From the last chapter…

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.


An Angels Wings

Miyako nodded, her eyes filling with tears behind her glasses. There was another silence before she voiced the fear hiding at the back of her head. "You were terrifying there, so… calculating, cold… I thought…" She stopped herself, averting her eyes to watch her fingers intertwine themselves again, and again…

"What?" He asked, wrapping his hand over her fingers.

"I though for a moment I was looking at the Digimon Emperor again…" She glanced up long enough to see his face, he looked like he'd been slapped. She watched their hands again, saw his grip tighten over her hands.

He swallowed. "I am not that person anymore. I left that in the dark ocean, and I will never, never be like that again."

She raised her eyes to look at him, they were still flooded with tears. He gently pulled off her glasses, dabbing at the wetness with the sleeve of his red shirt. "I'm just Ken Ichijouji now, Miya." He pulled her into a hug, letting her curl up into him like a small child. "It'll be ok."

---

Matt rolled over, pulling the bed covers around him into an even more tangled mess of cloth. He was securely cocooned, like some sort of very large caterpillar, thinking that if he waited long enough, he would turn into a butterfly and all the sadness of the world would evaporate. The blinds on the window were closed, it was close to four and it seemed that the sun was shining through only to spite the man hidden in his bed.

Grudgingly, he rolled off the mattress and landed on his feet on the carpeting. Why bother…? He asked himself. The band's rehearsing at 5:30, I should at least shower and eat something before then. It would be good to drink something too… his thoughts came around in the never-ending circle. Why bother… ?

---

Kari had awoken to the sight of the bottom of her brothers' old bunk bed, she was even vaguely content for a while before she started to process things again. How come I'm not in my bed? Oh… She couldn't stop herself from reviewing her day, from the science test to T.K., all over, and over again. Specific scenes replaying more then others; like when T.K. had made her let him go. That hurt, she could almost feel his fingers gently untangling her own from his hair. She rolled onto her side, staring at the wall with tears suddenly in her eyes. I don't want to even think anymore! The drops of salt water began rolling down her cheeks. I want it to stop…

After almost an hour of staring silently at the wall, her face, the pillow, and her shirt sleeve were thoroughly soaked. Meiko's going to be in my laundry basket again… she smiled fleetingly, she'll want all the salt… Finally, she forced herself to sit on the edge of the bed. Drying her eyes again with her other sleeve, she cast her gaze around the room. Everything is so… washed, grey… she let her head hang, like my perspective of life…

Hikari stood up, her eyes still watching her white socks. She wandered out of her brothers room and into her room next door, throwing her sand and tear covered shirt into the laundry and putting on a light blue blouse over a white tank top. Without really thinking, she left the apartment, completely oblivious of Miyako and Ken asleep on the couch, Miyako curled into Kens arms.

She walked down the grey concrete stairs, letting her feet take her wherever the hell they wanted to, it wasn't like she cared. Over 45 minutes later, as the sun was starting to settle low in the west, she found herself sitting alone on a bench in the park. It was quiet, the large majority of people were eating dinner, the couples and families with small children wouldn't emerge until later.

I'll go for miles… till I find you…

She realized slowly as she traced her steps back to a few of the places she'd wandered, I was looking for him… She stared at the grass in complete silence. She sighed quietly, eyes now idly following a bird hoping over the green ground in search of a worm. He wanted me to let go, to leave him… it had been bothering her since she'd woken up, why? What's left here? Immediately she realized what a dumb question that was. The rest of school, then probably university, then some career… I don't know if I want that anymore though, it seems so… futile. Another sigh escaped her lips. It's not just his choice! She raged silently, some small part of her surprised and ashamed that she was angry at him. I'm not some little kid, I can make my own choices!

You say you want to leave me… but you can't choose…

I hate you… you stupid, stupid boy. You idiot… you innocent moron… I love you… As quickly as it had come over her, the anger dissipated, leaving her feeling empty and numb. Why does he have this effect on me? She bit her lip, running her teeth over it, letting the pain become something that forced her to stay connected to the real world. Then she got the scare of her life.

Hikari…

She sat up completely straight. I'm not going back there, despite this, her arms flickered. No! I'm not! Leave me alone! She stood up fast, feeling the blood rush from her head. T.K. did everything he could to get me out of there, I am not even going to give any of this a second thought! Then something else occurred to her. If I went back… what if he came… she paused, am I willing to do that? To risk everything I could possibly imagine to see him again? Immediately, part of her answered no, that that was a horribly stupid idea, it shouldn't have even come to her. At the same time, another part answered, yes, you would, you're just scared. Isn't love supposed to cross every boundary?

