Oh The Things You'll Never Know
AN UNPLESANT SITE The site brought tears to his eyes�adding a light glimmer to the shining hints of pain showing clear in the eyes of a child. Through those eyes was the very own sight of what has been so discussed and talked about on every newspaper and death rate. But�it wasn�t these eyes, these innocent eyes of a child, that were so scared and hurt, but that of the sight the child�s eyes were centered upon. Hooked like a young fish unknowing and foolish as it just bit the lingering bait of a heartless fisherman, on his own mother. Her eyes�filled with sorrow, and pain�oh so much pain. Yet another cringe was sent down the boy�s spine as the harsh sound of hand being stuck forcefully across a cheek, followed by the sure cry of her scream� �Go back� to bed� Jimmy.� The scratchy tone of her voice whispered out, those hurt deep brown oculars gazing right into his own. His reflex was even more tears as he looked right into them�right into those eyes, but then was torn away as she was now�in a corner. He felt�another set of eyes upon him, that of a less pure�hatred and piercing anger shining clearly in those dark green hues. Almost instantly a deep gasp of breath flew into his lungs and out again letting out a piercing high pitch scream and running off down the hall of the small apartment. �Come back here- you- you little kid, damn it stop running!� the deep booming voice of the one who claimed to be his own father rung in his ears. �Stop it! Stop it James don�t hurt him! Leave him alone he has no fault in this it is all mine let him be!� the voice of an angel saving his life yet again, once more endangering her own. He turned on her now, just as planned. It always seemed he had fire in his eyes when he was like this�not one speck of love could be found within his tormented soul. Knowing she would endure this yet again, as long as her son was safe. The terrible sound of his voice sounded out again, �Good at least now you can finally see one of your many faults! How dare you claim to love me�bit** when I come home I expect dinner on the table, I come home from working for you, if it wasn�t for me Kari, you and that little brat would be homeless, possibly dead! I-� �You came�home early, I wasn�t expecting you to be home at this hour�I�m not feeling well either�I�m so sorry, next time- ARGH!� Her eyes were soon clamped shut as the sensation of his balled fist slamming into her stomach now knocking her harder to the wall, �I don�t give a damn how fucking sick you are! I go to work when I�m sick, your so dense, god did a good job dying your hair girll! This will not happen again do you understand me!� Just then a small catlike figure sprung onto him in assault screaming out �LIGHTING CLAW!� as her rather failed attempt as she was slung across the room. �And what have I told you about- about that thing!� Grabbing her by the collar now pulling her face inches from his, for the first time he looked into her eyes flowing with tears�how they could be so caring, loving, and �hurt all at the same time bewildered him. He released his hold on her soon after she rushed away but stumbled crying and coughing all at once. �Oh�Kari�argh�I�m sorry�I�ll call next time.� He said the words, as they were meant to appear as an apology but rubbed off more as an annoyance for him to say. Approaching her slowly in a forced hug, rubbing her back then went a bit lower�his hands reaching under her shirt�but quickly she reacted in more quick breaths in result from her crying and shoved him away still rather lightly. �Get away from me!� This�angered him, but then again he was easily angered, grabbing her arm and pulling her back towards him fighting her to bring her close. �Damn it stop pulling away!� He lifted another hand as if to hit her again�but something�stopped him. Not even in an instant he was there, none heard him come in nether saw him, just his fist. His fist just as in slammed into James cheek, forcing him backward tumbling over a table. With speed as a full powered jet, he was crouching down at her side, deep concerned eyes gazing into her own as he shook her lightly, whispering �Kari�Kari come on�please open your eyes.� His plead was answered as her eyes flickered open. The thing with Kari�was�her eyes. You didn�t have to known a thing about her, just looking into those pools of ruby/brown revealed to you how she was feeling. Though hard to tell to some people, it was easy to him for also adding to the advantage of reading her emotions through her eyes, he had known her for a long time now. More cries burst from her, she seemed to be in a state of shock and fear. Soon�James had pushed the fallen desk from him and managed to rise to his feet, fingers clenched so tight his fingernails were digging deeply into his skin trickles of blood soon oozed out from his balled up hand. �You�you�how the hell did you get in!� Turning to look at Kari again. �You gave him another key! Damn you woman when will you learn!� �Don�t you dare touch her! You set me off and I swear I don�t care how much she claims to love you I�ll rip you apart! Every ounce of pain you cause to her I will double and force upon you, ever tear she shed because of you will revert into a drop of blood seeping from your body! Am I clear?� Stretching out a hand in a fashion to protect her, like a faithful bodyguard willing to take on anything and everything to spare her pain. All it took was one step�one step toward her; sure enough it set him off all right. Flashing out with that unusual skill of speed he had him pined against a wall his hand clenching James throat the failed gasps from his lungs as he choked him until he would have suffocated, then threw a fist into his stomach well enough to knock him out, leaving him there. He noticed a small figure trembling in the corner, eyes identical to that of his mother�s innocent and pure. He softened and looked away helping Kari up hoisting her up on his shoulder assisting her to walk towards Jimmy. He took his hand softly looking down in the most comforting was possible, �Come on Jimmy�� Gatomon now awake once more following silently after them. Glancing over to Kari�thankful, yet ashamed eyes looking into his own, the first word she had spoken all night to him, �Takeru�� END CHAPTER ONE UNFORGIVEN Glancing over to Kari�thankful, yet also ashamed eyes looking up into his own, the first word she had spoken to him all night, �Takeru�� Then looking down as if not able to look at him another second, she was silent the whole way, tumbling down the hall slowly to the elevator�and soon down to the entrance, then to TK�s car. �Hmm.