Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ The Outcast ❯ Rekindled ( Chapter 6 )

The Outcast

Chapter 6: Rekindled

by Silver

*Standard Disclaimer: I do not own any right to Digimon's creatures, characters, or story.*

Author's Note: Not much to report in this chapter. Thanks go once again to my proofreaders, Daisukefire, and Chappel. I highly recommend people read Daisukefire's Ruki fic "PheonixDreams." It's the best Tamers fic I've read thus far. I also want to thank all you readers and reviewers. I take great joy and pride in knowing you enjoy reading my work.

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It has been wisely said that we cannot really love anybody at whom we never laugh.
-- Agnes Repplier

From a distance, the sun just looked like a bright yellow sphere, and yet even from so far away its harsh light could blind a person. Despite its small appearance from Earth, every scientist and student knew that the sun was really a massive lethal inferno. It was ironic to think that a lifeless boiling cauldron like the sun gave life to a world less that 1/100th its size.

Kari stopped looking at the sun and shifted her gaze to the rooftops around her. She remembered all the lectures from her parents and teachers about not looking at the sun too long lest she damage her eyes. But the sun held a special significance for Kari these days. It, like her, was a source of powerful and terrible light. She knew her powers were far more dangerous than anyone realized. Throwing Davis across the room in her old apartment had been proof enough. She also worried that her powers could be lethal. After all, didn't the residents of the Dark Ocean fear that her powers could destroy them? It scared her to think that within her dwelt a power with the potential to destroy a world, even such a dark and terrifying realm like the Dark Ocean. And what if those same powers could destroy the Earth and the Digital World?

She shook her head, banishing the fears. Such pessimistic thinking wouldn't help. After all, the Earth was still here, and she hadn't blown anything up, yet. Sitting atop the roof of her house, in the shade of the large tree that rose up past her bedroom window, Kari could see the whole block and a large portion of the city glistening in the sun's illumination. She sat with her knees hugged against her chest, dressing a white T-shirt and jeans with a red tank-top to add some color. Fall was unusually warm this year, so she didn't feel the least bit cold. But the signs of winter were approaching, already the color had faded from the leaves of the tree she had climbed. It wouldn't be long before those leafs fell to the ground.

It had been over two weeks since she and her family had moved to the safehouse. No one had paid any mind to their arrival. No one had even come to welcome them to the neighborhood. In truth, the Kamiya family only had two constant visitors.

The first was Mr. Takenouchi, who visited at least twice a week to ensure that everything was all right. He and his team had swept the house for surveillance equipment the day after the Kamiya's arrival. Just as with Mr. Takenouchi's lab, the entire house contained a vast array of surveillance equipment. Kari's parents had been outraged at the violation of their privacy, but Mr. Takenouchi had smiled and told them that this was standard procedure. The government had to feel as though it had some small degree of control over the events. He'd removed all the bugs from the house, but the guards in the two adjoining houses were no doubt monitoring all activities in the Kamiya's new home. There really wasn't anything to be done, but Mr. Takenouchi had given them some tips on how to retain a small degree of privacy. He knew for a fact that none of the guards had thermal goggles or heat sensors, only weak-power audio receivers. That meant the Kamiyas could speak in hushed voices about private matters, and they could simply draw the curtains whenever they wanted to avoid being seen.

He'd left a video recorder with the Kamiyas, making it clear that they had to record any instances of Kari glowing. They needed proof that she would glow even without Gatomon nearby. It disturbed Kari a little to think that everyone was actually counting on her glowing. If she had her way, she'd remain physically dim for the rest of her life. But the sooner they proved that Kari's glowing was not attributed to Digimon, the sooner Gatomon could come home.

The other visitor, Davis, appeared daily. His method of approach was always different. Sometimes he rode in on a bike, other times his father or Mr. Takenouchi dropped him off, and on a few occasions he actually walked to their house. In the latter case, Davis usually required time to recover from the journey before studying.

Mr. Takenouchi had advised Davis to use alternate routes and methods of transportation to reach Kari's new home. There was always a chance that someone would try to follow him to find Kari. Davis never complained about the long commute, but Kari could tell it was a strain for him. Davis often ate dinner with the Kamiya's before heading home again. Mrs. Kamiya joked at how Davis could eat them out of house and home.

Kari was grateful to Davis for the time he spent with her. Unlike Kari, Davis was not held in a cage for observation. He could go almost anywhere in the city he pleased; yet he chose to join her within the cage and share his studies. His grades had actually improved under Kari's tutelage. Every high score and grade Davis received was a victory for both of them. The refrigerator in the Kamiya's new home was adorned with several of Davis' tests.

A whistle came from below. Kari glanced down to see Davis waving from the sidewalk, his backpack slung over his shoulder. Kari waved back and walked toward the branches of the tree. She climbed down and stretched across the gap between the branch and her bedroom window. Her parents fretted over Kari falling or being seen on the roof, but this was as close to freedom as she could get. She'd never realized how much she enjoyed being outside and free until it had all been taken away. Oh well, at least Davis' company helped to pass time. Tai and the others were still tying up loose ends at their respective colleges. Cody and Ken were also going to visit next week. The hope of seeing her friends again was one of the few things that kept Kari going.

* * * * * * * *

I can handle just about anything. Bring on the evil Digimon! I can take on Kimeramon, Arukenimon, MaloMyotismon, anyone! So why am I having so much trouble with math?! Davis starred down at his algebra book, confused by the strange X and Y letters in the equations. Wasn't math supposed to deal with numbers?

"This is a nightmare." Davis buried his face in the book, blotting out the superfluous letters in darkness.

Kari said, "It wouldn't be so hard if you weren't so nervous."

"Nervous?" Davis brought his head up again. "Who says I'm nervous?"

"It's written all over your face, along with some of the ink from the textbook." She giggled.

"I'm not nervous!"
Kari gave him a dubious look. "Davis, I've seen you sweat more before a math test than after a soccer game. You do get nervous."

For a moment, Davis had a stunned expression on his face. But then a grin spread from one ear to the other.

Kari blinked. There was something about the look in his eyes. "What? Did I do something silly?"

Davis wiped the grin off his face and shook his head. "No. It's just… that's one of the boldest things you've ever said to me."
"Really?"

"Yeah. Usually, you're not that upfront with, well, anyone. Most of the time you just tell me how important math is."

Kari shrugged, "I guess. It seemed like I needed to stress the point." But Davis did have a point. Normally, Kari wasn't so bold as to challenge people like that. She didn't like being confrontational. Part of it was frustration. Davis had a tendency to throw in the towel before giving himself a chance to actually learn the material. Another factor was that Kari felt comfortable around Davis these days. Working together for the last two weeks, with Davis serving as a lifeline to the outside world, Kari had grown very accustomed to his presence. Yes, they had been friends for over ten years, but she hadn't depended on him as much as she did now. The only other people she felt comfortable enough to challenge or tease were Tai and TK.

Feeling the need to change the subject, Kari said, "Why are you so nervous with math anyway? It's not nearly as terrifying as an evil Digimon."

Davis replied, "Evil Digimon I can beat up. You know what would happen to me if I tried to take down our math teacher?"

Kari laughed. "I could see you doing something like that!"

Davis smiled, "I could take him. 'Course, the principle would get really mad at me."

"As mad as he was the time you drilled peepholes into the girl's locker room?"
Davis' face turned beat red. "You knew about that?"

"The whole school knew. The girls wanted to beat you, the boys wanted to cheer for you. I guess neither side wanted to follow through and alienate the other."

Davis fidgeted. "And… you're not mad?"

Kari said, "I was annoyed at first. But I realized that if you hadn't done it, someone else would have. Just don't try anything that foolish again, okay?"

The grin returned to Davis' face. "That's the second time you've been so direct. This is really freaky!"

Kari's cheeks reddened a little. She didn't like being under even more scrutiny. "Can we please get back to the math?"

Davis nodded. "So, what's with these letters? What happened to the numbers?"

Kari explained. "It's not as confusing as it looks. Letters like 'x' and 'y' are just ways of expressing things we don't know."

Davis' face took on a look of shock. "You mean I could have answered every math question for the past six years with just 'x' instead of just getting it wrong?"

Kari laughed again, "No, silly! It's part of an equation. You still have to find out what 'x' means."

Davis frowned. "How are you supposed to get the answer if you don't know part of the equation?"

Kari pointed in the book. "They give you the final number. See this equation? 5 + x = 12."

"Yeah, the final number's 12, so?"

"We need to find out the value of x."

"Value?"

Kari resisted the urge to sigh. "How much x counts for."

"Oh."

"Let's use an example. You and Ken both play soccer, so think of twelve as the total number of goals both you and Ken scored in a game. Ken scored five goals, but we don't know how many you scored, so we say you scored 'x' goals."

Davis looked hurt. "You weren't paying attention to how many goals I scored but you kept track of Ken?"

