Oh oh oh! Okay, I entered this story in IAC (I Am Canadian)'s fic contest, and it ranked as: Best romance, was runner up in Best Tear-jerker, and runner up for most-reviewed fic (like anyone care bout that)...well, please read, it IS good.
Digimon does not belong to me but this story does.
*sniffles* ooh, it's sooooooooo sad. Please read and REVIEW!!!
AHEM...thank you.
Nothing But Ashes
What was wrong? The sky was still blue, the birds were still chirping as the wind brought a fresh breeze through the tree leaves and stirred them as the wind used to run through her hair. Everything was still the same, yet it was different.
She had moved, moved halfway across the planet, where he could never see her again. She was gone, all history. But then why did he miss her so much?
He strolled down the walkway, kicking a nearby stone to express his anger, confusion, and concern. He walked with his hands in his pockets, head down, as if he were the most unfortunate person on the planet. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't. All he knew was that he was hurt, very hurt.
She moved because of her parent's job, but she had never come to say good-bye. One day she was there, the next she wasn't. It was as if she disappeared. She never wrote. To him, she was still there, beside him, talking to him, her light brown hair ruffling in the wind. To him, she had never moved, she was still there.
He sighed, cleared his mind and walked home.
His brother was waiting at the door.
"Joe, Tai called." Jim said. "He says that Mimi's flying over from New York for a couple of days."
He stood, posed, as if ice water had wetted him from head to toe. How was he supposed to react? Jim looked at him with concern, and he shook himself and forced himself to open his mouth.
"Why?" He found himself asking, more to himself than Jim. Jim shrugged; unaware Joe was in a daze.
"She's visiting, and that's all I know." Jim replied. "Are you all right, Joe?" Joe brushed his hair out of his eyes, pushed his glasses up, and forced himself to look in his brother's eyes.
"Uh, yeah, sure." Joe said, walking into his house, brushing past Jim. He went to his room, plopped down on the bed, and tried to read a book, but found he couldn't concentrate.
Why was she coming back? Why? He couldn't understand it. It couldn't be because of him. He imagined her getting off of the escalator from the landing hallways, her soft brown hair gleaming from the lights and her warm chocolate colored brown eyes and sighed. He missed her so much.
But did she even know she had left him behind?
The phone rang again, and he lazily picked it up.
"Hello?" His voice sounded old and tired.
"Joe, is that you?" Kari Kamiya asked over the phone. "You sound tired. Is everything all right?" Joe sighed and wondered why Kari would be phoning him.
"Yeah, sure." Joe said. "What's up?"
"Tai told me to tell you Mimi is coming back to Tokyo for a while." Kari said. Joe nodded, forgetting Kari couldn't see him.
"I've heard." Joe said in the same lifeless tone. "Why?" Kari (instinctively) shrugged.
"I'm not sure." She said. "Tai never told me, exactly. He said he got an email from Matt, telling him that Mimi had phoned and would be coming to Tokyo. But Matt probably knows. Why don't you phone him? Though he's probably at Band Practice."
Yes. Matt. Matt would know exactly. Mimi would have phoned him to tell him about her plans. Joe was suddenly engulfed by a wave of jealousy. The phone slid off his ear and onto his shoulder. Questions faced through his head. Should he phone Matt? Subconsciously he put the phone back into place.
On the other end, Kari heard a distant click. She grunted. Joe had hung up. "He must be taking it pretty well." Kari thought. "I'd better go find Tai now." She walked through her room, through the grand hallway decorated with portraits, and stumbled through toys, racing cars, clothes, books, cards, and a whole lot of junk before reaching Tai, who was on his computer. As she grasped the back of Tai's chair for balance, she announced grandly,
"I phoned Joe and told him." Kari announced. "But I guess his brother Jim told him already."
"How'd he take it?" Tai asked, eyes glued to the screen as he toasted five space Martians in a row.
"I don't know." Kari said angrily between gritted teeth. Tai turned around from the screen to look at her.
"Don't know?"
"He hung up on me." Kari answered in an annoyed sort of voice. Tai snickered and looked back at the screen. A green glob or a space Martian was eating Tai's figure up. Tai shrieked and started furiously tapping the computer keys. Kari rolled her eyes and walked (actually hopped is more like it, because there was so much stuff on the floor *"Geez Tai, you sure have a lot of junk! No wonder you don't invite any friends over, mom would make you clean up all the junk*) out of Tai's room.
Joe slumped down on his bed after hanging up on Kari. His eyes seemed far away, searching for something (or someone) he could never have, something special. He seemed in a daze as he slumped down on his bed and closed his eyes.
"Oh, he felt so tired from the shock of it all. Then he remembered Kari. Running to the phone, he quickly dialed her number. The line was busy. Tai was probably on the Internet. He thought about phoning Matt.
It did not seem right, phoning Matt just to pick out information. They had never been really good friends. But Joe needed to know this. He dialed Matt's number.
Once, the phone rang. Twice, and then three times. It looked as if Kari had been right. Perhaps Matt was at Band Practice. He shouldn't have phoned so early. It made him look like a desperate fool. The phone ran once again. Joe was getting ready to put down the phone. Then he heard the clattering sound of the phone being picked up, and Matt's breathless voice.
"Hello?" It asked.
"Matt?" Joe asked. Matt's voice seemed different over the phone.
"Joe, is that you?" Matt asked. There was a bit of noise. "Sorry Joe, I just got back from Band Practice. The phone ran just as I was unlocking the door."
"Oh, sorry." Joe said stupidly, thinking of nothing better to say. And then, "I hate it when that happens to me."
"Yeah." Matt said.
Dreadful Silence.
"So, uh, Matt?" Joe asked minutes later (which seemed like hours).
"Yeah?" Matt asked casually.
"Tai told me Mimi's coming back; is it true?" He asked. There was the sound of sizzling as a pop bottle was opened.
"Sorry, say that again?" Matt asked. Joe repeated the question. "Yeah."
"Why?" He (Joe) squeaked. Matt shrugged.
"Oh, I dunno, maybe she's getting lonely in New York." Matt said.
"You seriously don't know? She didn't tell you?" Joe asked.
"Eh, why the sudden interest?" Matt asked. Joe turned red, and was thankful he had asked Matt over the phone where he couldn't be seen.
"Oh, I just don't think that all of us Digidestind meet together very often." Joe squawked. "Well, gee, thanks Matt."
