Summary: It's TK and Kari's senior year in high school and they take a surprise Thanksgiving trip to America where things get super complicated. It doesn't look good for TK and Kari's relationship when Kari decides to move back to America and have nothing to do with TK. Can their relationship survive the test of time or will Kari's stubbornness keep them apart forever?
Hard to Love You
'I Loved Her First'
(don't own Heartland either)
When the girls had finished shopping for the day, Sora had another surprise for Kari. The two sister-in-laws got back in the limo and Sora handed the limo driver an address written on a yellow piece of paper. Kari was suspicious of her sister-in-law but was too overwhelmed by all the new clothes she bought to even care. She just hoped Brian wouldn't be too upset that she spent thousands of dollars on clothes. But Kari just figured that would be like pocket change for him.
"Sora, where are we going?" Kari asked when they drove past the hotel.
"It's a surprise," answered Sora and smiled. Immediately Kari's face turned white as a ghost. "Oh don't worry, you'll be fine!"
"Yeah, ya said the same thing bout the reunion and look how that turned out," replied Kari with a hint of anger.
The limo drove out of the suburbs and out of the city limits and into the country. Kari hadn't seen Japan's country side since she was in high school. They pulled up to a fancy house hidden by two giant evergreen trees. She saw several cars parked outside and was very suspicious of Sora.
"Sora...where are we?" Kari asked skeptically.
"We're at Ken and Yolie's house!" Sora replied and jumped out before the chauffeur could open her door.
Kari waited for the driver to come and open her door before she got out. She could see the the big grin on Sora's face and knew how excited she was. It only made Kari worry even more that TK would be here. Deep down, she was excited but she was more nervous than she was excited. Sora walked to the door with Kari and rang the door bell. They waited a few seconds before Yolie answered the door. Yolie greeted her fellow digidestin with hugs and welcomed them into her house.
"Wow Yolie, ya have a beautiful house!" Kari said as she marveled at her luscious home.
"Thank you Kari! I'm glad you could make it this year," replied Yolie and gave Kari a quick tour of the her home.
"Do you do this every year?" Kari asked as Yolie showed her the downstairs home movie theater. "Ya know, like get everyone together like this?"
"Yeah we do," replied Yolie. "It's extra special this year since you're here for the first time since you moved away."
Yolie and Kari slowly walked back up the stairs and into the living room. She felt relieved when TK wasn't there. She hoped she wouldn't act like such a bitch to him this time. She enjoyed seeing all the digidestin and their partner digimon again but was sad when she didn't see Gatomon. Kari took an open seat next to Jake.
"Hey Kari!" Jake greeted her, "it's good to see you again!"
"Hi Jake," Kari shyly greeted back.
"Kari!" A white feline exclaimed and ran towards her.
"Gatomon!" Kari exclaimed back and gave her a hug. "How'd ya get here?"
"Genaii transports me here every year!" Gatomon answered, "I've been waiting years for you to come to this. We haven't talked in months! How are ya? How is Brian? How is the wedding going?"
"Everything is going great," Kari replied excitedly. "Brian's amazing, the wedding planning is going smoothly and everything is great."
"Thats so good to hear!" Gatomon replied. She sat down on Kari's lap like she use to back in the day. But Gatomon started to get annoyed with Kari. Gatomon was having a hard time keeping the conversation going with Kari and after about a half hour she left to go talk to the other digimon.
Kari didn't talk much, she mostly listened to everyone else's stories. She didn't know what was wrong with her. Kari loved to socialize but now she felt like she didn't know any of her old friends anymore. Maybe she should have kept in touch with all them after all these years. Maybe she should have listened to all of Sora's updates on the digidestin. 'What have I done? I feel so out of the loop.'
"So Kari," Izzy started talking to her in a low whisper so no one could here. "Are you having a good time?"
"I guess so," replied Kari in the same low whisper.
"I've never known you to be so quiet," said Izzy which made Kari feel ashamed. She never use to be this way. "You know, when I was ten years old...I kinda had a crush on you."
"What?" Kari quietly exclaimed. She was shocked by Izzy's confession. He was married and had a beautiful daughter, why was he telling her this?
"Yeah...I thought you were so cute," Izzy explained. "But Tai just scared me cause, you know, how protective he is."
"Yes, yes I do," Kari quietly laughed.
"But if you are ever in New York City, you should let me know. So you know...we could hang out or something," said Izzy sheepishly. Kari smiled but she couldn't figure out what Izzy wanted, was he hitting on her? Did he know if she was engaged?
"Sadly I don't go to New York anymore," replied Kari. "But there is a race in New York every August, if I have some time, maybe I'll give ya call."
"Yeah, we'll definitely have to meet up." Izzy said as he glanced at the diamond ring on her left hand.
"Maybe I should go help Yolie in the kitchen," said Kari as she got up. She was starting to feel a little uncomfortable talking to Izzy.
