Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Izumi no Hikari ❯ Making a Name for Yourself ( Chapter 5 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Izumi no Hikari
Chapter 5: Making a Name for Yourself
by Wannabe Koushiro

A/N- "Mizu no nagasu" means "Forgive, forget." I think everyone knows "Gomen nasai," but if you don't it means "I'm sorry; forgive me; excuse me." When I used it, it meant the first two at the same time...That's it for translations...I think. This chapter is lemon free. (Don't worry if that's why you're reading this, there's more 'relations' later. hehe..) For those of us that aren't perverts, however... This picks up at the end of the previous chapter, possibly a week later or so. And keep in mind, I'm referring to the dub voices. Also, this was originally at ff.net, and I realized that chapter 4 doesn't really make much sense, and I'm sorry for that. I don't think anything mentioned in that chapter really comes into play anymore, so don't worry about it.
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I looked out my window and sighed. It was a nice day out, and here I am doing homework. Nika was still young enough where she could go outside and play. Well, I wasn't the only one who couldn't go outside. I wouldn't let Tentomon go out for fear that he'd hurt his wing worse than it was. If I was him, I had a feeling that the temptation would be too great to spread my wings and try to fly. Of course, I'm not a bug, but that's what I think.

"Tentomon?" I started, as I read my school book.

"What?" He asked.

"Your wing got injured by Gatomon, didn't it?" I asked. He looked at the floor and didn't answer me. "Kari and Joe had a date before the day he dropped you off, didn't they?"

Tentomon looked surprised, but nodded. "How'd you know?" He asked.

"You know how we have a bond with you guys?" I asked. He nodded in response. "Well, this is just a theory, but I think that when a digimon's partner is in a physical relationship, it affects the digimon, and could possibly result in the same type of relationship between the digimon partners. Kari told me that she and Joe had a somewhat 'intimate' encounter. And you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, am I right?" It's kind of hard to tell when Tentomon was embarrassed, but I could tell he was. "I wonder though. Tai and I have been in a somewhat physical relationship before. You weren't there, but could you feel it?" I asked Tentomon.

"Good question." Tentomon said. "I can't really remember."

"It was the night before Motimon digivolved." I told him. "I know that Agumon was here as well Gatomon. Did either you or him feel strange?"

"Now that I think of it...I did feel kind of strange that night. I thought it was Kari's cooking though." Tentomon said. I laughed.

"I'm sorry that happened to you." I said, lightly caressing his shell. "If I had known it was going to happen, I would never have let you go with Joe." I was on the verge of tears. "I feel like it's my fault."

"Izzy, you can't blame yourself. I wanted to go. I promise to be more careful in the future." I smiled.

"Thanks." I heard the front door open and close. Nika and Motimon must be home. I then heard the door behind me open.

"What's wrong with you?" Nika asked.

"Nothing." I said, sniffling a bit.

"It sure doesn't look like nothing."

"Just beating myself up over what happened to Tentomon." I said. She smiled.

"It's not your fault." She said.

"Yeah." Motimon echoed her. I shuddered. Motimon's voice creeped me out everytime I heard her talk. Even Mom agreed with me that she did sort of sound like I did as a little kid. "It's nobody's fault. Tentomon can make his own decisions, just like you can." She continued as she jumped on my bed next to Tentomon. "Right?" She asked him.

Tentomon nodded in agreement. I was starting to feel better. Nika and Motimon seemed to have that effect on people. I put a bookmark in my book. "Thanks guys." I told them. I felt a chill go through my bones as I did.

"Izzy?" Tentomon woke me out of the wierd feeling I just had.

"Uh...sorry. Thought I heard something." I told them. Nika giggled.

"You're silly, Koushiro." She said. I shook my head.

"Like you're not?" I asked as I went to tickle her. That made her laugh even harder.

"Let...go...Koushiro!" She squealed between laughs. Even I had to laugh. It felt good, considering how many serious things were happening around me. I let go of her. I smiled. "Silly brother." She said after she caught her breath.

"I need a study break. Want to go to the Digital World?" I asked Nika. "I'd like to find something out."

"I'll go ask Mom." I knew I could go by myself, but Nika had to have permission, even if I was going with her. She returned a few minutes later. "We have two hours." She informed me.

"Maybe Tentomon's wing will heal a bit." Motimon said from her spot next to him.

"Maybe it won't be broken at all in the Digital World." I said. "Okay, Nika, go for it."

