Thank you everyone for the absolutely wonderful support you're all giving me as it means a lot to me as I don't feel like I'm the greatest writer so thanks a lot. Thank you to NeoMiniTails for betareading this chapter!

Chapter 3: Dragomon's Call Rejected

Where's Tai? Why'd he get taken? Is it my fault? Many questions ran through Kari's head as the group decided to head to Davis's house together; she couldn't help but feel as if this had something to do with the Dark Ocean. She couldn't bother the others about it. They had enough problems to worry about already.

"You can't resist me this time, Child of Light," A venomous voice hissed in Kari's ear. The hairs on her arm to stood up and for a moment, she couldn't catch her breath. Instinctively, she turned around without warning, knocking Yolei over in the process.

"Kari! What is it?" Yolei asked gingerly. Pushing up her glasses, her best friend seemed cautious with those soft brown eyes that were usually so full of determination. Judging by the expression on her face, Kari could tell that Yolei probably thought she was going crazy.

Kari stared at Yolei. "Didn't you hear that?" That voice was as clear as day. TK turned to look at her, his expression almost knowing yet scared. Yolei tapped her hand on her chin, blinked her eyes a few times, and sighed.

She shrugged her shoulders then shook her head. "Hear what?" Yolei replied, perplexed. "Kari, are you alright? I know you're worried about Tai, but…"

"Kari, is it them?" T.K. deferred, placing his hands on her shoulders. "The Dark Ocean?"

Everyone froze in place. Kari felt as if they'd been suspended in time, and she'd been the accursed one to watch it all happen. She could hear a few gasp and whispers. They've all heard of the Dark Ocean but only she and Ken really knew that feeling of darkness. They felt it. Felt it trying to overwhelm them.

"Child of Light, Child of Kindness, you both are made to expand and feed the power of darkness!" The voice hissed again.

Kari shivered and through the corner of her eye saw Ken grow pale, guessing he had heard it too this time. Who was it? Was it the same Undersea Master from before? The same who wanted her to be his bride? The Scubamon said that he would find her one day, and that day could be now, she realized. Even so, if that was the case, what would they want from Ken?

"Oi Ken, whatever you're hearing don't listen to it man!" Davis said, snapping Kari out of her thoughts and looking to their goggle-headed leader who was shaking Ken desperately. "We're with you! You're not alone anymore!"

She didn't have long to dwell. Kari could feel the darkness surrounding her. The other's voices were beginning to fade out, and all she could see were waves. It's closing in on me. T.K. and Yolei were screaming; what they were saying were a mystery - just shadowed figures, pleading in the darkness. The Dark Ocean will win this time. I can't fight it by myself. I'm not strong like Tai. Please... somebody, help me!

Silence! Nothing but screaming silence and dark waves. The hair on her arms stood up as the frigid air reached her skin; it was the same as before. She was alone and this time, she was sure, no one would come and save her.

Tears fought against her will, daring to come out. I have to be strong... I have to... a surge of warmth overcame her. A hand full of love reached out into the darkness. Yolei was reaching for her hand. Kari extended her hand until she finally managed to grab her best friend's hand, holding tight and not letting go. For a split second, Kari blinked, wondering if her best friend would be able to pull her out. It seemed Yolei didn't need to as right then, another pair of arms wrapped around her, slightly unfamiliar yet warm.

"Kari," Ken's voice was quiet but firm. "I know you're scared of the darkness. I'd be lying if I said it didn't scare me. I'm scared too, scared the darkness will take me away from everything I've tried so hard to earn Davis and all my other friends. A-and you as well. You told me the darkness couldn't keep us trapped if there was someone out there waiting for us. If someone wanted us to come back, the darkness couldn't harm us. Remember?"

Kari did remember those words. She had said them to Ken herself when her, Yolei and Ken had been dragged to the Dark Ocean. But that was different! She was scared. She didn't want to be dragged to the Dark Ocean and forced to be the Queen of Darkness. Her eyes watered as she wished her brother Tai was there. He had always protected her. No one else understood.