As Kari was walking to the kitchen she could here gravel popping from outside. She stood completely still as she heard a car door slam. Kari began to panic. There was only one person who still wasn't here, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who just pulled up to Ken and Yolie's house. Kari looked at the kitchen on her left and the stairs right in front of her. She quickly, yet quietly ran up the stairs. She stopped a few steps from the top so she could see walk in.
The door bell rang and Yolie rushed over to the door. She didn't even notice Kari sitting on the top of the stairs in the dark. Yolie opened the door and gave TK and Patamon a big hug and welcomed them into her home. As Yolie escorted TK and Patamon in her living room, Kari quickly ran to the first upstairs room that was open and quietly shut the door.
Kari looked around the dimly lit room. She could tell she was in Ken and Yolie's guest bedroom. She walked over to the little bookshelf in the corner of the room and sat on the edge of the bed as she read the book titles. One book caught her eye and she pulled it out. She started paging through her high yearbook for the first time in years.
Yolie escorted TK into her living room as she went back into the kitchen. Seconds later she came back out with a plate of freshly baked cookies and set them on the coffee table for everyone. Yolie sat next to her husband, Ken and TK sat down by Tai and Sora. He was confused when he didn't see Kari here. Sora had promised him she would be here. However, he knew if he went looking for her, she would probably end up running away from him any so he stayed in the living room with the rest of the Digidestin.
"Hey, Tai. Where is Kari?" TK finally whispered to him after about an hour and a half.
"I don't know. I haven't seen her for a while," answered Tai. "Hey Sora, have ya seen Kari?"
"No I haven't," Sora answered and sighed. "I can't believe how stubborn she can be sometimes."
"I think I'm going to get a glass of water," TK said and got up from the couch.
"That sounds good, I'll come with ya," Tai quickly said and followed him to the kitchen.
"It's not fair Tai," TK complained when they were out of earshot of the others. "I loved her first!"
"I know TK," Tai replied and patted him on the back. "But I can't believe you didn't know she was getting married?"
"Honestly Tai, I didn't know!" TK angrily answered, "apparently I am the last person on Earth to find out!"
"I'm sorry TK. But I don't get it...you're a sports reporter! How did ya not know?" Tai calmly asked.
"I don't know!" TK answered trying to control his anger, "I can't believe she's marrying Brian freakin Vickers of all people!"
"They actually kinda make a cute couple," Tai replied sincerely.
"Ugh...What am I going to do? She means everything to me Tai." TK asked more calmly. It may have been ten years since they last seen each other but TK still deeply cared about Kari.
"I don't know what to tell you TK. But I know Kari's in this house somewhere. Maybe now that you're sober tonight, she'll talk to you without freaking out and leaving." Tai replied and walked back into the living room.
When Tai was gone, TK went down to the basement and checked every room. When he couldn't find her, he casually checked on the main floor. TK still couldn't locate her so he decided to check the upstairs. It was the only logical place left she could be. He knew Ken and Yolie's kids slept upstairs so he crept around extra quietly. He quietly peeked into each room until TK came to the guest bedroom. He couldn't believe he didn't check this room first.
TK slowly turned the doorknob to see Kari sitting on the bed next to the window. The moonlight shined through the window and cast the most beautiful silhouette he had ever seen. Kari was so lost in memories, she didn't even hear him open the door. He walked over to her to see what she was doing in the dark room all alone. TK was shocked to see her looking at their old high school yearbook.
"Does that bring back memories or what?" TK whispered to her. Her body jumped at the sound of his voice, he had scared her.
"What do ya want?" Kari asked just as angrily as she was at the reunion.
"I just want to talk," TK calmly answered her. He sat down a few feet away from her on the bed and surprisingly she didn't run.
"You've been wanting to talk a lot lately," Kari angrily replied. "So start talking cause I have nothing to say to ya."
"Why didn't you tell me you're getting married?" TK asked her.
"What? How did ya not know?" Kari retorted, "it was in every paper around the world! And besides, aren't ya a sports journalist?"
"Yeah, so I've heard. But that doesn't mean I actually read about it in the paper!" TK replied, he could feel himself getting mad.
"Well that's you're own fault," said Kari coldly.
"How can you even get married to him?" TK asked.
"Because I love him!" Kari snapped back.
"How? He's like seven years old than you!" TK stated, "he's old enough to be your brother!"
"Well...so are you," said Kari. She was never good at comebacks.
"Kari...I'm six months other than you," TK replied matter-of-factly.
"Whatever! I don't need you to lecture me about my life!" Kari angrily said as she threw the yearbook at him and walked out of the room.
Kari ran down the stairs and TK followed her. The digidestin in the living room watched as TK ran after Kari. She ran outside and was relieved to see the limo was still here, waiting for her. She jogged over to the back door to find the chauffeur sitting in the back watching tv. Surprised to see Kari, the chauffeur quickly got out and ran to the driver seat.
"Kari, please don't go!" TK yelled after her but she had already slammed the door.
"Go, go, go!" She yelled to the limo driver and he stepped on the gas. He spun the tires as he left.
"Where to madam?" The chauffeur ask politely.
"Back to the hotel."