THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE...
By Stiltzkin
Author's Note: This story takes place about a year after the second season of Digimon: Digital Monsters (assuming the season starts on the first day of school and finished the last day of school, before their summer vacation). I'm attempting to make this story as close to cannon as possible, but since I haven't seen all the episodes from the first or second seasons it would be highly unlikely that everything I write would coincides perfectly with the Digimon Series, so please excuse any obvious mistake. I'm also making the assumption that after the season finale of season two the digimons would return back to the Digital World.
* * * * * * * * * *
"For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are those
'It might have been.'"
- John Greenleaf Whittier
* * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER ONE: TAKERU'S CONFESSION.
It was a beautiful summer's morning, perhaps the most beautiful in recent memory. Takeru Takaishi sauntered towards the rising sun to a destination all too familiar. A cool zephyr breeze osculated his nervous soul, which he welcomed whole-heartedly. 'Why am I so nervous?' Takeru thought watching two lovers walking hand in hand pass him. 'Could that be Kari and me?' He hoped watching the lovers disappearing into the urban vista of apartment buildings and early morning traffic. 'What if she doesn't feel the same way?' He allowed that thought to haunt him. 'No.' He rebuked himself. 'I have to tell her...it's time.' He convinced himself, he turned around and continued his way.
Takeru wanted to tell Hikari his feelings for a long time but couldn't for various reasons. At first he questioned his emotions, whether or not they were genuine or just a feeling of familiarity pressed by adventure and tragedy or an obligation to a fleeting promise he made long ago. It took a long time (that is to a twelve-year-old) to realize that his feelings were more than that.
Having coming to that realization, he found himself without reason or excuse to tell Hikari his feelings. He tried once before during a summer about two years ago, but back down at the last minute. 'You can't let that happen again.' He reminded himself. It was about that time where a malignant epiphany hit him that drained his courage. He realized that Hikari might not have the same feelings towards him. He contemplated that fact that year when he returned to Kawada in the fall and found no answer.
Takeru was both elated and hesitant when he heard the news that his mother's promotion would bring them back to Odaiba. On the one hand it would be good to see his brother, his father, his friends and of course Hikari again, but on the other hand, he must confront his feelings for her, a task he wasn't ready or inclined to do. It was also that year where he met the second generation of the Digidestined.
Whether it was fate or happenstance that Iori Hida and Miyako Inoue, two of the six second generation Digidestined were living in his building would be one mystery Takeru would never solve. He met Daisuke Motomiya later that morning playing soccer before Odaiba Elementary while walking to school with his new friends. At first, he mistaken him for Taichi Kamiya the leader of the original team of Digidestined, which is probably why he wasn't all too surprised to find out that he too would become a Digidestined and the leader nevertheless. Then there was her...
* * * * * * * * * *
Twenty-one months ago...
"Hmm...twelve point five minutes, twelve seconds later than normal." Miyako sighed looking at her watch. "Pretty good timing considering the wind resistance and the fact you stopped to catch that soccer ball." Miyako smiled looking at Takeru and Iori.
"Thanks, I guess." Takeru replied politely, unsure how to respond.
"We're better get to class." Iori suggested.
"Yeah." Miyako smiled. "What class are you in T.K.?"
"I don't know." He sighed. "I have to pick up my schedule at the principal's office."
"That's down the hall." Iori pointed. "Third door to your right, you can't miss it."
"Thanks." Takeru smiled. "See you soon." He waved farewell to his new friends.
Takeru quickly meandered his way through the perpetually changing labyrinth of students to reach his destination. He opened the door to the principal's office and crossed the threshold approaching the secretary's desk.
"Hi how may I help you?" She smiled.
"Hi. I'm new here and I'm here to pick up my schedule."
"Name?"
"Takaishi, Takeru."
She typed his name in the computer and printed out a schedule for him. "Okay." She smiled. "It seems that you're in Mr. Hamasaki fifth grade class."
"Great, where's that?" Takeru asked enthusiastically.
"Well there's Mr. Hamasaki now, he could take you to class." The secretary pointed to the man who just entered the office. Takeru turned to see a tall, thin man with glasses.
"Hi are you a new student?" He asked with a smile.
"Yeah." Takeru smiled. "My name is Takeru Takaishi, but all my friends call me T.K." He said shaking his teacher's hand.
"Well T.K., I'll show you to your classroom after I pick up a few things." Hamasaki smiled.
"Okay, I'll wait." Takeru smiled waiting patiently for his new teacher.
A few minutes later Takeru and his new teacher walked to their class on the second floor of Odaiba Elementary. Hamasaki opened the door and entered into a noisy class filled with students chattering. "I'm Mr. Hamasaki. I'll be your teacher. I'd like you all to welcome a new student."
"Hey." Takeru looked at the person who made the exclamation and was glad to see Daisuke. 'At least I know someone in class.' He thought.
"Hi" Takeru smiled taking off his white hat. "Nice to meet you. I'm Takeru, but you can call me T.K." He introduced himself to the class.
"Please take a seat next to the girl with the camera around her neck." Hamasaki said looking around the room.
Takeru looked to where he pointed and saw that it was Hikari. His heart did somersaults seeing his best friend. 'I didn't know she'd be in this class.' He thought. Takeru smiled and quickly sat beside her. "Together again." Takeru flashed his boyish smile.
"Just like old times." Hikari smiled in return.
Takeru's heart melted and fluttered by that smile, so much so that he wanted to see it again, he wouldn't be disappointed. "Our teacher looks like Ogremon." He whispered with a huge grimace.
Hikari started to laugh again. Takeru reveled in her laughter. He was so infatuated by her smiled that he didn't notice that Daisuke was fuming with jealousy a couple of seats down.
Mr. Hamasaki quickly went through the attendance list and then started his class. Takeru wrote some notes down, but found himself unable to concentrate. Once in a while he would try to steal a glance at Hikari. His heart pounded and he felt warm at the sight of her.
The bell rang signifying the end of homeroom. The sound of approximately twenty students getting up and packing for the next class rippled through the once silence classroom. Takeru and Hikari walked towards their lockers together reminiscing. "T.K. How does your mom like the new apartment?" Hikari smiled.
"I'm not sure." Takeru smiled. "She's been on the computer the whole time."
"Hey Buddy!" Daisuke's voice clamored surprising the couple.
"His name is not buddy. It's T.K." Hikari defended adamantly.
"All right, T.J. or J.B. Or whatever it is, how do you know Kari?"
"Huh?" Takeru remarked trying to get the recent events into perspective. "How do I know her?" He repeated his question with a hint of confusion. Then it hit him. "Oh, I get it. You're jealous of me." Takeru couldn't help but to smile like an idiot.
"I'm not jealous of anybody!" Daisuke fumed.
* * * * * * * * * *
Even now Takeru couldn't help but to smirk at that moment in his life. He sighed and took a breath of the cool morning air, pushing that memory away. 'I wish I could be more like Daisuke.' He sighed to himself. 'What am I thinking!?!' He quickly corrected his thoughts. 'Me be more like Daisuke, what is the world coming to?' He rhetorically thought to himself.
The truth was Takeru did wish that he were more like Daisuke, at least in one way. He wished that he could have the courage to express his emotions about Hikari like Daisuke could, albeit with much more tact. 'I guess that's why he carries the digimentale of courage.' Takeru sighed. 'At least he would go through life knowing how Kari feels about him.' Takeru thought. "Unlike me." He whispered to himself. 'Which is better? Living a life full of rejection or a life filled with regret?' He thought rhetorically. He knew the answer: Rejection.
The answer of that question came to him after his second adventure in the Digital World. It has been a year since all that had happened and every time Takeru would summon up the courage to tell Hikari his feelings something drastic would happen.
He wanted to tell her during their trip to New York. It seemed perfect! A "romantic" getaway (at least in his mind) for two, alone in a big, foreign city, but then Willis, a fellow Digidestined was in trouble and they had to help him out. His feelings were pushed away for something more dire and important.
'Today was the day! Nothing would stop me from telling Hikari how I feel.' He thought earnestly. He made that promise before, but each time he broke it. The first time he made that promise the sordid love triangle between Sora, Tai and his brother (which ended badly for all three of them) prevented him to tell her. Takeru thought that telling his feelings wouldn't have helped the situation that he and Hikari were drawn into.
With that situation gone and some time had passed Takeru mustered up enough courage to tell her again. He was again prevented in telling Hikari his feelings with just cause: the death of Hikari's father. Again he pushed his feelings away to be there for her.
"Nothing will stop me now." He told himself again, this time with determination. He looked up at Hikari's building and took another deep breath and entered the apartment complex.
He got to the door, raised his hand ready to knock, but stopped midway. A wave of fear rang through his soul. 'All right relax T.K., it's just another day, like every other day you picked up Kari to go to school.' He thought. 'Except that you're going to tell how you feel about her.' Takeru sighed banging his head against the wall.
He took another deep breath and reminded himself to relax again. 'Okay T.K. just practice what you want to say.' He sighed encouraging himself. "Kari, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something that I wanted to tell you a long time. You see Kari I..."
"Hey T.K. thought I heard you." Taichi greeted opening the door. "Whatcha doing?"
Takeru face turned red from embarrassment put his hand behind his head to hastily think of an excuse. "I'm just practicing for an oral test today." He quickly stuttered.
"On the second last day of school?" Taichi asked not entirely believing his excuse. "Man, elementary teachers are meaner than I remember." Taichi sighed. "Oh well, I'm late for soccer practice. Kari is in her room." He sighed letting go of his suspicions. "Well gotta go." The fifteen-year-old said running down the hall towards the elevator.
"That's was close." Takeru sighed. He felt cooler entering the Kamiya residence. "Kari?" He hesitantly asked. Takeru headed towards Hikari's room and popped his head in. "Kari you ready for school?"
"Almost." Hikari blushed, quickly hiding something behind her back.
"What are you hiding?" Takeru smiled approaching her trying to see what she was hiding behind her.
"My dress for the formal tonight." Hikari said gently pushing Takeru out of her room. "And I don't want anyone to see it until tonight." She said pushing Takeru down on the couch.
"Why? It's not like a wedding dress?"
"No, but it's almost as important and I still don't want you to see it." Hikari sighed. "Miko you watch him." She ordered her cat. "If he moves an inch scratch him." She smiled playfully at her cat. Miko meowed in affirmation as Hikari disappeared into her room.
"Miko, buddy, you know me." He smiled at the cat trying to sweet talk it. "Remember me, I'm your buddy T.K. the guy who dropped you from the balcony when I was three." The cat hissed. "Okay bad example, but I am your friend and I know you won't hurt me if I peak at Kari's dress." Takeru smiled, slowly getting up.
Miko let out a loud meow in defense. "Sit down T.K." Hikari yelled from within her room.
"All right." Takeru sighed, sulking back into the couch. "Traitor." Takeru hushed the cat. The tabby purred apologetically and jumped in his lap and looked at him remorsefully. "All right, you're forgiven." Takeru sighed petting Miko. "I still love you." Takeru smiled sarcastically scratching behind Miko's ear. The cat purred in affection as she got comfortable on his lap. "Why is it that I can tell you that, but can't tell Kari?" Takeru asked half to himself.
