Heart's Desire
By: Haruka-chan

AN: I know, I know I totally suck for not updating this story for ages, but I swear I was so busy, but here is the next chapter, please people review and tell me that I'm not wasting my time updating this fic, I would love to hear your thoughts. Sorry this chapter is so short, next one will be longer. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Of Love and Confusion

Another day, and another chance, but knowing her weak heart she wasn't going to be able to do it, damn they had so many chances, so many moments alone, and yet she couldn't tell him, she couldn't open up. She sighed as she brushed her hair, she had woken about ten times to those same heart pounding dreams, damn him for doing this to her!

"Kari are you up?" called Sora from the other side of her door.

"Yeah I'm just brushing my hair, I'll be out soon." She called, as she pull her long locks into a ponytail, fixed her shirt and applied the light lipstick, she was an adult after all no more cute glitter lip gloss. She walked out and right into him, like the gods were tempting her to kill herself. "I'm so sorry Ken, I guess I was lost in thought."

He smiled, and then laughed lightly, "Don't worry about it, I guess it's been a while since I've seen you this way."

She blushed beside herself, she couldn't help but take this comment to heart, "and I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or just a slap in the back of the head for it."

Ken chuckled, "I don't know I think either way I win."

Kari looked up at him, and then smiled, "Come on they'll probably want to kick our Asses for being late to breakfast."

Ken nodded as they walked down the steps together, once they reached the kitchen, everyone looked towards them, each with their breakfast, singing carols and playing with each other, it was like the old times. How fast time went by and now they were all adults, all grown, and left behind are their days of following digital monsters around, yet it was those monsters that brought them this life long friendship.

II

"Good morning!" called Kari as she walked towards the stove where Tai stood flipping pancakes. "Morning bro." She said kissing his cheek. "Wow look at that you didn't burn even one."

"Shut up, I used to make you breakfast all the time remember?" he asked, tapping her head, "I was the one who took care of you."

Kari nodded, "yea you did." That was no secret that Tai was the one who cared for her and always kept her safe, but now it was his turn to be cared for. "Do you want help?"

Tai looked at her and smiled, "no I got these, almost everyone is done you know, you could try and get some breakfast or do I still have to be on your ass about that?"

Kari shook her head as she grabbed some of everything and sat down, she believed in food unlike some women who thought starvation was the way to a sexy lean body; she was a doctor after all. Spooning some eggs into her mouth she looked around the large table, "So what is the plan for today?"

Matt looked up from his caroling and smiled, "well we're deciding on that by singing carols to see who wins, of course the best carolers wins and gets to pick the first event of the day, what you say Kor, want to try it?"

Ken didn't like the pet name, neither did he like the small smiles that he gave her, wasn't Matt a little too old to be looking at Kari like that? He didn't say anything as he took a seat next to her; he started on his bacon, and waited for what she would say.

Kari smiled and shook her head, "Actually have some last minute shopping to take care of so, I suppose that I'll see you guys later, plus I can't sing if my life depended on it."

This was the chance, this was the moment to conquer, "If you don't mind Kari I would like to tag along, I have some shopping to finish as well."

Her heart skipped a beat, he wanted to come with her, they would be alone once more, they would have the whole morning to themselves, "no of course I don't, and you can come and hold all my bags."

"Good luck with that Ken, that girl can shop, and believe me it's going to be hell for you." Said Matt running a hand through his hair. "I still get nightmares from that once time you went crazy at that mall."

Kari blushed as she glared at him, "Hey you wanted to come, and I do not shop like crazy I mean-awe shut up Matt I should have know you'd turn against me."

Matt laughed, "Awe baby I can never turn against someone as beautiful and cute as you."

That did it not only for him, but for Tai as well as he rushed into the dinning room and took Matt by the shirt lapel, "what did you just say to my little sister you pedophile!"

Matt as much he was smiling, pushed Tai back a little. "Tai she's twenty two I don't think it's wrong for me to comment on how beautiful she is, I mean I always thought she was cute, but come on Tai she's not eight anymore."

Kari looked to Matt and found her cheeks glow pink, she was warm with the comment, and Matt thought she was beautiful and cute? She chuckled as she realized that she didn't notice the great guy in front of her, yeah he was extremely handsome, and seeping sexiness, but she never thought to go to him for a romance. One because of her interest in Ken and the other because she always thought that Matt would end up with one of the other older girls, hell he was seeing Sora for a while. "Tai, Matt is right you know, I'm not eight anymore, and I appreciate his comment, thank you."

