Ebacusta: Welcome to the next chapter of this fic. Thanks to all who reviewed. Oh my god I am so sorry. I had this all ready and then it all got erased so I had to retype it and then we got a new computer and it's very confusing but please forgive me. I'm really sorry.

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A Mistake Can Last A Lifetime

By ebacusta

Chapter 5

The Dance

"Kari!"

The brunette stopped and turned. It was Friday and she had been heading home. A girl with lilac hair was running towards her. "Kari, I found the perfect guy for you!" Yolei exclaimed. She skidded to a stop. "He's great. Charming, lovable, kind, caring."

"That's great Yolei, but I'm already going with someone," Kari said.

"WHAT?" Yolei yelled so loud that many stopped to look. "Who?"

"TK," Kari said.

"WHAT?" People started to back away. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," Kari said.

"He's never come to a dance with a date before," Yolei said.

"Really?" Kari asked cocking her head to the side.

"He comes, but he doesn't bring a dance, and he never dances. I think he comes because his mom annoys him about it," Yolei said. This got Kari a bit down-hearted since she had been hoping her words had had impact on his cold heart, but apparently he was doing this to get his mother off his back. Yolei had gone on, "…we'll have to get you a dress. Come on, we'll go shopping now." And before Kari could protest she was pulled off school the grounds by Yolei and they were headed towards the mall.

- - - Mall 5:21 p.m. - - -

"Okay Kari," Yolei said. They were standing in a store in front of a rack of dresses.

"Yolei, these are like prom dresses," Kari staring at them puffy skirts that most of them had. "This isn't a prom it's just a dance."

"Fine you don't like this style. How about these?" Yolei said. Kari suspected that she wasn't really listening to Kari's complaints. Many times since they'd gotten here, Kari had offered to wear a dress that she already had. Furthermore, she had already taken the day off from her part time job and had been late for it every day this week because of detention.

Kari looked at the dresses and bleached. "Yolei, I'm not getting married!"

"Fine you don't like those either," Yolei said not paying much attention. She dragged Kari over to another rack. "What about these?"

Kari looked at the dresses hanging on the rack. They were sleek, and nice looking, not to showy or clingy, but not to older looking either. Kari sighed, "They look nice."

"Great!" Yolei exclaimed. She began running around the rack grabbing the dresses in different colors and sizes before she thrust them into Kari's arms and pushed her into the dressing rooms. "Okay Kari, try them on."

"No," Kari said sarcastically. "I thought I was supposed to sleep in here." Kari was still cross about the fact that TK had not asked her of his own accord. But why did she care. He still had never changed his opinion about love and chose to ignore everything that she told him concerning love.

"Very funny," Yolei said. So, Kari spent the next 45 minutes parading around in different dress none of which she liked, because they were scratchy or itchy or whatever, until the very last dress, a sleeveless. She wearily pulled it on, feeling this was a great waste of time, and the immediate coolness of the fabric brought her back to her senses. The fabric was soft and smooth, no doubt satin, and it was pink.

Kari looked at herself in the mirror. She had to admit, she thought she looked best in white, and so, she zipped herself up and walked out of the dressing room. Yolei, who had been sitting in a chair, gasped and stood up.

"It's perfect," she breathed. Yolei laid the dress she was going to get, a midnight blue one, on the chair.

"How does it feel?" she asked.

"Nice," Kari said.

Yolei walked around her examining the other aspects of the dress and muttering more to herself than to Kari, "Hugs the hips… but not to tightly… no to lose in the chest… settles nicely on her waist… and … there's a train." Yolei was right. The dress had a small train that dragged gracefully on the floor as Kari walked.

Yolei looked at her and then with a huge smile offered her expert advice, "I say you should get it."

"I say you're right," Kari agreed. The two broke out into fits of giggles and then Kari went to change back into her school clothes. She hung the dress back on its hanger and walked up to the woman at the counter, nearly fainted when she told Kari the price, but paid and walked out of the store with Yolei, who was also holding a bag like she was.

