook her head as she watched Ivan disappear behind the steel double doors of the elevator. She then turned and bowed to Ms. Takaishi.
"I'm sure he'll get this all sorted out," Maddie assured Ms. Takaishi. The blond-haired woman nodded, smiling at Maddie.
"I know," She told the girl, "but you've got to go get him in bed." Ms. Takaishi gestured to the baby resting on Maddie's shoulder. Maddie grinned, glancing at the slumbering child.
"Well then, let's go get you tucked in, honey," Maddie cooed as she walked from Ms. Takaishi's doorway. She turned and waved to the woman before climbing the stairs to her floor of the apartment. Ms. Takaishi waved in response before closing the door of her apartment. She then took to the kitchen, deciding that Maddie's point of dinner was a good idea.
Ivan, meanwhile, had not even begun his search before he found his query. As Ivan stepped out of the elevator, TK walked into his shoulder. "Sorry," TK said quietly without looking up. However, when the person before him did not step aside or speak, TK looked up. "Oh, Ivan," TK said in surprise. "I'm sorry about that. I guess I've just gotten a little inattentive to where I'm going, huh?"
"Don't worry about it," Ivan said with a wave of his hand. "I was just about to go hunting you down, but you've done all the work for me." TK managed a weak smile to the already grinning older boy.
"What did you need to see me for?" TK asked as he took a few steps backwards. Ivan walked out of the elevator and looked around the apartment complex's lobby. He then found what he sought - an unoccupied bench.
"Have a seat, TK," Ivan instructed as he took a seat on the bench in question. TK followed Ivan's lead, somewhat uncertainly.
"I feel like I'm about to get lectured on the importance of avoiding drugs," TK said, dropping his backpack to the ground. Ivan shook his head, smiling once again.
"It's nothing like that," Ivan replied, "I just needed a chance to talk to you. You've been a bit distant from us these past few days and I was going to stay at your apartment for a while to see what was up. But then, you weren't there and your mom was confused. So I told her I'd go and find you just to make sure no gangs had jumped you on your way home from school." TK again managed to smile slightly.
"Still the guardian even in the Real World, aren't you?" TK said, leaning back against the imitation wood slats comprising the bench. Ivan chuckled.
"It's the least I can do, though it was more of a false pretence," Ivan said. "As I said, I was planning to talk to you today and I'm one to follow through on my intentions. Thus, I bring thee here and ask what's going on in your head such that it delayed you for so long getting home?" TK sighed, letting his head loll forward on his neck. His own thoughts had become so conflicted with each other on the way home that his feet had led him on a more scenic, roundabout route to his apartment. However, it was a lot easier to let the thoughts conflict inside his head than to articulate them to another person.
"Well, I had a lot of thinking to do today," TK said quietly as his hands clasped in his lap. A dangling silver chain on his wrist caught his sight. His unadorned hand then reached over and started to press the links between his fingers. "Things have been so different lately, and I'm getting more and more worried about something bad on the horizon."
"Bad things are on the horizon," Ivan said thoughtfully, "Bad things are always on the horizon. That's something I've grown used to. But I'm guessing you're not talking about another attempt at occupying the Digital World, are you?" TK shook his head.
"I'm worried about Kari and I," The blond-haired boy said after a moment. "She's been treating me so differently this past week or two, and it's not at all a positive change."
"Have you asked her about it?" Ivan said, his eyes focusing on the boy beside him. TK shrugged.
"I've tried, but she won't talk to me." TK told the brown-haired boy. "She insists that it's nothing and then makes sure that there's five feet between the two of us before she speaks again." Ivan cast his eyes downward.
"That's no good," Ivan said. "Kari's not one I've thought to avoid something when it's bothering her. Then again, she's also not one who wants to hurt other people's feelings. Look at how long she let Davis go on pining for her without ever actually telling him to stop. I guess she can't bear to see other people hurt like that." TK sighed, shaking his head slightly.
"Doing this to me hurts even more," TK said slowly. Ivan's hand rested comfortingly on the younger boy's shoulder. "She avoids talking to me, she refuses to hug me or do anything that would show her affection for me, and she-" TK cut himself off, staring blankly at the ground in front of him. Then, with slow, hollow words, he continued, "She cut off our plans to go to the winter ball tomorrow. She cut them off just after school. That's what really set me to thinking."
"I'm sorry, TK," Ivan said softly. "It must be hard to be so shut out like that." TK only nodded grimly. "So what are you thinking to do now?" Ivan asked hesitantly, "You still have the ticket to the winter ball, right?" Again TK nodded.
"I have it, but I don't know if I could bring myself to use it," TK replied. "For the past nine months my heart's been so aligned with Kari's that it's incredible to think that she won't be there with me. We'd been planning on going together since the start of the school year, and confirmed it several times since then. Go to the dance alone? That would be really painful." Ivan shrugged.
"It won't be too bad," Ivan comforted the boy, "After all, Maddie and I will be there, along with everyone else. Who knows, maybe even Kari will show up and we can sort this whole mess out." TK cringed at the mention of Kari's name. "Relax, TK," Ivan said calmly, "We won't be going on a pious mission to fix all this, we'll be going to have some fun and get your mind off of things. You know as well as I do that it doesn't help to dwell on things like this." TK didn't say anything in response for a long time.
At length, TK managed a shallow nod. "I guess you're right," he said resignedly. "Being there would be better than sitting at home with only these thoughts to accompany me." Ivan nodded in agreement.
"Then it's settled," Ivan said definitively. "Maddie and I will swing down by your place a little before the dance and then we'll head over to the school. We'll have a fun time dancing and hanging out, then we'll head back here and drop you off before you collapse from exhaustion." TK leaned back against the faux wooden bench again, staring at the ceiling.
"But Ivan," The blond-haired boy asked, "What am I supposed to do if Kari's there?" Ivan looked at TK, his mind working quickly.
"Do you still like her?" Ivan asked.
"Of course I do," TK said earnestly. "I love her and care about her now just as much as I have for the past nine months. Nothing would change the emotions in my heart so quickly."
"And are you still faithful to the relationship that the two of you have?" Ivan furthered.
"Yes," TK said after a moment of mental deliberation. "I would still like to pursue the relationship that she and I share."
"Then the answer should be simple," Ivan told the boy. "You love her, care about her, and want to be with her. Your support for the relationship is firm. However, relationships are built on mutual support, mutual trust, and mutual respect. Perhaps she feels disrespected when you try to hug her and she wants to be left alone, or not trusted when you ask her questions about things she wants you to take for granted. Undoubtedly, you feel disrespected when she turns you away and untrusted when she can't confide in you with what's bothering her right. It's possible that you're getting the wrong signals from Kari, just as it's possible that she's getting the wrong signals from you. Does that all seem at least somewhat plausible to you?" TK nodded as his brow furrowed in thought.
"That's not something I ever really considered before," TK admitted slowly. "It just occurred to me that if she was fine with me before that she should be fine with me now." Ivan shrugged.
"It's merely a possibility," Ivan said, "But it's also one you can work with. Since you still care about her and the relationship that the two of you share, but could be sending the wrong signals to show such, maybe she's doing the same thing. Maybe Kari really does care about you and the relationship, but has something else in her mind that can't let her deal with the physical closeness as well at the present time." TK sighed.
"That's still not telling me what I should do," TK said. Ivan blinked, and then shook his head.
"I'm sorry," Ivan said quickly, "But if what I've said is true, then my best advice is to confront her." TK looked at Ivan, confused. "You can't let this awkwardness in the relationship persist," Ivan informed the boy, "You have to work it out, and the sooner you can do that, the better. Waiting will only make both of you feel more distant and separated. You need to confront her. What exactly you should do or say, I'm not sure. You know Kari better than anyone else outside of her family, so I would guess that you know how to talk to her better than anyone, too. Just make sure that you follow your heart, as clichéd as it sounds. Hold true to what you've told me, and hold true to your heart, and I'm certain that things will work out for the best." TK's eyes watched the boy beside him for a long time. The words he said slowly made their way through TK's body, eventually reaching his heart. TK then nodded in understanding, knowing that the elder boy was right.
"I'll see what I can do," TK said after another minute's passing. "But what- " Ivan raised a hand to stop the blond-haired boy.
"No 'but's and no 'if's," Ivan said flatly. "Questioning the plan will weaken your resolve. Simply act; let your heart be your guide. It has not led you astray yet, I know, and I know it's not about to give out on you now. Act, and remember that whatever comes to pass is for the betterment of both your lives." TK dropped his head to his lap again with a sigh.
"It's a hard fact to swallow," TK noted. Ivan patted the younger boy's back gently.
"You'll make it through this," Ivan reassured him. "You've got Maddie, myself, and all of the other Digidestined to back both of you up. Even though it may not look like it, this will work out and sooner or later, you'll be glad that things went as they will." Ivan then stood up, extending his hand to the slumped boy on the bench. "Then again, maybe all this discussion is for naught and you'll just talk to Kari on Monday." TK looked up quizzically. Ivan smiled broadly at him. "My point is don't get so bent out of shape over this. Getting all hyped up over it now does nothing, when it's probably not going to happen to begin with. You said so yourself that Kari wasn't going with you, so who would she go with?" TK's brow furrowed in thought. Then he smiled, taking Ivan's hand and coming to his feet.
"You've got a point, Ivan," TK said with renewed energy. "Kari even said that she wasn't in the mood for going to the winter ball at all, regardless of whether I was her date or not." Ivan returned the smile.
"See?" Ivan told TK, "You already know that there's not gonna be a problem." TK nodded, grabbing his backpack and walking over to the elevator.
"Things do seem to work out in the end, don't they?" TK said thoughtfully as he pressed the 'up' button on the elevator panel. Ivan nodded. TK then shook his head before Ivan could speak. "Don't answer that," he added, stopping the brown-haired boy, "I think I already know the answer." Ivan smiled.
"Okay then," Ivan said with a confirming nod. "Let's get you back home to your mom before she really does start to think you got kidnapped." TK laughed with the elder boy as the elevator doors slid open before them.
"Hey, Ivan?" TK asked, stepping into the elevator. Ivan looked at him while his hand hit the proper number for TK's floor. "Thanks for helping me," Ivan scratched the back of his head and shrugged his shoulders.
"That's what I'm here for." The elevator doors shut out the apartment complex lobby just before the car lurched upwards.
TK stared at the mirror before him, a look of slight shock plastered across his face. He knew what he looked like in his father's suit, but for some reason it seemed unusual in the light of the bathroom. He felt like a different person, looking at himself with unkempt blond hair shining out in compliment of his golden tie and in contrast to the black jacket and pants. He couldn't help but think the outfit made him look sophisticated, important and, perhaps, attractive. He then shook his head, bringing his thoughts back to the matters at hand.
"Attractive or not," TK told himself, "There's no one that you'll be seeing that needs to be attracted to you." TK then replaced his hair comb and left the bathroom, deciding that his hair was set as he wanted it. He searched briefly for his black dress shoes in his bedroom before finding them against the doorframe.
