"Ow!" TK cried.

"You okay, bro?" Matt asked from farther up the line.

"Yeah. Somethin' bit me, that's all." He called back. He knelt and rolled up his pant leg to reveal two small bleeding puncture wounds spaced about a quarter inch apart.

"They don't look too bad." Kari said dabbing at the blood with her handkerchief.

"Thanks Kari." She's pretty cool, for a girl. TK thought.

Gatomon peered at the wound a moment before moving away to talk with Tai, who in turn called Matt and Joe. Soon all the digidestined were gathered around.

Except for TK and Kari.

"They're doing it again." She snarled. "They're treating us like we're little kids."

"Well, technically we are." He said with a sheepish grin.

"Well, I'm gonna give them a piece of my mind." She said starting forwards.

"Kari, wait. I don't feel so good." He murmured sitting down. "Stay with me a while?"

"You do look a little rough around the edges." She admitted crouching beside him. "Tai can we rest here for a while?"

"We're going to Gennai's house." He replied. "Will you make it until then?"

She looked at TK who nodded feebly. "All right." She said.

As the group's conversation degenerated into another argument, TK lay back and stretched himself out in the grass.

"How ya doin'?" She asked.

"My tummy's upset and it hurts," He put his hand on his chest. "here, when I breathe, and the light hurts my eyes."

Kari folded her handkerchief into a slim strip of cloth and laid it over TK's closed eyes. "Is that better?"

"A little." He said trying to smile. "Thank you."

She lay beside him, holding his hand in her own. He had always seemed so strong, but now as she looked at him trying to be comfortable, she realized how small and vulnerable he really was. Yet this same fragile boy had made a promise. She could still hear his words ringing in her memory.

I promise I'll do everything I can to protect Kari.

He was only eight and she just a few months older, but they had seen much more than people two or even three times their age. She looked up as Gatomon left the group and started towards them. She moved to stand up but TK squeezed her hand.

"Please don't leave me Kari." His voice had a barely concealed hint of panic in it.

"I promise you TK, I'm always going to be with you, and if I do leave, I'll always come back to you. I'm going to talk to Gatomon and I'll be right back. Okay?"

"Okay." He said. Like her, he knew the value of a promise.

"What's going on Gatomon?" She snapped quietly.

"We're going to Gennai's. That's all you need to know right now."

"Gatomon stop treating me like a baby! You don't have to protect me from everything."

"That's my purpose in life Kari, to protect you. Knowing why we're going to Gennai's would only hurt you, and I can't let that happen." The cat digimon purred smoothly.

Kari was about to reply when TK began to vomit violently. She shot her digimon a scathing look as she hurried to help her friend, rolling him onto his side.

"Not doing so hot?" She asked as he finished in a series of dry heaves that left his small frame convulsing in agony.

"I feel hot." He mumbled wiping his mouth on the back of his sleeve.

"You are hot." Kari said placing a hand to his forehead. "You're burning up. Gatomon, do you have enough energy to digivolve?"

"Yes."

"Do it. We're going to fly to Gennai's house."

"GATOMON DIGIVOLVE TO... ANGEWOMON!"

"We shouldn't split up." Tai said worriedly as Angewomon scooped the children into her arms and rose into the air.

"Then keep up." Kari snapped, crimson eyes flashing. "Or keep arguing. It doesn't matter to me." She said as Angewomon flew towards Gennai's house in the lake. Only TK does. She thought.

"Shouldn't we wait for the others?" Patamon asked from where TK held him in his arms as he dozed.

"There's no time." Kari said, surprising herself with her own vehemence as they flew though the rapidly cooling air. "TK's really sick and Tai wouldn't have diverted us to Gennai's house if he didn't think he could help, but some 'mons know more than they're telling." She explained glaring at Angewomon. What's happening to me? She wondered. Why am I getting so worked up about this? TK's just a friend.

Isn't he?

"Look Kari, it's starting to snow." Angewomon replied effectively dodging the accusation.

Kari frowned at her, but smiled at TK as he sighed as the crystalline snowflakes landed on his face cooling his burning brow.

When they landed at Gennai's house, the flurries had become a proper snowstorm and the two young children hurried inside, Kari supporting a barely conscious TK into the house in the lake.

"Gennai!"

"No need to yell Kari." He said puttering out of the kitchen with a cup in his hand. "The others told me you'd be coming. This will help TK." He said moving towards the feverish boy.

TK was, however, lucid enough to be choosy. "Don' wan' you." He mumbled. "Wan' mommy."

"Shh." Kari said surprising herself with her own initiative. "Mommy's here, and I've got some medicine that'll make you feel better." She whispered as she took the cup from Gennai and guided TK to the couch. They had barely sat down when TK's upper half tipped over into Kari's lap. She lifted his head and tipped a small portion of the noxious fluid into his mouth.

He swallowed and gagged. "Ess yucky! Don' wan no more."

Kari took a sip and gagged. "Can't disagree with you there. Gennai, one for me please?"

"You not sick?" TK said, a puzzled expression on his face, his deep blue eyes glassy and out of focus.

"No I'm not, but if you're taking it, then I'm taking it." She said as Gennai returned with another cup of his vile brew.

It took three hours of grimaced sipping to finish both cups as TK could only stomach small sips. He tried a gulp for her sake and nearly lost all he had taken in already, and Kari wasn't going to let him suffer alone. Now alone on the couch the two children waited for the others as a warm drowsiness settled over them. "Feeling better?" She asked drowsily.

TK didn't answer. He was already fast asleep. Kari smiled and leaned back closing her eyes. I'll just rest my eyes for a moment. She thought.

As it turned out, a moment turned into an hour and a half before Tai shook her gently awake. "Hey Kari. You okay?"

"Mmm hmm." She murmured with a lazy stretch. "How long have you been here?"

"Just got in actually. It's a good thing Garurumon's at home in the snow. It's a major blizzard out there."

"I'm glad you're all okay." She said laying a hand on TK's forehead to check his temperature.

"How is he?" Matt asked.

"He's still warm, but he's a lot cooler than he was." She said pulling her hand away.

It was covered with blood and it took every ounce of courage the young girl could muster to look down at the boy asleep in her lap and not scream.

TK was sweating blood.

"Get Gennai." She whispered her eyes wide with fear. "Now."

"Hmm." The old man said peering closely at TK. "I was hoping to avoid this. "Kari why don't you go- "

"You're not sending me away." Kari said slipping out from under TK and pulling his lower half onto the couch. "I'm sick and tired of everyone treating me like a little kid when I've proven I can hold my own. Now tell me, what's wrong with TK?" She asked in a cold hard voice.

"TK was bitten by a Black Addermon." Gennai said gravely. "Their venom is not only extremely poisonous, but it also causes Crimson Blood Fever. I administered the antitoxin when you two arrived and I'd hoped we caught it before it developed into the Fever, but it seems I was wrong."

"Is there an antidote?" Sora asked.

"Yes. The golden tamashii flower, but it only grows on Protectorate Mountain on the other side of the digiworld."

"Let's go, Gabumon." Matt said starting for the door.

"No one's going anywhere yet." Gennai said. "First I have to see if Kari's sick and put TK and Patamon in quarantine. There's some snow gear by the door, so one of you can make dinner while the others go play. Nerves are frayed right now and the fewer people we have underfoot the better."

"But Gennai-" Matt began helplessly.

"No Matt. It's too dark. You'll be lost before you go a single mile. Besides, Gabumon needs to rest before he can digivolve into Garurumon again. Now you're staying here and that's final." He said.

"Come on, Gennai." Kari said somehow managing to scoop TK into her arms despite the fact that she was hardly bigger than he was. Gennai started to protest but she cut him off. "If I'm already sick, this isn't going to matter, but I'm going to stay with him."

"But Kari why?" Mimi asked.

"Because I made a promise."

***

As it turned out Kari wasn't infected, and after a thorough examination, was allowed to join the others for dinner. TK and Patamon, however, were ushered away into a room with an ill-foreboding red door. Gennai made them comfortable before he withdrew from the room wearing a white protective suit, which he then carefully shed and threw down an incinerator shaft before locking the ailing boy and his digimon in.

The group ate in a morose silence that Matt finally broke, asking the question that lingered on everyone's lips. "How do we get to Protectorate Mountain?"

"I suppose I should have known you kids wouldn't just let it go." He said pushing away from the table. Motioning them to follow, he led them to the library where he unrolled an ancient yellowing piece of parchment. "This map shows the shortest route from here to Protectorate Mountain. It's about a 14 day journey." The group surveyed the map in silence before Izzy raised a question that no one wanted to ask and everyone needed to hear.

"How long does TK have?"

Gennai sighed. "Ten days, fifteen at the outside." He said. "After that..." He trailed off leaving the worst case scenario hanging in the air. "You all should get some sleep. I'll make some provisions and tomorrow you can decide who's going for the cure.

An hour later Kari lay in her bed and tossed and turned vainly trying to sleep and rid her mind's eye of the image of TK sweating a pool of blood into his bedsheets. Finally she gave up and slipped out the door. She crept through the silent house until she reached the red door that marked the quarantine ward.

"I knew you'd come here eventually." Gatomon said slinking out of the shadows.

"I was going for a drink of water and I got turned around." Kari lied.

"Digi-Oscar worthy, but try it with someone who doesn't know you quite so well."

"Get out of my way, Gatomon. I'm going to see TK."

"You can't do that, Kari." Gatomon said worriedly.  "You'll get the Blood Fever and spread it to the others."

"No I won't, because I won't be here."

Gatomon's eyes widened as she realized what Kari intended. "You're going to Protectorate Mountain for the cure, aren't you?"

"Yes and I'm going to do it with or without your help. Now stand aside. I'm going to see TK."

"We'll go together." Gatomon said picking the lock with her claw. "I want to see Pata anyway."

They slipped inside and closed the door behind them. Kari crossed the room to TK's bedside while Gatomon slipped away to find Patamon.

