Thanks to all who reviewed.
Those who are confused about the 'mysterious girl' will have to wait a bit longer to discover who she really is. My only clue is that she is human though her body is stuck in the digital world - you'll find out more about this later.
In this chapter you'll finally discover the source of Matt's guilt...which may or may not contribute to Tk's changed persona.
Chapter 3. The Separation
Tk was buried in the basement of the library when Matt found him a few days after the reunion. He coughed his throat expecting Tk to look up but Tk didn't move at all. Matt took a few steps closer.
"What is it?" Tk finally asked without even looking up to see who it was. Matt was a little unnerved.
"I just wanted to talk." Matt pulled up a chair besides Tk. "Why didn't you tell me that you were back in Japan?"
"I didn't want to get your hopes up." Tk said flatly. He finally lifted his head to see his brother's reaction. "I'm only here for a few months and then I'm going back to France. I assumed if we saw each other you'd have a harder time saying goodbye again."
"What! I'd never want to miss a chance to see you." Tk shrugged, "Are you sure this isn't about Mom's funeral?"
"Why would I care about that?" Tk looked back down at his book, "Why would I be resentful that you didn't show up to our own mother's funeral?"
"I've said I was sorry at least a hundred times." Matt pleaded, "I just couldn't get away from the tour. I'd be disappointing thousands of fans."
Tk responded, once again, in a flat voice, "Didn't I just say that I didn't care about that?"
"I know you're pissed but," Matt began but Tk interrupted him.
"I'm not pissed."
"Fine, whatever." Matt said knowing he shouldn't push the subject any further. Instead he tried changing the subject, "Where's Cory?"
"I don't know," Tk said leaning back in his chair, "and I don't care."
"If you're not serious about her why'd you bring her to the reunion? Better yet why'd you tell her about digimon?" Matt questioned.
"She already knew about digimon."
"So she's also a digidestined?"
"It's complicated."
"What do you mean?" Matt kept pushing but once again Tk seemed to be getting frustrating. It was almost as it Matt kept hitting all his wrong buttons and making the situation even worse. "Can't you tell me?"
"I can't."
"Why not? What is this big secret you're keeping from me?"
"Tk?" A voice echoed throughout the basement floor and soft clicks identified that someone in heels was walking closer. Finally, Cory appeared with a smile on her face and a bag in her hand. "I brought you lunch. Oh, hi Matt; this is a surprise."
"Hey." Matt said back.
"Have you come to try and convince my sweetheart to leave the library? I swear as hard as I try I can't rip him out of this place." She ruffled his hair.
"What are you doing here?" Tk responded in a voice far less affectionate than hers.
"Don't be cranky. I just wanted to check up on you and bring some lunch."
"Food isn't allowed down here." He gave her a stern look.
"Sorry, I didn't know." She said guiltily but Tk didn't release his stern look.
"Why are you being so mean to her?" Matt chided in an older brother fashion. "She said she didn't know."
"It's okay." Cory gave Matt an appreciative look. "He gets cranky when he's stressed but I'm used to it."
"It doesn't matter. Tk you shouldn't treat women like that." Matt said while trying to impose some of his older brother wisdom and authority.
"Oh, you're such a gentlemen. You must have one lucky woman waiting for you at home." Cory tried to move the conversation down a different avenue. "Shouldn't you be with her right now?"
"No, I haven't got anyone like that." Matt said shyly.
"Oh, what a shame. Though I suppose a guy like you probably has a date lined up tonight at least."
"No, some of the guys and I are watching the soccer game at Tai's house tonight. Actually, I partly came to see if Tk wanted to come."
"Oooh, sorry." Cory began apologetically, "Tk already promised me we'd go out to dinner tonight. We haven't had a real meal together in ages. Right, honey?"
"Right." Tk nodded his head but Matt could have sworn there was a bit of resistance in his voice.
"What about tomorrow?" Matt tried again, "We could go out for drinks."
"He's really busy with his thesis." Cory answered again on his behalf.
"Well, what day are you free, Tk?" Matt looked only at him for an answer and not Cory. Tk shrugged his shoulders.
"My schedule is pretty hectic."
"Fine." Matt said getting the hint, "Call me whenever you have any free time. If not I may just join you down here with a book of my own."
"Okay." Tk agreed with a subtle glance at Cory which Matt didn't miss. He was growing suspicious of her.
"It was good seeing you again, bye bye." Cory said with a smile.
"Likewise." Matt replied a bit harshly, "See you later, Teeks." He turned to leave the library.
When Tk was sure Matt's footsteps had vanished completely he looked at Cory with an angry expression on his face, "Why did you show up?"
"I just wanted to make sure you didn't say anything?" Cory pulled out a chair and sat down roughly.
"I've told you before that you can trust me."
Cory shook her head at him, "No. Until you commit to a choice I can't."
"Well, I'm not ready yet." Tk snapped at her.
Cory twirled a piece of hair around her finger unconsciously and looked at him softly, "The longer you wait here in Japan the harder it will be. You came here for only one reason."
"You're wrong." Tk said strongly. "I came here for two reasons the first of which is to finish my thesis. If I do decide to go with you I'm not going to leave here without finishing it; it's been a long process that I have to see to the end."
"You better hurry up then." Cory flipped over one of Tk's many books, "Compiling all of the ancient accounts of other worlds is a mighty large task."
Tk shrugged, "It'll be worth it."
"I still don't get it." She said flipping over the book again, "The digital world hasn't been around for more than century of human time. Why are you looking in these old books?"
"I'm not just looking for stuff about the digital world." Cory raised her eyebrows curiously, "I'm looking for references about the dark ocean."
"Do you think it will help you make a decision?"
Tk sighed, "I don't know."
"I hope you find what you're looking for." Tk glanced over at Cory as she dematerialized. She always had to leave with the last word, always.
Does the cliffhanger feel like torture? If is does, sorry.
You may have also noticed that I'm not making this a Sorato; but, I'm also not choosing Taiora. I have no preference to either relationship and decided to make this story neutral. However, if I get a majority of fans for either relationship I may consider creating it later. Opinions?
Please Review.