Chapter 2

Kari struggled to get her uniform on. Her mother was patient as the two worked on sliding Kari's jumper on with her casted left wrist. Kari clenched her teeth and then

"Ah, we got it." Her mum smiled as Kari felt the jumper slide into place. Her mum gently let go of her arm and Kari stood tall.

"Thanks mum." Kari said and her mum shook her head,

"Falling down the stairs doesn't sound like you Kari. Are you sure thats what happened?" Her mum looked at her almost mischievously. Kari nodded,

"Yes just me and some of the girls were chatting and then I missed a step." Kari had rehearsed the lie over and over in her head and once or twice with Tai before their Dad picked them up.

"Okay I believe you. At least it's not your right wrist. You should be fine to do your school work. I'll pack some pain tablets in your bag." Kari's mum smiled as she left Kari's room. Kari sighed, lying was not something she was a fan of. She looked around the room sad that Gatomon wasn't there. She went over to her dresser and grabbed her d terminal. She then messaged Yolie.

Hey Yolie,

Hows Gatomon?

-Kari

She shut the d terminal and slipped it into her skirt pocket. She then walked out of her room.

"There she is our little battle warrior." Kari's Dad jeered and Kari shook her head.

"I'm fine dad." Kari said as she made her way to the table. She sat down and her dad put a fist up.

"Right you're okay, we should all see the other guy right?" Her dad joked and Kari giggled. Tai walked in the room,

"Normally it's you in fights Tai. Now you got your sister beating all the boys up." Tai went wide eyed a second then chuckled

"She learned from me." Tai walked over to the counter and grabbed his bag.

"I'll be late. I've got tryouts for that skill's camp." The parents nodded and Tai looked at Kari.

"Remember what I said yesterday Kari." Kari went wide eyed. Both parents stopped and looked at Tai.

"What are you talking about son? What did you tell her?" Their dad asked and Tai quickly spoke.

"Oh! Just to not be so clumsy! I've got enough on my plate. Don't want to have to rescue her from another set of stairs" Kari looked down at her lap unable to look at anyone else in the room. Their dad and mum shared a look and then shrugged. Tai then quickly went to the front door,

"I'll see you after practice!" Tai went to put his shoes on and to Kari's relief their parents went back to their own thing. Kari snuck a peak at her brother and saw him put his palm to his forehead slightly berating himself. That was close Tai. Kari thought. She dove into her breakfast as she heard the front door open.

"Bye!" The door shut and Kari felt better that Tai had left. She knew they needed to keep the digital world a secret. Their parents had been beside themselves the first time they went and it took a lot to convince them the kids were all safe. Tai had made a promise on behalf of him and Kari that they would never go back. Izzy even went as far as to reassure all the parents there was no possible way they could go back. Kari sighed. She knew, her parents and anyone else, were safer the less they knew. Somehow Kari could feel, the more people learned about it, the more evil seemed to creep into the real world. Kari finished her breakfast and stood. She picked her bowl up and brought it into the kitchen. Her mum handed her her bag.

"Tablets are in there. Take one every four hours or less if you're not in pain." Kari nodded taking her bag in her right hand. She waved to her dad

"Bye guys."

"No more fights little lady!" Her dad joked. Kari smirked and put her shoes on.

"You got it dad." Kari opened the door and stepped outside. She made her way walking to school. Her wrist throbbed but otherwise she felt fine. She rounded the corner seeing her school. A sea of green coloured uniforms flooded the sidewalk ahead.

"Kari!" Kari turned hearing her name she saw Yolie and she smiled

"Yolie!" Kari walked over and Yolie looked around.

"Look up." Kari looked upward and saw Hawkmon and Gatomon waving down at her from the branch of an over hanging tree. Kari smiled.

"You okay Kari?" Gatomon asked and Kari looked up at her partner.