"Hey TK." She whispered, gently taking his hand.

"Kari." He murmured smiling weakly. "You came back, just like you promised."

"Yeah." She said stroking his forehead with her free hand. "How ya feeling?"

"I hurt all over and I'm hot and cold and I wanna go to sleep." He whispered raspingly.

"Look TK, I've got to leave you for a little while." Kari began. That was all the farther she got before TK exploded into howls of misery.

"No! You promised you'd stay with me!" He cried hoarsely. "You promised! You- "

"TK, listen to me." She said hastily placing a hand over his mouth. "I promised I'd always be with you, right?"

"Yeah." TK said, tears flooding his pain filled eyes. "But now you’re goin’ 'way."

"I want to show you something. Close your eyes." Puzzled, TK obeyed. "Now think of me, the way I smile, the way I laugh..."

"That funny bang that keeps fallin' in your eyes." TK smiled. "It's like you're right here with me."

"Right, and no matter what happens I'll always be with you that way. Now I promised you I'd always come back but you've gotta promise me something. No matter how long it takes, you have to promise you're going to wait for me. Okay."

"Okay. I promise." He said squeezing her hand. They stood in silence listening to the quiet murmurs of their digimon. "You should go now, but I won't forget my promise." He whispered.

"And I won't forget mine." Kari replied kissing his forehead. "Goodbye TK."

"Not goodbye. Just..." He paused, his tiny face screwed up in thought. "until we are together again."

Meanwhile Gato was conversing with Patamon.

"And how's my little pork roast doing?"

"I am not a pig." He protested weakly. "Although I am feeling like one right now. Why is it so hot in here?"

"It's not the room Pata." Gato said solemnly "It's you. You and TK are both very sick."

"Ah. That's why I hurt so much." It was more of a statement than a question.

Gatomon nodded. "Kari and I are gonna get something to make you better, but we might be a while. Watch out for TK and be careful. You better be here when I get back."

"I'll be here, I promise. Besides, who would you pick on without me?"

"That's my Pata." Gatomon said. "I l- "She swallowed hard as the words stuck in her throat. "I'll be back as soon as I can, I promise."

"Come on, Gatomon." Kari said from the door.

"See ya soon." She said giving him a peck on the cheek.

"You're gonna get sick." Pata said weakly.

Gato shrugged. "It was worth it."

"Kari?" TK whispered in the darkness.

"Yes, TK?" She replied.

"Am I gonna die?"

Kari stood in grim silence, her hand on the doorknob. "No TK." Not without a fight, baby.

***

"Kari’s gone!" Mimi exclaimed. "Sora too!"

"Oh no!" Tai said racing to the foyer. "Their snow suits are gone."

"Gennai, we’ve got to talk to TK. I have a feeling he may know where they are." Matt said.

"I’ve already thought of that." Gennai said climbing into a protective suit and entering the quarantine zone. "Hello TK."

"She’s gone, isn’t she?" He murmured thickly, gazing at the old man through half lidded eyes.

"If you mean Kari and Sora, yes. They’re both gone."

"Didn’t know Sora was going too." TK said with a hint of surprise. "It doesn’t matter though. She’ll be back, because she promised me and she’ll keep her promise." He whispered closing his eyes. "So I gotta wait for her to come back, because I’ll keep my promise."

"TK did Kari say where she was going?"

"Just that she had to go and I had to promise to wait for her and I did and I will." He said wearily.

"All right TK. You get some rest." Gennai said moving towards the door.

"She’s got it, you know."

"What did you say?"

"Kari kissed me, so whatever I’ve got, she’s got too." He mumbled as sleep overtook him.

Gennai shed his suit and rejoined the others. "From what I can tell, Kari came to see him and made him promise to wait for her until she came back and she kissed him."

"She’s gone for the cure, hasn’t she?" Matt said as the realization of what happened hit him.

"And Sora probably saw her sneak out and followed her." Izzy said.

"But isn’t the map still here?" Gomamon asked.

"It certainly looks like it to me." Tentomon said.

"Looks are often deceiving." Joe said unrolling the piece of parchment.

Hey Guys
 Gone to Protectorate Mountain for the cure. Sorry about sneaking out like this but I have to do this, for my own reasons. Please don’t follow me. I have the Blood Fever.
         Kari

A little ways below the first was another note, equally brief.

Guys
 Gone after Kari. Will bring her back safe.
      Sora

"Come on Gabumon." Matt said heading for the door.

"Matt wait." Gennai said. "There’s something you need to know about this journey."

"How are you doing, Kari?" Gatomon asked.

"Too hot." She mumbled stuffing her coat into the backpack she carried and filling her handkerchief with snow before tying it around her head.

"Better?" Gato asked as she padded along on all four paws. Kari nodded as she trudged along in her snowshoes. "You know I could digivolve and -"

"You’ll do no such thing!" Kari snapped. "We’re going to need Angewomon to get that medicine back to TK."

"All right, no need to go viral about it. It was only a suggestion. Why are you so testy anyway?"

"It’s the fever." She said tersely. Why am I acting this way? She thought. I’ve been worse than a mother hen ever since TK got sick. It’s almost as if…

"KARI!" Gatomon shouted. Kari came back to reality in time to realize they were in a blizzard and her arms were starting to turn blue. Gatomon helped her back into her coat as Kari scanned the landscape and spotted the lights of a cabin nearby.

"This way!" She barked, trudging towards the house. The weary pair had just reached the door of the cabin when it swung open and a young woman pulled them inside.

The cabin was small, yet comfortable. A fire was blazing in the hearth, and a cauldron like pot hung over it simmering merrily. Kari turned to face her rescuer. "Thanks. I’m-"

"Kamiya Hikari, the eighth digidestined child, bearer of the crest of light. I’ve been expecting you." The woman said adding some herbs to the pot over the fire. "I’m Nintai, by the way."

"You knew I was coming?" Kari asked leaning heavily against the door.

"Oh yes. I know much about you. I know you’re traveling to Protectorate Mountain in search of the Golden Tamashii flower to cure your friend, the hope bearer, of the Crimson Blood Fever, the same fever you yourself have. And I know that five  gatekeepers await you. And I know that you don’t know what the entirety of your quest is about. Please make yourself comfortable. I’m making some broth that will hold off the worst of the symptoms until the next stop in your journey, but it will still be several hours before it's ready, and by then it'll be too late to travel. Will you be staying?"

"We really should keep going." Gatomon said to Kari.

"Gato we've been traveling nonstop for the last day and a half. It won't do anyone any good if collapse from exhaustion in the snow." She replied. "We both stay until we've rested agreed?"

"All right." Gatomon said. "But I'm not doing this for you." I'm doing this for my Pata.

"Well then make yourselves comfortable." Nintai said, gesturing to a pile of quilts, pillows and blankets with the end of the spoon she held before stirring the broth with it. The pair hung their snow suits neatly by the door, then Kari arranged the ragtag assortment of bedding  into two tidy mats before the fire.

"I'm just going to rest my eyes for a little while, Gato. Don't let me fall asleep okay?"

"Okay." She chuckled as the young girl immediately fell asleep. Gatomon carefully readjusted her body to make her more comfortable and adjusted her covers. "Heh. Rest your eyes." She murmured more to herself than anyone. "Good one kid, but you said it yourself. We've been traveling too long without sleep. Pleasant dreams." She whispered as Kari turned in her sleep. As she nestled down in her own bedding. "You'll wake us when the soups done right?" Nintai nodded as Gatomon peacefully dozed off.

"Dream little ones," Nintai said adjusting Gatomon's covers around her. "and know what's in your hearts."

Kari dreamt she was sitting by a lake when TK came and sat beside her. "Can you help me Kari."

"I can try." She replied. "What do you need?"

"Can you teach me how to tie my shoes?" He asked gesturing helplessly at the tangle of cloth and string on his feet. "I can’t do it too good."

"Okay. That shouldn’t be too hard." She said as she began to untangle the knotted cord.

Meanwhile Gatomon was dreaming of herself as Angewomon. "Come fly with me Angemon."

Angemon gave a nervous chuckle. "No, that’s okay. I’ll just stay down here."

"You’re not afraid of heights are you?" She asked.

"No. I don’t mind the heights. I mind the fall." He confessed. "I don’t really fly that well."

"I think you fly just fine."

"Well, yeah, when I’m close to the ground."

"All right Halo boy. Welcome to Flight Instruction 101. I’m going to be you’re flight instructor slash drill sergeant for the day.  So get up in the air. NOW!" She bellowed startling Angemon straight into the air. He promptly fell straight back to the ground.

"This could take a while." He moaned.

"You ain’t just whistlin’ digi, kid." She sighed.

While Angewomon was trying to get Angemon above the five thousand mile mark, Kari sighed and waved her hand in front of TK’s face. "TK."

"Huh?" He blinked coming out of his daze. "Was I staring again."

More like drooling, Kari thought. But you’re still cute. Aloud she said, " Yeah."

He flushed. "I’m sorry, Kari. It’s just that you’re very pretty."

Now it was Kari’s turn to blush. "Well TK if you don’t get the serious stuff out the way, you can’t do the fun stuff. So let’s get these shoes done, and then we just sit together and you can stare at me all you want."

"You mean it?"

"Sure do. I got nothing better to do." She said. "So are you ready to tackle those shoelaces?"

"Sure am!"

"Okay." She said. "First you take one lace in each hand…"

Meanwhile as Angemon made his fifteenth crash landing, although to all concerned it felt like his fiftieth, Angewomon sighed. "Angemon."

"Huh?" He said dusting himself off.

"Take off your helmet." She said untying the flowing pink sash that ran around her costume.  Puzzled he did as she asked, and she carefully tied the sash around his eyes. "Can you see anything?"

"No."

"All right. Now I promise you nothing is going to happen to you. Just hold onto my hand and trust me."

"Okay." He said nervously groping for her hand, which she comfortingly wrapped around his own. As he relaxed she slowly flew into the air.