� He looked down as if disappointed in her, obviously extremely worried and still angered just by the sight that occurred a few minutes ago, in a calm quiet tone, not even looking at her he said only this, due to the fact little Jimmy was still in the backseat just as he moved the car into reverse, �I heard you were ill�so I came to check on you�and this is what I find�� The ride to TK�s home was mostly like that, silent, zero eye contact, Jimmy well past sleeping in the back until they drove up the driveway to TK�s house�rather small, but not to small, the starting home for he and his past wife. Who now he did not speak of and was not on this earth any longer. In his mind he knew now she wasn�t on this earth�she was burning in the pits of hell, the only world she deserved. Walking slowly to the passenger side opening the door for Kari and offering a hand and still a comforting comment, �Are you all right?� �Mmm-hmm.� Was her only response along with a nod. He gave her a small smile as he felt her touch and pulled her to her feet slowly, he was trying to keep calm, he was so upset, so enraged, all he wanted to do was kill him, kill James. But he kept his nerve and opened the back door to his small car lifting the fragile boy from the back seat and carried him with care not to wake him. Still managing to hold Jimmy and fumble with the keys in his pocket and unlock the door using his foot to push it open, as soon as it did the face of yet another child looking identical to TK, his son looking up at him matching his feelings of worry and confusion. �Daddy? Wha- Mrs. Kari! Are you feeling better?� He smiled but still sensed something was wrong. �Jimmy�s spending the night? Yeah! Heh-he...heh� He looked from his father to Kari as if wanting an answer now, but all he got was a small order, �Come on�it�s past your bed time�get back to bed�and don�t wake-.� But he was broken off by Jimmy himself, �I�m awake.� Leading both Kari, his son AJ, and still carrying Jimmy through his house, �Eh�stay here Kari�I�ll�I�ll be right back.� He rushed a bit the two boys into their rooms and tucked them in�looking to Jimmy who still seemed frightened, �I promise, I will take care of your mom�nothing is going to harm her anymore�you two try to be quiet�don�t stay up to late, got me?� After looking to each of them now smiling their eyes set to AJ�s set of video games across the room. TK made his way back out to Kari scared she might have looked around�his house was a mess. IT was amazing how he was reminded of his dad�s house used to be, and how his looked exactly the same now. But he found her sitting down right were he had instructed her, she seemed to be listening intently to his words like commands or orders, as if terrified she would be hurt again if she didn�t obey. He just stared at her for a while trying to let it sink in of what had just happened some of the rage returning, just staring at her in confusion. �How�how Kari�how could you not�tell me! He hurt you�and I know he has done it before�I even suspected it�why didn�t you tell me!� His intentions were not to upset her in the least, all he wanted was for her to trust him�but he had lost that privilege a long time ago� �I was scared okay! He was going to hurt Jim! I tried it once TK�I did. He found me�I�I�� She burst into tears again now shaking all over, sitting all clamed up on the small bar chair she had rested on, and looked as if she would fall over any minute. �Argh�be careful! � Okay?� TK caught her just as she had slumped to the left, but she didn�t seem to care a bit her head resting against his chest in the position where she had fallen and keeping it there. He gently slipped one hand under her legs and the other beneath her head taking her into his arms, soon setting her down on his bed�sitting down beside her. He gently rubbed her back, but unlike James had�his hand did not slip lower than her comfort zone�at first she seemed to want to lash away quickly�but didn�t and soon found herself throwing her arms around him her head buried into his shoulder more tears flowing from her already wet eyes. �Shhh�shh everything going to be okay�I won�t let him come near you�I promise. Just relax�calm down okay, everything it going to be fine.� He said in soothing voice. �What was I supposed to do TK? You left me�you got on the plane�you�left, with her. I was so angry with you�but I should have wanted you to be happy, I was selfish! I wanted you for myself! I never once thought of you, or what you wanted. You hated James. You always had, you always told me never to come near him I had to upset you� I had to get you back, somehow! I said yes�I agreed to live a life of hell on earth with the devil himself�and I couldn�t escape.� She spoke through random sniffles and tears pretty fast and leaving out huge chunks of her �Story�, clearly she was strongly shaken up by this�he had never seen her like this before. It was as if she was pouring out every emotion she had ever kept inside� �It was the biggest mistake I ever made�and you have no idea why I did it, I don�t want to argue on this anymore, nor do I wish to talk about it-.� �You never want to talk about it TK�never�I feel so distant from you.� Her eyes sparkled, light reflection from the tears still remaining in her captivating brown orbs, the glistening residue of tears shown on her smooth cheek�he reached for it�and dried the tears away, caressing her cheek then cupping in his hand turning to face her more lifting his other hand to brush away a strand of her long brown hair snug behind her ear. He loved her hair long� �I�m sorry�if I hurt you. You know I still care for you Kari�not for one instant did I ever stop�eh-� It was odd how their conversations had always seemed to turn to that incident somehow. How he hated talking about it�He hated fighting with her in general. Everything was his fault and he knew it�how he could do this to her�but he couldn�t bring himself to tell her the truth in fear of hurting her, but it seemed he was rather good at that lately. Just wishing he could go back in time�for just a few minutes back when she was in his arms again. He knew she couldn�t see it. Why was he still like this around her�he didn�t still care for her�he never did just care for her�A deep sigh escaped his lightly parted lips, dropping his hand looking away from her confused face craving answers only he could give. �I�wish I could see it Takeru�I really do�I would like to go to bed now�please�� Just then�the small cat like digimon partner of Kari�s appeared at the door eyes wide and just blinked before opening her mouth to speak out two words in a quiet whisper� END CHAPTER TWO LOST AT THE HANDS FATE Just the�the small cat like digimon partner of Kari�s appeared at the door eyes wide and just blinked before opening her mouth to speak out two words in a quiet whisper as if something was holding her back from speaking them��There gone�� �What?!� In unison both Kari and TK asked at the same time, but it didn�t do much good, each of them seemed to have a clear idea, who was gone�why was they question they really wanted to ask. Both of them sprung to their feet TK slightly ahead of Kari dashing into AJ�s room�Kari hanging over the doorframe peaking inside�their fears were proven true at the sight of both their children�gone. �TK, where are they!