"I do... I-I understand," Ken interjected, as if reading her thoughts. "Better than you know. I know what it's like to feel scared and alone. To feel like there's no one to pull you out of the darkness, because someone wants to hurt you."

Kari's eyes locked with Ken's and at that moment, she knew. She knew he understood better than anyone else what it was like to be trapped by the darkness, feeling like no one could help you. He knew fear better than anyone there.

The voice hissed, a static of dark purple aura surrounding Kari. She screamed and felt herself involuntarily shiver, and her lips trembled. I can't cry. I gotta be strong. I have to be strong enough to save my brother! But how? How could a weak person like her save him when she couldn't even save herself? Why did she even bother trying to believe in anything? The darkness hung over her but Ken pulled her closer and she heard him cringe at the power of darkness. It seemed to cut through them both it seemed. Would it drag both her and Ken to the Dark Ocean because Ken was trying to help her fight it?

She felt two hands grasp each of hers and looked up to see T.K. and Yolei by her side.

"Ken's right, Kari," T.K. said firmly. "It's like I said. Tai isn't the only one you can rely on, we're all here for you." His confidence gave Kari strength. It was the belief he always had in her and always would. He wasn't her best friend for nothing, after all. He understood her fear too, despite having not gone through it. He was there too. Ken had been right. She definitely wasn't alone.

Yolei had taken Kari's free hand, squeezing it as well. "T.K.'s right. You and Ken aren't alone. Both of you have all of us here. I made a promise to you, Kari. I'm not going to let you go that easily. If the darkness wants to take you, they'll have to get through me first."

Davis's placed a hand on Ken's shoulder and smiled. "Y'know, I'm right behind you, buddy. Kari was right you know. The darkness won't hurt you as long as we keep wanting you to come back to us. And we always will. As long as we all have each other, nothing can hurt us." He looked at a blushing Noriko who instinctively looked away. Hesitating for a moment, she reached for Davis's hand. Kari's eyes widened as she smiled.

Cody moved beside them as well and nodded in agreement. "We're in this together, you two."

The purple aura vanished and Kari buried her head in Ken's shoulder, relishing in his warmth for a moment. He fought his own fear of the darkness to protect her and had reminded her that yes, they really were all in it together. None of them were alone. Being in Ken's arms was like having a soft light bathing over the two of them, a light that would block out even a single ray of darkness. If Kari could use one word to describe it, she would use the term security.

"Thank you," Kari whispered, so only Ken could hear. "For making me realize I'm not really alone."

Ken smiled a little, slightly red-faced. He hadn't realized how close they were until now.. "I just reminded you. You knew it in your heart all along. But you're welcome. Wormmon saw the light in me even when I didn't see it myself. I just don't want to lose anyone else to the darkness."

Kari held back a giggle at Ken's embarrassment but smiled. "Thank you…" She flushed as she realized she had been looking into Ken's beautiful eyes for too long and tore her gaze away to move it to the others.

Gazing into his eyes, she'd never realized how enticing those violaceous cerulean eyes had been. She took in every sad detail that coloured his optics, memorized the shape and crudely enjoyed seeing her reflection in his eyes. It took her a moment to realize that she'd been staring for much too long; blushing, she tore her gawking eyes away from him and looked to the others.

"Awwww," Yolei teased. "Aren't you two just the cutest couple?"

Kari turned red. "Yolei!" She glowered playfully at her best friend.

Yolei hummed. "Yes? Did I say something wrong?"

Kari hid her face. "T.K., do something."

T.K. seemed to have an odd look in his eyes but it cleared when Kari talked to him and his lips twitched in amusement. Taking pity on his female best friend, he gently tugged at Yolei's wrist. "Come on, Yolei, leave them alone."

Yolei pouted. "You're no fun." She childishly poked her tongue out at him but seemed to obey. For now, at least.

T.K. rolled his eyes at her and chuckled.