CHAPTER ELEVEN

That night, it sure felt strange to be back in school after graduating, but it was a weekend, and the soccer team has booked the location, and the school staff was not only thrilled to have the JFS team celebrating their victory, but the fact Davis and Ken- two former students—were team members; they couldn't say No.

Kari sat on the sidelines in the hall, watching the other dancers, a drink in her hand, and waiting for Davis to show like he promised.

Her blue silk dress ran down her figure to the bottom of her legs, the colour of water, it seemed to shimmer as she moved, and you could almost imagine the hidden world of the ocean in the shiny material.

She stood at the side of the hall and watched Tai and Jun dance.

She remembered the last dance she came too. She was with TK then, and she could still remember the surroundings, the music, the company, Yolei and Ken- Ken drunk as a poet on payday.

Then there was her, then, boyfriend, who had seemed so perfect.

And finally, the lone figure, walking out of the room to the classrooms.

"Davis."

That was all just four months ago, a year after she and TK were dating and things seemed perfect. Even everyone else thought it was true love there.

But, that was all the past now.

Here she was, at this new dance, and waiting for her new boyfriend to greet her.

"Begging your pardon." someone said next to her.

She looked up and saw him smiling at her, and how handsome he looked in his new tuxedo.

She smiled lovingly at him.

"What's a lovely girl like you standing here all by yourself?"

"Oh, just waiting." she playfully answered "Waiting for my new boyfriend."

They said nothing after that and just gazed deeply into each other's eyes.

Their faces slowly moved in for a kiss…

"Hey, lovebirds…" Matt said, startling them.

The two looked up and saw him with Sora, and TK was with them too.

"…Nice to see you too." Davis playfully sneered at them.

Kari gave them a look too.

Sora and TK chuckled.

Matt shook Davis' hand, "Way to go dude."

Davis nodded, "You watched the game?"

"We all did," said Sora "When you guys won, Mimi fainted."

Matt chuckled "I'm not talking about the game, I'm talking about you and Kari, which I must admit, I am surprised."

Kari and Davis blushed and twiddled their fingers.

"Hey, come on," said TK "Look at them; they're a good match, and they're obviously crazy about each other."

The others were surprised to hear TK, of all people, saying that.

"But TK?" Sora said.

"No buts." TK said proudly "Kari and I had our time, and… well I'll never forget it, but you can't deny feelings, can you?

Like, look at you two? Everyone thought Sora would be with Tai, and look at him- there he is with Davis' sister, not to mention engaged to her."

The others didn't deny that, Matt still was rather impressed with Tai for being with the girl that used to stalk him, even though Jun herself had changed over the years.

Kari then stood and pecked TK on the cheek, "Thank you so much for understanding, TK."

He smiled at her, and then shook Davis' hand "If you need some tips, I'll be here for you."

The other man chuckled, "I'm sure I won't need it, but thanks."

Kari felt her heart melt seeing the two men really making up for their rivalry.

"Yo', Davis!" the DJ addressed him "As the new local hero, would you mind saying a few words?"

The team members, and everyone else in the joint applauded, pressuring him to take the stands, and Kari looked into his eyes and nodded.

Davis nodded back at her and headed over to the podium.

He whispered something to the DJ before taking the stand.

"Sure…" and he slipped a CD into the player "Let me know when you're ready."

Davis smiled thankfully, and then walked onto the stage, to the podium.

"And now," the DJ called to the people "Round of applause please for our new soccer hero, and former-student, Davis Motomiya!"

Davis walked out to the podium to the applause, and he waved to everyone.

Then he could see Kari through the crowd and their eyes met.

"First of all: It feels kind of weird to be in school again since graduation."

Everyone laughed at the joke.

"I know it hasn't been long, but it seems like a lifetime.

I was very thrilled to be part of the JFS, and even more proud to be on such a fine team of players all over the world."

The teammates all gave him a high-thumb.

"I'd like to say that everything that happened today was because of my team- mates, my friends, and my family. But there's also someone else here I'd like to thank.

…and I think you all know who that is, so I won't bother to say any names."

He really didn't have to, many of the people turned to face Kari- who really didn't know about her and Davis anyway?

She smiled, and he smiled back. In the dimmed lights he could see tears in her eyes.

"She and I have been through a lot together," he continued "Especially over the past few months, and a lot what happened was not very nice.

We've had our share of pain, sadness, anger, and worse than those, we caused trouble for ourselves and those around us."

Kari hung her head shamefully.

"And it was all because we thought we were doing the right things, for ourselves and for each other.

But now we've both learned much, from each other and our experiences. We've learned that what we believe in is most important.

She believed in me in many ways, just as I believed in her.

I really don't think I could've scored that winning goal alone, not without that extra boost of confidence she gave me out there.

And even more so, I don't think I'd even be here tonight if something even more magical happened after the game."

Kari wiped the tears from her eyes, but they crept back almost at once.

Davis stepped down from the podium and began to make his way towards her, stopping before her, ignoring the crowd of people gazing at him.

"May I have this dance?" he asked tenderly while holding out his hand to her.

She slowly took his hand and answered "…Now, Forever, and Always."

They both walked out onto the floor, and the DJ saw this as the signal, and he started the song Davis had requested, which he knew was one of Kari's favorites: "My heart will go on."

The couple made it to the center of the dance floor, and the partygoers had backed away to give them space for this special dance.

As the music started, Kari softly rested her head on his chest and he held her close as they slowly danced to the lovely song.

Jun and Tai watched proudly and happily as their respective siblings danced with one another.

Yolei reached under her glasses and wiped away a tear, and TK, all he did was stand there with a big, proud smile on his face, and he wasn't trying to be brave or put up an act.

As long as she was happy, that was all he cared about.

Kari looked up into Davis's deep brown eyes, and saw a single solitary tear fall. It's hot wetness landed on her cheek, in exactly the same place where he had placed that kiss, two months ago.

He raised one hand, and used it to wipe away the water from her face. She raised her own hand, and placed it over his, holding his hand against her cheek.

As the song began to come to an end,

"Davis…"

He looked down at her.

"…Yeah?"

"…I love you."

He smiled so lovingly down at her, and leaned forwards softly; kissing her like he had at the stadium.

"I love you so much, Kari." he said when they separated.

They kissed again as the song ended, and everyone applauded and cheered for the new couple, especially Tai, Jun, and TK.

Then, as the party continued that night, and everyone else was dancing on the floor.

Davis and Kari excused themselves, and headed outside for a breath of fresh air.

They just stood by the doorway of the school looking up into the night sky, which was beautiful and shimmering with stars, and bright with the moon.

Davis then looked at his new girlfriend.

"Kari?"

"Hmm…?"

They looked deeply into each other's eyes.

"I really meant what I said. I love you so much, it hurts. It burns me right here." He pointed over his heart, "But I don't want it to ever stop."

She smiled, "I feel the same, but I want to do my best Davis, for you, for me- for us.

I love you, Davis."

"I love you Kari."

They both moved in closer saying at the same time "Now, Forever, and Always." and their lips met again as they continued to just embrace each other under the starry skies.

THE END

Author's notes:

Davis is lucky to have Kari.

In my world of fanfiction, if a guy like him loses his dream girl, the fic only goes one of two ways

1: They work it out and get back together

2: It's a disaster fic, usually meaning the guy will (against his wishes) turn into the main antagonist, or be forced to live a long, pointless, miserable life, and most likely be executed, while the girl will live as punishment for all the pain caused.

That's just the way it is with me.