"No problem buddy." Matt said. "I'll see you tomorrow."
They both hung up, and Joe discovered he was sweating.
"Gosh." Joe said to himself, wiping the sweat off the back of his neck with a bath towel. "Who'd think talking to Matt would be THAT (here Joe paused for two minutes thinking of a constructive word) HARD?" He sighed and sat down on the edge of his bed, still shaking. "Oh MAN."
Jim poked his head into the room.
"Joe, who are you talking to?" Jim asked.
"Nobody." Joe answered.
"It better not be any of those freaky monsters again." Jim said. Joe shook his head and actually wished Gomamon was there. Gomamon, who always cheered him up. But thinking of Gomamon reminded him of Mimi, who was gone, in the wind, away from him. Both would never return, at least not completely.
"Joe, you are all wet." Jim said after a slight pause. Joe started to head towards the bathroom, Jim close behind. "What's wrong with you today Joe? What's on your mind?" Joe slammed the door in Jim's face. He had never done that before. But he was just so confused; he sat in the bathroom and cried for two solid hours, missed dinner, and sank into a horrible dream once he reached his bed. It was nice and sweet at first, and then it turned out to be about Matt and Mimi. Joe screamed out in his sleep.
Jim had been sleeping otherwise so peacefully until Joe's piercing cry could be heard. Since neither mom nor dad was home, Jim sleepily walked over to Joe's room, tripping twice on the way. Joe seemed like a little fragile child, wrapped up several times in blankets. The moonlight crept in through the blinds and hit the covers of Joe's bed sheets, emitting a soft blue color that danced across the room.
Jim remembered how Mom used to check on Joe every night. Seeing Joe was now sleeping ever so peacefully, Jim left the room.
Sunlight replaced moonlight as it streamed through the windows. Joe Kido shifted and blinked as the sun struck his eyes at an immense angle, causing his eyes to go haywire. For a slight minute, he forgot his worries, and was as happy as he could be.
Mimi was coming back to Tokyo. Maybe not for him, but she was coming back. A soft blush crept over his cheeks. His dark blue eyes seemed to glow and dance around. There was a second chance in everything after all.
There was a slight knock on the wooden door. Joe turned and looked at the open door. Jim was standing beside it.
"Rise and Shine, sleepyhead." Jim called, wearing a pink apron and holding a fry pan in one hand. "Eggs and bacon!"
Joe giggled and got dressed. He forgot what Mimi liked on eggs. That seemed so long ago. Maybe it was ice cream and cherry. Or perhaps mustard? He remembered T.K. had liked jellybeans.
"Oh, and Joe?" Jim asked as Joe arrived at the table. "T.K. called and said that the whole group will swing by around eleven to pick you up."
"For what?" Joe asked, stuffing the eggs into his mouth.
"Didn't say." Jim said mysteriously. "It's supposed to be a surprise." Joe looked at the clock. It was quarter to ten.
"They seemed really serious though." Jim added, filling Joe's plate. "So I think you should dress up."
"Dress up?" Joe asked, mouth full, eyebrows raised, half laughing. "Are you serious?"
"Yup." Jim nodded. "C'mon, after you finish eating, we can go see what you should wear." Joe shook his head sadly.
"Why not?" Jim asked.
"Oh, it's not that." Joe said. "I'd love to go through our closets and dress me up. It's just that-" Joe leaned closer towards Jim "-Jim, do you know something I don't?" Joe asked suspiciously.
"Of course." Jim said. "I know the period table of elements scrambled and you don't. I know the height of Mount Fuji and Angel Falls put together and you don't." Joe groaned and washed his plate in the sink.
"It's not like that." Joe said, splashing water everywhere (at least in the sink). "I mean do you know something that you are hiding from me relating to our subject."
"I don't know, am I?" Jim helped Joe clear the table.
"I would take that as a yes." Joe said. "C'mon, what's the occasion? Mom's birthday?" Jim snorted. "What's so funny?" Joe demanded.
"Mom had her birthday five weeks ago." Jim said. "Don't you remember?" Joe frowned, straining his memory. "C'mon." Jim turned the water faucet off, and dragged Joe back into his room. Jim flipped through Joe's closet and produced a nice shirt. Joe put it on.
They spent the rest of the hour flipping through clothes, but otherwise it would be boring to write down, especially since their conversation was mostly "Doesn't this look great on you?" "Uh, Jim, I don't really think so." "How about this one?" "Um, maybe?" "Oh, look at this!" "Ahh, what IS that?" Both guys stared as they found one of their dad's old shirts stashed in Joe's closet.
So now we shall skip to the moment where Joe was all ready, and the hair was all brushed and neatly combed and he looked very nice.
"One would think I'm going to a funeral, I spent all that work dressing." Joe said. "But of course, if someone HAD died, you wouldn't be so happy and nearly flying." Jim grinned sheepishly and shooed Joe out of the door, just as a horn honked. Matt's dad was driving the family minivan.
Practically everyone was there. Even the new Digidestind kids. Davis's sister was there too, with her arm on Matt's. Joe slid into the car.
"Whoa, Joe, looking good!" Tai said, laughing. Matt looked as if the back of his head was written with sweat drops. Joe laughed.
"Joe, tell us a joke." Kari said, where Davis, T.K., and herself were playing a game.
"Okay." Joe said, thinking of one. "What note does the American car horns all beep in?"
"What?" T.K. asked quickly, before Kari could open her mouth ("Hey T.K., no fair, this was MY joke!" and a laugh from T.K.).
"The tone of F." Davis started to laugh. Everyone else blinked.
"Ha, very funny." Kari said sarcastically. Davis got the point, stopped and looked down. The chatting resumed.
"So, where are we going?" Joe asked Tai.
"A VERY special place." Tai said. Joe looked to the front of the van.
"Mr. Ishinda, where are we going?" Joe asked loudly.
"To pick up your friend Mimi from the airport." Matt's father said.
"Aww, dad, we meant to surprise him." Matt said, trying to get out of the grasp of Jun.
"Oh, you did?" Mr. Ishinda asked, and then went back to driving the car. "I'm really sorry."
"Why surprise me?" Joe asked. Matt shrugged, although this might have been a futile attempt at getting Jun off of his arm.
"There was nobody left." Sora explained. Yolei giggled. She and Izzy were playing a game of checkers on his laptop.
