Thanks for the reviews. I hope you enjoy the read and are craving chocolate.

-Xanpluto

Part Three: Macaroon

"Takeru Takaishi!" A voice ripped Tk from his pleasant dreams and he felt a strong hand yank him upwards. In his sleepy state he could only assume someone was coming after his life and he aught to protect himself. This led to a quick punch at his attacker who fell to the ground just as his eyes were finally able to focus.

"Tai?"

"Why I aught to..." Tai said while getting back to his feet and lunging at Tk.

"Tai! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Kari stepped between the two boys and pushed her brother to the ground. He sat there in shock.

"But Kari, he had his hands all over you when you were asleep." Tai tried to defend but Kari's angry expression didn't change and he felt worse about his actions.

"In my defense I was asleep, too." Tk said as it was news to him what he was doing. Kari looked back at him with a serious expression.

"You don't have to defend yourself." She looked at Tai, "Tk is my boyfriend; he can put his hands where ever he wants." Tk's face instantly flushed red and Tai gave him a death glare. Unaware of this Kari continued, "Why are you even at my flat, Tai?"

"I came by to see if Tk was here yet. It's been forever since I've seen the little squirt." Tai got up from the floor and offered his hand towards Tk who accepted it and the succeeding shoulder hug. "How are you, man?" He said with a smile.

Kari muttered "Boys" and then left to the kitchen to get some breakfast.

"Good, great. University was brilliant." Tk said happily.

"Yeah, I've heard some stories from Matt. It sounds like you're having a great time. And just between you and me he seems really depressed not to have you around." Tai gave a bit of a sardonic smile. He loved teasing Matt about his hidden 'soft' side.

"It sucks that I can't see my brother for a whole week because he's off touring with the band. But o'well, he's doing what he loves."

"Yeah." Tai said taking a seat on the coach. "So, tell me a funny story about America. Is it really like the movies?"

"Not at all," Tk paused, "well sometimes it is," he paused again, "but not really."

Tai raised his eyebrows, "Uh?"

Tk continued to explain what he meant. Half way through Kari came in with three bowls of oatmeal and joined listening to him speak with pizzaz about his time abroad. It was easy to tell he loved it, but this also saddened both Kamiyas. It meant he was surely going to go back in January for the next term.

Tai, Kari, and Tk continued to talk for several more hours. It felt like no time had passed at all since their last visit yet they had so much to catch up on. And, as usual, they discussed all the other digidestined's current lives.

"Oh my," Kari said after glancing at the clock in a break in the conversation, "I have to start baking." Both Tai and Tk raised their eyebrows in question. "I've got this dessert party with my friends from University tonight."

"Oh?" Tk said a little disappointed, "I suppose I'll see if my mom's back from her business trip."

"No, you're coming with me." Kari gave a wide, joking smile, "I've got to show off my cool American boyfriend."

"How sweet." Tai said with a slight grimace that didn't match the tone of his voice.

"Oh, shush." Kari stood up and walked towards the kitchen. "You're just jealous."

"Am not." Tai called after her and she pretended not to hear him. Instead she started grabbing ingredients from the cupboards. Meanwhile Tk and Tai started a new conversation about none other than the digital world. An hour later, the house was beginning to smell delicious and Tai and Tk migrated towards the kitchen as well.

"What are these?" Tai said reaching for the white clusters on the oven pan.

"No, Tai! It's hot!" Kari warned just as he picked it up. The heat caused him to drop it back onto the pan.

"Ouch." He said and blew on his finger tips.

Kari put her hands on her hips in a motherly fashion, "I did warn you." Tai waved her off like it was nothing.

"So, what are they?" Tk asked also curious.

"Coconut Macaroons." Kari was removing them from the tray with a spatula and putting them on a drying rack. "Once they're cool I'll dip them in chocolate and they'll be ready to go."

"And how soon is that?" Tai said eagerly.

Kari shrugged, "I'm not sure." Tai sighed not wanting to wait that long. But then he was distracted as his phone rang. He looked at the number and then walked off to the living room to take the call. Whoever it was talked quick because he was back in the kitchen in no time.

"I got to take off?" Tai said sadly and explained, "There's been some trouble at the work. I've got to go make sure that all the diplomats are happy." He ended his sentence in a mocking voice.

"Oh? You can't even stay for a macaroon?" Kari was sad that her brother had to leave without a proper good bye.

"Unfortunately, no." Tai actually sounded pained, "I've got to get going immediately. Tk why don't you walk me to the door. Love ya, sis."

Kari gave a suspicious look towards her brother then said, "Love you, too" as he and Tk moved towards the exit. Tk also looked a little suspicious of Tai.

"Tk, I love you like a little brother but I need to tell you a few things." Tai began in a serious voice once they were out of ear shot. "First, I'm glad you're back. We all missed you. Second, you've got your own house; sleep there. Third," Tai stopped, turned towards Tk, put his arm on his shoulder, and gave a tight and intimidating squeeze, "if you ever hurt my baby sister I'll make sure you never want to wake up in the morning ever again. Okay?" Tk gulped. "Good. See you later."

Tk shut the door behind him and released a breath of air he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He shook out the tension from his body and then walked back towards the kitchen. Kari was at the microwave melting chocolate chips and turned at his approach.

"What was that about?"

Tk shrugged, "It was a man thing."

"Oh really?" Kari was obviously curious but Tk didn't explain it to her. "Why can't you tell me?" She took a few steps towards Tk and gave him puppy dog eyes. Luckily Tk was getting pretty good at resisting their charm if only for a few seconds.

"Simple, love, you're not a man."

"Psht." Kari slapped his arm playfully. "Fine whatever." She went back to her melted chocolate and dipped half a macaroon in it and then handed it to Tk. He ate it happily.

"You know what," Tk began wistfully as the thought came to him, "Tai is a lot like these macaroons."

"How do you mean?" Kari asked while continuing to dunk the macaroons in the chocolate.

"For starters, he's got the spiky brown hair." Kari giggled as she looked at the dipped chocolate sections on the macaroons. They indeed looked like Tai's crazy hair. "But also, his personality. Tai can put on a really strong, protective front - especially when it comes to beating away your courters - but he's really chewy on the inside. I guess what I mean to say is that once you get past that first hard bite, he'll warm up to you. Or maybe it's that once you get on his good side - the initial bite - you'll always be protected through thick and thin -the chewy center. Ugh, maybe I don't know what I'm saying."

"No, I think I get it." Kari said as she saw Tk getting frustrated by his inability to choose the right words. "My brother, the chocolate covered macaroon: blatantly simple but often underestimated."

"Something like that." Tk shrugged. "Now that that's determined I think I'd enjoy another dessert."

Kari gave a sly smile, "Close your eyes." Tk obeyed and a few seconds later he felt a soft presence on his lips and began to kiss Kari back delicately. As Kari withdrew at the end of the kiss Tk felt something being placed in his hand. "You can even have a macaroon, too."

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