"Yep I've got a cast and will be good in 4 weeks." Gatomon appeared to relax. Yolie smiled

"Glad you're okay. How did it break anyways?" Kari adjusted the strap on her bag,

"Nefertimon and I got hit while she was in the air. I put my hands out to break my fall as I hit the ground." Yolie cringed

"Ouch. You're tough Kari, I would have been bawling the whole time."

Kari couldn't explain it. When she hurt her wrist, yes it hurt, but it was nothing compared to the pain in her chest. Once that pain went away, Kari felt so much relief her wrist really didn't bother her too much.

"I do have Tai as a brother." Kari quipped. She was uncomfortable sharing her pain with anyone. She couldn't understand it. There was a warmth inside her and Kari perked up.

"TK!" TK came around the corner and Yolie raised an eyebrow

"How do you know it's him every time?" Yolie asked but Kari ignored her now anxious to talk to TK. TK walked over to the girls and looked up.

"Patamon they're up there." TK pointed and Kari and Yolie watched Patamon join Hawkmon and Gatomon on the branch.

"How are you TK?" Yolie asked and TK looked at her. He then locked eyes with Kari. The two stared a moment and then TK noticed Kari's cast.

"Broken?" He asked and Kari nodded. TK then took a step back.

"Uhmm I gotta go. I'll see you in class." He then went around Yolie and Kari and made his way to their school.

"Well.. that was weird. You think he's okay?" Yolie asked. Kari sighed and put a hand to her chest. Something was wrong. She could feel it. She shrugged her shoulders at Yolie and the girls walked together into the school.


Davis came sprinting up to Kari's locker

"Kari! Are you okay?" Kari turned startled by Davis.

"Davis! Hi." Davis was excited and he almost bounced in place. Kari realized he had asked a question.

"My wrist! Right yeah its broken." Davis stood still and frowned.

"That sucks. How'd that even happen?" Kari put her bag in her locker.

"Fell off Nefertimon. First broken bone though." Kari commented.

"Hell yeah welcome to the club! Broke my toe, four fingers, dislocated my elbow…. I think that's all." Kari giggled. She reached into her locker to grab her books. Davis reached past her.

"I got it." He grabbed her textbook and notebook and then tucked them under his arm.

"I'll carry it. After you." He gestured for Kari to lead them to class. Kari smiled and then raised an eyebrow.

"Where are your books Davis?" Davis blanched.

"Erm, don't worry about it." Davis smiled and Kari laughed.

"You forgot them?" Davis nodded but quickly spoke,

"I'll get them later. Come on." Kari sighed and resumed leading the two of them to class. She sat at her desk and Davis deposited her books on top. Davis then groaned.

"Mr Hemp is gonna hate me." He then stood tall.

"Be right back!" He announced and Kari saw her teacher shake his head.

"Alright settle in." Mr. Hemp spoke. Kari took out a pen. She almost gasped feeling her chest warm. Her head snapped up and she saw TK walk into the classroom. TK looked at her and then away. He walked past her and took a desk in the back. Kari frowned. She didn't like that. TK normally sat close to her. The bell rang and the teacher stood.

"Alright, this morning we will be -" the teacher was cut off when Davis came running in.

"I'm back! I'm back!" Davis then took a seat across the aisle from Kari and gave a big toothy grin to Mr Hemp.

"You're on thin ice Davis. As I was saying, this morning we will be working on math." The teacher droned on and Kari looked behind her at TK. He was staring at his desk. He looked almost troubled. Kari wanted to reach out to him. Ask him what was wrong.

"So take out a pencil and work on these five equations." Kari turned to face forward as her teacher placed a piece of paper on her desk. Kari let out a breath of air through her nose and started working on her equations.

By the end of the day TK hadn't spoken any words to Kari or Davis. Kari was beginning to feel upset. Did I do something? She thought. TK actively avoided her throughout lunch and through all their class activities. Davis had been at her side with everything and TK was by himself keeping his distance. Kari wanted to talk to him. Class ended and Kari stood. She was walking to TK when Davis cut her off.

"Digital world right?" Davis asked and Kari was startled by Davis' sudden presence.