"Are you ready yet, TK?" Ms. Takaishi's voice called from another room, "The ball started at seven, didn't it?" TK blinked in confusion then looked at his bedside alarm clock. It was seven-fifteen. TK winced, hurrying to tie his shoes. He hadn't realized how fast the time had gone; it felt like only an hour ago when TK had come moping into the apartment complex's lobby the day before and run into Ivan.
"Yeah, mom, I'll be there in a minute," TK called in reply to his mother. After a moment of hopping around to keep his balance, TK managed to secure both of his shoes to his feet and strode out to the living room of his apartment. Ms. Takaishi gasped when TK walked in.
"Wow, TK," TK's mother breathed. " I can't remember a time that I've ever seen you looking more handsome." TK groaned.
"Mom," TK whined, "Do you really have to bring that up? That's the last thing I need to hear right now." Ms. Takaishi sighed, shaking her head lightly. "So have Ivan and Maddie shown up yet?" TK asked, trying to change the subject. Ms. Takaishi shook her head.
"Haven't seen or heard from them," She told her son. TK tilted his head to the side in question.
"They're not ones to be late for events," TK said to himself, adjusting the tie around his neck. Then, shoving his hands in to the jacket's pockets, he shrugged. "I guess we'll just have to-" The ringing of a phone cut TK off abruptly. He looked first to his mother, then to the phone cradle as a second ring came from the device. TK snatched up the phone as it let out a third shrill noise and turned it on.
"Hello?" TK said into the phone. "Oh, hey guys," TK said after a few seconds, "What're you two up to?" As TK listened to the voice on the far end, he nodded slowly and sat down on the arm of the couch. "Well, if you can't find them, you can't find them." TK said reluctantly. "We could try to pick up two more at the school, though. If we don't get going soon, the dancing's gonna be all over before we even get there." TK listened to more speech from the far end of the phone. "Okay," TK agreed, "Then we'll see you in ten minutes." TK then bid the caller farewell and hung up.
"What're they doing up there?" Ms. Takaishi asked her son. TK scratched the back of his head, smiling slightly.
"Ivan seems to have misplaced their tickets," TK informed her. "After Maddie beat on him for a while, they started looking for them and decided to call and let us know."
"Oh dear," Ms. Takaishi said quietly, "I hope that doesn't keep them from going." TK shook his head.
"They'll be able to go," TK assured his mother. "If they can't find the tickets by seven-thirty, Ivan said they would come down, drop Ryan off with you, and try to negotiate a pair of tickets at the door. The worst that can happen is that they'll have to pay for two more tickets." Ms. Takaishi nodded.
"Well, that's better than nothing," She said. Then, with a sudden spark of memory, the blond-haired woman jumped up and ran to her bedroom. TK stared after his mother, wide-eyed.
"What're you doing, mom?" TK yelled after his mother in bewilderment.
"Getting a camera," Ms. Takaishi responded, "I nearly forgot about taking pictures of the three of you all dressed up." TK stared down the hallway, his stomach gradually feeling more and more convulsive.
"Just what my mother needs," TK said resignedly to himself, "more blackmail material." TK then shook his head, flopping backwards onto the couch. A thought piqued his attention, one that had been swirling around his brain since he had left Ivan in the elevator the previous day. "What if Kari's there?" TK asked himself, "What on earth am I supposed to do?" To his dismay, no answer came to his question. He sighed, covering his eyes with his hands. "I just hope Ivan's right," he whispered, "And this will all work out for the best."
His thoughts were interrupted, however, as a bright flash of light hit him. Jumping up, TK stared around the room wildly. Ms. Takaishi laughed at her son's actions. "That has to be one of the cutest poses I've seen you in yet," She told her son. TK dropped his gaze to the carpeted floor.
"Mom!"
"Kari, are you ever going to stop staring at that door?" Yolei asked over the sonorous music reverberating from the far end of the gym. Kari brought her gaze quickly from the entry doorway to her friend beside her. "He'll be here soon enough," Yolei told the brown-haired girl, "Worrying over it is only going to make it seem longer. How about enjoying yourself until he shows up?" Kari sighed.
"I'll see what I can do," Kari said doubtfully. Her eyes locked with Yolei's, and the goofy expression on her friend's face caused Kari to smile in spite of herself. Her eyes then looked up at the rest of the people around her, each keeping a unique dance to the music. She watched as Davis performed a series of over-exaggerated, uncoordinated moves that brought amusement to anyone who noticed him. Despite such, the brown-haired boy seemed only invigorated by the laughter he heard, as if his dancing was an act to entertain rather than to perform.
Kari's eyes then noticed Ken, whose body moved with a rhythm that made Kari do a double take. His arms and legs, perfectly synchronized, moved fluidly with the rest of his body in a daring, yet exquisitely executed dance style. His eyes were closed for a majority of his dancing, to better receive the charge of the music, but when they did open, they invariably sought out the girl dancing beside Kari. The brown-haired girl smiled inwardly as she watched Ken's eyes dart to Yolei again, happy to see that Yolei's desire had found some results. Ken's mouth smiled more as his eyes set to the floor between everyone else. With a bold step, Ken entered the center space and, to Kari's further amazement, brought his dance style to the ground, spinning and twirling with an incredible connection to the beat of the song. All of the other people in the circle, even Davis, calmed their own steps to watch as Ken gave his impromptu performance before all who cared to watch. Cheering and chanting soon greeted Ken's ears as he spun rapidly at the circle's center. With a single backwards roll, Ken jumped from the floor and ended his sequence with a dramatic flourish. At the same instant, the song came to an abrupt end and was replaced by the cheering praise of everyone around Kari. Kari found herself, too, applauding Ken's mastery of his dance.
Another melody filled the gym after a few seconds, but the tempo was no longer the rapid pace of the previous song. Rather, the song was had a very calm cadence, indicating that it was a dance to be shared with a partner. Kari felt Davis approach her casually from where he had been in the circle, but Kari shook her head to him. "I'd like to sit this one out," Kari explained to Davis as she took a few steps backwards and sat in one of the vacant chairs lining the back wall of the gymnasium. Davis nodded after a moment, then turned and sought out another query to dance with. Meanwhile, Kari's vision continued to watch the graceful scene Ken put on.
As the music came up again, Ken let his final pose drop. His eyes then looked up to where Yolei had been standing. As he expected, Yolei was still there, smiling broadly at him. Ken returned the smile, but before he could make a step, another girl with long brown hair jumped between them.
"That was incredible!" the girl squeaked, grinning at Ken. Her hands then reached for his. "Would you dance with me?" Ken stared at the girl in front of him, taken aback.
"Um, thanks," Ken managed to get out as the initial surprise wore off, "But no thanks." The girl stared at him in question, though her smile was already fading. Ken looked past the girl to Yolei, who was watching for her friend's reaction with nervous apprehension. Ken smiled at the violet- haired girl, and then glanced back to the girl with brown hair with a whispered, "I'm already taken," as he walked past her. The girl stared at Ken, watching him graciously stride past her and bow in front of Yolei. Her eyes widened in shock as the blue-haired boy, who could have easily chosen any girl in the school who had seen him, decided upon the sophomore's outcast. With a huff, the girl skirted away to her circle friends in disgust. Ken, however, never gave his actions or the other girl a second thought.
"Would you care to dance, Yolei?" Ken asked Yolei with a slight bow and a hand extended in offer. It was now Yolei's turn to be surprised.
"You want to dance with me?" Yolei asked, half-disbelieving. Ken nodded as his right hand gently took her left
"Unless you have some objection," Ken said with a smile. Yolei shook her head quickly, her lilac hair swaying against the back of her complimenting lavender dress.
"No, I just thought you would have gone for someone a little more-"
"Appealing to my eye?" Ken interjected in completion of her sentence. Yolei looked up, her brown eyes meeting the gaze of Ken's indigo eyes. Ken smiled at her, placing his left hand on Yolei's waist. "Consider my decision made," He told her, his smile never leaving his lips.
Yolei could feel her cheeks redden, but nonetheless placed her hand on Ken's shoulder. "Thanks, Ken," Yolei said, barely audible over the music. "I'm really happy you were willing to come with me, too." Ken shook his head lightly.
"I was glad to accept your request last week," Ken told her gently. "And as it turned out, Davis pulled some last-minute plans with Kari so we had some other people to come with, too." Yolei nodded.
"But after seeing you do that," Yolei stated, referring to Ken's dancing, "I don't see why you'd stick with me." Ken's hand on Yolei's waist pulled her a bit closer.
"Maybe I can dance," Ken said with a slight shrug of his shoulders, "But I'm not shallow enough to think that people who like me for it are worth my time. I dance because I love music and I love to dance to it, not because I want to have girls be interested in me. I'd far prefer to be with someone who's my friend for more than simply my dancing coordination." Yolei again felt heat rising in her cheeks.
Yolei decided then that talking wasn't what she wanted to do. Rather, she did what she could to enjoy the sensation of Ken leading her to the music. After a minute, Yolei's hand on Ken's shoulder moved around Ken's neck, letting her head lean against the blue-haired boy's shoulder. Ken's head gently pressed against hers while his hand again tightened at her waist. Yolei smiled as she watched their clasped hands moving back and forth to the melody.
Kari smiled to herself, watching the couple dance before her. It made her feel better to see that two people, who had once been at odds with one another, could reconcile so well. The brown-haired girl then found her eyes staring desirously at the entrance to the gymnasium. Ever since Davis had left her the previous afternoon, she couldn't help hoping that TK would show up. It had taken most of that day for her to realize how lonely she felt without TK around to talk to her; to make her laugh. Although she knew that she didn't want to have TK start hugging her and kissing her, she still loved him and wanted him to be in her life. Though she still couldn't quite understand why, she felt that she needed a break from his physical attention. Perhaps it was Davis, or perhaps it was her own heart, but regardless of the source, Kari knew that it was time she explained her actions to TK as best she could. She just hoped that his anger from the previous day had subsided, that he would be willing to hear her out, and that he would be willing to work the problem out of their relationship.
A gentle hand grazing her shoulder brought Kari from her thoughts. Looking up, Kari saw Davis smiling kindly at her. "Are you gonna sit here all day?" Davis asked. "The music's picked up the pace again and Ken's back in action." Davis' hand extended from Kari's shoulder, offering to help her up. Kari smiled.
"Alright," she said with forced enthusiasm, "Let's go cheer on the champion of the dance floor." Kari then took Davis' hand, jumping to her feet and leading the brown-haired boy over to the crowd that had begun to form around Ken as he began another dance sequence.
"No entry?" TK repeated in anguish, staring at the school's vice-principal, Sensei Modo. The man only shrugged his shoulders to the three people before him.
"I'm sorry," Modo told TK, "but if your friends don't have their tickets, I can't let them in." TK looked desperately at Ivan, who only shrugged.
"If you're sure there's nothing that can be done about it," Ivan said in resignation, "Then we won't push it." Maddie nodded sullenly in agreement. TK's jaw refused to close, staring at the couple beside him.
"What are we supposed to do, then?" TK asked a little more threateningly than necessary. Ivan looked at TK, then back at Sensei Modo.
"Would you excuse us for a minute?" Ivan asked of the vice-principal, who nodded in assent. Ivan then dragged TK away from the school's entrance with Maddie at his side.
