Chapter Four: Part One of Tai's Downfall
By Melinda Cadarette
I have to get Matt this time
Sora must be mine to possess
I will let my dark side to take control
So I could do this deed without remorse
Agumon had made a promise to me
I know that he wouldn't speak to someone
So let the darkness take over
So I can get rid of Matt now.
"Good morning Kari," Tai said as he saw her in the living room. He and Agumon saw Kari watching TV there. She looked at him a little apprehensive. She still remembered yesterday when Tai was rude to her. Yet he appeared to be his usual nice self today.
"Are you feeling better?" Kari asked. Gatomon was beside her on the couch. The Cat Digimon looked at Agumon with a quizzical look on her face. The orange Reptile Digimon simply gave her a blank look in reply.
"Kari, Izzy said he got an apartment and is having a party. He wanted to know if you want to go too," Tai said.
"Of course I do!" Kari replied. "When are we going?"
"He invited all of us, I mean the DigiDestineds, for lunch so I am going at eleven" Tai answered.
"Well I should get ready to go" Kari said. She shut off the TV. She then left Gatomon while she rushed to her bedroom. She came back ten minutes later with a pink top and shorts. Tai had on a brown suit and tie. He smiled at her when she returned.
"You look nice," Tai said. This surprised Kari a bit. He was so rude to her the day before. Maybe it was just a bad day for him that day, she thought.
"Thank you Tai" Kari said. "Are you going to eat anything to eat before we go?"
"I am not hungry" Tai answered. He didn't want Kari to know that he just wanted to got to Izzy's apartment and get rid of Matt before he could think himself out of his plan. Of course Kari had no clue.
"Are you feeling well?" she asked concerned.
"I am okay. I am just excited to see Izzy's new apartment," Tai said. (Note: Line error.)
"I'll get you an apple. I don't want you to get sick from not eating" Kari told him. She went to the kitchen.
"You don't have to do this you know" Tai told her as she left. She apparently didn't mind. She returned with a red apple.
"Now eat" Kari ordered. Tai sighed, realizing that he better do as she says or he'll never get out of here. He ate the apple. "Good, now that is over, we can go."
'When did she tell me what to do?' Tai thought.
'You can get rid of her you know' a voice inside his head told him. This alarmed Tai.
'Go away! I am doing nothing to her!' Tai thought back.
'As you wish,' the voice responded as it retreated.
"Are you okay Tai?" Kari asked. Tai looked at her.
"Of course I am!" he answered. He sounded startled. "Let's go now." He looked at Agumon. "We're going to have a good time are we Agumon?"
"Yes Tai" Agumon replied. He knew that the "good time" that Tai was talking about was not what he would consider a "good time". He knew that Tai was going to attempt to kill Matt. How he did not know. But he did know that he was going to do it.
"Do you know where Izzy's apartment is?" Kari asked her brother.
"Sure. He told me when he called. It's at Highton View Terrace" Tai answered.
"Oh wow! So he moved back?" Kari said.
"Yeah. He said that he always wanted to go back to it. We can buzz him and he'll let us in" Tai said. Kari nodded.
"Well let's go" Kari said. She stopped walking and turned to her Digimon. "Are you coming Gatomon?"
"Yes Kari" Gatomon answered, running to her partner.
"Come Agumon," Tai ordered. Agumon silently did so.
"Are you going to use the car?" Kari questioned.
"Yes. I got the keys here" Tai answered. He jingled the keys in his hands. "Let's go now. I am tired of standing here."
"Did you tell Father and Mother about this?" Kari asked. "I think they want to know, especially when both of us are leaving."
"I almost forgot about that!" Tai exclaimed. He personally didn't care but he knew better than get his parents worried over nothing. "I'll leave them a note". He went to the kitchen where he picked up a pen from the kitchen counter and wrote a note and posted it on the refrigerator. In English, it would have read: "Kari and I have gone to Izzy's apartment. We will be back before supper. Tai." He then turned to his sister. "I am done now. We shall go now." Kari nodded.
Agumon had to sigh. There was a slim hope that Matt might not come but he knew that Matt would probably come. The Reptile Digimon had no choice but to come since Tai wanted him there. Still Tai did not kill Matt when he had the chance before. There was still good in Tai or so Agumon thought. He believed that Tai was still struggling with the darkness that he allowed to open inside him.
Agumon could only hope that the good in Tai would prevail again.
"Hey good morning Izumi!" Tai said as he opened the door to Izzy's apartment. "I hope we're not too early!"
