Chapter 16: Feelings and Plans

Kari looked out the window of her appointed room. She was inside an enormous castle, but from her window all she could see was from her sand; wonderful castle, horrible placement, and an utterly despicable owner.

"You don't like it here do you?" Richard asked from the entrance way, there was no door.

"I don't like it anywhere I'm required to be near you." Kari growled at him.

"You're going to be mine Kari." Richard told her. "If you won't be civil I'll leave, but I'll be back. I'll always be back." he stated before leaving.

Kari sighed and looked back out at the sunset. It didn't matter that Richard would return; only that he was gone now.

"You can stop following me." Melissa said, "I know you're there."

"I wasn't trying to hide." Jack told her from fifteen feet back where he was standing against a tree hands in his coat pockets.

"Why are you following me?" Melissa asked.

"I'm not following you." Jack shot back. "I'm making sure you're safe."

"Why? Why, do you care whether I'm safe or not?"

Jack looked off at the sky. "You ever feel like you know someone, but you've never met them before?" he asked suddenly.

"Yeah," Melissa admitted, "I do."

"I feel like that around you. I feel like we've been through a lot already." Jack said; Melissa stayed silent. "So tell me now, have we ever met before?"

Melissa shook her head, "No, I'm sorry but I hadn't met you before all of this started. I do feel the same way though. Like I've known you for years, it's half the reason I trust you."

"You trust me?" Jack asked incredulously.

"Okay maybe not trust," Melissa admitted, "more like I can count on you."

Jack looked up at the sky. "Getting late out," he noted, "we should get back."

"Fine," Melissa said before turning back towards Primary Village, "I'll see you back at the village."

The sun had gone down and now the only light in Kari's room came from a small brazier glowing in the corner. The brazier threw a small ring of light around the area she where was sitting. Richard was pacing just outside the ring. He was nearly invisible except for the small silver clasp of his cape which reflected the light.

Kari's eyes were drawn to the clasp and she watched as it moved back and forth through the darkness. Kari didn't notice as she gradually began to blink and breathe less. Suddenly Richard spoke, "What is your name?"

"Kamiya Hikari." Kari replied. Her voice was flat and emotionless, devoid of all life.

"Where are you from?"

"Odaiba, Japan."

"Why are you here?" Richard asked tightening the spell.

"I was betrayed." Kari replied.

Richard smiled, "Who betrayed you?"

"Takaishi Takeru."

"How did he betray you?" Richard asked.

"He said he would protect me; but he did not, he said he loved me; but he did not, and he swore that we would always remain friends; but we did not." Kari answered.

"What must you do?" Richard asked.

"I must punish him." Kari said.

Richard stepped into the light and held out a knife, "You know what to do with this?"

Kari nodded. "I do." she answered as she took the knife.

"What is his punishment?"

"Death."

Richard led her over to the balcony, outside a Devidramon was perched on the structure. "My servant will give you a ride to where your target is. Once you are done with him return to me." Richard told her before leaning over and kissing her gently on the lips, Kari didn't resist. Kari turned without a word, mounted the Devidramon, and left.

"Are you sure this is a good plan?" a voice asked from the darkness of Kari's room.

"You underestimate my abilities Betamon." Richard said. "She will do what she is told, and eliminate our problems."

"I will tell you again Richard," Betamon said, "that girl, the child of light, is bad news. You should get rid of her immediately, and never, under any circumstances, underestimate i her /i .

Richard let out a long laugh, "Betamon you worry too much. I know what I am doing; besides the two of us are invincible."

Betamon grinned evilly, "Yes," he whispered, "that we are."

When Jack and Melissa returned to the village they were surprised to find that Izzy and Tentomon weren't the only ones waiting for them. Ken was busy talking to Izzy and Wormmon, Gatomon, and Patamon were nearby speaking to Elecmon. TK was sitting against a rock far removed from the others staring at the moon.

"Why are you guys here?" Melissa asked Ken.

"There's a problem with the digiports, we're locked in." Ken replied.

"Where's Kari?" Jack demanded.

"She's been kidnapped." Ken said hesitantly, Jack exhaled loudly as if to call Ken useless. "By some guy named Richard who thinks he can rule the Digital World."

Jack growled a little when he heard Ken mention Richard. "I thought being a digidestined required some standards." he mumbled to himself.

"Why's TK sitting over there by himself?" Melissa asked.

"He's in a black mood." Patamon explained. "It's best to just leave him alone right now."

"Why is he like that though?" Melissa asked.

"Ten years ago he made a promise to protect Kari until the end." Izzy told her. "That promise is a real driving force in his life, he lives to protect her. Now he feels like he failed." he explained sadly.

"Poor guy," Melissa commented, "he just got her back and now he's lost her again. No wonder he feels like the world is falling down around him."

Ken nodded, "It really is sad. He's been like this for the past three years, ever since that fight with Kari."

"What was that about anyway?" Izzy asked. "No one ever told me."

Ken shrugged, "I have no idea. Nobody knows but them and maybe their brothers." he told Izzy. "We should get some sleep," he suggested, "we can talk more tomorrow."

"Yeah sure, goodnight." Jack said. He was obviously still angry that Kari had been taken. He lied down next to one of the large building blocks in the area and soon dropped off to sleep.

Jack awoke an hour or two later with the vague notion that there is something wrong. A quick look around showed nothing out of the ordinary, but then he heard an odd chattering. He followed the sound to its source: Melissa; curled up in a ball, clutching the egg, and shivering.

Jack took off his trench coat and put it over her. "You're giving me your coat? Won't you be cold?" Melissa asked showing that she was awake.

Jack looked away, "I'll be fine. Besides the coat's for the egg not you.

Melissa smiled as she snuggled into the coat, "Yeah right." she said to herself. To Jack she said, "Thanks Jack."

Jack leaned back against his block; at his latitude this was warm. "No problem Lis," he said, "no problem at all."

"If you get cold I can share the coat." Melissa offered but Jack waved her away. Melissa sighed as she rolled over; her relationship with Jack sure was a weird one.

Morning always seems to come too quickly for people. It disturbs the peaceful dreams and rest of people where everything was perfect and replaced it with the grim reality that is life. So it was for the digidestined when they awoke sad, angry, worried, and trapped in a world not their own.

This however changed when they saw a figure break free from the tree line and run towards them. TK's mouth dropped open as he recognized who it was. "Kari!" he yelled running towards her with Gatomon by his side, "Thank god you're ok!"

When they met TK grabbed Kari in a crushing embrace and held her tight. The others soon arrived on the scene. Kari forcefully shoved TK away. TK looked at her in confusion this wasn't the Kari he knew, there was something different in her eyes.

"TK," she said her odd eyes gazing at him intently, "we need to talk."