"Can't tell me what?" Hikari asked coming into the living room.
"Nothing." Takeru stood up quickly dropping Miko to the floor. Miko screamed hitting the floor. "Sorry Miko." Takeru apologized to the cat, his face already red by the sudden appearance of Hikari.
"What is it?" Hikari demanded crossing her arms.
"Nothing, it's rather silly." Takeru said grabbing Hikari's books. "Com'on, we're going to be late for school." He said quickly leaving the apartment.
Hikari knew that this secret was juicy when Takeru evaded her like that. "Takeru Takaishi you're not getting away that easy." Hikari demanded. Takeru knew he was in trouble when Hikari used his full name. "What is it that you can't tell me?" She demanded the more as they entered the elevator.
"Nothing." He responded innocently.
"Takeru." She insisted.
"Okay, okay." Takeru sighed in defeated. "I wanted to tell you that I love..." Takeru couldn't get the words out of his mouth, his throat went dry, he was lost in her chocolate brown eyes and lost his courage. "I was debating whether to tell you your father's last words." Takeru muttered the last part under his breath. 'Stupid.' He regretted what he said as soon as the excuse came out. 'Why did you bring that up?' He knew that Hikari's feelings over her father's death were not fully resolved. "I'm sorry." Takeru quickly said trying to mend his insensitive remark.
"Don't be." Hikari said above a whisper. "You did promise my father you wouldn't tell." She sighed turning her back to him. For a long time Hikari wanted to know what her father said to Takeru just before he died.
"I'm sorry." Takeru said touching her shoulder. "I didn't mean to..."
"Don't." Hikari interrupted allowing a few tears escape. "I forced it out of you." She said turning to Takeru shoulder crying.
Takeru held her, his arms around the small of her back. He felt guilty for bringing that very sensitive matter up and guiltier for allowing Hikari to believe that this was her fault. "There, there, let it all out." He whispered caressing the back of her head. Her hair smelled like a mixture of lilacs and lavender, a scent he came to love. He could hold her like this forever.
"I'm sorry." Hikari said looking into his glittering sapphire blue eyes. "I didn't mean to cry on your shoulder." She said patting his shoulder dry.
"Hey that's okay." Takeru smiled. "That's what shoulders are for." He smiled drying her tears with his thumb. "I'm sorry for bringing your father up earlier."
"But it's not your..."
Takeru put his index finger on her lips, stopping her speech. "It's my fault, okay?" He reiterated.
Hikari nod and smiled a thank you to her best friend. Suddenly a wave of affection hit her for the first time, in a long time. She saw her best friend in a different light as something more than a friend. She blushed and unconsciously leaned into Takeru for a kiss, then the fact that he was her friend hit her. "Uh...T.K.?" Hikari asked blushing.
"Yeah." He whispered; their eyes still locked. The sexual tension in the elevator was so thick that it was suffocating.
"You can let go of me now." She smiled.
"Oh...sorry." Takeru blushed.
"That's okay." Hikari smiled trying to forget the situation. "Let's get going." She said leaving the elevator.
They walked to school together having their customary conversation about school and life. Hikari, Takeru, Daisuke and Ken were in sixth grade and were expecting to graduate from Odaiba Elementary in a couple of days. Miyako was just about to finish her first year at Odaiba Junior High. Iori Hida, the youngest of the six was about to finish the fourth grade.
The four were not the only Digidestined graduating in a couple of days. Yamato Ishida, Takeru's older brother, Sora Takenouchi, and Taichi Kamiya, Hikari's older brother was about to finish grade nine, their last year of Junior High and eagerly waiting to attend Odaiba High in the fall. Meanwhile, in America Mimi Tachikawa was about to finish the eighth grade and was eagerly waiting to go to high school there.
Jou Kido was about to complete the tenth grade, the first year of high school and still studying hard to become a doctor. While Koushiro Izumi was about to finished grade eight, his second year of Junior High waiting patiently for the second generation of Digidestined to come to Odaiba Junior High.
"So T.K. are you excited about going to Junior High this fall?" Hikari asked.
"Yeah, kind of." Takeru sighed. "I'm not a big fan with the school uniform though." He let out another sigh. "The green blazer, white dress shirt, blue tie, and grey paints feels too artificial."
"Oh, you just don't like the fact that the dress code don't allow hats." Hikari teased.
Takeru smiled at the remark. "Am I that transparent?" He asked rhetorically.
"Only to me." Hikari smiled.
"Well at least I'll be in good company." He smiled at her.
"What do you mean?" She asked oblivious to what Takeru was insinuating.
"Well wearing a digital camera around your neck doesn't really fall under the dress code either." Takeru pointed out with his boyish smile.
Hikari stopped as Takeru passed her a couple of paces before he noticed that she was missing. He turned to see Hikari holding onto her camera with affection. "I never thought about that?" She whispered.
"Kari it'll be okay." Takeru said concernfully. "You can still put it in your book bag." Takeru suggested.
"I know, but it's not the same." Hikari sighed still holding her camera. Takeru was about to approach her when an epiphany hit her. She had a devilish grimace in her face and skipped towards him with serendipity grabbing his arm and marched forward. "What are you thinking?" Takeru asked with suspicion. He seen this look on Hikari before and it usually means one thing: trouble. "And how much will we get in trouble?"
"Trouble?" Hikari asked innocently. "We're not going to get in trouble...well not much any ways."
"Kari." Takeru sternly protested.
"I'm thinking we could joined the Digidestined in New York with Mimi and Michael and go to a Junior High School there." Hikari suggested enthusiastically. "That means we can wear anything we want. You don't have to get rid of your hat and I don't have to get rid of my camera."
Takeru smiled to himself. "Sounds great, but how would our mothers feel? Would they even let us go?"
Hikari's heart sank. "Oh, you're no fun." Hikari sighed sarcastically. "Did you have to burst my bubble?" She sulked.
"It'll be okay Kari. At least you'll have company in your misery." Takeru smiled supportively.
"Thanks." She smiled putting her head against his shoulder.
Takeru was surprised at the gesture, his heart started to flutter and his body temperature started to rise. He figured this was the right time to tell her about his feelings.
"Kari?" He said hesitantly.
"Yes T.K." She looked into his blue eyes.
His lips started to quiver with nervousness. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something that I wanted to tell you for a long time."
"What is it T.K.?" She smiled.
'Just do it, before you lose your nerve...again.' Takeru encouraged himself. "You see Kari I..."
"Hey T.J. get your hands off my girl!" Daisuke interrupted from the school's soccer field.
"For Gennai's sake." Hikari sighed rolling her eyes. "How many times do I have to tell him that I'm not his girl?" She sighed to herself.
"Apparently as many times I have to tell him my real name." Takeru sighed in the same solemn tone.
"Hey Kari watch this!" Daisuke yelled.
They silently watched Daisuke running down the soccer field navigating the ball around two defensive players and avoided someone trying to trip him and kicked the ball to the net. The ball rocketed towards the net and went in with a fury.
"That's for you Kari!" Daisuke smiled.
Takeru sighed with disdain. He looked at Hikari and realized that she was mesmerized by that simple act of valour. He saw her smile to herself. Hikari was basking in the moment and rather enjoyed it too. Hikari turned to look at Takeru and saw him staring at her strangely. "What?" She asked innocently.
"You rather enjoyed that." Takeru said with awe.
"Enjoy what?" She asked innocently.
"The way Davis makes himself a fool for you."
"Oh that." Hikari blushed. "Please don't tell him." Hikari smiled. "You'll just encourage him if you do."
"Trust me I won't." Takeru sighed walking towards the school. "Davis being more out of control is something I don't want to see." Takeru smiled.
"Thanks." Hikari smiled. "You're my hero."
Takeru wished he could believe that. "It's just that I never figured you the type of girl that liked that sort of thing." He sighed.
"T.K., all women like to be wooed once in a while." Hikari confessed.
He felt hurt. 'Of course Kari would like romance what were you thinking?' He thought to himself. 'And to think you're going to tell her your feelings without romance in the air.' He felt stupid for not thinking of it.
They reached Hikari's locker as Takeru handed the books he was carrying for her. "Oh my..." Hikari swore to herself with awe.
"What is it?" Takeru asked with concern.
"This." Hikari said bringing out a dozen long stem red roses with fern leaves and white baby's breath surrounding the bouquet.
Takeru eyes dilated at the sight. "Who...who are these from?" He asked already knowing the answer.
"I don't know." Hikari sighed. "Oh wait here's a card." Takeru noticed a small smile on her face. "It's from Davis."
Takeru bang his head against the adjacent locker and closed his eyes to hide the pain in his heart. 'Davis is not making this easy for me.' He sighed. 'I might as well tell her.' He thought.
He turned to her looking at her. "Kari I know that this is terribly unromantic, but there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something that I wanted to tell you a long time. You see Kari I..." Takeru stopped himself realizing that Hikari was not paying any attention to him. She was just gazing into her locker. "Hikari?" He said waving his hand in her line of view.
"I'm sorry T.K. you were saying something?"
"Are you okay?" Takeru asked with concern.
"Yeah. I'm fine." She blushed. "Why do you ask?"
"You were like a million miles away."
"Oh." Hikari blushed. "It's just never occurred to me that Davis could be so sweet, romantic and sensitive." Hikari sighed. "He's usually so..."
"Rash? Obnoxious?"
"Unrefined." Hikari corrected using the euphemism. "Who would thought that Davis could be such a diamond in the rough?"
"You've fallen for him...haven't you?" Takeru asked hesitantly, afraid of the answer she might give in return.
"No...Maybe a little...I don't know...I'm not sure, at least not yet." Hikari sighed. "It's just sweet to see the romantic side to him that's all and to tell you the truth I rather enjoy it." She smiled.
"Really?" Takeru sounded hurt.
"Oh, please don't tell Davis I said that, I'll never hear the end of it." She pleaded.
"I won't." Takeru said with a hint of hurt in his voice.
"Thanks you're such a good friend." Hikari smiled kissing his cheek.
Takeru was hurt by that remark, like a dull butter knife piercing his all ready fragile heart; he couldn't get the pain to subside. Even the platonic kiss just added salt upon his opened wound. It burned and stung as a painful reminder of what Hikari thought of him. 'Just a friend.' He sighed with defeat. "Yeah, no problem. What are friends for?" He forced that remark out of himself. He wanted to cry, but held his tears in.
"What did I do to deserve you?" She asked rhetorically with a smile.
"No it is I who don't deserve you." Takeru forced a smile in return.
"You're the best." Hikari smiled giving Takeru a hug. "It's such a shame to put these roses in my locker, they're so beautiful." She smiled.
"Yeah, they are." Takeru sighed. "Too bad they're not pink." He said apathetically watching Hikari staring at her flowers.
