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—
In the end, Hikari Kamiya can only think of her brother. Tai would know what to do. He always did. Taichi Kamiya wouldn't stand for this! He'd run away from this life and.. and... well Kari didn't know, he'd do something.
In the end, Kari Kamiya wasn't like her brother. In the end, Kari Kamiya was just a homesick kid. In the end, Kari Kamiya was weak.
She hated herself for it. Every day. She'd look into Ophanimon's eyes and think: 'She's not Gatomon, she isn't my friend, and I have no obligation to stay with her,' and every day she'd say nothing.
She wishes... someone would help her. She can't take it any longer.
"Hikari?" Her partner looks down at her. Kari's face flushes after she noticed she'd been crying freely into her jacket. "Come along, we are going to be late." Ophanimon's voice rang through the halls elegantly.
'Thank god,' Kari thinks. 'She didn't notice.'
The were in a large hallway that seemed to go on forever. The walls had cream colored murals of various vaccine digimon in battle. The windows to the side were crystal cut, and the light that came through made tiny rainbow patterns that danced across the pretty grey stone floor and the white fluffy carpet.
She returned her attention back to Ophanimon, who was already back on her path. Kari hurried to catch up to the angelic woman, before she saw him.
She couldn't stop herself from giving out a little happy cry when she saw the one and only Takeru Takaishi look over and meet eyes with her.
"TK!" She giggled.
"Kari!" He laughed joyfully, and nearly sprinted over to her.
The looked at each other for a minute, and then hugged each other. They forgot about their partners, they only existed to themselves.
Finally Kari pulled away, crying for the second time.
"I-I missed you so muuu- huh-uuch..." She half hiccups half sobs through the conversation, and TK laughs and cries too.
"I thought I'd never see you again! I'm so glad," The blond breaks away from the hug fully now, and gives a watery smile. "I have so much to tell you!"
They are about to continue their tearful reunion before an awkward cough cut through it like a knife. She sees her best friend turn to his partner who seems as lost as Ophanimon is.
"Do... all humans act like this when they meet each other?" Ophanimon asks him.
"Um, I- Craniummon did say humans socialize in ways that are foreign to us..." Seraphimon, who Kari thinks is probably TK's partner, answers.
Kari blushes, and averts her eyes from the angel digimon.
"Hikari," Ophanimon's tone is soft and inviting as always. "We brought Seraphimon's human to socialize with you. You two will be having your own meet of sorts while me and Seraphimon go meet someone. Ok?"
Kari tries to nod but Ophanimon doesn't wait for an answer. She walks away, and further into the hall - Seraphimon at her tail.
She turns back to TK and smiles.
"Back to before?" She asks.
He scratches his head. "Eehh... why not?" The hope user shrugs mischievously.
Kari can't help the laughter this time.
—
For a second time today, Hikari Kamiya is shocked.
"What?" She manages, dumbly.
Takeru takes another breath.
"Okay, I heard from Davis, who heard from a guard who had a partner, that there is a rebellion rising up,"
Kari blinks. "A rebellion?" She echoes. "Against what?"
TK nods excitedly, and pulled himself forward.
"Against fake partners!" He whispers, elated. "So that we can go home! I'll get to see Yamato again!" Tears well in his eyes but they remain dormant under his bright smile.
"Rebellion, home..." She whispers, almost to shocked to believe it.
She lays down to process this information, and elects to ignore TK's laughter at her expense.
"How's Davis doing?" Kari asks. "You said you saw him."
"Oh! Yeah, I nearly forgot," the blond scratched the back of his head. "He's with the Royal Knights and ...Seraphimon goes to see them sometimes." He squints when his partners name leaves his mouth, but doesn't elaborate.
Kari's about to ask about it before he smiles into his hand.
"He asks if I've seen Ken nearly every time I see him. It would be funny if it wasn't so sad,"
The conversation dies.
"H-have you seen any other humans?" She asks, breaking the silent spell.
TK thinks for a moment.
"Did you know the digital world is a monarchy? I mean, it has politicians and free speech for everyone that isn't human, but... a King, it's strange," he hesitates. "It wasn't like that with him. It- it was so much more... I don't know."
Kari doesn't ask about 'him'. She already knows he's talking about the one who came before Seraphimon.
"What does that have to do with the question?" She asks instead.
"I saw someone there, a human,"
"Huh?"
"The King of the digital world- I saw his partner,"
Kari can't say she's surprised the King has a partner, but she's still curious.
"What do they look like? Do we know them?" She regains her former sitting position, in favor of leaving the stone floor.
"I'm not sure, but they wore goggles,"
Kari was silent. Goggles normally meant leader of the team.
"Did you ask Davis about this? He might know the kid,"
"I haven't seen Davis since then,"
"What did they look like? I might be able to pass the info on to any other kids I meet," she says.
"Oh, kind of longish dark brown hair. It was a little tangled. I think they were a boy but I couldn't tell, I was too far. They had on a red shirt," TK responds, eager.
"This is helpful... next time I meet another human I'll pass on everything you told me!" She says, determined.
The other laughs. "Don't doubt yourself Kari, you're strong, but you forget it. Don't forget,"
Her face reddens. Did he know about her wave of self consciousness? How? It seemed unreal. Takeru really was her best friend.
"Thank you," She whispers. "You too..."
They hug once more. Kari breaks away first, and turns her head towards the hallway.
"I can hear them coming back..." She tells him,
He yawns, and stretches his arms above his head. TK stands, and extends a hand to her. They walk outside the room together, and meet their partners outside.
"How was it TK?" Seraphimon asks. TK doesn't answer, but instead looks at his shoes.
"Thank you Ophanimon," Kari curtsies to her, and doesn't look up.
"Of course, Hikari," Ophanimon turns. "Now come along." She walks away gracefully, Kari at her tail.
Kari looks back, and waves to TK, who eagerly returns one. She takes a deep breath, and continues after her... partner.
She misses her.
—
They're outside the castle and Kari can only focus on one thing.
It's her.
She's doesn't look like herself... but Kari can tell.
She's taken the form of an enormous pink dragon, covered and soft looking fur. Blue eyes hold the same mischievous glint as before. Her body coils, like a snake, but pink, with fur.
If it wasn't so heart wrenchingly shocking to see her, Kari would have laughed and said she looked like a pink snake puppy.
She forgets about Ophanimon.
Right now, Gatomon is her only partner.
—
It's a shorter chapter so I apologize. Thank you to everyone who favorited, followed and reviewed this fic!
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Before he finishes the thought, he bumps into something.
He looks up, and his eyes widen. He straightens his back. "I'm sorry! I wasn't paying attention!"
"Nah, it's fine," Takuya said. "I didn't really have my eyes on the road either."