Not Alone

Death Means New Secrets: Chapter 1

Tears ran down the Digidestined's faces. Most especially Kari's and Matt's. TK was so young. Only 18 years old. He hadn't even graduated yet. Life went on at school, and people hardly acknowledged the boy's passing save for a few half-hearted apologies to the Digidestined from acquaintances. Kari hardly remembered a time when she hadn't been crying. Or a time without TK.

The funeral didn't cheer them up at all either. Not only because it was for mourning but because it was filled with people they had never even met. Nevertheless, they seemed equally upset by his death, maybe even more.

It made the Digidestined wonder if they even knew TK at all.

But that couldn't be right. Could it?

Up at the podium stood a girl who wasn't wearing a speck of black, though it was clear she was ready to bawl. She had owlish violet eyes and long eyelashes. Her long hair that fell in loose curls down her back was a silky caramel color with streaks of blond and her skin was bronze. She was wearing a lavender wrap top, deep purple undershirt, and a pleated denim skirt with brown leather boots.

"My name is Lou Ellen Meriweather," she said. "And I was supposed to meet TK's other friends today but he died before it could ever happen." She let out a bitter chuckle. "I didn't have one black thing to wear, but enough about me. I'm here to talk about TK." A silver ring glinted on her finger as she showed everybody. "See this ring? It was the ring he was gonna give me after graduation."

Kari gasped and Matt felt shock rolling off him in waves. Who knew TK had a girlfriend? Nancy choked on a sob.

"I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who was hurt when I found out he died, seeing as all of you are here." Lou Ellen continued, the bitterness in her voice never faltering. "But I'm damn sure that the only person who can rival my hurt is TK's mother, Nancy Takaishi."

Kari resisted the urge the growl at the girl. She acted so superior, so sure of herself. No wonder TK liked her. Kari would never be like her.

"But again, I'm getting off topic," Lou Ellen said carelessly. "Excuse me if I'm a little wary of talking about TK in front of those Digidestined."

Tai gasped quietly. TK trusted this girl enough to tell her about them.

Joe looked around warily. No one seemed surprised by the reveal. Was it possible TK trusted all of them?

A girl in the front row with midnight black hair and silver eyes that changed to violet occasionally coughed. "*Cough*cough*I'm-a-Digidestined-too*Cough*cough*"

Lou Ellen rolled her eyes and resumed her 'speech'.

"But seeing as they won't understand a thing, I'll continue." She smiled slightly and her eyes clouded over as if she was visiting a distant memory, which probably was. "I remember when I first met him. He was reading the 4th Harry Potter book for the millionth time.

"We were 7 years old and already he was a smartass. Honestly, I couldn't say something like 'Let's do our bestest during Capture the Flag!' without setting him off. It pissed me off but I never allowed him to be alone, which to be honest kind of annoyed him. Hence why I did it."

Her statement elicited a few sparse chuckles around the room. She took a breath and continued her story, "I was still undetermined and was extremely determined to find out who my parent was."