"What?" Kari asked. Yolie then walked into the room.

"Davis I thought we said no-" she looked around at the emptying classroom

"You know what today." She said in a low voice. Davis frowned.

"Oh come on! We got to! There could be more control spires and more enslaved digimon! They need us!" Yolie folded her arms and Kari felt trapped between the arguing pair.

"No digital world." TK spoke sternly. Kari looked at him but he didn't meet her eyes.

"Tai said no. One of us has gotten hurt. We need to take a break and reevaluate how we do this moving forward." Kari was stunned, she had never heard TK speak in such an authoritative tone.

"Oh come on TB, Kari's fine! Plus what better way to get revenge then to find the digimon emperor." TK snarled

"Davis I said no!" Yolie and Kari took a step back. Davis got closer to TK.

"You're not the leader TA!" Kari could feel TK's rage growing she wanted to reach out and pull him back. He tightened his fists and then stopped.

"You're right. I have to go." TK slipped past the group and left the empty classroom. Davis flipped him off as he left.

"What a jerk! Whatever come on Yolie, Kari?" Kari looked at Davis,

"Uhmm, I think we should wait." Davis groaned. Kari tried to ease the tension.

"It's not forever Davis. Just, a day maybe two. Let's just rest up." Kari was unsure of her words. In truth she wanted to go. She wanted to find the others digimon and stop the spreading evil. Yolie nodded,

"Kari's right. Lets just go home." Davis groaned again.

"Fine, I'm gonna go kick the soccer ball around." Davis started to leave then stopped.

"Oh Kari, let me help you grab your stuff first." Kari was touched and quickly shook her head.

"I've got it. You go Davis. I'm sure Evan and Ian are anxious to play with you." Davis nodded and left the classroom.

"Well no digital world means my turn to work my parents store." Yolie groaned.

"I hate working. Need me to take Gatomon again?" Yolie asked. Kari shook her head.

"No, no. No ones home so I can sneak her in no problem." Kari smiled at Yolie. Yolie stepped back and waved at Kari.

"See you tomorrow!" Yolie spun on her heel and left the room. Kari sighed. She was alone, which would be fine. She felt her chest pang slightly and her thoughts instantly went to TK, please let him be okay. She thought. She then went out into the empty hall to grab her stuff. The hallway was dark and Kari thought that was odd. She walked to her locker and then felt a chill run up her spine.

"Hello?" She called. There was no reply and Kari started to feel uncomfortable. She shook the eerie feeling away and grabbed her bag and closed her locker. She wanted to leave quickly. She stepped back and felt her feet get wet.

"What?" She looked down seeing water. She looked around.

"Hello?!" Kari called and she looked to her right. Then her left. Kari gasped seeing a pair of red eyes watching her.


TK kicked off his shoes as he entered his home. He growled and stomped to his bedroom Patamon freely flying behind him

"TK what is it?" Patamon asked. TK sat on his bed.

"Nothing." The blond said quietly. Patamon landed on the floor next to TK's feet.

"It doesn't seem like nothing. You seem really sad." TK sighed. He wasn't sure what he was feeling so he had no idea how to tell Patamon what was going on. TK rubbed his chest and thought about his day. He had alienated himself from everyone. He winced remembering Kari's face at the end of the day. There was something almost uncomfortable about being around Kari. TK felt his chest warm the closer they were and was slightly scared of the sensation. He also felt like something dark was lurking in the corners of not just the digital world but their world too. TK felt conflicted. Who do I tell? And what do I tell them? TK leaned back and laid on his bed. He almost felt like he needed an escape something to help right his body and his mind. He heard the key slide into the front door and TK bolted upright,

"Hello?" He called. No one should be home yet! He heard the door open and TK stood unsure who would be intruding on his home. Patamon stood on all fours in front TK.

"TK! I need to talk to you now!" TK heard his mothers voice and Patamon quickly laid down pretending to be a stuffed animal. TK jogged to his bedroom door. He met his mother there who was panting.

