An Angels Wings
Three days had passed since the accident, and no one wanted to talk about it; especially not Kari. Sure she remembered the visit, and the reason T.k. had come and seen her, but that didn't stop it from hurting.
"Kari?" Miyako asked tentatively, her friend had seemed fine the day after the accident, like she'd accepted it. However Miyako had decided quite firmly that accepting did not mean she was all right.
"Pardon? Oh, yes?" Kari answered, seeming to fall back to earth with an unpleasant thump.
"I was just wondering what we were going to do about our project for homeroom, what should we choose as a topic?"
"I don't know, just anything I suppose."
That's the problem, Miyako thought to herself, she's too passive, to compliant. Almost like there's nothing that interests her anymore. It's not like her… The bell rang, signaling the end of the day. The two girls separated, and went home, both deep in thought.
---
Matt left the studio that day alone, as he had since his brothers death. It wasn't like him not to be social; he didn't even talk to the other digidestined much anymore. He was like a shadow, a shadow that drifted across the walls silently, not talking, not listening, not seeing. Just… existing.
He got home, opened the door, and went straight to his room. Where he flopped down indifferently on the bed. The phone had been unplugged ages ago, and his laptop hadn't seen daylight, or light of any origin for a few days either.
He was a shadow.
---
Kari had arrived home only to find Ken waiting for her at her door, his expression unreadable as he leant casually on the white-washed wall of the building.
"Oh, hi Ken." She said quietly.
"Hey." He replied.
They stood in silence for a few moments. Kari motioned towards her door. "If you'd like, you could come in, I suppose."
Ken nodded, and stepped away from the apartment door, allowing Kari to open it. He motioned for her to go through first, watching her hang up her coat before he said anything. "What are you and Miyako doing for your homeroom project?"
Kari closed the door behind them, and kicked off her shoes before answering. "She's choosing, I really couldn't care less about the politics of oil."
"Ah, I see." Once again there was an uncomfortable silence, lasting longer then the first. "Kari, are you okey?" He realized to late what a stupid, stupid thing to say that had been,
She looked up at him like he truly was a moron, her hurt glare piercing. And expression he had never seen sat angrily on her normally content features. "Ken, my boyfriend was just killed by a drunk driver in a car, that car squished him like a bug, and I watched it happen. Do you have any idea how that feels? You know what the worst part is though? There was nothing I could do about it; I couldn't do anything to help him. For that alone I feel like a piece of crap, but to add on to the reality that I can't stop thinking about him, I loved him Ken, and there is absolutely no way I'll ever be able to see him again. Watch him kick a soccer ball, see him laugh, Patamon is going to be destroyed when he finds out." She stopped and took a breath.
"On that topic, have you seen Matt lately? He a shadow Ken, a shell. T.K.'s not here, and that alone would be hard to handle for Matt, but the additional bit that the ass hole driving his car didn't even get a scratch? Matt has not only not spoken to anyone; he's also shut himself in his apartment. I asked Izzy yesterday, he won't answer the phone, or the door. He doesn't talk to anyone in his band unless he has to, and even then it's minimal. His group members are worried about their lead singer because he's leaving rehearsal early.
"So to answer your question, no. I am not 'okey'. So fuck you and your stupid questions!"
Ken stared at her for a minute, completely shocked. He shook his head to snap out of it. "Kari, you need to let him go eventually. It's not your fault, you can't keep replaying the scenario with little alterations over and over again. It won't change."
"You think I don't know that Ichijouji?! Why the hell else would I be so upset!?!" Without another word to him, she stormed off down the hall to her room, slamming the door as she entered.
"Well, you've certainly done it this time Ken." Tai muttered, he'd been listening from outside the apartment door. Kari hadn't closed it properly.
Ken dropped his gaze to his shoes, hiding the tears forming in his eyes from the sudden hurt he hadn't expected to come his way. Kari doesn't yell, and yet somehow I've managed to become the first target… that was so dumb Ichijouji, she was completely right to scream at you. "I didn't… mean to… I wanted to help… Tai."