"How do you know pink roses were my favourite?" Hikari asked with a painfully beautiful smile. She was shocked that Takeru would know such a thing that only her girlfriends would know.
"Oh." Takeru sighed. "You mentioned it once."
"I did?" Hikari asked inquisitively. "Hmm...I don't remembering mentioning it to you." She smiled putting the flowers back in her locker. "I'm sorry T.K. you wanted to tell me something?" Hikari asked remembering that Takeru wanted to tell her something all morning.
"It's not really that important." Takeru sighed. "It's just that I love..." The bell rang interrupting Takeru in mid-sentence.
"Com'on T.K. we're going to be late for class." Hikari said grabbed Takeru's hand leading him to class.
* * * * * * * * * *
Hikari entered the busy cafeteria with her tray. It was filled with ambient noise of students chattering about their days and plans for their summer.
She meandered through the busy cafeteria tables looking for any of the Digidestined. The cafeteria was segregated as usual into clique. In one corner were the cheerleaders and athletics players, in another the academics and the computer club, and the list goes on.
She looked around and caught Takeru sitting by himself looking out the window, contemplating, his lunch untouched. 'Something's wrong.' Hikari thought navigating through the busy lunch crowd.
Suddenly a wave of affection hit her, for some strange reason all she wanted to do was to hold him, to make whatever he was feeling go away. 'When was it in our relationship when holding each other didn't feel uncomfortable?' That strange thought crept into her mind.
Not too long ago, holding each other for convalescent purposes would have been a taboo, something they thought too awkward to do. 'When has our relationship gotten to this point of closeness?' Hikari thought, still looking into the recess of her mind. 'Daddy's death.' She gasped at her realization. 'No wonder Tai didn't kill him.' A smirk came to her face.
"I thought Salisbury Steak was one of your favourites." Hikari smiled sitting down across from him.
Takeru came out of his trance and smiled at her presence. "I'm sorry. You said something Kari?"
"Your lunch." Hikari smiled. "You haven't touched it."
"Oh." Takeru sighed playing with his food. "I'm not particularly hungry."
"Want to talk about it?"
"About what?" Takeru smiled. "The reason why I'm not hungry or what's on my mind?"
"There one in the same thing aren't they?" Hikari smiled.
"Yeah." Takeru smiled.
"Want to talk about it?" She reiterated.
"Not particularly." Takeru sighed still playing with his food.
"Takeru." Hikari affectionately said reaching for his hand. "You're my best friend and I can see something's bothering you. I care for you and I don't want to see you this way." Hikari smiled.
He looked at her hand touching his and smiled to himself. He repositioned his hand so he could hold hers. He looked up into her shiny bronze eyes and all his defences broke. Her eyes glittered with innocence and consideration that somehow trapped his tortured soul. 'I have to tell her.' He thought. 'But she did call me her best friend.' He sighed. 'Does she really think of me that way?'
"I'm not sure you want to know." Takeru sighed trying so hard to hold his last remnant of defence.
"Try me." She smiled.
"How do you do that?" Takeru smiled.
"Do what?"
"Make me smile when I feel like crap." Takeru sighed. "Make me open up when I don't want to?"
"A girls got to keep some of her secrets." Hikari smiled. "Now stop stalling."
"All right." Takeru sighed. He didn't know where or how to start this conversation. "There's this girl..."
"Really." Hikari gasped. She was hurt to hear the news. 'Why am I feeling this way? T.K. is my friend and he found a girl, I should be happy for him.'
"It's not all that impossible is it?" Takeru asked. "Me liking a girl?"
"No, of course it's not impossible." Hikari quickly defended. "I'm just surprised that's all." Hikari confessed. 'Why am I feeling this way?' She thought. 'I should be happy for him, so why aren't I?' She took a sighed and looked at her best friend. "So who is she?"
"Kari!" Takeru gasped in fear thinking who would know his secret, he retracted his hand quickly to see who called her name. He then realized that it was Daisuke yelling as the spiky hair boy ran towards where they were sitting and joined them. Takeru relaxed somewhat knowing that his feelings for Hikari were safe; that is for the moment. "So did you get my roses?" Daisuke smiled sitting down.
"Yeah." Hikari smiled. "They were beautiful, but you shouldn't have."
"Yes I should." Daisuke beamed. "You deserve roses everyday."
"That's sweet of you, but why do I have the feeling that you have an ulterior motive with these flowers." Hikari probed sensing something from him.
"Well I thought if I bought them for you, you would consider going to the formal with me tonight." Daisuke smiled hoping.
"I thought the four of you agreed to go as a group." Iori Hida said taking the seat next to Takeru.
"We did." Ken Ichijouji said taking the head seat of the lunch table. Ken convinced his parents to transfer school for his last year of Elementary School so he could be with his friends. Tamachi Elementary, his former school, was reluctant for letting him go to Odaiba, but their hands were tied when Ken's parents insisted that he should go. "I think Davis is trying to break our agreement." Ken smiled. "So he could spend some time with Kari." He playfully teased.
"I am not!" Daisuke protested. "We could all still go together, but I'll be the only one allowed to dance with Kari that's all."
The rest of the group sighed in unison. "Davis we all agreed that we'll go alone." Hikari sighed.
"Yeah, but Cody didn't vote to break the tie."
"I doesn't make sense for me to get a vote especially when I'm not graduating." Iori pointed out. In the fall Iori would start the fifth grade in Odaiba Elementary, still two years shy in graduating.
"Maybe you can go." Hikari smiled. "I know it's last minute, but I like you to be my escort."
"What?" Daisuke freaked. "Why would you go out with him, but not me?" He whined.
"Oh Davis." Hikari sighed. "With Cody as my escort he could get into the party. It doesn't seem right for all of us to have fun tonight, while Cody is stuck at home." Hikari pointed out.
"I guess you're right." Daisuke sighed reluctantly.
"So what do you say Cody?"
"I am flattered thank you, but I have Kendo practice with my grandfather tonight and then a family dinner afterwards." Iori explained.
"Great!" Daisuke shouted jumping out of his seat. "Now Kari can go to the dance with me!" He announced.
"Sit down Davis." Hikari pulled him down. "Our agreement stands." She demanded. "We're all going to the formal as a group." She said enforcing the last word.
"Oh Kari." Daisuke whined.
Ken couldn't help but laugh at the scene played before him. He came to expect it everyday at lunch and actually looked forward to it. In secret he rather enjoyed watching Daisuke trying to get a date with Hikari and in return watch Hikari trying to get out of it.
He suppressed a chuckled and wondered why Takeru was so silent. Ken's eyes dilated to see that he was gone. He quickly looked around the cafeteria to see where Takeru's went. "Uh guys. I hate to interrupt your melodrama, but T.K. is gone." Ken reported.
"Gone." Hikari gasped looking to the seat across from her. Ken was right, there was Takeru's lunch still untouched, but with no Takeru. She fell into a trance and wondered what happened to him.
"I wonder where he went?" Iori asked.
"Who cares?" Daisuke sighed; their voice became ambient noise in Hikari's head.
"I do." Hikari said adamantly coming out of her gaze.
"So do I." Daisuke replied getting up from his seat. "I'll help you."
Hikari turned towards him and smiled. "That's okay Davis, I could take care of this myself, please stay and eat your lunch." Hikari said leaving without hearing another word.
Daisuke's heart broke and slumped back into his chair. "Why doesn't she like me?" He mumbled in self-pity. Iori and Ken looked at each other not sure how they should respond.
* * * * * * * * * *
Takeru couldn't stand it. He needed to be alone; he didn't want to confront his friends or his feeling for Hikari at the moment. He just wanted to let all his frustration out the only way he knew how...basketball.
He dribbled the ball down half-court with a vengeance; jumped up into the air feeling the air brushing against his sweaty skin; dunked the basketball in and landing on his feet like a tiger.
Takeru headed towards the ball when her heard the sound of clapping echoing through the gymnasium. Frightened, he looked around to see who it was.
"Season's over captain." A well-built brown hair man said walking towards Takeru. "You already won the championship what else do you want? You're a little too young for the pros." He mockingly jested.
"Oh hi, Coach Kenji." Takeru said out of breath. "I didn't know that anyone was here." He continued to pant.
"Evidently." Kenji smiled handing Takeru a bottle of water.
"Thanks." Takeru said accepting the water and quickly drank half the bottle in one gulp. "I needed that." He sighed following his coach towards the bleachers.
"So why aren't you at lunch?"
"Oh not very hungry." Takeru replied looking down at his shoes. "I just wanted to be alone." He mumbled to himself.
"Want to talk about it?" He placed his hand on Takeru's shoulder.
"Not really." Takeru sighed.
"I think you should." He smiled, Takeru looked at his coach sharply. "You were playing a rough game with yourself there and you'll end up getting yourself hurt. Trust me, I seen it before." He pointed out. "And besides, the last thing I want to explain to the Junior High Basketball Coach is why my star basketball player is injured before he takes you under his wing."
Takeru smiled to himself. "Don't make me laugh. I don't really feel like it." He sighed turning his attention back to his shoes.
"You worried about Junior High?"
"Not really." Takeru sighed. "Nothing that trivial."
"Ah women." The coach smiled.
"How did you know?" Takeru looked at his coach.
Kenji chuckled to himself. "I was once a twelve year old boy too and besides I've seen many players with broken hearts that came before you."
"Well my heart is not broken, at least not yet." The blond hair boy sighed returning his attention to his shoes.
"Then that's worse."
"I know." Takeru exasperated.
"So who is she?"
'Should I tell him?' Takeru quickly debated in his mind. "She's my best friend." He finally said. "I've known her since we were three, but we parted through no fault of our own, and didn't really get to know each other until five years later. It wasn't until recently that my feelings for her surfaced and I fear it may be too late." Takeru sighed.
"Oh? Why is that?"
Takeru exasperated. "There's another boy in the picture. An obnoxious, loud, character that's totally all wrong for her." Takeru sighed trying to hide his tears. "The worst thing about it is that he's a really good friend."
"Does she like him back?"
The question shocked Takeru he didn't think his coach would be so blunt in asking him. "I think she's falling for him." Takeru sighed allowing a tear to run down his cheek.
"Think?" His coach raised his eyebrow. "Did she tell you directly?"
"No." Takeru sighed. "I don't think she even knows it yet, but I do see it within her, deep inside, no matter how much she denies or hides it." He sighed.
"I see." His coach sighed.
"So coach what should I do?" Takeru asked drying the single tear.
"Tell her."
Takeru snicker with disdain. "I've been trying all day, but I just couldn't bring myself to tell her." Takeru sighed. "It's just that I'm..."
"Scared?"
Takeru looked at his coach again. "Yeah." He said barely above a whisper.
His coach took a deep sigh and looked his pupil in the eyes. "Takeru anything in life that's worth anything or means anything has a bit of fear that comes along with it." He explained. "And when the fear is overcome a great sense of relief or joy..."
"Or pain." Takeru added.
"Or pain..." He hesitantly added. "Will replace it, but at the end of the day, no matter how you're feeling at least you know one thing: the truth."
