It had been a few weeks since Matt and Tai's cofession. Hikari Yagami had just walked into the house when she heard the phone ring. She rushed to it immediately. "Hello?" Kari asked. It was Matt, he sounded vey worried.

"Tai wasn't at school at all today. Is he alright?" he asked.

"He's here if you wanna come check on him." Kari's voice sounded strangely strained, as if she was trying to keep from crying. "Could you put T.k on? I can't say this without crying...He'll tell you what I say." she continued, sounding even closer to tears. Matt immediately complied.

"Kari, what is it?" T.K. questioned.

Before Kari could reply a howl of pain was heard. That sounded like Tai's voice! "Mom's beating Tai! She's punched him and cut him and..." Kari couldn't finish, she began sobbing heavily. A womans voice was heard.

"Shut up Kari!" a slapping noise was heard along with a cry of pain from Kari. The phone was then turned off.

When Tai and Kari's mom was throgh with them Kari was very battered but compared to Tai, it was nothing. His arms and legs were tinged with purple and he had long wounds on his arm wich were staining the carpet. He was unconchious. "I'm going out kids...See you at 10:00 p.m. She left them battered there on the living room floor.Kari crawled over to Tai and linked hanhds with him, he was looking horrible. "I'm sorry...I couldn't save you." Kari said and fell unconchious, letting the darkness envelope her.

Matt and T.K. had just arrived at the door of the Yagami household. They knocked on the door. No answer. Matt turned the door handle and it opened with a "click!". The sight thyey saw before them was a horrible one. "Help..." pleaded Kari, crawling towards them.

"Kari!" T.K. yelled, rushing to her side.

"Don't worry about me... It's Tai you should worry abot." she said, her eyes brimming with tears. T.K picked her up and went over to where Matt was bent over. Matt hoisted Tai up. Tai looked as if he was only half-alive. 'C'mon Tai! You gotta make it through this for me! I love you too much to loose you." afew tears rolled down his face as he thought this.

They rushed the two siblings to the hospital post haste. The doctors said the two would live. It would take Tai a little longer though. They said it was a miracle in itself that he was still alive! Matt sat there by Tai's side the whole time, he wouldn't leave no matter what. Matt remained strong. "Matt..." he heard Tai whisper hoarsly.

Matt couldn't take it any longer, he let the tears roll freely down his cheeks. "Don't cry." pleaded Tai.

"I was afraid I was going to loose you." Matt said, pulling Tai gently into an embrace.

"I'm not going anywhere!" Tai said with his usual cocky smile.

For some reason it made Matt smile. Perhaps it was the fact that Tai was still around, cockyness and all.

TO BE CONTINUED.

me:Thanks 4 reading!

Tai: plz review! cc welcome!

Matt: Flames are not!