Ebacusta: Hello, and welcome to the third installment of this fic. Thank you all those who reviewed. Let's get right into it.
That would be: sorato4eva, angewomon, reviewlord (david), miaow227, Katy, saFire flame, Mica the Cat Kid, Hikari-4-Takeru, RogueSummersLover, Malcolm Yuy, Final Genesis, crazyamazy, and Rayless-Demon.
Sorata4eva: Because I've already written the story as a Taiora. Sorry. Besides, I'm a fan of Taiora.
Angewomonandme: that's for me to know and you to find out
Reviewlord: You're name is David? I love your name.
Miaow227: Yes, there might be a little OOC. And yes. Congratulations to all the Olympic champions.
Malcolm Yuy: Yeah, it is really sped up. Sorry it took me so long to update.
Crazyamzy: That's for me to know and you to find out.
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. My next door neighbor doesn't either.
A Mistake Can Last A Lifetime
By ebacusta
Chapter 3
One Thing Leads Into Another
Later on that night, TK stood in the bathroom, brushing his teeth. He thought about the evening, and congratulated himself on standing firm to his resolve. He did not feel anything towards Kari. Something he did, find it rather annoying, was her way of sitting so calm and collected when he yelled at her, and when he wanted her to feel his pain. But then again... why did he care? The questions she's asked him through out the day rung in his head, but the one that rang the loudest was the last one she'd asked before they stopped dancing and went to eat.
How are you supposed to progress with your life if you can't get past something that happened 8 years ago and was out of your control?
Why would she ask a stupid question like that? He'd progressed this far hadn't he? Feeling superior to her and her questions, he strutted haughtily into his room and sat down on his bed. From underneath his pillow he pulled a picture. It was the picture Kari's father had taken 8 years ago when they were six. A tear formed in his eye, but he wiped it away, put the picture under his pillow, and fell asleep.
- - - TK's Dream - - -
"Welcome to the most important game of the season," an announcer exclaimed. "If this team can win, they'll be number one forever. If they lose, they'll never get another shot!"
"Round up team!" his coach yelled, waving them over. TK joined the rest of the group at the edge of the basketball court. "Okay team, we've got this far, and the team we're going to be playing are pushovers. Let's walk all over them! Put your hands in." TK added his hand to the pile of his teammates'.
"On the count of 3, we're going to say 'team.' Ready? 1 ... 2... 3...Team!" TK, who had already been told that he was going in, followed the other 4 onto the court. His team played very hard, but he couldn't concentrate, and his team lost.
"Takaishi!" his coach barked as he came sweaty and tired off the court. "What's the matter with you? You weren't concentrating on the game at all."
"Well, I was thinking about the divorce of my parents," TK said.
"When did it happen?" his coach asked.
"22 years ago," he admitted sheepishly.
"TAKAISHI!" his coach yelled reaching for his neck.
- - - TK's Room - - -
TK sat straight up, his body covered in a cold sweat. "What was that about?" he gasped. Kari's words rang in his head.
How are you supposed to progress with your life if you can't get past something that happened 8 years ago that was out of your control?
Just a coincidence. He went back to sleep, but he kept having the same dream over and over again. When he woke for school, he was dead tired. Over the next few nights the dream kept coming back, depriving TK of more and more sleep.
Finally on Friday, he stumbled into the classroom and soon as he'd sat down, his head fell onto the desk with a clunk. Kari looked at him worriedly. And then after about 10 minutes, he jerked awake. Throughout all of his morning classes TK kept doing this: letting his head droop to his desk only to jerk back awake a few minutes later. He did this during History.
They watched a movie, and then immediately after the movie, the teacher handed out tests. The whole class looked horrified, but TK look the most horrified. He had slept through the movie. Even Kari had had trouble staying awake. He answered the questions as well as he could remember from previous studies, but then he froze on question 56.
56. What happened in the year 1612?
TK looked sideways at Hikari, who was biting so hard on her pencil he thought she was going to chomp off the top. So he wrote, The Ice Cream Rebellion. He turned in his test, as white as ash, knowing he'd failed.
He kept having the same dream, over and over again. What made him even more angry was the fact that he couldn't figure out what it meant.
