"Tai, I can't talk right now -"

"Oh yes, you can. Matt, you go talk to TK, all right?" Tai said, but when he turned, Matt was already gone. Davis was still rubbing the front of his neck.

"Sorry, guys, I...I guess I blew up. I was mad about Veemon...but I didn't think TK would..." he looked completely astonished at the blond's reaction. Sora and Yolie, who were kneeling beside the bandaged, injured Digimon, looked at each other silently. Cody was watching the entrance of the cave, the glow of the fire flickering off his face.

"Something you said really set him off," said the boy. Ken nodded in quiet agreement.

"Cody's right. He was really angry..." he whispered. His eyes were gazing at the embers with a faraway gaze. "...you could see it in his eyes." Everyone was silent for a moment. If anyone knew anger, it was the former Digimon Emperor. Tai turned back to Kari, who was trying her best to slip into the shadows.

"Come on, Hikari, what's up? You can tell us." Kari looked up at her big brother, thinking for a split second that maybe he was right - but a giant wave of loyalty swept over her. Her love for TK constrained her. It was not for her to tell them.

"No, I can't, Tai. You don't understand. It's TK's life, not mine. I have no right to tell you."

"Come on, Kari, he nearly choked Davis! We have to know a little of what's going on!" said Yolie, but her tone wasn't as angry as it was pleading. Her eyes sought an answer from Kari from behind her flickering glasses, and Kari felt a wave of guilt, knowing her best friend was beseeching her, asking her why. But she couldn't tell them yet. She had to talk to TK.

"I can't, Yolie. I have to see TK. Please, Tai, you have to understand...TK's feeling things you may never give him credit for...and I'm trying so hard to help him. Please, Tai..."

Davis looked at Kari. But it was not with the usual, Oh-my-gosh-she's-pretty-I-hope-she-stares-back look he often gave her. It was studious, pensive, almost understanding. He put a hand on Tai's shoulder.

"Let her talk to him, man. Kari...when you're done, I wanna talk to him too, ok?" Kari felt a rush of gratitude go out to the Bearer of Courage and she smiled, but could not speak. Tai, despaired, shook his head.

"Soon we'll ALL be out in the rain talking to TK...oh well...when you get back I'm expecting an explanation, Kari. Come on Augumon, let's gets closer to the fire..." He went and sat by Sora, who was watching Kari as she left the cave, watching Davis as he sat down beside Veemon, watching as Ken stared hazily into the flames. She was putting it all together, very slowly.

Kari stepped out into the rain and sighed. The rain was soothing to her, letting it drip through her hair, against her clothes. It was the one eternal cure that could heal anything from a headache to a lost soul. It reminded her of TK.

With that thought, she heard the yell raise up from behind her. She spun, hearing Matt's and TK's voices echoing through the rain, as Gabumon and Patamon tried to calm them.

"Matt! Calm down! TK hasn't done anything -" pleaded Gabumon.

"GOD TK, JUST TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG! IS IT ABOUT MOM? DAD?" shouted Matt.

"YOU DON'T GET IT MATT, YOU JUST DON'T -" TK started.

"Please TK, don't fight -" struggled Patamon, but both brothers seemed unable to hear.

"WHAT COULDN'T I UNDERSTAND, TK? I'M YOUR BROTHER! EVERYTHING YOU WENT THROUGH WAS THE SAME FOR ME -"

"NO, MATT. YOU DON'T GET IT. YOU HAD MUSIC, YOU HAD AN OUTLET WHEN IT ALL BUILT UP. I NEVER HAD THAT. I COULDN'T TAKE IT AS MUCH, I DIDN'T HAVE THE DISTRACTIONS YOU DID, THE PRESSURE, THE RESPONSIBILITY, I WAS YOUNGER, I WAS ALWAYS ALONE -"

"BUT YOU HAD ME, TK, YOU HAD ME! WHY DIDN'T YOU EVER TELL ME?!"

"I COULDN'T, Matt... I just couldn't..."

Kari rounded the corner of the overhang, her hair soaked, her clothes dripping from the rain, her body trembling from cold that she failed to notice. TK's face had gone soft and uneasy. Matt was looking at him, half in subtle anger and half in worry. Both brothers turned their faces to her simultaneously. Matt's face turned puzzled. TK saw her and trembled as the guilt fled from him.

"Kari..." he breathed, his eyes shining. Kari ran up to him and put both hands on his face as his knees shook. His arms held to her for support.

"Matt, I need to talk to him. Please. You can talk to him in a minute, ok?" she said desperately. Matt expression changed from angry, to confused, and finally admitted a brief defeat. He mumbled something, looked faintly at TK, and walked away. Kari's focus turned entirely back to the blond, who's eyes were beginning to cloud.

"I didn't mean to do any of that, Kari..." he whispered. Kari stroked his hair gently. He held her closer, half-afraid she might somehow disappear. "I didn't want to yell at Matt, I didn't want to hurt Davis...it's just...what he said..." Kari slid a hand across his cheek and he swallowed.

"Sh...I know, Takeru...I know...here, look at me..." His broken gaze met hers and Kari's insides turned. Her heart pace quickened.

"It was not...your...fault...none of it was. You did not tear them apart, you did not let them down, you didn't hurt Davis or Matt..." she chuckled a little. "In fact, I can't keep you for too long, I think Davis wants to apologize..."

"Davis?" said TK. The words had shaken him from his darker feeling. "Davis? He wants to apologize?" Kari laughed again and TK's smile broke through at the sound.

"I know, that's what I thought. So...are you ok?" TK paused, thinking. His gaze fell into Kari's eyes and he smiled. Kari realized it a second before it happened; she closed her eyes as she felt his lips press against hers. Nothing could've compared too it. It was beautiful, magical. She savoured the moment. TK locked it in his memory.

He broke away, slowly, his eyes still watery but drying. Kari smiled quietly and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Now I am," he whispered. Kari never remembered feeling happier.

"So...I'm sorry, Davis."

"Nah, man, I'm sorry..."

"Friends?"

Davis took his hands and held it for a second.

"Friends."

TK grinned and the two headed back in the cave. The blond sat down between Cody and Kari, putting the recovering Patamon in his lap. Davis sat beside Ken, who was holding Wormmon, and Veemon, on his feet but bandaged, pushed past Augumon to get beside his partner.

"Hey, be careful!" said Augumon as he stepped close to the flames. Biomon chuckled.

"You shouldn't be afraid of fire, Augumon. You throw fire all the time." she said.

"Yeah, out my mouth. That doesn't mean I can't get burned!" Sora chuckled at the two Digimon. Tai's focus was on TK, whose shirt, though still ripped, was not revealing anything at the moment.

"So, TK," he asked. "What's up?"

The question was a typical, everyday question, but everyone knew the answer would be more. TK glanced at Kari, getting reassurance in her crimson eyes. He took a breathe.

"Guys, I have to tell you something..."

He searched for Kari's hands, and her fingers wrapped around his silently.