"TK, do you think that we could go to the
digital world?"
"If you feel up to it, sure, " he answered.
"I just feel that something is wrong, that
I have to be there for some reason."
"All right," he grinned, "I've learned
not to mess with your instincts."
*****
When they got there they found Tai talking to
a strange figure. Nobody else was in sight.
"Tai! Hey man, what are you up to and who are you talking
to?" TK asked as the two of them ran up to him.
He didn't respond, but as they got closer they noticed who
Tai was talking to.
Kari stopped dead in her tracks. This can't be.
This is impossible.
"Dad?"
"Yes, sweetie it's me," the man answered.
"No! This can't be. Dad is dead! Who are you and what
do you want!?" she yelled at him, "Tai, you don't really believe this, do
you? You know this can't be Dad."
"I know that this can be Dad, just because you like
the idea that I killed him, it doesn't mean that I did."
Kari gasped, "What do you mean be that? You know that
I don't blame you, Tai. I never blamed you."
Tai's eyes sharpened, "Oh really?" he asked with a raised
eyebrow and snorted derisively, "and that's why you left me to deal all by
myself after they died. You couldn't even stand to look at me.
All the time thinking 'yeah, it's all his fault, if it wasn't for Tai, Mom
and Dad would still be alive'. Well you see, Dad is alive, and so is
Mom--"
"TAI!! YOU STUPID ARROGANT JERK!!! You have alot of nerve
saying I wasn't there for you. We ALL were there for you! You just
pushed us all away. If anyone was left alone it was me. How do
you think I felt having to deal with everyone, the relatives, the funeral?!
Huh?! How do you think I felt. I'm just a kid too you know!! They were
my parents too!! YOU ARROGANT SELFISH DOLT!! Try thinking about others
for a change!! Try--"
"Now, Kari, don't speak to your brother like that," chided
the man who pretended to be her father.
"Don't you talk to me," she hissed at him, " I don't know
who you are, but despite everything, I still love my brother, and if you
think I'm going to let you take him, you've got another thing coming!!"
Slowly, Kari had become surrounded by a pink halo of light,
and it was growing stronger by the minute.
"Tai, you have to believe me, that's not Dad."
Tai's eyes had widened in surprise and he was starring at
Kari. Something seemed to be registering.
"Kari? How-how do you know? I don't want be responsible
for Mom and Dad dying anymore. We can just pretend, you know.
It'll be like old times." Tai was saying with tears streaming down his face.
"No, Tai. It won't be the same."
"Ah, but it will Tai. You know it will, if you come
with me," the man said to Tai. Tai turned and began walking back towards
him.
"TK!!!" Kari cried, "You have to help me. I'm not strong
enough to reach him on my own."
TK was already reaching for her hand, joining his light to
her own.
"Tai, you know that nobody blames you for what happened to
your parents. It might seem bad right now, but you still have friends.
And you still have Kari. She needs you now, too."
Tai had turned back towards TK and Kari. "Do you really
think so, TK? Do you really think that they'll forgive me?"
"Of course they will."
Tai turned again and spoke to the man. Whatever he
said, no one could hear. After, he ran towards the combined light of
TK and Kari. The man tried to grab at him, but the light repelled him.
The strain of maintaining the light was beginning to show on Kari.
"Hurry Tai, I can't hold it much longer," she pleaded.
When he finally reached them, the light exploded into a ball
of pure energy. When everyone could see again, they were standing in
front of Azulongmon.
"Congratulations," he said to them, "The crests of light
and hope combined have helped to heal the rift that was causing the digital
world to decay. My seeds are now sprouting. Tai, never underestimate
your power here. Like your sister, you too have powers beyond that
of the crests. As do you TK. You three are to be the saviours
of the digital world, but you must not forget that there are others there
to help you, for you cannot do this alone."
With that he disappeared, leaving Tai, TK and Kari standing
alone.
*****
"I'm sorry, Agumon."
"That's ok, Tai. I know that this must be hard on you."
"Would you like to return to the real world with us?"
"Would I?!"
For the first time in weeks, Tai smiled.
*****
"What do you think Azulongmon meant when
he said that we had powers beyond those of our crests?" TK asked Kari.
They were sitting together on her bed.
"I don't know, TK. But I'm glad that I share those
powers with you. I don't think anyone else could have been as good
a friend to me."
He put his arms around her as she leaned back against his
shoulder. "You know that you're more than my best friend Kari."
"I know. You're more than mine too. But
some things are so special that saying it aloud would ruin the magic.
I just wanna live that magic."
"I know what you mean."
*****
we must speak of today as though tomorrow will never come and yesterday
had never been
*****
.