"What are we supposed to do?" TK repeated dismally. Ivan threw his head back in aggravation.
"It's not a big deal," Ivan said to the blond-haired boy. "Maddie and I will go find somewhere to hang out until ten and then we'll meet you back here. Meanwhile, you're gonna go in there and have a good time." TK looked at the school's doorway, then at Ivan, then back at the doorway.
"You want me to go in there alone?" TK said with worry in his voice. Ivan nodded.
"I lost the tickets," Ivan admitted, "I'm sorry. But it's not a big deal. You still know plenty of people in this school, and as such I'm sure you'll find some people to hang out with."
"But what if Kari's-"
"If Kari's there," Ivan said, cutting the younger boy off, "Then Kari will be there. There's nothing that Maddie or I can do for you in there if she's there." Ivan then took a breath before continuing, "You've had time to think about what you told me. Just hold true to what you know in your heart. Never lose your hope and you'll be all set, alright?" TK didn't move, staring at the door of the school. "This is somewhere that no one else can help you," Ivan added, "This is something you have to do on your own." TK nodded slowly in acceptance.
"Okay," TK said after a minute. "Wish me luck."
Maddie hugged the blond-haired boy, whispering, "Good luck, and have fun." She then stepped back, looking down at the shimmering red dress she wore. "It's a pity no one will be able to see it," she said with a suggestive sideways glance at Ivan. Ivan grinned sheepishly.
"I'm sorry," Ivan repeated. Maddie only sighed, taking a step back and bringing her hands up to warm her shoulders. Ivan then placed his hand on TK's shoulder. "Get going," he told the younger boy, "The longer you wait, the harder it will be." TK looked at Ivan briefly and nodded.
"See you guys in a couple hours!" TK called, climbing quickly back up the school's stone steps and handing his ticket to a surprised Sensei Modo. Ivan smiled after the boy for a moment, and then turned his attention to Maddie. His arms quickly wove around her shivering frame.
"Let's go get you somewhere warm, huh?" Ivan suggested. Maddie nodded eagerly. Ivan smiled as he turned, placing his arm around Maddie's waist and leading her away from the school.
"Do you think he'll be alright in there?" Maddie asked, watching Ivan's face as he looked for a warm place to accommodate them until ten. He paused at the question before nodding.
"TK's independent enough to handle himself in there. I'm actually somewhat surprised at his hesitation." Maddie nodded in agreement.
"And if worse comes to worse, we'll take him out drinking afterwards," Maddie stated with a grin. Ivan laughed, letting his gaze fall to the sky.
"There's a lot of clouds over there," Ivan said as a change of subject, indicating to a gray mass forming along a distant mountain range. Maddie looked at where Ivan was pointing.
"I guess we'd best just enjoy the last quarter moon of light while we can, huh?" Ivan nodded in reply.
"That, and we'd better find somewhere that isn't as cold as the street," He added. "Care to pick up the pace a bit?" Maddie was all too happy to consent, doubling her pace along the concrete pathway towards downtown Odaiba.
TK found himself sitting in the coatroom nearly an hour after he left Ivan and Maddie. Whatever resolve Ivan had instilled in him had faded as soon as the music playing from the gymnasium came to his ears. He had entered on a slow, tranquil song and he was suddenly bombarded by images of Kari dancing with some other boy. Though only his thoughts, it had been more than enough to keep him scared out of the imitation dance hall. Instead, he found that the coat closet provided a save and comforting haven for him to recollect his thoughts in.
He stared dejectedly at the rows of coats and jackets hanging on the long bar in front of him. Though perhaps he could think, he still didn't know what to do and, from a glance at the clock on the wall, he realized that he only had one hour left. It seemed vaguely plausible to amuse himself in the coatroom for the remainder of the time, but he knew that Ivan and Maddie would not be pleased to hear of his time staring at winter garments. His eyes wandered to the doorway leading to the school's halls. Down that very hallway lay the gym and, consequently, the entire attendance of the underclassmen winter ball.
TK felt extreme nervousness vibrating through his body as he stood from the floor of the coatroom. With a sigh and a determined look, TK pushed aside the ache in his heart and walked quickly out of the room. He knew that waiting would only make acting harder, just as Ivan had told him. His eyes stared down the long hallway, eventually seeing the closed red double doors of the gymnasium. Hesitant steps led him towards the door. The churning sensation in his heart got increasingly more vehement, but his body paid it no heed. The music became progressively more audible, and the song presently playing was fast and upbeat. Indulging himself a bit, TK let his legs stride to the beat of the music. Focusing on the bass line of the melody, rather than what he feared he would find on the far side of the door, TK found that his hand clasped the metal bar in what felt like seconds. Then, with a deep breath, he pulled the metal door open and moved into the darkly lit gym from the neon lighting of the hallway.
Kari's eyes had caught a flash of light and a glimpse of blond hair from the doorway. Her heart seemed to stop as she danced with her friends. Her eyes widened, straining to see where the blond-haired person had gone. The darkness of the gym masked her vision for a few moments, but the flash of the disco light was enough to reveal the same patch of blond hair amongst the field of brown and black. She stepped back from her friends, her body ceasing in its movements. Her eyes tracked TK as he walked amongst the crowd along the wall, easily noticeable due to his relative height.
It wasn't until TK had waded from the crowd, however, that he noticed a particular brown-haired girl had her eyes focused on him. It took only an instant for the connection to be made and their eyes to lock across the width of the school gym. Neither of the couple moved, but simply let their eyes watch the other for any movements. The music faded, to the slight surprise of both TK and Kari, and another chorus of laud erupted behind Kari. Another song came from the speakers set up at the far end of the gym, another song with a very low tempo and rhythm. Kari's eyes watched TK with increasing concern, wishing desperately for him to make some sort of action. However, she could see how defenseless he looked. She had only herself to blame for that; she had left him with no weapon after what she said the day before. All that he had left was what lay in his heart.
Rather, it was Davis that broke the tense situation. "Kari?" The brown- haired boy asked, approaching Kari. The girl dared a brief glance over her shoulder before fixing her eyes once again on TK. Davis followed the girl's gaze and noticed that TK had at last arrived at the dance. He then leaned down, placing his mouth next to Kari's ear. "If you don't act now, you'll never know what could have been." Then, after a moment's pause, He added urgently, "Go!" Kari's feet heeded Davis' command without question, dashing across the Gym into TK's waiting arms.
Davis stood back up, smiling sadly after Kari. Then, with a shake of his head, he turned back to where Ken had been dancing. "You're still having trouble letting go, aren't you?" A gentle voice asked from Davis' side. He looked to see Yolei, concern in her eyes, standing beside him. Davis glanced back at TK and Kari.
"I'm getting there, Yolei," Davis said quietly. "I'm getting there." The violet-haired girl hugged Davis tightly, to his surprise.
"You were really brave to bring her here and know that you were going to give her up," Yolei told him, doing her best to solace the boy. "And you're a wonderful friend to put your concern for her happiness above your own." Davis nodded slowly.
"I guess," he admitted. "Seeing Kari happy has always been what was most important to me. It's just hard to accept that I won't be the one to bring her that happiness." Yolei took a step back from Davis, her arms dropping to her sides once again.
"You can still be her friend," Yolei assured Davis, "And sooner or later, you'll meet someone who will be overjoyed to have you there as the one to bring happiness to her life." Davis nodded again, and then shook his head dismissively.
"Speaking of which," Davis said with a suggestive undertone, "Where's that guy who you're so overjoyed to have around and brings you happiness at?" Yolei felt her face redden and she forced her gaze to the floor. Davis laughed good-naturedly. "Go find him, Yolei," the brown-haired boy instructed. "You don't want him to think that you don't want him around, do you?" Yolei looked up at Davis for a moment before nodding. She then turned and left with only a wave of her lavender hair. Davis again found a sad smile come briefly to his lips. With a heavy sigh, he found a seat against the wall of the gym.
"Best of luck to both of you," Davis said to himself as he sat on the metal chair. His eyes looked up at the ceiling of the mock-dance hall, and he grinned. "Looks like it's my turn to sit out."
As Kari's arms wrapped around his waist, TK felt a sudden rush of comfort unlike anything he could ever remember experiencing. His arms returned the embrace immediately, nearly forgetting everything that had happened in the past week. After a moment, however, Kari pulled back and looked up to TK's cerulean eyes. "I thought you'd never make it," Kari said, smiling at TK. TK tilted his head.
"How interesting," TK said slowly, "The girl who had only just yesterday asked to not come with me now wanted me to come." Kari's smile faded as she, too, remembered what had transpired on the previous day.
"TK, I-" Kari began. However, TK's finger pressed gently to her lips to stop her. She looked at the boy curiously.
"You don't need to apologize, Kari," TK told her. "After the rain has fallen, and all this has passed, you'll find that I've taken nothing that love can't replace in the blink of an eye." Kari watched TK in increasing confusion as he continued, "I love you, I care about you, and I still want to be with you with all of my heart. I'm sorry for every time that my trust and respect for you has seemed to falter, and I promise that it never truly has. I trust you more than anyone else in the world, and I respect you just as much. I've been your friend for years now, and we've been together as more than friends for the past nine months. The last thing I'd want to do is bring that to an end. However, I can tell that you're not enjoying the relationship. You haven't wanted me near you for the past week, and I'm not sure why. Nonetheless, I'm willing to give you the space you want, and I will let this relationship fade into the past if that is what you so desire. After all, it is true that after the decision is made, you'll find that I've taken nothing that love can't replace in the blink of an eye." Kari found no words in her throat. She could only stare as TK took a step away form her before slowly turning away.
TK could feel the burning sensation of loss behind his eyes, making him want to dart out the doorway and run home. He'd explained everything that he knew in his heart, and Kari had not replied. Though perhaps it was a bit unfair, he couldn't help but take her silence as an affirmation of his fears. It was then, however, that his movement met a sudden resistance.
"Wait," a small voice pleaded over TK's shoulder while a hand took a firm grip of his wrist. TK slowly turned around to face the girl behind him. Kari stared at the blond-haired boy, and said, "Take me with you." TK looked at the girl, perplexed. "You're right," she continued, "I haven't been enjoying the relationship very much recently. But that's no fault of yours. The fault of that lies with me. But my enjoyment is in conflict with the rest of me, because I know that I love you. You still mean the world to me, TK. I don't know how to describe it myself, except that I've been feeling a bit too enclosed. I guess it happens to a lot of people, that they want some space to be alone in. I've just happened to have that want for time now. I'm sorry that I couldn't make it easier for you to understand this, but I've been struggling with comprehending it myself. It didn't make sense, because I know that I'd be so lost without you in my life. I don't want to lose you like this, I know I don't."
"Then what do you think we should do to fix it?" TK asked after a moment of silence, save the music from the speakers.
"If you can make an effort to give me more space, then I'll make an effort to get my thoughts more organized," Kari answered. "I know you really want to help me with this, but for the moment, I'd like to work with it on my own. I'm fully aware of your offer to help, and I promise that when I need it, I'll ask for it. But I'm hoping that it won't be that complicated, and that we can just get back to the way we were before my mind decided to make my life difficult." TK nodded slowly.
