Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: I can't believe it's finally here. The last chapter. It's taken me many years to get to this point, so I can't even tell you how good it feels to know after all this time I never gave up on this story. Because it took me so long to finish, I know it might have come across as if I was no longer interested, but that was never the case. I've always loved this story, and it's very close to my heart. The relationship between Willis and T.K. is an avenue I'd always wanted to explore, and since I love my bromance/friendship fics, there was no way I could pass up a story about these two when there are so many possibilities to showcase a deep bond between them. And of course the relationship between Kari and Willis was also an interesting relationship to focus on.

Once again, and huge thank you to all of you for your reviews and support. That includes everyone who added me to their list of favorite stories. Even just a simple 'great story' kept me smiling and wanting so badly for all of you to experience the ending. I only made it this far because you guys kept me going, and I want to express my sincere gratitude for giving me the motivation to continue writing. Thank you for never giving up on me, and to show my thanks, here is my favorite and final chapter.

Trinity

Chapter 52: Holy Brotherhood

Willis

Willis took a moment to appreciate the warm afternoon sunshine caressing his handsome face, and placing a hand on his hip, he let his icy blue eyes linger on the apartment building looming across the street. After heading home with Davis the night before, he had only stayed awake long enough for a bite to eat before falling into a deep sleep, and knowing the goggle-headed leader had settled in next to him without complaint, he had given the other boy's hand a grateful squeeze before finally allowing himself to succumb to the exhaustion threatening to overwhelm him.

It's been a while since I've slept that well...

The sound of his phone going off was what had awoken him earlier that morning, and reaching over Davis for the offending mobile device, he had smiled at the new text message from T.K. indicating they should get together that afternoon. Naturally, he had sent back a confirmation, an obscene amount of winky faces and heart emojis included, and after embarrassing Davis with a perfectly executed wake up call involving bodily contact and a suggestive good morning in the goggle-headed leader's ear, he had proceeded to get dressed and make himself some breakfast.

Sitting at the table with Mr. and Mrs. Motomiya, he had found himself engaging in a very important conversation about his future, and thinking back on their words, which had caught him completely by surprise, he couldn't stop himself from smiling. Thanks to their generosity and a good night of dreamless sleep, he was fully alert and well-rested, and after spending the remainder of the morning hitting on Tai and Jun, who had both come for a visit, he had taken his leave to meet up with T.K.

Since they weren't planning on sticking around the apartment, he had suggested they meet outside for a nice change of pace. The weather was good, and while they didn't have a particular destination in mind, he had figured they might as well take advantage of the sunshine. So far T.K. hadn't made an appearance, and glancing at his phone, he smiled at the message that had just come through from his mother. It was nice to know his parents supported him, and even though it had originally taken a little convincing for them to give their blessing on the exchange student program, he knew it was only because they were going to miss him while he was away.

They really do understand where my heart is, and I'll make sure I keep in touch and visit often once I'm finally in university...

"Thinking about something?" a voice suddenly asked, startling him out of his thoughts.

Somehow T.K. had managed to sneak up on him while he was daydreaming, and putting his phone away, he said suggestively, "Maybe I was thinking about you."

"Imagine that. I was just thinking about you, too," T.K. said mildly, looking amused.

Willis raised his eyebrows, and crossing his arms over his chest, he studied the golden-haired Digidestined's handsome face with obvious curiosity. In the past, T.K. would have blushed and stuttered at his sassy comments, but ever since the night they had talked about the Japanese teen's terrible dream, he had noticed that was no longer the case. It was another sign of just how far their relationship had evolved, and now instead of getting embarrassed, T.K. simply played along and took his comments in stride. That was exactly what he had wanted all along, and it made him feel warm inside to know the other boy had finally come to understand him.

Thinking back on when I first arrived in Japan, it's hard to imagine at one point we could barely speak to each other. To have come this far...there really isn't a way to put my feelings into words. Just knowing I can finally be myself around him makes all the pain I suffered worth it. I don't need to be afraid to reach out anymore. He'll always be there when I need him, and I know I'll do the same.

