At about a quarter after six, an out of breath T.K. finally knocked on Kari's door. Kari, who had been terrified that something awful had happened was immensely relieved to see him, throwing her arms around him as he walked through the doorway.
When she stepped away from him, T.K.'s heart melted. She was most beautiful thing that he had ever seen. Not wanting to be rude staring, he memorized the way she looked quickly. In her heels she was almost as tall as him, her dress hiding her slim legs, but showing off her narrow waist. Her breasts were a bit small, but perfect in T.K.'s eyes, though he wasn't the kind of guy to really care. Dark brown, almost ruby eyes smiled at him beneath shimmering pink eyelids and long, curling eyelashes.
T.K. apologized for being late, explaining that he had been waiting for his mother to get home when she called at six to tell him that she had to stay another night in Kyoto. Kari reassured him that it was all right, their entire conversation taking place in a circle of flashing light as Mrs. Kamiya ran around taking pictures of the couple.
After a few poses, they finally managed to escape Kari's mom and headed downstairs where the limo was parked Ken and Yolei were waiting. Gatomon and Patamon followed, keeping a close eye on their friends, but also making sure that no one else happened to see them in the process.
The ride to the school was just as much fun as Kari had anticipated that it would be. But then, things were usually fun when Yolei was around.
As they exited the limousine and made their way towards the school's front entrance, Kari felt T.K.'s hand grip hers. She looked up at him and immediately noticed how his face was lined with worry.
She pulled gently on the hand that held hers and led him away from the stream of people entering the school. When they were fairly concealed in the shadows Kari shivered and wrapped her free arm around herself.
"T.K. maybe this wasn't such a good idea," Kari began slowly. "We have a responsibility to the digital world. If we go now I'm sure we could get ahold of Izzy, and Sora…"
"No," T.K. said, cutting her off. "We can take care of Piedmon later. Right now, let's just try and have some fun." He put on a fake smile and quickly pulled her back towards the warmth of the school. Inside however, T.K. could hear Piedmon's shrill laughter over and over, interrupting his thoughts.
Blaring music and flashing lights brought him back to reality as they stepped into the gym and made their way to the table where Yolei was setting down her purse. The fact that their hands were still laced together drew many interesting looks, many of them spiteful.
T.K.'s nerve faltered slightly once again as he saw boys that he considered friends glare at him from across the room. Kari laughed at his reaction and grabbed his arm to better lead him towards Ken and Yolei.
Kari quickly set down her purse before dragging T.K. out onto the dance floor. The song was fast and very familiar, yet it took T.K. a curiously long amount of time for him to recognize his brother's voice.
Yet, despite the presence of his older brother, T.K. was determined to take his own advice and have fun. As they danced, T.K. slowly began to forget about Piedmon, his thoughts becoming more and more focused on Kari. Whenever they danced before, they always refrained from getting too close or too provocative. Hesitantly, he placed his hands on her hips, unsure of where they stood as a couple. They had kissed, but had it meant anything to her? Sure she had kissed him back and agreed to go to the dance with him, but did that say anything? T.K. knew more than anything that he loved her, had wanted to tell her ever since they had kissed, but didn't know how to say it. Should he say it straight out or should he wait for the right timing?
Anyways, the music ended, pulling T.K. out of his thoughts. Kari gestured towards the table and T.K. followed her through the throng of people. When they reached the table, Kari immediately began a conversation with another girl sitting with them, though T.K. didn't recognize her. He was about to sit down in the chair next to her when a hand gripped his shoulder from behind.
T.K. whirled around swiftly, his arms raised in defense, but relaxed when his warm blue eyes met the icy blue of Matt's.
"Hey bro, I kind of wanted to talk to you about something." Matt's gaze strayed to where Kari was deep in conversation with her friend, so he sat down next to where T.K. had just been intending to sit.
"Oh, God, not again," T.K. complained, expecting another lecture about sex.
"Please, just hear me out," Matt answered. "Look, ummm, ever since I first learned how to play the harmonica, there's been this one song that's always stuck in my head. A long time ago I wrote it out, but never recorded it because I could never come up with lyrics that worked. Then the other day, I found this notebook underneath the couch, and I thought it was probably yours, but I looked though it anyway."