"That was brutal," Kari moaned as the two walked towards a shoe store. Yolei had insisted that they get a pair of shoes to match, and then she said they could get ready at her house. So, they went into the shoe store. Yolei got some midnight blue high heels, and convinced Kari to get a pair of high-heeled open-toed sandals with skinny straps criss-crossing over her foot.

And so, Kari and Yolei trudged out of the mall after a stop at a cosmetics store, in which Yolei bought a make-up kit with colors that would look good on Kari, and about 10 new shades of nail polish. Finally, they made it Yolei's home (after a quick stop at Kari's. Yolei had invited her to spend the night, so she had to get her clothes.) Kari and Yolei spent until 7:00 (which was unfortunately about 15 minutes) painting their finger and toenails, before Yolei announced that they need to take showers and get ready. The dance was at 8.

Yolei pushed Kari into the shower, after a quick one she wrung out her hair while Yolei showered as well. Even though she was still kind of mad at TK, a huge feeling of anticipation rose in her chest. So, when Yolei got out of the shower, she did Kari's hair and then did her own. They put on make-up, and lip-gloss, and all kinds of other cosmetics (most of which Kari would have been fine with out) and then they put on their shoes. But they remained in undergarments because they did not want to mess the dresses up before the dance.

Both of them were wearing a thin tank top and shorts. Kari's had to be a sleeveless tank-top of which she had none so she borrowed Yolei's, and when Kari said she had to get back to her house because TK was meeting her there, Yolei said, "No need. He lives in this apartment complex too."

This surprised Kari. Sure, she'd been to his house, but she didn't know Yolei lived in the same complex. "Cody does too," she said smiling. "And, I'm fairly certain Ken is at one of their houses since he lives pretty far away."

Kari just stared and then stammered, "Bu- But my parents will want pictures."

"My brothers and sisters have that covered too," Yolei said with a grin. "Don't underestimate the Inoue family." And that got her and Kari laughing again. At five till eight Yolei said they should put on their dresses. And they did. At exactly eight o'clock, after Yolei had explained to Kari why they left at eight rather than arrived at eight ("You have to be fashionably late," she had said.), the doorbell rang.

"Now Kari, that's probably Ken. Breathe, and whatever you do, stay calm," Yolei said.

- - - 7:30 p.m. TK's House - - -

TK and Ken sat in his room. He was confused. He had totally done this for his mom, but he was so dressed up, he wasn't so sure anymore. Ken was looking at him.

"Look TK," he said. "No use fretting over it. You already asked her, she's probably spent hundreds of dollars on a dress, and the dance is tonight. It will be awful if you suddenly decide not to go, and it will be upsetting to her for more reasons than one. Just go, enjoy yourself, and have a good time. That's what really matters."

TK nodded shakily. We're only doing this for your mom. To make her happy, so don't go getting any ideas, his brain told him. You're mom has been home all week, and it's probably because she's expecting something. You should be happy, every thing is going great, and by the end of tonight you won't ever have to talk to Kari again as more than a distant friend.

"Ken, I can't figure this out," TK said. "I tell myself that I'm only doing this for my mom, but, when we were kids... I knew her until she moved when we were eight. And after that… I can't figure this out. She gives me the impression that she can read my mind. She gets me to open up even when I don't want too. I can't disobey her gaze… What's wrong with me?"

"TK," Ken said. "There's nothing wrong with you, but if you ask me, I think your heart has finally decided to make the decision for itself. And I really don't think you can disobey your heart when it comes to these things. I tried once; it gave me headaches that I never want to experience again."

"But, I can't. It's the thing that I've always feared," he said. Ken was the only other person who even knew a little about his parents divorce other than Kari. "All relationships."

"TK," Ken said. He had a look on his face very close to Kari's. "Can you really say that? So, one relationship ended in failure. But, have you really seen any other relationships fail?"

TK looked at Ken, his face torn between emotions. "But… Ken… you're suppose to be on my side."

"I am," Ken said. "That's why I'm trying to tell you that ignoring your feelings won't make them go away. Love is one of those uncontrollable things. Nothing you can say or do will ever make it go away if it's true."