Joe shivered. Of all the people, it had to be him. Mimi was coming that day. Wow. What URGENT news. Joe sighed, leaned back in his chair, and imagined this was all a dream. Sure, Mimi coming back was really great, but they could've told him before hand. It wouldn't have hurt anyone, and he was having a hard time getting over this shock. Would she really be there, or were they pulling another trick on him? Joe didn't know, and grunted.
"Are you okay?" Cody asked Joe, since he was making weird noises. (The Sigh Grunt combination isn't all that a good one and could raise suspicions.) Joe nodded, and gulped as they pulled into the Tokyo International Airport. Mr. Ishinda parked the car and let everyone off. In the long walk, Joe felt as if every step he took was an important one in his life.
They watched Mimi's plane come down from the skies, and Joe gulped. He had never felt so nervous before. A few more minutes passed. And then, the most gorgeous brown haired girl stepped off of the plane and went through some stairways before arriving in front of them (in the luggage area).
"Oh!" Mimi said. Her eyes were still the same, and so was her hair. She had grown so little, but had changed a lot. Her eyes were big and proud of the group that had come to meet her.
"Hey Mimi." Sora said. "How's it going?"
"Pretty rough." Mimi said, giving Sora a bear hug. "I've missed you, and all of you, so very much." Mimi said, wiping the tears out of her eyes. I can't believe I'm back again!" Matt walked up to her (Jun reluctantly hung back a couple of steps) and touched her hair.
"I though you said it was pink." Matt said.
"It was pink the last time you saw me." Mimi said, crying openly now. "Oh Matt." She held out her arms and gave him a hug.
"I think she's a little emotional." Jun whispered to her little brother Davis.
"Shut up." Davis said, kicking Jun's shoe. "I want to listen to this."
"It's not going to help with your relationship to Kari, you know." Yolei put in, and all the people who heard that (there wasn't as many as you would think or like to think) giggled. "I mean, you won't learn any strategies, I'm sure." Davis glared at Yolei.
Mimi sighed in Matt's arms and gave him a kiss (on the cheek). Jun scoffed and gaped at them indignantly, and crossed her arms. A couple of the younger kids snickered, but Joe knew how that felt. Mimi then turned to Kari and T.K.
It was probably easier to talk to the younger kids, because Mimi felt the admired her and there was no sense in embarrassing herself. It was like meeting old friends again, and Mimi was quite happy.
"Izzy." She said, giggling. "Well, you've grown!" She patted Izzy on the back, praised Izzy again, talked to Tai, and then faced Joe. Joe turned red and gulped.
"Hey Joe." Mimi said softly, and her eyes seemed to shine like stars. Joe was speechless. The next second, Mimi had embraced him and gave him a hug.
"I missed you." She said.
"What was that for?" Joe managed to croak.
"Oh, for looking after me a couple of years ago when Puppetmon rules." Mimi said. "Thanks." Joe shrugged, and stuck his hands into his pockets. Mimi smiled.
"Well." Tai said, walking over to the machine that sorted out luggage. "What do your bags look like, Mimi?" It was already pretty late and there was only a couple of bags left.
"Oh!" Mimi went over to the machine, and seemed to skip around as she picked up her bags. Tai, Matt, Joe, and Izzy courteously offered to help, but there weren't as many bags to go around. Following their example, Davis offered to carry Kari's purse, only he didn't say anything, so Kari of course thought Davis was trying to rob her and smacked Davis on the head with her purse (Ouch, that's gotta hurt). Davis almost fainted.
"This is so great, don't you think?" Mimi asked Joe and Izzy. Matt was being dragged along by an angry Jun ("That Mimi, who does she think she is?" Jun asked as she pulled Matt over to a water fountain and began washed the kiss from his face.
"Oh, I remember the day she was Princess of the Gekomon and Otamamon." Matt said giggling. "She was SO bossy."
"Well, she definitely ain't the boss of me, and no princess either." Jun said furiously scrubbing Matt's face. "Though she definitely knows how to charm people. I'm going to have to learn a few thing or two from her.") And Tai had wandered over to Sora. Cody was reading a book, while Yolei came and dragged Izzy away to finish their game and T.K. and Kari tried to sneak away from Davis.
"It's great to be home, eh?" Mimi asked Joe after everyone else was gone. She stretched (as the bottom of her shirt went up as well) and yawned. "I'm so tired from the flight."
"You've gotta be." Joe said, felling very comfortable, very unlike him. "It's like a twelve hour flight, isn't it?" Mimi nodded, and laid her head on Joe's shoulder quietly.
"About." Mimi said. Her eyelids closed. Oh dear. Joe looked around nervously. Izzy meet his gaze, saw Mimi, giggled, and then pointed it out to Yolei. Yolei giggled too, but quietly, as not to disturb Mimi, and then the two of them sneaked off. Joe expected them to come back for help, but they never did, at least not before Mimi had woke up.
She actually didn't sleep long, only about five minutes, but that had seemed SO long for Joe. Her hair was still brown, and (as he touched it) soft and shiny. Even though the last time he had seen her it was pinkish, the dye had come out. Her eyes were closed as if she didn't have a care in the world and the shape of her face, oh, Joe looked away, afraid that the loveliness would disappear before his eyes. Now he wished this would last forever and was glad that it was NOT a dream.
But it didn't, and before long, she woke up.
"Oh, Joe, did I fall asleep?" Mimi asked, stirring and getting up, her eyes still looked half closed. "I'm sorry." She rubbed her eyes and the brilliant eyes appeared again.
"That's all right." Joe said. "We've better find the others." He got up, reached for her hand, and led them away.
The truth was, after Yolei and Izzy and transferred the news, T.K. demanded ice cream, and of course Mr. Ishinda brought some for everybody. Matt was given a task to ask Joe and Mimi if they wanted any, but before the could do anything, Izzy volunteered first, faked the asking, and came back a few minutes later (again with Yolei, he goes everywhere with her) and said that they didn't want anything but to be left alone.
Matt wanted to check this out, but Jun wouldn't let him. They all wandered into an arcade, and everyone soon got so hooked on games that they couldn't leave, so of course Joe and Mimi couldn't find them. After wandering the whole airport until their feet were sore, Mimi finally collapsed (into Joe's arms) and declared she couldn't move another step.
"Mimi, I can't carry you." Joe said. "Come on, it's just another few steps until where we started and you fell asleep." Mimi pouted and her whole face was filled with sadness that Joe couldn't stand it anymore. "I've changed my mind." He bent down, picked her up, and carried her back.
