Forbidden Love
by Kasey Sanada

      Why?
      Why did I fall in love with him?
      HOW could I?
      He's so much younger than me. Still a little kid. He probably doesn't know what these feelings are like.
      I can remember the day that I fell for him. I mean, how could I forget? Even though it was months ago, I can still remember it like it was yesterday...

      "T.K.! Wait up!"
      T.K. Takaishi turned around to see Cody Hida running towards him. Now 17 years old, Cody was no longer the nerdy looking boy he first met 9 years ago. He was taller then most kids his age, being 5'6'' he was close to passing both him and Davis. He was very muscular, due to the years of loyal kendo training, and no longer did he have the bowl hair cut he had when he was 8, now it was spiked with blonde tips. T.K. also noticed that Cody was grinning, something he rarely did when he was younger. 'He's really cute when he smiles like that," T.K thought smiling slightly. T.K. blushed, not believing what he was just thinking. 'Just forget about it. You have Kari, you're happy with her. Cody probally has all these girls chasing after him, anyway,' T.K. told himself, trying to make himself believe it.
      Cody noticed as he got closer to T.K that the 21 year old was out of it a little bit. 'Must be thinking about Kari,' Cody thought, a little bit of jealously flowing through him. He always knew he had thought of T.K. as more then a friend, but he never let any of his friends know, afraid of what they would think if they found out he was gay. "T.K., you in there?" Cody asked, snapping his fingers in the older boy's face.
      T.K. blinked, coming out of the trance he was in. "Huh? Cody?"
      Cody grinned, "What were you daydreaming about? Actually, WHO were you daydreaming about? Kari again?"
      T.K. blushed a deep red, thanking Kami that Cody didn't know what he was REALLY thinking about. "Yeah, you got me Cody. I was thinking about Kari agian." He forced a laugh out.
      "You guys act like a married couple sometimes," Cody said as the two of them started walking again.
      T.K. snorted, "We'd be married if Kari had her way."
      Cody laughed lightly, "Yeah, she's a lot like you in that sense."
      The blond stopped and looked at Cody, "What do you mean by that?"
      Cody stared back at his friend, "Well, as much as you tried to hide it, you always wanted to have your way when we were in the digiworld."
      T.K. grinned slightly, "You noticed that huh?"
      Takeru was startled when Cody met his eyes with a strange intensity, "Of course I did. Hell, when we were younger, I wanted to be just like you."
      "I don't know why you would want to be just like me. I'm not that special." T.K said as he looked at the ground. He almost fell back when Cody raised his head back up.
      "You're more special then you make yourself out to be," the young boy said softly as he leaned over and kissed T.K. gently on the lips.
      T.K. frozed as he realized what was happening to him. He was being kissed, by his BEST FRIEND! Cody pulled back, his face a bright red. "I'm s-sorry T.K," Cody stuttered. "I've gotta go." He quickly turned away and ran before T.K. could see the tears running down his face.
      T.K. just stood there, trying to figure out what happened. He had suspected that Cody might be gay, and that kiss just proved his theroy. His best friend said he was sorry for kissing him, but what really scared T.K., was that his wasn't. In fact, he wanted Cody to kiss him again. The teenager slowly slumped to the sidewalk as he watched Cody run down the street. Tears slowly dripped down Takeru's face, "What am I going to do?" he whispered.

      Why?
      Why did I go and do that? I mean, he's dating Kari!
      I've probably disusted him when I kissed him.
      What if I lost my best friend?
      What am I going to do?

      Cody kept running until he couldn't run anymore. He dropped onto a nearby bench and sobbed. He cried until he felt a hand on his shoulder. His head snapped up and was surprised to see T.K. standing in front of him. "T.K. I..." Cody started to say, but T.K. silenced him when he leaned over and kissed him. Cody gasps silently and T.K. quickly slipped his tounge into the younger boy's mouth. Cody wimpered softly as T.K. stroked his tounge softly. All too soon T.K. pulled away from him. Cody looked up at him with dazed eyes. Finally he said, "Why, T.K.?"
      T.K. sat next to him and locked eyes with him, "Because I realized something today." Cody started to say something, but Takeru stopped him by putting a finger to his lips. "I realized that I do love Kari..." Cody heart started to hurt when he heard this, but was surprised when T.K. added, "but only as a sister. When you kissed me today, Cody," T.K. said, stroking the younger boy's cheek, "I realized how much I love you, and have been in love with you for a long time. I was just too scared to say anything."
      Cody smiled softly, "I'm glad to finally hear you say that T.K., because I've loved you for as long as I can remember." T.K smiled back as he leaned over to kiss Cody again, and this time Cody met him halfway. They stayed like that until that had to break for air. Cody layed his head on T.K. shoulder and still breathing heavily asked, "How are we going to explain to everybody?"
      T.K. sighed and layed his head on top of Cody's. "I don't know, but right now I don't want to worry about it. Especially on how I'm going to tell Kari."
      Cody looked up at T.K., "What ARE you going to tell her?"
      Takeru looked into Cody's eyes. Cody noticed there was a touch of worry in them, "I don't know, but whatever I say isn't going to lessen the pain she'll probably feel when I do."

