Foreword: Here's a better summary: TK and Kari are ten years old and living on the streets with only each other. TK's been on his own for as far back as he can recall, not knowing what happened to his family, or who they were, or even what "TK" stands for. His methods for survival were basically instinctive (whether or not I can come up with a good reason or not remains to be seen). Kari is unable to remember anything further than when she was six, which was when she and TK first met. When Kari was eight, a sick man got a hold of her and raped and beat her for two months until TK found her and got her away. Because of that, Kari now practically clings to TK, the only one who ever makes her feel safe.
As the summary reveals, this is much different than my usual work. I'm surprised I came up with it, in fact. Unlike my other multi-chaptered stuff, I won't have some big plot that gets resolved in the end. This is kind of like an episode basis; each chapter will have its own plot, mainly involving the trials TK and Kari face each day just to survive.
This story is meant for takari fans. I doubt that anyone who doesn't care too much for the couple will care too much for this fic since you'll need to be able to feel for them. I don't know about anyone else, but if something happened to a couple that I didn't care about, then I felt nothing. No matter how horrible it might be, I feel nothing unless I'm actually a fan of it.
At first I was going to make them a couple years older, but as ideas came to me, I found that I needed them to be young like this for everything to flow smoothly. For some reason, I like making them young for my ideas.
I should also point out that I'm making Kari a bit of an emotional wreck in this. Normally I wouldn't, but as my ideas evolved, this is how it came out. Of course, what would you expect from someone who was raped for two months straight?
There are parts in here that will seem unrealistic. But don't bother pointing them out, because it doesn't matter to me. I try to keep a level of realism, but getting the story to come out the way I envisioned it gets higher priority.
This first bit's just an intro to get you familiar with the setting. No real story behind it.
Making sure that no one was watching, TK snatched a couple of the big red apples from a fruit stand and bolted. This was a nice thing about summer: people selling food right out in the open. He'd have to come back later, but find a different stand; he refused to single one out. Not just because he'd be more likely to get caught, but also so the guy selling them won't lose too much money. It's much easier for many to handle tiny losses, then one handling big losses. Just because I'm broke, doesn't mean anyone else should be.
He was tempted to eat one now, but refused. These weren't for him. They were for her. His angel. His brown-haired beauty. Kari. The girl he loved more than anything. The girl who right now was too sick to come with him. It may have seemed odd for someone as young as TK to love Kari like that, but he did. Of course, life on the streets did make the two grow up quickly.
While heading back to where he and Kari were staying, his mind drifted to when they first met.
His tummy growling, TK decided to find something to eat. He was getting better at stealing the things he needed, but he didn't like it. It seemed wrong, but what choice did he have? It was that or die.
I wish I had a mommy and daddy to take care of me, the six-year-old thought for the millionth time. Every time he saw some other kid with a family, it made him want to cry. Why did they get homes, and families, and friends while he gets nothing? Nobody to talk to. Nobody to comfort him when he had a bad dream. Nobody to take care of him when he got sick. Nobody to care about him period. Nobody cared about him at all.
TK had been living all alone for as long as he could remember. He didn't know why, but he was. At least he somehow always knew how to survive, but that didn't make him any less lonely. Maybe if I got hit by a car, someone might care. Yeah right. I bet no one would even notice.
Not feeling so hungry, just depressed, TK started back to where he was staying. It was at some old building that was pretty much destroyed in a fire. Some furniture survived, mainly a bed and a couch, so TK lived there. It was drafty, but it was better than nothing.
Out of the corner of his eye, TK saw something in an alley he was passing. He got closer and saw a brown-haired girl who couldn't be any older than him lying on the ground. She was covered in bruises and had cuts all over. Her white short-sleeve was bloodstained and torn. Her pink pants were about the same. She even had a black eye. It like a gang of bullies decided to beat her up. Yet, despite all this, TK thought she was pretty.
But what could he do? He couldn't leave her. He didn't know whom he could tell about her. I guess I can take her with me so I can help her when she wakes up. TK picked her up, surprised at how light she was, and carried her to where he stayed.
