I hope you all enjoy! I don't have writer's block anymore! Thank you all!
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon
T.K and Kari spent the next few hours talking and watching television. Both were mentally exhausted already and didn't feel like discussing something when they would just have to repeat it later. Both decided that it would be best to relax and enjoy the little time they would have alone.
It was now nearing 2:30 in the afternoon. School would be out in 30 minutes, and soon after all of the digidestined would be at the Kamiya residence.
Kari didn't think she was ready for that.
She didn't think she was ready to put her burden on a handful of other people, no matter how well she knew them. Truthfully, all she wanted was for Tai and T.K to be the only ones involved with this.
This was selfish, she knew. But that was the only way she could ensure the safety of her friends and the security of her own conscious.
T.K felt her tense beside him and put a comforting arm across her shoulder. He wasn't sure exactly what she was thinking, but he wanted her to know that he was there for her, no matter what.
She turned to face him and gave him a slight nod. She really wasn't sure she wanted everyone to know.
Though she showed T.K and Tai her journal, what she'd written hadn't been the extent of what was going on. There were certain things, visions and emotions that she didn't feel comfortable putting in there. A journal was too open; it would never be a secure enough place to put all of her thoughts.
There were even some things that she herself forced her mind to repress.
Her thoughts were disrupted as a knock was heard from the front door.
Kari moved to stand, but sat back down when she saw Tai walk into the living room to answer it. The person standing on the doorstep was no surprise; it was Matt Ishida.
"Hey there." He greeted as he set his bag on the floor next to T.K's things and removed his shoes.
"There you are, T.K." He said as he put his hand on the younger boy's head. "I went over to the school to get you early since I knew you were so anxious, but apparently you were already gone."
T.K. smiled sheepishly as he playfully removed his brother's hand.
"And you," He turned to Tai. "You didn't even call to tell me this little delinquent was here already." His tone was teasing, which greatly eradicated the obvious tension from the room.
"I was asleep when he came by." He responded in the same tone.
He was glad Matt wasn't being as grave as everyone else in the house, but it was also weird in a way. Matt was not the type to be lighthearted in a serious situation. Actually, he was usually the one taking the seriousness to the next level.
But a part of Tai knew the reason. He'd just said that T.K was anxious last night. Knowing T.K, he probably knew there was a problem before any of them did. And the one thing that would calm T.K. down was if Matt convinced him that everything would be taken care of.
It seemed to be working. Matt saw his brother's shoulders and face relax at the attitude and overall presence of the older boy. With both Tai and Matt around, T.K felt like he was not alone.
"Well, now that you're here, Matt." Tai started, causing Matt to avert his attention from T.K. "There are some things I need to talk to you about."
"Yes, definitely." Matt replied. After one last look at the two on the couch, Matt and Tai left the living room for the security of Tai and Kari's room. Once the door shut, T.K. and Kari gave one another quizzical looks.
Both knew that Matt was probably the only one of the four who didn't know the extent of the situation. But even with his lack of information, Kari knew that he was the only one who knew more about what she was feeling than anyone else.
His time with the darkness was very hard. She remembered when it first started. She remembered how frequent his and Tai's arguments became. She also remembered how shaken he was after Joe pulled him from his depression.
A lot of people still don't know what he really went through during his time sucked in the darkness. Gabumon was the only one who saw first hand what it did to him. Matt even confessed to her that he still had nightmares sometimes. He still couldn't believe all of the dangerous thoughts that had raced through his head.
Kari didn't want to end up like that. She didn't want to keep everything buried inside to the point where lasting psychological effects were inevitable.
'That's why you told them.' She reminded herself. 'You've seen what happens if you don't say anything.'
"Well," T.K. broke the silence. "Why don't we move some of the furniture around for when the others get here?"
He stood and turned to face her, a hopeful expression on his face. He was starting to feel useless again. With Tai and Matt here, he and Kari had most of the burden lifted from their shoulders. He could sense she felt the same way.
She gave him a smile and took his outstretched hand so they could begin their task.
Matt sat down on the bottom bunk as Tai got straight to business. By now, Matt's light-hearted mask had fallen and his true concern was now out in the open.
In truth, he had been just as worried about Kari as T.K. was when Tai had called last night. After making the calls, he left the apartment and began driving back home. All through the ride, his past memories began resurfacing. He could only imagine what she was going through.
Tai brought over the notebook and sat next to his best friend.
"I haven't really read through it all. I figured that we should both do it first. That way, Kari won't have to explain anything if she doesn't want to."
Matt nodded and opened the book to where the lace bookmark lay. The passage dated back a week ago.
"Tell me what you've read so far." Matt said before he read anything. He wasn't sure if he wanted to spare himself from reading the unbearable passages, or if he wanted to read them just to spare his best friend and brother any pain.
"Truthfully, I've only gotten to that one passage that said what the Scubamon want from her. I haven't had the energy to read the others yet." Tai replied.
After he spoke, he ran a frustrated hand through his hair and stared at the passage in front of him. This was a particularly lengthy passage. He gave Matt a look; he didn't want to read these by himself. If this was about anything other than his sister, this wouldn't be a problem. Matt nodded his head and, with a heavy sigh, both boys began reading.