At this unfortunate moment, Izzy and Yolei happened to be the first ones that popped out of the arcade to go home.
"Eh, Joe, what are you doing?" Izzy asked. Yolei giggled and added,
"I bet you are enjoying that!" They both giggled and snickered. Joe turned bright burgundy red and Mimi waved.
"Like a queen." Matt said, shaking his head as he watched, but with a smile under his hair (since his hair was covering most of his mouth). Jun scowled.
Joe put Mimi back on her feet when they had reached the place they had started and they waited until the other kids approached. On the way home, they said nothing about their adventures, but Mimi chatted happily about New York and everyone listened (even Jun couldn't help listening and asking about the buildings and towers and clothes).
"Mimi, why don't you stay at my house?" Sora asked. Mimi shrugged.
"Sure thing." She said. So they stopped at Sora's house first. As everyone helped with the luggage, Mimi went on about how she was going to miss everyone so much. Finally Sora and Mimi had everything in the house. Mimi waved, blew kisses, and Sora shouted, "Drive safely!" over the sound of kids talking.
When Joe arrived home that night, he slept contently with his eyes closed, praying that the next day would arrive sooner. Please arrive sooner.
Mimi came by the next day.
"I'm only staying for three days." Mimi said quietly as they strolled down a lane in the park, covered by trees.
"Why?" Joe asked. "I've been asking that ever since Jim told me you were coming."
"Oh really?" Mimi asked. "How sweet of you." And she looked adoringly at Joe, who blushed. "Well, actually, I just came to visit. I was kind of bummed out in New York. I mean, it's a great city, but I've been everywhere and this summer is just kind of boring, so my dad suggested I visit Tokyo."
"You haven't been to see me in the longest time." Joe said quietly.
"Yeah, I know." Mimi said. "I wanted to say good-bye last time, but the timing was off and the flight was so urgent I didn't get a chance, at least not to say goodbye to most of you. Only the people that came by."
"I'm sorry I didn't come by." Joe apologized.
"Well, you didn't know." Mimi said. "And I'm sorry that I didn't call. Every time I thought about it I reached for the phone, and then I thought you might be mad at me for not saying goodbye and would still be mad, so I guess I didn't call."
"Aww, Mimi." Joe said. They had stopped walking. "I should have called too, I guess." Mimi stood on her toes and whispered in his ear,
"You don't have my number, remember?" They giggled.
"Oh right, I forgot." Joe said. "I just got caught in this whole apologizing thing." He laughed and flipped a huge portion of his hair back. Mimi laughed and ruffled his hair for him.
"Do you really have to go?" Joe asked sadly. "In three days, I mean." Mimi shrugged.
"I really don't want to be a nuisance to all of you." Mimi said. "And I'm only visiting."
"No one visits for three days." Joe argued. "You can stay at my place if Sora is busy."
"Oh, it's okay, Joe." Mimi said, giving him another kiss (and this time I won't say where). "I don't mind it."
"I just feel really bad letting you go." Joe said, struggling to get the last three words out. "What did Matt say?" Mimi shrugged.
"I haven't told him yet." She said. "But I guess everyone is kind of sad."
"Definitely."
"Except for that one girl."
"Jun." Joe said.
"What a pretty name." Mimi said, her eyes far away.
"I think Mimi's prettier." Joe said, looking into her eyes. "Absolutely." Mimi sighed and smiled.
"It's just so nice to be back." She said. "It feels so strange, because everything has changed so, but still." Mimi smiled.
"Yeah." Joe said. "Everything HAS changed." Then silently, to himself, "For the better."
Mimi stayed for three days, and only that long. As much as they all persuaded her, she wouldn't stay.
"What would daddy say?" Mimi said, giggling, walking up to the plane. "I'll be fine, and miss all of you." The entire good bye STUFF was done, tears were cried, and finally, Mimi's flight left.
After watching the plane leave, they left the airport, never thinking what could have happened if she had stayed, only knowing the dreadful truth of what did happen.
Two weeks later, Joe was all dressed up again, with Jim's help. He had written a great long letter, and wept over it. But there was to be no more regretting or change. He had thought enough about it, and there WAS absolutely nothing to do about it. He wished she were there, the girl that always answered his questions, no matter how silly they were. But she was gone, gone with the wind.
Izzy picked him up this time, and they rode to a place where there was a walk and many trees and green grasses. But it was not the place where two lovers had once roamed and expressed their thoughts to each other. It was a place where there were many rocks shaped like turtle shells lying close to each other, a sad place, a place for memorial.
And on one of them, there was a little shrine, with a little door, firmly glued and locked. It gleamed proud and shiny, but Joe could not keep the tears from falling out of his eyes.
Mimi.
The word just seemed to blow him away. On the shrine were carved the words, "To the memory of Mimi Tachilca, (date,) our dearest friend and companion." There was very little written. On top of the shrine was a little wooden box (glued on) containing all of the letters written to Mimi.
"I can't believe she's gone." Joe said. Tai patted his shoulder.
"The plane." Tai said. "Just suddenly swerved and plunged into the mountainside." Joe wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Why didn't they have a casket for her?" He asked.
"Mimi always liked shrines better." Sora said, crying. "She said that shrines were special, and although she didn't like the thought of being cremated one bit, she wanted to be a bunch of ashes when she died. She didn't want to be left to rot, as she said. She didn't care how she became, uh, *great deal of sniffles and crying* ashes, because she knew it wouldn't hurt. So it was one of her dreams, and she deserved at least ONE to come through." Sora sobbed wildly into Tai's shoulder.
Joe, overcome with emotion, could not deliver his message to Mimi, but instead stuck the piece of paper into her "mailbox." It read:
Dear Mimi,
I have loved you with all my heart, and you have given me the best days of my life. May you be happy where you are now. We will all miss you greatly, for your death has affected us greatly so very much. We would all like to thank you, and my grief is too great to express in words. All the things I'd love to say are muffled into a why. Why did you have to leave? But I shall ask no more, for if that is your destiny, that shall be. Mimi, I will miss you dearly.
With Sincerely Love,
Joe
It was a very sad letter indeed. Joe looked down at the ground. The ground where she would lay. She was gone. He had to face reality. She was gone forever. It really didn't seem possible. Just recently she was there, he had held her in his arms. But she was really gone, gone, gone.