"Yeah I guess." Takeru sighed. "It's better to live a life full of rejection than that of regret."
"Eloquently put." His coach smiled.
"I've been thinking about that all morning too." Takeru confessed.
"Well, I always knew you were a smart boy." The coach smiled ruffling Takeru's blond hair with his hand. "So will you be okay?"
"In time, maybe." Takeru sighed.
"T.K. there you are!" Hikari announced breathlessly. "I was worried about you." She said breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you."
"I think I'll leave you two alone." The coach said.
"I'm sorry." Hikari apologized remembering her manners. "I didn't mean to interrupt you."
"No I'm finished." Kenji stood up. "I hope what I told you help."
"Thank you." Takeru smiled. "It did."
"I'll be back after lunch to check up on you." He smiled leaning towards Takeru. "You behave now." He whispered into his ear.
Hikari casually sat beside her best friend. "What was that all about?" She said still out of breath.
"Inside joke." Takeru answered ambiguously. "Here." Takeru said handing her his half-drunk bottle of water. "I'm sorry I drank so much of it." He sighed. "I didn't realize that you were coming."
"That's okay." Hikari sighed drinking the rest of the water. "Thanks. I needed that." She smiled.
"No problem." Takeru smiled. Then he felt Hikari punching him on the shoulder. "Ouch, what was that for?" He said rubbing his shoulder.
"For worrying me half to death."
"I'm sorry." Takeru smiled. "I just needed to be alone."
"I understand." Hikari sighed. "I'm sorry that I wasn't paying attention to you and your problem." Hikari said feeling a little disappointed.
"That's okay." Takeru smiled. "Davis demands a lot of attention."
Hikari gently giggled to herself. "He does doesn't he?" She smiled. "Do you still want to talk about it? I mean I know you probably talked about it with the coach, but..."
Takeru stopped her from continuing by placing his fingers against her soft lips. "There's not much to tell." Takeru sighed. "There's this girl I really like, but she's infatuated with someone else."
Hikari placed her arm around Takeru to allow him to cry on her shoulder if he needed to. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "Are you sure she likes someone else?"
"Yeah, about ninety percent sure."
"Is that all." She sighed. "Then don't give up hope." Takeru got up from her shoulder looking into her shining bronze eyes with suppressed indignation. She gave her angelic smile and ran her fingers through his sweaty flaxen hair that melted his exasperation away. "Takeru, a very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love."
'Would you be saying that if you know that you are that girl?' He sighed looking into her brown eyes. "I guess you're right." Takeru sighed forcing a smile. "I'm sorry." He said drying his tears. "I didn't mean to cry on your shoulder."
"Hey that's okay." Hikari smiled. "That's what shoulders are for." Takeru smirked remembering what he said earlier that morning in the elevator. "Com'on let's do something fun." Hikari said heading towards the basketball on the floor. "Com'on teach me how to play this game of yours." Hikari smiled.
Takeru smiled at the request. "Are you telling me that you've been coming to my basketball games for the better part of two years and you don't know how to play it?" Takeru taunted.
"Are you teasing me?" Hikari smiled. "It's rather a simple game, just get this ball in that hoop." She said throwing the ball towards it. The orange ball screamed through the air; hit the backboard with a vengeance and rebound towards Takeru, which he caught.
"Yeah, it's really simple." Takeru mocked shaking his head. "I can't believe that Tai hasn't taught you how to throw a basketball."
"Well, Tai considers basketball a lesser sport compared to soccer, then again he consider all other sports inferior to soccer." Hikari smiled.
"Ouch that hurts." Takeru said playfully clenching his heart.
"You're so silly." Hikari smiled at her best friend. "Just because Tai thinks that doesn't mean I do." She smiled.
"Oh, then what do you think about basketball?" Takeru smiled.
"That's yet to be seen." Hikari smiled.
"Come here Kamiya." Takeru taunted defensively. "Let the captain of the basketball team show you how to shoot a basket." Takeru smiled.
"I'm so honoured." She curtsied.
"Now who's being silly?" Takeru sighed grabbing her close to him. His body was so close to her that he felt like her second layer of skin, her shadow. "First of all you position your hands like this on the ball." Takeru showed putting her hands on the basketball, he felt like her puppeteer. "You place the ball over your head like so." He positioned her hand enjoying her scent. "Bend your knees and follow through." The spherical orb left their hands and arched freely towards the basket and gracefully swished through the basket with ease. "Nothing, but net." He whispered seductively into her ear.
"Is that all?" Hikari said pretending not to care. It took every urge within her to jump up and down with glee. "It's rather easy, not really a sport." She smiled to herself knowing that what she said would get Takeru aggravated.
"Well it's easy if you don't have an opponent." Takeru said passing the ball to Hikari. "Now try to do that again against me." He taunted.
"All right." Hikari smiled bouncing the ball twice. She mimicked the stance that Takeru had taught her minutes earlier and let the ball fly. Takeru jumped into the air grabbed the ball and did a simple layout and scored.
"Takaishi two, Kamiya zero." Takeru taunted.
"Hey not fair!" Hikari whined. "You stole that ball from me."
"That's the point of the game." Takeru smiled.
"Com'on give me another chance." Hikari begged.
"All right, but it's my ball because I scored." He smiled. "Now your job is to try to get the ball away from me." He said bouncing the ball.
"How am I to do that?"
"Distract me."
"All right." Hikari smiled a devilish smile.
"What are you up to Kamiya?" He asked suspiciously.
"You'll see Takaishi." Takeru hesitantly dribbled the ball heading towards the key. Hikari quickly ran towards him and started tickling him on the stomach. "It's a good thing I know that you're extremely ticklish." She smiled.
"Hey...you...can't...do...that." Takeru gasped unable to contain his laughter.
"Then let the basketball go." She continued tickling the more.
"Never." He giggled.
"All right, have it your way." Hikari smiled. "I could tickle you forever."
"Don't threaten me Kamiya." Takeru smiled. "I know your ticklish spots too." He said starting to tickle her. The two, relentless in their tickling attack stumble to the ground with Takeru's back on the floor and Hikari on him. Their attacks continued ruthlessly, rolling around the gymnasium's hard floor, once, twice, four times. "All right, all right, you win." Takeru gasped in defeat, his back once again on the floor.
"There was that so hard?" Hikari smiled stopping her attack. A wave of allurement called her to lean forward, to kiss him. She was lost in his shimmering sapphire blue eyes, their hearts pounding from their fight; their bodies aligned perfectly, their lips less than a centimetre apart, his arms wrapped around the small of her back. Her lips drew closer to Takeru's. 'What am I doing? He's my best friend.' Hikari thought. "Umm, I better get going." She blushingly whispered.
"Wait." Takeru said still holding her. He ran his fingers through her mahogany fine hair. "You know the girl that I like?" Takeru quietly asked; his eyes transfixed on hers.
"Yeah?" She smiled.
"Well you see Kari, the girl I like is..."
"Hikari! Takeru! What do you think you doing?!?" A loud voice bellowed through the gymnasium. Their hearts jumped with fright and got off each other.
"Coach." Takeru gasped. "I...I can ex...plain." He stuttered.
"Yes you will, both of you, in detention." He fumed.
"But..."
"I think you two should leave before you get into more trouble."
The two students left the gymnasium, quickly and quietly. The coach shook his head in disapproval of what just happened, or more correctly what could have happened. He was disappointed in his prize player, but more disappointed in himself for his unforgiving behaviour.
He heard footsteps coming from behind him; he quickly turned around to see Takeru. "I forgot my basketball." He said grabbing it.
"Hey Takeru, I'm sorry for freaking out and not letting you explain your situation."
"Nah, don't be, I would have freaked out too in your place." Takeru responded forgivingly.
"But you're still have to go to detention."
"I know." Takeru sighed. He started to walk away, but stopped midway. "Hey coach?" He asked turning around.
"Yeah."
"Look what happened just now was totally my fault, I don't think Kari should be punished for my stupidity."
"It takes two to tango."
"As a favour to me, please." Takeru pleaded.
Kenji looked into his puppy dog eyes. "You must really like her to do this." He smiled.
"I do."
"All right." He caved.
"Thanks coach." Takeru grinned quickly leaving.
"Hey Takeru!" The coach said interrupting his flight. "Did you tell her?"
"I was this close when you interrupted us." Takeru sighed showing the distant between his index finger and thumb. "If I had just one more minute..."
"I would be scared of what may have happened with that extra time." He replied crossing his arms.
"What are we going to do?" Takeru smirked at that accusation. "We are, after all, twelve years old." Takeru replied with a smiled that had both the properties of childlike innocence and preadolescent-like devilishness.
"Don't be smart. It could get you in trouble someday." The coach smiled. "Get to class." He sighed. "I'll see you after school."
"Looking forward to it." Takeru smiled half to himself leaving the gymnasium.
* * * * * * * * * *
The silent halls quickly woke with the sounds of relieved students ready to leave their mandatory eight-hour prison. Takeru meandered through the perpetual changing labyrinth of students to get to his locker.
"Hey T.K." Hikari quickly followed. "Did you hear Coach Kenji didn't put us in detention." She smiled.
"Actually, you're not going to detention." Takeru sighed. "I am."
"What?"
"I convinced Coach Kenji that what happened in the gym was all my fault."
"Why? Nothing happened."
"I know." Takeru sighed.
"Then why did you do it?"
He wanted to tell her the truth that it was his feelings for her that made him do it, but couldn't get the words out at that point. He sighed with frustration giving the first reason he could think of. "I thought you might want more time to make yourself beautiful for the formal tonight, not that you need it." Takeru smiled.
"Really?" Hikari smiled suspiciously.
"Well men generally don't take as much time to get ready." Takeru smiled. "All I have to do is take a shower and get dressed."
"Thanks." Hikari smiled kissing him on the cheek. "You're really sweet." She whispered into his ear. "She doesn't deserve you."
"Who?"
"The girl that you're infatuated with."
"Oh." Takeru sighed.
"By the way, you didn't tell me who she was."
"You see Kari, the girl I like is..." Takeru smiled.
"Hey T.A." Daisuke's voice bellowed from the crowd. Takeru smiled to himself, he half expected to be interrupted. "I heard that Coach Kenji gave you detention." He announced.
"Yeah." Takeru sighed.
"What happened?"
"Nothing." Takeru replied enigmatically. "I've better get going." He smiled leaving.
"Hey you didn't tell me!" Hikari bellowed down the hall.
"I'll tell you tonight." Takeru yelled back.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Disclaimer: [1] The names of persons, places, and events pertaining to Digimon: Digital Monster Animated Series is not my invention and is the property of Toei Animation, Bandi, and Saban Entertainment. [2] The flashback scene is taken from the second season, Digimon: Digital Monster episode, "Enter Flamdramon". [3] Hikari's line: "A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love" is a quote taken from Stendhal. [4] This is a fan fiction and as such names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination that is, those not mentioned in the previous clauses and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
By Stiltzkin
Author's Note: This story takes place about a year after the second season of Digimon: Digital Monsters (assuming the season starts on the first day of school and finished the last day of school, before their summer vacation). I'm attempting to make this story as close to cannon as possible, but since I haven't seen all the episodes from the first or second seasons it would be highly unlikely that everything I write would coincides perfectly with the Digimon Series, so please excuse any obvious mistake. I'm also making the assumption that after the season finale of season two the digimons would return back to the Digital World.
