A/N: I am SO slow but I had Christmas and finals and I was sick and NOT in the mood, and I had surgery, so… yea. Haha. Also, this isn't the end.

Also, I know lots of you might complain about the interaction between TK and Kari this chapter, but I believe in sorting out each character's problems, and not having them constantly lovey-dovey Matt/Kari ALL the time. Y'know? Okay, sorry.

Beating Hearts

Chapter 16

Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. – Russian Proverb

"Who was that?" TK's voice reached Sora's ears from his bedroom. She didn't think he'd moved out of it in weeks. It was a mess, something she never expected of TK. She hadn't come to his apartment very often, but she had always assumed he'd be a neat freak. Things had changed, though.

"No one. Just the wrong apartment," she yelled from the kitchen, where soup simmered in a pot. She stared at it with resolute determination, arms crossed over her chest. She hadn't done anything wrong, had she? Kari had hurt TK, so it was only natural she should stay away and give TK some healing time.

And if his brother and his best friend had abandoned him, who else would take care of him? It was Sora's job now, she decided. She wouldn't let little TK get hurt like this ever again.

"Everything is great!" Was Matt's greeting. Kari didn't even have a chance to say hello before he lifted her up and swung her in a small circle. Kari had to giggle and cling tightly around his neck, feeling dizzy.

"Things went well?" she asked into his shoulder. Matt nodded against her head, speaking muffled words into her hair.

"He's okay with it. I think," he added, but he didn't sound worried.

Kari hated being the bearer of bad news… why was it always her job as of late? As soon as her feet touched the floor, Kari extricated herself from Matt's arms. He gave her a perplexed look, and then comprehension dawned on his face.

"He freaked out." It wasn't a question.

Kari shook her head. She was so close to tears it was almost ridiculous. She breathed out her nose and took a deep breath before ploughing through her next words like an ox. "Sorawasatthedoorandshewouldn'tletmeinandIthinkshewasreallyreallymad." Kari looked up at Matt earnestly, hoping he would smile reassuringly and tell her he would fix everything, Sora was an old friend, or—or something.

But instead he just stared at her. Blinked. Finally moved his mouth. "Oh." Pause. "That's—unfortunate."

Kari felt her stomach curl. That was it. Gone! Matt had been her last hope of redemption, thinking—no, praying—all the way home he would know exactly how to deal with Sora and how to fix things up with her. "B—But aren't you… and Sora…" she began weakly, floundering for the proper words. Matt made a little face of dislike.

"We are good friends, and because of this I know that when Sora gets like this, things get…" He sighed. "Problematic."

Kari bit her lip. "So Tai…"

"Unless it was TK?" Matt asked, hopefully. Kari stared at him. He sighed again, looking down. "You're right, Tai told Mimi. She must've told Sora."

Kari frowned at the floor. "Where is Tai, exactly?" she asked in an eerily calm voice. Matt shook his head at her words.

"Don't bug him about it, Kari. He had a good reason to go to talk to her… sort of." Matt closed his eyes briefly, as if trying to summon some sort of divine calm. "It's fine."

"There's always something, isn't there?" Kari asked, not trying to hide the whine in her voice. "It feels like instead of just being able to relax, we have to keep fighting over these stupid—big—ugly—dumb—walls—or something," she uttered in fragments, trying to get her feelings across. "It's…"
"Frustrating, I know." Matt's hands descended on Kari's and held them lightly between the two of them. Kari stared at their hands, her sickly pale ones in his nice, normal-colored hands. Dear God, what was wrong with her? "But like I said—"

"I know, I know," Kari sighed, retracting her hands and clenching them at her sides. "We knew it would be like this when we decided to—um—date?" She looked up in his eyes, wondering if that was the right word. He nodded slowly, musingly, as if he was thinking. The word hadn't even bothered him. Kari blushed even more at her own immaturity. Was she honestly getting embarrassed over the little issues, like what to call their relationship? When to kiss? That stupid stuff?