He walked away from the cemetery and the shrine by himself, crying.
If you want a happy ending, just tell me and I'll write you one.
Digimon does not belong to me but this story does.
*sniffles* ooh, it's sooooooooo sad. Please read and REVIEW!!!
AHEM...thank you.
Nothing But Ashes
What was wrong? The sky was still blue, the birds were still chirping as the wind brought a fresh breeze through the tree leaves and stirred them as the wind used to run through her hair. Everything was still the same, yet it was different.
She had moved, moved halfway across the planet, where he could never see her again. She was gone, all history. But then why did he miss her so much?
He strolled down the walkway, kicking a nearby stone to express his anger, confusion, and concern. He walked with his hands in his pockets, head down, as if he were the most unfortunate person on the planet. Maybe he was, maybe he wasn't. All he knew was that he was hurt, very hurt.
She moved because of her parent's job, but she had never come to say good-bye. One day she was there, the next she wasn't. It was as if she disappeared. She never wrote. To him, she was still there, beside him, talking to him, her light brown hair ruffling in the wind. To him, she had never moved, she was still there.
He sighed, cleared his mind and walked home.
His brother was waiting at the door.
"Joe, Tai called." Jim said. "He says that Mimi's flying over from New York for a couple of days."
He stood, posed, as if ice water had wetted him from head to toe. How was he supposed to react? Jim looked at him with concern, and he shook himself and forced himself to open his mouth.
"Why?" He found himself asking, more to himself than Jim. Jim shrugged; unaware Joe was in a daze.
"She's visiting, and that's all I know." Jim replied. "Are you all right, Joe?" Joe brushed his hair out of his eyes, pushed his glasses up, and forced himself to look in his brother's eyes.
"Uh, yeah, sure." Joe said, walking into his house, brushing past Jim. He went to his room, plopped down on the bed, and tried to read a book, but found he couldn't concentrate.
Why was she coming back? Why? He couldn't understand it. It couldn't be because of him. He imagined her getting off of the escalator from the landing hallways, her soft brown hair gleaming from the lights and her warm chocolate colored brown eyes and sighed. He missed her so much.
But did she even know she had left him behind?
The phone rang again, and he lazily picked it up.
"Hello?" His voice sounded old and tired.
"Joe, is that you?" Kari Kamiya asked over the phone. "You sound tired. Is everything all right?" Joe sighed and wondered why Kari would be phoning him.
"Yeah, sure." Joe said. "What's up?"
"Tai told me to tell you Mimi is coming back to Tokyo for a while." Kari said. Joe nodded, forgetting Kari couldn't see him.
"I've heard." Joe said in the same lifeless tone. "Why?" Kari (instinctively) shrugged.
"I'm not sure." She said. "Tai never told me, exactly. He said he got an email from Matt, telling him that Mimi had phoned and would be coming to Tokyo. But Matt probably knows. Why don't you phone him? Though he's probably at Band Practice."
Yes. Matt. Matt would know exactly. Mimi would have phoned him to tell him about her plans. Joe was suddenly engulfed by a wave of jealousy. The phone slid off his ear and onto his shoulder. Questions faced through his head. Should he phone Matt? Subconsciously he put the phone back into place.
On the other end, Kari heard a distant click. She grunted. Joe had hung up. "He must be taking it pretty well." Kari thought. "I'd better go find Tai now." She walked through her room, through the grand hallway decorated with portraits, and stumbled through toys, racing cars, clothes, books, cards, and a whole lot of junk before reaching Tai, who was on his computer. As she grasped the back of Tai's chair for balance, she announced grandly,
"I phoned Joe and told him." Kari announced. "But I guess his brother Jim told him already."
"How'd he take it?" Tai asked, eyes glued to the screen as he toasted five space Martians in a row.
"I don't know." Kari said angrily between gritted teeth. Tai turned around from the screen to look at her.
"Don't know?"
"He hung up on me." Kari answered in an annoyed sort of voice. Tai snickered and looked back at the screen. A green glob or a space Martian was eating Tai's figure up. Tai shrieked and started furiously tapping the computer keys. Kari rolled her eyes and walked (actually hopped is more like it, because there was so much stuff on the floor *"Geez Tai, you sure have a lot of junk! No wonder you don't invite any friends over, mom would make you clean up all the junk*) out of Tai's room.
Joe slumped down on his bed after hanging up on Kari. His eyes seemed far away, searching for something (or someone) he could never have, something special. He seemed in a daze as he slumped down on his bed and closed his eyes.
"Oh, he felt so tired from the shock of it all. Then he remembered Kari. Running to the phone, he quickly dialed her number. The line was busy. Tai was probably on the Internet. He thought about phoning Matt.
It did not seem right, phoning Matt just to pick out information. They had never been really good friends. But Joe needed to know this. He dialed Matt's number.
Once, the phone rang. Twice, and then three times. It looked as if Kari had been right. Perhaps Matt was at Band Practice. He shouldn't have phoned so early. It made him look like a desperate fool. The phone ran once again. Joe was getting ready to put down the phone. Then he heard the clattering sound of the phone being picked up, and Matt's breathless voice.
"Hello?" It asked.
"Matt?" Joe asked. Matt's voice seemed different over the phone.
"Joe, is that you?" Matt asked. There was a bit of noise. "Sorry Joe, I just got back from Band Practice. The phone ran just as I was unlocking the door."
"Oh, sorry." Joe said stupidly, thinking of nothing better to say. And then, "I hate it when that happens to me."
"Yeah." Matt said.
Dreadful Silence.
"So, uh, Matt?" Joe asked minutes later (which seemed like hours).
"Yeah?" Matt asked casually.
"Tai told me Mimi's coming back; is it true?" He asked. There was the sound of sizzling as a pop bottle was opened.
"Sorry, say that again?" Matt asked. Joe repeated the question. "Yeah."
"Why?" He (Joe) squeaked. Matt shrugged.
"Oh, I dunno, maybe she's getting lonely in New York." Matt said.
"You seriously don't know? She didn't tell you?" Joe asked.
"Eh, why the sudden interest?" Matt asked. Joe turned red, and was thankful he had asked Matt over the phone where he couldn't be seen.
"Oh, I just don't think that all of us Digidestind meet together very often." Joe squawked. "Well, gee, thanks Matt."
"No problem buddy." Matt said. "I'll see you tomorrow."
They both hung up, and Joe discovered he was sweating.
