Courage child: " I'm back. Here is my new story. I hope you like it. Enjoy…"

Reunion

Prologue

An auburn haired woman was sitting in her office, inside a big comfortable room. She didn't have much work to do and she was bored. She stood up from her chair and looked outside from the big window, which was behind her desk. From there she could see the whole city of Tokyo and the people of the city. The woman noticed them. Most of them were going to their job and they looked happy. But although she loved her work and looked happy to everybody, actually she wasn't. She had made a big career on business but she felt that something was missing from her life. Her thoughts were cut by a knock on the door.

" Come, in" said the auburn haired woman.

" Miss Takenouchi, sorry I interrupt you, but miss Tachikawa has come and want to see you. Shall I tell her to come in?"

" Yes Sara, tell her to come in. Oh, Sara we don't have much work, so why don't you leave from work earlier today?" asked the auburn haired woman.

" Are you sure miss Takenouchi?" replied the other woman. " And what about you? Will you stay until late again?"

" I don't know Sara. We don't have much work to do and perhaps I will leave early too," said the auburn haired woman.

" I don't want to be involved in your personal Ms Takenouchi, but I think you'll need to go on vacation. You work very hard Ms. Takenouchi."

" I know Sara but I like it. I like my job."

" Yes, I know that Ms, but can I tell you something as a friend of yours?"

"Yes, of course Sara."

" I know that you like your work, I knew that from the time I began working for you. But the difference is that when I started working here you were very happy Ms. Takenouchi. Now the most time I see you, you are miserable. But that started after you…"

" Please Sara, stop" said the auburn haired woman and turned to the window again, her back facing Sara.

" Why miss Takenouchi? That's the true, after your divorce you became miserable, you aren't happy any more. I believe that the divorce with your husband was wrong. You were very happy and I don't understand the reason you got divorce. You loved each other and in my opinion Ms. Takenouchi you still love your husband or else you wouldn't be miserable," said Sara. When Sara said that the auburn haired woman turned around quickly and looked at her confused.

" What?"

" Please don't be angry with me. I know that I must not involve in your personal but that's the true: you still love him."

Sora didn't reply. She turned around, looking outside from the window. There was silence in the room. None of the two women were talking. After a little time Sara broke the silence.

" Well, I'll tell Ms. Tachikawa that you want to see her and then I will leave if you don't need me any more. Good-bye Ms. Takenouchi."

" Good-bye Sara", said the auburn haired woman as she was looking from the window outside. The other woman smiled left. Then the auburn haired woman turned and sat at her desk again, thinking all these Sara told her. A knock on her door cut for another time her thoughts.

" Come in," replied the auburn haired woman.

The door opened and inside got an attractive, pink haired woman, who was wearing a jean skirt and a pink blouse.

" Hi, Sora" said the pink haired woman and closed the door behind her. The auburn haired woman turned to the pink haired woman and smiled.

" Hi, Mimi. " Mimi sat on a chair in front of Sora's desk. " How are you Meems? We've got a lot of time to meet, haven't we?"

" I know but I'm not the one who has been busy. And I think I'm the one here to ask you how are you."

" Oh, please don't tell me that I'm busy and I work very hard…" but Sora didn't finish as Mimi cut her in the middle.

" But that's the truth Sora. How long have you to go outside, have fun and enjoy yourself?"

"Well…"

" Let me tell you Sora! It's almost 3 years! Yes, don't make this face. That's the truth. After your divorce with…" but now was Sora's time to interrupt Mimi.

" Please, Mimi. Don't start and you too. My secretary Sara, tells me that all the time and for the god sake it's not true!"

" I don't believe that Sora and I think neither you do. Please let me finish," said Mimi, as Sora was ready to interrupt her for another time. " After your divorce, you changed. Both of you."

" Come on Mimi. This is ridiculous," said Sora.

" Is it Sora? You have changed a lot. Why don't you see it? You work very hard, you don't go outside. This divorce has changed you. You aren't happy, you're miserable you neglect yourself."

" So what? Am I supposed to be happy because I divorced? Come on Mimi. Who is happy after divorce? No one."

" Yes, maybe you're right. But in your case things are completely different. Your divorce was totally wrong. You still love him. After 3 years you still love Tai."

" Don't be silly. I don't love him. I don't think him any more. He has probably forgotten me. He's happy and continues on with his life," said Sora and with that she sat up from her desk and turned around, looking outside the window, the city of Tokyo, her back facing Mimi.

" You're wrong Sora. I think that you have a long time to see him. Maybe you haven't seen him since your divorce. Anyway, it doesn't matter that now", said Mimi who was sitting at the chair from the start she got inside the office. Sora's back was still facing her. Silence was between the two women but Mimi decided to continue.