"Of course not! Come in!" Izzy replied. "Please take your shoes off and sit down." Tai and Kari entered his apartment. They saw it was very clean as the smell of cleaners was still in the air. "I have to go back to my room. I was talking to someone from Hong Kong in a chat room in the Internet. Tentomon is at the computer now. You do remember the Po Brothers, Kari?"
"Of course I do! Why do you ask?" Kari asked.
"Well I was talking to Mei Po, their sister" Izzy replied.
"I didn't know they had a sister!" Kari exclaimed.
"She is greatly interested in the Digital World so I told her about some of our adventures" Izzy said. "Of course there are so much of the Digital World that we don't know. I am planning to talk to Mr. Takenouchi and Joe's brother Jim about taking an expedition. It will be an interesting trip. Oh, and her brothers wish to send their love to you, Kari" Izzy told her. She blushed. Tai's expression darkened when he heard "Takenouchi" but said nothing.
"So is anybody else coming here?" Gatomon questioned.
"I think everybody is coming though I am not a hundred percent sure that Joe is coming. He said that if he is going to come, it is likely to be only for half an hour or so though he told me that he will certainly try to stay longer if he could," Izzy explained. "Yolei was delighted so I am sure that she already told Ken. Davis said, 'Hey if everybody is coming, so will I.' So I know he's coming. When I called Matt, he said that he and Sora are going to come together. She is apparently staying at his place now." Tai had a surprised look on his face but it soon went normal again.
"What about T.K.?" Kari asked. "Tai didn't tell me until today so I didn't have the chance to call him." Izzy smiled.
"I didn't get an answer so I left a message. I didn't get a reply back but I am sure that he is coming too. Cody said that he would be coming and warned me to bring out the food just before we eat. I guess he is afraid that Armadillomon will eat everything before everyone is ready. Davis and Veemon are coming so I better hide the sweets as well" Izzy said in a joking manner. "I should be going back. Sit down if you like."
There was a brown couch in the living room. Tai and Kari sat down on it. Agumon and Gatomon sat next to their respective partners. Agumon could tell Tai was thinking. Tai had put his right hand on his chin. His eyes seemed to be focused on something.
'What are you thinking Tai? Please let it not be about killing Matt and getting Sora. You know that Sora will not love you like she does to Matt if you force her to. And you could get into big trouble and I wouldn't be able to help you' Agumon thought. Still he said nothing to Tai. He knew that Tai might not be in the mood to listen.
Suddenly a buzz was heard.
"I'll get it!" Izzy yelled from his room. A moment later, he got out of his room and pressed a button on the panel next to the door. "Who is it?"
"It's T.K." a voice replied through the intercom. Kari got up and went beside Izzy.
"And Patamon," came a small voice. "Don't forget about me!"
"Oh yeah. I am sorry for not calling back. May I come in?" T.K. asked.
"Yes! Kari is here with Tai" Izzy said. Kari immediately turned red in her face.
"Oh good! Tell Kari I'll be coming up!" T.K. said.
"I think she heard you T.K." Izzy told him.
"Oh," T.K. said. He then paused. "Well I am waiting to be let in."
"Sorry about that," Izzy said apologetically. He then pressed a button. "Here you go."
"Thanks," T.K. said. He was not heard after this. Kari went back to the couch. Tai looked at her curiously.
"Are you going to tell him yet?" Gatomon asked her.
"No" Kari said. "I want to tell him in a more private setting."
"I understand" Gatomon said. Tai went closer to Kari.
"Is something wrong Kari?" he asked her.
"Oh nothing. I mean it's private. I mean really private," Kari told him. He nodded.
"I see" Tai said. He then patted her on the knee. "If you wish to talk about it later, you can come to me. (Note: Line error.)
"Thanks brother," Kari said, smiling. "I may need it." Agumon observed this.
'Tai is so caring right now' Agumon thought. 'This is the good Tai. I know he'll not do anything in front of her. Of course I can't say that with any certainty.' Still the thought that his partner would do something horrendous within his sister's midst terrified him.
"Good morning Izumi!" T.K. said politely as Izzy opened the door. "My mother got the message but we thought it was too late to reply. I hope you don't mind the fruit basket. I picked it up on my way here. The grocer said it was freshly made that morning so I am sure you'll like it."
"You shouldn't have done it, T.K." Izzy replied. "I am a friend, not a strange host." T.K. just smiled.
"May I come in please?" the blond-haired boy asked. "You're in my way."
