A/N: This isn't a funny drabble. It's not angsty either, but it's definitely a little more on the serious side. It would take place before the Crystal War, but well after their combat training is complete (which I've decided to name that installment 'Formatting'. It comes chronologically right after Disconnect.) I'm not really sure what spurred this, but I felt like writing it, so...

Background: Tai has fire abilities. Matt has psychic ones, Sora has air, and Kari has healing.

The first time Tai had to cauterize his own wounds to keep from dying, the others took it badly.

He supposed he should have expected it. Matt and Sora had panicked when they finally reached him, and as Matt had been too worried about what a trip via teleportation might do, Sora had been the one to take charge and fly them all back to their camp. Koromon had shrieked and bounced to him immediately when the trio returned.

Kari was furious.

"Oh my god Tai, what the hell did you do to yourself?" she screamed, rushing over to where Matt and Sora had laid him carefully on a makeshift cot, her hands already surrounded by her healing light. Matt had already done the honors of removing Tai's shirt for her, and she immediately touched her palms to the long burn across her brother's stomach.

He winced, partially from her yell, and also because he knew he had a bit of explaining to do, though he was surprised by her words. Kari almost never cursed; she must have been extremely worried. He still felt very lightheaded though from having lost a fair amount of blood, but he needed to let her know that he was in no danger of dying.

"I cauterized the wound," he replied bluntly. "I would've bled to death already if I hadn't." He smiled weakly up at her, seeing her face flushed with anger. "Hey, at least I killed that evil digimon before he got here."

She shook her head madly. "Why didn't you call us for backup? We could have gotten there and helped you!"

"... I was overconfident. Sorry, Kari."

To his surprise, she sunk down with a defeated look on her face. "It's good that we got you back quickly," she said mutedly as she continued her healing work. "There shouldn't be any lasting damage from this, and because this didn't happen too long ago, there won't be any scarring."

He could feel the injury knitting itself back together, burnt tissue regenerating and vessels reconnecting. Everything in the world seemed a little bit sharper as well.

"On a kind of unrelated note," Matt piped up from where he had Tsunomon in his lap close to the campfire, "You are badass for searing your own wound shut."

Tai grinned back at him. "Thanks. It hurt like hell, by the way."

"I figured it would. Don't get into a situation where you have to do it again."

"You know just as well as I do that that probably won't be possible."

Matt glared at him. "Then let me go out scouting next time."

Kari sat back, the light fading from her hands and Tai's body. "Done."

Tai smiled gratefully at her. "Thanks Kari," he said, sitting up. "Yeah, I'll be – ugh..."

He supposed he shouldn't have exerted himself. He was still a bit dizzy, and he fell back immediately, his head hurting too much for him to stay upright. He felt the unmistakable feel of blowing air cushion his fall and gently lower him to the ground.

"Just sit back and rest Tai," Sora said softly, Yokomon beside her as well. "It'll be fine. Matt and I will take care of guard duty tonight."

He winced a little bit at the pain in his head. "Sure, sounds good."

"And if anything gets worse or you're not feeling well tomorrow, we're taking you straight back home."

That part, he was not quite as happy with, but he understood why they were concerned. Besides, he realized, it was probably the best choice.

"Okay then," he answered.

Koromon looked a little surprised. "You're not going to disagree?"

"No. I'm tired enough as is."

Kari suddenly bent down and embraced him. It took some effort for him to return the gesture, but behind the anger, he knew she had been scared at the thought that he had been hurt that badly. He never wanted to worry her so much, but as a fighter, he knew he would keep having to be directly involved in battles, and there was no way he could never come back unscathed every time.

"I'm sorry for worrying you," he told her quietly.

She tightened her arms around him. "It's okay..." she replied. "I'm just scared that I might not be nearby if this happens again."

"It'll be fine," he answered. "Don't worry. I'm okay."

He never wanted her to have to see him that badly hurt again.