Don't scream. Don't scream. Don't scream. Kari fought hard to remain calm. "This is just an example, Davis, not a real-life story. We know that you and Ken scored twelve goals together, and we also know that Ken scored five of those goals. So, if we subtract Ken's goals from the total?" She looked at him, praying he'd answer correctly.

"We'll… figure out how many goals I scored?"

"YES!"

"Did I score more than Ken?"

Kari felt like she'd explode. "You tell me. You know what to do now. What's the value of 'x'?"

Davis looked at the equation for a moment. Then, he looked up at her hesitantly. "Um… seven?"

"Right! Absolutely right!" Kari was ready to collapse.

"So I scored more than Ken. All right!" Davis punched his fist in the air.
Oh brother. "Let's take a break, shall we?" Teaching was a lot harder than Kari thought it would be. She'd be lucky if Davis didn't give her gray hairs.

Davis smiled. "Thanks, Kari. I think I get this now."

"Really?"

Davis nodded, "Yeah. You make this stuff really clear. You're gonna make a great teacher."

"You honestly think anyone is going to let their children be taught by 'glow girl?'"

Davis became serious. "Kari, people aren't even going to remember this whole fiasco in a few years. The only reason the public's all worked up now is because they're scared. They think you or Digimon might be a threat. Once they realize that there's no danger, they'll forget about everything."

"You really think so?"

Davis beamed, "Sure. I'm pretty good at understanding people. I recognized the truth about Ken, didn't I?"

"You also ignored Cody's advice, even though he was usually right."

Davis shrugged, "I said he was a kid, and I was right. That's good judgment, isn't it?"

Kari just looked at him, perplexed by his "logic." Then, she asked, "Do you really think I'm a great teacher?"

"Yeah! Look how easy you make this stuff look! I get it now."

Kari smiled, then began to chuckle. Suddenly, she burst out laughing giddily.

Davis frowned, "What'd I say?"

Kari tried to stop laughing. "A few minutes ago, I was despairing over whether you'd understand the use of variables or not. And now you're saying I'm a great teacher." She took a deep breath to prevent from hyperventilating. "How is it you always manage to make me laugh and feel better just when I want to cry?"

Davis replied, "Come on, I'm not that entertaining, am I?"

Kari nodded, "Yes. Don't you remember how much the group laughed because of you back when we all came together?"

Davis grimaced. "I seem to remember you guys laughing at me, not with me."

"I'm sorry. Did we hurt your feelings?"

"Naw. It just got on my nerves sometimes. But that was a while ago. Back when-" he caught himself, "Back when I was trying to prove I was the best." He had really meant to say, "Back when I had a crush on you."

"Kari, Davis!" Mrs. Kamiya called up from the stairway. "How about some lunch?"

"Coming!" Kari stood up. "Shall we?"

"Yeah. I'm starving."

* * * * * * * *

Davis waved goodbye to the Kamiyas as he walked down the sidewalk. Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya waved from the doorway, but Kari was nowhere to be seen. She was probably looking out her window, but he couldn't see past the tree in the yard. Davis sighed and rubbed his belly. He'd just finished eating dinner, and Mrs. Kamiya was a great cook. He'd have to take lessons from her if he wanted to make it as a ramen shop owner.

Glancing back at the Kamiya's new home, Davis couldn't help but feel sorry for Kari. It must be so hard for her to wait there day in and day out with no end in sight. This whole situation was wrong. There wasn't any external force influencing Kari, she wasn't under the control of Digimon, and there was absolutely no need to lock her up. All the Digidestined agreed that Kari's powers were flaring up due to a change within her body, or perhaps in reaction to the Dark Ocean. If that were the case, running tests and keeping her in relative isolation was a waste of time. We should be going after the Dark Ocean, not waiting for politicians to decide what we can do. If the Dark Ocean had reappeared, then it could only mean that the Earth was threatened. Daemon might be trying to break free again, or maybe it was that "undersea master" Kari had briefly mentioned once before.

Davis' shoulders slumped. He knew full well that they couldn't confront the Dark Ocean. They didn't know of any portals, except the one that had fueled Ken's old base when he had been the Digimon Emperor. But that gateway had been destroyed, and Ken had used the last of his dark power to open a gateway to the Dark Ocean in order to seal Daemon away. In short, there was no way the Digidestined could take the offensive. Not that it really mattered. Aside from Muri, no one else had been attacked by the Dark Ocean's inhabitants. Davis wondered what the Dark Ocean must be like. He'd heard a few things from Yolei and Ken, but Kari remained very secretive. He knew she'd had the most traumatic experiences in that dark plane.

There had to be something he could do for Kari. Maybe he could find a way to sneak her out, just for one day. That wouldn't harm anything, really. It wasn't like her going outside would result in her flaring up again. But how could he do that when she'd be recognized? Hitoshi Ikari was still speaking about Kari, and the danger Digimon represented. By now, everyone in Tokyo knew the face of Kari Kamiya. There'd be no way Davis could sneak her out without someone noticing her.

After an eternity of walking, Davis reached home. His legs burnt from the trip and felt like rubber. His parents were sitting at the table, eating dinner. The house still seemed so much bigger and quieter without Veemon.

"Hi, honey." Mrs. Motomiya smiled. "Care for some dinner?"

Davis replied, "No thanks. I ate at the Kamiya's."

"We hardly ever see you these days." Mr. Motomiya noted. "You spend almost every waking hour at Kari's home."

"I don't want Kari to get bored." Davis shrugged. "It's not like I have much else to do."

Mr. Motomiya held up a calming hand. "I didn't mean it like that, son. Your mother and I are very proud of you for staying with your friend. But we would like to see you a little more."
"Sorry," Davis said, "I'll make sure to come home early for dinner tomorrow." He then slumped into the family room and sprawled himself out on the couch, exhausted from the walk. "How much longer 'til I can drive the car?"

Mr. Motomiya replied, "When I'm senile enough to not be afraid."

The phone rang, cutting off Davis' retort. Mrs. Motomiya stood up and answered the phone. "Davis," she called, "It's for you."

Davis dragged himself to his feet and lurched for the phone. Whoever was calling better have a darn good reason. "Hello?"

"Hey, Davis!"

Davis' mood brightened. "Hey, Yolei! How's it going?"

"Great! I'm coming home in two days."

Davis blinked, "Two days? You took care of all your classes that quickly?" Most of the other Digidestined were still trying to work on extended assignments to compensate for the time they'd miss away from college.

Yolei's voice dripped with pride. "I whipped my teachers into shape fast. They were happy to comply with me."

"Uh-huh. And how many sexual harassment charges did you have to threaten them with to pull this off?"

"Davis!" Mrs. Motomiya frowned at her son. Davis only grinned back.

Yolei answered, "I might have used a little bit of my arsenal on them. But I didn't make any stories up! If I threatened anyone you can be sure those old perverts had it coming!"

Davis laughed. Yolei claimed to be a feminist, but she never participated in equal rights activities. She just got mad at every man that crossed her path. Her parents figured that it was just a phase and would pass as soon as she learned to calm down. Davis hoped Yolei would calm down soon before she beat some guy up. Suddenly, a thought popped into Davis head. "Hang on a sec."

"Hang on? This is a long-distance ca-" Davis held the phone away from his ear and covered the mouthpiece.

"Mom, could you hang this up after I get on in my room?"
Mrs. Motomiya blinked, "Um, sure."

"Thanks." Davis ran into his room, closed the door, and picked up his own phone. "Sorry about that."

Yolei was impatient, as usual. "Just where do you get off putting me on hold during a long-distance call? Of all the-"

"Mom," Davis called, "I can hear you breathing on the line. Hang up!"

"Oh dear!" A loud click sounded. Parents.

"Yolei," Davis cut her off from launching another protest. "Are you still rooming with that girl who wants to design movie costumes?"

Yolei answered, "Yeah. Why?"

Davis grinned, "How good is she at making wigs?"

* * * * * * * *

Under different circumstances, Davis would have walked with a self-satisfied smile plastered on his face. Unfortunately, his expression was preoccupied with a mixed look of annoyance, embarrassment, and disbelief. Today, he had a traveling companion on route to Kari's home. She was dressed in a red t-shirt, black mini-skirt, and knee-high boots. She also had a chip on her shoulder the size of the continent Server.

Her skimpy outfit elicited a wolf whistle from a passing teenager. Davis felt sorry for the poor guy.

"Can it you perv!" She whirled on him and shot a death glare so terrifying that the man stumbled backwards and walked away at a fast pace. Yolei Inuoe tossed a strand of purple hair across her shoulder as she turned and continued to walk alongside Davis, oblivious to the surprised stares from the crowd around them.

"You know," Davis grumbled, "they wouldn't whistle like that if you wore something a little less revealing."

"Hey! It's their problem if they can't maintain control. I'll dress however I please!"