� Thrashing her way into the room deep troubled, widened pools of almost blood shot ruby red, far from their usual brownish ruby like tint. Darting around to face him gazing hopefully into his own pools of darkened blue�he was full with as much puzzlement as she was. �I�I don�t know. Gatomon! When did you notice they were gone?� He looked as if he would ask her the same question over and over until she gave him the answer�regardless if she knew or not. �I didn�t! Patamon did, he woke me up, he said they were there�and then gone�only a minute or two ago�he flew out the window�and I ran to tell you.� Each of them looked at each other silently for a moment, both had bad relationships after they had their �fight� �nothing worked out with either of them but never the less their children still meant the world to them. Life, and each of their views of life had changed. Nothing was the same�nor would it ever return to be the same. They had to work together to find what meant so dearly to them�and only together would they find it�possibly even more than they had planned for. �Kari no!� He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the window just as she rushed toward it. Your not thinking�we can�t just run out there�it�s well past dark and it�s dangerous�I think we both know who could have done this and if you really expect me to let you go, even if you weren�t in this condition, you hit your head to hard-.� Pulling her closer to him catching her by the sleeve of her long light pink shirt, causing him to pretty much almost pull her shirt off, revealing some of her stomach�Another thing he seemed to notice�she did always wear pants and long sleeved shirts�it concerned him well before but now it was reality. Those twinkling blue oculars filled with comfort that seemed to be directed straight towards her�It was odd how she was still his main concern. Trying to sound as soothing and convincing as possible, �I promise Kari�as soon as the sun rises tomorrow both of us will look together for them�I�m not letting you leave�we either leave tomorrow morning together after you have had a nice full rest, or never.� �Alright�alright I understand�you sound like my mother. But I honestly can�t believe your going to leave them out there like this! They could be anywhere TK�both of us could never see either of them again�but my trust is within you TK�I know you won�t let me down�just as long as you know what could be the result of your actions. I�hope you know what your doing�� A playful grin tugged at his lips in a rather sly tone seeming a bit over confident, but on purpose, �Yeah well�hope has always been my thing.� They both began another long stare after that. Kari just wondering how he was so calm�she envied him in a way�how he and her eldest brother Tai had the ability to be so brave in times where the most important factors in their lives were at stake, each of them made such perfect leaders. She felt like she was shrinking. Back to 13 years old again�remembering old and forgotten faces that were all inside their little group or �click� then. How she looked up to TK so much�and trusted in almost every word that came out of his mouth. She practically worshiped him�and now�she didn�t really know what she thought of him. She knew what her heart wanted her to think of him�but surely that was not possible�dreaming had done her nothing in this life. How did she change from that young, exciting, happy girl�who loved everyone and encouraged them to believe in her dreams�and then had so many of her own�though now none were present. Being around TK again was different�she just had this huge feeling deep inside her�a motivation all was not lost�there was hope and she would return to how she was�her actual self again�But� His eyes filled with a mysterious twinkle then quickly dated down over her body. How the pale shade of pink, long sleeved, low cut shirt seemed to cling perfectly to her youthful figure. It had a cool little design framing the edges somehow it was like it was made for her only. Her long brown hair tumbling down past her shoulders, two stray locks falling over her eyes. Complete with white pedal pushers hugging low on her hips revealing a small section of her slender stomach. He forced his eyes away and had the urge to slap himself for staring�ever sense he had almost lost her when they were kids�he was extremely overprotective over her, and how others treated her. But also, he gave himself a harder time on how he acted towards her. But was never this complicated and unusual to be around her� �Eh�ah�sorry�Umm�you take the bed okay? I�ll take the couch.� �No�really it�s fine�it�s your house�so you can take it, really, I don�t mind a bit. Any bed in any house without James is heaven. Trust me�my apartment is hell with fluorescent lighting in place of flames. Please just let me TK?� �Doesn�t bother me�I like the couch�seriously. I get it every other night�your my guest, you get the best of everything�cept well�you�ll have to excuse the mess, just don�t look to your left�it�s a train wreck.� He blushed a bit a small sweat drop appearing beside his head reaching back a hand to scratch behind it. She whined in another effort not to take his offer but he simply rolled his eyes and smiled, the look on her face told him she wasn�t still that angry with him�so he took a chance��Argh�I swear your to nice at times! There is only one way I can manage to get you to do anything�� A smirk played across his lips and lifted a single brow as if in question if he could have permission to do what he was about to. Kari�s eyes widened and backed up a bit holding back a smile, �No, TK no way! Ha ha ha�you have to be kidding there is no way, ACK! TAKERU!!� She let out a playful scream as he dashed at her practically leaping behind the couch ducking behind it as he lunged at her, both of them overflowing with laughter. �Come here you�� He jumped over the couch, well�sorta hanging by his waist looking at her upside down grinning as much as ever�this was the most fun he had in a long time. �You could hardly do this in high school�your going to break yo-.� He cut her off swinging himself over the side reaching down thin digits griping her waist and lifting her up above him as high as he could, just laughing at her screams of what she threatened to do to him if he dropped her�Never in his life would he do this though�it was just play�careful, but play. �Heh�still as light as you used to be�Hmm.� He closed his eyes and smiled looking up at her then threw her over his shoulder. Tossing her onto his bed then dashed for the door slamming it shut just as a pillow crashed into the door behind him, opening it slowly again with a half smile. �Don�t worry about anything a�right�Worrying�it�s going to be the death of you someday. G-night Kari.� She shook her head and returned the smile�it seemed more�joyful�than usual. �Goodnight TK.