Losing Light
kitetherescue
Reviewers:
Only two.
Lovelinelivelong639: Thanks very much.
4everDestined: Kari is my favorite character too. I hate how she is usually portrayed, so I tend to write her as kick-ass and fearless. I call Angewomon and Angemon the Angels mostly out of habit. I get lazy sometimes, so I write the Angels. I think it sounds more regal as well.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, blah blah.
Okay. Time for my usual rant now. You know what I really hate? Close-minded people. People that think it's "cool" to bully people for being gay/lesbian/a minority. I hate that so much. I try to avoid people like that, but it seems as though they're everywhere. People are so afraid of anything that's different, they just rank it. I have recently had to sever ties with a close friend because she called someone she didn't even know a "dirty lesbian", actually meaning it. I have no tolerance for things like that, or people that do things like that. I hope I'm not the only one.
"What is going on out here?" Kari paled at the voice of her principal, desperately wishing that Angewomon would stop flying victory laps around the pitch. Life is never dull when you're a Digi-destined, Kari thought dryly.
Seeing Double
Luckily, Kari and TK had gotten off with only a few odd looks due to the fact that they had, once again, saved Odaiba from destruction. When they stepped out of the principal's office, they were bombarded with questions from their schoolmates, who had waited for them to be released. Exchanging a glance, the two teenagers forced their way through the crowd, ignoring anyone who tossed a question at them. They only stopped when one voice rang out over the others.
"Looky here," A sneering voice called. "The freaks are at it again." Kari felt TK tense beside her at the sound of Hiro Shenji's sarcastic drawl. TK whirled on the boy, having at least an inch on him.
"Next time, we won't bother saving your ass," He whispered, eyes glinting with an anger familiar only to the Digi-destined. "Because that's what we did, we saved your ass, just like we've been doing since Kari and I were eight." Kari jumped in quietly.
"Next time we'll let you deal with a hundred foot monster that is quite keen on throwing fireballs or some other deadly thing at you," She murmured, eyes locked with Hiro's own frightened ones. "It's not as easy as it looks, savvy?" Hiro nodded dumbly. Gatomon crawled out from behind Kari's legs, batting a clawed paw at Hiro's feet. The boy shrieked, dashing off in the direction of the History wing. "Christ," Kari murmured, continuing on through the crowd, TK following, close on her heels.
"I hate it when people do that," The blond said quietly, running a hand through his hair. Kari nodded in agreement, her jerky pace telling TK that she was not in the mood for conversation. TK had no idea where they were going until they reached the computer lab. Kari swung open the door, almost hitting TK in the process. She stalked into the room, throwing herself down on one of the chairs with a slight huff of indignation. The rest of the Digi-destined looked to TK in confusion.
"Shenji," He muttered, earning him a few nods of comprehension.
"I hate him," Kari spat coldly. TK looked at the girl with slight surprise. Never in his eight years of knowing Kari had he ever heard her say that she hated anyone. In fact, that was one of the things he loved - liked - so much about her, her ability to find good in anyone. Her light, that, as TK had been noticing, was fading all too quickly for his liking.
---
Kari was back in the unfamiliar digital forest, glancing around uneasily at what she was quite sure were eyes. Something rustled behind her, and she jumped, whirling around to face where the sound came from.
"Who's there?" She murmured, trying to squash the fright that was building in the pit of her stomach.
"It's me," A girl's voice came, sounding sweet and pure. A feminine figure appeared, leaning against a tree with nonchalance.
"Who are you?" Kari asked quietly, moving a step towards the girl. "Do I know you?" The girl laughed quietly.
"Far too well." Kari couldn't contain the gasp that escaped her lips when the girl pushed off of her tree, the moonlight revealing her face. The girl was a full copy of Kari, with a few distinct differences. The copy's eyes were outlined with thick kohl, and her lip sported a small silver hoop. Her long hair was black, her thin body clad in a tight leather bodice and a tiny denim skirt. Black fishnet tights covered her legs, and she wore patent leather thigh-high boots on her feet. "Hello, dear friend." Kari stared as the girl swaggered over to her, running a funger over her jaw-line. "We have a bit of a family resemblance, eh?" The girl joked, tongue flicking out to run over the silver ring on her lip. She grinned.