Davis sighed, "You and I both know you dress like that just so you can bite a guy's head off if he looks at you the wrong way." Davis had never understood why Yolei had grown more temperamental as she grew older, whereas Kari, Sora, and Mimi had all become gentler. Davis knew that Yolei's two greatest pleasures in life where attacking men for their "perverted nature," and flirting with Ken. Davis chuckled at how embarrassed Ken would get when Yolei focused her attractions on him, yet Davis knew Ken enjoyed the attention.

"What's so funny?" Yolei cast an accusing look in his direction. Davis had learned from painful experience just what that look entailed.

"Just thinking of a joke from yesterday!" He'd be lucky to make it to Kari's house alive.

The danger left Yolei's face. "Why does her house have to be so far away from us?" They'd both agreed not to say Kari's name aloud.

"Not easy to find a house in the city. Come on, you want to keep in shape for Ken, don't you?"

"Are you implying that I've put on weight?" The look on Yolei's face could have made MaloMyotismon wet himself. Davis would have gladly taken a math test rather than incur Yolei's wrath.

Several threatening glances and two arguments later, Davis and Yolei reached Kari's home. Davis held his breath as they approached the house. He and Mr. Takenouchi had supposedly cleared Yolei through security. The guards in either of the neighboring houses would ID Yolei and know not to detain her. But nothing was certain when it came to bureaucracies.

Fortunately, it seemed that the paper-pushers had taken care of everything. Yolei and Davis approached the doorway unchallenged and rang the bell. Kari's parents opened the door and welcomed them in.

"Kari's upstairs." Mr. Kamiya said, "I'm sure she'll be surprised to see you, Yolei."

"Thank you." Yolei and Davis ran upstairs. Kari was lying on her bed, reading a book with headphones on. She glanced up and her eyes widened at the sight of her friends. "Yolei!" She jumped up and tossed off her headphones, then ran over to Yolei and hugged her.

"Hi, Kari." Yolei smiled, "How have you been?"

"Pretty well, all things considered." Kari glanced over at Davis, who was furiously scribbling on a piece of notebook paper.

Yolei seemed determined to keep her attention, "This is some house. I'd kill for this much room! Back at my house, I have to share space with my parents and my sister. It's the pits."

"Yolei, what's-" Yolei cut Kari off by pressing a finger to her lips to signal silence.

"What's going on? Honestly, Kari, can't a girl drop by and see how her best friend is doing? Davis cleared me through security, and I got home just this morning. I had to see you and know how you were doing."

Davis, meanwhile, had finished writing. He held up the notepad to Kari's face while Yolei continued on in a conversational tone.

Kari, we're sneaking you out for the day. Yolei's got a disguise all worked out, and she'll cover for you here. You and I will have a little fun on the town, then we'll sneak back and switch with Yolei. No one will know you're gone. Talk in a quiet voice if you have to, or just pretend we're having a normal conversation.

Kari's eye widened, but Davis reaffirmed Yolei's signal for silence.

Yolei stepped over to the blinds and drew them shut. "I swear, this town is so full of perverts. Do you have any idea how many guys leered at me on the way over. It's disgusting!" Yolei slipped off her backpack and placed it on the bed. She pulled out a wig made of purple strands that looked just like her hair. Next came a set of clothes that matched her outfit exactly, only smaller to match Kari's figure. The final piece was a glass frame with no lenses. Yolei motioned for Kari to come closer and try them on. She then glared at Davis to turn around and face the door.

Davis quickly spun around and picked up the conversation. "Yolei, if you didn't walk around wearing all those short skirts, I'm sure guys would just leave you alone. I mean, you're asking for people to leer at you!"

"Just what I'd expect a male to say!" Yolei whispered to Kari, "Davis is going to sneak you outside. I'll stay here and lock the door. I need to finish on some of my schoolwork, so I'll just study for the afternoon."

Kari whispered back, "I can't do this! The agreement is that I don't leave the house at all. What if I get caught?"

"You and I both know that your glowing has nothing to do with the rest of the world. It's not like you'll be contaminated or that you'll make someone else glow. You deserve a break, Kari. Don't fight us on this."

Kari wanted very much to continue protesting, to dissuade her friends from this foolish idea. But the appeal of slipping away, even for a few hours of freedom, was too great to resist. She hated being trapped in this house, hated the isolation. And their plan seemed feasible too. The guards couldn't see what the Digidestined were doing, nor would they notice if someone other than Kari was studying in her room. The hope inside of her was too great to contain. Kari nodded with a mixture of elation, anticipation, fear, and doubt in her gut.

Kari quickly changed into the wardrobe Yolei had provided while the older woman glared at Davis' back and continued to have a small argument with him for the guards outside to listen to. Kari had to wonder if the guards hadn't simply stopped listening out of sheer annoyance. Yolei and Davis were very close friends, almost like brother and sister. And they bickered just like siblings. Kari slipped on the wig and glasses. She glanced at herself in the mirror, and her eyes bulged. Unless one had looked for a difference in height or eye color, there was no way to distinguish Kari from Yolei.

Yolei glanced at her friend and grinned, then tapped Davis on the shoulder. Davis turned around and did a double-take while looking at Kari. The three friends nodded, and Kari and Davis stepped downstairs while Yolei went to the bed and began to unpack her books.

"Kari's busy studying," Davis called to the Kamiya parents, "so Yolei and I are gonna come back later."

Mr. Kamiya frowned, "You're not staying to help her study?"

Davis scratched the back of his head, "I'm gonna show Yolei what's changed while she was gone. I'll be by later so Kari can explain everything to me. I think she needs a break from teaching me."

Mrs. Kamiya nodded, "I think that's a wise idea. You two enjoy yourselves. We'll see you later."

Davis waved bye and opened the door for Kari. Kari simply waved goodbye to her parents while trying to keep a strait face. They were actually buying it!

Davis and Kari walked down the street in silence. Kari's heart rose into her throat as a teenager walked by. He let spun around and gave a whistle at Kari.

Kari spun around and shouted in her best Yolei impersonation, "Can it you perv!"

Davis' stunned expression was all Kari needed to know she'd put on a convincing performance. "Just acting the role," she whispered, "in case he guards are still watching us."

Davis grinned, "You're good. I didn't think you could ever shout like that."

* * * * * * * *

Two blocks away from her house, Kari felt that she could speak in a normal voice. "Are you crazy?"

"Hm?"

"You know I can't go outside! If Mr. Takenouchi finds out, we'll be in a world of trouble."

Davis grinned, "Funny how you can say that while you're standing right here. I don't remember you resisting the idea in your room."

Kari blushed slightly, "I… I guess I wanted to go too. Life's so dull in that house. But you might get in trouble!"

Davis shrugged, "No worries. As long as you keep that wig on, no one will recognize you."

"Maybe," Kari looked herself over, "But I wish Yolei had dressed a bit warmer today."

Davis laughed, "You look great, really. Now, where do you wanna go?"

Kari thought for a moment. "There are a lot of favorite places I like to go. There's a photo shop, the bay, and the ferrous wheel near my old home."

"Okay, we'll go see all of those."

"Really? Are you sure we have that much time?"

"If we hustle, yes."

Kari said, "Davis, thank you. This really means a lot to me."

Davis smiled, "Hey, what are friends for?"

* * * * * * * *

Kari's favorite photo shop was the first stop on their tour. She'd been coming here ever since she was little, when her mother used to bring her along to drop off film. It was here that Kari had bought her first digital camera, and she continued to browse through at least once a month. The owner of the shop, Kopi Shashinago, was an elderly man with wizened gray hair and a smile fixed to his face. He was one of the kindest and gentlest men Kari knew. That was why she enjoyed coming to this shop.

Davis and the others had all visited this place with her at one time or another, but it only really held fascination for Kari. It saddened her a little to think that Mr. Shashinago wouldn't recognize her. She didn't want to risk being discovered, even by her friends. She was afraid that many of them would be like Kay, too terrified of her to admit their former friendships.

The familiar door-chime tinkled as they entered the shop, nestled in among a thousand other small stores on 5th street. Kari was pleased to see that the store had not changed much in the recent weeks. Large photos from Mr. Shashinago's own life hung on the walls, the light from the broad windows reflected off photo frames in the far corner, and display cases hummed with light that illuminated the latest models in cameras. There was a pungent smell of developing fluid and toner in the air. It was clear from the expression on Davis' face that he didn't approve of the odor, but it was strangely warming for Kari. She felt as though she were in her element.

"Oh, hello there." Mr. Shashinago leaned over the counter to look at them. "You're Kari's friends, aren't you? Davis and Yolei?"

"That's us." Davis put on his friendliest face and strode over to the counter. Kari just smiled and waved and then tried to look interested in a rack of postcards. Davis tried to grab Mr. Shashinago's attention. "I was wondering if you had a memory cartridge for a digital camera?"

Mr. Shashinago nodded, "Got lots of those, but I don't remember you ever having an interest for photography." His voice lowered just slightly. "Is it for Kari?" Davis nodded. "How is that girl? I miss seeing her face around here. Not many people come in here just to browse around. It's always rush in, get what you need, rush out without so much as a hello. That girl was a very welcome sight around here."