"Forgive me. Of course you can," Izzy said. He moved aside.
"Where's Kari?" T.K. asked.
"She is in the living room with Tai and their Digimon" Izzy answered. "It is on the right."
"Thanks," T.K. said. He then walked to the living room and sat down on the couch. Kari looked at him smiling. She said nothing though. They sat there in awkward silence.
"So T.K., how is your life?" Tai asked. The blond boy, dressed in the green school uniform, looked at him.
"I am fine. Doing school and all," T.K. replied. Tai nodded. "My brother is doing fine as well." At the mentions of that, Agumon saw Tai's face darken but it went back to normal after a minute.
"I went to Matt's new place a couple of days ago. He told me he wanted to go to America and work in the space program there" Tai told him. Both T.K. and Kari looked surprised.
"I didn't think he would be interested in a field like that" T.K. said in pure astonishment. "I know that since the Teenage Wolves broke up, that he has pursued various interests. I guess he finally settled in an interest but I never thought it was space."
"It surprise me too," Tai said. Another awkward silence ensued.
"It sure is quiet" T.K. commented.
"We were the first ones here," Gatomon said. "Nobody else has shown up yet." T.K. nodded.
"Once Davis and Yolei get here, that'll change," T.K. said. They all then chuckled, including Tai. Agumon smiled.
It was then a loud buzz was heard. Izzy rushed to the panel.
"Hello? Who is there?" he asked.
"Hello Izzy! This is Davis!" the boy said.
"Don't forget me too Davish" another voice said.
"Oh yeah. Veemon is here too," Davis said.
"May we come in? We're hungry!" Veemon exclaimed.
"I hope you had breakfast" Izzy said, trying to conceal the uneasiness of his voice.
"You do have food, do you?" Davis questioned. Izzy tried not to sigh too close to the panel.
"Yes I do but it is not all for you-"
"Then let us in!" Davis demanded.
"Let us help you eat the food!" Veemon said. It was then that Izzy heard Davis' voice but it was too low to be heard properly over the intercom.
"Sorry for that. I had to tell Veemon that we have to leave some food behind for the others. It would be rude not to do so," Davis explained. This did not reassure Izzy.
"Come up Davis. I do not have any food out now but I can bring some out for you," Izzy told him.
"Let us in then!" Davis said.
"Yeah! We're hungry!" Veemon yelled. Izzy tried not to sigh again near the panel. Instead he pressed the button and let them in.
"Do you mind, Davis? Some of us had breakfast and planning to keep it inside" T.K. said. Davis looked at him oddly while he was eating hungrily.
"I haven't had any food since I had supper yesterday" Davis explained. He then slurped the noodles from the bowl using his chopsticks. "Great noodles Izzy!" Veemon was on the couch as well, munching on rice balls.
"Do you want any drinks?" Izzy asked.
"Do you got milk?" Veemon asked. They then returned to eating.
"Sure" Izzy answered.
"Well, get us them then!" Davis commanded rather rudely.
"Make sure Davis doesn't eat the chopsticks," Izzy told T.K. T.K. smiled.
Just then a buzz was heard. Izzy quickly went to the panel.
"Good-" Izzy started to say when he was suddenly interrupted.
"IZZY!" the girl's voice was so loud that Izzy fell down in shock. He quickly got up and spoke at the panel.
"Yolei? Is Ken there too?" Izzy asked.
"Of course he is!" Yolei's voice was not as loud as before. "Do you want to talk to him?"
"Oh no! I just want to know if he is with you," the young man said. "My couch is full so I have to get some chairs out."
"You mean we're not the first ones here?" Yolei asked.
"Tai, Kari, T.K. and Davis are here" Izzy replied. "Their Digimon are also here of course."
"Let us in then! I want to see Kari and T.K.!" Yolei demanded. Izzy pressed a button. He then went to a room and brought out a couple of folding chairs. He unfolded them just as the door rang.
"I am going to get a lot of running today," Izzy commented as he ran to the door. He opened it.
"Hello Izzy!" Yolei said loudly. Ken was wrapped around her right arm. "We brought a little present for your new apartment!" She held out a little box that was wrapped with pink paper and a red bow. "I hope you like it!"
"It was her choice," Ken said. He sounded weak.
"Are you okay Ken?" Izzy asked concerned.
"Of course he is!" Yolei responded, not bothering to let Ken answer. She then looked inside. "He is just tired." She then squeezed her right arm around Ken's neck causing his eyes to bulge. "May we come in? I don't want to stand like this." Izzy decided to rescue Ken.