"Gosh." Joe said to himself, wiping the sweat off the back of his neck with a bath towel. "Who'd think talking to Matt would be THAT (here Joe paused for two minutes thinking of a constructive word) HARD?" He sighed and sat down on the edge of his bed, still shaking. "Oh MAN."
Jim poked his head into the room.
"Joe, who are you talking to?" Jim asked.
"Nobody." Joe answered.
"It better not be any of those freaky monsters again." Jim said. Joe shook his head and actually wished Gomamon was there. Gomamon, who always cheered him up. But thinking of Gomamon reminded him of Mimi, who was gone, in the wind, away from him. Both would never return, at least not completely.
"Joe, you are all wet." Jim said after a slight pause. Joe started to head towards the bathroom, Jim close behind. "What's wrong with you today Joe? What's on your mind?" Joe slammed the door in Jim's face. He had never done that before. But he was just so confused; he sat in the bathroom and cried for two solid hours, missed dinner, and sank into a horrible dream once he reached his bed. It was nice and sweet at first, and then it turned out to be about Matt and Mimi. Joe screamed out in his sleep.
Jim had been sleeping otherwise so peacefully until Joe's piercing cry could be heard. Since neither mom nor dad was home, Jim sleepily walked over to Joe's room, tripping twice on the way. Joe seemed like a little fragile child, wrapped up several times in blankets. The moonlight crept in through the blinds and hit the covers of Joe's bed sheets, emitting a soft blue color that danced across the room.
Jim remembered how Mom used to check on Joe every night. Seeing Joe was now sleeping ever so peacefully, Jim left the room.
Sunlight replaced moonlight as it streamed through the windows. Joe Kido shifted and blinked as the sun struck his eyes at an immense angle, causing his eyes to go haywire. For a slight minute, he forgot his worries, and was as happy as he could be.
Mimi was coming back to Tokyo. Maybe not for him, but she was coming back. A soft blush crept over his cheeks. His dark blue eyes seemed to glow and dance around. There was a second chance in everything after all.
There was a slight knock on the wooden door. Joe turned and looked at the open door. Jim was standing beside it.
"Rise and Shine, sleepyhead." Jim called, wearing a pink apron and holding a fry pan in one hand. "Eggs and bacon!"
Joe giggled and got dressed. He forgot what Mimi liked on eggs. That seemed so long ago. Maybe it was ice cream and cherry. Or perhaps mustard? He remembered T.K. had liked jellybeans.
"Oh, and Joe?" Jim asked as Joe arrived at the table. "T.K. called and said that the whole group will swing by around eleven to pick you up."
"For what?" Joe asked, stuffing the eggs into his mouth.
"Didn't say." Jim said mysteriously. "It's supposed to be a surprise." Joe looked at the clock. It was quarter to ten.
"They seemed really serious though." Jim added, filling Joe's plate. "So I think you should dress up."
"Dress up?" Joe asked, mouth full, eyebrows raised, half laughing. "Are you serious?"
"Yup." Jim nodded. "C'mon, after you finish eating, we can go see what you should wear." Joe shook his head sadly.
"Why not?" Jim asked.
"Oh, it's not that." Joe said. "I'd love to go through our closets and dress me up. It's just that-" Joe leaned closer towards Jim "-Jim, do you know something I don't?" Joe asked suspiciously.
"Of course." Jim said. "I know the period table of elements scrambled and you don't. I know the height of Mount Fuji and Angel Falls put together and you don't." Joe groaned and washed his plate in the sink.
"It's not like that." Joe said, splashing water everywhere (at least in the sink). "I mean do you know something that you are hiding from me relating to our subject."
"I don't know, am I?" Jim helped Joe clear the table.
"I would take that as a yes." Joe said. "C'mon, what's the occasion? Mom's birthday?" Jim snorted. "What's so funny?" Joe demanded.
"Mom had her birthday five weeks ago." Jim said. "Don't you remember?" Joe frowned, straining his memory. "C'mon." Jim turned the water faucet off, and dragged Joe back into his room. Jim flipped through Joe's closet and produced a nice shirt. Joe put it on.
They spent the rest of the hour flipping through clothes, but otherwise it would be boring to write down, especially since their conversation was mostly "Doesn't this look great on you?" "Uh, Jim, I don't really think so." "How about this one?" "Um, maybe?" "Oh, look at this!" "Ahh, what IS that?" Both guys stared as they found one of their dad's old shirts stashed in Joe's closet.
So now we shall skip to the moment where Joe was all ready, and the hair was all brushed and neatly combed and he looked very nice.
"One would think I'm going to a funeral, I spent all that work dressing." Joe said. "But of course, if someone HAD died, you wouldn't be so happy and nearly flying." Jim grinned sheepishly and shooed Joe out of the door, just as a horn honked. Matt's dad was driving the family minivan.
Practically everyone was there. Even the new Digidestind kids. Davis's sister was there too, with her arm on Matt's. Joe slid into the car.
"Whoa, Joe, looking good!" Tai said, laughing. Matt looked as if the back of his head was written with sweat drops. Joe laughed.
"Joe, tell us a joke." Kari said, where Davis, T.K., and herself were playing a game.
"Okay." Joe said, thinking of one. "What note does the American car horns all beep in?"
"What?" T.K. asked quickly, before Kari could open her mouth ("Hey T.K., no fair, this was MY joke!" and a laugh from T.K.).
"The tone of F." Davis started to laugh. Everyone else blinked.
"Ha, very funny." Kari said sarcastically. Davis got the point, stopped and looked down. The chatting resumed.
"So, where are we going?" Joe asked Tai.
"A VERY special place." Tai said. Joe looked to the front of the van.
"Mr. Ishinda, where are we going?" Joe asked loudly.
"To pick up your friend Mimi from the airport." Matt's father said.
"Aww, dad, we meant to surprise him." Matt said, trying to get out of the grasp of Jun.
"Oh, you did?" Mr. Ishinda asked, and then went back to driving the car. "I'm really sorry."
"Why surprise me?" Joe asked. Matt shrugged, although this might have been a futile attempt at getting Jun off of his arm.
"There was nobody left." Sora explained. Yolei giggled. She and Izzy were playing a game of checkers on his laptop.