Kari felt her face redden as the elder man spoke. She enjoyed coming to the shop and speaking with Mr. Shashinago. He was fun to talk to, but she'd never dreamed he would miss her this much.

He continued, "I don't care what that fool Ikari says. Kari would never harm a fly and I wouldn't be surprised if his boy didn't deserve a good thrashing anyway. Those Ikaries are nothing but trouble! All that anti-Digimon nonsense. It broke my heart to watch Gatomon leave on the television."

"You and me both." Davis nodded.

Mr. Shashinago reached down under the counter and pulled out a memory cartridge and a small snap-on lens. "Give these to Kari. They're top-of-the-line and should work perfectly with that camera she bought last month."

Davis blinked, "I can't afford that much."

The older man laughed, "I did say give it, didn't I? No charge, not for her." He put the two items in boxes, bagged them, and handed them to Davis.

Davis thanked him and looked at Kari. She nodded, indicating that she was ready to go. She could hardly see Davis through her tears, however. As she passed the counter, Mr. Shashinago motioned for her to lean closer. She leaned forward hesitantly. He whispered in her ear, "Come by any time you like. And don't let those fools get to you. This place ain't the same without you." Kari's eyes widened. Maybe this wasn't such a perfect disguise after all.

* * * * * * * *

"I'm telling you, he knew!" Kari could still feel her body recovering from the shock as they walked down the sidewalk.

Davis seemed much more calm. "Well, he does know you pretty well."

"But what if someone else who knows me blows the whistle and we get caught?"

Davis waved his hand, "Anyone who really knows you as well as Shashinago won't blow the whistle."

"And why's that?"

"'Cause they know you'd never do anything to hurt them."

Kari looked down at her feet. "What about Muri? I hurt him."

Davis stopped walking and looked Kari straight in the eye. "You didn't hurt Muri, the Dark Ocean did. And I say he had it coming!"

Kari shook her head, "No one deserves that. And what if I'm somehow calling the Dark Ocean? What if it's something I can't control?"

"Any way you look at it, you're not responsible for what the Dark Ocean does. Kari, I've known you for years, and if there's one thing I've learned about you, it's that you always take on more responsibility than you have to."

"What's that supposed to mean?" It was offending to think that Davis could lecture her on her own behavior, given his own track record.

"You always act like everything bad that happens is your fault; and if something is happening to you, you keep it all bottled up inside so you don't burden someone else. It's like you don't trust people to be able to share your burden!"

"I do too trust people!"

"Then why didn't you tell the others about what was happening? They had to find out about it through the news!"

Kari stopped. She couldn't think of a response. "I… I… I didn't want them to stop their studies. It's not easy to get away from college."

Davis persisted, "What about Cody and TK? They didn't know about it. And you made me and Ken promise not to tell."

"TK is at the opposite end of Japan! It's not like he could have just skipped up here on a moment's notice. And Cody is too young to get involved in all this."

"Too young? Weren't you the one who said that he's usually right about things, and that we shouldn't treat him as just some kid? And I know TK would have hitchhiked all the way up here if you asked him to!"

Kari huffed, "Let's just drop this. I don't want to talk about it." She seethed inside, not because Davis was being annoying or intrusive, but because she was beginning to wonder if he wasn't right.

Davis sighed, "Okay… change in plans. Let's go this way." He almost took her hand, but then decided to walk on his own. Kari followed after him for two blocks in silence.

Finally, Davis stopped in front of another small shop with a colorful sign over the door. Kari frowned, "Gags and Giggles?"

Davis grinned, "Best joke and prank shop in Odaiba."

Kari smirked, "Is this were you got that stink bomb that went off in the teacher's lounge?"

Davis scratched his head, "You knew that was me, huh?"

Kari laughed, feeling some of the tension from the earlier argument fade away. "I only suspected it until a moment ago. Thanks for confirming it."

Davis' face shown with pride, "The teachers never caught me!"

Kari corrected, "So the whole school had to stay afterwards and clean the hallways to get the stench out. If anyone else had found out it was you, you probably wouldn't be standing here right now."

Davis clasped his hands together and pleaded before Kari, "Our secret, okay?"

Kari nodded, "Okay." She stepped inside. The shop was a form of organized chaos such as Kari had never seen before. They have every goofy costume and accessory, from oversized glasses to clown costumes. They had buzzers, boppers, and balloons, not to mention water guns, squirting flowers, and hand buzzers. There seemed to be no method to the madness. Everything was bunched together on small stands or shelves. Kari looked at Davis, "Why are we here?"

Davis replied, "This is always a great place to find something fun. I thought we'd just stop by here for quick laugh. Kari knew the truth, however. You wanted us to come here to lighten the mood after our fight. She had to admit it was a sweet gesture. But Davis was good at those. Whenever he used to perform grandiose acts of heroism or romance, he usually ended up making a fool of himself. But Davis had a knack for small gestures of kindness that always lightened the mood and made people happy. She liked that.

Davis browsed through the isles of different costumes and gag devices. This place was great for a laugh, even though he rarely ever purchased items. He wasn't a huge prankster, never had been; but he found that some pranks were a good way of venting frustration if he went after the right target. He'd never pull a prank on his friends or loose acquaintances, but people he couldn't stand were another matter. That stink bomb had been meant for a teacher that pretty much everyone hated. He had been especially hard on Davis, claiming that soccer players weren't very bright, and he'd used Davis' poor grades as an example. The face on the teacher's face when he fled from the smelly teachers lounge that day had been so very satisfying.

Davis was wondering whether or not to mail a stink bomb to Hitoshi Ikari when he came upon an old pair of slinky eyeglasses. He grinned as he put them on and the oversized eyeballs dangled around down his chin. These were classic gag-material. He turned around to see if he couldn't sneak up on Kari, when he came face to face with a huge nose, mustache, and a pair of extra-thick glasses. Behind the odd assortment was Kari, grinning as Davis jumped back in surprise. She laughed at his stunned expression. Davis was stunned for a moment. To think that Kari actually got the drop on him first! But then he began to laugh too. It was rare that he ever saw a humorous side to Kari. She was usually so serious and quiet. He liked to see her hidden self. He also felt very privileged that she allowed him to see a side of her she rarely showed to the others.

"I'm hungry." Kari said, "Shall we get some lunch?"

Davis nodded, "Sounds good."

* * * * * * * *

How convenient that there are so few women poets in this book, Yolei mentally growled as she studied her poetry homework. This was simply core curriculum for her degree. She doubted that many business majors could quote Basho Matsuo on command. And, as usual, women weren't a big part of the education.

Why did men have to be such pigs? Of all the people she knew, only Ken seemed to be genuinely sincere, and not a lecher or a bigot. That was why Yolei firmly intended to marry him. We'll just see who the dominant in the relationship is!

Yolei allowed herself to be momentarily distracted by Kari's music. Having found the homework to be thoroughly boring, Yolei had slipped on a set of headphones and listened to music while reading. Kari had good taste in music. Boy-bands were one of the few all-male things that Yolei could tolerate. Too bad Ken wasn't in a boy-band.

Things had been quiet in the house since Davis and Kari had left. Neither of Kari's parents had tried to intrude. Davis must have told a pretty convincing lie. Of course he was good at lying, he was a boy.

Yolei sighed and looked up from her books, anything for a distraction. Well, anything except what she saw now. Mr. Kamiya was glaring down at her, the door to the room wide open and a key was gripped tightly in the older man's hand. Yolei let out a slight "eep" at seeing him.

Mr. Kamiya said through clenched teeth. "Sorry I startled you, Kari. But I wondered if you'd like some lunch?" He leaned in close and whispered, "You are in so much trouble!" His voice returned to normal. "Let's go eat and listen to some music. We don't spend that much time as a family."

Oh noooo…Yolei silently got off the bed and followed after him. Dead woman walking.

* * * * * * * *

Kari hadn't had a lunch this good in forever. It wasn't the actual taste that made it so good, the food was pretty average. It was the simple fact that she was eating outdoors in the air! She and Davis were eating a meal on a bench overlooking the bay area. This was Kari's favorite spot to sit down and watch the scenery. You could see the whole of the city, and there were no piers or stands to obscure the view. She used to come here with Gatomon quite often. Kari sighed, she missed Gatomon so much.

"You're thinking about Gatomon, right?"

Kari looked over at Davis. "How'd you know?"

"I get that same look on my face whenever I think about Veemon."

Kari nodded, "I'm sure they're very happy in the Digital World right now. It was really sweet of you and Veemon to make such a sacrifice. Thank you, Davis."

Davis grinned and scratched his head. "Hey, I'm not a total jerk, right?"

Kari said, "You were never a jerk, Davis. You were just… overbearing."