* * * * * * * * * *
"For all sad words of tongue and pen, the saddest are those
'It might have been.'"
- John Greenleaf Whittier
* * * * * * * * * *
CHAPTER ONE: TAKERU'S CONFESSION.
It was a beautiful summer's morning, perhaps the most beautiful in recent memory. Takeru Takaishi sauntered towards the rising sun to a destination all too familiar. A cool zephyr breeze osculated his nervous soul, which he welcomed whole-heartedly. 'Why am I so nervous?' Takeru thought watching two lovers walking hand in hand pass him. 'Could that be Kari and me?' He hoped watching the lovers disappearing into the urban vista of apartment buildings and early morning traffic. 'What if she doesn't feel the same way?' He allowed that thought to haunt him. 'No.' He rebuked himself. 'I have to tell her...it's time.' He convinced himself, he turned around and continued his way.
Takeru wanted to tell Hikari his feelings for a long time but couldn't for various reasons. At first he questioned his emotions, whether or not they were genuine or just a feeling of familiarity pressed by adventure and tragedy or an obligation to a fleeting promise he made long ago. It took a long time (that is to a twelve-year-old) to realize that his feelings were more than that.
Having coming to that realization, he found himself without reason or excuse to tell Hikari his feelings. He tried once before during a summer about two years ago, but back down at the last minute. 'You can't let that happen again.' He reminded himself. It was about that time where a malignant epiphany hit him that drained his courage. He realized that Hikari might not have the same feelings towards him. He contemplated that fact that year when he returned to Kawada in the fall and found no answer.
Takeru was both elated and hesitant when he heard the news that his mother's promotion would bring them back to Odaiba. On the one hand it would be good to see his brother, his father, his friends and of course Hikari again, but on the other hand, he must confront his feelings for her, a task he wasn't ready or inclined to do. It was also that year where he met the second generation of the Digidestined.
Whether it was fate or happenstance that Iori Hida and Miyako Inoue, two of the six second generation Digidestined were living in his building would be one mystery Takeru would never solve. He met Daisuke Motomiya later that morning playing soccer before Odaiba Elementary while walking to school with his new friends. At first, he mistaken him for Taichi Kamiya the leader of the original team of Digidestined, which is probably why he wasn't all too surprised to find out that he too would become a Digidestined and the leader nevertheless. Then there was her...
* * * * * * * * * *
Twenty-one months ago...
"Hmm...twelve point five minutes, twelve seconds later than normal." Miyako sighed looking at her watch. "Pretty good timing considering the wind resistance and the fact you stopped to catch that soccer ball." Miyako smiled looking at Takeru and Iori.
"Thanks, I guess." Takeru replied politely, unsure how to respond.
"We're better get to class." Iori suggested.
"Yeah." Miyako smiled. "What class are you in T.K.?"
"I don't know." He sighed. "I have to pick up my schedule at the principal's office."
"That's down the hall." Iori pointed. "Third door to your right, you can't miss it."
"Thanks." Takeru smiled. "See you soon." He waved farewell to his new friends.
Takeru quickly meandered his way through the perpetually changing labyrinth of students to reach his destination. He opened the door to the principal's office and crossed the threshold approaching the secretary's desk.
"Hi how may I help you?" She smiled.
"Hi. I'm new here and I'm here to pick up my schedule."
"Name?"
"Takaishi, Takeru."
She typed his name in the computer and printed out a schedule for him. "Okay." She smiled. "It seems that you're in Mr. Hamasaki fifth grade class."
"Great, where's that?" Takeru asked enthusiastically.
"Well there's Mr. Hamasaki now, he could take you to class." The secretary pointed to the man who just entered the office. Takeru turned to see a tall, thin man with glasses.
"Hi are you a new student?" He asked with a smile.
"Yeah." Takeru smiled. "My name is Takeru Takaishi, but all my friends call me T.K." He said shaking his teacher's hand.
"Well T.K., I'll show you to your classroom after I pick up a few things." Hamasaki smiled.
"Okay, I'll wait." Takeru smiled waiting patiently for his new teacher.
A few minutes later Takeru and his new teacher walked to their class on the second floor of Odaiba Elementary. Hamasaki opened the door and entered into a noisy class filled with students chattering. "I'm Mr. Hamasaki. I'll be your teacher. I'd like you all to welcome a new student."
"Hey." Takeru looked at the person who made the exclamation and was glad to see Daisuke. 'At least I know someone in class.' He thought.
"Hi" Takeru smiled taking off his white hat. "Nice to meet you. I'm Takeru, but you can call me T.K." He introduced himself to the class.
"Please take a seat next to the girl with the camera around her neck." Hamasaki said looking around the room.
Takeru looked to where he pointed and saw that it was Hikari. His heart did somersaults seeing his best friend. 'I didn't know she'd be in this class.' He thought. Takeru smiled and quickly sat beside her. "Together again." Takeru flashed his boyish smile.
"Just like old times." Hikari smiled in return.
Takeru's heart melted and fluttered by that smile, so much so that he wanted to see it again, he wouldn't be disappointed. "Our teacher looks like Ogremon." He whispered with a huge grimace.
Hikari started to laugh again. Takeru reveled in her laughter. He was so infatuated by her smiled that he didn't notice that Daisuke was fuming with jealousy a couple of seats down.
Mr. Hamasaki quickly went through the attendance list and then started his class. Takeru wrote some notes down, but found himself unable to concentrate. Once in a while he would try to steal a glance at Hikari. His heart pounded and he felt warm at the sight of her.
The bell rang signifying the end of homeroom. The sound of approximately twenty students getting up and packing for the next class rippled through the once silence classroom. Takeru and Hikari walked towards their lockers together reminiscing. "T.K. How does your mom like the new apartment?" Hikari smiled.
"I'm not sure." Takeru smiled. "She's been on the computer the whole time."
"Hey Buddy!" Daisuke's voice clamored surprising the couple.
"His name is not buddy. It's T.K." Hikari defended adamantly.
"All right, T.J. or J.B. Or whatever it is, how do you know Kari?"
"Huh?" Takeru remarked trying to get the recent events into perspective. "How do I know her?" He repeated his question with a hint of confusion. Then it hit him. "Oh, I get it. You're jealous of me." Takeru couldn't help but to smile like an idiot.
"I'm not jealous of anybody!" Daisuke fumed.
* * * * * * * * * *
Even now Takeru couldn't help but to smirk at that moment in his life. He sighed and took a breath of the cool morning air, pushing that memory away. 'I wish I could be more like Daisuke.' He sighed to himself. 'What am I thinking!?!' He quickly corrected his thoughts. 'Me be more like Daisuke, what is the world coming to?' He rhetorically thought to himself.
The truth was Takeru did wish that he were more like Daisuke, at least in one way. He wished that he could have the courage to express his emotions about Hikari like Daisuke could, albeit with much more tact. 'I guess that's why he carries the digimentale of courage.' Takeru sighed. 'At least he would go through life knowing how Kari feels about him.' Takeru thought. "Unlike me." He whispered to himself. 'Which is better? Living a life full of rejection or a life filled with regret?' He thought rhetorically. He knew the answer: Rejection.
The answer of that question came to him after his second adventure in the Digital World. It has been a year since all that had happened and every time Takeru would summon up the courage to tell Hikari his feelings something drastic would happen.
He wanted to tell her during their trip to New York. It seemed perfect! A "romantic" getaway (at least in his mind) for two, alone in a big, foreign city, but then Willis, a fellow Digidestined was in trouble and they had to help him out. His feelings were pushed away for something more dire and important.
'Today was the day! Nothing would stop me from telling Hikari how I feel.' He thought earnestly. He made that promise before, but each time he broke it. The first time he made that promise the sordid love triangle between Sora, Tai and his brother (which ended badly for all three of them) prevented him to tell her. Takeru thought that telling his feelings wouldn't have helped the situation that he and Hikari were drawn into.
With that situation gone and some time had passed Takeru mustered up enough courage to tell her again. He was again prevented in telling Hikari his feelings with just cause: the death of Hikari's father. Again he pushed his feelings away to be there for her.
"Nothing will stop me now." He told himself again, this time with determination. He looked up at Hikari's building and took another deep breath and entered the apartment complex.
He got to the door, raised his hand ready to knock, but stopped midway. A wave of fear rang through his soul. 'All right relax T.K., it's just another day, like every other day you picked up Kari to go to school.' He thought. 'Except that you're going to tell how you feel about her.' Takeru sighed banging his head against the wall.
He took another deep breath and reminded himself to relax again. 'Okay T.K. just practice what you want to say.' He sighed encouraging himself. "Kari, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something that I wanted to tell you a long time. You see Kari I..."
"Hey T.K. thought I heard you." Taichi greeted opening the door. "Whatcha doing?"
Takeru face turned red from embarrassment put his hand behind his head to hastily think of an excuse. "I'm just practicing for an oral test today." He quickly stuttered.
"On the second last day of school?" Taichi asked not entirely believing his excuse. "Man, elementary teachers are meaner than I remember." Taichi sighed. "Oh well, I'm late for soccer practice. Kari is in her room." He sighed letting go of his suspicions. "Well gotta go." The fifteen-year-old said running down the hall towards the elevator.
"That's was close." Takeru sighed. He felt cooler entering the Kamiya residence. "Kari?" He hesitantly asked. Takeru headed towards Hikari's room and popped his head in. "Kari you ready for school?"
"Almost." Hikari blushed, quickly hiding something behind her back.
"What are you hiding?" Takeru smiled approaching her trying to see what she was hiding behind her.
"My dress for the formal tonight." Hikari said gently pushing Takeru out of her room. "And I don't want anyone to see it until tonight." She said pushing Takeru down on the couch.
"Why? It's not like a wedding dress?"
"No, but it's almost as important and I still don't want you to see it." Hikari sighed. "Miko you watch him." She ordered her cat. "If he moves an inch scratch him." She smiled playfully at her cat. Miko meowed in affirmation as Hikari disappeared into her room.
"Miko, buddy, you know me." He smiled at the cat trying to sweet talk it. "Remember me, I'm your buddy T.K. the guy who dropped you from the balcony when I was three." The cat hissed. "Okay bad example, but I am your friend and I know you won't hurt me if I peak at Kari's dress." Takeru smiled, slowly getting up.
Miko let out a loud meow in defense. "Sit down T.K." Hikari yelled from within her room.
"All right." Takeru sighed, sulking back into the couch. "Traitor." Takeru hushed the cat. The tabby purred apologetically and jumped in his lap and looked at him remorsefully. "All right, you're forgiven." Takeru sighed petting Miko. "I still love you." Takeru smiled sarcastically scratching behind Miko's ear. The cat purred in affection as she got comfortable on his lap. "Why is it that I can tell you that, but can't tell Kari?" Takeru asked half to himself.