"You doing okay?" She asked. When he nodded, she said, "Okay." and let go of his hand and flew backwards a few feet.

"Angie? Where are you?"

"Not far. Just fly towards my voice. You’re doing wonderfully, Angemon! Just a little further. There." She said taking his hand and removing his blindfold. "Look down."

He did and felt a moment of fear, quickly replaced by awe and wonder as he gazed over the vast landscape of the digiworld. "Is it always like this?" Angewomon nodded. "How high are we?"
 

"I guess about fifteen miles up."

"I wanna go higher."

"Another time. I’m about to revert to Gatomon, and she can’t fly." Angewomon laughed starting for the ground.

Gatomon… Gatomon wake up.

"You better go." Angemon said. "We can go flying together later." He said as he faded away.

"Lemme sleep." She mumbled burrowing deeper into the covers as someone tried to shake her awake.

"You weren’t supposed to fall asleep." Kari said smiling.

"What can I say? I’m a cat. I took a catnap." Gatomon said stretching as she winced painfully.

"A very long catnap." Kari said pulling herself painfully into a sitting position despite the protests of her aching muscles. "It’s a quarter after ten. In the morning."

"Good morning." Nintai said as she spooned broth from the still steaming cauldron. "I hope you two don’t mind being fed."

"I can’t bend my fingers, I’m so stiff, so I guess I don’t really have a choice." Kari said dejectedly.

Gatomon was silent as Nintai spooned the warm steaming brew into her mouth. "This isn’t a cure, but it will help you make it to your next destination."

"Thank you." Kari said as the soothing liquid trickled down her sore throat. Nintai just smiled and continued to serve the pair over the next two hours until they could eat no more.

"Thank you." Kari said gently pushing Nintai’s hand away. "We  really should be going now."

"But you can’t leave yet light bearer."

"Why not Nintai?"

"Because I’m Nintai, Gatekeeper of Patience. You and Gatomon have both proven you have patient hearts and that is the first step to proving yourself worthy for the prize that awaits you."

"If we’ve proven ourselves worthy why can’t we leave?" Gatomon said.

"You have to answer my riddle before I consent to your passage."

"Very well then." Kari said. "What is your riddle?"

"My riddle is this: What is no sooner spoken than it has been broken? Think carefully because you only have one chance to answer it correctly."

Kari frowned in puzzlement. What breaks when you speak? Ice, crystal, a heart.

Where did that come from? She thought in surprise as a small squeak shattered the silence.

"That’s it!" She cried. "The answer is silence, Gatekeeper."

"Well done, light bearer." Nintai smiled. "That is correct."  She crossed to a small table near the door and produced a bag of gold coins. "You’ll need these. When you leave, travel east with the sun at your back for four days and three nights. You should reach a seaport by sunset of the fourth day. Your next  Gatekeeper awaits you there."

"Thank you for everything Nintai." Kari said scrambling into her snowsuit.

"You’re more than welcome. May you find more than you seek." She waved as they set out.

More than I seek? Kari thought frowning. All I seek is the cure.

But why? A little voice in the back of her mind asked.

To her dismay she didn’t have an answer. She turned back to ask Nintai, but to her surprise, she wasn’t there. Where her cottage had stood there was an unblemished field of snow.

"You didn’t expect her to still be there, did you?"

"Not really, because patience isn’t something you can hold onto." She said to Gatomon. "Let’s go."

***

Matt swung down from Garurumon’s back as he reverted to Gabumon and the pair walked towards the cabin.

"Greetings friendship bearer." Nintai said softly as she swung open the door to admit the pair. "You seek the light bearer." It was a statement rather than a question.

Matt nodded. "Have you seen her?"

"She left yesterday morning, though you are not the only one to seek her." Nintai said pointing. There asleep in front of the fire were Sora and Biyomon.

"At least we found someone." Gabumon said quietly as the pair shivered under the thin ratty blankets Nintai had given them.

"True." Nintai said. "Since it is late you should stay the night and tomorrow I will set you upon the light bearer’s path."

"I will stay until it’s light enough to resume searching." Matt conceded as Sora and Biyomon shivered.

"I have given  the last of my bedding to the love bearer and her guardian. The rest is being purged of the light bearer’s  Blood Fever. Your room is this way."

Matt started to follow her, then slipped out of the long coat he wore and draped it over Sora. "You coming Gabumon?"

"In a minute." He said fiddling with his fur. Matt nodded and followed Nintai out of the room. A short while later Gabumon joined him as Biyomon nestled deeper into the warm fur her friend had left her and smiled.

***

Kari and Gatomon reached the small seaport as the sun sank below the horizon. "According to the map, we have to cross the ocean to reach the continent of Matrix where Protectorate Mountain is located, so I guess we’ll need a boat."

"Let's ask in here." Kari said leading the way into a smarmy looking tavern. "Excuse me..."

"Bugger off. Ye ain't ol' enough to buy nothin' and you're holdin’ up our payin' customers." The bartender snarled.

"I see you're still running the seedy dives, Tavernmon." Gatomon said springing onto the bench.

"Gatomon ye sly cat! Wher've ye been?"

"Here and there but that's hardly your concern. Get us a couple bowls of soup and a ship out of this burg will ya?"

"Th’ soups easy, th’ ship might be a lil' harder to come by." He snapped his burly fingers and a Gotsumon scrambled up to him. "Hit th’ docks an’ find me a ship headed to- " He looked to Gatomon for a destination.

"Protectorate Mountain." She said smoothly as Kari exploded into a coughing fit. "The kid and I are a little under the weather."

"Ye heard her, kid." Tavernmon nodded towards the door. The Gotsumon nodded and slipped outside. Once he had left Tavernmon leaned close to Gatomon. "Th’ only sick people headin’ out there have the CBF."

"Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. What’s it to ya?" Gato said flashing her claws suggestively. "How ya doing kid?"

"I-I-I’ll s-s-surv-v-vive." She managed moving closer to the fire.

"Gato, ye know I don’ care one way or another but… follow me you two." Kari sighed and reluctantly moved away from the fire as Tavernmon led the pair past the bar, through a door and down a corridor to a storeroom. "Ye understand I can’ have ye in wit’ the gen’ral populous. Health concerns an’ what not."

"Yeah, we’ll scare away all the healthy customers and their fat purses." Kari snarled bitterly as she started to unzip her jacket, then changed her mind as another cold flash left her shivering violently.

"Ye okay kid?" Tavernmon asked.

"Just coolin’ mon." Kari snapped back.

"I like ‘er Gato!" Tavernmon roared. "She’s got spunk!"

"So what are we supposed to do, sleep on the flour sacks?" Gato said snidely as she shook off a chill of her own.

"Gatomon, ye cut me t’ th’ quick!" Tavernmon gasped miming a dagger twisting in his heart as he reached up and tugged on a wine bottle. A moment later the wall swung away to reveal a small but well furnished room. "I keep this place for those customers that be wanting a lil’ more discretion abou’ their location, shall we say?"

"In other words, mons with a price on their heads." Gato said cutting through Tavernmon’s shoddy attempt at finesse.

"Righ’ ye are, Gato. Why don’ ye get some rest, and I’ll be back later wit’ yer soup and th’ infermation on yer passage."

"Hey Tavernmon." Kari said reluctantly relinquishing her coat.

"Yeah kid?"

"Thanks."

"Leaving us so soon friendship bearer?" Nintai asked as Matt and Gabumon gathered their things.

"Yeah." He said. "Patience has never been my strong suit, Gatekeeper."

"Why don’t you wait? You and the love bearer can search for the light bearer together." Nintai suggested.

"I work better alone." Matt said. "Now where did Kari go?"

Nintai sighed in resignation. "There’s a seaport four days east of here. That’s where the next Gatekeeper awaits."

"Thank you." He said swirling his coat around him as he knelt beside Sora and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "See ya around girl." He whispered before moving towards the door.

"You can feel love too you know." Nintai said quietly. "Not even your heart is that cold."

"Sometimes it’s safer to have a heart of ice." Matt said distantly. "Ice can’t feel pain." With that, he slipped into the snow with Gabumon by his side.

"Perhaps." Nintai said to the silence. "But even a heart of ice can be broken."

"Wake up, ye lazy cat." Tavernmon whispered.

"Whaddyawant?" She snarled, opening one eye from where she lay curled by the fire. Indeed if she were any closer she’d be in the fire.

"There’s a ship heading t’ Hippocratos Bay tomorrow. It’s righ’ at th’ base of Protectorate Mountain, an’ th’ cap’n’s only chargin’ two gold coins apiece. I brought yer soup, just a lil light broth, with a dollop o’ brandy in ‘em."

"The kid’s too young."

"It’ll warm ‘er up from the inside, an’ besides, it’s already done."

"So what do I owe you?"

"Nothin’. I put it on yer tab. Now eat up an’ get sum sleep, ‘cause yer ship leaves a’ first light." He said slipping back out the secret door as quietly as he had entered.

"What’s Hippocratos Bay?" Kari asked sitting up despite the screams of her aching muscles.

"A healer’s colony. Don’t get up." She said crossing to the human girl’s bed. "One of the more expensive ones since the plants found near Protectorate Mountain are impossible to find anywhere else." She said gently tipping the broth into Kari’s mouth.

"Thanks." She said as her shivers subsided somewhat. "I was shaking so bad I’d have spilled half if it on myself."

"That’s what friends are for." Gato said laying the empty bowl aside and pushing her human partner back into bed. "You get some rest. I’ll wake you in the morning."

"Mmm kay." She murmured as the small cat resumed her place by the fire. "And Gato?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for being here." She whispered as she dozed off.

"Of course little one." She replied quietly.

Kari dreamed she was walking beside a stream holding hands with TK.

"I’m not sure I can do this TK." She said. "It’s so hard."

"I know Kari, but nothing worth doing is ever easy, and I know you can do anything you put your mind to."