By lunch he was desperate. When Kari sat next to him as usual, just as she opened her mouth to speak to him, he interrupted, pretty sure his voice sounded close to a mad man's, "Kari, please help me."
"Why TK?" she asked. "You never wanted my help before."
"Guess what I put on question 56, what happened in the year 1612," he said.
"The right answer," she said.
"The Ice Cream Rebellion," he said. She nearly dropped her sandwich.
"Okay, what is it? Come to think of it, you look tired TK. Stayed up finishing homework?" she said.
"About that," TK said slowly. "I haven't been able to get a good night's rest because I've been having this dream."
"Dream? What's it like?" she asked. He told her. She smiled.
"Why are you smiling? I'm going insane trying to figure out what it means," he said.
"Your problem is a simple one," she said.
"What?"
"You've finally taken my words to heart," she replied simply. He froze.
"I have not," he said defiantly.
She turned to him sharply, with an edge in her voice, "TK, stubbornness, will not help you. Sometimes, you have to give up and admit when you're wrong."
"But, I'm not wrong. And I'm not stubborn. Why would I need to take your words to heart? I've progressed this far haven't I?" he demanded.
"But, look at how flawed your thinking has become," she said. This got to him. He stood up.
"You know what, I know what my problem is," he spat. "You!" He began to stomp off when her voice reached his ears.
"TK, do you want to be alone?" He turned to stare at her. Her eyes were icy, and cold looking, in a way he's never seen them before. She looked to be demanding an answer and the look in her eyes, he could not refuse.
"No," he gasped.
"Then tell me why you won't love? You have yet to tell me one valid reason," she said. TK stared at her, and then he broke down.
"I'm scared," he said coming back over and sitting next to her. "After watching my parents' marriage fall apart, I just knew that, eventually that's how all of them would end. The heartbreak I would have experienced, I just couldn't have bared it." The tears began to fall. "And even if I did find true love, I would never put my kids through what I went through as a child." His head fell on her shoulder.
"On the day, I met you, I began to bottle up bitter feelings I had about the divorce. I will never forget the day my dad and brother left. Dad came in the night before and had Matt pack a bag, with some clothes, and things he'd like to do for the next few days. And when I woke up the next morning, that's what he was doing, and then he left the room and my mom came in.
"She told me, Matt and dad were going to find a new place to live, and I ran out of the room, and down the hall. I remember, jumping on my dad's leg, and holding on to him with all my might, and he bent down and said some things to me. Matt promised me that he'd visit, and then after a hug and a kiss, dad pried me off his leg, and left me in the hall, yelling at the top of my lungs after them, and crying for all I was worth.
"True to his word, Matt would visit, but all I really did was cry for a week. I refused to go to school, and mom had to stay home with me. And then, you showed up with those things, and I felt better remembering that I had one friend. And you were the best listener ever. Better than Matt and my mom. You never judged, you didn't say anything unless I asked you too, and you watched me, even when I didn't want you too, and that forced me to open up.
"But I never truly opened up entirely. I harbored all kinds of things. I smile, and laugh and I look happy on the outside, but on the inside, I falling apart. Everyday, I think back to the days when mom and dad fought all the time. I think back to all the times they ignored me, and all the desperate attempts I tried, in an effort to keep my family together. And I think back to the day when Matt and dad left. And when all the fighting was going on, mom and dad ignored me. It felt terrible," he said. Kari made as if to stand. TK grabbed her uniform top.
"Please, please don't leave me. I'm scared of being alone. Deep down, I want to be with someone, I really do, but I always remind myself of what happened to my family, and then I force that urge away. I want someone, who will love and smile at me for who I am, and not who I pretend to be. Please stay," he begged. Kari smiled at him. Slowly, his eyes closed, and his grip on her uniform loosened. His head fell to her lap, but, she didn't move. She stayed still and watched him.
- - - 2 hours later - - -
TK's eyes opened. He was laying on something soft. He saw shoes, he turned his head and looked up, Kari was smiling at him, in the same position she had been when he's last looked at her.
"Are you okay?" she asked. He nodded. He noticed her shoulder was wet.
"Did it rain?" he asked. Kari shook her head. And then it all came flooding back to him. He stood up. "Oh no." He was about to run off when Kari spoke, "TK."