Davis shrugged. "I was kind of a jerk. I mean, the main reason I started going to the Digital World was just to impress you."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I wanted to show you how cool I was when I took down all those controlled Digimon. 'Course, I was also competing with Ken while he was the Digimon Emperor. That was another part of it. Now that I think about it, both reasons were pretty shallow." He fell silent after that.

"So?" Kari looked at him quizzically.

"So what?"

Kari felt her eye twitch. "So when did you stop going to the Digital World to impress me and started to do it for the sake of the Digimon themselves?"

Davis thought for a minute, "I guess it was really gradual. Most of it was because of Veemon. He was such a great bud that I started to care more about Digimon. It was also cool meeting all those other Digimon like the Gotsumon and Andromon and the Gekomon. I know for sure that I really started to care about Digimon when I saw Kimeramon blowing away all those innocent Digimon. I couldn't stand to see that happen and it just drove me over the edge. That's why I didn't run away from Ken's base. I was tired of him pushing Digimon around, and I was gonna stop him."

"Even if you hadn't found the golden digiegg?"

Davis nodded. "Yeah. I wasn't going to stop for anything. I was gonna find a way to win."

He was determined, she'd give him that. While not the brightest bulb in the set, Davis always stayed with his convictions. He never shied away from trouble or a challenged. Unlike me. Kari had a notorious history of doubting herself and backing away from danger. She remembered how she'd forbidden Gatomon to fight MaloMyotismon for fear of losing her best friend. She often wondered what the secret to Davis' and Tai's courage was. Did they not think about the danger, or did they just choose to ignore it? Were they oblivious to the consequences? Or were they too determined to be dissuaded? Davis had certainly been determined when he had had a crush on Kari.

A question raised in Kari's mind. "Davis, when did you lose your crush on me?" She'd had over seven years to ask that question, yet it had never seemed to matter. Now she was suddenly curious.

Davis shrugged again. "I guess it just died out in all the hustle. I mean, we were pretty busy back then with Arukenimon and BlackWarGreymon blowing everything up. I guess I just focused so much on stopping them that my crush got lost in the shuffle. After everything calmed down and we saved the Digital Word, I didn't feel the same crush."

"Not even once?"

"Well…" Davis blushed. "I got jealous a few times whenever you got a new boyfriend. But I realized that was having a relapse each time, so I got my mind off it. I got better after that. Why do you wanna know?"

"I… was just curious. That's all. Were you ever sorry I didn't return your feelings?"

"A little. It bugged me for a while, but now I'm glad that we're just friends. My crush sure caused me enough grief already."

Kari elbowed him, "Come on, it wasn't that bad, was it?"

Davis gave her an "are you kidding?" look. "If I had a nickel for every time you guys laughed at me, I could start my noodle business right now!"

Kari couldn't help but laugh at that. "I'm sorry, Davis. We didn't mean to insult you."

"I wasn't insulted, just frustrated. I'm not that goofy, am I?" Kari remained silent. "Am I???"

"Wellll…" Kari didn't have an answer for him.

Davis looked like he was going to continue the inquisition when he keened his head towards one side. "What is it?" asked Kari.

"Shh." Davis held up a hand for silence. Kari cupped her ear to listen for whatever Davis heard.

A loud and rhythmic tink, tink, tink, could be heard coming from the shore. "It's probably just a piece of garbage."

But Davis seemed intrigued. "It sounds like a piece of class banging. Might be something." Kari couldn't believe her eyes when Davis stood up and looked over the railing. With all the garbage dumped into the bay, there had to be all kinds of glass and metal washing up on the shore. That was why swimming in the shallow waters was forbidden.

"Davis, why are you so interested in a piece of junk?"

"I just got a feeling, you know?"

"No, I don't."

Davis glanced back at her. "You've never felt the need to do something; anything?"

"Not the need to search for garbage."

Davis rolled his eyes and returned to searching. "You gotta trust your instincts more, Kari. I've gotten this far by trusting my gut. You should try that more."

Kari folded her arms. "Who says I don't?"

Davis glanced back at her. "The only time I've seen you act on impulse is when someone else has been in trouble. Every other time, you seem to second-guess yourself."

Kari let out a small gasp. Was it that obvious?

"There!" Davis pointed to an uninteresting patch of water and sludge. "Hold my feet, will you?" He began to lean over the railing.

"Davis! This is crazy!" Kari grabbed hold of his belt to keep him from falling.

"Just a little closer…" Kari looked down to see what he was reaching for. A small glint of gold could be seen amongst the green goo. It looked like some kind of pendant, but Kari couldn't see it that well.

Davis leaned even farther as he reached for the hidden treasure. Kari was certain he'd fall face first into the water, and drag her along with him. Davis' arm flailed for the object, and finally he wrapped one finger around the edge and drew it closer. After some prodding to bring the item closer, Davis gave one final lunge and scooped it out of the water. "Woo-hoo! Got it!" He held it like it was an artifact of a lost civilization.

Kari was less than enthusiastic. "Let's go wash your hands. You don't know where that thing's been."

* * * * * * * *

"She could be just a little more supportive." Davis grumbled while he scrubbed his hands in a public restroom. This place was probably dirtier than the bay where he'd found this thing, whatever it was.

Davis looked down at his new-found treasure. It was lying at the bottom of the sink, being cleaned by the runoff from Davis' hands. Davis reached down and scrapped the algae and dirt coating the object. It was a small pendant made of gold with a glass case inside. It looked strangely familiar somehow, though he was sure he'd never seen it before. At the top of the pendant was an empty loop, probably for a string. The band must have broken or dissolved in the water. But why would someone throw away such a nice piece of jewelry. Maybe Kari would like it. Then again, knowing where it came from she'd probably turn him down.

Davis sighed and thought of how much fun he was having with Kari. Today was one of the best days he'd had in a while. And he was really interested in the hidden side of Kari that he'd gotten to see so recently. She could goof around and enjoy the simple pleasures. She'd always struck him as too serious, and maybe even a stick-in-the-mud at times. That was another reason why he'd given up on her. He'd figured they just weren't compatible. TK seemed more of her type. But now he'd seen the fun side to her. The flippant side that could be a little more comical with him and even tease him from time to time. But not the same sort of teasing when she'd flirted with him just to edge him on in the past.

It had surprised him when she'd asked about his crush. Even he wasn't sure why he'd stopped pursuing her, just as he was unsure why he'd been so driven to catch this item he held in his hands. She was such a fun and kind girl. She always gave her utmost attention and care to everyone without any thought for herself. And, he had to admit, she was a real looker. Yolei's outfit really brought out Kari's shape. He blushed as he realized that both girls would have slapped him for that thought. He quickly returned his attention to the pendant.

There was some kind of insignia beneath the glass. It was a small dot surrounded by nine spikes fashioned like rays of light. And that was when it hit him. He'd seen this symbol before on Kari's digiegg. Holy cow! It's the crest of light! Davis scooped up the pendant-no, tag- and took a closer look. It was indeed Kari's crest of light. But how was that possible? The older kids had told him that Apocalymon had destroyed all the crests and tags, but here was a crest and tag in his hand. This was unreal! I gotta show this to Kari.

* * * * * * * *

Kari waited outside patiently for Davis to come out. On the surface, she appeared to be a calm, composed, purple-haired girl. Inside, she was annoyed at Davis' immaturity. What was so special about a piece of trash? While she admired his conviction and determination, he really needed to learn some focus. In all the time she'd known him, Davis had never overcome his childish impulses. Sure, he was kind and sweet and had been there for her every step through this ordeal-

She stopped herself. Thinking of him like that made her less angry. She sighed. Why am I so angry? It was just a small token he wanted to fish out. It's his business what he does with it. So why was she so flustered? There didn't seem to be a reason for it. Why would she be so mad at someone who was so free-style, happy, uncontrolled, and so, so… free.

I'm jealous. Even as the thought snapped across her mind, she knew it was the truth. Davis was the freest soul she'd ever seen. Nothing seemed to weigh him down. All of the other Digidestined had suffered from some-sort of vice in the past. Be it loneliness, selfishness, sorrow, doubt, anger, fear, or a deep sense of loss, each Digidestined had been held back by some emotional burden that hampered their progress and threatened to destroy them at times. But Davis never suffered from such burdens. He was immature at times, but that didn't stop him from achieving what he set out to do. He held no burdens, carried no weight in his heart. If he was sad or angry, he'd have a quick outburst and be all the better for it.

There had been the battle against MetalGreymon, in which Davis had been held back by his desire not to harm his friend. But he had overcome that obstacle quickly and turned the tide of battle. Since then, he'd never shown signs of wavering or surrender. He understood that being a Digidestined required a person to do things that weren't always pleasant or comfortable. Yolei and Cody had suffered a much longer period of agonizing when their morals clashed with their duties as guardians of two worlds. Davis had learned from his first experience, but even when he did what was necessary, he didn't try to cover his feelings.