"Sorta like when I learned to ride a bike. I fell off a lot, but I didn’t give up."

"That’s right, and you can’t give up now, because I’m counting on you."

"But I’ve always had Tai and the others to help me before, but now it’s just me and Gato and… Oh TK, I’m scared."

"There comes a time in everyone’s life when they must stand alone Kari. For you that time is now. Remember what you told me when you left? About how you’d always be with me?" Kari nodded. "Well it works both ways. I’m with you too."

"But I feel awful, and I’m getting worse by the hour. Can’t I come back and let one of the older kids do it?"

TK nodded solemnly. "You could, but you would always have a nagging doubt if you did. You say they don’t treat you like a mature member of the team, but if you turn back, you’ll never know if you were mature enough to handle this. You’ll always wonder, because you’ll never know for sure if you could have done it. That is part of what you seek."

"Nintai said that!" Kari said excitedly. "What am I seeking?"

Kari, wake up.

"No! Not yet!" She cried as her hand slipped through TK’s as she left the realm of dreams.

"Understanding." He whispered as he faded away.

"Kari." Gatomon gently shook the young girl.

"No!" She moaned in dismay. "Why did you wake me up?"

"I know leaving your dreams can hurt. Sometimes the only refuge we have is in our dreams." She trailed off, her blue eyes out of focus for a moment. "But it has to be done. I’m sorry. We have to go or we’re going to miss our boat."

Kari pulled her screeching body out of bed as her stomach began to roll. "Kami-sama please don’t let me be seasick. That’s the last thing I need." She murmured as she slipped into her snowsuit. When they were ready, Tavernmon escorted them out he back door and down to the dock.

As they milled about waiting for the boarding call, a scabby old man and a teenage girl approached them.

"Forgive me stranger," The girl said. "but my father is a leper and cannot find work because of his condition. If we could afford passage, he could be cured and then be free to work and feed his family."

Kari looked to Gatomon, who was wary of everything, but she merely nodded. Trusting her friend’s judgment, she opened the purse and dropped some gold coins into the girl’s hand. "That should pay for passage and treatment." She said.

The leper’s daughter gaped in delight. "Oh thank you stranger! May you be well blessed for your generosity!"

As the pair scampered happily away, Kari turned to her digimon. "Were we just conned?"

"No Kari." Gatomon said. "We did what we would want someone to do for us if the situation were reversed. We did the right thing."

"All right then." Kari said as a little boy tugged on her leg. "Hey guy. Where are your parents?"

He tried to answer but his body was racked by a series of painful coughs. "All gone." He managed finally. "They got sick and now they’re all gone."

"How sad." Gatomon said. "I know what it’s like to be all alone. Do you have any money?"

He shook his head. "They spent it all trying to get better."

Kari delved into her purse and dropped two golden coins into the child’s hand. "I’m sick too, so we can travel together. Maybe somewhere we’ll find something to help."

The boy smiled and clung happily to her leg. Kari barely had time to return the smile before a leathery hand touched her elbow. "Excuse me child..."

And so it went. No sooner than one ailing party leave her than another took their place. Finally Kari's purse was empty and the supplicants abated.

"How are we going to pay for passage, Gato?" Kari asked leaning against a pole.

Before the little cat could reply, a young girl who couldn't be more than ten or twelve at the most approached Kari with a pale thin sickly boy half her age in tow.

"Forgive me stranger." She said bowing respectfully. "I know you have been greatly taxed already, but my mother is dead and my brother is deathly ill. He's all I left. Please..." She trailed off leaving her request hanging pregnantly unspoken.

"I'm sorry. I have a brother and he means everything in the world to me, and I don't know what I'd do without him, but my purse is empty. I have nothing to give."

"I understand." The girl said. Her face showed no resentment or anger, only the understanding that she was denied not out of greed, but out of lack.

As she turned to walk away, Gatomon said. "Wait. Take these." She pulled off her paw glove and shook four golden coins into the girl's hand.

"Oh thank you! But what of yourselves?"

"We'll find a way." Kari said with a gentle smile. "Go and take good care of your brother."

"Hippocratos Bay! All aboard who's coming aboard!" A voice bellowed.

As Kari and Gato watched the others board the ship, the little orphan boy tugged at her sleeve. "Let's go!"

"I can't." Kari said sadly. "I have no money."

"Then I'm not going." He huffed. "I'm gonna stay with you."

"If you stay with me, neither one of us will get better. Go on."

"Here!" He said trying to press the coins into Kari's hand. "You go instead."

"No. I gave you that and I'm not going to take it back. Now go." She said gently pushing him towards the gangplank where the sea of people swept him onboard. Once she saw her new friend safely on deck, she turned to walk away.

"And would you be leaving us before you've joined," The captain called. "light bearer?"

"I cannot pay for passage." She replied.

"But you already have. You were willing to give all you have to help another. For your selfless generosity, I will let you come aboard."

"Thank you." Kari said gratefully.

"Provided," He continued stopping them with a raised hand. "You can answer my riddle."

Kari sighed. "Very well Gatekeeper. What is your riddle?" She asked wearily.

"I am Kandasia, Gatekeeper of Generosity. My riddle is this:
I am never quite what I appear to be
Straightforward as I seem
But it’s only skin deep
For mystery most often lies beneath my simple speech
Sharpen your wits, open your eyes
Look beyond my exteriors,
Read me backwards, forwards, upside down
Think critically and answer the question:
What am I?
Think carefully light bearer. I will only accept one answer."

"Hmm." Kari mused aloud pacing the dock. "Never quite as it appears, seems straightforward but hides mysteries. Love, the heart, a puzzle." She paused her feverish mind trying to grab onto a train of thought. "Puzzles, mysteries, enigmas, riddles. You are a riddle." She said confidently.

"Brilliantly deduced light bearer." He smiled. "I am Captain Kandasia and I welcome you aboard the good ship Generosity."

"Well named." Kari said as her orphan friend locked around her leg.

"Now now child!" Kandasia said reprovingly.

"Let him be." Kari said wearily. She just wanted curl up somewhere and sleep for a while. "He’s my buddy, and besides, he doesn’t have anyone else."

"What’s your name?" He asked smiling.

"Hikari, but everyone calls me Kari." She said managing a weak smile. "What about you?"

"Uwabuton, but my family used to call me Wabby."

"Nice to meet you Wabby." Kari said stumbling slightly.

Kandasia frowned. "You’re tired. I’ll show you three to your stateroom." He said leading them below decks, through a labyrinthine trail of twists and turns until they stopped at a pair of oak doors. "Here you are. Try to get some rest." He said unlocking the door and hanging a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door.

"Thank you Captain." Kari said leaning heavily against the door.

"You’re welcome light bearer. May you find all that you seek." He said before disappearing down a corridor.

Kari pushed open the door and allowed herself a moment to take in the opulence of the room, then shed her snowsuit and headed straight for the queen size bed. She kicked off her shoes, climbed in and was asleep in moments, Gatomon curled up behind her.

Wabby smiled as he carefully hung up the pair’s foul weather clothing on the back of the door. He then adjusted the covers, straightened Kari’s shoes, and placed a cold compress on her head. She smiled and sighed happily. Wabby smiled again as he took off his own shoes and slipped into bed himself. It made him happy to make others feel better.

After all, He thought as he dozed off. I am a comforter.

***

"She was here Matt!" Gabumon said sniffing the air. "I can still smell her."

Matt stood up from where he was kneeling and slipped the four gold coins into his pocket. "We've got to find her, Gabu. She needs a grown up to look after her."

"Hey Matt, you know what Gennai told us about this journey?"

"I know what you're thinking Gabumon, and the answer is no." Matt said briskly as he scanned the seaport. "I'm not sure I can anymore..."

Gabumon hastily changed the subject, by sniffing the air. "She went..." He padded over to a nearby tavern. "in here. Someone must know where she went."

"Sounds good to me." Matt said throwing open the door and striding into the bar.

"Whaddya wan' ?" Tavernmon snarled.

"Information." Matt said leaning casually against the counter. "We're looking for a little girl, brown hair, red eyes, traveling with a Gatomon. You seen 'em?"

"Mebe I 'ave." Tavernmon grunted. "Wha's it worth t' ye?"

Matt seemed to mull it over for a moment before lashing out and slamming the bigger 'mon into the bar and pinning him there. "Your life seems like a fair price." He said coldly.

"All 'ight! I've seen 'em!" Matt relaxed his grip somewhat as he continued. "They lef' yest'rday mornin', headin' t' Hippocratos Bay. It's a 'ealers col'ny on th' s'uth'rn side o' Matrix. Tha's all I know."

"Thanks." Matt said releasing the large 'mon and slipping out the door with Gabumon close on his heels.

"Matt!" Sora shouted as she and Biyomon jogged up wearing matching scarlet snowsuits. "What are you doing here?"

"Same thing as you, trying to find Kari. I caught up with you at Nintai's last night, but I left early to find her before her scent faded." He explained.

"What are we gonna do when we find her?"

"I'm going with her to see this thing through." He raised a hand to cut off the other's argument "You're welcome to come along, but there's more to this trip than either of you know."

"So you're just going to let her do this?"

"She has to. She has to find the understanding that she seeks and she has to do it on her own."

"What understanding?" Matt said nothing. "Matt I'm not on this stupid quest like Kari is."

"Aren't you?" Matt asked strolling lazily towards the docks. "Tell me something Sora, why did you follow Kari out in the snow in the middle of the night?" Sora opened her mouth to say that she was looking after Kari, that she was just a vulnerable little kid, that someone had to see to it that she came back safely. The she closed her mouth again. Deep in her heart she knew that wasn't the reason. "Don't know?" Matt asked softly.

"No." Sora said sadly.

"Don't worry. You'll figure it out. Let's see if can catch up with her." He said as they reached the docks.

"I've been waiting for you, crest bearers." Kandasia said. "I'm Captain Kandasia of the good ship Generosity. You seek your light bearer." It was a statement rather than a question.