She got her D-3 out. "Digi-port open!" That reminded me so much of Yolei. Luckily, Nika doesn't have purple hair. She did have to wear glasses though. I still wondered why my digivice wouldn't open the gate. I didn't really have the time to think of this as we all got pulled through the gate.

I don't know why, but I always end up at the bottom of the doggy pile that we always seem to end up in. Well, it may have something to do with me having the most mass, but since I felt something in an unpleasant place..."Get off of me!" I shouted in a voice I hadn't heard since my voice changed. The digimon and Nika jumped off quite quickly. I rolled over on my side.

"Are you okay, Koushiro?" Nika asked. Tentomon was standing next to her.

"I will be." I said. And I blinked. That wasn't Tentomon next to her. Was it? Then I realized what had happened. I pointed to her. "You used to be Motimon, didn't you?" I asked slowly.

"Yup." She said, her voice sounding even more like mine used to.

"Huh. That's strange. Well, some digimon do that, I guess." I said, referring to the fact that some in-training digimon went to rookie upon entering the Digital World and shrugged.

"Cool, my own bug." Nika said as she bent down to hug her newly digivolved partner. I finally noticed the differences between the two tentomons. Nika's partner had blue instead of green eyes and her shell was almost as purple as she had been as Motimon instead of a red. The bug thing was a joke though.

"Looks like you have a twin sister." I told my partner. "Uh, how are we supposed to call you? I know we have different voices, but what if I'm asking her a question and you answer? If we call out 'Tentomon,' you both will probably come running. I think it's going to be confusing." I voiced my concern.

"Point at us and say 'hey you?'" Nika's partner suggested in what was now an even creepier voice. I swear she sounded like me when I first was taken to the digital world. I didn't have the time to think about it as we all had to laugh at that.

"That's not really a good idea," My Tentomon said. "Izzy does have a point."

"I have it!" Nika exclaimed. "Why don't I give her a real name?"

"That's actually a great idea." Her partner agreed. I wasn't too sure about that. The purple bug turned its blue eyes at me and I finally agreed. When did ladybug eyes turn into puppy dog eyes?

"Okay, so what are you going to call her?" I asked.

"Um...I don't know." Nika admitted. I sighed.

"You'll think of something." Her partner told her. "Until then, I think we can tell the difference between who you're talking to."

"Well, one crisis down." I said. "Can we try to prove my theory?" I asked my tentomon.

"I don't see why not. I'd rather not though." He said.

"What theory?" Nika asked.

"About the broken wing. I want to know if it will affect Kabuterimon." I told her.

"Not the scary bug again..." She whined. I sighed.

"Nika, what are you going to do if your partner digivolves into the same thing? In case you haven't noticed, your partner is taking more or less the same evolutions as mine. You can't be scared of your partner, Hikari." I told her. "She won't be able to digivolve if you are afraid of her. Come on, Nika-chan." I put my arm around her. "Just don't watch." I told her. "Go for it." I told Tentomon. I watched as he grew to about five times the size he just was. I almost didn't want to watch either, but I did.

I don't know which was worse, looking at the shredded wing the first time on Tentomon, or seeing that it had affected Kabuterimon's wing. I groaned. Nika looked up at it too.

"It looks worse, doesn't it?" Nika said, looking up at the 'big, scary bug.'

"Yeah, it does." I said. I started climbing up Kabuterimon's leg to get a closer look. I grimaced as I examined his lower left wing. Well, it wasn't as bad as when he was Tentomon. I think it was worse. "This isn't good, bud." I told him.

"I didn't think it would be." He answered me.

"Why didn't you tell me, then?" I asked.

"I wasn't going to ruin your fun."

"You think this is fun?" I sighed. The purple of Nika's Tentomon's shell got right in my way.
"Hey," I started, then realized what she was doing. She was as curious as I was as about the wing. After her fly-by, she flew in front of him.

"He's right, that does look awful. Can you even fly?" She asked in her somewhat deep voice.

"I don't know." Kabuterimon answered her.

"Don't even think about it!" I shouted about a moment too late. He had already lifted off the ground. I sighed. "Well, how's the torn wing affecting your flight?" I asked, holding on for dear life.

"I'm leaning." Was the answer I got.

"Okay, then. Land then, and we'll see what we can do." I said. After I was safe on the ground, Nika and I sat down, trying to figure out what to do about the wing. I sighed. I was almost wishing that Joe were here. Well, that gave me an idea. I pulled out my trusty laptop and sent him a quick email. Until he answers though, we're on our own.