"I can give you more space," TK confirmed. "Just so long as you understand why I was trying to be comforting." Kari shook her head in the affirmative.
"I understood, TK," Kari assured him, "I've just had trouble accepting it. Another thing you can do, if you're finding that you're really missing me, is remember the times that we've spent together." She then quickly leaned up and kissed TK's cheek. "I promise they won't be our last," she added, "But they're gonna have to go on hold for a little while, alright?"
"Alright," TK said, a spark of happiness weaving back into his voice. The music faded out of the background then. After a moment's hesitation, TK continued, "What would you like to do now?"
"Take me with you," Kari repeated, smiling. "It's windy out, and the sky's full of shining stars. Take me out there; take me to the moon while we still have time." TK looked at her, a bit surprised. "You've been so dedicated to me this past week, even with me trying to push you away," she explained, "That I think I can endure spending a little time alone with you. It's the least I can do to show how much your support means to me." TK smiled back at the brown-haired girl, offering his arm to her. Kari gladly accepted the invitation and walked out of the school gym on the arm of her boyfriend. As the couple stepped out into the hallway, the brightness of the neon lights shocked their eyes.
"Ow," Kari said dryly after the initial reaction, her hand shading her eyes. TK chuckled.
"It's surprising to see the bearer of light so hurt by her own element," TK said lightly. Kari looked at the boy with a playful glare. "But speaking of which," TK added as he saw Kari's white dress, highlighted by faint pink beams stretching diagonally across the fabric, in proper lighting for the first time, "You look quite radiant yourself." Kari dropped her gaze at the warm sensation in her cheeks.
"Careful, TK," Kari warned, "Or I may just have to extinguish your ability to see light." It wasn't until after the statement that TK realized the brown-haired girl was joking. He smiled, taking Kari's free hand in his own.
"Okay, enough threats, Kari," TK said in request. Kari nodded, following TK's lead down the hallway. "Anyways," TK said after a moment, "Who was your gorgeous date that brought you here?" Kari blinked, and then giggled.
"I wouldn't ever be able to call Davis, Yolei, or Ken gorgeous," Kari said with a shake of her head. TK, too, laughed at the idea. Kari briefly ran into the coatroom, snatching her pink coat and scarf from the far end of the rack. "No, I had no gorgeous date to go in with," she continued as TK opened the main door of the school for her, "I just had the perfect thief come along and steal me away from it."
(Alrighty, then. Now we wonder if that worked at all. Does it work for me? Sure. Is there self-insertion? Not in the way anyone would think. I came up with the outline for this chapter back in July and it's stayed the same since then. Writing plausible dialogue seemed to get really difficult, but I think I just might have pulled off getting what I wanted. However, only you can tell me if I did or not. Give me feedback! Did it work, did it not work. Are the characters too out of context, or are they believable? Tell me now, and you'll appreciate it later. And now, I get to work on Chapter 11. Only 3 more chapters to go for this book to be completed! Then it's into Book 3 and all the excitement that such entails. I'm excited. But before we get there, I have to write the three best damn chapters of this book.)
The Ivani Chronicles : Book 2 - Reminiscence : Chapter 10 - After the Rain Has Fallen
The school bell rang shrilly through the building, alerting everyone to the end of classes for the day. Kari, whose focus on her algebra course had been flagging in preference of her own thoughts, quickly shot her head up at the sound. She smiled as the echo of rustling notebooks and backpacks took over the sound of her teacher's voice. Checking the board for her homework assignment, she gave a second silent prayer of thanks when she saw nothing there.
"I guess that's all for today, kids," Kari's algebra teacher, Sensei Rukato, said with a laugh. "I'll let you off this weekend due to the circumstances. Just be sure to have a good time this weekend and knock 'em dead at the dance tomorrow night!" Kari could only shake her head. Her algebra course, on nearly every day, always made a good end to the day. Unlike so many other educators in the building, Sensei Rukato loved his subject and had developed a very effective way of getting his message across. He did seem eccentric at times, but without that energy she would have fallen into her thoughts all the more deeply. Following the lead of her classmates who were already filing out of the room, Kari quickly threw her school things into her shoulder bag. When she looked up again, Sensei Rukato was sitting on a desk beside her with a concerned look in his eyes. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked her.
"Sure," Kari said, doing her best to hide her fear of being in trouble for not paying attention.
"I was just curious if you've been feeling alright," the algebra teacher continued. "You haven't raised your hand to answer a question once all week, and that's most certainly not like the Kari that came into my class five months ago." Sensei Rukato sighed lightly, leaning back and propping his weight with his hands on the desk. "I didn't really want to bother you about it before, because your marks have always been outstanding and our class is usually in the middle of the day. But, since I have the opportunity now, I was wondering if you might mind letting me in on what's been bugging you."
Kari dropped her gaze to the table. She had thought she'd been subtle about her emotions, but they had apparently been noticed. She was halfheartedly wishing that her school didn't maintain the rotating schedule that it did, which placed her in the classroom with her most personable teacher at the end of every Friday. But, with a shake of her head, she looked up at her teacher. "It's just me and my stupid little problems," Kari said with a forced smile, "I'll be over all of them by Monday." Sensei Rukato cocked his head to the side, looking intently at Kari for a minute.
"Well, if you're sure," Kari's sensei said after a minute. "I won't press you on it if you're not in the mood to talk." Then, in a far lighter tone, he added, "Just be ready to lead the class on how to multiply polynomials on Monday." Kari shared in laughing with her teacher as she stood up and shouldered her bag.
"Don't worry, Sensei," Kari said with a bow, "When I get back it'll be like this whole crazy week had never happened." With that, Kari turned to walk into the crowded hallway. However, a call of her name from within the classroom caused her to face Sensei Rukato as she stood in the doorway.
"I was just curious," Kari's teacher said quickly, "Are you heading to the dance tomorrow night with anyone?" Kari stood on the threshold for a moment, thinking of a plausible response. At length, she shrugged her shoulders.
"I guess that remains to be seen," Kari said in an attempt to sound nonchalant. Sensei Rukato tilted his head to one side, looking concernedly at the brown-haired girl.
"Well, I'll be on chaperone duty there," He told her, "And I'd really like to see you there. I bet it would get your mind off of whatever it is that's bugging you. Even if you go alone, I know you've got enough friends in this school to show you a good time and then some." Kari nodded at the thought.
"Yeah, knowing them I wouldn't be allowed to sit at home if I broke all the bones in my body," She said with a smirk. "I'm just waiting to see what happens between now and then." Sensei Rukato nodded understandingly.
"Then I'll hope to see you there," Kari's teacher said with a smile and a wave. After a second bow, Kari turned and walked quickly down the hallways of her school to her locker.
"Wow," Kari said to herself as she reached her pale blue locker. "I guess I've been more obvious than I thought. So much for being able to mask all of this stuff from everyone." As she fiddled with the combination of her lock, Kari pressed her head against the metallic door before her. "I can't believe it's been like this for a week, now," She whispered. "It's been a week everything he does has just been getting more aggravating. If he keeps this up I'm going to end up suffocating."
"Kari?" a tentative voice came from behind Kari. Slowly lifting her head, she turned to face the person she knew would be standing there. He came every day after classes, and as of late she couldn't stand it.
"Yeah, TK?" Kari said blandly. She didn't bother to bring her gaze to meet his. When his fingers touched her shoulders, her body jerked backwards sharply. TK's hands returned to his sides, his eyes growing more worried as he looked at her.
"What's wrong?" He asked hesitantly. Kari shook her head and turned back to her locker.
"Nothing's wrong, TK," Kari stated dismissively. Her hands returned to spinning the combination of her locker's lock.
"There must be something wrong, Kari," TK said as he leaned his shoulder against the locker beside Kari's. "You've been avoiding me all week, and I've barely gotten so much as the chance to hug you once in the past month." Hurt became slowly more evident in his voice.
Again Kari shook her head dismissively. "There's nothing wrong with me," Kari insisted as her lock clicked open. "Just deal with it, okay? There's nothing wrong, I just need to be left alone right now."
"Why do you need to be left alone?" TK asked. His eyes dropped, studying the grout of the school's tiled floor and how it resembled the sole of his sneakers.
"I just do, TK," Kari said definitively. Her hands rifled quickly through her few schoolbooks in her locker. "You coming and pressing the matter on me is only going to make things worse."
"I'm sorry, Kari," the blond-haired boy replied lowly. "But seeing you upset like this is making me worried, and I don't like it at all." Kari only shrugged her shoulders as she pulled out her history book.
"Oh well," Kari said dryly, "I don't like it either but that's the way it is." TK looked back up at her, slightly shocked at hearing his girlfriend talk like this.
"What about the dance tomorrow?" TK asked, looking for a slightly brighter angle. " Do you still want to go with me to that?" Kari stared at the contents of her locker. Her algebra book was in her hands, but her hands had paused partway on their placement of the book on the top shelf.
Kari let out a heavy sigh after a moment and shook her head slowly. "No, TK," Kari said, annoyance evident in her voice, "I don't think that I'll be going and at the present time, I certainly couldn't bring myself to go with you." TK, who had felt only left out before, noticed a new surge of aggravation surge through him.
"You really don't want to go with me?" TK clarified for his own sake. He tried to keep the disappointment and anger from his voice, but it didn't work too well.
"TK," Kari began. But no other words came to her mind to back up her statement. She could feel TK's eyes boring on her shoulder and knew that she had been unnecessarily rude. Her mouth opened again to speak.
"Don't bother," TK said shortly. "I can tell when I'm not wanted. You've left me out in the cold for a week and now you're cutting our plans for the dance we'd been rejoicing over for the past three months." TK shook his head slowly, leaning back from the locker. "If this is the way you want it, then I won't argue." At his last words, TK crossed behind Kari and walked briskly for the main entrance of the school. Kari's eyes darted up, looking after the blond-haired boy as he moved purposefully away from her. With a glance back in her locker, Kari saw that everything she needed for the weekend had been extracted. She then promptly closed the locker and slammed her forehead against the metal.
"What happened?" Kari's voice asked miserably. "It's been nine months now, and he's only been trying to care for me like he should." Her arms wove up around her shoulders in an attempt to comfort herself. "What's happened that made me feel so badly about him? I'm supposed to love him." One of Kari's hands dropped in front of her. With a twist of her wrist, Kari watched as the silver chain shook lightly on her wrist. She closed her eyes and clenched her arms more tightly around her shoulders.
In truth, she was fully aware of the situation. It had been perhaps three weeks that she'd been feeling more and more locked in and, with TK's lack of attention to anything but playing his affection on her, she felt distressed and ignored. TK had, for all of their time together, always been very affectionate and she had never wanted anything else. She always treated him with the same care as he did her. But now, as they entered their ninth month of an official couple after some five years of friendship, she felt like there wasn't anything else to welcome her. The friendship that she had always treasured seemed to have faded, leaving only the sense of romance. TK's demeanor hadn't changed and, though she had subconsciously known it would, it was beginning to feel repetitive. He was great, she admitted, but her heart desired a change of pace. And as TK continued to treat her as he always had, Kari found she was feeling that TK didn't want anything but the same repetitive feelings and emotions played out over and over again. It felt like a sign to Kari that she didn't have as much value in the boy's eyes as she thought she did.