� Gatomon had already found herself a spot sitting on the edge of a desk with papers and books scattered all over it. Her head was tilted and she kept flipping pages carefully due to her huge well-sharpened claws, having the ability to easily rip them to shreds if not treated with care. Her tail whipped from side to side idly, it seemed to have a mind of it�s own and couldn�t stay still. Her head was not lifted nor did she acknowledge Kari had even entered the room, those humongous glassed off blue circular shaped eyes fixated on the papers, then she finally spoke still remaining her concentration on the papers, �Hey Kari, I know I can�t read that well�but your name is in here a lot�I do know what your name looks like. The first shape is like a mouth which is eating a fat mouse with a tail, then a little tree, and a stick with a dot.� Kari blinked at how much she thought of four simple letters then flashed back to reality, �Also known as a K and A and R and an I�Oh�Kay�You think to much girl�ah�don�t go through that stuff it doesn�t belong to you� Huh? Where�where did you find this?� A single sentence caught her eye�she couldn�t help but read it�the intense crave to read more kept her eyes pulled to the paper, but then her usual good nature forced her to stop� END CHAPTER WHATEVER THIS IS. (3) BLOOD IS LIKE WHINE; BOTH ARE TO EXPENCIVE TO LOOSE. No matter how hard she tried�there was no way Kari could get her eyes to close for more than a few minutes, much less a decent time for her to rest. Her mind seemed scrambled. Focused only on Jimmy�AJ�and what horrid things that could be happening because she didn�t stand up for herself enough. Just to get attention from a long lost lover�she left her own flesh and blood out there�how could she allow this to happen? Yes, she could see the side to TK�s explanation�but it was no good if she couldn�t sleep anyway. Ah�TK�her dear Takeru�they were mostly the only two who had stayed together after all these years�However she hadn�t forgotten the rest of the �Digidestined� as they preferred to be called. But had lost touch. Finally she decided she couldn�t take it any longer�she slowly pushed herself off from the big comfy bed she had been forced to sleep on, and made her way over to TK�s desk. Searching for a piece of paper, thinking it should be easy to find one in his house, after all he was a novelist�shouldn�t have been that difficult. To her surprise and shock it was�she ended up writing a he note on a half of a post it note. She pulled on her thin white jacket and shook Gatomon awake from her deep snooze lightly. The moment she stuck the note on the table beside TK�s resting place, and turned around�Gatomon was nowhere to be found. Lifting a single eyebrow in confusion and whispered out quietly, �Gatomon? Gatomon come on�I told you we were leaving where are you, you silly cat?� She gasped loudly as she turned to the left wall where a long mirror had been placed above a long table with a broken glass vase with flowers rested�funny she hadn�t heard anything of a crash, but that was the least of her concern at the moment. Rushing over to the tattered up cat picking up her limp body in her arms, how that soft white fur could stain blood red around her neck in the short time it took her to stick a note to a table was well past frightening. Eyes traveling up to the mirror where written in a glossily red liquid where the words �The world shall be darkened�� formed. Not having even enough time to turn around when she felt the most disturbing feeling�two daggers flew towards her wrists sending a gash right through each side pinning them to the wall while the roped handles sprung out and in twined their way around her wrist several times. Her stomach still facing the wall terrified of whatever was behind her then screamed out, �What the hell is this a horror movie? The writing on the wall that�s some ancient crap be more resourceful�� Feeling the cold blood tricking down her fingers hoping they hadn�t struck a vein or anything�but she quickly silenced her next question as every hair on her arm stood up on end eyes widening even more as the most unpleasant eerie touch of something�trail across her neck then all the way down her back creating some sort of sign. Her vision was blurred and soon darkened her head dropping lifelessly behind her hanging by the rope which now had slithered it�s way up the length of her arms, pressuring them tightly where the blood seeped through her once white jacket�but she didn�t feel a thing� �Did you ever hear from TK?� a girl commented to the man in whom her fingers were interlaced with beside her. The reply she got back was one filled with concern as he shook his head, �No�just said he was going to go stop by Kari�s house�see if he could convince James she was well enough to come to dinner�if not he would return. And neither of them did�not even a call. I�m about ready to go to each of their houses until I get some info. How does he always seem to ruin my time with you, ha. It�s his main goal in life. In his rule book right under �Thou shall blame everything on elder brother even when he lives in a different house, and even when he is 24 years of age.�� �Hmm�cute.� She closed her eyes and smiled then shrugged a shoulder. I�m sure their fine�we�ll call one more time and leave a message�if he doesn�t return in we can go check in. You know�it�s weird for Kari not to show up at any party at all�mostly something special like this�Speaking of something�s that are special�I got you something�� TK took in another deep breath into his lungs turning to the side dodging yet another dagger looking through the flames screaming out her name, but his efforts in vain, looking down to the two children beside him in tears looking up at him like he was some kind of super hero�but no heroic act could he think of to get her out of there�or to save the three of their lives either�he screamed out one more time clenching his head snapping it upward, the heat from the raging fire around him beating on his skin as a distant sound made it�s way to his ears�ringing�over and over�then everything faded�and he made out a table in front of him�a familiar voice was in the distance� �Eh�hey bro�it�s Matt. Call me. Just seeing if you got to Kari alright, later.