"But, I want it to go away. You don't understand, love only lives to destroy. Nobody understands that," TK protested but Ken interrupted, "Except Kari."

"But I-"

"Humans are drawn to things that understand them. And Kari seems to understand you the most, whether you want her to or not. And their something about Kari that you can't seem to resist, and I think it's her poetic nature. She speaks to you with metaphors and similes that you understand like the back of your hand," Ken said.

"But that doesn't-" TK began.

Ken interrupted again, "It does make sense. And what's more, deep down you know it."

"But I…"

"TK, you can sit here and tell me excuses all day, but your heart knows the truth, and your heart is the grand decider in this case. I have no power," Ken said. "And neither do you."

"But, Ken… I can't… It's not fair," TK said.

"Life isn't fair TK. Life is never fair unfortunately," Ken said. TK and him sat in silence.

"Thanks Ken, for um, listening to me whine and complain," TK said.

"No, problem. Come on," Ken said standing up, checking his watch. "It's time to go." TK stood as well, and they both grabbed the flowers they had bought for them earlier in the evening. They had been sitting in a vase of water, which TK nearly knocked over when pulling out Kari's bouquet. He followed Ken out of his room, and after waving good-bye to his mother, left the house. They were going to Yolei's house since it was close. After a few minutes they stopped in front of a door and knocked.

It was opened by one of Yolei's brothers. "Oh, hi Ken and TK. Hold on," he said. "Yolei! Ken is here!"

"Okay!" Yolei yelled back. I could here her coming. She appeared at the door. Ken sucked in his breath.

"You look beautiful," he said. TK wasn't really listening. He was arguing in his head trying to decide if he wanted to spend a while with Yolei and Ken and let them talk so that he wouldn't have to see Kari or if he wanted them to shut up and get going to her house. He barely heard when Yolei spoke to him, "Oh, TK's here too. Hold on."

TK had finally decided that he wanted them to talk as much as they wanted, but when she was coming back it sounded like she was giving some hurried last minute instructions and then she appeared in the door. He nearly swallowed his heart (which had jumped into his throat).

"H-H-Hi Kari," TK stammered. She was beautiful, dressed in a light pink gown that tumbled gracefully to the floor. It hugged her hips and looked a little shiny in the dim light from the street. Her bangs were curled, as was the rest of her hair and it was twisted up elegantly into a hair clip, with her curls piling up and spilling over the top of it. Her curled bangs framed her face that sparkled with a little face glitter.

She smiled, "Hi TK." My heart was beating uncontrollably in my chest.

"You two ready to go?" Ken asked. TK barely heard him over the sound of his thumping chest. His pulse was racing.

"Y-Y-Yeah," TK stammered out. I should like an idiot. Get it together Takaishi! Since Yolei and TK didn't live that far from school, Ken and TK held out their arms. Kari and Yolei hooked theirs with the boys. Kari lifted the skirt of her dress as we began to walk.

"So, TK, how's your mom?" Kari asked.

"Good, she's doing good. Ever since you screamed at her she's been working at home, but at least I get to see her in the mornings and afternoons when she's waiting for me. I think during the school day is when she goes to meetings," TK said. I'm babbling. Oh my god! Shut Up!

But, Kari just smiled, "That's nice. How's Matt?"

"I dunno," he said. "I haven't talked to him since dinner. Well wait, yes I have. Yesterday. I went to go get some help from him." Yeah, trying to figure out why you asked Kari to the dance. And it was not just on account of your mom. I could feel something different about that time. Your heart was pounding very similar to the way it's pounding now. "Great now I'm babbling in my head," he whispered.

"What about your dad?"

"Well, when I saw Matt yesterday, he told me dad was alright. He's been working at the TV station a lot lately. They've been having some problems, but, their not as bad as they used to be," TK told her.

"That's great," Kari said. By then, they had reached the school and were entering the decorated building. The dance itself was taking place in the auditorium, and the hallway leading to it was decorated with balloons and streamers. When they arrived, Kari and TK debated what they wanted to do first and decided to eat before all the other kids got to the food.

