"You don't - Kari you can't - I -" TK's words were stuck in his throat. Kari pressed a hand to his cheek, longing to hear him tell her, to explain. But he couldn't handle it, couldn't take the fact that someone had seen, that someone knew - and couldn't take that out of everyone, it had been Kari.

He struggled to his feet desperately, but knew there was no where to run in that sinister darkness. He turned away from her, unable to meet that beautiful face that he wasn't worthy of looking at, those crimson eyes he didn't have the right to gaze into -

He felt her soft touch as she brushed against his arm. He trembled, forgetting everything, and faced her, his eyes red from tears. The soft glow in her gaze calmed him. His knees shook. He realized...realized he wanted...to tell her....everything...

"TK...what's wrong?" she whispered. Her hand closed softly around his. It was so soothing...his body went numb as he began to speak.

"Kari...I...my parents...I couldn't take...it's my fault..." he struggled on the last words and the tenseness flowed through his body again. Kari's reached up to his face, her other hand gripping his tightly. He felt his fingers close slowly around her delicate hand as she ran the back of her hand across his cheek. Her eyes were wide...deep....beautiful...

"No..." she said gently, quietly. Her heart was tearing, knowing the pain that was flowing through him, knowing what he had done to himself to subdue it. "It's not your fault, TK, how could you ever...ever think that? Do you have any...any idea how wonderful you are? Why do you feel this way?"

"Everything's on me, Kari, don't you understand?" TK was getting desperate. The guilt of all these years was pouring out of him now, after he'd bottled it all up, taken it out in pain, hidden it behind a covering of blue eyes. "It was all after me, after I was born, none of it happened when Matt was an only child...and I promised, I promised I would take care of everything, but our Mom's depressed and I can't help in any way, and Matt has it even worse than me, living with Dad and having to suffer through more, I'm just not worth it Kari, I let everyone down, and then I heard about how you rub salt into your skin and run ice over it...and it burned, and it was so easy, and no one knew, and it took all of it and made it real, made it hurt on the surface instead of underneath. I had to, Kari, I -"

TK froze. Kari grabbed the back of his neck and pulled her face to his. She had to make him realize, had to wake him up. She pressed his forehead to his, kept her soft grip in his hair, her tighter grip on his hand. He stared at her, barely breathing, seeing her eyes watering as she tried to hold back tears.

"No, TK." she whispered. He could see the a glare from the flames flickering in her eyes, just as she saw it flickering off his face. She spoke very slowly, holding her gaze, unblinking. "It's not your fault. Its not. You are...amazing. You are so amazing. Everything that happened in your family isn't your fault. I know...your parents fought, and you felt terrible...but don't let it destroy you like this...Takeru... nothing you've done to yourself matters, it doesn't...its not your fault. TK, your parents love you, and Matt loves you, and..."

TK felt her breathe brush against his lips. He couldn't think...only felt the sensation of relief washing over him, mixed with an unbearable anticipation as Kari's finger ran through his hair, her eyes locked on his, her voice quiet but unfaltering.

"...and I love you..."

Time froze. Kari leaned into him. As his free hand found her waist, he let one final tear roll down his cheek. But it wasn't anguished anymore. It was a tear of relief. He trembled, said the words he so desperately wanted to say...

"...I love you, Kari..." he whispered.

Kari closed her eyes, sinking into him, giving into the feeling. She loved him...she loved him... and he loved her...and nothing else mattered anymore...she could feel his breathe, so close...she gripped his hand, leaned forward -

"Kari! TK! OVER HERE!!!"

Both of their heads snapped towards the sound suddenly. Instinctively, they pulled away, letting go of each other's hands. Hawkmon, along with Davis, Veemon, Patamon, Yolie and Tai, ran towards the two. Gatomon stirred in her sleep, but she was a cat Digimon - and everyone knows that cats can sleep through an earthquake. Luckily, the fire was so dim that no one had seen TK and Kari's moment. Tai tackled his sister in a giant hug, unaware of what had just taken place.

"KARI! I was SO WORRIED ABOUT YOU!" He yelled, his voice echoing out into the darkness. Davis pushed the big brother quickly out of the way, thankful for an excuse to hug Kari.

"YEAH! Me too, Kari! I missed you so much, I was so worried, and -" Yolie grabbed the back of his shirt and yanked him off a startled, slightly amused Kari.

"OFF, Davis." she said, placing him beside Tai. Patamon looked desperately around for TK, and once he found him, he flew into his arms instantly.

"TK!" he said happily in his high-pitched voice. TK smiled and hugged the little Digimon. Tai chuckled when he saw it and tackled the blond in an older-brother type bear hug.

"TK! Little guy! You're alright!" he said. Tai pulled away and Davis slapped the Bearer of Hope a high five.

"TY! You made it, man, awesome! Your brother will be getting here soon, he went to go get Sora and Cody..."

"So everything's ok?" said Kari, walking up beside TK with a sleeping Gatomon in her arms. TK looked at her and she gazed back, her eyes soft. She loves me, he thought, his heart gone wild with happiness.

"Well, technically," said Yolie ominously. The light-hearted feeling faded quickly as the others turned towards her. She seemed reluctant to go on. "You see...Izzy sent me this email...we should probably wait till the others get here -"

"What email?" said Hawkmon looking up at his human partner.

"Yeah, come on Yolie, show us," said Veemon instantly. The others nodded their agreement as Yolie sighed anxiously.

"Alright, here it is..." she flipped open her detector and clicked on the screen.