      What's been going on with T.K. and Cody?
      They haven't been acting like themselves lately.
      In fact, they've been acting a lot happier.
      And they're together a lot more too.
      Could they be... no way, they couldn't do that to Kari.
      Sweet, beautiful, funloving Kari...
      I'll kill them if they ever hurt her.

      23-year old Izzy Izumi looked up from his laptop to see 21-year old Kari Kamiya walk into the coffee shop. She noticed him and smiled happily, waving her arm at him as she walked towards him. Izzy couldn't take his eyes off her. 'Gods, she's gotten so beautiful since the last time I saw her.' Izzy fought the blush that wanted to rise to his cheeks. He lost the fight though when Kari leaned down and hugged him.
      Kari pulled back and still smiling, said, "Izzy! I'm so happy to see you! How long has it been?"       Izzy was stunned for a moment before he replied, "Almost a year. Man, you look great!"
      Kari blushed slightly, "Thanks, Izzy. You look great too. I came here to meet T.K., but would you mind if we talk until he gets here?"
      A bit of jealously flared but Izzy was able to bite it down before Kari could notice. He had a crush on her when they were children, but it turned into love as they grew older. How could anyone not fall in love with her? Kari was the most kind-hearted person in the world, always putting others before herself. That was probably the thing he loved the most about her. He never said anything about it though. In fact, the only person that knew about it was his twin sister Lauren. "I don't mind." Izzy said, putting on a smile. He pulled out a seat.
      "Thanks," Kari sat down. As soon as Izzy did the same, she asked, "So how's life going for you?"
      Izzy picked up his cup, "It's going good, actually. I've got a great job at a computer company."
      Kari looked at her friend, a slight grin on her face, "Do you have a girlfriend yet?"
      Izzy blushed. "I did, but it didn't work out."
      Kari frowned slightly, "How come? You're a great guy, Izzy."
      "I'm in love with someone else," Izzy said softly, staring down at his cup.
      Kari stared at Izzy, "Really? What's she like?"
      Izzy smiled to himself, "She's beautiful, both inside and out. She caring, always thinking about others before herself. I've been in love with her for as long as I can remember."
      Kari rested her head in her hands, "She sounds really nice." she said softly, feeling a twing of jealously.
      Izzy looked Kari in the eyes, "She is."
      Kari saw a strange look in Izzy's eyes. Her eyes widened. 'Could he...'
      "Kari, Izzy!"
      The two turned to see T.K. in front of them. Kari got up and kissed her boyfriend on the cheek. "Finally you got here. What did you want to talk to me about?"
      T.K. turned to look at Izzy. "Could you excuse us?"
      Izzy nodded. "See you guys later."
      T.K and Kari walked away and sat down at a table where they were alone, so nobody could hear them. "So what did you want to talk to me about?" Kari asked, smiling gently.
      T.K. turned his head away and said softly, "I don't think we should see each other anymore."
      The smile fell from Kari's face. "But why?" she asked in a pained voice.
      T.K. raised his head up and looked in Kari's eyes, "Because I'm in love with someone else."
      Kari looked as if she just been slapped. She stood up quickly, startling Izzy and the others in the coffee house. "Who is it?" Kari demanded.
      T.K. lowered his eyes to the floor. "It's Cody."
      "How could you?" she cried out. "I thought you loved me!"
      "I do. But only as a sister."
      This time a loud smack could be heard as Kari slapped T.K hard across the face. "Takeru Takaishi, I hate you!" she yelled before running towards the door. Just then Cody was in front of her. "And you!" Kari punched Cody in the face, causing him to fall to the sidewalk. "I thought you were my friend! I hope I never speak to you again, Iori Hida!" And with tears streaming down her face, she ran out of the coffee house and down the street into the park.
      T.K. walked over to Cody, igoring the looks on the other people's faces and helped him up. "Are you alright Iori-chan?"
      Cody nodded slightly, gingerly bringing a hand to his left eye. "I will be. Kari has a good right hook though." Izzy walked up to them and Cody and T.K. backed away. If looks could kill, they would have been dead and buried with the look Koushiro was giving them.
      "How could you do that to her? She is the sweetest, more caring person in the world and you go and do this to her." he growled out, his caring face now twisted with anger.
      Cody had never seen his mentor this angry. "Izzy, we..." he began.
      "Shut up." Izzy hissed out. T.K. stood up for his love.
      "Let us explain...." That was all T.K. got out before Izzy punched him in the face.
      "That's for hurting Kari. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to find her and see if she's alright." He turned his back to his friends and headed into the park after her.