After filling a plate (of mostly sweets) TK and Kari sat down at a table together. Kari's eyes took in the auditorium in all of its glory. Bunches of balloons were placed in strategic places, streamers were draped along the wall and some intentionally left dangling. The colors they chose to use this year (white, silver, and gold) were arranged together beautifully and the bunches of balloons, that were sitting on tables held down with a bag full of Hershey's Kisses, swayed lightly.

"This place is beautiful," she whispered.

"Just like you," he blurted before he could stop himself. She looked at him. He froze. Did I really just say that? What is wrong with me? Something's messing with my mind.

"Thank you. You look quite handsome if I do say so myself," she said, a little tint of red coming to her cheeks. TK blushed as well. They engaged in spirited conversation while they ate and then TK offered to go get some drinks. While he was gone, Yolei approached.

"So," she said sitting in the chair beside Kari. "Have you two danced yet?"

"Nope," Kari said. "Just ate and talked."

"That's all you've done?" Yolei asked.

Kari nodded, "If that's all we do, that's fine by me."

"Kari, you have the wrong attitude about this stuff. You dance at a dance. Another reason you get a soft dress is so they guy's hands won't be moving around trying to get comfortable on the itchy fabric, because then you think they're trying to do something else," Yolei whispered.

"Yes, and?" Kari said. "What does that have to do with me?"

"Oh, TK's coming back, I'll get back with you later," Yolei whispered. And then she left to go find Ken.

"Hey, TK," Kari said.

"Hey," he handed her one of the drinks in his hands.

"Thank you," she replied. They drank and watched in silence, and then finally, TK spoke, "Would you like to dance?"

Kari didn't think he was going to ask, and apparently, he didn't either. "Are you sure that's what you meant to ask?"

"Yeah," he said firmly. "So would you?"

"I'd love too," Kari said. She and TK stood up and TK took her hand and they walked onto the dance floor. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he fitted his hands on her waist. The fabric felt soft beneath his hands. Silk… or Satin he thought to himself. Many kids who had known TK for a while were watching them amazed that TK was actually dancing with a girl he had asked to the dance.

"You know TK, you've changed since we were little kids," Kari said.

"How?" he asked.

"You used to smile a lot. Even when you weren't happy but now, you rarely ever smile. I've noticed. You're constantly worried that someone will find out details about your parents divorce…"

"Yeah and?" TK asked, wondering where this was going to.

Kari grinned mischievously, "I think that's part of the reason you never wanted to fall in love."

"Huh?" TK asked.

"It was easier for you to love someone who already knew about your family problems and wouldn't hold them against you," she said.

"What am I? A Nancy Drew novel that needs to be figured out," TK asked, slightly angry. What did she know? Obviously more than he thought. When the song ended, Kari took TK's arm and led him out on to a balcony looking towards the large pond that was on the school grounds. They were silent. Kari was staring at the sky and TK was wondering why he was here.

Just as he opened his mouth to ask, Kari spoke, "TK, the stars are like people. They each shine brightly in their own time and they are each unique."

"And?" TK asked confused at what this had to do with anything.

"Some stars last longer than others and others don't. Some stars are destroyed when they get to close and some are just fine," she turned to look at him. "Similarly, some relationships end in failure, and some don't."

"No, you're wrong. They all end in failure. No one understands what I went through when my parents's divorced, not even Yolei and Davis… Not even Ken, he may know more than others, but he still doesn't understand it enough…"

Kari interrupted, looking at the stars again, "Except for the one who already did." He stared at her. "TK, do you see those two stars shining brightly next to each other? Those two stars are in the prime of their life, and their closeness has not been their downfall. And I see two stars on earth who are in the prime of their life, whose closeness hasn't harmed either of them."

He couldn't say anything. But finally he managed, "Love means you have to tell people everything about you. And nobody needs to know. I don't want to tell anyone about me, because I don't want to tell them about my family."

"But," Kari said. "Tell me. If one already knows everything there is to know about your past, then does one really need to explain anything at all." She looked at him. "Love is not something the brain can control. That is something only the heart can decide on, and it seems your heart has already decided. So, why don't you stop trying to fool yourself, and listen to what it's saying?"

