Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Hope For An End ❯ When You Get Home ( Chapter 3 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

There he's on his knees again,


Summers
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2001-07-06T21:15:00Z
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Dell Computer Corporation
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Hope For An End Part Three

When You Get Home



Hey guys! This is Lys, here with the next part!!! I am not
particularly pleased with how this turned out but maybe you are, I dunno. The
main conflict becomes so obvious you'd have to be blind not to see it, and next
part the action starts. So read and review please!



Oh,
and all you guys should give worship and praise to Lace123 and raine, they're
the reasons this is here now. Lacey kept poking me along, and Raine's wonderful
compliments got my ass typing up the handwritten version ^^ I luv ya both! Oh,
and also a big thank you shout out to CyberDracomon and Lace123 again, for
helping me decide on a direction in the plot!



Disclaimer>
I don't won Digimon. The song at the beginning is "Naveed" By Our Lady Peace. The
song being sung at the end is the English translation of "Steppin' Out" sung by
Takeru and Patamon on the Best Partner CD.



I'd
like to thank Rb who kindly gave me the lyrics for that, I appreciate it!!!



Dedication>
Happy birthday Kati!



There
he's on his knees again,

Tryin'
hard to understand,

Why
Naveed would let a young man die.

Convinced
that he might break,

He
reaches for that phone,

And
an other day, is gone.

Oh
another day…



-
Naveed, Our Lady Peace





"What do you wanna do Tai?"



"I dunno, you pick Matt."



"Well… I pick that you pick."



"Now don't start that again!"



TK rolled his eyes. "You'd think with only one free
weekend a month you wouldn't

have
this problem anymore."



It was a cloudy Sunday afternoon,
and the Takaishi's and Ishida's were in their usual positions in the living
room. Matt and Tai each in an overstuffed armchair, and TK and Kari on the
couch. While TK, Tai and Matt were arguing, Kari was flipping through the
channels on TV, trying to find something half interesting.



The boy's argument was cut short by
the rattling of the doorknob. Matt and Tai exchanged uneasy look, and TK
protectively shifted in front of Kari. Mrs. Takaishi and Mrs. Kamiya were out
shopping and not due back for a few hours. No one was supposed to be coming over…



The door opened and a man walked in;
he was about the height of Matt, with brown hair and eyes. He was wearing a
Japanese military uniform with quite a few badges. They all just looked blankly
at him for a moment, before TK jumped up, eyes shining. "Dad! You're home!" He
ran over and gave the taller man a fierce hug.



Mr Takaishi looked down fondly at
the mess of blonde hair, then over to Matt who was still just staring at him.
"What's the matter Matt, now happy to see your old man?"



Matt slowly walked over to his
father and brother. "You're, you're actually here?" His arms surrounded them
both in a hug.



Tai and Kari were looking a bit
embarrassed for intruding on the family moment, but when Matt released his dad
and brother Mr Takaishi smiled over at them. "You two must be Tai and Kari, my
boys have written a lot about you." Coming back to sit down were Matt and Mr
Takaishi, and TK went into the kitchen to make his father some tea.



"So Dad, what brings you back all of
a sudden?"



"Actually, I've come to say goodbye
for awhile. I've got to go away for an important mission." He caught the look
Matt was giving him. "And no, I can't tell you what it is either. I don't even
know myself, and I won't until briefing tomorrow."



Coming back into the room TK set a
cup in front of his father. "And none for me, huh?" Kari asked with a teasing
gleam in her eye.



"Well, I didn't think you'd be
wanting any with our dinner reservation in, oh, about half an hour!" he joked
right back.



Jumping to her feet she gave him a
quick kiss and made a beeline for the door, yelling back a jumbled,
"OhnoIforgotgottagetreadyseeyouinaminuterbye!"



Laughing softly Mr Takashi stood up
and walked to the entrance of the kitchen where his youngest son was cleaning
up and patted him on the back. "Well she seems like a very nice girl, you
behave when I'm away!" Suddenly he enveloped TK in a tight hug. "I'll miss you
son, you watch out for Matt and your mom." He grinned wryly. "I'd ask him," he
gestured to Matt who was laughing hysterically at Tai who was choking on a
slice of apple, "But I think I may regret it."



"TK, I know you don't like my
speeches, but do me a favor and listen this time. If I don't come back… no TK,
don't argue with me, listen."



"War makes people grow up faster,
and together stronger. That's what gives us a fighting chance. You and your
girl are proof of that. Take care of yourself, and her. You are a very special
person TK, whether you realize that or not. You can see things that others
can't, you haven't lost your innocence yet, and that's something rare in
someone your age nowadays. You may not feel it, but the world needs more people
like you. I want you to promise to take care of yourself and you're family.
Stay strong for them."