I've gone through pain…

"Kari!"

She turned, she hadn't thought anyone would bother her here, she was at the center of the park, almost completely surrounded by trees and other greenery. What do they want? I don't need someone prodding me for answers! She was a little surprised to see Izzy standing on the other side of a bush to her right, his briefcase hanging from his hand.

"Hi." He said, smiling.

"Hey." She answered, not making any move to go see him.

"Haven't seen you in a while," He'd noticed her obvious want for him to keep going, trying to start a conversation anyway. He'd heard about T.K. that day at lunch from Joe.

She nodded.

Izzy set his mouth in a straight line, eyeing the hedge, Tai would kill me if I didn't at least try… he began the ungainly process of attempting to get through the thick foliage. Kari raised an eyebrow, then realized how cruel that must look to him. What's wrong with me? I should at least be polite to Izzy, I was never like this – before. She set herself a goal, I'm going to act perfectly freaking normal, even if it does me the grace of death.

Every day and night… I feel my mind is going insane… something I can't fight…

He finished fighting his way through, pulling his foot out last. He looked up in time to see Kari force her annoyed expression away, and arrange her face into a dumb, blank stare. Well, he thought, better a blank stare then an openly hostile glare. He strode over to the bench, setting his briefcase down beside him, then motioned for her to sit down as well.

They sat in silence until Izzy sighed. "Look, I figure I should at least try to help in some way, but frankly; I don't know what's going through your head at all. I'm no psychologist." He paused, carefully choosing his next words. "There are a lot of reasons for a person to quit when they've suffered an emotional blow, but I know that there are also a lot or reasons to keep going. So… maybe quitting right now, even though I would imagine it feels like the world has sufficiently burned down around you, isn't something you want to do."

Kari didn't say anything. After another silence, though this one infinitely less hostile then the last, Izzy stood and picked up his briefcase. He chose to leave by the path this time. As he reached the mouth, he turned around briefly. "I – " He stopped, maybe it's just better to leave… turning around again, he left.

Kari raised her head and watched him as he walked away, disappearing around the corner. She closed her eyes against more tears.

Don't leave me… don't leave me…

Ken woke first, shifting slightly on the soft cream coloured couch. Somewhere behind him, he heard a key fidgeting in a lock, then a door opening. Tai kicked off his shoes and hung up his coat. Wonder if Kari's home? Mind you, I don't know where else she would have gone… "Hello? Kari? Are you home?" Ms. Yagami had gone to a dinner with some of her friends that night, leaving the apartment to her family, and her kids to her husbands cooking.

"In here Tai." Ken called quietly, not wanting to wake Miyako.

The older boy came around the corner, his brown hair as always sticking up at every possible. "Ken? No offense, but what are you doing here?"

"Kari was pulled into the dark ocean just after lunch today, Miyako and I went in after her." He caught sight of Tai's terrified expression. "No, don't worry, she's fine. She's asleep in your room."

Tai started breathing again. "Ok… I'm going to go check on her." He nodded slowly. "You want anything to drink? Munch on?"

Ken shook his head. "It's ok. Going to that place really takes away your appetite."

Tai nodded again, starting down the hall, his facial expression changing and shifting with worry.

A blank expression… covering your face…

At the park, with the sun settling low, Kari abandoned her bench and started to walk home. Feeling a little better if anything from the one-way conversation she and Izzy had had. He tried, he meant well, she told herself, who am I to judge and decide anything? She came to the concrete stairs, avoiding looking at the skid marks the cars tires had made, and the dent in the wall that hadn't been fixed yet. Will it ever really stop hurting? As she came to their level, she heard raised voices coming from behind one of the doors. Probably the little kid next door, with my luck.

As she came to her door, the sun had finally started to set, and she was surprised to find that the argument was taking place behind her door. Confused, she opened it and walked quietly in.

"How could you not notice she was gone?!"

"Tai, calm down, she's probably fine. There's no way she'd let herself go back – "

"That's not the point Ichijouji! You were the one who brought her back! Can't you keep track of one person for a few hours?!"

"Tai, it's not his fault!"

"You're not part of this right now!"

"It's as much 'my fault' as it is his, so if you're going to yell at one of us, you're yelling at the other too!"

"Will you let me finish?!"