TK waited patiently for the girl to wake up. Her eyes slowly opened and she let out a light moan. TK took a breath before speaking. "Hi." Her eyes widened. She looked at TK and jumped back.
"W-who are y-y-you?" she asked, shaking.
Is she scared of me? TK wondered. "My names TK. I don't know if it stands for anything."
"I'm K-Kari," she answered, still looking scared. TK started to get in closer, but she backed away.
"I won't hurt you," TK told her, "I found you in an alley all beat up, so I brought you here where you'd be safe." Kari seemed to relax.
"Why?"
"Because I thought you might need it. I want to help you find your home." Kari moved closer to him. TK was relieved that she wasn't scared of him. "Where do you live?" Kari thought for a bit, then looked upset.
"I can't remember," she answered, "I can't remember anything other than my name!" She started to tear up. TK wasn't sure what to do. An idea came to him.
"Do you want to stay here until you can?" TK asked, "I wouldn't mind."
"Are you sure your mommy and daddy would allow that?" Kari asked in a shaky voice. That simple question hurt TK so badly, he had to look away.
"I don't have a mommy and daddy. I've been alone as long as I can remember." TK wasn't able to stop talking. "Nobody even cares about me. I'm so lonely." He felt Kari put her arms around him. "What are you doing?" TK asked, not sure what this was. But it sure felt good.
"I'm hugging you," Kari answered, "You were sad so I gave you one." TK couldn't think of a time he felt better than he did right now in this hug.
"I like hugs," TK answered, "Can I give you one?" Kari nodded.
"We can hug each other." TK hugged her and didn't know what felt better, giving a hug, a being hugged.
Of course, TK thought, we never did find out where she came from, though when she was eight, some monster tricked us. TK thought back to a memory that made him boil with a deep rage. A memory involving a man whom TK had a deep and undying hatred for that grew more and more each day.
TK and Kari walked around the streets, looking for something to eat. "I wish I was as good at doing this as you," Kari remarked. TK shook his head.
"I've been doing this a lot longer, so of course I'll be better. But you're still good at it." Kari smiled at TK.
"You say the nicest things." TK just blushed as they continued looking. After a while, a tall pale man in a trench coat and long, messy brown hair stepped in front of them.
"Kari," he said in a deep voice that made TK nervous. He felt Kari grip his arm. "I'm glad I found you."
"Who are you?" Kari asked.
"I'm a friend of your parents," he answered, "I'll take you to them." Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed Kari. "We can get your friend later," he said.
"I'll be back, TK!" Kari called out.
"'Kay!" TK answered, unsure if letting that man take Kari.
Two months since Kari was gone. A lonely TK sat on his couch. She forgot about me, he thought. It was the only answer he could think of. For the first couple weeks, TK waited patiently, wondering what kind of home he'd get. Now he had his answer: none. Two months since she left and he was still homeless and alone.
TK brought his knees up to his chest and started to cry. It wasn't fair! Why did he have to be all alone! What did he do to deserve it! "I want a mommy and daddy!" TK called out to no one, "or at least a friend!"
The next morning, TK was out looking for breakfast. He wasn't too hungry, but he had to eat something. Sure no one would care whether or not he did, but he had to. Kari cares. At least she used to.
TK walked by an old building, one that was abandoned a few months back. Inside, he heard a light sobbing. Curious, he looked in and saw...KARI!
He got closer and saw that it was Kari. She looked all beat up, like the first time he saw her, but not as bad. She was lying the ground, shaking. "Someone help me," TK heard her mutter over and over, "Please, anyone."
TK hurried over and knelt down. He put a hand on her shoulder and she tensed up. "Please don't hurt me anymore," she squeaked and then started to quietly cry.
"Kari, it's me," TK whispered, "It's TK." Kari looked up and her eyes lit up when she saw him. She immediately hugged him and started crying into his shoulder.