"Let's go."

Kari stared at Matt. His face was determined. She knew what he was thinking.

And for once, she wasn't going to argue.

"Let's go," she agreed, glad she was still wearing her jacket. The two of them strode purposefully out of the apartment. On their way down the elevator, Kari silently gripped Matt's hand in hers. You know. Just in case.

Kari wasn't about to complain. In fact, she felt very little need to moan on and on about women's rights at the moment. She rather liked the fact she could be shielded by Matt and all his gruff boy-ness that Kari had never embodied.

Then again, this wasn't something she was exactly proud of either. But hey, she wasn't about to lie to herself.

Her hand was still holding Matt's when he stuck the key in the door. Kari tensed, and Matt winced. "No need to cut off my circulation," he whispered. Kari made a face and loosened her hold on him.

"Sorry," she blustered out, face red from both fear and embarrassment. He paused, the key still half-stuck in the lock.

"You okay with going in there?"

Kari nodded. "He has Sora, so why can't I have you with me?"

Matt smiled at her. "I feel like I'm a parent or something."

"Well you shouldn't, this involves you too," Kari snapped and then sighed. "Sorry, ignore me, I'm nervous. I'm mean right now."

"Gee, if that was your idea of mean, you're clearly the best person I've ever met." Kari mulled over his words as he stuck the key in all the way and turned it. When he opened the door they were both greeted with Sora, who was merely an inch or two away from the half-opened door. She jumped back, looking both irritated and nervous.

"I, ah, was going to open it…"

"It's okay, I got a key," Matt proclaimed, wiggling it in the air before tucking it into his jacket pocket. Kari was staring at Sora mostly out of fear, too scared to do anything else. She saw the older girl's eyes flicker to their hands and narrow. She nearly let out a scream and hastily dropped Matt's hand. He didn't even notice, just closed the door softly behind him.

"Is TK home?" he asked civilly. Kari watched him now, intrigued as to how this little exchange between friends would go.

"Yes, in bed. Sleeping." Sora's words were short and abrupt. She crossed her arms over her chest, and Kari admired Sora's strange beauty like she always did when she ran into her brother's friend; it was something Kari couldn't even begin to compare herself with (although she did all the time). Sora had something loud and in charge about her, a dominating personality, almost. Kari, on the other hand… hid meekly behind Matt whenever she could.

Augh.

"Ah, I see. Well, we just want a word with him whenever he wakes up."

"It won't be for awhile."

"I can wait."

"What about… Kari?" Sora's voice softened for just an instant. Kari gave her a pleading look, but Sora was already turning around, back to the kitchen. Matt rolled his eyes, but then gave a little helpless shrug at Kari. She bit her lip as the two of them followed Sora into the kitchen. As they passed the hall, Kari hesitated. Stopped. She glanced back to see Matt still walking into the kitchen, matching her harsh bits of sentences with pleasantries. It was her chance. Kari stole down the hall before anyone could notice her.

She inched closer to the door, anxious, confused, not knowing what to do. But she was sick of these games, and TK had struggled to call and make the first move and… and she didn't want to let him down.

God, did she sound indecisive or what?

Kari gently opened the door, shocked to find TK's room pitch-black and highly… disgusting. It was self-centred to think she had caused this, but…

"Sora?" asked what sounded like a perfectly awake voice from the bed. She saw something move; panic struck her. "Is someone—" He fell silent. "Oh my God."

"Oh my God," Kari whispered seconds later. "Er, hi TK."

He stared at her; she could nearly see his eyes shine out from the darkness. Was it fear or something that made him move so quickly? One second he was in bed, and the next he had thrown himself on the floor, scrabbling around and trying to pick up bits of clothes, garbage, anything, and throw it all into one pile. "It's horrible in here, no human should see this, this—this isn't because of you!" he suddenly snapped, turning on her. Kari flinched back, still half out of the doorway. She could always run if she wanted…

"I—I know!" she snapped back, and the two stared at each other in the half-darkness before TK went back to scuttling around, trying to clean. "You don't have to clean up," Kari muttered. "I just… I wanted to come over after your message."