"No! You lost her again!"

Kari narrowed her eyes. This is the last thing I need. "Tai, shut up!" She cried as she walked into the living room. "I left of my own accord and if it weren't for these two, I wouldn't be here at all!" Tai and the others fell silent, Tai receiving the worst shock when he saw his sisters' angry expression. "I don't need to be looked after, and I'm a person, not some object that someone misplaced! Ken and Miyako are not my keepers!" She finished with a spectacular glare at him. "Maybe I should have just stayed at the park, it was a far more comfortable atmosphere then 'home'."

I'm looking for directions… for out of this place…

Tai could only watch as his little sister strode to her room and closed the door with a loud bang, completely ignoring them. He turned slowly back to Ken and Miyako. "Gomen, I – " He didn't look at them. "You can go if you like."

Ken took Miyako's hand, leading her out of the Yagami's apartment and walking her home.

Tai collapsed onto the couch that they had occupied not long before, why did I do that? There was no reason to yell at them… He ran his hands over his face, pressing his forehead in frustration. This whole thing was my fault, it should have at least crossed my mind that there was a threat. I failed and I took it out on them…

---

After he had dropped Miyako off, Ken walked to the train station on his own in silence, lost in his thoughts. Tai was partially right to yell at me, I was responsible for her. He clenched his fists, remembering a conversation he'd had with Davis a while ago.

They were walking to Miyako's family store for milkshakes, most of the group ahead of them. He and Davis had never really been close, but they were so different that he was positive they'd have nothing in common. Despite this, he'd still chosen to walk with the exuberant boy.

"Why do you chase her if she's going out with T.K.?" Ken had asked, he had to admit, he was curious.

Davis glanced ahead, making sure that the pair couldn't hear him. "I guess I just do. She wasn't dating T.K. when I first met her, they were just friends. Close friends, but friends. She's smart, and funny, and… really beautiful." He sighed, readjusting his goggles.

Ken nodded. Same reasons, are we really very different at all? He shook his head a little, we're very different in personality, and yet… there she is… He brought his gaze up to watch her, laughing at something so hard she was stumbling a little down the sidewalk, T.K. caught her arms and held her up, he was laughing too.

I start to wonder… if you'll come back…

She is where you fail, Ichijouji, she is what you cannot have, and therefore want. Then something else came to him: Miyako seems interested in me, and Izzy, so I guess that's possible… He transferred his gaze to the long, purple-haired girl. She was walking beside Izzy himself, deep in conversation and debate about something.

"It's interesting, isn't it?" Davis asked no one in particular. "That when you realize you can't have something, or that someone doesn't want you, you don't let go; and want it all the more."

Ken stared at the other boy. I think that's the most philosophical thing I've ever heard him say. "Yes, strange how that works. I guess that's one thing that the advance of technology won't fix."

The memory ended as Ken climbed onto the crowded subway train, he was pressed against on all sides by other people with an equally small amount of room. I can't wait to get off this thing. He stayed standing as he was the full duration of the ride, numb, confused, hurt.

When his stop came, he pushed his way off the train and gratefully strode out onto the sidewalk. It was properly dark out, and the clouds were threatening to rain again. In the distance, he heard a roll of thunder boom across the city. So what do I do?

I feel the rain storming after thunder…

T.K. asked me to look after her, but how am I supposed to know how far that goes? He's the one who got us out of there, he's what really saved us… He side-stepped a pile of some vile smelling substance on the sidewalk, ignoring the other people moving around him with somewhere to be. I'd love to go out with her, I'd love to hug her goodnight and take her to the next school dance, but she's a wreck right now, and he was an incredible friend to me…

---

Matt had gone to rehearsal, he'd showered, eaten, sung; and now all he wanted was to go to sleep again. To sleep forever would be a blessing… he thought to himself. As he went into the bathroom to brush his teeth, to try to make himself fall back into a routine, his eyes caught the bottle of pills on the counter. It was a prescription his roommate had been given as an anti-depressant, innocent looking little white bottle. You're being stupid Matt, it's like standing at the edge of a bridge and wondering what it would be like to fall. More restless then before, he padded out of he bathroom and threw himself onto his bed, still fully clothed. I'm so sick of this, it's like I couldn't laugh if I wanted to. He rolled over, avoiding thinking of anything at all as he slipped into sleep.

Matt… stop it… came a soft voice, it was strained, sad.