Joe shivered. Of all the people, it had to be him. Mimi was coming that day. Wow. What URGENT news. Joe sighed, leaned back in his chair, and imagined this was all a dream. Sure, Mimi coming back was really great, but they could've told him before hand. It wouldn't have hurt anyone, and he was having a hard time getting over this shock. Would she really be there, or were they pulling another trick on him? Joe didn't know, and grunted.
"Are you okay?" Cody asked Joe, since he was making weird noises. (The Sigh Grunt combination isn't all that a good one and could raise suspicions.) Joe nodded, and gulped as they pulled into the Tokyo International Airport. Mr. Ishinda parked the car and let everyone off. In the long walk, Joe felt as if every step he took was an important one in his life.
They watched Mimi's plane come down from the skies, and Joe gulped. He had never felt so nervous before. A few more minutes passed. And then, the most gorgeous brown haired girl stepped off of the plane and went through some stairways before arriving in front of them (in the luggage area).
"Oh!" Mimi said. Her eyes were still the same, and so was her hair. She had grown so little, but had changed a lot. Her eyes were big and proud of the group that had come to meet her.
"Hey Mimi." Sora said. "How's it going?"
"Pretty rough." Mimi said, giving Sora a bear hug. "I've missed you, and all of you, so very much." Mimi said, wiping the tears out of her eyes. I can't believe I'm back again!" Matt walked up to her (Jun reluctantly hung back a couple of steps) and touched her hair.
"I though you said it was pink." Matt said.
"It was pink the last time you saw me." Mimi said, crying openly now. "Oh Matt." She held out her arms and gave him a hug.
"I think she's a little emotional." Jun whispered to her little brother Davis.
"Shut up." Davis said, kicking Jun's shoe. "I want to listen to this."
"It's not going to help with your relationship to Kari, you know." Yolei put in, and all the people who heard that (there wasn't as many as you would think or like to think) giggled. "I mean, you won't learn any strategies, I'm sure." Davis glared at Yolei.
Mimi sighed in Matt's arms and gave him a kiss (on the cheek). Jun scoffed and gaped at them indignantly, and crossed her arms. A couple of the younger kids snickered, but Joe knew how that felt. Mimi then turned to Kari and T.K.
It was probably easier to talk to the younger kids, because Mimi felt the admired her and there was no sense in embarrassing herself. It was like meeting old friends again, and Mimi was quite happy.
"Izzy." She said, giggling. "Well, you've grown!" She patted Izzy on the back, praised Izzy again, talked to Tai, and then faced Joe. Joe turned red and gulped.
"Hey Joe." Mimi said softly, and her eyes seemed to shine like stars. Joe was speechless. The next second, Mimi had embraced him and gave him a hug.
"I missed you." She said.
"What was that for?" Joe managed to croak.
"Oh, for looking after me a couple of years ago when Puppetmon rules." Mimi said. "Thanks." Joe shrugged, and stuck his hands into his pockets. Mimi smiled.
"Well." Tai said, walking over to the machine that sorted out luggage. "What do your bags look like, Mimi?" It was already pretty late and there was only a couple of bags left.
"Oh!" Mimi went over to the machine, and seemed to skip around as she picked up her bags. Tai, Matt, Joe, and Izzy courteously offered to help, but there weren't as many bags to go around. Following their example, Davis offered to carry Kari's purse, only he didn't say anything, so Kari of course thought Davis was trying to rob her and smacked Davis on the head with her purse (Ouch, that's gotta hurt). Davis almost fainted.
"This is so great, don't you think?" Mimi asked Joe and Izzy. Matt was being dragged along by an angry Jun ("That Mimi, who does she think she is?" Jun asked as she pulled Matt over to a water fountain and began washed the kiss from his face.
"Oh, I remember the day she was Princess of the Gekomon and Otamamon." Matt said giggling. "She was SO bossy."
"Well, she definitely ain't the boss of me, and no princess either." Jun said furiously scrubbing Matt's face. "Though she definitely knows how to charm people. I'm going to have to learn a few thing or two from her.") And Tai had wandered over to Sora. Cody was reading a book, while Yolei came and dragged Izzy away to finish their game and T.K. and Kari tried to sneak away from Davis.
"It's great to be home, eh?" Mimi asked Joe after everyone else was gone. She stretched (as the bottom of her shirt went up as well) and yawned. "I'm so tired from the flight."
"You've gotta be." Joe said, felling very comfortable, very unlike him. "It's like a twelve hour flight, isn't it?" Mimi nodded, and laid her head on Joe's shoulder quietly.
"About." Mimi said. Her eyelids closed. Oh dear. Joe looked around nervously. Izzy meet his gaze, saw Mimi, giggled, and then pointed it out to Yolei. Yolei giggled too, but quietly, as not to disturb Mimi, and then the two of them sneaked off. Joe expected them to come back for help, but they never did, at least not before Mimi had woke up.
She actually didn't sleep long, only about five minutes, but that had seemed SO long for Joe. Her hair was still brown, and (as he touched it) soft and shiny. Even though the last time he had seen her it was pinkish, the dye had come out. Her eyes were closed as if she didn't have a care in the world and the shape of her face, oh, Joe looked away, afraid that the loveliness would disappear before his eyes. Now he wished this would last forever and was glad that it was NOT a dream.
But it didn't, and before long, she woke up.
"Oh, Joe, did I fall asleep?" Mimi asked, stirring and getting up, her eyes still looked half closed. "I'm sorry." She rubbed her eyes and the brilliant eyes appeared again.
"That's all right." Joe said. "We've better find the others." He got up, reached for her hand, and led them away.
The truth was, after Yolei and Izzy and transferred the news, T.K. demanded ice cream, and of course Mr. Ishinda brought some for everybody. Matt was given a task to ask Joe and Mimi if they wanted any, but before the could do anything, Izzy volunteered first, faked the asking, and came back a few minutes later (again with Yolei, he goes everywhere with her) and said that they didn't want anything but to be left alone.
Matt wanted to check this out, but Jun wouldn't let him. They all wandered into an arcade, and everyone soon got so hooked on games that they couldn't leave, so of course Joe and Mimi couldn't find them. After wandering the whole airport until their feet were sore, Mimi finally collapsed (into Joe's arms) and declared she couldn't move another step.
"Mimi, I can't carry you." Joe said. "Come on, it's just another few steps until where we started and you fell asleep." Mimi pouted and her whole face was filled with sadness that Joe couldn't stand it anymore. "I've changed my mind." He bent down, picked her up, and carried her back.