� He was dripping in a cold sweat and closed his eyes lifting a hand to brush back his bangs back behind his head as he sat up, and gave off a sigh of relief that it wasn�t true. But the instant his eyes reopened every ounce of the fear returned in full force at the site of Kari pinned to a wall helplessly. As he rushed to her looking at her rather pale face and closed eyes, then the sight of Gatomon drenched in blood�He seized the cat feeling the dried blood around it�s throat�She was dead�and had been that way for a while�But something he didn�t catch�her tail ring�was missing. Turning back to Kari praying she had not received the same fate. �Alive�� As fast as his quick digits could work at the thick rope which had it�s way tangled around her delicate arms, he attempted to free her�Growing more and more less patient, shaking all over he swore and grabbed a knife cutting her free as quick as possible, her weak form falling back into his arms suddenly� Bright light strained her view, it was unbearable but she kept running�figuring she must have zoned out or something. But frankly she couldn�t remember where she was or what she was doing or why she was running so fast. Then she saw it, coming perfect into sight. A small light, a prism of golden and magenta. It looked like some sort of odd key chain or charm, but then it smacked her right in the face. It was�the ever so treasured object she had used long ago- Her crest! It was! Recognizing the familiar engraving of the symbol, which belonged to her, gaining more speed. Then she noticed another shadowy figure right across from her. It was going for the exact same spot, the exact same item. She yelled out a scream as they both dove for it, she took flight and floated a bit just as the tip of her finger touched the cold metallic of the crest. A low growl that spun and swirled into a very high pitch scream sounded off from the figure, she hardly got a glimpse of it. But it was huge�and black�that was all she could remember. She coughed and sputtered water feeling the cold touch of it, she was drenched in�water laying on the ground she saw two people hanging over her�then three�then four�they�all looked like the same person. Then suddenly all the images turned into one, it was TK holding a glass of water looking very scared and quite clueless�She blinked twice looking up at him then coughed again reaching a hand to cover her mouth as she sat up�but something was already in it�a cold golden shape with a pink rectangle in the middle. �Wha?�� �What in the world happened to you?� His desperate eyes stared right into hers, it was clear he had panicked and was very troubled over this. �My�tag and crest. TK�why is it all coming back? Why now�we did that when we were kids�it�s not our job now�Everything is in balance why is this happening?� She clenched her fist tightly the precious jewel within her hand, bringing it to her chest, relatively close to her heart. �Why is�wait, wha?� His face became even more bewildered just staring blankly down at her. �Are�you okay?� �TK, look in my hand, it�s my crest. This is happening for a- Oh no. Where�s-?� She cut her own self off as a river of pain rushed through her at the sight of the severally wounded cat, lying limp and lifeless on the table�everything came back. Every memory, every adventure she had�forgotten. �This can�t be possible! They don�t die remember! The digimon�they don�t die they turn into eggs�and come back! She can�t!� Even more tears began rushing into her eyes giving them that glossy look, frozen to the spot unable to move her attention from Gatomon�she told herself to pull herself together but it did absolutely no good. In an effort to ease her pain, he was sure she was feeling now he blocked her view of the tattered kitten giving her no choice but to look at him, �Be strong Kari�for Gatomon, for me, for yourself. I don�t think she�s gone forever�and if she was she wouldn�t want you to be miserable over it. I�m going to figure this out�I vow it to you, we will find Jimmy and AJ, and reveal who is responsible. I�m not going to let you give up�where is all that life in you Kari? Your strength, your hope, find it inside yourself�I know you can, and you will do you understand me?� He rose from his spot and set his blanket on top of Gatomon to prevent Kari from having to see it any longer. It had just come to Kari�s attention for some reason�she had just noticed it now. TK�s shirt was off. Damn�everything really was returning�including her young emotions�identical to what they once were directed towards TK. The pleasure didn�t last long enough though�she was soon following behind him into the room belonging to AJ�For a split second she tried to tell herself they were still there�and nothing had happened. Nothing at all. But still, her hoped crushed, they were gone. �Ah! That reminds me! Patamon, he�s still missing from last night�he�never returned�Oh no�how could I forget about him!� Guilt swept over him�just for the chance he might capture Kari�s heart again, he totally pushed everything else out of his mind. Mumbling, �I really need to get myself together�� He had no idea what to do�as kid�s they had it easy�there was always some clue. And usually evil came to them, they didn�t have to go hunting. �I guess they finally got a grip�figured out how to do things. Argh�You think we should call Matt and Sora? Tai?� �I really wish I could tell you TK but�I have no idea. They left nothing�no sign�just�pain and loss. At first�I thought James was behind this but�after my dream�-.� �You had a dream? What happened? This could help, please remember.� �Umm�I- ARGH!� Something stung horribly, unbearable�as she screamed in shock� END CHAPTER 4 HIS MASTER�S VOICE CONTINUED �Umm�I-ARGH!� Something stung horribly�unbearable�as she screamed in shock dropping the source of the pain in her hand�wincing looking down at her palm�the crest had melted�all away. The symbol of the crest of light burned, engraved even into her palm. It stung still holding her right hand with her left shaking a bit. �The digital world�once so simple and calm�has now turned really ugly�and I�m not liking it much�And I have a feeling the future isn�t getting any better. No wonder we can�t find any signs of them being gone�there not here. There not on this word�there in the digital one. Ah-�oh no�I hate when I�do this.� She turned around�getting the strangest feeling�she hadn�t felt in so long. That of darkness, her number one rival that never seemed to leave her alone. She felt tied down like a child within herself�she hated fighting this alone�no matter what people said, they couldn�t feel what she could, claim to be there for her, but it was her battle�and only she could overcome it. Proven right�a light breeze rushed over the both of them, followed by a thick black fog�then�the sounds of� �Waves? In a house? What�s�going on?� She looked down to see what she feared, darkened water. Stained with sin and hatred �the worst feeling, soon it all faded away�the scene changed into that of a beach�sure enough�she knew exactly what lay before her. �NO!� He quickly lunged after Kari but flew right through the fading image of her�this seemed all so familiar� �Shit!� Banging his fist to the ground to release anger�all in 24 hours he had lost the three most treasured things in his life�he didn�t think he could move on without them�determined to get them back. Somehow. �Fantastic�� Her eyes wandered around her surroundings�it was just as she had remembered�eerie�dark�and deserted. �Jimmy? AJ? Gatomon? �This isn�t good at all�TK�why�d you have to leave�-No�I can do this�get yourself together stop talking down to yourself. I have done this before when I was 12�surly I can do it now.