"Yes." Matt said. "We were told she made a journey to Matrix."

Kandasia nodded solemnly. "We're on the way there as we speak."

"But how can you be here, if you're on the way to Matrix?" Sora asked in confusion.

"The Generosity is always where she's needed. That is her magic, love bearer. Now one gold coin a piece for passage and we shall be on our way."

"But we don't have any gold." Biyomon said plaintively.

"It's amazing what you can find in the snow." Matt said pulling four gold coins out his pocket and dropping them into Kandasia's hand.

"Wonderful. This way please." He said leading them below deck to the stateroom that Kari had been -or was- occupying.

"She was here Matt!" Gabumon said sniffing excitedly. "Her scent is still strong."

"These were her quarters. She slept in that bed. She may be sleeping there now." The quartet pondered that possibility in silence before Kandasia cleared his throat. "Matrix is a good deal warmer than Server so you girls won't be needing that snow gear. I'll leave you alone so you can get some rest, perhaps talk about the past." He said gazing deliberately at Matt before heading for the door.

"What are you Kandasia?" Matt asked never taking his eyes off Kari's bed.

"A gatekeeper," He said stepping out the door. "and a seeker like yourselves."

Like us? But what am I seeking? Matt wondered as he stared at the now closed door. "You guy's can have the bed." He murmured absently as he took a pillow  to the couch.

"Are you sure Matt? There's plenty of room for all of us and that couch doesn't look very comfortable."

"Don't worry about me. It's a lot better than sleeping on the ground. Let's get some sleep."

Sora nodded and blew out the lights leaving the stateroom lit by dying flames of sunlight from the rapidly fading dusk. Matt slipped beneath his long coat and was just dozing off when Sora whispered in the growing darkness.

"Have you ever been in love Matt?"

The question dredged up emotions Matt had long thought buried and gone. He swallowed a sob that tried to escape his throat and spoke to the night. "Once, long ago when I was young and foolish. It didn't work out. G' night, Sora." He said ending the discussion.

The was silent for a moment then he heard the rustle of cloth as a light blanket fell over him. Somewhere near him in the darkness, he heard Sora whisper, "I'm sorry, Matt."

"No harm in asking." He replied.

"No." She said kissing him gently. "I'm sorry she broke your heart."

"Now docking at Hippocratos Bay! All Ashore!" A voice bellowed jarring Kari out of her sleep.

"Ungh." Kari moaned sitting up. "Did I sleep through the entire voyage?" She whispered hoarsely.

Wabby nodded and handed her a steaming mug of tea. "Four whole days you sleep. I try to wake you but you sleep like the dead." He clapped his hand over his mouth instantly wishing he could call the words back.

Kari just smiled and shook off a chill, though if it was from her fever or Wabby's choice of words, she wasn't sure. "Come on Wabby. I'm still very much alive, and I intend to stay that way, so let's see what we can find for a cure." She reached out and ruffled the young boy's dusty brown hair.

Wabby seemed to relax and slowly lowered his hands, as though afraid his serpent's tongue would inadvertently spew more venom. "Thank you." He said quietly as he handed a light cotton cloak that hung where their snowsuits had been. Kari gazed at it for a moment before fastening it around her neck as Gatomon flowed off the bed, her feline grace hiding her stiff aching muscles.

When they were ready they carefully retraced their steps and after a few wrong turns they made it on deck. Kari took as deep a breath of the clean salty air as her aching lungs would permit, then lead the trio down the gangplank. "Thank you for everything Captain!" she called.

"Fare thee well, light bearer. What you seek lies ahead if you're strong enough to claim it. And Guardian?"

"Huh?" Gatomon said.

"What you seek does little good unless you give it away." He called tossing a bag of gold coins to Kari, who had to jog down the gang plank to catch it. She turned to  thank him, but Kandasia and the Generosity were gone.

"I don't think I'll ever get used to that." Kari said tucking the bag inside her robe.

"Me either." Gatomon said. "And I'd thought I'd seen everything since I was hatched."

As the trio ambled down the docks, a faint crying sound reached Kari's ears. She turned slowly forcing her tired eyes to scan for the source. She was about to give up when Gatomon tapped her gently and pointed. There, huddled under a palm tree, was a quietly sobbing young blond girl.  Curious the three travelers crossed over and crouched near her.

"Why are you crying?" Gatomon asked.

The girl wiped her eyes and looked at them. When her eyes landed on Gatomon,  her face brightened a moment then fell. "I lost my kitty." She said sadly.

"Oh how sad." Kari said.

"My friends and I really sick. If you can take us to a good healer, we'll help you look for her." Gatomon said.

"Oh, that's easy! My mommy's a healer! Come on!" She said scrambling to her feet.

"What's your name, kid?" Kari asked smiling.

"Yari!" She laughed weaving through the crowds like a fish through sea grasses.

"I'm Kari!" She shouted trying to catch up.

"Kari and Yari! How cute, they rhyme." Wabby said laughing. They all laughed until Kari and Gato doubled over in violent coughing fits. "Are you okay Kari?"

"No." She said spitting up blood and wiping her mouth on her cloak. "I'm getting worse, but I'm too close to quit now."

"Maybe my mommy can help you." Yari said cautiously.

"Perhaps little one." Kari said taking a painful rattling breath. "Perhaps."

Hold on, TK. I won't fail you. I swear it.

The second day of the journey found Gabumon and Biyomon standing at the railing as Matt did his best to avoid Sora below decks.

"Why did you do it?" Gabu asked.

Biyo gave a sort of birdie shrug. "Sora woke me up and  said Kari had snuck out. I still don't know why she went after her. Or what she was doing up so late anyway, come to think of it..." The small pink bird trailed off, looking thoughtfully out to sea. "You were there at the cabin." Gabumon nodded as he gazed at the surf. "You gave me your fur to keep warm. Why?"

"You're my friend Biyo. I care about you."

"Do you love me?"

"I don't know." Gabu said staring out over the churning water before turning to Biyo. "I don't understand what love is, so I cant tell you. But I can tell you that you mean a lot to me, and I'd never let anything happen to you if I can help it."

"Do you mean it?"

"I promise."

The pair was silent as they stared out at the frothing waves, then Biyo leaned over and gave Gabu a gentle peck on the cheek. "Thank you for caring."

Yari waited patiently for her mother to finish with her last patient before leading the unlikely quartet into her mother's healing ward.

"Hello Yari."

"Hi mom." She said squeezing her mother into a tight hug. "I met some new friends."

"I'm Kari, this is Gatomon and this is Wabby."

"Wabby?"

"Uwabuton, actually." He said coughing.

"You don't sound very healthy Wabby" She said sternly. "By the way, I'm Isha."

"Mom, has Kofuku come home?"

"Not yet. Where did you see her last?"

"The orchard. Kari and Gatomon volunteered to help me find her."

Isha surveyed the three newcomers for a moment before declaring decisively. "None of you three look very good. Yari, take Kari and Gato to the waiting room. Wabby we're going to see if I can't  make you better.

Kari and Gato gratefully sank into the multicolored cushions, resting their weary bones. "Gato?"

"Hmm?"

"Why are you so intent on helping Yari?"

"Partly because there's a cat involved, partly because I know what it's like to be all alone, but mostly... mostly because Yari reminds me of a chibi Angewomon."

"And it's the right thing to do." She said as she lay back and shielded her eyes against the beam of sunlight that fell directly in her face having  neither the energy or inclination to move. As much as she wanted to sleep it was just as well that she didn't because a few moments later, Yari returned with a bowl of cold water. "I can't." She protested weakly. "I'll just throw it up."

"Please try, Kari. You're dehydrated and you're going to get sick."

"I already am sick." She replied pushing the bowl away.

"Please Kari?" Gato pleaded. "For TK?"

Kari sighed. Only Gato knew how to push all the right buttons. "All right." For TK, I'll try. She thought slowly sipping on what Yari had brought her. Surprisingly, her stomach offered no resistance and she slowly drank all she was offered.

"So you're okay?" Yari asked hesitantly.

Kari nodded. "Arigato, Kami sama." She murmured. No sooner had her whispered thanks fallen from her lips than her stomach rolled violently. Yari must have seen something in her face and pulled her to her feet as the younger girl stumbled hastily outside, vomiting in some nearby bushes until she finished in a series of dry heaves.

"Oh my goodness! I'm sorry, Kari!" Yari said.

Kari waved her away as she leaned against the building. "Oh kuso." She muttered. "I hate being sick." She groused as Yari led her back inside.

"Yari bring Kari in here please." Isha called.

"Will you be okay Gatomon?" Yari asked.

Gato nodded lazily as she curled up in a sunbeam. Reassured the two girls slipped into the healing ward as Isha came out of another door off to the side.

"Is Wabby all right?" Kari asked.

"Oh yes. He just got sick too many times in a row. Right now he's got a nasty case of the flu and it looks like he's just getting over a bout of pneumonia. With a lot of rest and a little pampering, he'll be fine in no time." Isha said cheerfully. She frowned looking at Yari. "What's wrong my child?"

Yari fidgeted a moment then murmured something about Kari and water.

"I see." Isha said frowning in thought. "Why don't you go keep an eye on Gatomon, while I check on Kari."

Yari opened her mouth to protest then closed it again. Nodding respectfully to her mother, she slipped out of the room and closed the door.

"I already know what  I have Isha." Kari said as the older woman helped her onto the exam table. "It's Crimson Blood Fever."

"Oh dear. Are you certain?" She asked as her frown deepened.

"Dead certain." Kari said wincing at her choice of words.

"How long ago did you contract it?"

"Ten or eleven days ago, I think. My friend TK got it first and I kissed him before I set out for the cure. Foolish, wasn't it?"

"That's not for me to decide, little one." She said in the same soothing voice her own mother used when she got sick. "What symptoms have you had so far?"