"Your grandma. We need to leave. She's been in an accident and is in the hospital." Tk went wide eyed.

"Is she okay?" TK sputtered out. His mum nodded,

"Yes but we need to help her. Pack a bag we might be gone for a a few days." TK felt like a prayer had been answered. It was strange and he had a moment wondering if he was more powerful than he thought. He almost laughed at himself but stayed serious as he nodded to his mother and started getting a bag together.

"Did you talk to her?" TK asked and his mum nodded as she rushed into her own bedroom.

"Yes, yes she is in good spirits but we need to help her get home and set up temporary home care for her. Oh! Can you call your brother and let him know?" His mothers voice was loud and TK obeyed. He pulled out his phone and quickly dialled Matts number.

"Hello?"

"Matt hey. Uhmm, grandma's in the hospital." TK told his brother.

"Is she okay? How's mum?" TK held his phone to his ear with his shoulder as he placed some clothes in a gym bag.

"Apparently in good spirits and mums okay I think she's a little freaked out." TK moved his phone from his right ear to his left as he waved at Patamon to pass him his socks.

"So you two are going out to see her?" Matt asked.

"Yeah sounds like it. I'm sure you can come if you want." TK said a little hopeful. Matt let out a small breath

"No, I think it should just be you and mum. It's hard enough leaving dad on his own for a day let alone multiple. Just keep me posted if you can. I know service kind of sucks out there." TK groaned forgetting that. His grandmother lived a more traditional remote village, no TV, and no internet. There was a landline telephone he could use but it was pretty crackly.

"Yeah I'll do my best. I mean mum said just a few days so maybe back by Monday or Tuesday." TK moved to look at the calendar over his dresser. Todays date was looking back at him with the word Thursday underlined. He raised an eyebrow he couldn't remember why he had done that.

"Say hi to grandma for me and be patient with mum, I know she becomes a bit crazy when it comes to grandma." TK nodded knowing all too well how their mother got when it came to her mother. Tk signed off

"Love you, talk to you in a few days." TK heard his brother grunt something like "I love you too" but not so pronounced. TK smirked as he pressed end on his cellphone. He then looked down at patamon.

"Okay buddy you ready?" Patamon nodded and TK scooped him up into his arms and then grabbed his gym bag and left with his mum.


Kari walked into her family's apartment. She felt shook up and uncomfortable. Those eyes, those red eyes. It felt like an eternity she stared into them and then they vanished. As did the water. Kari ran out of the school and was startled by Gatomon. Kari didnt share with Gatomon what she had seen maybe I imagined it. She could feel Gatomon watching her as she slid her shoes off.

"Kari? Is that you?" Kari heard her mum and she quickly pulled a jacket off the hook and tossed it over Gatomon. Kari's mum came into view.

"Oh it is you! How are you? Hows the wrist?" Kari stood tall,

"Yup! My wrist is fine mum." She moved to stand in front of Gatomon who was still under the jacket. Her mum nodded,

"Good to hear. Go put your things away." Kari nodded seeing her mum head into the kitchen. Kari blew out a breath and then scooped up the jacket and Gatomon. She kept Gatomon hidden and shuffled to her bedroom. She closed her bedroom door and then freed Gatomon from the jacket.

"Sorry Gatomon." Kari apologized. She hung the coat on the back of a chair in her room. Gatomon smoothed out her fur,

"That wasn't my favourite hiding spot." Kari pulled a face.

"I'm really sorry." Gatomon licked the back of her gloved paws,

"I'll survive. Luckily, I'm an expert groomer." Kari smirked and then went back out to the front door to grab her book bag. Her mum was humming and Kari picked up her bag with her right hand. She then walked back to her room and shut the door.

"So Kari, what happened? Why were you so scared?" Kari looked down at her partner. She thought for a moment, she should tell Gatomon. Kari then felt a small pulsing pain in her chest. The pulsing clouded her mind. She didn't want to tell anyone anything.