"Koushiro?" Nika began.

"What, Nika-chan?"

"Do you think it will heal?" She asked, referring to Kabuterimon's wing. She was leaning against the back of her partner, drawing in the ground with a stick. Her partner was doing the same thing, only with her claws instead of a stick.

"It should. Though I'm not sure what we can do to help it." I answered her. Kabuterimon wouldn't revert back for me though. That would have made things somewhat easier. I know why he wouldn't though. I'm pretty sure it was so that they wouldn't get confused. I wasn't watching though, I was going through the old digimon analyzer program, searching to see what other evolutions Tentomon could evolve into. "Nika?"

"Yes?"

"How come you always call me 'Koushiro?'" I asked.

"That's your name, isn't it?" She retorted.

"Yes, but even my friends still call me 'Izzy' once in a while. How come you won't?"

Nika shrugged. "Well, to tell the truth..." She wandered off.

"Well? Why not? It's strange that my friends call me by a nickname, but my own sister won't." I told her.

"Well, you know how you and Mom say that my partner sounds like you used to?" She asked.

"Yeah, and to me it's creepy." I said, shuddering. "What's that have to do with you not calling me by my nickname?"

Nika turned around to scratch her friend on the back. "Well, I've been thinking about this, and, well...I want to call her 'Izzy.'" She finally admitted. I smiled.

"Ah." I said. "That's fine with me, I guess. That okay with everyone?" I asked, mainly for the benefit of the digimon that was about to inherit my old nickname. Kabuterimon nodded, and Nika's digimon looked ecstatic.

"Yay! Now we won't get so confused!" She said.

"Now I won't get called that all the time." I joked.

"Koushiro!" Nika chastised me. I laughed. The new mail alarm went off while I was doing that.

"Oh, new mail. I hope it's from Joe." I said as I opened it. Unfortunately, it was just from Tai. I groaned.

Hey, Izzy-
I thought you were coming over later? What happened?
-Tai

Tai-
Sorry, I was worried about Tentomon's wing, so Nika and I went to the digital world. I wanted to see how the broken wing would affect Kabuterimon. I'll be home in about an hour. Do me a favor and call Joe and tell him to check his email soon. later
-Koushiro

I sent that off. I had the feeling this was the beginning of a round of email tag. I was right. The new mail flashed within the next minute. I sighed, and opened it. This time it wasn't from Tai, it was from Joe.

Koushiro-
What's the big emergency?

I wrote back quickly explaining that what had happened to Tentomon had carried over into Kabuterimon and asked what he thought we should do. Then I wrote Tai back to tell him to not call Joe. I got a reply in a couple of minutes. He said he had to find someone with a D-3 to open the gate for him and he'd be here soon. I sure hope he gets here before we have to go home. We didn't have a very long wait.

"Hey!" I waved at him. "What took you so long?" I jokingly asked. Joe didn't answer as he looked at the wing.

"This looks awful." He said.

"Tell us something we don't know." Kabuterimon answered him.

Joe turned to me. "Did Tentomon's wing look this bad?"

"It actually looked somewhat better, of course, his wings aren't quite as large either." I said. Joe turned back to Kabuterimon.

"Could you revert back?" Joe asked.

Kabuterimon didn't say anything, just did as he was asked. "Why wouldn't you do that for me?" I asked Tentomon.

"I didn't want you confused as to who was who." He answered me. I sighed. That's what I had thought. He had spread his wings open for Joe.

"You're right. It doesn't look as bad. I think the best thing we could do is make some sort of makeshift splint for it so it heals straight. Or at least, as straight as possible." Joe said. "Let's get some tree branches, and go back to the real world." We did just that.


"There, done. How's that feel, Tentomon?" Joe asked him.

"Very strange." He answered. I smiled. That wasn't the only thing that was strange. Upon returning to the real world, the new Izzy didn't change back to her in-training form. She went up to Tentomon and put her claw on his back.

"You'll be perfect before you know it." She said, trying to reassure him.

"She's right." Joe agreed with her, leaning back in the desk chair.

"Hey, can I talk to you? Not about the digimon?" I asked him.

"Uh, sure." I had a feeling that he knew what I wanted to talk to him about.

"Nika, could you guys go somewhere else and play or something? You too, Tentomon." I asked them. They agreed and left the room. "Kari told me what happened." I stated simply.

"I kind of had it figured out that she would."

"Why was she so upset? Haven't you talked to her since?" I asked.