And yet, even though he knew that was true, for some reason he still felt a little apprehensive. The sensation wasn't unpleasant, as it felt more like nervous anticipation rather than fear, but it was still interesting to explore. Most of the butterflies in his stomach came from the fact that while T.K. definitely knew how he felt, he still hadn't really had a chance to express those emotions the way he wanted to. There were just so many things he needed to say, and as a result it was difficult to put his thoughts in order. Plus, his conversation with the Motomiyas also had him excited.

I hope it will make him happy...

Though he was practically bursting to reveal his inner thoughts, he knew he needed to let the conversation flow naturally, and recognizing he had to start off slow, he ignored the pent up emotions weighing heavily on his chest and said, "So, where are we headed?"

"Nowhere far," T.K. said easily, falling into step beside him. "There's a small wooded area near the park where you spoke with Kari. I figured that would be a quiet place for us to talk."

Interesting...

Willis carefully kept his eyes averted, and taking his time, he said lightly, "She told you about that, did she? I'm glad. I was hoping she would."

"You kept every promise you made that evening," T.K. said softly, his bright blue eyes glittering with subtle affection. "That's pretty impressive."

"I couldn't let down a pretty girl like Kari, and I wasn't going to let you down either."

"Don't I get a compliment, too?" T.K. joked, glancing sideways at him.

Willis laughed, and nudging the other boy in the ribs, he said in a teasing tone, "You're about as sexy as they come. Didn't think I needed to state the obvious. I take it last night was a success then?"

"It was perfect," T.K. murmured, smiling at the memory. "All this time she loved me just as much as I love her, but we couldn't see past our own insecurities. It feels good knowing we have nothing to hide anymore."

"Sounds like I missed a lot of mushy goodness. You did kiss her, right? Please tell me there was at least one kiss in there."

"More than one, if you really want to know," T.K. replied, poking him in the ribs. "We were there for quite a while."

Willis figured he might as well jump on the opportunity, and putting his arm around the other boy's shoulders, he gasped, "So you were late getting home! How did Matt feel about that?"

"Since all the older Digidestined were at Kari's place, we both ended up going to her house. The moment I got there I was scolded and nearly crushed to death in a hug at the same time," T.K. said dryly, shaking his head. "Can't really complain, though. Tai was just as bad."

"Don't worry, I told him he could take me out on a date after Matt. That'll teach him to act like such a worrywart."

T.K. blinked, and pausing to look at him, the Japanese blond drawled, "Should I even ask?"

"You could, but what I did to Davis this morning was a lot more entertaining. You should ask me about that instead."

"Why do I have a feeling I'd regret it if I did?" T.K. asked, raising an eyebrow.

Willis pouted, and pulling his arm away, he said dramatically, "You're taking all the fun out of it! Shame on you!"

"You'll survive," T.K. informed him, sounding very unsympathetic. "You know...if it hadn't been for you, I don't think last night would have ever happened."

Huh?

Willis came to a full stop, and growing serious, he said gently, "I don't know about that. You guys had to do all the hard work. I just gave you a little push in the right direction."

"Still, I don't know if we would have found the strength to overcome our fears without you," T.K. said quietly, gazing directly into his eyes. "I just...I want to thank you for everything. Not just for helping us find each other, but also...thank you for being there for Kari when I wasn't able to support her. Without you..."

Willis held up a hand for silence, and shaking his head, he said firmly, "You don't have to thank me for anything. If I'd been in the same situation, you would have stepped up for me to protect the people I love in a heartbeat. You know I care about Kari, and I'll always support her no matter what the circumstances are. She feels the same about us. That's the whole reason friendship exists. It's like taking a vow to keep the people who are important to you out of trouble."

T.K. stared at him for a long moment, and then moving closer to lean into his shoulder, the Japanese teen said softly, "To think this is what I've been missing all these years."

He...really means it...