" It isn't as you said," said Mimi trying to pay Sora's attention but Sora continued looking outside the window. " The others wanted to tell you but Tai told them not to tell you."

" For god sake Mimi. Tell me what is it?" asked Sora without turning around.

" He's not well Sora. He has… problems. Problems with his health," said a hesitated Mimi. That pays Sora's attention and turned around, facing Mimi.

" Problems with his health?" asked a worried Sora. " Tai has problems with his health, Mimi?"

" Yes. Almost 1 year. He was very anxious because of his work and his blood pressure increased. He got to the hospital 2 times. The last time was two months ago. We went him to the hospital. His condition was more serious than the first time. His blood pressure increased a lot and he stayed in the hospital for long. All this time we were visiting him to the hospital. Joe was the one who examined him of course." Mimi noticed Sora's reaction when she told her about Tai's condition. She knew that her friend was still in love with her ex-husband, Tai, although she didn't want to admit it.

" Is he all right now? Mimi?" Mimi didn't answer. "Please tell me is he all right now?" asked Sora worriedly again.

" You see. You still love him and concern about him…"

" Please don't change the subject. Answer my question: Is he all right now?" asked worriedly.

"Joe told him to be careful. He suggested him that he shouldn't work for a while and relax. Tai followed his advice and now he isn't in the town. Joe told him that it would be good if he went on vacation, so Tai decided to go at the cottage in the countryside."

" The cottage… yeah I remember it. We were going there some times when we were… married. That place indeed helped Tai to relax. His job was always making him anxious. That stupid job… "

" That stupid job as you called it Tai loves it a lot. He's the ambassador of Digital World Sora."

" I know Mimi. I know. We argued lot of times about this. He wasn't listening me. And I wasn't the only one telling him to relax. His parents, Kari, Matt... All were telling him the same. Tai wasn't listening anybody as stubborn he is. He worked so hard that in the end hardly I was seeing him. He was always coming home late, tired."

" Yes, that was the reason you got a divorce. You've made the biggest mistake in your life. Thank god you didn't make children. Then things would be worst not only for you but for the children most of all."

Sora sat at her desk again. Her mood changed when Mimi told her about Tai's condition. And when she mentioned about children Sora became sadder than she already was. Mimi noticed that and she got suspicious that something had happened, so she asked Sora to find out.

" What's wrong Sora?"

" Nothing," said Sora but Mimi knew her for long time and she understood that something was wrong.

" Come on Sora. I know you for a long time and now I can tell that something is bothering you. Please, Sora, tell me. I'm your friend. What is it? What's bothering you?"

Sora knew that Mimi wanted to help her so she decided to tell her.

" O.k. I'll tell you. Let's sit there," said Sora and she pointed at the couch. When they sat at the couch Sora was silent. She took a deep breath, looked at her best friend and started.

" I wanted so much a child, Mimi. A little time before our divorce I told him that I wanted a child. My metric instinct 'woke up' as we, the women say" said Sora and smiled a little. Mimi smiled her back. Sora stopped another time.

" What is it Sora? What happened?" asked Mimi.

" At first, Tai didn't want to have children. He told me that it was early because we were married for a little time. But as time passed that changed. And then one night he told me: 'Sora do you still want to have a baby?' I was surprised from his question but I was happy too. My dream was about to come true. And as you understand from that day we were trying and trying all the time." Mimi was listening carefully what was Sora telling her.

" But," continued Sora, " nothing was happening. I thought that maybe we should take some tests to see if one of us had any problem. And then he started working hard and returning at home late, always tired. He didn't have time for me. He was married not with me but with his work. And soon, without realizing it, we were away from each other. Our marriage became… We became strangers. And in the end as you all know we were on dimension and after a little time we got the divorce, thinking that it was the best for us and here we are today."

" Your divorce was wrong and you know that. I'm sure for that. The divorce didn't make things better. It wasn't the best for you two. Instead it was worse for you: you work so hard on fashion and all this business and Tai has problems with his health. If someone was telling me that 4 or 5 years ago I wouldn't believe him and I would say that he was crazy because you loved each other. You still love each other but you don't want to admit it."

" Stop, Mimi. Please. When are you going to believe it? Tai and I aren't together any more. We have taken divorce, each one has taken his own path and that's final. When are you going to believe it Mimi?"