T.K. opened his mouth to most likely lecture Matt about invading his privacy when Matt went on; "You know the poem that you had written in there? Well, I understand if you're mad or anything but I put it with my song, and I think it's going to be a hit."
T.K. looked at Matt devoid of expression, "then why haven't you recorded it yet?"
"Well, I wanted your permission first."
"I don't care Matt. You can use it if you want."
"Thanks T.K.," Matt said, "and I'm sorry about earlier. I should have known how you feel about Kari when I read your poem." T.K. was expecting him to say more, but Matt was looking at a point behind T.K. where Kari was just saying goodbye to her friend.
As the other girl walked away, Kari turned towards the two brothers, her arm wrapping around T.K.'s affectionately.
"So Matt," Kari said, "rumor has it you're going to be playing a new song tonight."
"Yeah," he replied, "in fact I was just going to play it right now."
"Really? That's great. I'd say good luck, but I'm sure it's going to be great," Kari said, flashing him her brilliant smile.
"Don't worry, it is," he answered, looking at his younger brother. With that he hurried back across the room and over to the stage where the rest of his band was waiting for T.K.'s reply.
Meanwhile Yolei returned to the table and took the seat next to Kari. Shortly after they had greeted each other however, Kari felt T.K.'s hand grip her arm. She quickly pulled away from her friend and leaned over so that she was face to face with T.K. Worry flooded into her as she saw how pale his face was, or how clammy his hand was as it grasped her arm.
"What is it?" she asked quietly.
"I don't know," he whispered in return. Though he knew what it was. It was Piedmon's voice growing louder, his face appearing in T.K.'s mind. It was Piedmon waiting until he let his guard down to pull him into the digital world.
Kari knew what he was going through, after all, she had experienced all of it and more when she was taken to the Dark Ocean. She put her hand on his cheek, wanting to do more to help comfort him, but not wanting to start some crazy rumors.
He smiled at her touch, the terror fading as the moment passed. Kari looked towards the stage where Matt had taken a seat at the school's small piano. He began playing the first few notes of his new song, so T.K. helped Kari to her feet and led her onto the dance floor.
"Remember when,"
Matt's voice sang across the room.
"Kari, there's something I want to tell you…" T.K. began.
"We never needed each other
The best of friends, like
Sister and brother
We understood
We'd never be
Alone"
Kari heard T.K. but she was listening much closer to the words of Matt's song.
"Those days are gone
And I want you so much.
The night is young,
And I need your touch
Don't know what to say
Never meant to feel this way
Don't wanna be
Alone tonight"
"Kari," T.K. said slowly, "this song that Matt's singing…well…the words are from a poem that I wrote…"
"What can I do to make it right?
Falling so hard, so fast, this time
What did I say? What did you do?
How did I fall in love with you?"
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with sudden understanding.
"I hear your voice
And I start to tremble
Brings back the child that
I resemble
I cannot pretend
That we can still be friends
Don't wanna be
Alone tonight"
T.K. smiled at her, trying to convince himself to say the words that his heart had been saying for years. "So I guess what I'm trying to say is…"
"What can I do to make it right?
Falling so hard, so fast, this time
What did I say? What did you do?
How did I fall in love with you?"
Then the world turned upside down. One minute they were dancing close together, and the next T.K. was being pulled through a digi-port that appeared suddenly in the middle of the dance floor.
"Oh I want to say this right
And it has to be tonight
Just need you to know, oh yeah
I don't want to live this life
I don't want to say goodbye
With you I wanna spend
The rest of my life"
The light from the portal illuminated the dimly lit gymnasium, blinding everyone nearby so that they didn't notice as Gatomon and Patamon leapt out from underneath the table and followed T.K. and Kari into the digital world.
"What can I do to make it right?
Falling so hard, so fast, this time
Everything's changed
We never knew
How did I fall,
In love,
With you?"
-------------------------------------------------------------
"How Did I Fall in Love With You"
Performed by: Howie Dorough on the Backstreet Boys Black & Blue