The older boy nodded. "I know, go home. I'll see if I can talk to her." Tai politely 'didn't notice' Ken running his sleeve over his face as he exited.
Never win first place, I don't support the team. I can't take direction and my socks are never clean
Kari left her Science class the next day absolutely miserable. She knew that she hadn't done well on the test, and was furious at herself for not being able to concentrate. When I get that test back I'll be even more unhappy because then I'll really know I failed!
"Kari?" Davis tapped her shoulder as they headed to gym. "You okey? It looked like you were about to kill something in there."
She breathed in deeply before answering, using every last shred of self- control to not fling her hatred of the world at him like she had Ken last night. It seemed to her she wanted to do that more and more lately. "I think I'm fine Davis, why?" She asked coolly.
Teachers dated me, my parents hated me.
He sighed, adjusting his goggles on his head. "I dunno, ever since T.k.. you've sort of faded in and out. Like in science for example, you began to flicker, almost like you were an image on a T.V. with really bad reception."
Kari glared at him fleetingly, he winced. "Don't scare me right now Davis that only happened once when I was being pulled into th-" She stopped suddenly, causing the person behind her to squish her against a row of lockers as they continued past. Her eyes misted. "Oh no." Then she just disappeared, same as turning a light bulb on and off.
The next thing Kari knew was that she was standing in the middle of the beach at the dark ocean. Scubamon poured from the water to surround her, ripping off her backpack and knocking her books from her arms. No…this isn't happening! T.k.! Help! They leaped at her, all trying to drag the frail girl into the ocean, can't I do anything right!? God, help! T.K.! T.K.! She fought like some wild creature, twisting, biting, clawing, kicking, slashing, and punching everything in a vain attempt to escape.
I was always in a fight 'cuz I, can't do nothin right.
"Kari!" Davis gasped; no one else in the hall seemed to notice that a teen, backpack and all, had just disappeared in the middle of the school. "Ken!" He whispered, "Ken knows about this stuff!" He dashed off to Dr. Kingston's class, hoping to catch the other boy before he left.
"Ken!"
Ken turned, Davis plowing into him. Both boys hit the linoleum flooring with a painful crash. "Ow." Ken grunted.
"Ow." Davis confirmed.
"What was this urgent?" Ken asked as he stood, helping Davis to his feet as well.
"Kari." He panted, out of breath from running.
Ken nearly dropped his math textbook and calculator. "What? What happened?"
"She… she was flickering in science. I didn't… think anything of it until we were out in the hall… then she just sort of disappeared." He swallowed, and managed to continue in full sentences. "I think they got her, I think she's in the dark ocean!"
Ken cursed to himself out of fear and frustration. Cold dread beginning to build in his center. "Stall that new gym teacher as long as you can from taking attendance, I need to get to the computer lab. If you run into any of the others, tell them what's happened, got it?"
Davis nodded. Ken bolted.
---
When Ken reached the computer lab (which was at the opposite end of the school) he immediately dropped his stuff by a computer, whipping out his black D3 in the process. I am the luckiest boy on the planet that no one is in here right now… The blank monitor reflected his image, for a second, he thought it was the Digimon Emperor looking back at him. You're about to go back there, and this is what you think about?! I am not that person!
Every day I fight a war against the mirror, I can't take the person staring back at me… I'm a hazard to myself.
Miyako burst through the door, as he was about to open the portal. "I… heard… about… Kari." She gasped. "I'm coming… with you." She let her blue and black backpack fall off her shoulders and land on the floor beside his. Standing up straight and daring him to challenge her.
"You might not be able to cross." He said instantly
"T.K. could do it, I can." They both froze in place, eyes meeting, then flicking away as she realized what she'd said. "I'm coming."
I don't have time for this! Ken gave in with: "Fine, grab my shirt or something; and don't let go!"
She wrapped her arms around his waist tightly. "Go."