And that was what kept him free. He wore his heart on his sleeve and enjoyed a life without heavy emotional burdens. His vision was always clear, if not sometimes distracted. And that was something Kari wasn't sure she could ever have. She was jealous of Davis for his free spirit and confidence. I could never be like that. I keep too much bottled up inside.

As if on cue, Davis came running out of the restroom, his face bright with the pure enthusiasm that had never graced Kari's face. He ran right up to her and held up his clenched hand. "Kari, you'll never guess what this thing is!" But his revelation was cut off by a bright pink glow lining the curves of his hand. Perplexed, Davis opened his hand for a brief moment. A pink luminance enfolded his entire hand.

"Is that-?" Kari couldn't believe her eyes. A tag and crest! Davis quickly stuffed the item into his inside jacket pocket and zipped it shut. The glow vanished. "Where did you find that?" Kari demanded.

Davis looked around quickly. No one had noticed the glow. "That's what I found in the bay. I was gonna show it to you, but I didn't expect that to happen."

Kari said, "Let's get back home. I don't want to risk being seen with that going off again." She turned to go.

"Hang on." Davis put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't you wanna ride that ferrous wheel near your house?"

Kari's eyes widened, "How can you think about something like that after what just happened? We have to go, now!"

Davis replied, "No one saw us. Don't quit now. Let's just stop by the wheel and go for a quick ride, then we'll go home."

"But-"

"Kari, when are you gonna have a chance to do this again?"

Davis had a point that Kari couldn't deny. If no one saw them, then this was a surprise that had narrowly missed being a tragedy. And the yearning in Kari flared up again, a yearning to see her old surroundings.

She took a deep breath. "Okay, but only for a short ride. It's getting close to evening."

* * * * * * * *

She couldn't believe it. Davis had actually talked her into continuing this fool's venture, and he hadn't even had to try hard. He'd said just the right thing to persuade her to keep going, even though her first reaction had been to run away, like always. Do I want to be more bold, like Davis? That's crazy. Still, he seemed to have that effect on her.

They were second in line for the ferrous wheel that Kari had seen near her home every day in her life. She'd only rode on it once, however, when she was seven years old. She'd been so fascinated to stand on the seat and look at the whole city while her mother and father pointed out the different buildings. She wanted to see the whole city one more time before going back to her cage, and that desire was stronger than any fear she held.

Was this how Davis felt whenever he charged in to defy the odds? Did his desire override the fear? Was it his desire to achieve whatever he wanted that kept him going, even when all sane logic demanded otherwise?

Well, desire or no, Kari was still nervous. She'd kept her eye on Davis' jacket pocket the whole way over. There hadn't been any more flashes of light from the crest, but Kari was still amazed that Davis had found it, and even more amazed that it still existed. Where could it have come from? She'd seen her crest and tag blown to digital dust a full decade ago. She'd have to take it with her to the research center on her next visit. Izzy could probably figure out where it came from. Still, Kari scanned through her memory with the feeling she knew where this came from.

Davis allowed Kari to enter the small cart when it came time to board. They sat on opposite sides, even though Kari could see young couples snuggling together in the other cars. Kari sighed. When was the last time she'd have the luxury to worry about young love and boyfriends? She'd dated a few boys in her High School life, but none of them had been that fun to be with. They had been nice, but Kari had never felt a connection with any of them. Casual dating seemed too trivial. If she dated, she wanted it to be with someone who held a special place in her heart, someone who could possibly become a husband. Not that she'd find her special partner anytime soon. She might never find that special someone.

Kari glanced over at Davis, who was seating himself opposite her. He was attractive, both in personality and physically. She'd been amazed at the kindness and support he'd shown for her over the last month. When everyone else had been terrified of her, Davis had stayed fiercely loyal. His actions were even more significant for the fact that Kari's powers had tossed him across a room, yet he still didn't fear her. Other people ran away screaming just because she glowed. Davis was someone special, that was certain.

Kari shook her head slightly. Stop it. How shallow she was. One minute, she was moping that she'd never find a life partner, and the next minute she was sizing up Davis. How could she be so flippant? After all the times she'd shunned Davis' affections, what right did she have to even consider being attracted to him?

A small jolt ran through the cart as they began to ascend. Kari peered out the window and braced herself for the sight that awaited. She let out a slight gasp as the full grandeur of the city unfolded before her. The sun was setting in the ocean, casting the sky in a crimson glaze and coating the ocean in orange with bits of gold floating on the surface. The entire city glowed as far as the eye could see. For a moment, it seemed as if the whole world had joined in Kari's ability to illuminate itself.

"Wow." Davis looked out. "That's something else!"

"You've never ridden on this, have you?"

"Not once. But I'm glad I did. Thanks for thinking of this."

Kari smiled, "Thank you for giving me the chance to see it. And to think I nearly ran away from this chance." She sighed. "Sometimes… I wish I were more like you."

Davis smiled, "That's funny, sometimes I wish I was more like you."

"Really?" Kari looked over at him. That was a surprise.

Davis nodded. "You're so kind to everyone, people like you instantly. I'm not good at first impressions. People usually have to get used to me being around before they start to like me. You're one of the few people who liked me right off the bat."

Kari smiled and felt herself blush slightly. "But I'm not very brave. I always seem to want to retreat or give in."

"That's not true." Davis shook his head. "Look at how you're handling this. You've gotta be pretty brave to do the things you've done. If I had to stay all cooped up in a house like that, I'd go crazy. But you're hanging in there."

Kari pressed her forehead to the window. "But I want to give up so often."

"But you don't. You're still at it. Don't you think I've wanted to throw in the towel a few times?"

Kari looked over at him. "You? But you never run away."

"Yeah, but that's because I'm hyper. Any sane person would run from the things we've faced. Remember when TK wanted to regroup and retreat from Kimeramon? Now that I think about it, he wasn't wimping out. He was thinking of the group's safety. He was doing the smart thing. I was just too gung-ho to realize it. I still wouldn't have retreated, but I know now that TK wasn't just running away, he was hoping for another chance. And I was scared that XV-mon couldn't beat MaloMyotismon at first, but He convinced me to believe in him, but it was really close. Even I couldn't believe it when XV-mon started winning."

Kari couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I… I always thought you weren't afraid of anything. I thought you didn't have any problems holding you back."

Davis laughed. Not a harsh, insulting laugh, but a truly comical laugh. "I wish. I used to be so worried that I wasn't a good Digidestined. I thought I was a big screw up for a while."

"When?"

Davis thought back. "It was about after we beat MetalGreymon. I was king of the world for a while after Raidramon and I saved Agumon, but things started to slip. First, you got pulled into the Dark Ocean, and I wasn't any help in that. TK got to play the hero, and I felt like second-best after that. Then, I found out that Yolei sincerely thought I was a jerk. That didn't do much for my confidence. Next thing I knew, everyone, including all those Gekomon, were mad at me for wanting to give ShogunGekomon a haircut. The biggest blow was when everyone left me behind to go after Ken's base. I felt like I'd been ditched."

"I'm sorry." Kari bowed her head. "I was worried about TK and Cody, and I wanted to get to them as soon as possible. I didn't mean to ditch you."

"Hey, no problem. I got over that a long time ago. But I did start to wonder if the team wouldn't be better off without me. That was still in the back of my mind when we entered Ken's base." Maybe that was why he'd always droned on about how cool he was.

"So, how did you get past your fears and doubts?"

Davis shrugged. "I kept in mind that I had a job to do, doubts or no doubts. I kept focused on the goal, and that gave me hope that I could get over my problems when I got closer."

Kari leaned back in her chair. "I can't even see the goal right now."

Davis nodded. "I know how that feels. I felt that way when I was in my slump. But isn't there a saying: 'All things come to an end,' or something like that?"

"'All good things come to an end.'"

Davis frowned. "That's depressing. I like my saying better." Kari laughed. It was a wonderful sound.

The cart continued to circle around while Kari and Davis stared out at the city in silence. After several rotations, the cart came to a stop. People were being let off. Davis glanced out the window. "Look's like we'll be one of the last off."

Kari nodded. "Do you think I could take this wig off? It really itches."

Davis nodded. "I don't think anyone'll peak in."
Kari pulled the wig off and scratched her head. "I needed to do that." She returned to gazing out the window.

In the fading light of the evening, Kari's skin began to shimmer with golden light. For a moment, Davis feared she was glowing again, but he quickly realized it was the light from the setting sun. Her hair brightened to bronze color and shown like silk. Look at her, Davis remembered how beautiful she'd looked when he'd first seen her glow. How could anyone be afraid of something so beautiful. He could feel his face burn as he looked at her. What's wrong with me?

"Davis," Kari looked directly at him. "What do you think is going to happen to me?"

Davis was so off guard he fumbled for an answer. "I, um, I, duh, um…"
A grin slowly spread across Kari's face, and she giggled. "You are so weird sometimes. But you make me laugh, I like that." Her expression saddened. "But… I wish Tai and TK were here."

"Oh." Davis felt his face cool. "TK."