She knew it wasn't the truth; TK cared about her more that she gave him credit for. His concern all week had proved that if all his months of devotion hadn't. But she wanted him to simply understand how she felt; she didn't want to have to explain it. It was hard enough for her to admit the real reasons for avoiding him to herself. But again, his coming to her every day that week showed that he didn't understand on his own. She knew she only had to explain it to him, or even just ask him to try a new approach to showing her how he cared. But just as she had avoided explaining her feelings to Sensei Rukato, Kari couldn't bring herself to tell TK what was wrong. She was afraid he'd take it the wrong way, or so she excused herself. Unfortunately, her solution pushed him away all the same.
Kari sighed, standing up straight and rubbing her head at the sore feeling she had caused. "Just give it time," she assured herself. "He'll need some time to cool off, and then we'll get everything set straight." The pain that reverberated in Kari's heart made her shake her head in a vain endeavor to dismiss her thoughts. Thinking about TK and losing his love was only making Kari more depressed. She lifted her shoulder bag wearily, heading towards the double doors with a slow walk.
"Kari?" A voice asked from behind the girl. Kari could feel her insides groan. The last person she needed to talk to was the owner of the voice. But, as Davis leapt up and started walking beside her, Kari found that she couldn't get away from him. "What's wrong, Kari?" Davis asked when he saw Kari's face. "You look really out of it."
Kari only shook her head. "It's nothing," Kari said glumly. "I've just been feeling a little ignored by TK." Davis looked at her, surprised.
"TK, ignoring you?" Davis asked with wide eyes. "That's the biggest lie I've ever heard in my life." Kari looked up at Davis from the floor.
"How would you know?" Kari questioned with slight irritation.
"Well, we're all friends, aren't we?" Davis said in reassurance. "There hasn't been a day yet that I think I've seen TK ignore you. And every time you come up in conversation, he always goes all dreamy-eyed on us." Davis shook his head with a nervous laugh. "If anything, he could only be giving you too much of himself when you aren't ready for it." Kari blinked, glancing up at Davis again.
"Since when are you so insightful?" Kari asked incredulously. Davis grinned.
"I've picked up a few tricks from my family," he said dismissively. "But I can see how that might be a bit annoying. You just have to learn to relax a little. Most guys like to be caring, and I'm sure TK's no exception in that respect. If it gets to be too much, then just tell him to slow down or something. TK would understand."
"But he hasn't," Kari said as sadness crept back into her voice. "That's the reason that I've been feeling so badly. I've tried to tell him to give me a break, but he doesn't seem to understand."
Davis dropped his head in thought. "So how are you gonna go to the dance with him?" he inquired after a moment. "I know you've both been looking forward to it, but if you can't handle him, what're you gonna do?" Kari shook her head.
"I'm not going," Kari replied. Davis's eyes jumped once again.
"You're not going?" Davis repeated in disbelief. "That won't do, that won't do at all. You're gonna go to that dance if I have to take you myself." Kari's head shot up.
"What?" Kari said quickly. "Wait, no, I'm not going with anyone. I'm-" Davis put his hand up for silence. He then moved his hand to open the entrance doorway.
"If you aren't going to go with TK, then I'm going to take you there and get you two straightened out myself," Davis declared as he stepped out into the brisk January air.
"But Davis-"
Again Davis cut her off, saying, "No 'but's about it Kari. We'll go together as friends, we'll get Yolei and Ken to come with for some additional company, and we'll get you and TK to sort this whole mess out." Kari stared at Davis for a long while, not moving from the top step of the school's exterior. Davis looked back, an unusual seriousness written in his brown eyes. Kari dropped her head.
"I would like to get all of this figured out," Kari said slowly. "I'm still crazy about TK. If anything, I like him more now than I did back in April. And I'm really starting to miss the time we spent together." Davis nodded understandingly.
"You miss it, but the situation needs to be clarified," Davis simplified. "Between the four of us, we'll get this all sorted out for you. Until then, just use me as your distraction." Kari looked at him, a slight smile at last coming to her face.
"You really are a goofball, sometimes, Davis," Kari said. Davis grinned, scratching the back of his head in nervousness.
"Whatever it takes to keep my friends in high spirits," Davis explained. Then, springing down the flight of concrete stairs with only two steps, he called, "Now come on, let's get you home before your parents get worried."
"Alright," Kari said slowly. She descended the steps, warily watching Davis as he stood patiently for her at the sidewalk. He kept pace beside her from the school to the street corner at the end of the block. Kari, who had once again found a particular interest in studying exactly what it was she was walking on, looked up to see Davis already halfway across the street. "Wait, where are you going?" Kari called after the boy. Davis spun around, looking at her curiously.
"I'm heading home," He called back as if it were obvious. "I've got a lot of planning to do if we're gonna get everyone to go to the dance together with one day's notice." Kari watched him, and then shook her head with a smile.
"All right, you nutcase," Kari yelled, waving as Davis walked away to her left. Kari then turned to her right, following the sidewalk in the direction of her apartment complex. "Thank you," she added in a whisper.
At the ring of her doorbell, Ms. Takaishi looked up expectantly. Ryan followed her gaze, his small hands letting go of the blue block that they held. Ms Takaishi stood up slowly, stretching her legs after sitting on the ground for so long. Ryan looked up at the woman expectantly. She smiled at Ryan's yearning eyes and picked him up. "Of course I'll carry you," She answered the child's unasked question. Ryan squeaked delightedly, hugging his arms around Ms. Takaishi's neck. "Now let's go see who's decided to drop in on us this afternoon."
A quick few steps brought Ms. Takaishi from the living room to her front door. Using one hand to support Ryan's weight, she used her free hand to open the door. Ryan's face lit up instantly at the sight of their guests.
"Mommy!" Ryan cried, his arms instantly reaching out for the brown-haired girl. Ms. Takaishi struggled to keep from dropping the baby as his weight shifted so suddenly. However, Maddie's reflexes let her grab her son quickly before Ms. Takaishi's arm gave out. "Mommy," Ryan repeated in a more sedate tone as he gleefully gripped Maddie's neck with his arms. Maddie laughed, bouncing the child in her arms gently.
"Sorry about that," Maddie apologized, "I know he always gets a little excited when we come by to pick him up. Ms. Takaishi shook her head.
"It's alright," the older woman said, "I would hope he was excited to see his mom after such a hard day of playing."
"Did you have a long day?" Ivan asked of the baby as Ryan's eyes nearly closed on his mother's shoulder. A slight nod gave Ivan his answer. "Then I guess it's about time we get you upstairs for your nap, huh?" no nod came to his second request - Ryan had fallen asleep already.
"Thank you again for watching him," Maddie said gratefully. Ms. Takaishi shook her head again.
"I'm glad to do it," Ms Takaishi said pleasantly. "I haven't been able to take care of a little one in a long while. But speaking of my own little one, have you seen TK around?" Maddie looked behind her at Ivan, who shrugged his shoulders.
"Not since lunch period," He said. "He hasn't gotten back yet?" Ms. Takaishi nodded. "He usually beats us here, too," Ivan added as he dropped his head in contemplation. He looked up after a moment and said, "I'll go out and see if I can find him. Maddie, would you be able to go and take care of Ryan?" Maddie shook her head in agreement.
"I'm sure he'll be back soon," Ms. Takaishi said. "You really don't need to go running out to hunt him down." Ivan shook his head.
"I'd like to talk to him anyways," Ivan informed TK's mother. "He's been looking out of it lately and I'd like to see what's going on." Ms. Takaishi sighed before nodding her consent.
"Just make sure that both of you are back before the evening," Maddie instructed her boyfriend. "I don't want you missing dinner." Ivan grinned at her.
"If you're cooking, I wouldn't pass it up for the world," he said in her ear. Then, with a kiss on Maddie's cheek, Ivan bounded for the elevator car. Maddie shook her head as she watched Ivan disappear behind the steel double doors of the elevator. She then turned and bowed to Ms. Takaishi.
"I'm sure he'll get this all sorted out," Maddie assured Ms. Takaishi. The blond-haired woman nodded, smiling at Maddie.
"I know," She told the girl, "but you've got to go get him in bed." Ms. Takaishi gestured to the baby resting on Maddie's shoulder. Maddie grinned, glancing at the slumbering child.
"Well then, let's go get you tucked in, honey," Maddie cooed as she walked from Ms. Takaishi's doorway. She turned and waved to the woman before climbing the stairs to her floor of the apartment. Ms. Takaishi waved in response before closing the door of her apartment. She then took to the kitchen, deciding that Maddie's point of dinner was a good idea.
Ivan, meanwhile, had not even begun his search before he found his query. As Ivan stepped out of the elevator, TK walked into his shoulder. "Sorry," TK said quietly without looking up. However, when the person before him did not step aside or speak, TK looked up. "Oh, Ivan," TK said in surprise. "I'm sorry about that. I guess I've just gotten a little inattentive to where I'm going, huh?"
"Don't worry about it," Ivan said with a wave of his hand. "I was just about to go hunting you down, but you've done all the work for me." TK managed a weak smile to the already grinning older boy.
"What did you need to see me for?" TK asked as he took a few steps backwards. Ivan walked out of the elevator and looked around the apartment complex's lobby. He then found what he sought - an unoccupied bench.
"Have a seat, TK," Ivan instructed as he took a seat on the bench in question. TK followed Ivan's lead, somewhat uncertainly.
"I feel like I'm about to get lectured on the importance of avoiding drugs," TK said, dropping his backpack to the ground. Ivan shook his head, smiling once again.
"It's nothing like that," Ivan replied, "I just needed a chance to talk to you. You've been a bit distant from us these past few days and I was going to stay at your apartment for a while to see what was up. But then, you weren't there and your mom was confused. So I told her I'd go and find you just to make sure no gangs had jumped you on your way home from school." TK again managed to smile slightly.
"Still the guardian even in the Real World, aren't you?" TK said, leaning back against the imitation wood slats comprising the bench. Ivan chuckled.
"It's the least I can do, though it was more of a false pretence," Ivan said. "As I said, I was planning to talk to you today and I'm one to follow through on my intentions. Thus, I bring thee here and ask what's going on in your head such that it delayed you for so long getting home?" TK sighed, letting his head loll forward on his neck. His own thoughts had become so conflicted with each other on the way home that his feet had led him on a more scenic, roundabout route to his apartment. However, it was a lot easier to let the thoughts conflict inside his head than to articulate them to another person.
"Well, I had a lot of thinking to do today," TK said quietly as his hands clasped in his lap. A dangling silver chain on his wrist caught his sight. His unadorned hand then reached over and started to press the links between his fingers. "Things have been so different lately, and I'm getting more and more worried about something bad on the horizon."
"Bad things are on the horizon," Ivan said thoughtfully, "Bad things are always on the horizon. That's something I've grown used to. But I'm guessing you're not talking about another attempt at occupying the Digital World, are you?" TK shook his head.