"A bit," Kari replied, swallowing loudly. "Who are you?" The girl sighed, looking bored.
"Shouldn't that be evident, Kari dear?" Kari was silent. "I'm you. Well, a different version of you. I'm composed of your every evil thought, all of your negative feelings. I am your most shameful secrets, and your most hopeless moments. I'm Dark Kari." The girl grinned again, teeth flashing white against her crimson lips.
"But, why?" Kari stuttered dumbly. The girl, the copy, sighed earnestly.
"Wrong question," She said quietly, an odd glint of playfulness in her eyes. "The question is how." Kari gave the girl a prodding look. The girl smiled, obliging. "You don't want to live anymore, Kari," She said boldly, ignoring Kari's grunt of surprise. "You're unhappy, you reek of self-hate, of doubt. You're pathetic, a shadow of who you used to be. You've lost your light Kari, that's why I'm here."
"To help me get it back?" The copy laughed out loud, unable to contain herself.
"Kari," She chuckled. "You are so naive, so trusting." The girl's tone changed. "Stop it, it's disgusting. Of course I'm not here to help you. You think I'd help the creator of my misery? You really are stupid. I'm here to destroy you, and what little light you have left." Kari stared at the girl.
"No," She whispered. The copy smiled.
"Oh yes," Dark murmured, eyes glinting violently. "But first, I think I'll destroy your little boyfriend. The blond, what's his name?" Not TK, Kari thought desperately. "Ah yes, TK." She can read my thoughts, Kari's mind screamed. "I'm you Kari. I know everything."
---
TK glanced around the room, a small sigh escaping his lips. He glanced back down at his worksheet, scowling at the equations. He jumped as the scream rang through the nearly silent classroom. Kari shot up in her seat, eyes wild and darting around the classroom, body rigid. She's had another dream, TK thought, staring at the terrified girl. Kari's eyes finally landed on him. She screamed again, reeling back in her chair in horror. She stumbled out of her seat, casting another glance at TK before bolting out of the classroom. TK stood automatically, not caring about his classmates' odd gazes. Quickly, he darted after her, tearing down the hall behind her running figure. He slowed down when he saw Kari collapse near the girl's bathroom, curling into a ball on the floor. He stopped in front of her, gazing down at her fallen figure in concern. He reached out a hand to touch her, but she slapped it away.
"Get away from me," She hissed, hiding her face from him. She's lost it, TK couldn't help but think.
"It's me Kari," He murmured soothingly, kneeling down beside her. "It's TK." He pulled her into a light embrace.
"I know who you are," Her voice was level, cold. "Now get away from me!" She shrieked, wrenching our of his grasp. She jumped to her feet, towering over him. "Stay away from me, Takeru. Just stay away." With that, she stalked off, leaving TK alone on the floor in his confusion.
---
"What was up with Kari today in geometry?" Davis asked, falling into step beside a troubled TK. The blond looked at his new companion, shrugging.
"Your guess is as good as mine, Dais," TK mumbled, feeling even more depressed. "She's been avoiding me ever since I went after her."
"Yeah, about that," Davis said quietly. "What happened?" TK sighed.
"She freaked on me," He said, recalling Kari's words. "Told me to stay away from her."
"Girls," Davis said tiredly.
"Girls," TK agreed. Over the years, the pair had actually become quite close, especially after Davis had given up on trying to "woo" Kari, and had instead taken up a quest for Yolie's heart.
"Well goodluck, TP," Davis said, clapping his friend on the shoulder as the bell rang. "Everything'll be fine I'm sure."
"Thanks Davis," The goggled boy nodded, waving as he disappeared into a classroom.
---
"Hello Kari," Kari jumped at the smooth drawl, whirling around to lock eyes with her double. "Back so soon?"
"I'm not dreaming this time though," Kari said, voice laced with confusion. The double smirked triumphantly. "How did you get here?"
"The light that you still hold, I hold. It's a nice little chunk of power, really." Kari stared at the girl as she leaned against the wall opposite her. "Now, I believe we have some business to attend to."
Alright, so we've become aquainted with Dark Kari. I would rather call her something different, that sounds dreadfully corny. If you come up with anything, please don't hesitate to share it.
Review please.