"Can't tell me what?" Hikari asked coming into the living room.
"Nothing." Takeru stood up quickly dropping Miko to the floor. Miko screamed hitting the floor. "Sorry Miko." Takeru apologized to the cat, his face already red by the sudden appearance of Hikari.
"What is it?" Hikari demanded crossing her arms.
"Nothing, it's rather silly." Takeru said grabbing Hikari's books. "Com'on, we're going to be late for school." He said quickly leaving the apartment.
Hikari knew that this secret was juicy when Takeru evaded her like that. "Takeru Takaishi you're not getting away that easy." Hikari demanded. Takeru knew he was in trouble when Hikari used his full name. "What is it that you can't tell me?" She demanded the more as they entered the elevator.
"Nothing." He responded innocently.
"Takeru." She insisted.
"Okay, okay." Takeru sighed in defeated. "I wanted to tell you that I love..." Takeru couldn't get the words out of his mouth, his throat went dry, he was lost in her chocolate brown eyes and lost his courage. "I was debating whether to tell you your father's last words." Takeru muttered the last part under his breath. 'Stupid.' He regretted what he said as soon as the excuse came out. 'Why did you bring that up?' He knew that Hikari's feelings over her father's death were not fully resolved. "I'm sorry." Takeru quickly said trying to mend his insensitive remark.
"Don't be." Hikari said above a whisper. "You did promise my father you wouldn't tell." She sighed turning her back to him. For a long time Hikari wanted to know what her father said to Takeru just before he died.
"I'm sorry." Takeru said touching her shoulder. "I didn't mean to..."
"Don't." Hikari interrupted allowing a few tears escape. "I forced it out of you." She said turning to Takeru shoulder crying.
Takeru held her, his arms around the small of her back. He felt guilty for bringing that very sensitive matter up and guiltier for allowing Hikari to believe that this was her fault. "There, there, let it all out." He whispered caressing the back of her head. Her hair smelled like a mixture of lilacs and lavender, a scent he came to love. He could hold her like this forever.
"I'm sorry." Hikari said looking into his glittering sapphire blue eyes. "I didn't mean to cry on your shoulder." She said patting his shoulder dry.
"Hey that's okay." Takeru smiled. "That's what shoulders are for." He smiled drying her tears with his thumb. "I'm sorry for bringing your father up earlier."
"But it's not your..."
Takeru put his index finger on her lips, stopping her speech. "It's my fault, okay?" He reiterated.
Hikari nod and smiled a thank you to her best friend. Suddenly a wave of affection hit her for the first time, in a long time. She saw her best friend in a different light as something more than a friend. She blushed and unconsciously leaned into Takeru for a kiss, then the fact that he was her friend hit her. "Uh...T.K.?" Hikari asked blushing.
"Yeah." He whispered; their eyes still locked. The sexual tension in the elevator was so thick that it was suffocating.
"You can let go of me now." She smiled.
"Oh...sorry." Takeru blushed.
"That's okay." Hikari smiled trying to forget the situation. "Let's get going." She said leaving the elevator.
They walked to school together having their customary conversation about school and life. Hikari, Takeru, Daisuke and Ken were in sixth grade and were expecting to graduate from Odaiba Elementary in a couple of days. Miyako was just about to finish her first year at Odaiba Junior High. Iori Hida, the youngest of the six was about to finish the fourth grade.
The four were not the only Digidestined graduating in a couple of days. Yamato Ishida, Takeru's older brother, Sora Takenouchi, and Taichi Kamiya, Hikari's older brother was about to finish grade nine, their last year of Junior High and eagerly waiting to attend Odaiba High in the fall. Meanwhile, in America Mimi Tachikawa was about to finish the eighth grade and was eagerly waiting to go to high school there.
Jou Kido was about to complete the tenth grade, the first year of high school and still studying hard to become a doctor. While Koushiro Izumi was about to finished grade eight, his second year of Junior High waiting patiently for the second generation of Digidestined to come to Odaiba Junior High.
"So T.K. are you excited about going to Junior High this fall?" Hikari asked.
"Yeah, kind of." Takeru sighed. "I'm not a big fan with the school uniform though." He let out another sigh. "The green blazer, white dress shirt, blue tie, and grey paints feels too artificial."
"Oh, you just don't like the fact that the dress code don't allow hats." Hikari teased.
Takeru smiled at the remark. "Am I that transparent?" He asked rhetorically.
"Only to me." Hikari smiled.
"Well at least I'll be in good company." He smiled at her.
"What do you mean?" She asked oblivious to what Takeru was insinuating.
"Well wearing a digital camera around your neck doesn't really fall under the dress code either." Takeru pointed out with his boyish smile.
Hikari stopped as Takeru passed her a couple of paces before he noticed that she was missing. He turned to see Hikari holding onto her camera with affection. "I never thought about that?" She whispered.
"Kari it'll be okay." Takeru said concernfully. "You can still put it in your book bag." Takeru suggested.
"I know, but it's not the same." Hikari sighed still holding her camera. Takeru was about to approach her when an epiphany hit her. She had a devilish grimace in her face and skipped towards him with serendipity grabbing his arm and marched forward. "What are you thinking?" Takeru asked with suspicion. He seen this look on Hikari before and it usually means one thing: trouble. "And how much will we get in trouble?"
"Trouble?" Hikari asked innocently. "We're not going to get in trouble...well not much any ways."
"Kari." Takeru sternly protested.
"I'm thinking we could joined the Digidestined in New York with Mimi and Michael and go to a Junior High School there." Hikari suggested enthusiastically. "That means we can wear anything we want. You don't have to get rid of your hat and I don't have to get rid of my camera."
Takeru smiled to himself. "Sounds great, but how would our mothers feel? Would they even let us go?"
Hikari's heart sank. "Oh, you're no fun." Hikari sighed sarcastically. "Did you have to burst my bubble?" She sulked.
"It'll be okay Kari. At least you'll have company in your misery." Takeru smiled supportively.
"Thanks." She smiled putting her head against his shoulder.
Takeru was surprised at the gesture, his heart started to flutter and his body temperature started to rise. He figured this was the right time to tell her about his feelings.
"Kari?" He said hesitantly.
"Yes T.K." She looked into his blue eyes.
His lips started to quiver with nervousness. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something that I wanted to tell you for a long time."
"What is it T.K.?" She smiled.
'Just do it, before you lose your nerve...again.' Takeru encouraged himself. "You see Kari I..."
"Hey T.J. get your hands off my girl!" Daisuke interrupted from the school's soccer field.
"For Gennai's sake." Hikari sighed rolling her eyes. "How many times do I have to tell him that I'm not his girl?" She sighed to herself.
"Apparently as many times I have to tell him my real name." Takeru sighed in the same solemn tone.
"Hey Kari watch this!" Daisuke yelled.
They silently watched Daisuke running down the soccer field navigating the ball around two defensive players and avoided someone trying to trip him and kicked the ball to the net. The ball rocketed towards the net and went in with a fury.
"That's for you Kari!" Daisuke smiled.
Takeru sighed with disdain. He looked at Hikari and realized that she was mesmerized by that simple act of valour. He saw her smile to herself. Hikari was basking in the moment and rather enjoyed it too. Hikari turned to look at Takeru and saw him staring at her strangely. "What?" She asked innocently.
"You rather enjoyed that." Takeru said with awe.
"Enjoy what?" She asked innocently.
"The way Davis makes himself a fool for you."
"Oh that." Hikari blushed. "Please don't tell him." Hikari smiled. "You'll just encourage him if you do."
"Trust me I won't." Takeru sighed walking towards the school. "Davis being more out of control is something I don't want to see." Takeru smiled.
"Thanks." Hikari smiled. "You're my hero."
Takeru wished he could believe that. "It's just that I never figured you the type of girl that liked that sort of thing." He sighed.
"T.K., all women like to be wooed once in a while." Hikari confessed.
He felt hurt. 'Of course Kari would like romance what were you thinking?' He thought to himself. 'And to think you're going to tell her your feelings without romance in the air.' He felt stupid for not thinking of it.
They reached Hikari's locker as Takeru handed the books he was carrying for her. "Oh my..." Hikari swore to herself with awe.
"What is it?" Takeru asked with concern.
"This." Hikari said bringing out a dozen long stem red roses with fern leaves and white baby's breath surrounding the bouquet.
Takeru eyes dilated at the sight. "Who...who are these from?" He asked already knowing the answer.
"I don't know." Hikari sighed. "Oh wait here's a card." Takeru noticed a small smile on her face. "It's from Davis."
Takeru bang his head against the adjacent locker and closed his eyes to hide the pain in his heart. 'Davis is not making this easy for me.' He sighed. 'I might as well tell her.' He thought.
He turned to her looking at her. "Kari I know that this is terribly unromantic, but there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something that I wanted to tell you a long time. You see Kari I..." Takeru stopped himself realizing that Hikari was not paying any attention to him. She was just gazing into her locker. "Hikari?" He said waving his hand in her line of view.
"I'm sorry T.K. you were saying something?"
"Are you okay?" Takeru asked with concern.
"Yeah. I'm fine." She blushed. "Why do you ask?"
"You were like a million miles away."
"Oh." Hikari blushed. "It's just never occurred to me that Davis could be so sweet, romantic and sensitive." Hikari sighed. "He's usually so..."
"Rash? Obnoxious?"
"Unrefined." Hikari corrected using the euphemism. "Who would thought that Davis could be such a diamond in the rough?"
"You've fallen for him...haven't you?" Takeru asked hesitantly, afraid of the answer she might give in return.
"No...Maybe a little...I don't know...I'm not sure, at least not yet." Hikari sighed. "It's just sweet to see the romantic side to him that's all and to tell you the truth I rather enjoy it." She smiled.
"Really?" Takeru sounded hurt.
"Oh, please don't tell Davis I said that, I'll never hear the end of it." She pleaded.
"I won't." Takeru said with a hint of hurt in his voice.
"Thanks you're such a good friend." Hikari smiled kissing his cheek.
Takeru was hurt by that remark, like a dull butter knife piercing his all ready fragile heart; he couldn't get the pain to subside. Even the platonic kiss just added salt upon his opened wound. It burned and stung as a painful reminder of what Hikari thought of him. 'Just a friend.' He sighed with defeat. "Yeah, no problem. What are friends for?" He forced that remark out of himself. He wanted to cry, but held his tears in.
"What did I do to deserve you?" She asked rhetorically with a smile.
"No it is I who don't deserve you." Takeru forced a smile in return.
"You're the best." Hikari smiled giving Takeru a hug. "It's such a shame to put these roses in my locker, they're so beautiful." She smiled.
"Yeah, they are." Takeru sighed. "Too bad they're not pink." He said apathetically watching Hikari staring at her flowers.
"How do you know pink roses were my favourite?" Hikari asked with a painfully beautiful smile. She was shocked that Takeru would know such a thing that only her girlfriends would know.