Later, back at T.K.'s apartment...
      T.K. sat down on his bed and Cody sat next to him. He placed his cool hand on Takeru's bright red cheek, making him wince slightly. Cody laughed softly. "He sure got you good." he said, gently rubbing his hand around the hurt skin, making T.K. shiver.
      "Well, I deserved it." T.K. said.
      Cody brought a hand through T.K's hair and said gently, "No you didn't. But knowing you, you're going to blame yourself anyway, and because of that, I'm going to take half the blame too."
      T.K. looked at Cody. "Why's that? You didn't do anything."
      Cody brushed his lips gently against T.K., startling the older boy, but he didn't move away. "Yes I did. I fell in love with you, even though you were dating Kari. But if I had to do it again, I wouldn't change anything that I did."
      T.K smiled as he pressed his lips to Cody's. "Neither would I," he whispered as he pressed his itoshii's back towards the bed.

      How could he do this to me?
      Out of all the people in the world, why him?
      But now that it is sinking in, maybe I was wrong to hit T.K. and Cody.
      Maybe because I was in love with someone else too.
      I just didn't realize it till now...

      Izzy finally found Kari at a bench, crying softly into her hands. It pained him to see her like this. He quietly walked over to Kari and sat down next to her. "Kari, are you going to be alright?"
      Kari looked up at Izzy and noticed the concern look on his face. She wiped her face with her sleeve. "I'll be okay, I guess." The tears began to leak again. "God, how could I be so stupid?" Izzy brought a hand to Kari's cheek, startling her.
      "Don't you ever call yourself stupid, Hikari. You are one of the smartest people I know. T.K was stupid for letting you go."
      Kari smiled before noticing his other hand. "Izzy, what happened to your hand? It's red!"
      Izzy looked at his hand and smiled sheepishly. "It, uh, happened when I punched T.K. in the face."
      Kari eyes widened for a moment before she burst out laughing. "You actually hit T.K.? I wouldn't have thought you to be the hitting type."
      Izzy's face became serious, "He deserved it. I hate seeing hurt like that. I care about you."
      Kari stopped laughing and stared at Izzy. He had that look in his eyes again, like back in the coffee shop. 'He loves me,' Kari finally realized, 'And I love him too.' Without another thought Kari brought his lips to hers, kissing him gently.
      Izzy froze for a moment before kissing her back. They stayed like that for a momet before Kari pulled away. "Thank you Izzy."
      Izzy stared at her, dazed. "For what?"
      Kari smiled, "For making me realize something."
      "I still don't understand."
      Hikari scooted closer to Izzy. "You made me realize that I do love T.K., but in the same way he loves me. The person I've been in love with, is someone I've know since I was eight years old. He was there for my brother when I was sick, and even saved me due to his quick thinking, and he's always been there for me when I've needed him the most."
      Izzy finally realized what she was saying. "You mean..."
      Kari brought his face to hers, "I'm saying I love you, Koushiro Izumi. I always have, and I always will."
      Izzy had never been so happy in his entire life. "I love you too, Hikari Kamiya, my Angel of Light." He closed the gap between them, sealing their love for each other with a sweet kiss.
      Unknown to both of them, hiding behind a tree, Izzy's sister Lauren was watching them, a smile on her face. "You finally found each other. Just like T.K. and Cody did."

(Don't think I'm finished. This is just the end of chapter one! I'll be getting chapter two out as soon as I can! Write to me at kasey_sanada@hotmail.com and tell me what you think of it!)