"Um, fever, cold flashes, muscle aches, chest pains, difficulty breathing, vomiting, and trouble keeping a train of thought."

"What about blood? Have you been sweating any?" She  asked gently stroking the young girl's hair.

"Not that I know of, but I've been pretty dehydrated. Most of the blood I've been coughing up."

"Kari honey, it's going to get worse before you get any better. The fever is entering its final stage."

"What can I expect?"

"It's not very pleasant." She said warningly.

"I have to know."

"All right. First and foremost the pain is going to get worse, much worse. You may have fainting spells and delirious visions. Your heart rate will double, maybe even triple. There will be blindness and you may lose the use of your arms and legs. You're mental processes will be severely impaired." Isha paused.

"What aren't you telling me, Isha?" Kari asked wearily.

"In the final stage of the disease, your blood will become toxic and poison you."

Kari lay in silence thinking first of herself and then of TK who was surely so much worse off than she was. "Is there anything that can be done?"

"No. If  you're going after the cure, you'll need all the rest you can get."

"Later." Kari said getting stiffly to her feet and stumbling over to the door. "Gato, let's go. We've got a cat to find."

"You wanna tell me about her?" Sora asked as Matt sat in a chair and she lounged on the bed, both feeling the gentle rocking of the Generosity in a fair wind.

"Not particularly." He said coldly.

At that moment Gabu and Biyo woke up, stretched, and headed for the door. "We'll be on deck if you need us Matt."

"Come on, Gabu, or we'll miss the sunset." Biyo said petulantly as she dragged the canine digimon out the door. "Bye Sora."

"Behave yourself Biyo!"  Sora called chuckling as she felt the gentle throb of her crest under her shirt as the door swung shut before rounding on Matt. "See? Even your digimon's falling in love."

"I'm not my digimon." Matt sighed, closing his eyes against Sora's continued onslaught. "I'm me."

"Damn it Matt! Why are you so cold?" She yelled.

"Because I made a promise!" He shouted.

"A promise never to love?" She screamed.

"No!" He exploded causing Sora to cringe away from him. He instantly regretted it as the rage left him. "A promise never to be hurt again." In the deadly silence that remained he could hear Sora sobbing softly. I shouldn't have done that. He thought.  She was only trying to help and I ... "I'm sorry Sora." He said moving to the door and swirling his long coat around him. "I shouldn't have yelled at you."

She deserves more than that. A voice whispered as he reached for the doorknob.

"Itami." He said softly.

"Wha-" Sora looked up at him with red perplexed eyes.

"Her name." He said opening the door and stepping out. "It was Pain."

"Kofuku!" Kari called walking among the exotic fruit trees of the colony's orchard. "Where are you, you little baka neko?" She muttered leaning against a tree and taking a timid sip of cold water from the canteen at her waist.

"Meow."

"Sheesh, don't take it personally." She muttered taking a few unsteady steps as her fever addled mind started connecting the pieces.

Something said meow.

Cats say meow.

She was looking for a cat.

"Kofuku neko?" She called hopefully.

"Meow."

She shaded her eyes and swept the ground around him to no avail. "Where are you?" She asked stamping her foot.

Much to her surprise and acorn hit her in the head. She looked up, a sour rejoinder on her lips only to find herself staring into the yellow eyes of a calico cat.

"Kofuku neko, I presume?" She said more to herself than to the treed cat. "I can only assume you're stuck up there so…" She sighed, folded her cape, and stuffed it roughly into her waistband as she began to climb.

After what felt like an eternity, Kari paused, each shallow breath a raging fire in her chest as she stared at her quarry. "You coming or do I have to come out there and get you?"

"Meow." Kofuku wailed plaintively.

"Baka neko." She muttered dragging her aching body out onto the limb. No sooner had she gathered the trembling cat into her arms then the branch she clung to gave way plummeting both of them to the ground below. With a speed and clarity of thought that surprised even her, Kari whipped her cloak out of her waistband and snapped it outward wrapping it around the nearest branch, checking her descent.

But fortune, like all good things must come to an end, as Kari found out when her aching muscles forced her to release the cloak and she tumbled to the ground never releasing the frightened Kofuku.

I gotta stop falling for cats. She thought as her head hit the tree trunk, robbing her of consciousness.

"Now Yari, be reasonable."

"Not yet mother."

Kari's eyes flickered open as Isha and Yari’s argument brought her back to reality.

"She has passed your test, Yari!"

"I won't ask her my riddle yet mother and there's nothing anyone can do to change my mind."

"All right. That's your decision, but let me tell you something. That little girl left someone important behind, even if she doesn't realize it yet. I can tell that even though I'm not a Gatekeeper anymore. Heaven only knows how she managed to make it this far, but whatever is sustaining her won't last forever. I give her a day and that's being obscenely generous. Your delaying her may do her far more harm than good."

"She's just a child!" Yari wailed. "No matter how strong she is, she shouldn't have to face this yet!"

"She reminds you of yourself, doesn't she?" Isha asked calmly.

Yari sighed. "Dawn. That will give her a few more hours of sleep."

"You should check on her." Isha said.

Kari lay back as her fever addled mind tried to understand what she had overheard.

"You're awake." Yari said sitting beside her bed.

"I heard…" She managed.

"Good." Yari said. "That makes things a bit easier. You cracked your head pretty hard. How are you?"

"Got a real nasty headache." She said closing her eyes. "So which one are you, Gatekeeper?"

"I am Omoiyari, Gatekeeper of Kindness." The little girl said.

"Who would have thought?" Kari mused quietly. "And Kofuku?"

"My test. Would you like my riddle now light bearer?" She nodded silently. "Very well then. My riddle is this:

I am just two and two, I am warm and cold
And the parent of numbers that cannot be told
I am lawful, unlawful, a duty, a fault
I am often sold dear, good for nothing when bought
An extraordinary boon and a matter of course
And yielded with pleasure when taken by force
Alike the delight of the poor and the rich
Though the vulgar is apt to present me his breech.

Don't answer yet. Think about it and give me your answer in the morning."

Kari nodded as sleep overtook her and dreams welcomed her to their world.

Matt was standing at the Generosity's railing when Sora found him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have pushed you." She said.

"And I shouldn't have blown up on you. Do you still want to hear about it?" Sora nodded and he began. "I met Itami three years ago when I was eleven. It was my birthday party actually, and I wanted nothing to do with it, so I was staying as far from the attention as I could, then I saw her sulking by the refreshment table." He laughed bitterly. "Black hair, red eyes and the name of pain. Guess I should have known better huh?"

"What happened?"

"She hurt me. Bad." He said. "I won't go into the details because the scars are still fresh," He paused to lay a hand over his heart. "here. We split up and my parent's divorced shortly after that."

"Your world was falling apart around your ears." Sora said understandingly.

"Not really. Somewhere between unraveling and tearing, but I didn't know that then. All I knew was that it hurt somewhere I couldn't touch and couldn't heal. It almost destroyed me and I swore then that I would never feel pain like that again."

"Oh Matt, I never knew." She said draping an arm over his shoulders. When he didn't pull away, she wrapped both arms around him in a comforting hug. He stiffened a moment, then opened his arms to accept her gift.

"Kari! You shouldn't have come." TK cried.

"I'm sorry." She said looking around the vast featureless fog shrouded void.

"It's all right. I'm glad you're here. Are you all right?"

"For now. I've reached the third Gatekeeper and-" Suddenly Kari screamed. "TK! Behind  you!"

TK wheeled around to face the shadowy misshapen creature that was stealing up from behind. "NO! You can't have either of us, so BEGONE!" He roared in a voice like thunder.

The creature hissed in frustration and retreated into the shadows. "We're dying." Kari said simply. "I can feel it."

TK nodded grimly. "Yes. The creature is Death and he'll try to take you in your sleep. Do you understand?"

"I'll have to stay awake, but what about you?"

TK sighed and took both of Kari's hands in his own. "I'm gonna have to leave you." He replied sadly. "It'll just be you and Gato."

Kari frowned, then nodded. "All right, TK. But I don't have to like it."

"Neither do I, Kari. Can I help at all?"

Kari nodded and repeated Yari's riddle. "Do you know what it is?"

"Hmm. Two and two, hot and cold, sold dear but worth nothing when bought. Yielded with pleasure when taken by force."

"I'm waking up TK." She said gazing at her fading hands as a low breeze blew in.

"Lawful and unlawful, the delight of the rich and the poor. The vulgar would present me his breech." He muttered as the wind wailed louder around him and Kari faded until she was little more than a sickly shadow. He was about to give up when he struck by a sudden insight. Taking a deep breath he shouted as loud as he could over the hurricane force winds. "What did we share before you got sick?"

Kari gave him a puzzled look showing that she had heard him before she faded completely away. "Good luck, my Hikari." He whispered as he too left the realm of dreams. "I'll keep my promise."

Kari opened her eyes and groaned. "Just what I don't need." She moaned trying to sit up and failing miserably. "Another riddle." What had they shared? The night, their words...

Wait. Could that be it? She thought a moment, turning the gatekeepers riddle over in her mind. It all made sense.

"Gatekeeper Omoiyari." She croaked.

"Yes Light Bearer?" The young girl asked sadly.

"The answer to your riddle is a kiss."

"You are correct, Light Bearer." She said glumly as she helped the ailing child out of bed. "I shall take you to the next step in your journey."

"What  'bout Gato?"

"She's too sick Kari." Isha said. "She'll have to stay here while you go on alone."

"Fish sticks?" She said frowning in puzzlement.

"She's too sick to understand mom." Yari said. "Come on Kari." She said handing the girl her cloak her cloak and leading her into the dawn.

***

"Kari, listen to me." Yari said patiently.

"Huh?"

"You have to climb Protectorate Mountain. Understand?"

The sickly child looked from the mountain to the young gatekeeper, her brow wrinkled in thought. "Me… me go up?"

Yari choked back a sob. "That's right little one. There's a prize for you at the top, so go on."