"Not really," Joe answered. "And I'm not sure how I feel about her anymore."

"That's why she's so mad." I said. "I guess I would be too. Especially if I was in her shoes, not knowing the answer to the big question. I didn't get a lot of details, and frankly don't want them, but she's nervous not knowing where she stands with you now." I told him. "Call her."

"Why? So she can slam the phone in my ear? I don't think she's going to forgive me."

"Joe, this is Kari we're talking about. Remember the incident with Diaboromon? Well, that night Tai spent the night here, and we were talking about this. I told him that Kari isn't the kind of person that holds grudges, and I believe that it still holds true to this day. If you think that you're still interested in her, call her. I don't like knowing that she's feeling hurt because of this. You're lucky you're dealing with me and not Tai."

"I know. Tai would be killing me, wouldn't he?" I nodded.

"Joe, you've always been the responisble one. Now do the right thing and call Kari and apologize to her. You're the one that got yourself into this mess, now try to get yourself out of it. Here." I tossed him the phone's handset.

"I'm still not sure how I feel about her though..."

"Well, you must have felt something special for you two to...." I trailed off. I didn't mean to bring that up again. "No offense, but if I didn't have a deep emotional bond with someone, I wouldn't be in a physical relationship with them. I think you love her, deep down."

Joe sighed. "You're right, Koushiro. I'm just running from what I already know."

"Then, don't you think it's time to stop running?" I asked. "Go ahead, call her. Or I will." I threatened. His fingers dialed the number slowly. I nodded at him to give him the moral support I knew he needed. Joe had this look of fear in his eyes. All I could hear was his half of the conversation.

"Hikari-chan?" He began. "Gomen nasai. Mizu no nagasu?" He asked. I didn't have the slightest idea if she would. If I was in her shoes I might be able to forgive him, but I doubt that I'd forget.

"Okay. I understand. Uh, Kari, there's one thing I have to tell you before I go...I love you. I just didn't realize it was the real thing there for a brief moment in time." Joe told her. I knew he'd do it. I sighed with relief. It was about time. He disconnected the line.

"Don't you feel much better now?" I asked him. Joe smiled at me.

"You're right. She said she'd forgive me at least, but I have to make up for it."

"What'd she say when you told her you love her?" I asked.

"Can't tell you." He smirked. "If she wants you to know,"

"She'll tell me." I finished for him. I sure hoped she was in a better mood now. "I'm glad you did that. Now, maybe Tai won't kill you."


After that was all over with, Joe and I and our digimon headed over to the Kamiya's. I figured that he was going to start making up with Kari. I just wanted to spend some time with Tai, besides, I had promised that I was going to come over anyway.

We knocked on the door. Tai answered it. "Hi, guys. Come on in." I think he was a bit disappointed that he couldn't kiss me in front of other guests.

"You sound depressed." I told him, pointing out the obvious.

"Gee, just rub it in." He said. "Kari, get out here, your boyfriend's here." Joe blushed at the way Tai said that. Well, I would have too, I guess. I hit Tai in the shoulder for that. "Knock it off, Izzy." He told me.

"That was very rude." I told him.

"I'm just not in a good mood. Sorry." He told us. I leaned to whisper in his ear.

"I'll fix that soon, okay?" Tai brightened up at that. Kari walked out.

"Hello." She greeted us. "I'll be ready in a minute, Joe." She told him and went back where she was.

"So you two are back together, huh?" Tai asked.

"Yeah. Koushiro made me realize some things." Joe answered. "Ah, my dear, you look lovely." He complimented Kari as she walked out again. "Shall we?" He asked and offered his arm to her. Kari giggled.

"Have fun." I told them as they left. That left me and Tai alone. "So, what's wrong with you?" I asked Tai. He dug in his book bag and gave me a paper he had written. "Oh." I said as I looked at his grade. "Come here." I instructed him. He sat down next to me on the couch and I wrapped my arms around him. "You can't keep letting this get you down." I said as I lightly kissed him.

"I know. It's just that it's..." He trailed off, realizing what I was doing to him. "Uh...That feels so good." I smiled.

"It's supposed to." I told him. "It's also supposed to get your mind off everything."

"It's working." He told me as he started returning the kisses I was giving him. "I love you so much." Tai said between kisses.

"I love you too." I told him, caressing his back. He turned so he could lie down against me.

"So, what happened between those two?" He asked me.

"I just told Joe something that he already knew. Hey, where did the digimon go?" I asked.

