"I think I can find a source that could open a portal to the dark world." Izzy frantically typed away on his computer.
"Izzy would that mean we all are going to the dark world?" Tentomon asked
"No, we need to lure dark Gennai and cherrymon here. That way whoever goes can rescue Tai and Maki without getting stuck there." Izzy's eyes never left the computer and Kari was impressed with Izzy's hard work.
"What about meikracmon and Ophanimon? Where did they disappear to?" Biyomon chirped.
"That's a good question Biyo. Izzy? Any ideas?" Sora picked up her partner and walked over to Izzy. Kari bit her lip, she worried Sora might be overwhelming him. Kari turned away from the others. She walked over to the glass door and peered out. Odabia was still deserted. There was no one except the digidestined their partners and Mr. Nishijima around. Kari stared at the beach across the street. The cracks Ophanimon and Meikracmon made were still there. Images of Tai running flashed through Kari's mind. She hung her head thinking about Meikracmon and Ophanimon disappearing and her brother.
"I feel like they are here." Kari turned and faced Meiko. Mei had her head down but still held Koromon.
"Meicoomon and Gatomon I mean." Mei clarified. Kari studied the girl. She held Koromon close and wouldn't meet Kari's gaze. Kari looked back out through the glass door. Her eyes widened as she saw dark whisps coming from the crack Tai had disappeared into.
"Matt." Kari called and she heard chatter stop in the room. She heard footsteps approaching but kept her eyes locked on the darkness.
"What is it Kari?" Matt asked and Kari licked her lips.
"How are the digimon? Do you think they are ready?"
"I'm not sure, Gabumon?" Kari looked at Matt and saw Gabumon standing next to him. Gabumon nodded,
"I feel good." He reported. Kari looked back at the beach.
"Mei, you're gonna have to stay. You need to call Meicoomon."
"H-how?" Mei stuttered and Kari turned and faced her. She gave Mei a weak smile and slowly grabbed one of Mei's hands.
"Meicoomon is in there. You were right about that. She needs you. So you're going to have to look deep inside yourself and call her. She'll come, I'm sure of it." Mei looked scared and Kari felt bad. She squeezed the girls hand and looked at Matt.
"Matt I think I know what we have to do." Matt looked confused. He opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by izzy.
"I got it!" Kari and the others all made their way over to Izzy.
"There's a way there but, I don't think it will be strong enough for that many of us."
"How many can go through Iz?" Matt asked. Izzy paused a moment reading his screen.
"2 at most." Kari looked down at her shoes. She already suspected that most of them would have to stay behind. She looked up and saw everyone was looking at Izzy. Well almost everyone. Kari locked eyes with TK across the half circle and immediately dropped her gaze. TK was looking at her sternly and she suspected he knew what she was thinking.
"So who goes?" Mimi asked.
"Well that's the hard part. We can't go until we make sure dark gennai and Cherrymon are here." Izzy turned away from his screen and a Kari quickly spoke up.
"I think I might be able to help." All eyes looked at her and once again Kari felt shy as the centre of attention. She thought of Tai and stood tall.
"They get inside my head sometimes. I think I can try and call them." The majority of the group looked thoughtful at Kari's suggestion. She snuck a peak at TK who looked angry. He then turned and walked away. Kari's heart sank but she needed to be strong.
"Kari, you sure you want to do this?" Sora asked sweetly. She place Biyomon down and walked over to Kari. She put a hand on Kari's shoulder and Kari was grateful for Sora's presence.
"Yes. But I'll need help. Joe, I'll need your help." Joe stood up a little straighter.
"How can I help?" He asked a little surprised. Kari bit her lip.
"I just need you to be next to me. I think your crest can help ease the pain." Joe looked confused but nodded.
"Sure, I'll help." Kari looked to Matt to take over. He gave her a proud nod and Kari felt a smile tug at her lips.
"We need to organize ourselves. We just need to buy enough time for Myself and Izzy to get into the dark world and-" Kari suddenly cut him off.
"No." Matt looked at Kari surprised. Kari shook her head.
"Matt you and Izzy can't go." Matt frowned,
"Well who goes then?" Kari felt her heart rate pick up but she spoke up.
"Me and Mr. Nishijima." Mr. Nishijima went wide eyed and spoke,
"Me? But I don't- how can I?" Kari stared at him a moment and then explained.
"Maki, she needs you." Mr. Nishijima stopped and looked at his shoes.
"Okay." He whispered
"Fine. We can't waste anymore time. Let's figure out our positions." Matt stepped forward and started taking charge. Kari slipped out of Sora's arm and looked over at the door where TK stood.
"You're mad." Kari stated as she approached TK. TK glared at her a moment and Kari nodded.
"I don't mean to hurt you." She whispered.
"You never do. You never think." TK spat and Kari was hurt by his words.
"I can't leave Tai there." TK groaned,
"I'm not asking you to leave him. But why can't someone else go." Kari stared into TK's eyes,
"You know why." TK turned his body to face her and put his hands on Kari's shoulders.
"Then I'm coming too." He announced and Kari shook her head.
"You know you-" TK cut her off,
"Stop pushing me away!" Kari was wide eyed at his outburst. TK closed his eyes and then opened them staring at into Kari's
"I've been there, I can help! I can't let you go alone." He pleaded and Kari tried to stay strong.
"If we want to win this fight, you have to let me go. I promise this is what is best." TK looked hurt. Kari hated it. But she knew this was the only way she could save her brother and Gatomon. She got onto her tip toes and planted a soft kiss onto TK's lips. His hands moved from her shoulders to her face and Kari pulled back and stepped away. It took everything in her not to go back to TK but she knew she couldn't. She had to focus. She had to find her brother and Gatomon. And more importantly, she had to let the darkness in.