TK was speechless. Yolei had told him something similar, and this wasn't the first time he had gotten the thought that she could read minds.

"A mistake can last a lifetime… A mistake can ruin a lifetime… So… is forbidding yourself from loving going to ruin your lifetime?"

"No," TK began.

"Your right. Love can be painful… but, love can also be a wonderful thing. Like having a companion who will never leave your side," Kari said,

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" TK yelled. "LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO MY PARENTS!"

The next thing Kari said was barely audible as she spoke in a whisper, "Just as you can fall in love… you can fall out of love. Families can be destroyed, hearts can be broken, and minds can be set. But…" she had tears in her eyes as she went on, "that doesn't mean… that love can't support either." TK was speechless. Was there some deep dark secret that he didn't know about Kari?

"Kari I-"

She interrupted, tears running down her cheeks, "But you know what hurts you the most when you're in love? The betrayal or death of your loved one."

He was silent for a minute. "Kari," he spoke finally. "Is there something similar to this that happened to you?"

"You know," Kari said. "I told myself at one time that I wouldn't love either… because of what happened to your family. But, a boy made me realize my mistake. He told me something that I will never forget."

"What?" TK asked.

" 'But if there were no love inside you, wouldn't you feel pretty empty? If there were no love in this world, where would we be?'" TK stared at her. That was something he told her when he was little.

"How did you remember?"

"I couldn't forget. Those words, were like a light to my darkened path. Some where along the way, I got lost, but he helped me find my way again. And so, TK, I want to return the favor," Kari said. She wiped away the tears. "You know, in all the years I spent up in Hokkaido, I never went one day without thinking of you. Wondering how you were doing, what you were doing. And I thought of all the fun we had. About how impossible it had been too stay sad around you. So I told myself… that if I ever saw you again… I would tell you something… that you once told me you never had."

Kari looked at him. "You do have friends TK. You have me, and you have Yolei and Ken and Davis. And no matter what happens you'll always have them. The day you told me you had no friends… it was right before we left… I was crestfallen. I thought you considered me as a friend. But, I want you to know, that even if you move to the United States, you'll always be my friend. And friends give each other helpful advice that can help them with tough decisions."

She sat next to him on the bench. "TK, the heart is not something to be ignored. You need to listen to it just as much as any other part of your body. It has desires that need to be filled as well." It was if all the emotions he had been struggling had become clear. His brain was screaming at him furiously, DON'T LISTEN TO HER! LISTEN TO ME! I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR US! I KNOW WHAT'S BEST FOR YOU! I'VE BEEN WITH YOU LONGER THAN SHE HAS! LISTEN TO ME!

But he didn't. He ignored his head and did something he had wanted to do for days now. He leaned toward her and let his lips touch hers. This was what he wanted. This is what he needed. Love.

His brain was about ready to explode, OH MY GOD TAKAISHI! YOU LET YOUR HEART WIN! YOU LET HER POETIC NATURE SUCK YOU IN! YOU'RE A SUCKER FOR POETRY! I CAN'T BELIVE YOU'D FORSAKE ME LIKE THAT! BROKEN YOUR CREED AFTER ONLY 8 YEARS! I THOUGHT YOU'D LAST LONGER! But slowly his brain subdued itself, lost in the feelings of a first kiss.

He pulled away surprised, yet satisfied, at what he just done. Kari looked surprised too. Like she had expected him to back out at the last moment. Kari stood and walked back to the balcony railing. She was silent as if thinking. And then she said something, "You know, I didn't tell you to fall in love with me."

"I know," TK said getting up and standing beside her, "but, I just couldn't help myself."

- - - - Preview - - - -

Now that I have officially broken my creed, I have a girlfriend and it happens to be Kari. My mom is overjoyed and Cinderella is coming up soon, which means I've gotta by some tickets.

"You know TK, somehow I think, your kindness is something that I am undeserving of."

She's joking right? Does that mean she doesn't want to go out? Or does it mean she's amazed that we are going out? There's only one more question left in my head, and that is how have I survived this long with out Kari?

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