TK's movements only slowed, and then quickened again. He didn't listen to her and kept cleaning. "Oh, well, that was a bit of an accident," he said with an off-sounding chuckle. "You know, I was tired—"

"TK!" Kari suddenly shouted. TK winced, and Kari flicked on the light switch, flooding his room with light. He blinked, trying to get used to it, but Kari had already thrown herself on the floor, staring at the hardwood as she bowed her head down.

"I'm sorry!" she began, speaking extremely loudly. She was too nervous to think straight. "I'm sorry I hurt you, and that I did it in the worst possible way, and that I took you for granted when I had you, and that I've made you feel forgotten or lonely or—or anything horrible that's ever happened to you! I'm sorry!" She clenched her hands together in front of her, still kneeling on the floor, head bowed so low her forehead nearly touched the cool hardwood.

"Kari—"

"But I can't apologize for getting a crush on Matt!" she proclaimed, just as loud, trying to get it all out in one fell swoop. "It's the one thing, because I think I have to do what I feel is right, and this is what I feel, and I know I've hurt you in the process, but I just don't want you to hate me anymore!" She was crying, it was a horrible mess, she had come in here planning to be mature about it, and here she was begging for his forgiveness. "I don't know how many times I can apologize! Maybe not enough, it'll probably never be enough, I am a horrible person so I really understand if you just hit me or something right now, or if Sora comes in here and throw me out but—just—think about it! Please!" Silence. It engulfed the room in mere nanoseconds. Kari felt like she couldn't breathe and staggered upright, glancing at TK to see he looked deeply, deeply troubled.

"OhmyGod I'm sorry," she blurted out again, and TK flinched.

"Quit… saying that."

"Huh?" she asked weakly, leaning against the wall, shocked he was addressing her.

"Stop… apologizing. It makes it—weird."

Kari flushed. "But I have to! I've been horrible—"

"Just—stop." TK's hands were suddenly on Kari's shoulders. She froze, looked away nervously, and then back up at him. His expression was determined, and Kari was surprised. TK had always been very, very aware of her personal space… and then some. She was already off-balance, and this move didn't exactly help.

"Um—I don't…" She looked back up at him; now he looked nervous, too. "TK… I miss you." Her voice wobbled on the last word, but it was true, and she refused to try and wipe away her tears and probably the snot that was leaking from her nose. Ergh, why couldn't she be attractive when she cried?

TK stared at her. Then he released her shoulders, like her flesh burned him or something. "You should have thought of that before," he whispered. Kari felt more tears escaping her eyes, not understanding how it was possible to cry so much.

"TK!" she began, then finally decided to rub at her eyes. "This isn't—I don't—this isn't right, what's happening between you and me! And I know it's my fault, and I know you deserve to blame me for everything, but—" She let out a little breath. "You called me." Silence. She looked up at him. "Why did you call me?"

TK stared at her again. Looked down. Away. Back up at her. "I wanted… to talk," he admitted in barely a whisper. Kari let out a quiet, relieved sigh.

"So why can't we talk?" she whispered back.

TK shrugged. "It's a lot… harder, with you here. Knowing that you—and Matt—I'm not… there, anymore." He was staring at the floor, his arms crossed protectively in front of him, his face burning red.

Kari did the only thing she could think of. It wasn't rational; in fact, it was probably stupid. But she took two steps closer to him and wrapped her arms around his little waist, so much skinnier than Matt's, and buried her face into his shirt. She let out a grotesquely loud hiccup, but didn't care. TK wasn't pushing her away, and she just wanted him to know, somehow, that she still cared about him. She still…

TK's arms hesitantly wrapped around her shoulders, pulling her closer, and she felt his head resting on the top of hers, and she knew she wasn't going crazy when she felt tears drop from his eyes into her hair.