He looked at her, fear written across his face. She stood and walked over to him. "I want you to take this," she said. She undid a bracelet on her arm and tied around his. It was a hemp bracelet that she had made. "Please," she said. "If you hate me, or never want to talk to me again, then fine, but please. Never forget me." He felt his heart do this little flip. What was that?
"I won't," he said. The two walked into the building together, and when they reached their classroom, the cross English teacher looked up.
"So, you two finally decided to join us?" she said. TK opened his mouth to speak, but Kari spoke first, "Sorry ma'am. It was my fault."
"Really?" she asked. "Then I guess you won't mind a week's detention?"
"No ma'am," Kari said. The class gaped. Kari had never gotten in trouble in the week she'd been here.
"Now, would you mind reading your poems?" she asked. TK, who's been gaping at Kari for taking the fall from him managed to stammer out, "Yes ma'am." Kari went to her seat and TK walked to the front. He began to speak:
"I feel alone
And nobody cares
They pretend that it matters
But when I call in despair
They don't respond.
But then, there was one
Who cared a lot.
Her heart was as big as the moon.
Because no matter where she was
She always promised to see me soon." He went to his seat and sat down as his peers clapped.
Kari proceeded to the front. TK was about to speak and say she forgot her paper when she said, "I wrote one for today, but, I'd rather do the one I just thought of."
"Fine," the teacher said.
Kari thanked her and began:
"Love blossoms like a cherry tree
Sometimes it is welcome
And sometimes it is unwanted.
But, even so, when love is needed,
It comes running.
To help the one who made the plea.
And Friendship in a similar way
Does the same
It fights to help and wants to stay
And when it's pushed away
It just doesn't quit.
Because deep down it knows that the person wants it anyway." Everyone clapped; amazed that she had just come up with it on the spot.
Even the teacher was amazed, "That was very deep and thoughtful, Ms. Yagami."
As Kari sat down she smiled at TK. TK was gaping at her once again. He couldn't believe it. He had pushed her away, been rude to her, and had given her the means to blackmail him into doing anything and everything she wanted, and all she did was put her reputation on the line and write a poem just for him. He blushed, looking at her sleek figure. She was beautiful.
"NO!" TK shouted.
"No? You don't agree that Emily Dickens was a good author?" the English teacher asked amazed.
"No, I do, but I feel that, some of the messages she conveyed were personal, and I feel that authors should use their gifts to help everyone realize things that can fixed if they all work together," TK said.
"Really?" the teacher asked. "That's an interesting point of view. I'd like to see what the rest of the class thinks. What about you Kari?"
Kari looked up from her desk, "I agree. I think that an author's talents can be used to benefit the world as a whole. If an author focus's on a problem that only he or she understands, then the point of the story will be lost to all those, who are not experiencing the problem. An author should try to convey a common message that all people can relate to. For example, the lesson that one should always be one's self, is very important and yet, some people pretend to be something their not."
"Interesting," she said. "Davis, what do you think?"
Davis spoke up, "I feel that Kari and TK bring out good points. If the message will only make since to the one who wrote it, there is no point in sharing it to the public, because it will have no message to convey to them who are the most important part of a story."
"Huh? What do you mean?" the teacher asked.
"If there were no readers, the author wouldn't have had to anyone to sell his book to anyway, so writing would be a waste of time anyway," Davis said.
"I see," the teacher said. "How about you Ryodo?"
"Well, I feel..." And so the lesson and the rest of school went on until it was over.
- - - 6:00 p.m. - - -
"You may go Ms. Yagami. I'll be seeing you tomorrow," the English teacher said.
"Yes. Thank you Miss," Kari said. She picked up her bag and stepped outside of the classroom. She yawned and stretched and then made for the door. When she pushed it open, she saw a single, solitary person sitting on the stairs. When he heard the door open he looked up.
"TK?" Kari said running down the stairs. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you," TK said. He put his book away in his bag.
"You didn't have too," Kari said.
"I know, but you took the fall for me earlier this afternoon. And I wanted to thank you for that. So, I was wondering, would you like to come get something to eat with me?" he asked. Did I just ask her out? Woah, slow down. What the heck are you doing? No love, remember? This is just a friendly outing, and you better keep that in mind.
"Sure," Kari said, "but are you sure you're okay with it?"