"I thought I'd never see you again," she sobbed, "That man wasn't a friend! He was mean! He hit me constantly! He touched my in bad places and did things to me that I think only grown-ups are allowed to do to each other!" TK immediately decided to get Kari out of here. He cradled the sobbing girl and carried her back to his place.
If ever see that monster again, TK thought, I'll kill him. How anyone could be so sick as to rape and beat an eight year-old was beyond him. Especially one as kind as Kari. TK had later learnt that it was done to her almost everyday. Even though Kari had healed physically, emotionally, she was destroyed. She couldn't even go to sleep unless TK was holding her and she could bare to be apart from him and was constantly afraid that the man would come back. TK was beginning to suspect that the man had something to do with the way Kari was when TK found her and that she was blocking the memories.
Kari didn't know what was worse. The fact that her head was throbbing so badly that it felt like it would explode at any moment, the way her stomach felt so empty yet at the same time while she felt ready to puke, or how she was alone right now.
Sure, being alone shouldn't bother her. After all, TK was only out getting some food and he'd be back. But without her protector nearby, Kari felt scared and vulnerable.
Kari never felt safe unless TK was with her. Ever since he got her away from that Evil Man, she couldn't bare to be away from him. How she longed to be wrapped up in his arms where she felt safe and warm. TK protected her and with him around, Kari felt that not even the Evil Man could get to her.
TK's always too good to me, she thought. As long as she'd known him, he'd always been so kind to her. Other people shoved her aside. They referred to her as a "pest", or "vermin", or "street rat". But no, not TK. No, to TK she was "his beautiful angel" or just "Angel". Not to mention how while others treated her like garbage, he treated her like a queen.
To Kari, TK was not only her protector, but also her best friend, her boyfriend, and her idol. Kari couldn't help but look up to him. The way knew how to survive. The way he always seemed so fearless. The way he didn't blame anyone for his being homeless. The way he taught himself so much. The way he was kind enough to take care of me. I wish I could do something to make his life easier.
Kari knew she was helping. TK had often told her how she made him so happy and how he was so lonely before meeting her, but Kari wanted to do more. TK not only made her happy, he took care of her and taught her. TK was clearly putting in more than Kari was and that didn't seem right. If there's anyone who should be doing more, it should be me. He saved me, so I should be able to do something in return.
Kari smiled a bit at how they admitted their love. Nothing was said, in fact it was accidental. The two had simply gone to bed, Kari kissed him without thinking, TK returned it, and five minutes later, they realized what had just happened. Then they kissed again.
Kari simply loved how they could find that kind of happiness like this. Life was hard on both. Kari was constantly hungry, and though he never admitted it, TK was too. Yet they stuck together. Even though food was hard to come by, and clothing, well that was even worse.
Kari's eyes fell upon the dress she was wearing. It was now an ugly brown, which was probably not the original colour, and torn, mostly at the bottom, though there were several holes, but it was all Kari's size TK could find. Kari would've preferred something a bit nicer, but she refused to say anything. TK did his absolute best just to get that and she didn't want him feeling any worse about it than he already did.
TK, on the other hand, had to settle for a white shirt that was now mostly a dark grey, missing the right sleeve and a chunk out of the left hip. He also had some horribly faded jeans with a hole in the knee on the right and the left leg, was torn off knee-down.
Life was a struggle, but TK never let it keep him down. He always tried to make the best of each day and that was yet another think Kari admired about him. He's seems more interested in making the most of what he has, rather than wishing things were different.
Finally back, TK thought. It took longer than he had hoped just to get these two apples. But now he was back in the wreck he called "home". Once inside, he saw Kari sitting on her bed with her legs brought up against her chest and looking down.
As soon as he started to head over to her, she looked up and he found himself being rushed by a brown blur. After holding his angel for a few minutes, he gave her a kiss on the head. "How's my beautiful angel?" he asked.
"Better now that you're here," she answered and then coughed. TK wished she wasn't so sick, and did everything he could to help her. He knew she'd get better but it pained him to see her suffer like this.