"Dad… I promise. You can count on me."



"I knew it. Now you go get ready, don't keep Kari
waiting. You'll have to tell me all about her when I get home."



"For sure dad, when you get home."



"Now that's settled, I think someone ought to help
that poor young man before he chokes to death."



~*^@^*~



"Wow Kari, you are so lucky! TK is such a great guy…
he's so hot! Half the girl's in school are hoping you drop dead so they'll have
a chance with him!"



Kari rolled her eyes at her friend Yolei. "Don't you
think you're exaggerating just a bit?"



"Well…… maybe a little bit, but come on, look at
him! You're the envy of everyone without a boyfriend." She said, gesturing to
the object of discussion playing basketball with a bunch of classmates nearby.



Kari giggled at her boy-crazy drama-queen friend.
"Lucky that doesn't apply to you, huh? You and Davis seem to be getting along
great…" Laughing even harder as a red blush rose in Yolei's cheeks she turned
her attention back to the game. TK played great, basketball was really his
sport.



She knew she was lucky to have him, what his father
had told him, and of course he relayed some to her, struck something in her
heart. Would they be so close if the war didn't make them grow so fast? As she
was pondering this, a flash of images and two voices ran through her mind.



"TK, what did you mean when you said you cared about
me before?"



"Oh… well, you know… stuff!"



"Well, I care about you too."



A soft smile played on her lips at this odd but
familiar picture.



I think maybe we
would…



~*^@*^~



TK stared blankly at the teacher, not understanding
a third of the words spilling from his mouth. Wow… who would of thought that it
was possible for him to get more confused than usual. Yep, this was rating
about 9.7 on his "Things I don't wanna waste my time on" scale… Geez, I
think this even beats out figure skating…



He
was jerked out of his thoughts by a small triangle of paper hitting him in the
arm. Opening it he read the note;



"Teek,



Wake up before you get caught, you seem really out
of it! Are you ok?



-Kari"



He couldn't help his lips quirking in a smile. Under
her pink message he wrote in green;



"Thanks, I'm fine. I just can't seem to concentrate today, I didn't
sleep that great either. I dunno why, I can't put my finger on it. Sorry to
worry ya. Are we still on for tonite?



-TK"



Re-folding the note and flicking it back he doodled
disinterestedly on his paper. Hmmm… I wonder in the stuff in gel pens is
poisonous like pen ink…[1]



Another light tap on his arm signaled Kari's
response.



"Of course we are stupid! Why wouldn't we be? Are you sure you're
alright, you don't seem like yourself today!



-Kari



PS - YOU'RE DOING IT AGAIN! Maybe you should go and lie down."



He was about to reply when his teacher decided he
wanted to finally pay some attention to him. "What's that on your desk, Mr
Takaishi?"



"Ummm… well, you see…"



TK was cut short by the crackle of the intercom. "Is
this Mr Okinawa's class?"



Looking slightly annoyed at being disrupted he
replied curtly, "Yes, what would you like?"



"Could TK Takaishi please come to the office
immediately? It's urgent."



Looking even more peeved at having lost the chance
to punish someone he nearly sighed, "Alright, he'll be right along. Consider
yourself lucky Mr Takaishi," he said once the intercom was off, "You're getting
off this time."



So, careful to take his note, TK left the class and
began the short trek to the office, all the while wondering what was so
important that it couldn't wait the 30 minutes until lunch.



Upon entering the room he was immediately ushered
into the Head Master's office by a secretary with a look of… was it sympathy?
On her face. Now he was beginning to worry…



The office was pleasant enough, with large windows
that let in the bright October sun, and the furniture was professional, but
somehow lived-in. But in the seat where he had expected Mr Fugiyama, the
principal, was instead sitting a man in an army uniform and the decorations of
a Captain. Fear began to twist his stomach into a series of tiny knots, as each
new thought ran through his head another snarl was added to the immeasurable
tangle.



Standing up and saluting, the officer looked at him
with pity in his eyes. I don't want you're pity dammit, I want answers…



"Takeru Takaishi, I regret to inform you that the mission Major Takaishi
headed was a failure. They were attempting to eliminate a potential biological
weapon, but it was detonated before they achieved success."



Biological warfare… Oh god no, diseases... "So, you mean that it's loose now, this
sickness… another plague?" he asked, well aware of his shaking voice.



"Yes, that is so, as of now contamination is
minimal, but we can't be sure how it has affected the general public, as the
early symptoms aren't remarkable enough to alert any suspicion that it's more
than the flu."