"Oh." Takeru sighed. "You mentioned it once."
"I did?" Hikari asked inquisitively. "Hmm...I don't remembering mentioning it to you." She smiled putting the flowers back in her locker. "I'm sorry T.K. you wanted to tell me something?" Hikari asked remembering that Takeru wanted to tell her something all morning.
"It's not really that important." Takeru sighed. "It's just that I love..." The bell rang interrupting Takeru in mid-sentence.
"Com'on T.K. we're going to be late for class." Hikari said grabbed Takeru's hand leading him to class.
* * * * * * * * * *
Hikari entered the busy cafeteria with her tray. It was filled with ambient noise of students chattering about their days and plans for their summer.
She meandered through the busy cafeteria tables looking for any of the Digidestined. The cafeteria was segregated as usual into clique. In one corner were the cheerleaders and athletics players, in another the academics and the computer club, and the list goes on.
She looked around and caught Takeru sitting by himself looking out the window, contemplating, his lunch untouched. 'Something's wrong.' Hikari thought navigating through the busy lunch crowd.
Suddenly a wave of affection hit her, for some strange reason all she wanted to do was to hold him, to make whatever he was feeling go away. 'When was it in our relationship when holding each other didn't feel uncomfortable?' That strange thought crept into her mind.
Not too long ago, holding each other for convalescent purposes would have been a taboo, something they thought too awkward to do. 'When has our relationship gotten to this point of closeness?' Hikari thought, still looking into the recess of her mind. 'Daddy's death.' She gasped at her realization. 'No wonder Tai didn't kill him.' A smirk came to her face.
"I thought Salisbury Steak was one of your favourites." Hikari smiled sitting down across from him.
Takeru came out of his trance and smiled at her presence. "I'm sorry. You said something Kari?"
"Your lunch." Hikari smiled. "You haven't touched it."
"Oh." Takeru sighed playing with his food. "I'm not particularly hungry."
"Want to talk about it?"
"About what?" Takeru smiled. "The reason why I'm not hungry or what's on my mind?"
"There one in the same thing aren't they?" Hikari smiled.
"Yeah." Takeru smiled.
"Want to talk about it?" She reiterated.
"Not particularly." Takeru sighed still playing with his food.
"Takeru." Hikari affectionately said reaching for his hand. "You're my best friend and I can see something's bothering you. I care for you and I don't want to see you this way." Hikari smiled.
He looked at her hand touching his and smiled to himself. He repositioned his hand so he could hold hers. He looked up into her shiny bronze eyes and all his defences broke. Her eyes glittered with innocence and consideration that somehow trapped his tortured soul. 'I have to tell her.' He thought. 'But she did call me her best friend.' He sighed. 'Does she really think of me that way?'
"I'm not sure you want to know." Takeru sighed trying so hard to hold his last remnant of defence.
"Try me." She smiled.
"How do you do that?" Takeru smiled.
"Do what?"
"Make me smile when I feel like crap." Takeru sighed. "Make me open up when I don't want to?"
"A girls got to keep some of her secrets." Hikari smiled. "Now stop stalling."
"All right." Takeru sighed. He didn't know where or how to start this conversation. "There's this girl..."
"Really." Hikari gasped. She was hurt to hear the news. 'Why am I feeling this way? T.K. is my friend and he found a girl, I should be happy for him.'
"It's not all that impossible is it?" Takeru asked. "Me liking a girl?"
"No, of course it's not impossible." Hikari quickly defended. "I'm just surprised that's all." Hikari confessed. 'Why am I feeling this way?' She thought. 'I should be happy for him, so why aren't I?' She took a sighed and looked at her best friend. "So who is she?"
"Kari!" Takeru gasped in fear thinking who would know his secret, he retracted his hand quickly to see who called her name. He then realized that it was Daisuke yelling as the spiky hair boy ran towards where they were sitting and joined them. Takeru relaxed somewhat knowing that his feelings for Hikari were safe; that is for the moment. "So did you get my roses?" Daisuke smiled sitting down.
"Yeah." Hikari smiled. "They were beautiful, but you shouldn't have."
"Yes I should." Daisuke beamed. "You deserve roses everyday."
"That's sweet of you, but why do I have the feeling that you have an ulterior motive with these flowers." Hikari probed sensing something from him.
"Well I thought if I bought them for you, you would consider going to the formal with me tonight." Daisuke smiled hoping.
"I thought the four of you agreed to go as a group." Iori Hida said taking the seat next to Takeru.
"We did." Ken Ichijouji said taking the head seat of the lunch table. Ken convinced his parents to transfer school for his last year of Elementary School so he could be with his friends. Tamachi Elementary, his former school, was reluctant for letting him go to Odaiba, but their hands were tied when Ken's parents insisted that he should go. "I think Davis is trying to break our agreement." Ken smiled. "So he could spend some time with Kari." He playfully teased.
"I am not!" Daisuke protested. "We could all still go together, but I'll be the only one allowed to dance with Kari that's all."
The rest of the group sighed in unison. "Davis we all agreed that we'll go alone." Hikari sighed.
"Yeah, but Cody didn't vote to break the tie."
"I doesn't make sense for me to get a vote especially when I'm not graduating." Iori pointed out. In the fall Iori would start the fifth grade in Odaiba Elementary, still two years shy in graduating.
"Maybe you can go." Hikari smiled. "I know it's last minute, but I like you to be my escort."
"What?" Daisuke freaked. "Why would you go out with him, but not me?" He whined.
"Oh Davis." Hikari sighed. "With Cody as my escort he could get into the party. It doesn't seem right for all of us to have fun tonight, while Cody is stuck at home." Hikari pointed out.
"I guess you're right." Daisuke sighed reluctantly.
"So what do you say Cody?"
"I am flattered thank you, but I have Kendo practice with my grandfather tonight and then a family dinner afterwards." Iori explained.
"Great!" Daisuke shouted jumping out of his seat. "Now Kari can go to the dance with me!" He announced.
"Sit down Davis." Hikari pulled him down. "Our agreement stands." She demanded. "We're all going to the formal as a group." She said enforcing the last word.
"Oh Kari." Daisuke whined.
Ken couldn't help but laugh at the scene played before him. He came to expect it everyday at lunch and actually looked forward to it. In secret he rather enjoyed watching Daisuke trying to get a date with Hikari and in return watch Hikari trying to get out of it.
He suppressed a chuckled and wondered why Takeru was so silent. Ken's eyes dilated to see that he was gone. He quickly looked around the cafeteria to see where Takeru's went. "Uh guys. I hate to interrupt your melodrama, but T.K. is gone." Ken reported.
"Gone." Hikari gasped looking to the seat across from her. Ken was right, there was Takeru's lunch still untouched, but with no Takeru. She fell into a trance and wondered what happened to him.
"I wonder where he went?" Iori asked.
"Who cares?" Daisuke sighed; their voice became ambient noise in Hikari's head.
"I do." Hikari said adamantly coming out of her gaze.
"So do I." Daisuke replied getting up from his seat. "I'll help you."
Hikari turned towards him and smiled. "That's okay Davis, I could take care of this myself, please stay and eat your lunch." Hikari said leaving without hearing another word.
Daisuke's heart broke and slumped back into his chair. "Why doesn't she like me?" He mumbled in self-pity. Iori and Ken looked at each other not sure how they should respond.
* * * * * * * * * *
Takeru couldn't stand it. He needed to be alone; he didn't want to confront his friends or his feeling for Hikari at the moment. He just wanted to let all his frustration out the only way he knew how...basketball.
He dribbled the ball down half-court with a vengeance; jumped up into the air feeling the air brushing against his sweaty skin; dunked the basketball in and landing on his feet like a tiger.
Takeru headed towards the ball when her heard the sound of clapping echoing through the gymnasium. Frightened, he looked around to see who it was.
"Season's over captain." A well-built brown hair man said walking towards Takeru. "You already won the championship what else do you want? You're a little too young for the pros." He mockingly jested.
"Oh hi, Coach Kenji." Takeru said out of breath. "I didn't know that anyone was here." He continued to pant.
"Evidently." Kenji smiled handing Takeru a bottle of water.
"Thanks." Takeru said accepting the water and quickly drank half the bottle in one gulp. "I needed that." He sighed following his coach towards the bleachers.
"So why aren't you at lunch?"
"Oh not very hungry." Takeru replied looking down at his shoes. "I just wanted to be alone." He mumbled to himself.
"Want to talk about it?" He placed his hand on Takeru's shoulder.
"Not really." Takeru sighed.
"I think you should." He smiled, Takeru looked at his coach sharply. "You were playing a rough game with yourself there and you'll end up getting yourself hurt. Trust me, I seen it before." He pointed out. "And besides, the last thing I want to explain to the Junior High Basketball Coach is why my star basketball player is injured before he takes you under his wing."
Takeru smiled to himself. "Don't make me laugh. I don't really feel like it." He sighed turning his attention back to his shoes.
"You worried about Junior High?"
"Not really." Takeru sighed. "Nothing that trivial."
"Ah women." The coach smiled.
"How did you know?" Takeru looked at his coach.
Kenji chuckled to himself. "I was once a twelve year old boy too and besides I've seen many players with broken hearts that came before you."
"Well my heart is not broken, at least not yet." The blond hair boy sighed returning his attention to his shoes.
"Then that's worse."
"I know." Takeru exasperated.
"So who is she?"
'Should I tell him?' Takeru quickly debated in his mind. "She's my best friend." He finally said. "I've known her since we were three, but we parted through no fault of our own, and didn't really get to know each other until five years later. It wasn't until recently that my feelings for her surfaced and I fear it may be too late." Takeru sighed.
"Oh? Why is that?"
Takeru exasperated. "There's another boy in the picture. An obnoxious, loud, character that's totally all wrong for her." Takeru sighed trying to hide his tears. "The worst thing about it is that he's a really good friend."
"Does she like him back?"
The question shocked Takeru he didn't think his coach would be so blunt in asking him. "I think she's falling for him." Takeru sighed allowing a tear to run down his cheek.
"Think?" His coach raised his eyebrow. "Did she tell you directly?"
"No." Takeru sighed. "I don't think she even knows it yet, but I do see it within her, deep inside, no matter how much she denies or hides it." He sighed.
"I see." His coach sighed.
"So coach what should I do?" Takeru asked drying the single tear.
"Tell her."
Takeru snicker with disdain. "I've been trying all day, but I just couldn't bring myself to tell her." Takeru sighed. "It's just that I'm..."
"Scared?"
Takeru looked at his coach again. "Yeah." He said barely above a whisper.
His coach took a deep sigh and looked his pupil in the eyes. "Takeru anything in life that's worth anything or means anything has a bit of fear that comes along with it." He explained. "And when the fear is overcome a great sense of relief or joy..."
"Or pain." Takeru added.
"Or pain..." He hesitantly added. "Will replace it, but at the end of the day, no matter how you're feeling at least you know one thing: the truth."