Willis felt something stir inside his heart, and taking a moment to compose himself, he turned to inspect their surroundings. They had just made their way through the park towards a small grove of trees, and standing on a narrow path that was covered in wood chips, he said lightly, "It's nice here."

"There's an area with benches and rocks where we can sit. Let's head there."

I wonder if...he has some things he wants to say, too.

T.K. definitely seemed eager to talk, and Willis couldn't help hoping the Japanese blond had something important he wanted to get off his chest every bit as much as he did. There was a spark of tension between them suggesting that might be the case, and he was curious to know if they were having similar thoughts. Even if it was only a possibility, the potential for solidifying their friendship still made his heart speed up, and attempting to play it cool, he joked, "Sounds romantic."

"You should take Davis sometime," T.K. teased, once again falling into step beside him as they continued down the path.

"Not after he was so unappreciative this morning. I'll take Ken instead."

"Yolei might have something to say about that," T.K. laughed, giving him a meaningful look.

"True...The last thing I want to do is get on her bad side. She's a formidable woman, which is why I love her."

They're all special in their own way. I'll never take their friendship for granted. They let me into their circle without any reservations, and I'm never going to forget that.

His response made them both chuckle, and glancing towards the trees, T.K. said nonchalantly, "I remember when you first arrived in Japan, you were a lot more quiet and reserved. You also had a tendency to blush when someone gave you a compliment or when you were embarrassed. I haven't seen you react like that in a long time. What changed?"

Willis thought about the other boy's words for a moment, and shrugging his shoulders, he said, "At first, I was insecure. It's not easy moving to another country that's so culturally different from your own. I guess...I was still trying to fit in, and I needed time to build my confidence."

"Were Kari and I partially to blame for that?" T.K. asked quietly, his bright blue eyes remaining focused on the trees.

Willis knew that denying the truth wouldn't get him any further ahead, and as a result, he said simply, "That had a lot to do with it. We hadn't talked much in the last four years, and I was uncertain of how the two of you felt about me. That fear of not knowing was what prevented me from being myself. The me you saw then was the old me who existed before I saved Kokomon. The me you see now is the me I've always been in my heart. It's the me I wasn't able to connect with until I met you guys. I let my insecurities allow the old me to resurface, but after everything we've been through, I'm not going to let that happen again. The person I am now is here to stay, and I'm never going to hide that part of myself again."

"It's nice to see the real you," T.K. murmured, motioning towards the closest set of rocks for a place to sit. "It was one of the few things that probably saved me from completely falling under Megareamon's spell. The more we communicated, the more I could see you opening up. You started to smile more often, and then you even starting teasing me like it was the most natural thing in the world. Because you wouldn't take no for an answer, we began to grow both physically and spiritually closer to each other, and that bond eventually became the only source of hope I still had left..."

Willis felt so moved by the Japanese blond's sincerity it almost overwhelmed him, and not trusting himself to respond just yet, he headed towards the large slab of rock T.K. had indicated only moments ago and slowly sat down. The golden-haired Digidestined joined him without the slightest hint of uncertainty, and attempting to keep his composure, he twisted his hands together in his lap and said faintly, "What...happened in New York?"

"I think we both know, but I was hoping you would tell me in your own words," T.K. said gently, placing a warm hand on his shoulder. "We can't just ignore it or pretend it didn't happen. I suspect this was probably easier for both of us with Kari, but no matter how awkward it is, we can't let misunderstanding or fear hold us back. I don't want to travel that road with you, and I know you don't want that either. We need to be honest with each other, especially if we want to overcome any barriers that might still exist between us."

Willis could feel the other boy sitting close beside him, and knowing he was allowing his vulnerability to show, he lifted his gaze to the sky and whispered, "I've never felt anything like it before. When I saw you behind that fence, it almost knocked me off my feet. It was like an instant connection, and that bond was so powerful, I could feel myself drowning in it. You didn't even know my name yet, but I wanted to know everything about you. When our eyes met, I...I felt like I'd found a long lost twin I didn't even know I had..."