He was confused. What? I haven't done anything…

The voice gave off a feeling like it had nodded. You're hurting yourself…

No, I'm not… He replied dryly, recognizing the voice finally. You hurt me, you left…

I didn't have a choice, and I'm sorry…

How can you be sorry?! He cried, suddenly angry. You left! You were fine and then things got complicated and you flew the coop! You bastard! Don't you know how much you've hurt everyone?!

The younger boy was silent, regret and sadness hitting his older brother like a tidal wave. Just don't do anything dumb… I can't fix it, but… I'm sorry… I miss your laugh…

When Matt woke up he was covered in sweat, his eyes large and scared. "T.K…" He breathed. It was 6:30 am, and he needed to go to school.

I can't hold back… don't leave me…

Kari's anger had flickered out, but as she replayed her afternoon in her mind, she found herself feeling better. I'm almost luckier then anyone else who's lost a loved one, I got to see him again, twice. She'd given up on being angry, it was out of character, it didn't solve anything, it wasn't helping. He even asked Ken to look after me, how many girlfriends have a boyfriend like I do? No, like I did… She waited for the sadness to come, and was slightly ashamed when she realized it wasn't on its way at all. What…?

Across town from Kari's figure, sitting perfectly still in her room, Matt began to breath normally. That's it then, isn't it? He let a small, amused smirk lay itself on his face. I think… I think I need to go do something… he shook his head slowly, I think I need to laugh…

---

The next day was Thursday, and Kari surprised her entire family by appearing for breakfast that morning, and then picking up her discarded and sand-filled backpack form her room before going to school. I think maybe now, everything will start to work out. Sunday night feels like it happened an age ago, and… I think my social project is due on Friday…

I'll go for miles… till I've found you…

Tai was over his stupidity of last night, he'd come to the conclusion that he would apologize to the three younger kids, and then he'd go talk to Matt. By the end of his morning classes, he'd accomplished both tasks; his apologies had been accepted, and Matt seemed to be well on his way to becoming his normal self again. Maybe all we really needed was something like that to shock us out of our sadness… he contemplated on his walk to the cafeteria. Maybe… I'll call Matt, we can grab Sora and the others and… do something. Maybe then, everyone'll feel better…

As he was thinking these thoughts, he bumped into someone and knocked them to the ground. He came abruptly out of his thoughts. "Sorry! I didn't mean to, let me help you grab your stuff…" He trailed off once he realized it was Sora he'd knocked over.

"Taichi Yagami, do you ever go anywhere at the normal speed?" She teased him, picking up her bag and the tennis racquet in its case she'd been carrying.

"Ahm… I don't think so…" He grinned, she rolled her eyes. "Hey, do you want to get together with the rest of the older kids and play soccer or something tonight?"

She brightened. "Sure! I just have to eat dinner and drop off my stuff."

He smiled. "Great! At the park? In the central field?"

She nodded. "Sounds good, I'll see you then." They hugged tightly, Tai grinning into her shoulder, she smells so good… "Bye then."

"Bye."

---

Miyako caught her first glimpse of Kari at lunch, as she was walking in the direction of her locker. "Kari! Hikari! Wait up!" She called over the heads of other students.

Her friend turned around. "What? Oh, hey Miya, what is it?"

Miyako stopped dead when she heard the tone of voice Kari had used, she had sounded… happy, and normal, and very pleased to see her. "I was wondering where you were going to eat lunch today," She finally managed to say, her eyes wide behind her glasses.

Kari thought a minute. "How about outside, it's a nice day." Miyako nodded. "Maybe… the goal posts? At the west end of the field."

Miyako nodded. "Ok, I'll see you there." After Kari had nodded her acknowledgement, Miyako turned, still stupefied, and went to her locker. Talk about real acceptance, I hope she's really ok…

---

Izzy was walking purposefully with his briefcase in hand towards the jr. High that the younger digidestined were attending. I'm on my way… from misery to happiness indeed… uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh.. I'm on my way… He'd had that song stuck in his head since he'd left the sr. High section of the school. I think perhaps that may make me certifiably insane.

As he started across the field towards the main doors, he spotted a familiar girl with long purple hair making her way towards on of the soccer goal posts. Well, that makes finding her easy. "Miya!" He called, catching her attention. "Over here!" Her expression broke into a grin, and the pair met at roughly the center of the field.

"Hi Izzy," She smiled again. "How're you doing?"

Now that he was in front of her, actually talking to her, he was incredibly nervous. He pulled at the white collar of his uniform. "Good, good. How's Kari doing?"