"I'm sorry," she whispered again into his shirt.

"I know," TK replied, and it finally sounded like he meant it.

"I don't know," Sora whispered from the hall, as Matt gently shut the door on the two of them. "It seems suspicious."

Matt wasn't about to voice his agreement. After all, it did seem a little too easy, but… then he remembered that Kari deserved this relief, this forgiveness. It didn't mean he had to be completely comfortable with it. TK had looked like he was enjoying the embrace just a little too much…

"I know you too well, Matt," Sora said with a hint of disgust in her tone. "TK's a good kid, and your little brother."

Matt winced at her words, and glanced over at her, hands on her hips as she stared him down. Ergh, Sora. "I know, I know. Why aren't you barging in there and ripping them apart?" Matt quirked an eyebrow as the two of them ambled slowly down the hall, automatically toward the kitchen. Matt sank into a chair at the table, resting his head on his arms exhaustedly. "I thought you were against the whole Kari-being-happy thing."

"I am not!" Sora snapped, looking hurt and angry at the same time. "You know I want Kari to be happy. But I also want TK to be happy. And you," she added, almost like an afterthought.

"Gee, thanks," Matt responded sarcastically, briefly closing his eyes before opening them again.

"You just roped yourself into a horrible complex thing, Matt," Sora scolded him lightly, bringing over two mugs of something steaming. Matt peeked at his: tea. He held it close in his hands, soaking in the warmth. "You know? TK and Kari had a rhythm, and probably a future, and then you stepped in and threw Kari's hormones out of balance, and it just all went downhill from there."

Matt frowned into the table. "Not everything has been downhill," he argued feebly. There had been good times. Really good times. "I don't think Kari regrets it," he added, trying to strengthen his argument.

"I'm not saying she does," Sora told him gently, and Matt had to rip his gaze up to hers, which was steadily boring down on him. "Just remember that she's young, and you're not—as young, and this is all completely new to her."

"I know," Matt muttered, having heard the same thing only a thousand times from everyone else.

"And you're her first—boyfriend." Sora had to struggle to say the word. "Don't break her heart so rashly like you've done to so many other girls, okay?" Her tone was softer now, almost friendly. Matt was amazed and how quickly her perception on things changed. Hadn't she just been on TK's side? Well, now it just sounded like she was against Kari and Matt… only like every other person on the planet.

"I've heard this all before, Sora," he moaned, flopping his head back down on his arms. "Don't think I haven't mulled over it until I've gone insane, because it's happened."

Sora pursed her lips, but Matt couldn't see. He was staring vacantly at the tabletop, wondering what TK and Kari were doing now, how they were 'mending' their relationship. He made a face at the table. He had to fix things with TK too, someday. Hopefully soon. Matt hated to admit it, but he missed his brother sometimes. Sometimes.

"And you don't need to lecture me on TK. Good God you don't need to," Matt added. "It's been a nightmare, dealing with him and everything and I just want… peace." He sighed heavily. Suddenly, he felt Sora's hand on his, still wrapped around the mug of tea. He looked up, resting his chin on his arm as he watched his friend who had a pained expression on her face.

"The rest of us can only give advice to you guys, you know," she told him in a soft voice. "You and Kari are the main kids in this story."

Matt made another face. "I think we're doing just fine."

Sora had to laugh. "Wait until everyone else finds out. I, myself, can't wait to see you squirm uncomfortably."

"I never squirm," Matt argued coldly. Sora only smiled and patted his hand reassuringly.

"Right, of course."

He paused, watching her some more. "You won't… glare at Kari or anything, will you?" He was frowning. "You pretty much terrified her when you answered the door."

Sora sighed, retracting her hand and tucking it in her arms. "I know, I know, but TK's just… after I heard from Mimi, I immediately thought of him."

"Not Tai?" Matt questioned.