"Is something wrong?"

"No. I just… You really love him, don't you?" He wasn't sure why that thought troubled him.

Kari answered, "Yes, but not in the way you're thinking. I love him like a twin brother."

Davis frowned, "But you already have a brother."

Kari nodded, "Yes, and I love Tai very much. But an older brother is different from a twin brother. Tai has more experience than me in just about everything. He's encountered problems in life before I have, so he often guides me in how I can react. But with TK, he and I confront problems together for the very first time. We deal with them in our own ways without any experience. In many ways, he's as close to me as a brother. I think I love him so much that we're too close to be romantically involved."

Davis scratched his head. "I am so confused right now."

Kari smiled, "I know it doesn't make much sense. It's like what you felt when you and Ken created Paildramon for the first time. You two were completely synchronized for a moment. It's like that with TK and myself. I understand him so completely, and he understands me the same way. It's almost like we're two different genders of the same person. But I am not interested in a romance with a male version of myself. That's why we're too close to be boyfriend and girlfriend. I want to find someone who I love for different reasons than why I love TK."

Davis felt the need to ask, "So, what is your idea of a guy you could love? Romantically, that is." He still didn't quite understand her connection with TK.

Kari thought for a moment. "Well, he'd have to be kind, generous, and good at listening. He'd have to be willing to compromise and to see things from my perspective as well as his own. Patience is another must, I think. Truth is, I don't think anyone acts like this right away. We all grow into the role. I guess I'd fall in love with someone with whom I felt some kind of connection. But I don't know what that connection is, so I'm not entirely sure."

"Then how do you know you'll meet Mr. Right?"

"I don't. But I have hope that I will, someday."

Davis paused for a moment. "What about looks?"

"What do you mean 'looks?'"

"I mean, what do you look for in a guy's appearance." Davis felt utterly ridiculous staying that. It was something girlfriends talked about, but not guys. Still, he wanted to know what Kari looked for in a guy, even if he wasn't sure why.

Kari replied, "I'm not interested in physical appearance, Davis. That's so shallow."

"Really?" Davis didn't buy that. Everyone had a secret fantasy of the perfect spouse. "You've never even thought about the kind of guys you look at? What about that soccer player from another school I played against last year. I remember seeing you talking to him after the game."

"Oh, Isamu." Kari blushed. "I did congratulate him after the game."

"Even though he lost."

"True, but he played very well."

"And then you dated him for the next four months."

Kari blushed, "Was it that obvious?"
Davis nodded, "It was all you and your friends talked about. I think you watched more of his games than you did mine. Me, your own classmate!"

Kari sighed and said, "I guess I am attracted to a certain type of guy."

Davis folded his arms, "Well? What kind of guy?"

"Why are you so interested?"

Davis felt his cheeks redden again. "Just curious. I know what I like in a girl, but I kinda wonder what girls look for in guys."

"I can only tell you what I look for. I don't speak for all women."

"That's fine by me. I get enough of an earful from Yolei."

Kari thought for a moment. "Tall, but not too tall. About the same height as me so I don't have to stand on my toes to kiss him. Well built, but not a muscle freak. And… short hair."

Davis frowned, "Why short hair?"
"Long hair reminds me of Tai. His hair is so long he has to watch out for knocking over lamps. I guess dating men with long hair reminds me of my brother too much."

Davis nodded and looked out the window. For some reason, he felt better for knowing what Kari looked for in a guy. Inwardly, however, he chided himself. Don't go falling for her again. Remember what happened the last time you had a crush on her? You're better off as friends.

"But," Kari broke into his thoughts. "I'm not really interested in dating or boyfriends anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because of… you know… my 'condition.'"

Davis frowned, "It's not like you have a disease."
"But who would want to date someone like me? Who would want to date 'glow girl?'"

"Half the boys at school wanted to not to long ago." Davis leaned forward. "Kari, there's nothing wrong with you. Your glowing is… different, but it's not something to be afraid of."

"That's easy for you to say."
"Hey, I got thrown across the room, remember? Believe me, I don't think you're a threat or a monster. That one little episode was just an accident."

The look in Kari's face made it clear that she didn't believe him. "But still, no one could have fun dating me. They'd be persecuted for even knowing me. And what if I ever have children? What if I pass this 'trait' on to them? I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I think it's for the best if I just avoid serious relationships from now on."

Davis wanted to protest, but he could see the sadness in Kari's eyes. If he continued to push, he'd undo all the fun they'd had during the day. "Don't give up just yet, okay? You never know what might happen." He forced his best smile.

A smile tugged at the side of Kari's lips. "O-okay."

Davis nodded, relieved that she seemed to feel just a little better. "We're gonna be off soon. Better put that wig back on."

Kari did so, returning to her Yolei appearance. But even under that disguise, Davis still couldn't help but marvel at what a knockout Kari was.

* * * * * * * *

The walk home was uneventful, if not tiring. Davis was already concocting a plan to sneak by Kari's parents and have Yolei and Kari switch roles again. If he could just get Kari upstairs without having to say anything. Maybe he'd distract the Kamiyas with an offer to fix dinner while Kari snuck upstairs.

Time for the show. If he could pull this off, he might consider ditching the noodle shop and becoming an actor. Heck, after this, I could win an academy award! He knocked on the door.

"Come in." The voice inside was pleasant, but something disturbing settled in Davis' stomach. He opened the door and stepped in.

"Hi, Yolei and I were just stopping by to see how K-" Davis looked around as he spoke, until he saw three figures sitting in the family room next to the music speakers. Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya glared at him while Yolei had a rare look of pity on her face. Several words unfit for hearing came to Davis' mind as he realized that they'd been busted. How'd Yolei manage to screw this up? She'd probably blame this on him.

Mr. Kamiya stood up and in a forced pleasant tone said, "Hello Davis, Yolei, won't you come in?"

Davis could see Kari tremble slightly as she pulled off her wig and stepped closer. Without a word, Mrs. Kamiya escorted her daughter upstairs. Mr. Kamiya motioned Davis closer while Yolei went into Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya's bedroom. She'd apparently received the riot act already. Davis wondered if he should ask for a last meal before he sat down.

* * * * * * * *

"How could you do something so irresponsible?" Mrs. Kamiya hissed. Kari's radio blared loudly to conceal their conversation. Kari was changing out of her disguise and back into her usual wardrobe, keenly aware of her mother's withering glare. "I thought we raised you to be smarter than that."

Kari sighed, "I needed this, Mother. I can't stand being trapped in this house day in and day out. You and Dad can slip out for a while, but I have to stay here all the time with the roof as my only means of getting outside to even look around. Davis and Yolei made an offer I just couldn't resist, no matter how much I wanted to. And, the truth is, I didn't want to resist."

Mrs. Kamiya stood up and walked over to her daughter. "Do you have any idea of what could have happened to you if you'd been discovered? Do you have any idea what will happen if anyone finds out?"

Kari was very well aware of both possibilities. Had she been discovered, she could have been arrested, beaten, killed, or any number of unpleasant things. If Mr. Takenouchi or the government ever found out about this, Kari would be spirited away to a lab or maximum security prison for observation, never to see her friends and family again. But despite either bleak scenario, she didn't regret her choice.

"Mom, I chose to go, and I'm not sorry. Don't be mad at Davis, he did me a favor. I know you're worried about me, but I had to go out and see the rest of the world if only for a day. I can't stay here forever. Don't you understand how much it kills me to have to lounge here day in and day out? I couldn't take it anymore!"

Mrs. Kamiya looked stunned at her daughter's outburst. Usually, she was much more respectful towards her parents. But part of Davis' audacity had apparently rubbed off on Kari. She didn't regret her decision and she wasn't going to apologize for it. Her mother's response was simply, "Wait in your room until your father and I come back." She promptly stood up and walked out the door.

* * * * * * * *

Downstairs, Davis was fighting a similar battle. Kari's father could barely keep his voice hushed as he lectured Davis no-end.

"Do you have any idea of the risk you put Kari in? After all the trust you've built up in this household you stole our own daughter right underneath our noses! How can you possibly justify what you've done?"
"I wanted to help Kari out. I felt sorry for her."

"'Sorry for her?' You'd have felt even worse for her if you'd been caught, provided you'd still be alive. I never, in my wildest dreams, thought you do something so stupid!"
Davis didn't try to defend himself, nor did he make a motion to apologize. Usually, he'd bow his head and apologize deeply, just as he did with any other adult. But he remember Mr. Takenouchi's advice about making things happen. He was using whatever resources he had to help Kari, and he didn't want to back down now.

Mr. Kamiya sighed. "Listen, Davis. I understand what you were trying to do for Kari. It kills me to see what she has to endure each day. She should be free to live her life without troubles, not locked up in a cage. But you took a terrible risk with her life today. Everything worked out, and I think Kari's better for the experience." He leaned in closer. "But never again, do you understand? You will never try something so dangerous again, or you will not be welcome in this house, ever. Clear?"
Davis nodded, "Yes, sir."