Matt laughed as Tai released him, how strange how that came out, he was always a little interested in Kari, but since his visit to Hong Kong, he realized just how much he wanted her, but he would tease and joke with her, they were great friends, all he wanted now was something more, something like a relationship now that they finally had a chance to. "Your welcome sweetie."

Ken couldn't stand it, how did it go from him scoring to him just completely missing the shot? "Well then I think we should get going, if we're going to beat the early birds."

Kari nodded as she scoped some more eggs into her mouth and grabbed for the orange juice. "Yeah you're right, just give me a sec to grab my bag."

Ken nodded as he stood taking his plate to the sink, he smiled at Sora who took it from him and placed it in the dishwasher. "Thank you."

Sora beamed, this was a different Sora completely no longer was she the feisty young girl, now she was more of a young woman with her motherly softness kicking in. "No problem, just have fun while you're here."

Ken smiled, "I will and you take it easy, you wouldn't want to stress yourself and the babies."

Sora gasped as she whispered, "How did you know."

"Come on I'm a doctor, plus I talked with your physician and he told me all about it, I'm guessing Tai doesn't know that you're having triplets." Said Ken sipping the coffee, which Sora handed him.

She nodded, "I want to surprise him with it, and I mean I know that everyone thinks that I'm just big, but I'm so excited about three babies."

Ken nodded as he smiled, "Then you should be more careful, and the chances of it being premature or sick is a big possibility, multiple births can be dangerous."

Sora nodded, "I know I spoke to Dr. Satoshi about it, he said the same thing, but I been doing everything he said to do."

Ken placed a hand on her shoulder and nodded, "of course I'm sure you have, just please take care of yourself and of course I'll be here for your delivery, and I'm sure so will Kari."

Sora placed a hand on his hand, "Thank you Ken, things really changed since we were children."

"They are meant to," he said almost a little to gloomy for his own liking. "Well I better get going before we're late, how about I give you a check up when I get back?"

Sora nodded, "That sounds good."

He headed towards Kari's room, he was sure that she was ready by now. He suddenly felt so much better talking to Sora about her pregnancy. Stopping in front of her door, he was about to knock when he heard their voice.

"Matt what's up you've been acting weird since you got here, do you want to tell me something?" asked Kari as she held her purse.

Matt sighed as he ran his hand through his messy 'I just got out of bed' hair. "Kari we've been friends for a while now right?"

Kari was confused as hell but she nodded, "yeah, good friends."

"Well I meant what I said this morning Kari I think your beautiful and I really love hanging out with you, so I was wondering if you'd have dinner with me tonight." Said Matt almost nervous.

Wow that was bomb shell right there, Matt wanted to have dinner with her, romantic dinner with her? She sighed and smiled, it was obvious that Ken wasn't interested in her so why bother with it, she could have something real with Matt the attraction is there after all. "Sure why not Matt."

Matt took her into his arms and kissed her hair, "I hope you know that it requires a goodnight kiss, this is not a friend asking another friend to dinner like we did in Hong Kong, that was practice this is real…I want something with you."

Kari wrapped her arms around his, "I know Matt, I know. Let's have dinner and see how things go."

"Okay, sounds good princess." He said kissing her cheek.

Ken felt a lump in his throat and a strange clench in his chest, if he wasn't used to such feelings from time to time involving the beautiful Kari then he would have thought he was having a stroke. He cleared his throat and knocked on her door. "Kari I'm going to heat up the car." He called and turned on his heel.

Matt released her, "well you better get going, I hope I get some interesting gift?" he said winking.

Kari rolled her eyes slapping his arm lightly. "Pervert!"

Matt laughed, "only with you babe."

Kari pulled her coat on and ran down to where Ken was waiting for her. "Hey sorry Matt had to ask me something."

Ken nodded, "Don't worry." He thought for a second if she would tell me what she and Matt talked off, but he instead decided to use this time alone with her.

Kari watched him for a moment and then she thought back to Matt's dinner invitation. She did the right thing, it's not like Ken was just going to suddenly proclaim his love for her, he never showed any interest towards, and Matt…he was always there and now here was the chance to be happy. 'I did the right thing…time to run with the wild horses.'