"I'm worried about Kari and I," The blond-haired boy said after a moment. "She's been treating me so differently this past week or two, and it's not at all a positive change."
"Have you asked her about it?" Ivan said, his eyes focusing on the boy beside him. TK shrugged.
"I've tried, but she won't talk to me." TK told the brown-haired boy. "She insists that it's nothing and then makes sure that there's five feet between the two of us before she speaks again." Ivan cast his eyes downward.
"That's no good," Ivan said. "Kari's not one I've thought to avoid something when it's bothering her. Then again, she's also not one who wants to hurt other people's feelings. Look at how long she let Davis go on pining for her without ever actually telling him to stop. I guess she can't bear to see other people hurt like that." TK sighed, shaking his head slightly.
"Doing this to me hurts even more," TK said slowly. Ivan's hand rested comfortingly on the younger boy's shoulder. "She avoids talking to me, she refuses to hug me or do anything that would show her affection for me, and she-" TK cut himself off, staring blankly at the ground in front of him. Then, with slow, hollow words, he continued, "She cut off our plans to go to the winter ball tomorrow. She cut them off just after school. That's what really set me to thinking."
"I'm sorry, TK," Ivan said softly. "It must be hard to be so shut out like that." TK only nodded grimly. "So what are you thinking to do now?" Ivan asked hesitantly, "You still have the ticket to the winter ball, right?" Again TK nodded.
"I have it, but I don't know if I could bring myself to use it," TK replied. "For the past nine months my heart's been so aligned with Kari's that it's incredible to think that she won't be there with me. We'd been planning on going together since the start of the school year, and confirmed it several times since then. Go to the dance alone? That would be really painful." Ivan shrugged.
"It won't be too bad," Ivan comforted the boy, "After all, Maddie and I will be there, along with everyone else. Who knows, maybe even Kari will show up and we can sort this whole mess out." TK cringed at the mention of Kari's name. "Relax, TK," Ivan said calmly, "We won't be going on a pious mission to fix all this, we'll be going to have some fun and get your mind off of things. You know as well as I do that it doesn't help to dwell on things like this." TK didn't say anything in response for a long time.
At length, TK managed a shallow nod. "I guess you're right," he said resignedly. "Being there would be better than sitting at home with only these thoughts to accompany me." Ivan nodded in agreement.
"Then it's settled," Ivan said definitively. "Maddie and I will swing down by your place a little before the dance and then we'll head over to the school. We'll have a fun time dancing and hanging out, then we'll head back here and drop you off before you collapse from exhaustion." TK leaned back against the faux wooden bench again, staring at the ceiling.
"But Ivan," The blond-haired boy asked, "What am I supposed to do if Kari's there?" Ivan looked at TK, his mind working quickly.
"Do you still like her?" Ivan asked.
"Of course I do," TK said earnestly. "I love her and care about her now just as much as I have for the past nine months. Nothing would change the emotions in my heart so quickly."
"And are you still faithful to the relationship that the two of you have?" Ivan furthered.
"Yes," TK said after a moment of mental deliberation. "I would still like to pursue the relationship that she and I share."
"Then the answer should be simple," Ivan told the boy. "You love her, care about her, and want to be with her. Your support for the relationship is firm. However, relationships are built on mutual support, mutual trust, and mutual respect. Perhaps she feels disrespected when you try to hug her and she wants to be left alone, or not trusted when you ask her questions about things she wants you to take for granted. Undoubtedly, you feel disrespected when she turns you away and untrusted when she can't confide in you with what's bothering her right. It's possible that you're getting the wrong signals from Kari, just as it's possible that she's getting the wrong signals from you. Does that all seem at least somewhat plausible to you?" TK nodded as his brow furrowed in thought.
"That's not something I ever really considered before," TK admitted slowly. "It just occurred to me that if she was fine with me before that she should be fine with me now." Ivan shrugged.
"It's merely a possibility," Ivan said, "But it's also one you can work with. Since you still care about her and the relationship that the two of you share, but could be sending the wrong signals to show such, maybe she's doing the same thing. Maybe Kari really does care about you and the relationship, but has something else in her mind that can't let her deal with the physical closeness as well at the present time." TK sighed.
"That's still not telling me what I should do," TK said. Ivan blinked, and then shook his head.
"I'm sorry," Ivan said quickly, "But if what I've said is true, then my best advice is to confront her." TK looked at Ivan, confused. "You can't let this awkwardness in the relationship persist," Ivan informed the boy, "You have to work it out, and the sooner you can do that, the better. Waiting will only make both of you feel more distant and separated. You need to confront her. What exactly you should do or say, I'm not sure. You know Kari better than anyone else outside of her family, so I would guess that you know how to talk to her better than anyone, too. Just make sure that you follow your heart, as clichéd as it sounds. Hold true to what you've told me, and hold true to your heart, and I'm certain that things will work out for the best." TK's eyes watched the boy beside him for a long time. The words he said slowly made their way through TK's body, eventually reaching his heart. TK then nodded in understanding, knowing that the elder boy was right.
"I'll see what I can do," TK said after another minute's passing. "But what- " Ivan raised a hand to stop the blond-haired boy.
"No 'but's and no 'if's," Ivan said flatly. "Questioning the plan will weaken your resolve. Simply act; let your heart be your guide. It has not led you astray yet, I know, and I know it's not about to give out on you now. Act, and remember that whatever comes to pass is for the betterment of both your lives." TK dropped his head to his lap again with a sigh.
"It's a hard fact to swallow," TK noted. Ivan patted the younger boy's back gently.
"You'll make it through this," Ivan reassured him. "You've got Maddie, myself, and all of the other Digidestined to back both of you up. Even though it may not look like it, this will work out and sooner or later, you'll be glad that things went as they will." Ivan then stood up, extending his hand to the slumped boy on the bench. "Then again, maybe all this discussion is for naught and you'll just talk to Kari on Monday." TK looked up quizzically. Ivan smiled broadly at him. "My point is don't get so bent out of shape over this. Getting all hyped up over it now does nothing, when it's probably not going to happen to begin with. You said so yourself that Kari wasn't going with you, so who would she go with?" TK's brow furrowed in thought. Then he smiled, taking Ivan's hand and coming to his feet.
"You've got a point, Ivan," TK said with renewed energy. "Kari even said that she wasn't in the mood for going to the winter ball at all, regardless of whether I was her date or not." Ivan returned the smile.
"See?" Ivan told TK, "You already know that there's not gonna be a problem." TK nodded, grabbing his backpack and walking over to the elevator.
"Things do seem to work out in the end, don't they?" TK said thoughtfully as he pressed the 'up' button on the elevator panel. Ivan nodded. TK then shook his head before Ivan could speak. "Don't answer that," he added, stopping the brown-haired boy, "I think I already know the answer." Ivan smiled.
"Okay then," Ivan said with a confirming nod. "Let's get you back home to your mom before she really does start to think you got kidnapped." TK laughed with the elder boy as the elevator doors slid open before them.
"Hey, Ivan?" TK asked, stepping into the elevator. Ivan looked at him while his hand hit the proper number for TK's floor. "Thanks for helping me," Ivan scratched the back of his head and shrugged his shoulders.
"That's what I'm here for." The elevator doors shut out the apartment complex lobby just before the car lurched upwards.
TK stared at the mirror before him, a look of slight shock plastered across his face. He knew what he looked like in his father's suit, but for some reason it seemed unusual in the light of the bathroom. He felt like a different person, looking at himself with unkempt blond hair shining out in compliment of his golden tie and in contrast to the black jacket and pants. He couldn't help but think the outfit made him look sophisticated, important and, perhaps, attractive. He then shook his head, bringing his thoughts back to the matters at hand.
"Attractive or not," TK told himself, "There's no one that you'll be seeing that needs to be attracted to you." TK then replaced his hair comb and left the bathroom, deciding that his hair was set as he wanted it. He searched briefly for his black dress shoes in his bedroom before finding them against the doorframe.
"Are you ready yet, TK?" Ms. Takaishi's voice called from another room, "The ball started at seven, didn't it?" TK blinked in confusion then looked at his bedside alarm clock. It was seven-fifteen. TK winced, hurrying to tie his shoes. He hadn't realized how fast the time had gone; it felt like only an hour ago when TK had come moping into the apartment complex's lobby the day before and run into Ivan.
"Yeah, mom, I'll be there in a minute," TK called in reply to his mother. After a moment of hopping around to keep his balance, TK managed to secure both of his shoes to his feet and strode out to the living room of his apartment. Ms. Takaishi gasped when TK walked in.
"Wow, TK," TK's mother breathed. " I can't remember a time that I've ever seen you looking more handsome." TK groaned.
"Mom," TK whined, "Do you really have to bring that up? That's the last thing I need to hear right now." Ms. Takaishi sighed, shaking her head lightly. "So have Ivan and Maddie shown up yet?" TK asked, trying to change the subject. Ms. Takaishi shook her head.
"Haven't seen or heard from them," She told her son. TK tilted his head to the side in question.
"They're not ones to be late for events," TK said to himself, adjusting the tie around his neck. Then, shoving his hands in to the jacket's pockets, he shrugged. "I guess we'll just have to-" The ringing of a phone cut TK off abruptly. He looked first to his mother, then to the phone cradle as a second ring came from the device. TK snatched up the phone as it let out a third shrill noise and turned it on.
"Hello?" TK said into the phone. "Oh, hey guys," TK said after a few seconds, "What're you two up to?" As TK listened to the voice on the far end, he nodded slowly and sat down on the arm of the couch. "Well, if you can't find them, you can't find them." TK said reluctantly. "We could try to pick up two more at the school, though. If we don't get going soon, the dancing's gonna be all over before we even get there." TK listened to more speech from the far end of the phone. "Okay," TK agreed, "Then we'll see you in ten minutes." TK then bid the caller farewell and hung up.
"What're they doing up there?" Ms. Takaishi asked her son. TK scratched the back of his head, smiling slightly.
"Ivan seems to have misplaced their tickets," TK informed her. "After Maddie beat on him for a while, they started looking for them and decided to call and let us know."
"Oh dear," Ms. Takaishi said quietly, "I hope that doesn't keep them from going." TK shook his head.
"They'll be able to go," TK assured his mother. "If they can't find the tickets by seven-thirty, Ivan said they would come down, drop Ryan off with you, and try to negotiate a pair of tickets at the door. The worst that can happen is that they'll have to pay for two more tickets." Ms. Takaishi nodded.
"Well, that's better than nothing," She said. Then, with a sudden spark of memory, the blond-haired woman jumped up and ran to her bedroom. TK stared after his mother, wide-eyed.
"What're you doing, mom?" TK yelled after his mother in bewilderment.
"Getting a camera," Ms. Takaishi responded, "I nearly forgot about taking pictures of the three of you all dressed up." TK stared down the hallway, his stomach gradually feeling more and more convulsive.
"Just what my mother needs," TK said resignedly to himself, "more blackmail material." TK then shook his head, flopping backwards onto the couch. A thought piqued his attention, one that had been swirling around his brain since he had left Ivan in the elevator the previous day. "What if Kari's there?" TK asked himself, "What on earth am I supposed to do?" To his dismay, no answer came to his question. He sighed, covering his eyes with his hands. "I just hope Ivan's right," he whispered, "And this will all work out for the best."