"Ocean port, open!" The world turned upside down as the pair was sucked into the computer, Miyako clinging on for everything she was worth. It won't be to late, it can't be to late! Ken though to himself over and over. She'll be okey, we'll get to her fast enough!
They landed with a jolt on the sand both slightly confused and disoriented in the black, white and grey environment, Ken recovered first, pulling Miyako to her feet. "This… is the dark ocean…?" She whispered. "It's so devoid of… live… of colour…"
Ken nodded, his head going back and forth trying to see anything in the slight mist. "Yes, I know, can you see anything?"
She look around as well, finally saying: "There, there's something a ways to my right."
Ken looked, trusting her eyes as he still couldn't see anything. They began to run down the beach, matching each other stride for stride. There was a comforting bond that settled between them with this synchronization, something they both came to the conclusion was needed when they were so alone, and so scared.
---
Kari struggled in vain, knowing that if she ignored the thoughts coming from one half of her mind, maybe she could get away, postpone the inevitable, be safe. "Help!" She managed to scream, even if by all rights, she knew that no one was supposed to be there, no one could help her.
Calm down Hikari…
Give in to yourself…
Come with us…
That's why you're here…
Come home…
"NO!" She screamed again. "I won't!"
Don't let me get me. I'm my own worst enemy, it's'bout what you wouldn't know yourself.
A thought itched at the back of Ken's mind, something he didn't like and couldn't quite place his finger on. Black, and vile. It lurked on the edge of his thoughts, trying to distract him. Let me out… I am a part of you… you cannot discard me… so live me, be me! Ken stumbled, losing step with Miyako, No! I will have nothing more to do with you!
So irritating. Don't wanna be my friend no more, I wanna be somebody else.
Kari was now pinned flat against the sand, she couldn't move, was having a hard time breathing. All of the Scubamon seemed to have found a way to weigh her down, and there wasn't anything she could do. I don't want to be here! Make someone else go through this! I've done enough! I want to be some other normal kid! I've done enough!
I wanna be somebody else.
Ken and Miyako reached the object that Miyako had glimpsed, horrified to discover that it was just a literal mob of Scubamon piled upon one-another, always moving, ever shifting. A muffled scream came from it, Miyako had to think a second before realizing what it was.
"Oh God!" She cried, "Kari's under there!" A few of the ugly digimon turned at her shriek.
Ken grabbed the one straying closest to the pair, it's feet-fins brushing the sand as he hauled it up by it's thin ear webbing. "What's going on!?"
The little thing cowered under his glare. "Hikari!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Miyako cried, stress beginning to show.
"She came to us! She brought herself here! She's ours and you have no power here!" Ken glared furiously at the little creature.
"I practically made this place! You are the one who is inferior in this situation!" He yelled. Miyako took a step back, Ken didn't yell. He was always the one who seemed to understand the problem fastest, find a way to fix it, even when the rest of them were terrified and couldn't think straight, he did. To see his emotions displayed so furiously scared her.
"Ken…" She whispered.
He either didn't hear or ignored her, pushing the Scubamon away. I can fix this… there is a way… he watched the movement of the mob; they were inching towards the ocean steadily. Ken… help us… you were the one who came here before any other… this place is a part of you… help us…
Miyako could only watch in perplexed horror as Ken twitched, staring at the pile of digimon, tense, oblivious, hard. Everything about him cold and calculating. What's happening here that I can't see? Why can't I do anything…?
Kari was starting to fade, something was pressing on her lungs and she couldn't breathe, couldn't see, couldn't hear... Memories began to replay in front of her, swaying, changing
"Kari! C'mere!" T.K. called across the field, the digidestined had all gathered to play soccer in a park near Odiaba elementary. The sun caught his hair and turned it a transparent glowing gold. A halo of light around his head
Snap
A voice was shouting, it sounded like…some one she knew once. "I care too much about you to give you up without a fight!"
Snap
Bang! She hit the lockers, the wind knocked out of her. A new voice sneered, "You should learn not to stand up for the little people, you're not cut out for the job."