"I'm okay Gatomon. I should get started on homework." She turned and sat at the desk in her room. She could feel Gatomon watching her. She figured if she just worked on school work, Gatomon would see she was fine and leave her be. Using her good arm she pulled her books from her bag. It was hard with only one hand and the books slipped easily from her hand and spilled on the floor.

"Oh shoot." Kari slid her chair back and bent forward. She picked up each book one at a time and put them on the desk. She felt frustrated, this was taking way longer then she wanted it to. She placed the last notebook on her desk and blew out a breath.

"Okay that's done." She then opened her notebook and then grabbed a pen. She put the tip of the pen to the blank page when her door suddenly opened. Kari let out a scream.

"Ah!" She moved the chair back and ended up tipping it too far backwards and fell. Her back hit the ground and the impact hurt her injured wrist.

"Tai!" Kari yelled at her brother. She felt angry.

"Sorry! Sorry!" Tai quickly came in. He picked his sister and the chair she was in up and put them right side up.

"Kari how did that scare you that much?" Tai asked and Kari could hear him laughing slightly. This annoyed Kari. Once she was sitting in her chair properly she cradled her casted wrist in one hand and pursed her lips at her brother.

"What are you doing barging into my room?" Kari snapped back. Tai smirked and stepped back.

"Now is that how you treat your all star brother?" All the annoyance and slight pain vanished Kari sprang to her feet.

"YOU MADE THE ALL STAR CAMP?!" Tai nodded smugly and Kari launched herself into her brothers arms. Tai caught her laughing and Kari foolishly crushed her injured wrist in the process

"Ah shoot!" Kari exclaimed and Tai quickly pulled away and steadied her.

"K kiddo easy." He chuckled and Kari smirked while holding her wrist to her chest.

"But yes I did." Kari beamed up at him and then wisely, gave him a more gingerly hug with her right arm.

"I am so happy for you Tai!" Kari congratulated. Tai stepped out of his sisters hug.

"I have to pack though." Kari raised an eyebrow,

"Pack?" Tai nodded.

"The bus leaves to camp at 5:45am." Tai groaned. Kari suddenly felt uneasy.

"You leave tomorrow?" Kari asked and Tai nodded.

"Yup! 2 weeks Kari. 2 weeks! All soccer with some of the best coaches in the world! Some even from the premier league and champions league will be there!" Tai was all smiles. Kari felt her stomach sink and her chest throbbed.

"That's- that's so exciting." Kari forced out. Tai then kissed the top of her head.

"I am so excited!" Tai was genuinely happy, Kari hadn't seen this kind of energy from Tai in a long time. Ever since Agumon was captured and Tai had been forced out of the digital world, Kari watched a dark cloud follow her brother. Tai was smiling. He was almost bouncing around the room. Kari felt afraid, she didn't want Tai to leave. Not now. Something bad was coming or had come, Kari didn't know. Kari swallowed her fear. She smiled.

"Way to go Tai." She forced a strong smile and Tai beamed back at her.

"You know, I'll still have my phone with me. I'll be able to be in touch." Kari nodded.

"Of course." Kari kept her smile. Tai put a hand on her shoulder,

"Maybe this is good. You know you have your cast. I think it would be best if you didn't go to the digital world for now. You know, at least wait till I'm back and then your wrist will be stronger." Kari felt uneasy. She never faltered. She kept a smile on her face.

"Whatever you think's best Tai." Tai smiled.

"K, I'm gonna go pack." Tai turned and opened Kari's bedroom door,

"Mum! Can you do a load of my soccer kit tonight?" Tai called to his mother as he left his sisters room. Kari sat down in silence as her door shut. She rubbed her chest. The pain was growing, faintly, but it was growing. She breathed in and then out. It's okay, even if Tai's gone. I still have Yolie, Davis and Cody. Kari breathed in again and closed her eyes. And TK. I've got TK. Her breathing calmed. She thought of her friends. She'd be okay…. Right?