� She tried to remind herself how when she had �beaten� this�Tai was there for her�TK was there for her�Patamon and Gatomon as well�now�she really was alone. But kept talking positive�even if TK wasn�t with her�it was one thing he kept inside her�his everlasting hope� She had always thought of them linked�hope�and light. Every night before she knew a thing about TK or the digital world�the stars�just staring up at their beautiful light gave her a sense of comfort, and hope. The light at the end of the tunnel gives people hope to go on. And that was exactly what she was going to do. Believe. A deep voice was heard behind her�whipping around to see a dark shadowy figure�tall�very tall, human like, but defiantly weird. �Well�this makes it more complicated�Damn guardians�always making it harder on me when all I wish to do is help�they always find a way to make it harder!� Taking a step backward a bit alarmed but gazed right into the glowing red eyes, the only other color visible in his black attire and himself, his red eyes. Staring into them almost wanted to make her cower down�but didn�t. �Let�s cut the crap�you had your chance�we even made it all entertaining, you as a queen. Anything you desire, but was I in charge then, no. Fools�nice choice though�at least you got to live longer�but no matter I have finally tracked you down and I�d like to get this over with if you don�t mind, I have a tight schedule. I would greatly appreciate it if you would come willingly�I don�t feel like playing cat and mouse�these claws are to much for you girl�I have eliminated every chance you have�I just�need your hand. Just as the, what Kari had now confirmed as a �creature�s� eyes had looked down to her hand, every part of it which was engraved into her skin stung once more screaming in agony. He ran as fast as his feet would carry him�there was no way he could get to her. He had a car�but seemed to have forgotten that at the moment�running to the beach�as fast as he could force himself to. Fortunately for him he didn�t live that far away�HE wished he would have called Tai�or Matt�and he longed to know where Izzy was now. People he had long forgotten�faces flashed into his mind�Mimi�Joe�Yolie�Cody�Ken�and even Davis�just one of them�one for any sense of comfort. What he would do to have Davis next to him right now. Some sense of direction, some clue of any kind! The digital world�a fun place to play�or a place man did not belong to mess with. Presently he wanted to find whoever ran this digital world and give them a piece of his mind� She took another step back still gazing into those blank dark eyes, �Bring them back�my son�don�t harm him�let him live in peace�with Tai�or maybe even TK�bring Gatomon and Patamon back, AJ as well�Please. I�m begging you. Do whatever you wish just-� �Aww�cut the drama�and get your pathetic ass over here!� He stretched out a hand which formed into a huge claw, clamping down on her wrist where the imprint of the crest of light lay dragging her across the sand and ocean into the sea�as soon as she felt the cool liquid cover around her ankles�she heard millions and millions of screams, cries for help by tortured souls. It was like going into hell�overwhelming her�she blacked out that instant. When she awoke a small shiny object was bouncing up above her�a ring� She then recognized it to belong to Gatomon�her tail ring�More loss and grief filled her but not even given enough time to express it�she was torn up to her feet greeted by the devilish grin of the unusual man. After tossing Gatomon�s tail ring into the air one more time he pressed it down on a small stone stick looking thing. It looked like she was inside some sort of old temple, completely made of stone�and her so reliable hero�had not arrived to rescue her yet�and it looked as no one was. But then again�maybe it was best that way�He wouldn�t be in danger�but�she only longed to finally express how much she�loved him. In truth she always had�though hurt by what had happened in the past�her feeling remained strong�hidden but strong. Now buried over forever. She looked up at her destroyer�and gave up�allowed herself to be taken�he lifted her hand and placed it on a small sphere�it had the same engraving�the crest of light�the same in her hand�as soon as the rough stone touched her hand�both engravings aligned�and her whole body became straight and tense hovering in the air a bit thrashing her head back screaming in pain, agony, and failure. Her back bending back so far it felt as though it was going to snap, arms spread out wide at her sides, head thrown back mouth opened wide screaming and eyes clenched shut, her feet spread a bit apart hovering in the air. Eyes closed ever tightly screaming in rage as the life was sucked out of her. The light was never in the crest�in was within her. And was now being removed�it was the most painful thing she ever experienced and could imagine. Her screams were heard thought not only the beach�but by every one who had ever seen her face�So full of pain�But to Takeru�her ever so beloved Takeru�shared the pain�he also froze and tensed up matching Kari�s current position but only for a second then fell to the ground�Kari was now surrounded by a pink glow�which was becoming ever smaller�cracks of lighting sounded around the shrine. The man�reformed�he was huge�and black�two horns placed atop his head and huge claw like hands. He reached out one of them letting out a laugh, �Darkness shall overcome there is no choice. Child of light, obey your masters voice! RELEASE!� Her screaming grew louder, her tears now drops of blood from her eyes her long light brown hair whipping past her face and all around wildly as a rush of wind in circular motions. Then she was silenced�falling to the ground�the engraving was now all white�in every area�except�a small circle in the middle,, was still empty. �Argh�what? It�s not finished�what the?� She smiled faintly hanging on to life by a half broken thread�whispering� �Hope�and light�are�connected�they must really be. You can�t demolish one�without the �other. They are intertwined�as one�ah�,� fading even more into a whisper, �please�hurry TK.� She smiled weakly once more at how corny it sounded. She had complete faith in TK�Eyelids slowly closing once more�she had hope. END CHAPTER 5 HOPE FOUND DEEP WITHIN She had complete faith in TK�Her eyelids slowly closing�once more she had hope. A distant voice sounded off in the distance�over and over�calling out his name. He stood up�but he wasn�t where he was before�he wasn�t on the beach�it looked as if he was in the middle of nowhere. Everything was light colored, like watercolor. He dug deep into his mind�whose voice did that belong to? Then it hit him�and sure enough�little Patamon was running toward him yelling out, �TK! TK!!� The small orange figure flew straight into his arms giggling, �TK!� That wide smile spread across the cute face of Patamon, eyes closed looking up at him. �Over there!