"Of course you can! You might want to get your arm off Ken's neck. I think he's turning blue in the face," Izzy told her. Yolei looked at Ken. The dark-haired teen did look like he was going to pass out.
"Oops! I am sorry my Ken!" Yolei let go of her arm. "I get so excited sometimes!" She then wrapped her arm around Ken's waist and practically pushed him inside with her. Hawkmon and Wormmon followed them.
"Forgive Yolei. I will make sure she will be in her best behaviour" Hawkmon told Izzy.
"You better look after Davis and Veemon as well" Izzy replied back in a low voice.
"Are they bothering you?" Hawkmon asked.
"Hey Izzy! Where is our drinks?" Davis asked, shouting.
"Yeah our drinks!" Veemon yelled.
"And bring more noodles!" Davis added.
"And more rice balls!" Veemon further yelled.
"They are not bothering me; they are making me go crazy" Izzy said in a low voice.
"I see. I'll not let that happen" Hawkmon replied. Izzy nodded.
"I am coming!" Izzy yelled. He had two platters with noodles and rice balls on it.
'That better not be the only things you have" Yolei said as she saw Davis and Veemon eat them.
"I don't think so," Davis said. "I can think of better foods to serve."
"Hey!" Izzy exclaimed.
"No offense Izzy. This is good," Davis said. He then sipped the broth noisily. Veemon chomped his last rice ball. (Note: Line error.)
"So how are all of you doing? How is your relationship with T.K. going?" Yolei asked Kari. Wormmon was on Ken's lap. Kari looked uncomfortable.
"We are, ah, doing good," she said as she looked at T.K. for confirmation. He nodded.
"You got to tell me later," the older girl said. Kari hunched her shoulders.
"So what about you and Ken?" Davis asked. Kari smiled. She owed him a favour for that one.
"We are doing great! I am sixteen and he is fifteen so we can't do much," Yolei said. Ken suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"You probably have to be the one doing most of the action anyway by the look of things" Davis said smiling.
"What do you mean by that? He can't drive me anywhere yet" Yolei told him. Ken looked relieved. Davis sat there stunned.
"Never mind him. What is going on generally?" T.K. asked.
"Not too bad. Ken is a bit upset though. Have you heard of the Digimon thefts in the Tamachi area?" Yolei asked.
"Oh yeah!" Veemon nodded. "Davish and I heard it on the news. It is horrible!"
"Something about an Octomon robbing jewelry stores?" Davis asked. Yolei nodded.
"An Octomon!" Izzy yelled. He now had a tray filled with rolls and sweets and cups of soda and milk. He placed it on the low table, which the various guests immediately helped themselves. Davis got whacked by T.K. when he tried to grab a roll. Davis gave a dark look. "Tell me about this Octomon incident."
"There has been a series of thefts concerning an Octomon, who have been breaking into jewelry stores and stealing everything. Ken is very concerned with this" Yolei told everybody.
"No Digimon would steal jewels out of its own will" Ken said. "Its partner must have ordered it to do so."
"I am sure that the police will catch the man or woman that ordered it" Kari said.
"I am not too sure. The person so far has remained unseen. The Digimon is likely not going to say anything to betray its master" Ken said, a bit gloomily. He seemed to recall a bad memory by the likes of his eyes.
"I know" Tai said. "No Digimon would want to betray its master. The risk is too great." Agumon felt tense inside. He knew that his words were meant for him. Agumon stayed silent.
"My loyalty toward Ken is unwavering. I did what Ken told me to but there came to be a time when, well, you know, what happened" Wormmon said. Ken hugged him.
"And because of that, I learned your true worth," Ken said, "as a friend." Agumon felt happy inside but when he looked at Tai he felt shaken. Tai had one of the most expressionless faces he had ever seen. His eyes seemed to be blank.
'What are you thinking Tai?' Agumon thought. 'Are you planning to use me like you intended or did you remember I am your friend?' However he was soon to be disappointed.
"Do you know where the bathroom is?" Tai asked Izzy.
"Oh yes," Izzy replied. "Go down the hallway and enter the door at the far right." Tai got up and walked away.
Agumon saw him go. He sat there uncomfortably. He knew that Matt and Sora was going to come. He didn't know what Tai was going to do. All he could do is to wait. He only hoped that the good Tai would prevail.
End of Chapter Four, Part One
This is only the first part of the fourth chapter. Digimon was created by Toei Animation. Please read the next chapter for Chapter Four Part Two and my notes.