k2: Unless they are important comments will not be included.

MK: She just can't think of anything to say, that's all.

k2: Go away.

Also, one more thing. No one is actually 'blaming' Matt, except himself.

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What now?

Rated: PG-13

drama/romance

Chapter 3: Blaming Matt

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Kari lay flat on her bed, her head hanging off the foot, as she talked on the phone. She had her left leg bent so her knee was in the air while right leg rested on said knee, her slipper hanging off her toes, jingling slightly as if to a beat only she could here. Her left hand, as well, was moving to a beat and she smiled suddenly, a giggle escaping her.

"I see what you mean Yolie." She stated after the giggle, "He actually compiled the whole list for you?"

"Oh, yeah." Yolie replied, "It was sooooo romantic! Ken is just so wonderful and smart and fun and cute and handsome and-."

"In other words, absolutely perfect." Kari cut Yolie off with a chuckle.

"Yeahahaha." Yolie's reply was fluttery to say the least.

Kari laughed again this time; glad her friend was so happy. "You sound just like you did before we discovered he was the emperor."

"So, how's your headache doing, huh?" Yolie quickly changed the subject.

Kari, understanding the drawn line, replied. "A little better." And Kari then began to rub her temple a little where the pain seemed to center. "But it's weird, ya know? They're more like echoes, really. Like what I'm feeling isn't really there."

"Headaches that aren't really there?"

"Sounds confusing, doesn't it?"

"Sure does."

The pain in Kari's temple suddenly sharpened and she hissed as the sensation of nails began slowly pushing their way in.

"You okay Kari?" Yolie asked quickly when she heard the sudden hiss.

"I dunno actually." Kari murmured, "It feels like nails now."

"Why don't we talk later, okay? I think you should take some Tylenol and rest."

"Considering I know you won't let me do otherwise…." Kari trailed off and heard Yolie's 'Mmhm'. "Okay, okay." Kari grinned, "I'll go. Talk to you later, okay?"

"Okay, bye!"

"Hm. Bye Yolie."

Kari clicked the phone off and sat up, rubbing her temples. It could be that she was lying with her head upside down; the blood rushing to her head could have aggravated her 'echoes'. She took some Tylenol from the side of her bed, then sat for a few minutes, thinking about it. The pain began to throb and her ears began to ring, she figured one or two more would probably help at least a little.

She was just reaching for the Tylenol at her bedside when Tai suddenly crashed into the room; panic echoing in is eyes as he cried out.

"Kari! Are you alright?"
Startled, she looked at him in confusion, the bottle of pain reliever tipping over on the table. "What?"
"Are you okay? Nothings happened, your still in one piece? Well, obviously you are. No light or anything?"
"What are you talking about Tai?" Kari demanded, "I'm perfectly fine, other then a headache!"

"Oh, Thank god Kari."

She watched, her confusion furthering, as Tai turned his wrist over and began talking into his watch. Kari then remembered that his watch was a two-way communicator between himself and Matt. She suddenly felt herself begin to worry.

"What's going on?" But her demands for answer went ignored as Tai and Matt began to converse privately.

"I don't get it Matt. Why TK?"

Kari's eyes widened at this and she quickly crawled to the end of her bed.

"What about TK?"

"In a minute Kari!" Tai hissed as Matt replied.

"I don't know. But he's gone.

Kari was feeling desperate for answers; she tried again to get her brothers attention. His harsh reply sent her into silence but with the sudden change in his facial expression, from anticipation to shock, Kari almost found herself talking again. She quickly covered her mouth so as not to disturb Tai again and heard TK's mother in place of Matt on the communicator as she began to talk. Kari waited, semi-patiently, while they sort of talked about meeting places. And then Matt, with an angry retort, was back on the watch.

"Is that okay?"

"Sure, I guess." Tai replied, "I'll have Kari contact Yolie and the others on the D-terminals."

Why would I need to contact the others? Kari thought as Tai cut off Matt.

"Matt, just go home."

"What?"

"I'll get everything set up and tell everyone where to meet." Kari watched as her brother ran a hand through his hair, scratching the back of his head. "Get back to your moms; relax. You can do all the explaining once everyone is there."

As Kari watched, Tai smiled softly, affectionately, comfortingly, and he clicked his watch off. He turned that smile onto her and her feeling of foreboding grew. Tai was being kind, understanding. He only ever did that when something major was happening and she knew it. Swallowing she raised a shaky hand to her head, a feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"Tai…."