� His voice echoed�over and over. �Over there! Over there! Over there� over there�� Then he slowly faded from his arms, and so did the scene, to�a wide-open field. It was�the digital world. He kept walking�towards the direction Patamon had guided him�it hurt inside�seeing his face again�he began wondering where he was now. Then he noticed a big hill�atop it a small sparkle caught his eye�it was green. Then there was another figure�it looked like�a dark version of himself�when he was younger�The other TK bent down in a fashion like runner would before a race. TK noticed�the boy�s focus was on the orange speck�he was racing him for it�Throwing a glare in the dark TK�s direction then bent down as well�but his concentration was not on the small glowing speck, which he thought to be his crest. But what it would do for him�release Kari�get Patamon back, and �AJ.� He whispered to himself. �Argh�� He didn�t wait for a glance from his new rival�he took off, soon after the younger version of himself did also, both of them racing for whatever lay ahead. IT was odd for TK�he remembered how he was when he was younger. He did have a dark side�well a madder and determined side, a side that wanted to defeat darkness so bad. Was it this side he was fighting against? Himself? He pressed the fear from his mind, and moved forward running so fast, much quicker he had in a while. Just then a huge knife pierced his heart as he felt the strike of a rock his foot, crashing downward smashing against the floor. He was almost there�but then again, so was the shadowed figure of himself�he stopped in front of the small podium looking straight at TK and reaching down picking up the Tag and crest�placing it in his own palm. Then step by step inched closer to the real TK. Bending down still staring face to face�in a squat, he tilted his hand at such an angel where the ever so longer for object fell gently into his wide open palm. In awe he gazed up at the figure as it stood again smirking a bit, then swirled away into dust�blowing away in the wind. He glanced down to the small crest in his hand�lifted a finger and traced the etched in markings�the symbol of hope. IT was hard being responsible of giving every one in the group hope as a kid�but now he tried to imagine how bad Kari must have felt�every enemy they ever fought always had a grudge against her, she had so many people who wanted her dead. Just because she was chosen to be the holder of the Crest of light. He resented that now�why did it have to be her�but admitting she was cut out for it, and she could handle it, she just didn�t think she could sometimes. He just didn�t know if he, himself could, inside his selfish fear of loosing her if she had to sacrifice herself for the better of others�hadn�t she done that enough through her lifetime? Getting up to his feet again bounding off to the podium taking his crest in hand and slamming it down on top where he found an engraving of, sure enough the emblem of hope. Just one of those things he had a feeling to do�His emotions were none but serious. Well tired of being fed up with all this evil and darkness shit, wanting it to end, and ready to do whatever it took to get it that way. It may have originally been Kari�s job, but now he strongly wanted a part in it. Feeling as though he was being sucked into the hole of a vacuum cleaner almost as soon as the impact of his crest and the stone occurred. He disappeared and reappeared...not where he wanted to be. He was shocked by the gloominess he felt around him. Then he saw the best sight he had seen in ages�Kari�but�she was�younger? She ran to his side eyes wide and filled with confusion goggling at him for answers. She was clothed in a long yellow shirt and pink shorts, a light pink scarf tied around her neck. TK looked down at himself�his attire consisted of a green vest over a long sleeved light green shirt along with brown shorts past his knees� �The ground seems�closer.� He remarked in a squeaky young tone lifting a single eyebrow. Just as he did he felt a hat atop his head move. �Huh?� �Were younger TK! Little kids. I�m so glad you�re here�I was afraid you were gone. I have no idea whats going on�do you?� She seemed the same, like her actual age, just in a younger version of herself, still in this dream-like land. Two smaller figures ran up to them�Gatomon and Patamon. Gatomon�s tail ring was missing, and a small cut was visible across her throat, her voice seemed desperate as if she had little time�those huge cat eyes watery at the sight of Kari. �Kari,� She sniffled and wiped her enormous eyes with a green claw, then her expression changed. She was determined not o show any feelings� �You made it. Well�come on, hold hands�It won�t kill you, you two shy kids. Get over it, it�s not what you think.� Kari looked down at her hand�the engravement was still there. TK did as well�he didn�t even notice his own or experience any pain, or even recall when he got it, but the engravement of the crest of hope was there�into his palm. Warmth rushed through him as the contact of Kari�s touch against his hand�but it didn�t last long. Quick pain rushed through the scared icon on his hand, as it did Kari�s as well. Just then, their hands glowing, a small�thing floated above them. Exactly what it looked like�was a mix between the representation of the crest of light, and the crest of hope. It flew towards their digimon�and they too�evolved into one figure� One magnificent angle�it had the shoulder pad�s of Angemon, the long beautiful hair of Angewomon, the breast plate of Angewomon, gray gloves of Angemon, and a long blue ribbon stretching out above the digimon�s head, wrapping around it�s arms and falling down right at it�s feet. Small beautifully painted letters were sewn on, �Hope and Light�Hope and Light�Hope and Light�� It was dressed in all white�the long silk robe slit up to the hips of the figure revealing one slender leg, the rest of the long dress draping down well to the floor, along with long sleeves�it truly looked like an angel�and not a warrior. The only main difference from the two angel digimon, Angemon and Angewomon from which the two had formed�was this Digimon�whoever it was, had no mask. It�s eyes were visible�beautiful pools of sapphire. Everything faded again�and Kari found herself in her current body�damaged and wounded, unable to move, but this time TK was next to her�and so was the angel. She gazed up at it in question and whispered� �Who are you?� The angel spoke no words�just smiled and slid a hand under her chin lifting her up a bit�her body floating up as well�as she felt the soothing warm breath blow to her face�something pounded back inside her, jabbing right into her heart. Then found herself standing�right beside Takeru, completely healed. TK, eyes wide leaned over close to Kari and whispered in her ear, �I wonder if it�s a girl or a boy.� She couldn�t help but giggle at this shaking her head smiling over at him. He was glad he seemed to bring her peace, and a pale smile to her lips, but it was better than nothing at all. The angel lifted its arms out in front of it then brought them to its chest fingers spread out wide eyes closed. Releasing a huge amount of power along with a rageful scream, weird for something so peaceful looking to scream so full of distress like that. It�s thin fingers twirled inward into fists and yanked them toward it�s self. The huge black figure was heaved along with it, like some string were attached to it�though no attachments were seen. The dark digimon screamed out as it was being hauled to it�s defeatment, � This is wrong! There was no speaking of hope�the crest and the tail ring, both were in my possession! What went wrong?! Damn you! You will be shattered you wretched girl�If not by me by someone else-!