At this unfortunate moment, Izzy and Yolei happened to be the first ones that popped out of the arcade to go home.
"Eh, Joe, what are you doing?" Izzy asked. Yolei giggled and added,
"I bet you are enjoying that!" They both giggled and snickered. Joe turned bright burgundy red and Mimi waved.
"Like a queen." Matt said, shaking his head as he watched, but with a smile under his hair (since his hair was covering most of his mouth). Jun scowled.
Joe put Mimi back on her feet when they had reached the place they had started and they waited until the other kids approached. On the way home, they said nothing about their adventures, but Mimi chatted happily about New York and everyone listened (even Jun couldn't help listening and asking about the buildings and towers and clothes).
"Mimi, why don't you stay at my house?" Sora asked. Mimi shrugged.
"Sure thing." She said. So they stopped at Sora's house first. As everyone helped with the luggage, Mimi went on about how she was going to miss everyone so much. Finally Sora and Mimi had everything in the house. Mimi waved, blew kisses, and Sora shouted, "Drive safely!" over the sound of kids talking.
When Joe arrived home that night, he slept contently with his eyes closed, praying that the next day would arrive sooner. Please arrive sooner.
Mimi came by the next day.
"I'm only staying for three days." Mimi said quietly as they strolled down a lane in the park, covered by trees.
"Why?" Joe asked. "I've been asking that ever since Jim told me you were coming."
"Oh really?" Mimi asked. "How sweet of you." And she looked adoringly at Joe, who blushed. "Well, actually, I just came to visit. I was kind of bummed out in New York. I mean, it's a great city, but I've been everywhere and this summer is just kind of boring, so my dad suggested I visit Tokyo."
"You haven't been to see me in the longest time." Joe said quietly.
"Yeah, I know." Mimi said. "I wanted to say good-bye last time, but the timing was off and the flight was so urgent I didn't get a chance, at least not to say goodbye to most of you. Only the people that came by."
"I'm sorry I didn't come by." Joe apologized.
"Well, you didn't know." Mimi said. "And I'm sorry that I didn't call. Every time I thought about it I reached for the phone, and then I thought you might be mad at me for not saying goodbye and would still be mad, so I guess I didn't call."
"Aww, Mimi." Joe said. They had stopped walking. "I should have called too, I guess." Mimi stood on her toes and whispered in his ear,
"You don't have my number, remember?" They giggled.
"Oh right, I forgot." Joe said. "I just got caught in this whole apologizing thing." He laughed and flipped a huge portion of his hair back. Mimi laughed and ruffled his hair for him.
"Do you really have to go?" Joe asked sadly. "In three days, I mean." Mimi shrugged.
"I really don't want to be a nuisance to all of you." Mimi said. "And I'm only visiting."
"No one visits for three days." Joe argued. "You can stay at my place if Sora is busy."
"Oh, it's okay, Joe." Mimi said, giving him another kiss (and this time I won't say where). "I don't mind it."
"I just feel really bad letting you go." Joe said, struggling to get the last three words out. "What did Matt say?" Mimi shrugged.
"I haven't told him yet." She said. "But I guess everyone is kind of sad."
"Definitely."
"Except for that one girl."
"Jun." Joe said.
"What a pretty name." Mimi said, her eyes far away.
"I think Mimi's prettier." Joe said, looking into her eyes. "Absolutely." Mimi sighed and smiled.
"It's just so nice to be back." She said. "It feels so strange, because everything has changed so, but still." Mimi smiled.
"Yeah." Joe said. "Everything HAS changed." Then silently, to himself, "For the better."
Mimi stayed for three days, and only that long. As much as they all persuaded her, she wouldn't stay.
"What would daddy say?" Mimi said, giggling, walking up to the plane. "I'll be fine, and miss all of you." The entire good bye STUFF was done, tears were cried, and finally, Mimi's flight left.
After watching the plane leave, they left the airport, never thinking what could have happened if she had stayed, only knowing the dreadful truth of what did happen.
Two weeks later, Joe was all dressed up again, with Jim's help. He had written a great long letter, and wept over it. But there was to be no more regretting or change. He had thought enough about it, and there WAS absolutely nothing to do about it. He wished she were there, the girl that always answered his questions, no matter how silly they were. But she was gone, gone with the wind.
Izzy picked him up this time, and they rode to a place where there was a walk and many trees and green grasses. But it was not the place where two lovers had once roamed and expressed their thoughts to each other. It was a place where there were many rocks shaped like turtle shells lying close to each other, a sad place, a place for memorial.
And on one of them, there was a little shrine, with a little door, firmly glued and locked. It gleamed proud and shiny, but Joe could not keep the tears from falling out of his eyes.
Mimi.
The word just seemed to blow him away. On the shrine were carved the words, "To the memory of Mimi Tachilca, (date,) our dearest friend and companion." There was very little written. On top of the shrine was a little wooden box (glued on) containing all of the letters written to Mimi.
"I can't believe she's gone." Joe said. Tai patted his shoulder.
"The plane." Tai said. "Just suddenly swerved and plunged into the mountainside." Joe wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Why didn't they have a casket for her?" He asked.
"Mimi always liked shrines better." Sora said, crying. "She said that shrines were special, and although she didn't like the thought of being cremated one bit, she wanted to be a bunch of ashes when she died. She didn't want to be left to rot, as she said. She didn't care how she became, uh, *great deal of sniffles and crying* ashes, because she knew it wouldn't hurt. So it was one of her dreams, and she deserved at least ONE to come through." Sora sobbed wildly into Tai's shoulder.
Joe, overcome with emotion, could not deliver his message to Mimi, but instead stuck the piece of paper into her "mailbox." It read:
Dear Mimi,
I have loved you with all my heart, and you have given me the best days of my life. May you be happy where you are now. We will all miss you greatly, for your death has affected us greatly so very much. We would all like to thank you, and my grief is too great to express in words. All the things I'd love to say are muffled into a why. Why did you have to leave? But I shall ask no more, for if that is your destiny, that shall be. Mimi, I will miss you dearly.
With Sincerely Love,
Joe
It was a very sad letter indeed. Joe looked down at the ground. The ground where she would lay. She was gone. He had to face reality. She was gone forever. It really didn't seem possible. Just recently she was there, he had held her in his arms. But she was really gone, gone, gone.
He walked away from the cemetery and the shrine by himself, crying.
If you want a happy ending, just tell me and I'll write you one.