Mr. Kamiya leaned back. "I think it'd be best if you left now, before my wife gets her hands on you."

Davis nodded and stood up. "Can I at least say goodbye to Kari?"

"Make it short." Davis agreed once more and headed for the stairs. Mrs. Kamiya came down the steps and shot a withering glare at Davis as he passed by.

She walked over to her husband and sat down next to him. "Kari won't apologize. She's being unusually stubborn."

Mr. Kamiya sighed and turned up the music a little louder. He wanted to speak more freely. "You can't expect Kari to be an obedient little girl all her life, dear. She's growing up and looking for a bigger world. I guess some stunts are to be expected."

"But nothing like this!" His wife protested. "It's all because of Davis! I don't think he should see Kari anymore."

"Yukko," Mr. Kamiya put his hand on hers. "Davis is the only bridge to the rest of the world for Kari right now. It'd be cruel to sever that link. I told Davis that he'd be kicked out if he ever tried something like this again. He understood that I meant it. He's reckless, but he's a good kid who looks out for our daughter."

Mrs. Kamiya shuffled. "That's what troubles me."

Mr. Kamiya smiled. "Oh, come on. Davis is one of Kari's best friends. They work very well together.

"But Kari's very vulnerable right now. She needs a lot of emotional support and a delicate touch. I'm not sure Davis is the kind of boy she should be around right now. In this situation-"

"Kari's not stupid. She'll keep her wits about her. And Davis isn't the type to take advantage of someone like that. He's been very supportive through all of this. He's a good person. I think you're being paranoid."

"Maybe…"

Mr. Kamiya stood up. "Come on. Let's go tell Yolei she can leave. We'll have a nice, quiet dinner, then send Kari to bed without any desert. That'll be her punishment. It's not like we can ground her."
Mrs. Kamiya nodded. "Yeah. The government beat us to it."

* * * * * * * *

Davis knocked gently on Kari's door. He thought he heard a sniffing sound, but no answer. He quietly opened the door and peeked in. Kari was sitting with her back to the door. Her shoulders rose and fell in sharp jolts, and he could hear her weeping. "Kari?"

Kari jumped and quickly brushed the tears from her eyes. "Hi, Davis." She stood up and walked towards him.

Davis came towards her. He stopped and hesitated as he looked into her bloodshot eyes. Her Mom must have really upset her. Slowly, carefully, Davis reached forward and drew Kari into a hug. She didn't resist or pull away. If anything, she seemed to welcome it.

"You doing okay?" asked Davis.

Kari nodded, "Yeah. My Mom was pretty mad, though. I-I don't like to upset my parents."

Davis said, "I'm sorry. This is my fault."

"No." Kari stepped back and looked at him. "This has been the best day of my life. This place was collapsing in on me until you gave me a chance to sneak away. I needed this, Davis, please don't feel sorry."

"Kari, we can't do this again. You're Dad will kick me out if we ever try."

Kari nodded, "I know. It's okay. I think I can keep going now. And it's thanks to you and Yolei."

Davis reached into his jacket and pulled out the crest and tag he'd found. "Here, a souvenir." The crest began to shine as he held it out to her.

Kari reached out and gently pushed Davis' hand down. "Thank you, but no. I already have those gifts from Mr. Shashinago. Why don't you keep it as my thanks for such a wonderful day."

Davis nodded and tucked it back into his pocket. "Thanks, Kari. I had a lot of fun today too. You're really great to be with."

"Do you want to stay for dinner?"
Davis scratched his head. "I don't think I should be here while your Mom has a bunch of sharp objects nearby." Kari laughed. Davis continued, "I also don't think I should come by for a couple of days. My folks were buggin' me to spend some time with them, so I think I'll take a little break."

"Think you can handle the homework without me?"

Davis replied, "Maybe. I'll call if I need help."

Kari stepped closer and leaned in. "Thank you for a wonderful day, Davis." She gently kissed him on the cheek.

Davis felt a spark run through his body as his face turned red. "I-um-thanks. I-I'll see you later." He stepped out, trying not to stare at Kari's smile. Yolei was waiting for him downstairs. The look on her face clearly showed how eager she was to leave. The two of them left without saying goodbye. Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya didn't make any motion to bid them farewell.

* * * * * * * *

"Did you really have to take that long?" Yolei demanded on the way home. "I had to sit there for four hours with Kari's parents glaring at me!"

Davis growled, "Who was the one who got herself caught? The plan would have gone perfectly if you hadn't botched it!"

"Your plans always go belly-up! Don't blame me!" The two of them glared at each other for a few moments, waiting to see who would blink first. It turned out to be Yolei, who let out a deep breath. "So, did Kari have fun?"

Davis nodded, "Yeah. She had a great time. So did I." He felt his cheeks redden.

Yolei noticed his change in attitude. "Ohhhh?" Her face split into a sly grin.

"What?" Davis stepped back. He really shouldn't give her an opening like that.

"Do I detect an old crush kicking up again?"

Davis' face went pure red. "No way! I do not have a crush on Kari!"
"Then why is your face so red?"

"Cause I'm so ticked at you!!!"

Yolei placed her hands on her hips, "Nice try, Davis, but I can see the look in your eyes. You've got it bad for Kari, again." She sighed melodramatically, "I guess some boys never get past their crushes."

Davis wanted to throttle her. "I do not have a crush on Kari. I learned my lesson the first time. She and I… aren't compatible."

Yolei laughed, "You're lecturing me on compatibility when I am going to marry Ken 'I'm not worthy of anyone' Ichijouji?"

Davis grimaced. "I don't remember Ken ever proposing to you."

Yolei snarled, "He's going to marry me. End of discussion." Her tone lightened. "Seriously, though. Kari is as close to me as my sisters, Davis. She's having a really hard time right now. Don't you dare do anything to hurt her."

Davis protested, "I'm not gonna do anything! Besides, what kind of guy do you take me for?"

"A horny boy, just like all other males (except Ken)." Frustrated, Davis spun and walked towards his house in silence. Yolei giggled and called, "See you tomorrow 'lover-boy!'" She waved.

* * * * * * * *

"'See you tomorrow 'lover-boy,'" Davis' voice mocked Yolei's. "Just who does she think she is? 'A horny boy,' jeez!" He had to wonder what Ken saw in that girl. She was so, so, so…

Right. She was right. Davis had fallen for Kari, again. He looked up at the barely visible stars. Stupid! Why are you doing this? You heard Kari, she's not interested in boyfriends. And even if she was, she's already tossed you aside before. Why would she act any different now?

The strange thing was that this didn't feel like his old crush at all. Back then, he'd had this rosy picture of Kari and of how cool the two of them would look together. But now he wanted to simply know her better. He felt a connection to her and he wanted to develop it even further. She'd shown him so many different sides to her personality today: her comical side, her reflective side, her stern side, her caring side, even her less-than-patient-and-unsupportive side. She could keep that last one hidden if she wanted to, but Davis loved to see how different Kari could be. She wasn't like any other girl he'd known in his life, and he'd dated plenty.

Davis was so busy thinking about his new feelings and his uncertainty that he didn't notice a shadow moving in the ally next to him. Without warning, a hand reached out and clamped down over his mouth. Several other hands latched on and dragged him into the alleyway. Davis kicked and struggled, but his attackers managed to keep their hold.

Realizing that punching and kicking wouldn't work, Davis opted to bite down on the hand that covered his mouth. A loud shout and a curse resounded from one of the other figures in the ally. Davis' retaliation was short-lived, however, as a fist slammed into his gut and nearly brought him to his knees.

"That was very stupid, Davis." Davis looked up into the face of the man who stood before him. It was one of Davis' old classmates, Gendo. He was tall and athletic with short smooth brown hair and cool gray eyes. Actually, his eyes had a special coldness to them at the moment. The ally was dark, but Davis could see a black armband with white letters spelling out G.O.D. The Guardians Opposing Digimon. Davis had heard about the "extremist groups" that were responsible for riots, bomb threats, and attacks on Digimon and their partners. He was surprised to know Gendo was a member. He had been pretty normal at school, nothing like Muri. First Muri, now Gendo. How many people at Davis' school hated Digimon now?

Gendo stepped forward, a knife in his hand. "We've been looking for you for a while, Davis. We were hoping you could give us some directions."

"Go to hell!" Davis spat.

Gendo smiled. "Funny you should say that, since we're looking for a demon. Tell us, where's glow girl?"

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Cliffhanger! What will Davis do with this unwelcome surprise? Things get much more complicated in the next chapter, coming soon!

Author's Note: No guarantees on when the next chapter will be out (as usual). I'm so bad at getting these things done quickly. But I do enjoy this story. It's probably my most prized story thus far (even more-so than "Walkabout"). In any case, I'd like to ask that you all review this work and let me know what you think. Thank you for reading, and I'll try to get the next chapter out ASAP.