Snap
"Kari! Why is your eye black?"
"I just got the wrong person annoyed at me, don't worry mom."
"What? What do you mean?"
"It's alright mom, there's nothing to worry about, it won't happen again."
Snap
Whispers echoing around her, she couldn't tell from where. "She's never going to be anything special."
"It's not like she's beautiful or anything."
"So nice, such a teachers pet."
"I'll bet that's just a front and she's really some horrible slut."
"Yeah! I heard…"
Elle told me, you'll be a pop star. All you have to change, is everything you are. Tired of being compared, to damn Brittany Spears. She's so pretty, that just ain't me.
Her head began to pound from lack of oxygen; the first thing her muddled thoughts came to was that she'd need a Tylenol later. You should be more worried about your current problem, not how to fix it if you get home! Half of her brain pointed out. I'm not going to get out of this one, so why worry? I can't move I can't breath; I don't even want to be here…
Doctor, doctor won't you please prescribe me something, a day in the life of some one else! 'Cuz I'm a hazard to myself.
With an incredible amount of effort Ken thrust aside the thoughts lurking around him. He moved to action so fast that Miyako gave a little yelp of surprise before she gathered herself and tried to help. He was throwing them off the main pile, grabbing ears, feet, anything he could see in his direct line of vision. He'd dispatched of about five before they started playing with his thoughts.
Ken, you came back to us…
It's good to see you again Ken…
Help us with our job Ken…
You know you can, and part of you wants to…
Trying to ignore it, he began pulling more of the Scubamon off of Kari. The vile, black thing at the edge of his consciousness expanding, he still didn't know what it was exactly, only that it had no good intentions, that it had been the part of him that created the Digimon Emperor.
Don't let me get me. I'm my own worst enemy, it's'bout what you wouldn't know yourself. So irritating, don't wanna be my friend no more, I wanna be somebody else.
Kari's eyes were slightly closed; she was passing in and out of conciseness. It was getting lighter though, from a complete black out, it was a slightly lighter gray. I want to go home.
Don't let me get me. I'm my own worst enemy, it's'bout what you wouldn't know yourself. So irritating, don't wanna be my friend no more, I wanna be somebody else… wanna be somebody else.
Miyako was beside him now, pulling as many of them away as possible. Most of the Scubamon came back after they were thrown off though, making the task almost impossible. Karis' hand was lying free of the Scubamon, her skin ghostly pale, fingers curled weakly.
Doctor, doctor won't you please prescribe me something? A day in the life of some one else… don't let me get me.
Thoughts bounced off the confinements of Ken's mind, making his head hurt, making it more difficult to ignore the Scubamon, mor difficult to think clearly. If T.k. were here, he'd probably come just short of killing me if I let them get Kari. He did a mental double take, if T.k. were here, this probably wouldn't be happening.
I'm a hazard to myself. Don't let me get me, I'm my own worst enemy, it's'bout what you wouldn't know yourself.
Kari slowly stopped struggling, even in her mind she'd began to accept it. No one's here, I'm going to die, or something worse… She closed her eyes a moment, trying to take a calming breath, but there were to many Scubamon on top of her. I wish T.K. were here, with Tai, and Miyako, and Ken...all of them... they would never let me go… Finally, one interesting thought snagged what little attention she had left. How did they get me here… ? It must be my fault too…
So irritating, don't want to be my friend no more, I wanna be somebody else. I'm a hazard to myself.
Miyako was on the verge of losing it, they seemed to be making no difference what so ever, and they were tiring. She couldn't keep going on forever, they would have to rest, there were so many of those awful little digimon… both digiestined knew they were in trouble.
"Ken, this isn't, working!" She gasped between ripping off more Scubamon.
"Well, do you have, a better idea?!" He retorted.
Miyako eyed Karis hand. "Yes…"
Don't let me get me, 'm my own worst enemy, it's'bout what you wouldn't know yourself.