It took them a while to finish it, and neither said a word after. Tai merely turned the page to another passage and they read that as well.
After a few more pages, the entries began getting smaller and smaller. Now the only things written were words here and thoughts there. One particular passage made Tai gasp out loud. This was one she made a few nights before.
I'm giving them what they want. I hope Tai doesn't hate me for doing this...
Tai grabbed the book from between him and Matt and flipped to the next page. What was she doing? What was she giving them? He hoped she wasn't thinking of going to them by herself. He looked at the time of the next passage to see that it was a few hours after the previous one was written.
This proves it; I'm weak. I'm too weak to stay away from the darkness, and I'm even too weak to look for it. I don't know what to do...
The passages continued like this for a few more pages until one unsettling passage came up. This one was dated two days ago.
I fainted today and the scubamon brought me back to the dark ocean. I was in my room when it happened. They brought me to that cave and told me again what they wanted.
When I woke up, my clothes smelled like ocean water and my hands had remnants of sand on them... I'd never moved from my bed. I don't know what's going on.
If they can get me while I sleep... then what am I supposed to do? I need help!
Tai was baffled. Kari never mentioned anything about them transporting her anywhere while she slept. If they had the power to do that, then Kari had virtually no protection against them.
"This looks bad, Tai." Matt was running similar thoughts through his mind.
"How are they able to do that? The real world and the digital world are not connected that way!"
"I know, but with her digivice in her possession and the computer in close proximity, do you think maybe it was a fluke and when the link to the world opened, she was transported there by those means alone?"
"No." Tai thought for a moment. "That's never happened to either of us before. If that was the case, then that means that any of us could be transported to the digital world any time we were close enough to a computer."
"Okay, then they most likely got her there the way they did last time, which was through a somewhat unconscious state."
"But I don't understand why they didn't just keep her."
Tai stood and began pacing back and forth. He was so confused.
"Last time, they just transported her in thin air. She was wide awake, but she was standing in front of the ocean."
Tai paused and looked at the journal again. Matt sat still; hand on his chin in contemplation. He had a feeling he knew what was bringing her there, but it was something he didn't want to voice aloud for fear that it was true. But there was no other explanation.
"Tai, I think I know why."
"What's your idea?" He asked expectantly.
"Kari...the scubamon, they've already connected with her."
Tai looked confused, waiting for Matt to elaborate further.
"Well, when I was about to be swallowed by the darkness, they found me because of my own insecurities and anxieties. All of my negative thoughts were what was drawing the darkness to me. No matter how small my anger and sorrow was, the darkness heightened it. And by it heightening itself, I was sucked deeper into it.
"Kari is the keeper of light. You'd think that would mean that the darkness wouldn't have a chance to attack her because she was surrounded by the complete opposite. But, I think we were wrong. I think the darkness is attracted to the light; it's attracted to conquering it. That means that it will find the smallest feeling of doubt, insecurity, anger—anything—and fuel it."
"So, wait." Tai stopped his pacing and moved to stand right in front of Matt. "What exactly are you saying? Are you saying that Kari is being targeted because she's easier than any one of us?"
"No. I'm saying that she is the ultimate enemy to darkness. If the darkness wins against the light, then it will conquer everything. If the scubamon succeed in making her a sacrifice, then that would put the entire digital world out of balance."
"...Because they conquered the ultimate crest." Tai finished.
Everything was starting to make more and more sense as they talked it out. This was good. The more they knew, the more ammunition they had against the enemy.
"Tai, I think we should go out there and tell Kari and T.K. this theory we have. I think she would be the only one able to confirm it."
"Yeah, you're right." He said.
His mind and emotions were racing as this newly found knowledge surged through his brain. Things sounded so simple, yet so complex to him right now. He just needed to talk things out with Kari. Once she was informed about everything they just discussed, all of them would be somewhat more at ease.
With that determination, Matt and Tai exited the room. What they were met with, however, was not what they expected.
There, in the living room were all of the digidestined, and some of their respective Digimon.
Davis and Ken were in the corner talking about some new game, Yolie and Sora were sitting on the couch with Joe. Izzy and Cody were sitting in front of the coffee table on Izzy's laptop discussing a new software program, and Kari was sitting on the arm of the chair T.K. occupied. Mimi was still in America, but she could get there easily by going through the digital world.
Tai and Matt were genuinely surprised to see everyone there so quickly.
"Where did you all come from?" Tai asked in astonishment. Had he and Matt really been so lost in thought that they didn't hear the obvious loudness coming from the room right next door?
"I think what he means to say is, when did you guys get here?" Matt interjected.
"Guys, it's almost 3:45. You've been in there talking for an hour!" T.K. commented.
Tai and Matt both looked at each other before shrugging and walking into the living room behind the couch so they could face everyone.
"Has anyone called Mimi and told her what's going on?" Tai asked.
Sora raised her hand.
"I just got off the phone with her. She said she'll be here in a few minutes."
"Alright, then we'll just wait for her and then discuss why we called you all here."