"Sorry I took so long," TK apologized. He always tried to make sure he was back before Kari woke up. Since she was afraid of the man coming back, he had promised to protect her from him. At least that way, she'd feel safe.
"It's okay," Kari responded, "as long you're here." TK gave her the two apples. She bit into one. "These are great!" TK smiled.
"Glad you like them." Soon Kari was done, but she handed the other apple to TK.
"I'm full," she stated. TK laughed and took it. He knew that wasn't true, but he also knew that there was no way he'd convince Kari to eat the last one. She always made sure that TK wouldn't go hungry on her account. So selfless. So perfect.
The two sat on the couch, Kari curled up next to him, and began talking about whatever. Nothing important, but it took their minds off the struggle their life was. After a bit, Kari cough, then clutched her head and moaned. "I wish this headache would go away," she muttered, "Guess I need more sleep." TK nodded and carried her to the bed. "You didn't have to carry me."
"I wanted to," TK answered. The sat down and set Kari down, but didn't let go. Instead, he started to stroke her hair.
"Can we talk about our dream again?" Kari asked in a tired voice. TK smiled. The dream was a life he eventually wanted to lead with her.
TK had taught himself how to read and then started reading everything he could. He confident that he was smarter than most others he met and constantly taught himself everything he could. He gained a good view of the world through some of the books and already knew what kind of life he'd like have.
"Well," TK started, "we're aren't the only kids on the street. Most of them have nothing, just like us, but we have some advantages."
"We have each other," Kari answered, "We'll always be together and you're always making yourself smarter." TK nodded. This was how it always went.
"That's right, Angel. Our lives are hard now, but if I keep making myself smarter, I may be able to get some kind of job and make money. With that money, we'll be able to find some small place in a small town. The kind of place where everyone knows and trusts each other. We'll no longer be homeless and can have kids."
"How many?" Kari asked, "Since I'll be doing the hard part." TK chuckled. He always taught Kari everything he learnt, and that was one of the more disgusting things he had learnt and still had ugly dreams about it.
"However many you want," TK answered, "and we won't have to worry about being broke and even if things do go bad, our experience here will make surviving in a small town like that much easier."
"And," Kari finished in a faint voice, "we'll always be together." With that reminder of a vow she and TK had made, she was asleep. TK gently laid her down and tucked her in.
"Rest easy, my angel," TK whispered and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. He made his way to the couch and began reading something, since there wasn't much else to do. He remembered the apple and ate it.
Eventually, it became dark and TK was getting very tired. Making sure not do disturb her, TK got in next to Kari and put and arm around her. She muttered something and cuddled up to his chest. TK kissed her on the head and fell asleep.
TK jolted awake as he felt Kari shaking him. "TK!" she was practically crying. TK shot up and hugged her.
"What's wrong?" he asked, "Bad dream?"
"I dreamt that the Evil Man came back for me," she muttered into his chest. TK inwardly winced. Those dreams scared Kari beyond belief. "What if he is here! What if he's hiding and ready to take me away! I don't want to be taken by him again!" She started shaking and TK held her tighter. Those dreams always made her think that he was back.
"That was two years ago," TK whispered, "I'm sure he's forgotten about you."
"But-" Kari protested, but TK put a finger on her lips.
"I'll go check," he assured. Kari visibly relaxed. TK got up and looked around each spot where someone could possibly hide, finding nothing as he expected. When he came back, he held her again and spoke in a soothing voice. "No one's here. It's just us. It was only a dream." Kari sighed.
"I hope he stays gone."
"He better, for his sake," TK responded as the both laid down, "Because if that monster touches you again, or even looks at you, I'll kill him." TK wasn't kidding. He would kill that monster for what he did to his angel. Kari cuddled up in his chest.
"I'm sorry for always bothering you like this," she muttered.
"Don't worry about it," TK answered, "You were traumatized by him, so I'm not surprised by this. Just remember that you're safe with me. I'll never let him near you."
"We'll always be together, won't we?"
"Of course. Our bond is unbreakable."
Afterword: Next part, I'm going to throw in a plot!