"Yeah I guess." Takeru sighed. "It's better to live a life full of rejection than that of regret."
"Eloquently put." His coach smiled.
"I've been thinking about that all morning too." Takeru confessed.
"Well, I always knew you were a smart boy." The coach smiled ruffling Takeru's blond hair with his hand. "So will you be okay?"
"In time, maybe." Takeru sighed.
"T.K. there you are!" Hikari announced breathlessly. "I was worried about you." She said breathing heavily.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you."
"I think I'll leave you two alone." The coach said.
"I'm sorry." Hikari apologized remembering her manners. "I didn't mean to interrupt you."
"No I'm finished." Kenji stood up. "I hope what I told you help."
"Thank you." Takeru smiled. "It did."
"I'll be back after lunch to check up on you." He smiled leaning towards Takeru. "You behave now." He whispered into his ear.
Hikari casually sat beside her best friend. "What was that all about?" She said still out of breath.
"Inside joke." Takeru answered ambiguously. "Here." Takeru said handing her his half-drunk bottle of water. "I'm sorry I drank so much of it." He sighed. "I didn't realize that you were coming."
"That's okay." Hikari sighed drinking the rest of the water. "Thanks. I needed that." She smiled.
"No problem." Takeru smiled. Then he felt Hikari punching him on the shoulder. "Ouch, what was that for?" He said rubbing his shoulder.
"For worrying me half to death."
"I'm sorry." Takeru smiled. "I just needed to be alone."
"I understand." Hikari sighed. "I'm sorry that I wasn't paying attention to you and your problem." Hikari said feeling a little disappointed.
"That's okay." Takeru smiled. "Davis demands a lot of attention."
Hikari gently giggled to herself. "He does doesn't he?" She smiled. "Do you still want to talk about it? I mean I know you probably talked about it with the coach, but..."
Takeru stopped her from continuing by placing his fingers against her soft lips. "There's not much to tell." Takeru sighed. "There's this girl I really like, but she's infatuated with someone else."
Hikari placed her arm around Takeru to allow him to cry on her shoulder if he needed to. "I'm sorry." She whispered. "Are you sure she likes someone else?"
"Yeah, about ninety percent sure."
"Is that all." She sighed. "Then don't give up hope." Takeru got up from her shoulder looking into her shining bronze eyes with suppressed indignation. She gave her angelic smile and ran her fingers through his sweaty flaxen hair that melted his exasperation away. "Takeru, a very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love."
'Would you be saying that if you know that you are that girl?' He sighed looking into her brown eyes. "I guess you're right." Takeru sighed forcing a smile. "I'm sorry." He said drying his tears. "I didn't mean to cry on your shoulder."
"Hey that's okay." Hikari smiled. "That's what shoulders are for." Takeru smirked remembering what he said earlier that morning in the elevator. "Com'on let's do something fun." Hikari said heading towards the basketball on the floor. "Com'on teach me how to play this game of yours." Hikari smiled.
Takeru smiled at the request. "Are you telling me that you've been coming to my basketball games for the better part of two years and you don't know how to play it?" Takeru taunted.
"Are you teasing me?" Hikari smiled. "It's rather a simple game, just get this ball in that hoop." She said throwing the ball towards it. The orange ball screamed through the air; hit the backboard with a vengeance and rebound towards Takeru, which he caught.
"Yeah, it's really simple." Takeru mocked shaking his head. "I can't believe that Tai hasn't taught you how to throw a basketball."
"Well, Tai considers basketball a lesser sport compared to soccer, then again he consider all other sports inferior to soccer." Hikari smiled.
"Ouch that hurts." Takeru said playfully clenching his heart.
"You're so silly." Hikari smiled at her best friend. "Just because Tai thinks that doesn't mean I do." She smiled.
"Oh, then what do you think about basketball?" Takeru smiled.
"That's yet to be seen." Hikari smiled.
"Come here Kamiya." Takeru taunted defensively. "Let the captain of the basketball team show you how to shoot a basket." Takeru smiled.
"I'm so honoured." She curtsied.
"Now who's being silly?" Takeru sighed grabbing her close to him. His body was so close to her that he felt like her second layer of skin, her shadow. "First of all you position your hands like this on the ball." Takeru showed putting her hands on the basketball, he felt like her puppeteer. "You place the ball over your head like so." He positioned her hand enjoying her scent. "Bend your knees and follow through." The spherical orb left their hands and arched freely towards the basket and gracefully swished through the basket with ease. "Nothing, but net." He whispered seductively into her ear.
"Is that all?" Hikari said pretending not to care. It took every urge within her to jump up and down with glee. "It's rather easy, not really a sport." She smiled to herself knowing that what she said would get Takeru aggravated.
"Well it's easy if you don't have an opponent." Takeru said passing the ball to Hikari. "Now try to do that again against me." He taunted.
"All right." Hikari smiled bouncing the ball twice. She mimicked the stance that Takeru had taught her minutes earlier and let the ball fly. Takeru jumped into the air grabbed the ball and did a simple layout and scored.
"Takaishi two, Kamiya zero." Takeru taunted.
"Hey not fair!" Hikari whined. "You stole that ball from me."
"That's the point of the game." Takeru smiled.
"Com'on give me another chance." Hikari begged.
"All right, but it's my ball because I scored." He smiled. "Now your job is to try to get the ball away from me." He said bouncing the ball.
"How am I to do that?"
"Distract me."
"All right." Hikari smiled a devilish smile.
"What are you up to Kamiya?" He asked suspiciously.
"You'll see Takaishi." Takeru hesitantly dribbled the ball heading towards the key. Hikari quickly ran towards him and started tickling him on the stomach. "It's a good thing I know that you're extremely ticklish." She smiled.
"Hey...you...can't...do...that." Takeru gasped unable to contain his laughter.
"Then let the basketball go." She continued tickling the more.
"Never." He giggled.
"All right, have it your way." Hikari smiled. "I could tickle you forever."
"Don't threaten me Kamiya." Takeru smiled. "I know your ticklish spots too." He said starting to tickle her. The two, relentless in their tickling attack stumble to the ground with Takeru's back on the floor and Hikari on him. Their attacks continued ruthlessly, rolling around the gymnasium's hard floor, once, twice, four times. "All right, all right, you win." Takeru gasped in defeat, his back once again on the floor.
"There was that so hard?" Hikari smiled stopping her attack. A wave of allurement called her to lean forward, to kiss him. She was lost in his shimmering sapphire blue eyes, their hearts pounding from their fight; their bodies aligned perfectly, their lips less than a centimetre apart, his arms wrapped around the small of her back. Her lips drew closer to Takeru's. 'What am I doing? He's my best friend.' Hikari thought. "Umm, I better get going." She blushingly whispered.
"Wait." Takeru said still holding her. He ran his fingers through her mahogany fine hair. "You know the girl that I like?" Takeru quietly asked; his eyes transfixed on hers.
"Yeah?" She smiled.
"Well you see Kari, the girl I like is..."
"Hikari! Takeru! What do you think you doing?!?" A loud voice bellowed through the gymnasium. Their hearts jumped with fright and got off each other.
"Coach." Takeru gasped. "I...I can ex...plain." He stuttered.
"Yes you will, both of you, in detention." He fumed.
"But..."
"I think you two should leave before you get into more trouble."
The two students left the gymnasium, quickly and quietly. The coach shook his head in disapproval of what just happened, or more correctly what could have happened. He was disappointed in his prize player, but more disappointed in himself for his unforgiving behaviour.
He heard footsteps coming from behind him; he quickly turned around to see Takeru. "I forgot my basketball." He said grabbing it.
"Hey Takeru, I'm sorry for freaking out and not letting you explain your situation."
"Nah, don't be, I would have freaked out too in your place." Takeru responded forgivingly.
"But you're still have to go to detention."
"I know." Takeru sighed. He started to walk away, but stopped midway. "Hey coach?" He asked turning around.
"Yeah."
"Look what happened just now was totally my fault, I don't think Kari should be punished for my stupidity."
"It takes two to tango."
"As a favour to me, please." Takeru pleaded.
Kenji looked into his puppy dog eyes. "You must really like her to do this." He smiled.
"I do."
"All right." He caved.
"Thanks coach." Takeru grinned quickly leaving.
"Hey Takeru!" The coach said interrupting his flight. "Did you tell her?"
"I was this close when you interrupted us." Takeru sighed showing the distant between his index finger and thumb. "If I had just one more minute..."
"I would be scared of what may have happened with that extra time." He replied crossing his arms.
"What are we going to do?" Takeru smirked at that accusation. "We are, after all, twelve years old." Takeru replied with a smiled that had both the properties of childlike innocence and preadolescent-like devilishness.
"Don't be smart. It could get you in trouble someday." The coach smiled. "Get to class." He sighed. "I'll see you after school."
"Looking forward to it." Takeru smiled half to himself leaving the gymnasium.
* * * * * * * * * *
The silent halls quickly woke with the sounds of relieved students ready to leave their mandatory eight-hour prison. Takeru meandered through the perpetual changing labyrinth of students to get to his locker.
"Hey T.K." Hikari quickly followed. "Did you hear Coach Kenji didn't put us in detention." She smiled.
"Actually, you're not going to detention." Takeru sighed. "I am."
"What?"
"I convinced Coach Kenji that what happened in the gym was all my fault."
"Why? Nothing happened."
"I know." Takeru sighed.
"Then why did you do it?"
He wanted to tell her the truth that it was his feelings for her that made him do it, but couldn't get the words out at that point. He sighed with frustration giving the first reason he could think of. "I thought you might want more time to make yourself beautiful for the formal tonight, not that you need it." Takeru smiled.
"Really?" Hikari smiled suspiciously.
"Well men generally don't take as much time to get ready." Takeru smiled. "All I have to do is take a shower and get dressed."
"Thanks." Hikari smiled kissing him on the cheek. "You're really sweet." She whispered into his ear. "She doesn't deserve you."
"Who?"
"The girl that you're infatuated with."
"Oh." Takeru sighed.
"By the way, you didn't tell me who she was."
"You see Kari, the girl I like is..." Takeru smiled.
"Hey T.A." Daisuke's voice bellowed from the crowd. Takeru smiled to himself, he half expected to be interrupted. "I heard that Coach Kenji gave you detention." He announced.
"Yeah." Takeru sighed.
"What happened?"
"Nothing." Takeru replied enigmatically. "I've better get going." He smiled leaving.
"Hey you didn't tell me!" Hikari bellowed down the hall.
"I'll tell you tonight." Takeru yelled back.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Disclaimer: [1] The names of persons, places, and events pertaining to Digimon: Digital Monster Animated Series is not my invention and is the property of Toei Animation, Bandi, and Saban Entertainment. [2] The flashback scene is taken from the second season, Digimon: Digital Monster episode, "Enter Flamdramon". [3] Hikari's line: "A very small degree of hope is sufficient to cause the birth of love" is a quote taken from Stendhal. [4] This is a fan fiction and as such names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination that is, those not mentioned in the previous clauses and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.