Kari stared at the girl a moment before pulling her into a hug. "’anks Yari."

Yari pulled the young girl to her as tears flowed down her face. "No problem Kari." Reluctantly she forced herself to let go of the ailing light bearer. "You be careful, ‘kay?"

Kari nodded and started to climb.

***

Kandasia rapped on the door of the state room.

"What is it, Kandasia?" Matt asked.

"Bad news, crest bearers. There's a storm coming and we'll have to drop anchor until it passes."

Matt frowned at the thought of a delay, then nodded. "Do whatever you have to."

Kandasia bowed and left. "I heard." Sora said slipping up behind Matt. "I don't like the delay any more than you do, but maybe I can take your mind off Itami, since I was the one who reminded you of her."

"What about you Sora?" Matt asked suddenly. "Do you have a sad love story you want to share?"

"Not really." She said. "Mine is more a story of betrayal. Girl meets boy, girl falls for boy, and girl walks in on boy friend and best friend screwing like rabbits. Needless to say, I don't have many friends anymore." Matt chuckled. "I'm glad you find that amusing!" Sora snapped peevishly.

"It's not that." Matt said holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Look at the irony of this: The bearer of friendship can't feel love,"

"And the bearer of love can't feel friendship. How sad is that?" She murmured looking more than a little green.

"Are you okay?" Matt asked. "You look a little queasy."

"Just a bit. You look a little off yourself."

"It's the storm." He said leading her over to the bed. "We'd better just lay down and ride it out." With that he lay beside her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist.

Maybe… Just maybe…This time… will be different. They thought in unison as they drifted off to sleep.

***

It was about noon when Kari dragged herself over the ledge with a Herculean effort.

"Turn back child." A harsh voice growled. "Your journey ends here."

Kari blinked hard, forcing the darkness from her eyes. Before her stood a blazing crimson dragon, resplendent even to her fading vision. "No." She said firmly, forcing her fever addled mind to focus.

"You will go no further child!" The dragon bellowed. As if to illustrate this point, he spewed a jet of white hot fire at the stupefied girl.

Kari recovered her wits in time to stumble away from the brunt of the blast, crying out in pain as her right shoulder was singed filling the air with the stench of scorched skin and burnt blood. "I will not turn back." She snarled through pain gritted teeth.

"Be realistic child!" The dragon bellowed. "You are sick, alone, and now wounded. Even your staunchest guardian has abandoned you. Turn back while you have your life."

Kari thought over his words. True, Gatomon couldn't be here with her now. Also true, she was sick and the damage the creature had done hurt like nothing she had ever experienced before. But something wasn't true. Unsurprisingly she found her thoughts turning to the others and their crests.

Taichi. Courage. She had always depended on her brother's strength and thinking of him now made her stand a little straighter. She had faced the worst the digiworld could throw at her. She had felt fear, but like her brother, had the courage to face it if she looked deep enough.

Izzy. Knowledge. A smile tugged at her lips as she though of the ebony eyed, scarlet haired genius who acted as the voice of reason. Once he got to following an idea he didn't stop until he was satisfied, and she wasn't going to stop until she had the cure.

Mimi. Sincerity. She closed her eyes and let the tears flow. She hurt in places she didn't know she had, her objective was tauntingly close, and to turn back now would mean the only thing she couldn't face. Failure.

Joe. Reliability. He'd never let any of his friends down. Thinking of him gave her the determination not to do so either.

Sora. Love. Kari frowned. Several of the riddles had that underlying theme. Why was that becoming so obvious in her life now, when she had never thought of it beyond the brother & sister relationship she and Tai shared? Was that why she was doing this?

Matt. Friendship. His brother was counting on her. He and the others had been like a family to her and nothing was going to happen to any of them if she could help it.

TK. The child of Hope. She had always drawn hope from his presence and now, she was his hope. Failure was no longer an option.

"No." She said in a flat emotionless tone. "I will not turn back. I may be physically alone, but I carry the spirit of all my friends." She continued her voice rising in strength. "None of us will ever forsake any of the others, and I will not back down while I live and breathe. You tell me to turn back?" She paused now, each word carrying a heavy and deliberate emphasis. "I. Tell. You. DEATH FIRST!"

To her surprise, the dragon clapped its paws together and laughed. "Well spoken, light  bearer. I am Chujitsu, the Gatekeeper of Loyalty. Time grows short so here is my riddle.

Sometimes glitters, but often not.
May be cold, or may be hot.
Ever changing, though the eye can't measure.
Concealed within may be many treasures.
Some find safety beneath its gate
While others may die beneath its weight
Cracked and broken it brings forth life.

What am I?"

"My onii-chan told me this a long time ago, but it doesn't make anymore sense now than it did then. The answer is a human heart."

"Correct, light bearer." Chujitsu said shrinking to the size of a small cat and moving aside. Pausing only long enough to pet the diminutive Gatekeeper, the weary girl continued her climb.

***

"Crest bearers!" Yari called as Matt, Sora and their digimon descended from the Generosity. "This way."

"Who are you?" Sora called, jogging to catch up with the young girl.

"Omoiyari, Gatekeeper of Kindness." She said briskly as she led them through the crowd. "You both understand the nature of this journey, though your light bearer has one final step before she understands."

"So what do we do?" Matt asked.

"Wait, rest, and hope." She said.

***

With the last of her strength, Kari heaved herself over the last plateau with her pulse thundering in her ears as the last of her vision faded to inky blackness.

"And now it ends." She mused quietly before coughing violently. She tried to stand only to have her legs crumble beneath her. "But not like this."

"And how would you have it end, light bearer?" A voice like crystal wind chimes asked.

"I will face you as I have faced you all, Gatekeeper." She said drawing on the last of her already overtaxed resources to rise unsteadily to her feet. "As an equal."

"Very well light bearer. I am Seijitsusa, Gatekeeper of Sincerity and my riddle is this.

What must you keep even after you give it away?"

"I am sick of these riddles, Gatekeeper. You're playing with my best friend's life and I don't appreciate this. I gave him my word I'd return with the cure and if you won't give it to me, sick or not, blind or not, crippled or not, I will take it by force." She snarled. "I will keep my word.."

"Very well done Light bearer. That is correct. Now tell me, why?"

"I don't understand."

"Why are you here?" Seiji asked. "Why have you traveled the path of  love?"

"The path of love?" Kari repeated dully.

"You have proven worthy of the other Virtues. Patience to bear with your love through anything, Generosity to give what must be given for love, Kindness to carry you spirit and nurture your love, Loyalty to support your love and forsake all others, and now Sincerity to be open in all things. So I ask you again, light bearer. Why?"

"My friend is sick. I knew nothing of the path. I sought only the cure."

"Bah!" The harsh rejoinder clashed with the melodic voice that delivered it. "You cannot expect me to believe that you braved a blizzard, crossed the ocean and climbed a mountain for a mere friend. Look at yourself."

And suddenly Kari could see, not with her blind physical eyes but with the clarity and sharpness of her minds eye. She saw her physical self, an ugly maroon blossoming under her bandaged head. Her face was marked with angry red scratches and one particularly nasty one still trickled fresh blood around the dried crust near her chin. Her right shoulder was cracked and bleeding through the blackened skin. Her cloak and clothing were so badly shredded that they barely left her decently covered and her usually fair skin was marbled with black and blue bruises.

She was about to turn away when she glimpsed something beneath her own battered shell. What’s this? She wondered.

The seat of your soul. Seiji replied silently from her side.

If she was startled by the intrusion, Kari didn’t show it. The truth, the answer I seek is here. I know it is. She mused peering more closely into the golden light. To her surprise, there were two figures there instead of the one she had expected.

Half souls. Seiji said helpfully. Why don’t you look closer?

One was clearly Kari with her chocolate brown hair and warm ember red eyes and caring nature. The other was foreign and yet familiar with dusty blonde hair, laughing sapphire blue eyes, and a compassionate spirit that never lost hope.

Takeru? Kari gasped. If I have half of his soul, what does that mean?

What do you think it means, child of light? Seiji asked patiently.

It means… Kari paused thinking. Then it came to her as clearly as anything had ever come to her in her life. In the core of her being she knew. It means he has half my soul. Together we are complete.

"You two are lucky. Half souls are very rare and sadly, most half souls never meet their significant other." Seiji said aloud as Kari’s vision faded to inky blackness once more. "I ask you again. Why are you here?"

Kari didn’t waver, but instead answered with a clarity that she had never known before this moment. "I love him." She said simply. "I love him and I’m afraid to live without him."

"Now you understand." Seiji said pushing a cloth wrapped bundle into Kari’s hands.

"Arigato Gatekeeper." She said before pitching off the cliff in a faint.

"Gotcha!" Sora said catching Kari by the waist as the semiconscious girl plummeted past Birdramon.

"Momma?" Kari asked as the bundle tumbled from her numb fingers. "Oh momma I met the most wonderful boy and I love him but I'm tired momma. I'm just gonna sleep for a little bit, but if I don't wake up momma, promise me you'll look after him and tell him… tell him…"

"No Kari." Sora said by a sudden certainty that if she did go to sleep Kari wouldn't wake up. "You're going to stay awake and tell him yourself, okay? Birdramon, head for the Generosity!"

"I don’ feel good." Kari said nesting into Sora’s arms.

Sora just cradled the younger to her. This girl who had seemed so strong was now reduced to huddling in the arms of someone she erroneously thought was her mother. Sora felt her heart break as she began to sob.

***

Matt leaned out and grabbed the falling bundle as Garurumon took Gato’s inert form and gently swung her onto his neck. "Let's go Garurumon." He said briskly as Birdramon glided towards the docks. "Back to the Generosity."

"Good luck and god speed!" Yari called.

"Thanks!" Matt shouted as the blue wolf digimon loped off towards the dock. The pair leaped aboard the Generosity, Garurumon reverting to Gabumon at the last instant.