His thoughts were interrupted, however, as a bright flash of light hit him. Jumping up, TK stared around the room wildly. Ms. Takaishi laughed at her son's actions. "That has to be one of the cutest poses I've seen you in yet," She told her son. TK dropped his gaze to the carpeted floor.
"Mom!"
"Kari, are you ever going to stop staring at that door?" Yolei asked over the sonorous music reverberating from the far end of the gym. Kari brought her gaze quickly from the entry doorway to her friend beside her. "He'll be here soon enough," Yolei told the brown-haired girl, "Worrying over it is only going to make it seem longer. How about enjoying yourself until he shows up?" Kari sighed.
"I'll see what I can do," Kari said doubtfully. Her eyes locked with Yolei's, and the goofy expression on her friend's face caused Kari to smile in spite of herself. Her eyes then looked up at the rest of the people around her, each keeping a unique dance to the music. She watched as Davis performed a series of over-exaggerated, uncoordinated moves that brought amusement to anyone who noticed him. Despite such, the brown-haired boy seemed only invigorated by the laughter he heard, as if his dancing was an act to entertain rather than to perform.
Kari's eyes then noticed Ken, whose body moved with a rhythm that made Kari do a double take. His arms and legs, perfectly synchronized, moved fluidly with the rest of his body in a daring, yet exquisitely executed dance style. His eyes were closed for a majority of his dancing, to better receive the charge of the music, but when they did open, they invariably sought out the girl dancing beside Kari. The brown-haired girl smiled inwardly as she watched Ken's eyes dart to Yolei again, happy to see that Yolei's desire had found some results. Ken's mouth smiled more as his eyes set to the floor between everyone else. With a bold step, Ken entered the center space and, to Kari's further amazement, brought his dance style to the ground, spinning and twirling with an incredible connection to the beat of the song. All of the other people in the circle, even Davis, calmed their own steps to watch as Ken gave his impromptu performance before all who cared to watch. Cheering and chanting soon greeted Ken's ears as he spun rapidly at the circle's center. With a single backwards roll, Ken jumped from the floor and ended his sequence with a dramatic flourish. At the same instant, the song came to an abrupt end and was replaced by the cheering praise of everyone around Kari. Kari found herself, too, applauding Ken's mastery of his dance.
Another melody filled the gym after a few seconds, but the tempo was no longer the rapid pace of the previous song. Rather, the song was had a very calm cadence, indicating that it was a dance to be shared with a partner. Kari felt Davis approach her casually from where he had been in the circle, but Kari shook her head to him. "I'd like to sit this one out," Kari explained to Davis as she took a few steps backwards and sat in one of the vacant chairs lining the back wall of the gymnasium. Davis nodded after a moment, then turned and sought out another query to dance with. Meanwhile, Kari's vision continued to watch the graceful scene Ken put on.
As the music came up again, Ken let his final pose drop. His eyes then looked up to where Yolei had been standing. As he expected, Yolei was still there, smiling broadly at him. Ken returned the smile, but before he could make a step, another girl with long brown hair jumped between them.
"That was incredible!" the girl squeaked, grinning at Ken. Her hands then reached for his. "Would you dance with me?" Ken stared at the girl in front of him, taken aback.
"Um, thanks," Ken managed to get out as the initial surprise wore off, "But no thanks." The girl stared at him in question, though her smile was already fading. Ken looked past the girl to Yolei, who was watching for her friend's reaction with nervous apprehension. Ken smiled at the violet- haired girl, and then glanced back to the girl with brown hair with a whispered, "I'm already taken," as he walked past her. The girl stared at Ken, watching him graciously stride past her and bow in front of Yolei. Her eyes widened in shock as the blue-haired boy, who could have easily chosen any girl in the school who had seen him, decided upon the sophomore's outcast. With a huff, the girl skirted away to her circle friends in disgust. Ken, however, never gave his actions or the other girl a second thought.
"Would you care to dance, Yolei?" Ken asked Yolei with a slight bow and a hand extended in offer. It was now Yolei's turn to be surprised.
"You want to dance with me?" Yolei asked, half-disbelieving. Ken nodded as his right hand gently took her left
"Unless you have some objection," Ken said with a smile. Yolei shook her head quickly, her lilac hair swaying against the back of her complimenting lavender dress.
"No, I just thought you would have gone for someone a little more-"
"Appealing to my eye?" Ken interjected in completion of her sentence. Yolei looked up, her brown eyes meeting the gaze of Ken's indigo eyes. Ken smiled at her, placing his left hand on Yolei's waist. "Consider my decision made," He told her, his smile never leaving his lips.
Yolei could feel her cheeks redden, but nonetheless placed her hand on Ken's shoulder. "Thanks, Ken," Yolei said, barely audible over the music. "I'm really happy you were willing to come with me, too." Ken shook his head lightly.
"I was glad to accept your request last week," Ken told her gently. "And as it turned out, Davis pulled some last-minute plans with Kari so we had some other people to come with, too." Yolei nodded.
"But after seeing you do that," Yolei stated, referring to Ken's dancing, "I don't see why you'd stick with me." Ken's hand on Yolei's waist pulled her a bit closer.
"Maybe I can dance," Ken said with a slight shrug of his shoulders, "But I'm not shallow enough to think that people who like me for it are worth my time. I dance because I love music and I love to dance to it, not because I want to have girls be interested in me. I'd far prefer to be with someone who's my friend for more than simply my dancing coordination." Yolei again felt heat rising in her cheeks.
Yolei decided then that talking wasn't what she wanted to do. Rather, she did what she could to enjoy the sensation of Ken leading her to the music. After a minute, Yolei's hand on Ken's shoulder moved around Ken's neck, letting her head lean against the blue-haired boy's shoulder. Ken's head gently pressed against hers while his hand again tightened at her waist. Yolei smiled as she watched their clasped hands moving back and forth to the melody.
Kari smiled to herself, watching the couple dance before her. It made her feel better to see that two people, who had once been at odds with one another, could reconcile so well. The brown-haired girl then found her eyes staring desirously at the entrance to the gymnasium. Ever since Davis had left her the previous afternoon, she couldn't help hoping that TK would show up. It had taken most of that day for her to realize how lonely she felt without TK around to talk to her; to make her laugh. Although she knew that she didn't want to have TK start hugging her and kissing her, she still loved him and wanted him to be in her life. Though she still couldn't quite understand why, she felt that she needed a break from his physical attention. Perhaps it was Davis, or perhaps it was her own heart, but regardless of the source, Kari knew that it was time she explained her actions to TK as best she could. She just hoped that his anger from the previous day had subsided, that he would be willing to hear her out, and that he would be willing to work the problem out of their relationship.
A gentle hand grazing her shoulder brought Kari from her thoughts. Looking up, Kari saw Davis smiling kindly at her. "Are you gonna sit here all day?" Davis asked. "The music's picked up the pace again and Ken's back in action." Davis' hand extended from Kari's shoulder, offering to help her up. Kari smiled.
"Alright," she said with forced enthusiasm, "Let's go cheer on the champion of the dance floor." Kari then took Davis' hand, jumping to her feet and leading the brown-haired boy over to the crowd that had begun to form around Ken as he began another dance sequence.
"No entry?" TK repeated in anguish, staring at the school's vice-principal, Sensei Modo. The man only shrugged his shoulders to the three people before him.
"I'm sorry," Modo told TK, "but if your friends don't have their tickets, I can't let them in." TK looked desperately at Ivan, who only shrugged.
"If you're sure there's nothing that can be done about it," Ivan said in resignation, "Then we won't push it." Maddie nodded sullenly in agreement. TK's jaw refused to close, staring at the couple beside him.
"What are we supposed to do, then?" TK asked a little more threateningly than necessary. Ivan looked at TK, then back at Sensei Modo.
"Would you excuse us for a minute?" Ivan asked of the vice-principal, who nodded in assent. Ivan then dragged TK away from the school's entrance with Maddie at his side.
"What are we supposed to do?" TK repeated dismally. Ivan threw his head back in aggravation.
"It's not a big deal," Ivan said to the blond-haired boy. "Maddie and I will go find somewhere to hang out until ten and then we'll meet you back here. Meanwhile, you're gonna go in there and have a good time." TK looked at the school's doorway, then at Ivan, then back at the doorway.
"You want me to go in there alone?" TK said with worry in his voice. Ivan nodded.
"I lost the tickets," Ivan admitted, "I'm sorry. But it's not a big deal. You still know plenty of people in this school, and as such I'm sure you'll find some people to hang out with."
"But what if Kari's-"
"If Kari's there," Ivan said, cutting the younger boy off, "Then Kari will be there. There's nothing that Maddie or I can do for you in there if she's there." Ivan then took a breath before continuing, "You've had time to think about what you told me. Just hold true to what you know in your heart. Never lose your hope and you'll be all set, alright?" TK didn't move, staring at the door of the school. "This is somewhere that no one else can help you," Ivan added, "This is something you have to do on your own." TK nodded slowly in acceptance.
"Okay," TK said after a minute. "Wish me luck."
Maddie hugged the blond-haired boy, whispering, "Good luck, and have fun." She then stepped back, looking down at the shimmering red dress she wore. "It's a pity no one will be able to see it," she said with a suggestive sideways glance at Ivan. Ivan grinned sheepishly.
"I'm sorry," Ivan repeated. Maddie only sighed, taking a step back and bringing her hands up to warm her shoulders. Ivan then placed his hand on TK's shoulder. "Get going," he told the younger boy, "The longer you wait, the harder it will be." TK looked at Ivan briefly and nodded.
"See you guys in a couple hours!" TK called, climbing quickly back up the school's stone steps and handing his ticket to a surprised Sensei Modo. Ivan smiled after the boy for a moment, and then turned his attention to Maddie. His arms quickly wove around her shivering frame.
"Let's go get you somewhere warm, huh?" Ivan suggested. Maddie nodded eagerly. Ivan smiled as he turned, placing his arm around Maddie's waist and leading her away from the school.
"Do you think he'll be alright in there?" Maddie asked, watching Ivan's face as he looked for a warm place to accommodate them until ten. He paused at the question before nodding.
"TK's independent enough to handle himself in there. I'm actually somewhat surprised at his hesitation." Maddie nodded in agreement.
"And if worse comes to worse, we'll take him out drinking afterwards," Maddie stated with a grin. Ivan laughed, letting his gaze fall to the sky.
"There's a lot of clouds over there," Ivan said as a change of subject, indicating to a gray mass forming along a distant mountain range. Maddie looked at where Ivan was pointing.
"I guess we'd best just enjoy the last quarter moon of light while we can, huh?" Ivan nodded in reply.
"That, and we'd better find somewhere that isn't as cold as the street," He added. "Care to pick up the pace a bit?" Maddie was all too happy to consent, doubling her pace along the concrete pathway towards downtown Odaiba.