Through the fog that was suffocating her, Kari thought she felt something grasp her wrist. We're probably at the surf now, they're getting ready to drag me in properly. I don't want this to end… I want to live… The thing at her wrist jerked suddenly, sending the top-most Scubamon tumbling off the pile.
"It's working!"
"Again!"
It pulled, now she was breathing with less trouble. More of the vile creatures fell to the sand, dazed.
"Once more!"
She was pulled completely free this time, gray light assaulted her eyes. Weakly, she brought up her free arm to shade them.
"Kari! You're okey!" Miyako pulled her friend to her feet.
"What?"
Ken grinned broadly, then realized a huge problem. The first Scubamon that had fallen were gathering, standing in a circle around them like hungry wolves. Now we are in the real fire. "How do we get back?"
It's bad, it's so bad... don't irritate me.
A fuzzy white light grew almost instantly in front of them. The group raised arms and hands to shade their eyes, Miyako gripped Kens shoulder, and her wrapped an arm protectively around Karis waist.
T.K. faded into solid existence from the light, it was an open portal, Ken could see data flashing behind the blonde-haired boy. Holy… I didn't know that was possible…
T.K. came forward enough to pull his girlfriend into his arms, holding her tightly and burying his face in her hair. The couple just stood like that for a moment, until T.K. brought his eyes up to meet Kens. "Will you watch her, look after her, please?" His voice was strained, tight.
Ken nodded, "I will."
T.K. moved his hand up to her chin and gently brought her face up to look at him. "Don't do this to yourself Kari… please… I can't just watch you hurt yourself…" He murmured, her eyes were over flowing with tears.
"I'll stay here, or go with you – "
He laughed quietly and shook his head, kissing her forehead. "I'm a memory, imprinted here from the last time. I'm a memory imprinted a thousand places from what I remember from my life, it's not possible for you to come. I'm dead…" She closed her eyes and took in a sharp breath, hearing him say it hurt more then she could have imagined. "You need to go home…"
She nodded as best she could, and let him guide her towards the streaming data. "T.K.?"
"Yes?" He pulled her back to him again.
She rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes, she was so tired…"Can we get rid of them? At all?"
T.K. smiled softly. "No, they are part of this place. That can't be changed…" His gaze fell over Ken. "I can help you though." Ken stiffened visibly. "There's something you want to leave here."
The other boy nodded slowly. "That can't be done, short of some sort of defiance of natural laws."
T.K. smirked good-naturedly. "Well, I'm no longer natural." He reached out and touched a finger to Kens forehead, drawing away a small, light-consuming black sphere. He held it out to his friend. "Do what you want with it, you can leave it here if you like." He wrapped both arms around Kari again, relishing the contact.
Ken looked at the small sphere long and hard, it had a strong resemblance to the black spores. He shuddered. In one smooth, defiant motion he hurled it into the forest that ran along the ocean, above the sand. Watching it disappear into the trees. "Thank you."
T.K. nodded, bending his head to talk to Kari again. "No more isolation anymore. It's dangerous, Ken can't watch you all the time, and I cannot keep appearing. The dead are supposed to stay dead." He felt her grip around his neck tighten. He winced, let me go… Kari… He hugged her tightly back, kissing her face lightly. Firmly, he distangled her hands from his hair and around his neck, passing her to Ken with a pained expression on his face. She fell unconscious as Ken caught her fragile form.
"Take her home, and don't you dare let her go to school tomorrow." The sandy haired boy warned, his features taunt across his face.
Ken and Miyako nodded. "We promise." T.k. brought them through the portal, leaving them in Tai's room and fading away similar to a rainbow, past its glory.
Miyako helped Ken lay Kari on the lower bunk, and then wrapped a blanket around her. The pair went out to the living room, collapsing on the couch. They sat in a suffocating silence until Ken sighed, "I'm not sure this will actually have a happy ending of any sort." He whispered.
Don't wanna be my friend no more, I wanna be somebody else…