"And… where's my father?" Maybe he's just in
quarantine, to be safe… maybe…



"Major Takaishi was unfortunately one of the first to contract the
illness. He died at the Military encampment in Kyoto at 18 hundred hours last
night."



Father… dead…



"If I don't come back…"



"…tell me when I get home."



"Right dad. When you come home."



TK collapsed into a chair, face as white as a ghost, eyes horribly
blank. Worriedly the Captain came over and rested a hand on his shoulder. "TK,
are you alright? TK?"



TK's mind vaguely registered this, but then pushed
it back. "Kari…" he murmured under his breath. The one person here who might
understand why there was nothing… just this horrible void in his chest.



"What's that?" The soldier asked, leaning closer
trying to hear the obviously shocked teens words.



"Kari, please just get Kari."



Nodding and not questioning further he left the
room, and TK just sat alone, staring at the shadows cast by the curtains.



"When you get
home…"



~*^@^*~



Kari walked quickly down the corridor, lost in thought. Not fifteen
minutes after TK was called away, she too received the same cryptic message.
What was that matter…?



Walking into the office a man in a military uniform
questioned her, "Are you Kari?" When she nodded affirmatively he gestured to
the door of the principal's office. "TK is in there."



Quietly she opened the door, shutting it again after
her. Scanning the room she missed him at first, but then she saw the small
blonde figure in white oxford shirt and grey pants, blue blazer unbuttoned and
loose on his thin frame. She came right to his side, but he didn't make a move
until she cupped his chin in her hand ad turned his head to look at her.



Kari immediately knew something was wrong, very
wrong. TK was completely pale, even his lips looked nearly white. Under her
fingers his skin was clammy, and his eyes… The usually mirthful blue orbs were
dark with what? Sorrow? Pain?



"Kari…" He whispered hoarsely. Suddenly he got to
his feet and clung to her like a lifeline, his body shaking ever so slightly.



"TK, what is it? What's wrong?" She asked
soothingly, one arm around his waist and the other gently rubbing his back.



Oh god, I can't say it, not if I don't want to break
down and cry like a baby in front of Kari…



She pulled back slightly to look TK in the eyes. She
could see the glimmer of unshed tears, and a resolve that was quickly being
washed away. "It's alright TK, it's alright to tell me, it's alright to cry.
Just please do something, I need to know!" Her eyes were pleading with him, and
any reason he had for keeping quiet left his mind.



"Kari… my… my father is dead."



He tried to stop himself from crying but soon his
body shook with violent sobs, crystal tears sliding down his pale cheeks.
Loosing any desire he had to remain upright he sank to the floor, still
enfolded in Kari's arms.



Murmuring reassurances in TK's ear Kari allowed him
to cry all he wanted in her grasp. A hand moved to the back of his head as she
idly smoothed his hair, just like her mom had always done when she came running
full of tears. Quietly she sang to him, something that had always calmed her
sobs.



"We can always be reborn if we have courage in our
hearts,

Break the self that's reflected in the mirror.

Because the wind that dries tears exists somewhere,

If you put on new shoes and open the door."



Kari has a very pretty voice. TK decided, his tears slowly
stopping as she continued to hold him and sing softly.



"…because even hearts with scars have the power to
dream…"



Kari looked down at the golden head resting on her
shoulder; somehow TK had managed to fall asleep. Smiling gently she reached
into his blazer pocket and drew out his cell phone, dialing the number to her
apartment.



"Hello, Mom? Yeah, it's me… No, I'm fine but… Yes
I'm sure! Mom, could you please come and pick up TK and me? Well, not exactly…
I'll tell you later, ok? Yes mom, see you in a bit."



She tried to put the phone back without waking him,
but no such luck. He raised his head and blinked sleepily at her. "What are you
doin' with my phone Kari?"



"I called my mom to come pick us up. I think you
should be with your mother right now."



"Thanks Kari… for everything."



"You know you don't have to thank me TK. I'll always
be here for you.:



Unconsciously he tightened his grip on her slender
frame.



I couldn't protect dad, but Kari, I sure as hell won't loose you, or
mom, or Matt. I'll honor your memory father, I'll take care of them all for
you.



"Because the wind that dries tears exists somewhere."







OH I'M FINALLY DONE!!! Yes *weeps for
joy* Please review!











[1] Oh, and
no, gel pen fluid isn't poisonous, at least not as much so as regular ink. At
least *I'm* not dead after that unfortunate incident, though I was spitting red
for a day. Shut UP Sammi. This ends my experimentation with endnotes ^^