Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or any of its characters.
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Chapter II: The Unexpected Kiss
At the airport that afternoon, Ms. Takaishi waited impatiently for Matt to come and pick them up. She repeatedly looked at her watch as she tapped her foot, walking back and forth with exasperation. TK sat in a chair, with Patamon resting upon his head as usual, as he watched his mother amusingly.
"Calm down, Mom. Matt will be here soon."
"TK, for Pete's sake! It's been over twenty minutes since we got here! That brother of yours said he'd be here the minute we got out of the plane."
"He's just running a little late, that's all." The orange fur ball on top of TK's head said.
Ms. Takaishi placed her hands on her hips and was about to say something when they heard a voice call out from the distance.
"Mom! TK! Over here!"
Ms. Takaishi, TK and Patamon all turned to see Matt and Tai running up to them. Once they had reached the threesome, Matt immediately walked up to his mother and gave her a hug.
"It's great to see you again, Mom." When Matt released her, he was surprised to see that her expression was grim. "What's wrong?"
"Yamato Ishida, where in heaven's name were you, young man!" Matt's sweat dropped at his mom's sudden outburst. "You had me worried! You'd better have a good explanation for this, mister."
"Actually, Ms. Takaishi, we were held up in traffic. We didn't mean to be late." Tai pointed out.
"Oh? Well, why didn't you say so?" Ms. Takaishi smiled. "It's great to see you too, son." She hugged Matt as he sighed in relief.
Tai then spotted TK sitting on the chair. "TK, Patamon, long time no see. It's nice to finally have you guys back."
The teen smiled and got up off his seat. "We're glad to be back."
When Ms. Takaishi finally loosened her embrace, Matt turned to his younger brother. "Ah…TK, how's it going little bro?" he said while giving TK a pat on the back.
"Everything's going great. Now, are we going to blow this Popsicle stand or what? I've been waiting all day to see the gang again."
"Oh, right! We'd better get going." Tai said, gathering some of the luggage in his hands. "I'm not sure how long Kari will be able to stall those guys."
There was a great deal of commotion buzzing about the Kamiya household as the digi-destineds, old and new alike, wondered why Kari had called them here. Kari was doing her best to come up with an excuse while Mrs. Kamiya wandered from one person to another serving refreshments.
"For goodness sake, Kari! Just tell us why we're here!" Mimi said, growing irritated.
"I…uh…called you here for…an important emergency meeting!"
"Why? What's going on?" asked Cody.
"Umm…well…" Kari began. Suddenly, there was a knock on the front door. "Oh! Excuse me for a second while I go get that." She quickly left the room, leaving the digi-destineds dumbfounded.
'That better be Tai.' The young keeper of light thought to herself as she headed towards the door. Unfortunately, it wasn't Tai at the door, but Ryo for that matter. "Ryo? What are you doing here?"
"Is that how you girls greet your boyfriends nowadays?" he gave her a playful smirk.
Kari sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry." She gave him an apologetic smile.
"That's better. So are we going or what?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Our date. Remember?"
"Oh my gosh! I totally forgot!"
Ryo looked pass Kari and took notice of the riot going on in the living room. "Looks like you've got some party going on in there."
"Trust me, it isn't a party." Kari stepped outside and closed the door behind her. "TK's moving back to
Odiaba and he's arriving today. Tai went with Matt to pick him up at the airport and they left me to stall the others because it's suppose to be a 'surprise'."
"So, I see." Ryo took her hands in his and kissed them softly. "Let me help. It looks like you've got your hands full."
Kari briefly thought about it. "Alright. I could use a little help. God knows where my brother is, but he'd better be here soon."
Ryo grinned widely as he opened the door for Kari and gestured for her to go in first. "Ladies first."
"Remember, not a word to anyone about TK coming back." She shot him a glare while at the same time smiling.
"My lips are sealed." And together they walked into the apartment in attempt to bring an end to all the chaos.
Although Kari and Ryo were able to cease the commotion, the digi-destineds started to become restless. Half an hour had passed and Tai and Matt still hadn't turned up. Kari was getting worried and Ryo was doing his best to entertain everyone, from knock, knock jokes to his life story.
"Then, at around the age of 9, I joined the soccer team and eventually…"
"I can't take it anymore!" Yolie cried out. "Kari, you either get this meeting started with or without Tai and Matt or I'm leaving!" Yolie got up to leave, followed by some of the others in the group.
"Wait! You guys can't leave yet!" Kari cried out desperately. "Tai and Matt will be here. Just wait for a few more minutes."
"We've waited long enough!" Davis said, following the others out of the living room.
Suddenly, the front door swiftly burst open and there stood Tai and Matt with a stern expression painted across their face.
"Nobody is going anywhere!" Tai boomed.
"Everyone back into the living room, right this instant!" Matt ordered.
Though, everyone was astonished at the duo's abrupt entrance, they obliged to Matt's order and retreated into the living room. Once everyone was settled, Sora placed her hands on her hips and demanded an explanation.
"What's this all about? We didn't sit here for over half an hour waiting for you two without a reasonable explanation as to why you were late."
Tai and Matt sighed and pretended to have a conversation with each other, but still loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Can you believe it Matt? We went through all that trouble of getting that gift we were gonna give these guys and this is the thanks we get?"
"Yeah, that's too bad. I guess we're just gonna have to return it."
Mimi and Yolie's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "Gift! What is it!" they both said in unison.
"You guys wanna know?" Matt asked.
"Yes!"
"You really wanna know?"
"Yes!"
"You really, really…"
"Matt! Just tell us already!" the digi-destineds all cried out.
"Alright, I think these guys have suffered enough for one day." Tai said. He turned towards the hallway and waved his hand back and forth as if gesturing for someone to come in.