You made me feel like you understood me, even though at the time I didn't understand myself...

The only sound was T.K.'s sharp intake of breath, and without looking at him, the blond said quietly, "So it's the same."

"Huh?"

T.K. slowly turned towards him, and as their eyes met, the Japanese teen reached for him and said in a trembling voice, "All this time, I could never put it into words, but you said it perfectly. The moment you looked at me that's exactly how I felt...and still do."

Willis didn't know whether he wanted to laugh or cry, and as the bundle of emotions weighing on his chest finally burst, he hugged the other boy as tightly as he could. They stayed that way for a moment, and burying his face against T.K.'s shoulder, he squeezed his eyes shut and whispered, "You really are like the brother I never had."

"Well, you're blond enough so it works," T.K. joked, returning the hug. "You fit right in."

"I never did tell you what a relief it is that we're so similar in colouring. It made me feel a lot less like a foreigner when I first arrived here."

T.K. smiled at that, and leaning into his shoulder, the Japanese teen said softly, "Happy to help."

I can still sense it. There's something else on his mind...

Though both of them had fallen silent, the quiet atmosphere hovering over the small grove was peaceful rather than awkward, and sensing their conversation wasn't over, Willis braced himself for the unsaid words that were throbbing almost painfully between them. There was definitely something T.K. desperately wanted to say, but so far the Japanese teen hadn't worked up the courage to put his thoughts into words.

Maybe it's time I eased his fears...

Keeping that thought in mind, Willis wrapped his arms more securely around the other boy's waist, and taking comfort in the warmth of their closeness, he said, "You have no idea how happy I was when you stopped trying to avoid me. You started to laugh at my jokes and smile at my silly antics, and even though I could tell you felt awkward at first, you didn't let that stop you from finally allowing me into your space. The more you let me into your heart, the more it felt like we were family, and that's why I never stopped pestering you the whole time Megareamon was trying to force you to put some distance between us. I wasn't going to lose you, not after spending four years trying so hard to find you."

"When her human persona had control over me, the one thing she couldn't make me forget was you," T.K. managed to choke out, the words trembling with obvious emotion. "Even then, I knew I didn't want to lose you either."

For some reason the Japanese teen seemed unable to look at him, and pulling back slightly so he could rest their foreheads together, Willis let out a soft sigh and said kindly, "What is it, T.K.? I can tell you're hiding something from me. You should know by now there's nothing you could say that would ever make me think any less of you."

"I just...It took us a long time to finally understand each other, and I...There's so much I still want to experience with you, but a year isn't really that long..."

Willis held his breath, and grabbing T.K.'s chin when the other boy attempted to turn away from him, he said calmly, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I..."

"Tell me."

T.K. was still having trouble meeting his eyes, and keeping his head lowered, the golden-haired Digidestined whispered, "I don't want you to leave Japan. I want you to stay here with me."

T.K...

Willis had suspected that might be what was bothering the other boy, but he hadn't allowed himself to get his hopes up.

Until now.

In the past, he never would have thought such a thing was possible, but a lot had changed since then. The heartfelt confession he was subjected to only moments ago immediately touched his soul in a way that made his eyes sting with tears, and as the final barrier shattered between them, he pulled the golden-haired Digidestined into a fierce hug. T.K. made no effort to pull away from him, and pressing his face into the other boy's shoulder, he said quietly, "Last I checked, the year has barely started. We still have plenty of time, and besides, who says I'm going anywhere?"

"What?" T.K. gasped, pulling back slightly to stare at him in surprise.

Willis smiled, and unable to contain his excitement anymore, he said warmly, "I'll have to go back to finish high school, but my dream has always been to study abroad when I get into university. I've worked hard to read, write, and speak Japanese, and my grades are top notch. Don't let my playful attitude fool you. I take school very seriously, and I fully intend to graduate with more than enough credentials to get myself into a good university."

"Does that mean..."

"Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and I'll miss Colorado, but ever since meeting you guys, there has never been a doubt in my mind that Japan is my home."

T.K.'s face was a mask of emotions, and struggling to speak, the blond said, "How...do your parents feel about all this?"

Thinking back on the message he had received earlier from his mother, he said softly, "I know it took some convincing for them to let me come here for a year, but at the same time they've always encouraged me to follow my dreams. I know they'll miss me, but they understand how I feel. Their only condition for when I do come to Japan on a more permanent basis is that I have to come back and visit every once in a while. And of course they'll come visit me. I'd like...all of you to meet them someday."

"It...sounds like you were doing some serious thinking last night," T.K. said slowly, leaning against his shoulder for support.

Willis could feel the warmth of the Japanese teen's body soaking into his skin, and allowing himself a moment to absorb the special bond flowing like a stream of light between them, he said mildly, "Honestly, I couldn't stop thinking about it until I fell asleep. Mr. and Mrs. Motomiya must have read my mind because this morning they told me they were chatting with my parents last night. Apparently they told my mom and dad that they would really like me to come stay with them again once I'm ready to go to university. My parents agreed to it, and once we get to that point, they'll start making plans for me to live with them again while I'm in school."

"I'm not surprised. I've always known Davis has really awesome parents," T.K. sighed, settling against him. "That definitely sounds like something they would do."

Willis nodded, and smiling in amusement, he joked, "Davis keeps saying they love me more than him."

T.K. laughed at that, and turning his face away, the blond said quietly, "You're easy to love."

So are you.

Once again silence fell between them, and shifting to make himself more comfortable, Willis gently rested his head against the Japanese teen's golden hair. He could feel T.K.'s heart beating rapidly against his chest, and giving the other boy a nudge, he murmured, "What are you thinking about?"

"Can you promise me something?" T.K. suddenly asked, speaking softly in his ear.

"That's a silly question. You know I can never say no to you."

"Promise me you'll keep in touch when you're back in Colorado," T.K. mumbled into his shoulder, the words disappearing into the fabric of his shirt. "When you do come back, I don't want us to be like we were after meeting you in New York."

Willis pulled back so they could look at each other, and grabbing the Japanese blond's shoulders in a tight grip, he said firmly, "Not going to happen. I swear, no matter what, I'll never left us drift apart ever again."

"I want to know everything," T.K. insisted, his bright blue eyes glittering with an intensity that put the colour of the sky to shame. "When you get off that plane again, I want it to be like you never left."

"Oh, trust me, you're gonna get so many love letters and annoying messages on your phone it'll make you wonder what in the Digiworld you were thinking when you decided it was a good idea to give me your contact details."

T.K. blinked, and immediately bursting into laughter, the Japanese blond pulled him close again and said, "I'm looking forward to it."

"In the meantime, we still have a whole year ahead of us," Willis reminded the other boy, speaking warmly in the golden-haired Digidestined's ear. "Let's make the most of it."

T.K. stood up, and holding out his hand, the blond said softly, "Sounds good to me."

Willis took the offered appendage, and getting to his feet, he studied the Japanese teen's handsome face with an air of open honesty that at one point he never would have been able to indulge in, and tilting his head to the side, he said confidently, "You mean a lot to me, T.K. Don't ever forget that."

This time it was T.K. who brought their foreheads together, and smiling the blond said without any hesitation, "There really isn't anyone else in the world like you. I could search forever, and I would never find a replacement. Knowing that, it made me realize something very important."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

"If there's one thing I'll never stop fighting to protect, it's that special part of you that makes the rest of us never want to leave your side."

Do you see now why I couldn't let go? Just hearing you say things like that will always keep me coming back for more...

Willis knew there wasn't a single response he could give to adequately convey his feelings, and since words were useless, he chose to acknowledge the other boy's feelings in the best way he knew how. Pulling T.K. close and resting his hand on the back of his friend's golden head, he whispered, "And I'll always protect you."

-End-