"Kari…."

"Tai is TK…."

Tai's eyes widened and he quickly raised his hands up. "No, Kari wait! I think I know what your thinking and no! That's not what's going on!"

Kari breathed a shaky breath, relief flooding through her, only to feel a surge of panic upon Tai's next words.

"He disappeared in Matt's arms. Vanished in a fading flash of light and pain."

"What?"

"Easy Kari, easy." Tai replied calmly, coming over to sit next to her. "We're meeting at TK's place, Yolie and Cody will be the first ones there. Matt will explain the details then, all right? I'm going to send an all purpose instant message to everyone else, you contact the others on your D-Terminal."

"What if they're not carrying there D-tecters?" Kari asked quietly

"Well, they can confirm they got the message, they always know to do that. Those that don't get it I will get personally by phone."
"And if they aren't at home?"

"Kari, one step at a time, please!"

Kari nodded and slid off her bed, walking over to her backpack where she kept her Terminal. Swallowing again she flipped it open and began sending a group message to the others, knowing they had their terminals with them.

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It was numbing. The silence filed the car with a numbing sensation that threatened to stop my heart. Mom and Dad didn't speak, though they glanced at each other briefly when they thought the other wasn't looking. Neither one bothered to look towards me nor how could I blame them? It was my fault. I should have…seen something. I let my guard down because I thought there were no more problems. I thought…everything was safe now.

So much for assumptions, huh?

I looked out the window and watched as Mom's apartment passed by for the fourth time, wondering if I should mention to dad that he was driving around in a four-block radius circle. Personally I was afraid to draw attention to myself for any reason, just in case they really were mad at me.

Finally, after the fifth pass, I couldn't take it anymore. We had to get inside.

"Dad," I began, "That's the fifth time you passed the apartment."

"Really?" Dad answered softly, "I only counted three. Must've been spacing for a moment or two."

I stared at dad in shock for a moment, and then glanced at Mom. She wasn't even paying attention, not visibly anyway, and it started to dawn on me what dad was doing. He was stalling for mom's sake, giving her time. And himself.

When he reached the apartment he stopped outside, letting mom and I out of the car. We walked inside and waited for dad to get back from parking the car, still not speaking. When dad entered I punched the elevator and glanced at mom and dad. They were standing two feet away from each other, as if contact was dangerous, looking anywhere but at each other. I felt a lump form in my throat.

When the elevator chimed we got in, dad punching the button for the appropriate floor, and stood in the quiet. I watched the floors pass, one after the other, as the ticking light numbered off until I heard my name softly. I turned, startled, to look at my mom. Her eyes were watery, tears brimming, and she held her hands to her face.

"Matt. Please, you're so quiet. The way you hold yourself, it's so much like your father."

"Mom?" I asked confused as to what she was talking about.

"It's to much of a trait. Don't blame yourself for something you can't prevent."

I watched, wide eyed, as she said this. Did this mean that she didn't blame me after all?

Before I could respond in anyway the elevator chimed again and the door opened. We stood there, the three of us, me with my jaw dropped, mom with her teary eyes, dad…dad well, he refused to meet anyone's eyes, refused to say anything. I was pretty sure he couldn't say anything.

Finally, lowering my eyes, I turned towards the exit and walked out. I heard mom gasp at the air but didn't turn back. I couldn't look at her right now, not with understanding in her eyes. TK is gone and I should have been more cautious, something. Anything. Anything would have been better then nothing. Better then watching, helpless, for a second time…nothing….

As I stepped out I noticed two figures standing outside the door, one of which was leaning against the wall, both of whom looked all too familiar to me. As I got closer to them Cody noticed us and nudged Yolie in the side. She glanced over and stood quickly, a bashful look on her face.

"Heh! Sorry Matt. Got a bit distracted while waiting…what took so long anyway?"

For a moment I stared, unsure why she seemed to casual, but I shook the feeling of uncaring away by telling myself they just didn't know yet and opened the door. "No reason, dad just…took the long way back."

"The long way?"

It was Cody who noticed my parents first, noticed that there was something missing.

"Wait a minute. Where's TK?"

I froze, stared at them as my mind went blank. I felt, from a distance, as my shoulder was brushed and registered that my mom had run into the house.

"Nancy, wait!" My dad followed.

"What's going on?" Yolie asked seriously, just now realizing something serious was going on.