The Blind Leading the Blonde
By Ruki Minamoto
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. Never have, and never will…
Chapter 7: Promises
"In twenty four hours, you're going to be able to see this place in all its glory!" Matt cried as he sat down opposite Kari at the café.
"I don't know about glory. It's sort of sickly sweet." TK said. "I thought that when I first came here and was on drugs, and I still think that. But then again, after our fight here, I don't know if I'll ever really take a liking to this place. But, guys, have a look at these pajamas I bought for Kari!" TK held up pink kitten pajamas that no self-respecting teenager would be caught dead in.
"Are they nice?" Kari asked.
"Uh," Tai said with uncertainty as he looked to Matt. "They're, uh, nice, aren't they Matt?"
"Uh huh." Matt said.
Kari smiled and rested her head on TK's shoulder. Matt and Tai sat opposite the sixteen-year-olds. Both of the older boys thought it would be wonderful for TK and Kari to get some happiness for once.
"But remember, the operation may not work." Kari said quietly. "I may never get my sight back."
"Wow, you're optimistic." Tai said with a laugh. The blondes smiled at the brunettes and
Tai looked down at his watch. "Ouch! We've gotta go!"
Kari pressed a button on her watch and it publicized the time for the group.
"You're right. Mum'll have a fit if I'm not home by dinnertime. She'll presume that a car hit me and insist the police do a worldwide search. Hey, TK, you wanna come over for dinner?"
"Sure." TK said.
Tai and Kari made their way out of the booth. Matt grabbed TK's wrist and pulled his ear down level with his mouth.
"You'd better hope that her sense of fashion hasn't changed since she was eight." Matt told TK. TK stood up and slapped Matt's back.
"Stop being cruel, Matt," he said and left.
"Right, Kari, potatoes are at 1 o' clock, the sausages are at 5 o'clock and the gravy is at 8 o'clock. Enjoy." Mrs. Kamiya said as she removed her apron. "I've got to go out to pick up some milk, but I'll be back soon."
As soon as Mrs. Kamiya had left, TK looked to Kari, who was filling her plate. Tai seemed unmoved by his mother's words.
"What was that about?" TK asked.
"Oh, the clock thing?" Kari asked. "It's to help me find the food. I just imagine a clock face. It was recommended to me by the counselor mum and dad made me see after the fire."
"Why?" TK asked.
"Well, I became really withdrawn, and they got worried about my sanity." Kari said with a laugh. "I saw her for about a year. She was specially trained to help people like me, so she gave me all these little things to use in my day-to-day life so I could get around. Like the clock thing."
"I started seeing a counselor myself after you found the syringe." TK admitted quietly.
"His name was Hiroshi Saito. He really helped me to find my feet. I owe him a lot of things."
Tai looked from TK to Kari and smiled.
It was weird to see how similar they were.
It was late, and TK was ready to leave. He peered in at Kari.
"It'll work out, Kari, I know it will. It has to. We've worked too hard for it not to." TK told her.
Kari turned her eyes to TK. She nodded.
"But I can't help but worry…"
TK headed into her room and kissed her forehead lightly.
"Skies are gonna clear up, put on a happy face."
"What?" Kari asked.
"The Simpsons, that episode with the Leftorium. Yeah…have a little hope, Kari."
"I don't know if I can." Kari whispered quietly.
"Then I'll do all the hoping for us." TK said and kissed her. "Goodnight, Kari."
Kari smiled.
"Goodnight, TK."
Kari lay in her hospital bed, her eyes filled with tears. She wanted to get the whole
operation over with. She wanted to be put out of her misery.
TK came in and kissed her on the cheek.
"Hello, sweetheart."
Kari blushed.
"Geez, TK…Why is everyone spoiling me?"
"Oh, it's only the most important moment in your life." TK said with a smile. He sat on the bed beside her and took her hand tightly.
"Most important moment in my life? I thought being the digidestined of light was important, or the fire. Okay, the fire was terrifyingly painful and awful, but important." Kari said with a smile.
"You know what I think, Kari? You think too much." TK told her and they kissed. The doctor entered the room.
"Miss Kamiya…it's time."
Kari gulped and looked to TK.
"Kari…I promise you, when you wake up, you will not see the drug abuser I once was,
you will see a teenager that you will instantly know is me. You will see a teenager who is proud of who he is, and what he has. I promise." TK told her.
Kari nodded and kissed him once more.
"Thank you."
TK headed into the waiting room and looked at Tai.
"It's all in fate's hands now." Tai said. TK nodded, and turned to leave. "Hey, where are you going, TK?"
TK turned to face Tai.
"I'm going to keep a promise that I made to Kari."
TK looked at himself in the mirror. He dug through his wardrobe and found his best outfit. He put it on and tidied his hair. He didn't use gel though, he knew Kari hated it.
After an hour, he smiled at himself and left his apartment again. He then headed to the florists and bought a bouquet of roses. Red, white, pink and yellow roses, all for Kari.
"Thank you." TK said as he bowed to Mrs. Takenouchi and left. He stopped outside and
looked down at them. "She's gonna love these."
He then headed to the chocolate shop and bought Kari the biggest box he could afford.
Finally, he returned to the hospital. He entered the waiting room, and Tai almost fell over in shock.
"Wow, TK, what have you done to yourself?" Tai asked. TK smiled at Tai happily.
"Like I said, I've kept my promise to Kari…I've made something of myself. A person I
can be proud of."