"Right here." Tentomon popped up behind us.

"Oh. Hey, Tentomon, is my theory right? You weren't feeling strange a few moments ago, were you?"

"Kind of." He answered. "I can't explain it though."

"What theory are you talking about?" Tai asked.

I turned to look at my significant other. "I think the digimon are affected by our physical relationships."

"What makes you think that?"

"Tentomon's torn wing."

"Uh...Isn't that a bit of a strecth, Koushiro?" Tai asked.

"I figured out that while Joe was studying Tentomon, him and Kari had to be together, and I don't just mean in the same room. I mean like we are. Tentomon just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time when it happened, and that torn wing of his is a result of being in Gatomon's way." I explained to him.

"Wait a minute...did you just tell me that my little sister...Joe is dead." He growled. I grabbed him.

"It's okay now. I hope. I think they really love each other, like we do. Don't ruin your sister's happiness." I told him. "I know I'd probably feel the same way about Nika, but I'm sure that when that time comes, you'll be right there to tell me the exact same thing I'm telling you now."

Tai took a few deep breaths. "You're right, Izzy. I need to stay calm about this." I kissed him again.

"Either that, or kiss me some more and don't think about anything else." I suggested as I pulled him closer to me. Tai smiled at that. "And don't call me 'Izzy.'"

He flipped over again so he could kiss me. "And why not?" He asked between kisses. "You tell me that all the time, and, if you haven't noticed, I ignore it."

"I'm teasing you." I told him. "But, it does seem a bit childish anymore, doesn't it?"

"Well, maybe a bit." Tai admitted. "I just know I'd rather be called 'Tai' instead of 'Taichi.'"

"Well, at least it's your name shortened, not your family name." I sighed. "Oh, Nika's digimon digivolved again."

"Uh...what does that have to do with this conversation?" Tai asked, confused as always. I smiled.

"It's a tentomon." I told him.

"Someone say my name?" Tentomon popped up from behind the couch.

"No." I said. "Don't you and Agumon have something better to do than watch us? And I was talking about Nika's partner."

"Not really." Agumon answered me. Tai and I both sighed.

"Uh, you aren't...uh...you know, doing the same thing we are?" I asked.

"Possibly." Tentomon answered. "What are you guys doing?"

"Kissing." Tai answered. I punched him in the arm again. "You know, your strength hasn't gotten any better since middle school." I just rolled my eyes. "Oh, if you didn't know, digimon are very sloppy kissers." He told me. He took a quick glance at Tentomon. "At least, ones with mouths are."

"Do I even want to know how you know that?" I asked. "And you didn't really need to tell them what we're doing." I told him.

"Actually, you probably don't want to know why I know that." Tai answered me. "Why don't you guys go somewhere else?" He suggested to the digimon. They shared a look. Agumon shrugged.

"Fine, we'll leave. Come on, Agumon." Tentomon said and grabbed Agumon's hand and they left.

"You're good at that. So, I'm probably going to regret asking this, but tell me why you think digimon are sloppy kissers." I asked as I stole a kiss myself.

"Remember the event that you said chose us as digidestined? Parrotmon and Greymon? Well, that Greymon's digi-egg came out of our computer. And Koromon had a habit of kissing us in gratitude. And he had bad breath." I laughed.

"Oh, Tai. Hmmm..."

"Now what?" Tai asked, sounding very annoyed.

"I'm just wondering if maybe that's why you got partnered with Agumon when we first went to the digi-world."

"Will you quit thinking for once in your life?" Tai said, exasperated at me. "Or, at least, think about this." He said as he kissed me.

"You're a great kisser." I told him. "Are you feeling as horny as I am?" I asked.

"More." He answered.


I was half asleep from our little romp. "Tai?" He mumbled in answer. "I'm sorry about earlier, but you were really annoying me."

"Huh?" He finally realized I was talking to him.

"About hitting you tonight. I'm sorry about it." I repeated myself.

"It's okay, Izzy."

"Oh, about that...Don't call me that if you happen to come over to my place. You'll get a purple bug answering you."

"Huh?"

"You're very articulate tonight, Tai. I didn't wear you out that much, did I?" I asked, teasing him.

"No, I'm just worried. Kari should have been home earlier than this. You don't think...?" He left his thought unfinished.

"Tai, they're adults. Don't worry about her, okay?" I pleaded with him, caressing his back again.

"I just don't like the idea of my little sister...you know...doing the sort of thing we're doing." He said.