Miyako's brow wrinkled in thought. "She seems, a lot better today. Which is really weird because Sunday wasn't very long ago at all. Mind you, a lot has happened since then too, it feels like ages ago."

Izzy didn't ask, he knew if he stalled much longer he'd lose his nerve completely. "Well, I hope that things have started to work out." There was a silence, neither of them really knowing what to say. "Right, Miyako… " Izzy started, "… have you got anything you're doing Friday?" He was biting his tongue in his mouth, working not to start fidgeting.

She looked off into space for a minute. "Nope. Why?" For some odd reason her stomach became unusually light, she was worried for a moment that she'd be sick.

He looked at his shoes. "I… was wondering if maybe you'd like to go see a movie… and have dinner… with me…" As he finished he tried to look at her again, meeting her eyes hesitantly.

You say you want to leave me… but you can't choose…

She smiled. "I'd love to." That was… so amazingly perfect! She cried silently, I can't believe that just happened! This is incredible!

"Really?" Izzy's voice cracked in surprise.

"Haha! Yes, yes I would."

---

Kari sat down on the grass by the white goal post, Miyako was talking to Izzy a little ways off, but Ken was ay the goal posts. She watched him fight with his juice box as she unzipped her own lunch bag. He was still having trouble when she had pulled out and un-wrapped her sandwich. "Would you like some help Ken?"

His head snapped up to look at her. "… fine…" He gave in and passed her the offending object. Hardly a minute later, she passed it back; straw inserted into the little hole on top, the plastic still attached to the outside. He stared at it. "Um… thanks…"

She smiled. "Don't worry about it." A comfortable silence followed, each chewing their lunch until Ken stopped and just watched her for a while. Kari's glance shifted from side-to-side. "What? What do I have food on me or something?" She brushed a few bread crumbs off her jeans.

"No, nothing's wrong… do you mind if I ask you a question though?"

Her head tilted to the side. "Ok, go for it."

He thought a little about how he was going to phrase it. "What exactly do you think T.K. meant when he said: 'watch her, look after her'?"

He sat quietly while she thought, patient and polite. "I think…" She began. "I think he trusted you, a lot, more then most people. He thought you were responsible and dependable, he could rely on you I suppose…" She shook her head. "I guess I really don't know, unless there's something you can say to shed any light."

Ken looked at his food pensively. It's hardly been 3 days Ken, you should leave it. She won't go out with Davis, and you'll always have your chance in a few months…

I've gone through pain… every day and night…

Is he going to do what I think he is? She watched his face mirror whatever it was that was going through his mind. What would I say if he did?! She panicked slightly, bombarding herself with questions. He's certainly nice enough… T.K… not now… not so close after – just, after…

I feel my mind is going insane…

Wait, Ken. You'd scare her, she's hurting, you're hurting, let it go for now. "Ok," He managed in a completely normal voice. "Thanks."

Kari nodded, looking a little worried. A look that evaporated as Davis dropped himself in beside her. "Hey Kari, Ken." He nodded to both of them. They smiled back obligatorily, Kari chancing another glance at Ken. I really hope he's alright. They couldn't have known it, but when Ken caught her looking at him, he thought to himself: I'll be ok, patience is a virtue, and I can wait until she feels better. Until more time has passed.

He smiled at her while Davis started his narrative on how he'd been wrongly accused of something by his science teacher. I'll wait…

Something I can't fight… don't leave me

3 months later, Ken did ask Kari out, and she accepted with a smile. Davis was in complete shock, and wouldn't talk to Ken for a week afterwards. Miyako and Izzy were going steady, planning at some point to get Sora in on a plan to do something amusing to Tai; what exactly? They didn't know yet.

Overall, things were going well for the digidestined, and despite the fact that Kari seemed to have two digimon tagging after her in the digital world, they were healing.

---

s/k: Wow, alright I've finished, for real this time. The song used last chapter was 'Hazard to myself' by Pink, and this chapter is 'Don't leave me' by Green Day.

There's a sort-of sequel titled Tamers Game, but as the name suggests, it doesn't really involve the 02 kids. As for that little sphere Ken threw into the forest? It was the remnants of his dark spore, and it is what the dark ocean fostered to create the subtle, unfriendly enemy that's not really a digimon at all. So his 'back-up' was not something he planned, but the dark spores intentions feeding off the knowledge it gained while within him. I hope that answers any questions you had Forlorn Melody