"Well, I did, but Mimi swore he was totally fine with it. She was lying, but whatever. She didn't want me to deal with Tai at the moment, so I just decided to try and help TK move along, improve…" She rested her chin in her hand. "I suppose I didn't do much."

"Trust me, you have," Matt said, thinking about TK and how he would have reacted to seeing Sora at his door, offering support when he had had none so far. "I'm sure you helped him a lot."

Sora smiled at him. "Thanks, Matt." Pause. "So, is it weird dating Tai's sister?" she asked, almost sneakily as she leaned in closer. Matt had to smirk; as friends of Tai, their thoughts of Kari had always been his little sister. It was only natural they would confer like this, maybe only once. But still, it was nice to feel like he belonged in that familiar role, at least for a second.

"It was at first. But now I don't just see her as Tai's little sister anymore."

Sora made a face. "Oh God, please don't tell me sweet little Kari has made you sappy?"

Matt's grin grew. "Maybe not sappy," he replied vaguely, sipping his tea and staring at the steam that rose from it. No, not sappy. But… she had definitely done something to him. And he wasn't complaining.

Kari emerged from TK's room thirty minutes later, looking completely worn out. Matt nearly jumped out of his chair when he saw her stagger into the kitchen, rubbing her puffy eyes wearily. Matt didn't even think about Sora's reaction as he strode over to her, gently giving her a one-armed hug.

"You okay?" he asked quietly, feeling Sora's gaze just drill right through the back of his head. He tried to ignore it as he heard Kari sniffle.

"Yea, I'm fine." She sounded almost relieved. "I'm fine, TK's—maybe fine, I'm okay, I'm feeling better. I think." Kari let out a nervous giggle, but her little hand clutched at his shirt a little too tightly to be completely fine.

"Thanks for taking care of Teeks, Sora," Matt told his friend as he half-turned to face her. Sora's face was rather dark, but it brightened when she nodded at his acknowledgement. Matt gave her a warning look. She better not get angry with Kari. "I'd go talk to him myself, but, you know—"

"Yea, you probably shouldn't," Sora advised wisely, but the words did nothing to ease Matt's misgivings. Oh great. So everyone basically knew TK would kill him before speaking to him.

But he shook his head. That didn't matter at the moment. He was absolutely dying to know what TK had said to Kari, so with a wave to Sora they had escaped the apartment, Kari still wearing her thin little jacket. He worried about her health for about a nanosecond before tugging her hand free of his shirt.

"So? What happened?" he asked earnestly. Kari's gaze flickered up at him, and then away.

"I just…" Kari shrugged. "I told him. About how I started dance lessons, and how you helped me and it started out almost like a joke, but then things just changed and…" She shuffled her arms a bit, almost shyly. Matt stared at her, but then turned away and kept walking until they were out of the apartment.

"And, I dunno, he listened, and it was nice to finally just be able to explain to him how things changed, and why. I told he still meant… a lot to me, because he does, and I'm just happy he believed me." She hastily rubbed tears from her eyes.

Matt wrapped an arm around her shoulders, bringing her in closer as they hustled through a particularly busy street. When there was a lull in pedestrians, Kari seemed to have regained her composure. Matt was still thinking. Kari was… he didn't know how to explain it. She liked to believe in people easily. If TK had showed the slightest inclination of acceptance, she would have gobbled it up. Matt didn't know if what she said was actually as true as she liked to believe. But if it made her happy, then…

Basically, all this just meant Matt was going to have to talk to TK soon and find out what he was really thinking. But maybe Matt should have more hope in his brother. Perhaps.

"Well I'm glad you're happy," he voiced, leaning down and kissing the top of her head as they still walked. He breathed in the scent of her shampoo and smiled to himself.

"Are you happy?" she asked quietly. Matt squeezed his arm around her a little tighter for a second.

"How could I not be?" he replied as a question. Kari let out a breathy giggle.

The two walked in silence for a few moments. "So… basically, what did he say?" asked Matt, almost warily. Kari was quiet for a minute.