"Yeah," he said. He and Kari left the school grounds and walked to a nearby café.
After ordering a light snack, TK looked at her and spoke. "Well, aren't you going to pull out the list of demands you made in Detention?"
"List of demands?" Kari asked.
"Yeah, the list of things you're going to make me do, so you don't spill my secrets," TK said.
Kari looked at him. "Blackmail? Are you suggesting I blackmail you?"
"Well that is what you're going to do right?" he asked. "Force me to do your bidding?"
Kari was silent for a minute before she said, "No."
"No?" TK asked puzzled.
"I was glad when you opened up to me, and told me your fears," Kari said. "And to be honest, I was even happier when you fell asleep, because that told me that deep down, you trusted me. And I would never want to break that trust. And to be honest, I never would have told your secrets, because like I told you a week ago, they're not my secrets to tell." The drinks and food arrived.
"But... But I..." TK stammered before he trailed off.
Kari smiled, "And because you told me about your deepest fears, I'll tell you about mine."
"Yours?" TK asked. "No, you don't have too."
"Rejection," she said. She took a sip of her milkshake.
"Rejection?" he asked.
"Yes," she nodded. "Going new places is tough for me, because I fear rejection and having trouble fitting in. I can't reveal my feelings to people because I fear rejection. I can't really give myself anything it wants, because I fear rejection. I really am a selfish girl. The way, I hold myself back so harshly, and even though I don't have anything as serious as your problem, rejection is my downfall. I can't take it, even if is as a joke."
"But-"
"There's a reason, I sit like I do when I talk to you," Kari said. "I've found, that I can take rejection a little easier if I don't have to see the face of the rejecter." TK stared at her. So that was why she always stared straight ahead. She was scared he would reject her, and she didn't want to have to see his face if he did.
"I never knew," he finally managed out of his mouth. And the two finished their snacks, TK paid the bill and they left.
"Thank you so much," Kari said. "For buying me that."
"No problem," TK said.
"I'll see you tomorrow?" Kari asid,
"Yeah," TK said.
"Okay, bye," she said waving.
"Bye," he said, and he stood there watching her walk off. And then before he could stop himself he called, "Kari!" He ran after her until he caught her. Her head turned and looked at the ground.
"Could I walk you home?"
She looked up at his face, "You...want to walk...me home?" She almost turned her head away again when he held his hand to her face to stop her.
"Yes," he said. WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING? His mind yelled at him. YOU HAD A CHANCE, AND NOW YOU'VE GOT YOURSELF INTO THIS. YOU MUST BE DRUNK!And so, TK walked with Kari back to her house.
"Bye," she told him when she opened her door. "Unless you want to come in?" She held the door open and seeing her face looking down the hall, he accepted. He walked in and she walked in behind him, closing the door.
"Kari, you're home!" her mother exclaimed.
"Yes," Kari said. TK came into the living room.
"Oh, TK, how are you?"
"Good," he said. He couldn't help feeling like he was being pulled in by some unknown force. And so, they went into Kari's room that she shared with her brother.
Suddenly another voice became audible, "TK? TK's here?"
"He and Kari just came in," her mother replied to Natsuko. Kari stuck her head out of her room.
"Where's Tai?" she asked.
"Out," his mother replied.
"Oh," Kari said. She turned around and saw TK looking at a photo album she had on her desk. He noticed her looking at him and immediately dropped it.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"No, go ahead," Kari said. He picked it back up and flipped through the pictures she had. She had the one with them as little kids as well. And, so, TK stayed, until his mother told him finally, she was ready to go.
They said their good-byes, and as soon, as they were back on the street, Natsuko said, "I want you to take that girl to the dance." TK's mouth dropped.
- - - - Preview - - - -
Mom is making me ask someone to the school dance. She really wants it to be Kari, so when I finally give in, she's overjoyed. But then, I can't help wondering if it really just was because she kept annoying me, or if there was another reason.
"You will never be able to move forward if you hold yourself back, TK. I, of all people, would know."
And then, Kari comes over one day when dad is over. He and mom have gotten in a fight, and to my amazement, Kari loses her cool, when they completely ignored me. Is there more to this girl than I know? Or is there something else that drove her to do that?
18