"Well, at least she's straight. What would you think of it if she was going with another girl?" I asked.

"Haven't thought about it, really. But wouldn't it be calling the kettle black if I was against it?" He admitted. "It's just...her and Joe...I just didn't really see them together." I heard a door open.

"You're in a great mood." I told Kari when she walked in. She giggled.

"I know. Joe was really sucking up to me. I guess you were right, it is true love. He kept apologizing for the way he treated me the past couple of weeks. And..." She held out her hand. What looked to be a ring was on her finger. "It's fake, but..." She shrugged.

"That's great to hear." I said. "I'm glad that's over."

"Actually, Koushiro, I have a big favor to ask you." Kari said.

"Oh? What?" I asked. She bent down to whisper in my ear what she wanted. "Uh...sure." I agreed to her favor. "When?" I asked.

"Tomorrow if possible." She answered. I nodded.

"After school?" I asked.

"Sounds great." She said. Tai was looking at us like we're nuts.

I gave Tai a quick kiss. "I need to go home, love." He looked disappointed. "You know how things are." He nodded. I left quickly so I could have some time to myself.


The next day I was waiting outside for Kari. "Koushiro!" She called from the hall. She came running at me. "Sorry about making you wait. Long test." She explained as she paused for a moment to catch her breath.

"Well, are you ready?" I asked her.

"Not really." She admitted. "But I'd rather you be there with me instead of Tai."

I smiled. "I understand completely." I told her as we walked down the street. "This is it." I said as we got to where we were going. Kari looked at me nervously. I nodded at her. "You'll feel better if you know." I told her.

"I know. It's just that, I shouldn't even be thinking of this." She said.

"You shouldn't have thought to do what you did, but it's over now, and you have to live with your choice. And this just happens to be part of your choice." That wasn't really meant to be comforting. But it wasn't meant to chastise Kari either. She nodded curtly. "I'll wait for you." I opened the door for her. I may not be interested in her and girls in general, but I'm still a gentleman.

It was a somewhat long wait, but not as long as I thought it would be. I saw Kari out of the corner of my eye. "Let's go." She said, more calmly that I had ever seen her. We headed for her home.

"Are you?" I asked her. I wasn't prepared for what happened next. Kari turned and grabbed me and started crying. I stood stone still for a moment. "I take it that's a yes." She sniffled and nodded.

"How do I tell them? Tai is going to kill Joe, and it's all because of me." She wailed.

"Kari, it's not totally your fault. It was your decision to give yourself. As for Tai, I can keep him calm, at least, for a while. If you want, I'll be there when you tell him, alright?" I offered.

"Arigato, Koushiro. I'd appreciate it a lot. I need all the friends I can get right now." I gave Kari a small hug. "Especially ones that can keep Tai calm."

We arrived at her front door. "You want me to butter Tai up a bit for you?" I asked. "He may be able to take it better." Kari nodded in answer. We walked in.

"Hi guys." Tai greeted us. I walked up to him and stole a quick kiss. "What was that for?" He asked me. I just smiled.

"Can't I kiss my boyfriend for no reason?" I asked. Kari giggled.

"You two. You guys are so cute." She told us. We both blushed at that.

"Actually, I believe you have something to tell Tai, am I right?" I asked her. She gave me a look that said 'Do I have to?' I nodded at her.

"Let's go somewhere more private than the kitchen." She said and headed to the bedroom. Tai and I followed her. We all sat down and waited for her to speak again. "Tai, you're probably not going to like hearing this. I have this feeling that Koushiro has already told you that Joe and I have gone kinda far." She looked at me to confirm this. I nodded. I know I wasn't supposed to have, but it kinda slipped out last night. "I really hate telling you this, but..." Kari paused to take a deep breath. "I'm pregnant." She whispered.

Tai looked like he was about to go ballastic. Somehow, though, he remained calm. "I don't know what to say." He finally said. I put my arm around his shoulder. Frankly, I was surprised at how he was acting. "Other than the annoying big brother stuff that you probably don't want to hear right now." I smiled. He was actually being nice about it.

"You're not totally angry with me?" Kari asked, surprised as I was about the whole thing.

"I couldn't be forever, so why get angry in the first place?" He asked. Kari shrugged.

"I'm proud of you." I told Tai. "You have one more person to tell, I mean, besides your parents." I told Kari. She nodded.

"This isn't going to be easy." She said.

I smiled. "Nobody said it was going to be." I told her. "Just be glad that you have friends who'll be right there with you."