"Wait for us!" Sora cried cradling Kari to her chest as she jumped from Birdramon's claw into Matt's arms.

"Unfurl all sails! Rowers to your posts!" Kandasia bellowed. "We're racing the black reaper and he's got a head start!"

"Now Birdramon!" Sora shouted as the last of the sails dropped into place.

Birdramon flapped her powerful wings as she flew behind the Generosity, blowing the weary adventures swiftly home.

***

"Miss us?" Matt asked as he cradled Kari in his arms. Sora tossed Gennai the precious antidote, before the digidestined vanished behind the foreboding quarantine door.

"Sora." Kari coughed as the older girl tucked her into bed. "Promise me..."

"What is it, Kari?" Sora asked leaning close.

"I'm dying Sora. I'll hold on as long as I can, but if-" She broke off into a coughing bout. "If something happens, promise me you'll watch over TK and Gato for me. Can you promise me that?" Gripping the older girl's hand as she searched for her with sightless eyes.

"I... I promise, Kari." She choked squeezing her hand.

Kari sighed and sank into the quilts unmoving.

"No!" TK cried quietly. "Yama-chan," He said groping blindly for his sibling's hand. "I gotta go after Kari. I promised I'd protect her, but if I don't come back...."

"I'll keep your promise." Matt said patting his hand as he slipped from the living. "I love you." He sobbed.

"And I love you." Sora said wrapping her arms around him as they shared their grief. "It isn't fair!" She sobbed. "I went after Kari because TK was the only thing left you had to care about, the only thing you loved. I didn't want to break your heart, so I was going to go, then Kari beat me to it, and now they're both dead."

"You didn't  want to see me get my heart broken again, did you?"

"I will never hurt you." She whispered.

***

"Kari!" TK yelled into the inky blackness.

"TK!" Her voice echoed across the shadowy wasteland. "I came back as I promised, but I can't stay with you."

"What are you saying Kari?" He called struggling against the entwining darkness that tried to restrain him.

"I'm sorry TK, but I won't be coming back from this journey."

"NO!" TK screamed lunging against his restraints to wrap his hand around Kari's fingers. "I won't let you go."

"You have to Takeru." She said trying futilely to twist her hand free. "I don't want this either, but I'm too weak to come back."

"I won't go back without you!" He cried squeezing her hand tighter.

"TK, you're hurting me!" She sobbed.

"Well you're hurting us!" He exclaimed. "Tai, and Gatomon, and yourself! And worst of all you're hurting me, here!" He moaned pressing her hand to his heart.

"TK, I'm sorry. I lov-"

"Don't say that!" He snapped. "If you loved me you wouldn't break my heart this way." He whispered sobbing softly.

"Oh Takeru, I never meant to hurt you." She whispered too low for anyone else to hear. "No matter what, I will always love you."

***

Matt held Sora as she sobbed. He stroked her hair and tried to comfort her. "I loved her like a sister Matt! Do you have any idea how much this hurts?"

"I love you, Sora." He whispered. "And I will never betray you."

***

"I don't want to hurt anyone," TK whispered as he released the slender strand of life that tied him to the others. "but a life without Kari isn't worth living. We will never be parted."

***

Across the space of time and dimension, life and death, four hearts made a sincere promise as four children spoke two words in unison.

"I promise."

Those words gave birth to a miracle.

***

As if on cue, the crests of Light, Hope, Friendship and Love exploded into a blinding light.

"I stay with you." TK said defiantly locking eyes with Kari.

Kari nodded as the darkness slipped away and strength returned to her ailing spirit. "I'm tired." She said wrapping her hand more fully around TK's. "Let's go home."

***

"Yello Oniichan." TK whispered.

"TK! I thought you were dead!" Matt cried gently squeezing his younger brother as Sora crossed to Kari's bedside.

TK shook his head and pointed weakly across the room. "I stay with her." He murmured sinking not into the cold hands of death, but the warm arms of slumber.

Sora returned with a grim but relieved smile. "She's alive. He brought her back." She jumped into Matt's arms as tears of joy rolled down her face.

"I wouldn't have thought it possible." Gennai bringing in a tray full of steaming mugs. "I can't explain it."

"Today is Christmas Eve, Gennai." Matt said sipping on a cup of the antidote as he placed one beside his younger brother's bed. He would need it in time, but for now he was out of danger.

"It's a time of miracles, presents, and promises." Sora said.

***

The next day an alarmingly thin Patamon helped a weary Gatomon move about the cabin. "Thanks for everything Gato."

"Stop a minute, Pata." She said leaning against the wall of a secluded alcove.

"Do you need to rest?"

She shook her head. "Digimon heal fast, remember? But I do need to tell you something. I-" She broke off as fear tightened her throat.

"Go on, Gato." He said soothingly.

"Patamon I love you." She blurted out turning away.

"I know." He said softly.

"But then why-"

"Because you had to say it, Gato. You had to admit to yourself that you can still love."

"You don't understand, Pata. The only other 'mon I ever loved was Wizardmon and he-" She broke off sobbing.

"I know. Evil destroyed the only one you ever loved, but you destroyed that evil, my angel. I love you as well. I don't know if it's because we're both angel types, or if we're echoing TK and Kari's feelings for each other or-"

"Pata."

"Huh?"

"Shut up." She said kissing him deeply.

***

"It's good to see those two together." Biyomon said.

Gabu nodded. "Especially Gato. She's been alone too long and hurt too much.."

"Matt and Sora too." Biyo said thoughtfully as they stopped in a doorway. "Do you think the kids emotion's have something to do with how we feel?"

"Possibly." Gabu said. "But it doesn't matter. I love you anyway."

"Oooh! You're under the mistletoe!" Mimi squealed pointing to the flower that hung from middle of the doorway.

"What's that mean?" Gabu asked looking perplexed.

"It's a human tradition." Matt explained drawing Sora close to him. "You two are supposed to kiss."

"Well of it's a tradition..." Biyo said leaning close as Gabu kissed her gently. When they broke apart the little avian said. "Uh Sora?" while gazing at a point above her human partner's head. Sora followed her puzzled gaze, to see a sprig of mistletoe hanging above her head on a string.

"It's tradition." Matt said.

"And traditions must be observed." She murmured leaning in close to kiss her new love.

Tai smiled. It was good to know that Sora had let someone back into her heart after all this time. Everyone had always assumed they would be the ones to pair off together, but to him Sora was a great friend and nothing more. Right now anything beyond that would be too awkward to work, and what he wanted most was Sora's happiness. Maybe I do love her. He thought. But that time will come later if it's meant to be. For now she's happy and that's all that matters. "Galloping Greymon." He said blandly. "The mistletoe is moving. Where will it stop?"

As if answering his question the mistletoe came to a bobbing halt over Mimi's head. The brunette girl frowned and turned to find a grinning Koushiro gripping the stick that held the mistletoe aloft.

"Koushiro!" She said sternly, plucking the flower from the young genius' hands. "If you want a kiss..." She trailed off as she gave the younger boy a warm loving kiss. "just ask." She whispered in his his ear. "Merry Christmas."

"Wha-" The bewildered red head asked before the realization struck him. "You're..." The brunette nodded with a smile. "It's the best gift ever, but I don't have anything for you."

"But you do, Kou-chan. You see all I want for Christmas is you." She said wrapping her arms around her beloved and holding him.

"Come on honey." Matt said leading Sora away. "Let's check on the other lovebirds."

***

With a seemingly superhuman effort TK pulled himself out of bed and tottered unsteadily to Kari's bedside. Except for his shining eyes, one would be hard pressed to identify this thin, pale, ragged child as the bearer of Hope. For the first time he saw how beautiful she was. He ran a finger down her cheek to prove to himself that this angel was real. Summoning his courage, he reached out and gently shook her.

"Lemme 'lone." She mumbled. " 'm sleepin'."

"I gotta ask you som'min. It's 'portant." He said pleadingly. Kari slid over as TK clambered up into the bed and collapsed with a sigh. "Kari, how ya feel 'bout me?"

"How ya feel 'bout me?" She countered.

"I love ya. Di'n' know it a' firs' though." He said quietly. "I was hopin'  th' eighth child'd be som'on' my age, but now that I thin' back... I wan'ed som'on' I could care for, who woul' care for me too, som'on' who made me complete." He paused breathing slowly and deeply. "I wan'ed som'on' to love."

"I love you Takeru." Kari murmured. "Di'n' know it 'till I 'mos' los' you. It too' this journ'y to sho' me wha' you meant ta me an' I'm no' gonna loose ya  'gin, kay?"

TK nodded wearily and tried to get up only to fall back onto the bed. " 'm gonna sta' a while, 'kay?"

Kari nodded and was silent for a long while. TK thought he had fallen asleep when she spoke again. "Sing to me TK."

TK was thoughtfully silent for a moment. "Dere's a song my mommy used to sing when me and Matt were little. Sometimes Matt sings it to me at night when I can't fall asleep." He took a deep breath and began to sing

Kari fell asleep lulled by TK's gentle voice. As she drifted off, she saw the high points of her journey, meeting the gatekeepers and Wabby, her dream at Nintai's, tumbling from the tree with Kofuku, but the most special memory was the knowledge that she shared half of TK's soul and that they always did and always would belong together.

TK sensed Kari drifting off to sleep as a deep weariness filled him. To his surprise Sora picked up where he had stopped as Matt accompanied with a soft harmonica melody.

As the two youngest 'destined drifted off to sleep and Matt and Sora embraced the four whispered in unison,

"I love you."

~Fin~

Ah. Now for all those little Japanese terms I used.

Seijitsusa- Sincerity
Chujitsu- Loyalty
Omoiyari- Kindness
Neko - Cat
Baka neko- Stupid cat
Itami-Pain
Kofuku- Joy
Isha- Healer
Uwabuton- Comforter
Kandasia- Generosity
Kami sama- God
Nintai- Patience
Tamashii- Soul