Everyone watched intently as they heard footsteps nearing the living room. The digi-destineds went wide-eyed with shock the minute TK appeared with Patamon nestled upon his head.
"Hi, you guys! Remember us?" Patamon said cheerfully.
There was a moment's silence before everyone got up and rampaged towards TK and Patamon, smothering them in hugs and kisses. Tai, Matt, Kari and Ryo watched as the others gave TK one BIG hug all together.
"Uh…guys…"
"Oh, TK, we've missed you so much!" cried Sora.
"Uh…guys?"
"Yeah, welcome back!" said Joe.
By now, TK face was turning into all different shades of blue and purple. "Uh…guys…I can't…breathe…"
When the digi-destineds realized that TK was suffocating, they immediately released their embrace. Once free from their grasp, TK gasped for air. Everyone blushed and laughed nervously.
"Sorry about that, TK. I guess we sort of got carried away." Mimi apologized.
"That's okay, Meems. I know you guys wouldn't purposely try to kill me."
Everyone burst into laughter, happy to have their keeper of hope, once again, reunited with the group. Patamon flew off of TK's head and joined the rest of the digimon who, also, welcomed him back with loads of hugs and kisses.
TK, then, noticed Kari who was apart from the rest of the gang. He broke into a broad grin and quickly walked up to her. Kari smiled and opened her arms wide, expecting a hug. But, to her surprise, he lifted her up into his arms and kissed her. The digi-destineds watched in shock and looked over to Ryo, whose anger and rage was ready to explode at any moment. As much as Kari was enjoying the kiss, she struggled to break it. When TK felt her squirm under his hold, he stopped kissing her and set her back down on her feet. He stared at her in bewilderment.
"Is there something wrong, Kari?"
"Yeah, actually, there is." Ryo said as he came up behind Kari and placed a possessive arm around her waist.
"Who are you?" TK glared at him coldly.
"H-he's my new boyfriend, Ryo." Kari stuttered nervously. "Ryo, this is TK."
"Pleasure to meet you, TK." He extended his arm and smirked impishly.
TK stared at his outstretched arm then, returned his gaze back on Ryo and replied coldly, "It's too bad I can't say the same for you."
Kari winced at the unfamiliar harshness in his voice. It has only been a few minutes since TK arrived and a rivalry has already taken place between him and Ryo. Tai, aiming to lighten up the mood, cleared his throat.
"Well, I bet everyone must be starving after that long wait. So, how about we order in some Chinese?"
"Sounds good to me." Izzy said as the others nodded their heads in agreement.
While everyone waited for the food to be delivered, they broke up into small groups and had conversations among themselves. Meanwhile, TK had pulled Kari out into the hallway.
"Kari, we seriously need to talk."
"I know, TK. C'mon."
She and TK walked off and disappeared into her bedroom. Ryo was just about to go after them when Tai stopped him.
"Listen, they need to work this out. Give them some time alone."
Ryo sighed in defeat. "Alright."
In Kari's bedroom, muffled sounds of the noise from the living room could be heard as TK and Kari stood there in silence. While TK gazed directly at Kari, her focus was on the floor for she was afraid that if she looked into his eyes she would see all the pain, sorrow and anger it held.
"Would you mind telling me what this is about? Since when did you have a new boyfriend?"
"Listen, TK. I'm sorry. It's just that it got so lonely with you gone and I guess I was kind of desperate. When Ryo came along, he liked me from the start. And I tried to avoid him, refusing to go out on a date with him, telling him I was already in love with someone…but…as much as I tried, I couldn't help but fall in love with him. You and I were growing more distant as the days passed and, so I figured you would understand if I just moved along with my life." Kari's eyes began to get teary.
"Oh, as if I wasn't lonely! Kari, you may have thought we were growing distant, but I never did. Though, you were miles away, there was never a day when didn't think about you. In my heart, you were with me wherever I went. And I prayed to God every night that we would be together soon. Doesn't that mean anything to you, Kari?"
Desperation was evident in his voice as he took a step closer towards Kari. She, didn't answer, but continued to stare at the floor.
"Kari?" TK lifted her head up with his finger, until her eyes were level with his. "What about the promise we made to each other?" His voice was barely audible.
Kari looked deeply into those ocean blue eyes in which she loved so much. The eyes that once held love and happiness with just a glint of hope were now clouded with pain and sorrow. Unable to control her tears any longer, she started crying softly. She loved TK very much, but her heart belongs with Ryo now and that's the way it is.
"I'm sorry, TK. But…some promises are meant to be broken." Kari sadly replied and lowered her head once again.
Obviously not expecting that kind of response from her, TK stood wide-eyed with shock as he tried to comprehend his predicament. It felt like a dagger was stabbed through his heart and broke it in two. He gazed at the girl before him. Her chestnut brown hair, now shoulder-length, was clipped to the side with a red barrette, as always. Her crimson red eyes, that resembled two rubies, always gleamed with love and sincerity and her bell-like laughter and radiant smile could brighten anyone's day no matter how upset they are. He realized he wouldn't be able to hear that laughter or see that smile, as often anymore, he wouldn't be able to hold her in his arms nor kiss her. He realized that he had lost her…and there was nothing he could do about it. TK heaved a sigh.
"Alright, if that's the way it's gonna be, then so be it. I can't force you to love me, but I'm keeping to my promise. No matter what happens, I will always love you. Just keep that in mind, Kari."
Kari slowly raised her head as TK began to depart the room. Once he was gone, Ryo entered and encircled his arms around her. He tenderly kissed her forehead as he gently wiped away the tears that flowed down her face.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Kari sadly replied.