� The angel smiled once more shaking it�s head reaching out it�s beautiful hand in a graceful wave right through the monstrous, colossal giant as�both of them spun around then disappeared. Patamon dropped from the sky�where the angel was just standing just minutes before. �TK!� He ran on all fours toward his tamer�leaping into his arms. TK smiled having Patamon returned to him sure felt good� But for Kari though�nothing was found or given to her but sadness. She squinted a bit in order to keep the raging river from flowing through her eyes� TK set Patamon to the ground the solemn look returning to his face, he set a gentle had to Kari�s shoulder and tilted his head to the side brushing his lips lightly to her own�then pressed harder, locking them both into a passionate kiss. At first her eyes wide with shock�then closed them a single tear falling from her eyes dripping slowly down her cheek. Pulling herself closer to him as her arms wrapped around his neck, sensing his own wrapping around her waist, so close he could feel the affection and love intended for him and him only. Kari�s emotions were mutual, as they eventually pulled away choosing to keep her eyes closed unless this was not real, resting her head against his chest, as tears soaked into the sleeve of his shoulder. They remained there in that deep embracement. TK�s hand moved up and down her back in a way to ease the pain�lowering his head and kissed the top of hers lightly hearing her almost silent sobs, pressing his cheek against her own in a sort of nuzzle. �Shhh�� His hand was�playing with her hair�weaving it in and out through his fingers�he loved her hair long. END CHAPTER 6 TIEING UP LOOSE ENDS He reached up a hand to wipe the tears from her cheeks, �I would never let anything harm you Kari�please understand that. You�re the world to me�you always have�and you always will be. I love you with all my heart�and no one is taking that away. You have reminded me of my own abilities�and now I must remind you�never give up Kari�Never give up hope. I can feel it�there alive�AJ�and Jimmy too. I won�t stop looking for them until they are found�and back with who they belong�� She nodded in agreement and reached both hands out to grasp his own, fingers laced between his own, �I�ll be there�right beside you.� Patamon smiled at how sweet it was but then giggled a bit as well� Just then�Kari felt something tug at her pant leg�She looked down at her side behind her to look into that innocent face of none other than her son�Jimmy�right there � unharmed � unscathed. She stared at him a moment longer as if in question if he was actually there. She bent down tears of joy in her eyes and brought him in her arms hugging him close, still at his level. TK did the same but except lifted his son all the way into the air above his head laughing a bit hugging him tightly. �Ouch. Ah�dad! I have to breath ya know! Heh�� �I missed you too mom�heh.� The in-training forms of Gatomon and Patamon were behind the two children as they were set back down each of them in unison reached a hand back to show their presence, �Look who we found!� Kari smiled a bit, or tried her best to still grieving Gatomon�s disappearance, �Looks like we�ll still have�one animal to sneak into the apartment.� TK noticed the hidden sorrow in Kari�s voice, and facial expression as she said those words, the reason she refused to make eye contact with him at the time. �Eh�Kari, you and Jimmy are welcome to stay with us a while longer if you wish. Animals are allowed there.� He grinned a slight twinkle in his eye as he spoke. Kari playfully smirked back�lots of hidden words were spoken here� �Okay�I guess we could do that�couldn�t we?� Glancing down at little Jimmy for approval seeing him jump up and down chanting �Yeah, yeah, yeah!� For a moment the two gazed into each others eyes pushing their kids ahead of them as they both began running off in a race�followed by the trio of digimon�Kari tilted her head in a teasing way still looking up at TK as she smirked locking their hands once more walking along the beach after their kids, taking their time. �I wonder how we get out of here�� Kari said this in the opposite way of what it should have been said�she wasn�t concerned at all� �Hmm. Don�t really think it matters�I think we�ll figure something out�don�t you?� He answered her quietly as they continued walking along the beach�after they returned home�it was almost dark once more�They two kids were in bed�snuggled with their digimon�who had just been returned from a long time of being missing�being guarded by the faithful Patamon, who gave a wink to TK as he walked out the door, locking it behind him. Soon after the two were found�on the beach once more the sand beneath their toes sitting alongside each other, Kari�s head resting on TK�s shoulder. She was dressed in a stunning calm, toned down purple dress, thin straps hung over her shoulders it clinging to her attractive figure, her hair fixed up atop her head two strands of hair left down framing her face, leaving her shoulders bare. TK had on a loose blue button up shirt and rather baggy khaki shorts cut of slightly beneath his knees. Everything was so ideal, exactly faultless. For the exception of Gatomon�s unexplained death� The next morning�TK not only had an idea for an upcoming book�but many other things brewing in his mind, throwing a glance over to his sleeping Goddess�his angel of light�or in more clear terms�his new fianc�e. A small notebook resting against his knees his head held up by two pillows for support as ideas were jotted down just as they poured from his mind. Then looked down to notice Patamon below the bead smiling jumping up onto his chest inches from his face whispering, �Well�you asked her huh?� He threw a look at Kari, �Heh�I guess she agreed huh? Hmm. Little TK has grown up just like his brother!� They both laughed as TK shoved him down jokingly, �Oh shut up�� still all in a whisper. �You�don�t think�AJ will be angry with me do you? �Or Jimmy�I never have thought he liked me much. It worries me.� Patamon shook his head and smiled with his eyes closed, �I�m sure everything will be fine TK. Go to sleep.� He hoped down to the edge of the bed curling in a ball at Takeru�s feet�dozing off into his dreams. Though TK dreaded tomorrow�where he would escort Kari to her apartment� But firmly sure and read to guard her from James�Knowing somehow the divorce would work out fine�and he would have the chance to tell Kari the truth�the reason he had betrayed her�and for some reason�now�he couldn�t wait for the next morning�all of them�together, �A�family.� He whispered then smiled tossing the pad of paper to the side, �Doesn�t sound that bad�� �THE END� SEE YA�
Back