"Well he…"

TK stared at her. Kari watched him carefully, her knuckles white as she clenched her hands into fists on her lap. They were both sitting on the floor, and Kari had just let out a long-winded explanation about all that happened since… since she could remember feeling like this for Matt. He was still staring at her several minutes later.

"…TK?"

He blinked. "Oh. Uh. That's a lot."

"I know," whispered Kari.

"How can I possibly—" He stopped short, rubbed an eye with his hand wearily, tiredly. "I don't hate you Kari."

It was enough to relax her tightened muscles. Slightly. "Really?" she asked breathlessly.

"Yes." He mulled over her explanation again for a few moments; Kari stared at the floor anxiously, just waiting for him to burst into a fit or something.

"I'll need time," he told her quietly, and Kari was taken back to the incident in the hallway when she had uttered those same words to him. Her muscles tightened again.

"I know." Silence. "I just need to know that you won't… that you're not in here, hating my existence, or cursing me, or—"

"I could never do that." His voice was strained, and Kari knew he was being sincere. "Never." She saw him glance at the clock and knew that he had had enough of her impromptu appearance. She stood up quietly, brushing invisible dust from her sleeves.

"TK… Matt's in the kitchen."

TK glared at her. "I can't talk to him right now."

Kari's mouth made a little frown, but she nodded. "All right." She turned around, put her hand on the doorknob (which she didn't remember closing…), but then turned back around. "Thank you." Her voice wobbled.

"Kari…" TK stood up, but stayed in his place. "I've—" He looked at the floor. "I've always loved you." The words were quiet, but defiant, as if just asking her to fight against them.

Kari's voice wobbled more. "I know," she repeated, breathing through clenched teeth. It was hard to not start sobbing right there, and she realized she was lucky to have both brothers, and stupid to have lost one. But Matt… she couldn't even imagine this situation having given up Matt. It just didn't make it to the radar. "Thank you. It's… You're a wonderful human being."

TK let out a resigned smile. "A saint?" he asked, almost jokingly, but sadly.

Kari nodded vigorously. "The best kind." A pause. "I'll talk to you later?" It was a hopeful question, one that could also be heard as, 'don't ignore me, please'.

TK hesitated. Nodded. "Of course."

Kari left then, clicking the door softly behind her, nearly breaking down in the hallway before she heard Matt's gentle voice from the kitchen. That was enough incentive to stumble her way toward him, waiting for his arms to be around her.

"…He was very good about it." Kari decided to leave the belated love confession out. You never knew with Matt. "He just said he didn't hate me, and he would never, y'know, curse me—"

Matt let out a snort of laughter. "Curse you?" he repeated, chuckling. Kari's face flushed.

"You know, I just thought he might, and I mentioned it, and he said he wouldn't—" Kari stopped short as Matt continued to giggle. She smiled into the sidewalk, but kept her voice firm. "Fine. If you won't listen, I'm not gonna tell you."

That (nearly) silenced him. "Aw, c'mon Kari—" A giggle escaped. "It's just—a bit funny!" A wheezy gasp of laughter. Kari elbowed him lightly in the side, still enjoying the feel of his arm around her shoulders. "Kariii," he wheedled. "What else? C'mon?"

Kari sniffed and turned her head in the other direction. Matt tickled her cheek with the hand that lay on her shoulder. She squirmed and swatted it away. She could feel his grin radiating on the back of her head, so she surprised him by turning around and kissing him on his still grinning lips. But Kari pulled away too quickly for him to really register the kiss, and his grin quickly faded. "What was thaaat?" he moaned. "That wasn't fair!"

"Yes, well, if it shuts you up," Kari said jokingly, "I'll always do it."

"Oh, then who am I to object?" Matt teased back. Kari smiled but tugged on the hand that was around her shoulders.

They continued to joke all the way until they had to go their separate ways, and the whole way home Kari couldn't stop thinking about how it had all been completely worth it.