TK found himself sitting in the coatroom nearly an hour after he left Ivan and Maddie. Whatever resolve Ivan had instilled in him had faded as soon as the music playing from the gymnasium came to his ears. He had entered on a slow, tranquil song and he was suddenly bombarded by images of Kari dancing with some other boy. Though only his thoughts, it had been more than enough to keep him scared out of the imitation dance hall. Instead, he found that the coat closet provided a save and comforting haven for him to recollect his thoughts in.
He stared dejectedly at the rows of coats and jackets hanging on the long bar in front of him. Though perhaps he could think, he still didn't know what to do and, from a glance at the clock on the wall, he realized that he only had one hour left. It seemed vaguely plausible to amuse himself in the coatroom for the remainder of the time, but he knew that Ivan and Maddie would not be pleased to hear of his time staring at winter garments. His eyes wandered to the doorway leading to the school's halls. Down that very hallway lay the gym and, consequently, the entire attendance of the underclassmen winter ball.
TK felt extreme nervousness vibrating through his body as he stood from the floor of the coatroom. With a sigh and a determined look, TK pushed aside the ache in his heart and walked quickly out of the room. He knew that waiting would only make acting harder, just as Ivan had told him. His eyes stared down the long hallway, eventually seeing the closed red double doors of the gymnasium. Hesitant steps led him towards the door. The churning sensation in his heart got increasingly more vehement, but his body paid it no heed. The music became progressively more audible, and the song presently playing was fast and upbeat. Indulging himself a bit, TK let his legs stride to the beat of the music. Focusing on the bass line of the melody, rather than what he feared he would find on the far side of the door, TK found that his hand clasped the metal bar in what felt like seconds. Then, with a deep breath, he pulled the metal door open and moved into the darkly lit gym from the neon lighting of the hallway.
Kari's eyes had caught a flash of light and a glimpse of blond hair from the doorway. Her heart seemed to stop as she danced with her friends. Her eyes widened, straining to see where the blond-haired person had gone. The darkness of the gym masked her vision for a few moments, but the flash of the disco light was enough to reveal the same patch of blond hair amongst the field of brown and black. She stepped back from her friends, her body ceasing in its movements. Her eyes tracked TK as he walked amongst the crowd along the wall, easily noticeable due to his relative height.
It wasn't until TK had waded from the crowd, however, that he noticed a particular brown-haired girl had her eyes focused on him. It took only an instant for the connection to be made and their eyes to lock across the width of the school gym. Neither of the couple moved, but simply let their eyes watch the other for any movements. The music faded, to the slight surprise of both TK and Kari, and another chorus of laud erupted behind Kari. Another song came from the speakers set up at the far end of the gym, another song with a very low tempo and rhythm. Kari's eyes watched TK with increasing concern, wishing desperately for him to make some sort of action. However, she could see how defenseless he looked. She had only herself to blame for that; she had left him with no weapon after what she said the day before. All that he had left was what lay in his heart.
Rather, it was Davis that broke the tense situation. "Kari?" The brown- haired boy asked, approaching Kari. The girl dared a brief glance over her shoulder before fixing her eyes once again on TK. Davis followed the girl's gaze and noticed that TK had at last arrived at the dance. He then leaned down, placing his mouth next to Kari's ear. "If you don't act now, you'll never know what could have been." Then, after a moment's pause, He added urgently, "Go!" Kari's feet heeded Davis' command without question, dashing across the Gym into TK's waiting arms.
Davis stood back up, smiling sadly after Kari. Then, with a shake of his head, he turned back to where Ken had been dancing. "You're still having trouble letting go, aren't you?" A gentle voice asked from Davis' side. He looked to see Yolei, concern in her eyes, standing beside him. Davis glanced back at TK and Kari.
"I'm getting there, Yolei," Davis said quietly. "I'm getting there." The violet-haired girl hugged Davis tightly, to his surprise.
"You were really brave to bring her here and know that you were going to give her up," Yolei told him, doing her best to solace the boy. "And you're a wonderful friend to put your concern for her happiness above your own." Davis nodded slowly.
"I guess," he admitted. "Seeing Kari happy has always been what was most important to me. It's just hard to accept that I won't be the one to bring her that happiness." Yolei took a step back from Davis, her arms dropping to her sides once again.
"You can still be her friend," Yolei assured Davis, "And sooner or later, you'll meet someone who will be overjoyed to have you there as the one to bring happiness to her life." Davis nodded again, and then shook his head dismissively.
"Speaking of which," Davis said with a suggestive undertone, "Where's that guy who you're so overjoyed to have around and brings you happiness at?" Yolei felt her face redden and she forced her gaze to the floor. Davis laughed good-naturedly. "Go find him, Yolei," the brown-haired boy instructed. "You don't want him to think that you don't want him around, do you?" Yolei looked up at Davis for a moment before nodding. She then turned and left with only a wave of her lavender hair. Davis again found a sad smile come briefly to his lips. With a heavy sigh, he found a seat against the wall of the gym.
"Best of luck to both of you," Davis said to himself as he sat on the metal chair. His eyes looked up at the ceiling of the mock-dance hall, and he grinned. "Looks like it's my turn to sit out."
As Kari's arms wrapped around his waist, TK felt a sudden rush of comfort unlike anything he could ever remember experiencing. His arms returned the embrace immediately, nearly forgetting everything that had happened in the past week. After a moment, however, Kari pulled back and looked up to TK's cerulean eyes. "I thought you'd never make it," Kari said, smiling at TK. TK tilted his head.
"How interesting," TK said slowly, "The girl who had only just yesterday asked to not come with me now wanted me to come." Kari's smile faded as she, too, remembered what had transpired on the previous day.
"TK, I-" Kari began. However, TK's finger pressed gently to her lips to stop her. She looked at the boy curiously.
"You don't need to apologize, Kari," TK told her. "After the rain has fallen, and all this has passed, you'll find that I've taken nothing that love can't replace in the blink of an eye." Kari watched TK in increasing confusion as he continued, "I love you, I care about you, and I still want to be with you with all of my heart. I'm sorry for every time that my trust and respect for you has seemed to falter, and I promise that it never truly has. I trust you more than anyone else in the world, and I respect you just as much. I've been your friend for years now, and we've been together as more than friends for the past nine months. The last thing I'd want to do is bring that to an end. However, I can tell that you're not enjoying the relationship. You haven't wanted me near you for the past week, and I'm not sure why. Nonetheless, I'm willing to give you the space you want, and I will let this relationship fade into the past if that is what you so desire. After all, it is true that after the decision is made, you'll find that I've taken nothing that love can't replace in the blink of an eye." Kari found no words in her throat. She could only stare as TK took a step away form her before slowly turning away.
TK could feel the burning sensation of loss behind his eyes, making him want to dart out the doorway and run home. He'd explained everything that he knew in his heart, and Kari had not replied. Though perhaps it was a bit unfair, he couldn't help but take her silence as an affirmation of his fears. It was then, however, that his movement met a sudden resistance.
"Wait," a small voice pleaded over TK's shoulder while a hand took a firm grip of his wrist. TK slowly turned around to face the girl behind him. Kari stared at the blond-haired boy, and said, "Take me with you." TK looked at the girl, perplexed. "You're right," she continued, "I haven't been enjoying the relationship very much recently. But that's no fault of yours. The fault of that lies with me. But my enjoyment is in conflict with the rest of me, because I know that I love you. You still mean the world to me, TK. I don't know how to describe it myself, except that I've been feeling a bit too enclosed. I guess it happens to a lot of people, that they want some space to be alone in. I've just happened to have that want for time now. I'm sorry that I couldn't make it easier for you to understand this, but I've been struggling with comprehending it myself. It didn't make sense, because I know that I'd be so lost without you in my life. I don't want to lose you like this, I know I don't."
"Then what do you think we should do to fix it?" TK asked after a moment of silence, save the music from the speakers.
"If you can make an effort to give me more space, then I'll make an effort to get my thoughts more organized," Kari answered. "I know you really want to help me with this, but for the moment, I'd like to work with it on my own. I'm fully aware of your offer to help, and I promise that when I need it, I'll ask for it. But I'm hoping that it won't be that complicated, and that we can just get back to the way we were before my mind decided to make my life difficult." TK nodded slowly.
"I can give you more space," TK confirmed. "Just so long as you understand why I was trying to be comforting." Kari shook her head in the affirmative.
"I understood, TK," Kari assured him, "I've just had trouble accepting it. Another thing you can do, if you're finding that you're really missing me, is remember the times that we've spent together." She then quickly leaned up and kissed TK's cheek. "I promise they won't be our last," she added, "But they're gonna have to go on hold for a little while, alright?"
"Alright," TK said, a spark of happiness weaving back into his voice. The music faded out of the background then. After a moment's hesitation, TK continued, "What would you like to do now?"
"Take me with you," Kari repeated, smiling. "It's windy out, and the sky's full of shining stars. Take me out there; take me to the moon while we still have time." TK looked at her, a bit surprised. "You've been so dedicated to me this past week, even with me trying to push you away," she explained, "That I think I can endure spending a little time alone with you. It's the least I can do to show how much your support means to me." TK smiled back at the brown-haired girl, offering his arm to her. Kari gladly accepted the invitation and walked out of the school gym on the arm of her boyfriend. As the couple stepped out into the hallway, the brightness of the neon lights shocked their eyes.
"Ow," Kari said dryly after the initial reaction, her hand shading her eyes. TK chuckled.
"It's surprising to see the bearer of light so hurt by her own element," TK said lightly. Kari looked at the boy with a playful glare. "But speaking of which," TK added as he saw Kari's white dress, highlighted by faint pink beams stretching diagonally across the fabric, in proper lighting for the first time, "You look quite radiant yourself." Kari dropped her gaze at the warm sensation in her cheeks.
"Careful, TK," Kari warned, "Or I may just have to extinguish your ability to see light." It wasn't until after the statement that TK realized the brown-haired girl was joking. He smiled, taking Kari's free hand in his own.
"Okay, enough threats, Kari," TK said in request. Kari nodded, following TK's lead down the hallway. "Anyways," TK said after a moment, "Who was your gorgeous date that brought you here?" Kari blinked, and then giggled.
"I wouldn't ever be able to call Davis, Yolei, or Ken gorgeous," Kari said with a shake of her head. TK, too, laughed at the idea. Kari briefly ran into the coatroom, snatching her pink coat and scarf from the far end of the rack. "No, I had no gorgeous date to go in with," she continued as TK opened the main door of the school for her, "I just had the perfect thief come along and steal me away from it."
(Alrighty, then. Now we wonder if that worked at all. Does it work for me? Sure. Is there self-insertion? Not in the way anyone would think. I came up with the outline for this chapter back in July and it's stayed the same since then. Writing plausible dialogue seemed to get really difficult, but I think I just might have pulled off getting what I wanted. However, only you can tell me if I did or not. Give me feedback! Did it work, did it not work. Are the characters too out of context, or are they believable? Tell me now, and you'll appreciate it later. And now, I get to work on Chapter 11. Only 3 more chapters to go for this book to be completed! Then it's into Book 3 and all the excitement that such entails. I'm excited. But before we get there, I have to write the three best damn chapters of this book.)