" I will never believe that Sora. Do you want to know why? Because I have known both of you for a long time, since we were kids. You and Tai are so stubborn to admit your feelings for each other. You can tell that you don't have feelings for him, you don't love him anymore but I can see that you have those feelings Sora: you still love him," said Mimi and she took Sora's hands in hers. "And you know something?" she continued, "He loves you too. He needs you Sora more than any time before. I didn't tell to anybody but the last time Tai was in the hospital in critical condition, he wanted you on his side. The first three nights when his condition was critical, he was saying your name, in his sleep. He was asking for you. A nurse, who was taking care of Tai the nights at hospital, told me that, when I went there to see him. She asked me who was Sora because Tai was asking for her all night. I told that at Joe and he told me that we should call you but soon Tai got better and when we told him that we were already to call you he asked us not to tell you anything about his condition. He doesn't know that he was asking you all the night on his sleep. Only me, Kari, Joe and now you know that." Mimi paused for a little and stared at Sora who looked confused. " I know that you're confused but… please Sora, go to him. I can feel that you want to be at his side right now, but you're afraid. This is logic but if you really love him you must go and find him."

" I can't. I can't face him after…" but she stopped.

" After what, Sora?" Sora stayed silent for a little but at the end she decided to tell Mimi.

" I'll tell you Mimi but please promise me that you aren't going to tell that. This I'm going to tell you is something, which I kept secret from everybody. Promise me that you'll never tell it to anyone. Especially to Tai."

" I promise. But… What is so serious that I must not tell?"

" It's something that no one knows. No one. Only Joe, me and now you."

" You're scaring me Sora. What is it?"

"As you know we didn't have any disagreements and the divorce came out very quickly. Before we sign the divorce papers, Tai and I were on dimension and as you know he had left from the house that period. We weren't seeing each other."

" Yes I know that," replied Mimi.

" But that you don't know is that one night Tai came to the house to discuss about the divorce and if we could something to save our marriage. The discussion led to an unexpected situation" said Sora and paused. Mimi stared at her and waited Sora to tell her by herself. She didn't want to force her. After short time of silence Sora spoke again. "We… We made love." said Sora and smiled weakly at Mimi. "For a last time. He was so gentle, so passionate… he had to be like that, since the first years of our marriage. We slept peacefully in each other's arms. But… the next morning I woke up in a coldly, empty bed. He had left. Then I saw him again one month later when the lawyer called us to sign the divorce papers. But after our divorce I wasn't feeling so good. I had dizziness, I was often overthrowing in the mornings, so I decided to go and see a doctor. I went to Joe and he told me something that I didn't expect to hear," said Sora and she stopped again.

"Oh, my God! Don't tell me that you…?" asked an impatient Mimi.

" Yes. He told me that I was… pregnant Mimi. I was carrying Tai's child. It seemed that that night a miracle had been done. After 8 years of marriage I was pregnant with Tai's child at last. "

" Oh, Sora that's wonderful. Why hadn't you told me that? And what about Tai? You didn't tell him anything, did you? Am I right Sora?"

" I know Mimi. I know but I didn't have the courage to tell him that he would be a father. I was scared."

" And then what did you do after you learnt it?"

" I thought it a lot and I decided to keep the baby and raise it alone, without his father. But it seems that God didn't want that. When I was almost in the fourth month I…I lost it Mimi," said Sora and she was almost in tears. " I think that was my punishment for hiding my pregnancy from Tai."

" Please stop telling these things Sora. It's not your fault. Maybe God wanted to take that little angel with him. Don't blame yourself. But in my opinion you should have told Tai. I'm sure that if you had told him he would have returned back to you. You would become a family: you, Tai and your baby."

" I know that, Mimi and you don't know how much I blame myself. But I was scared. I was afraid that if I had told him he would have claimed that the baby wasn't his."

" Don't ever say that again Sora. Tai isn't one of those men who refuse their children."

" And what do you advice me to do? Go to him?" asked Sora.

" Yes, Sora. Go. Don't think about it very much. Go at the cottage. You want to be near him. You want him to return back to your life. Why are you denying that? "

" I don't know Mimi. I must think it." Mimi stood up from the couch and was ready to leave when she turned around and told Sora " Think it, Sora. Make the right decision. You two must be together. Don't lose him Sora. Think all this I said you and decide. I know that I must not involve but I care about you and Tai. You're my friends and I want to see you happy. Will you think it Sora?"

Sora didn't answer. She just nodded and stayed deep in thought. Mimi smiled. Deep inside her she knew that her friend would make the right decision.

" I must go now. Please think it and make the right decision. Bye Sora."

" Bye Mimi. I'm happy that I told you all that. You helped me a lot. You're a good friend," said Sora and with that she stood from the couch, she went and hugged Mimi.

"I'm sure you will make the right choice my friend. Bye Sora," said Mimi and she left leaving Sora alone with her thoughts.

After Mimi left Sora stayed, thinking all these Mimi had told her. After a lot thought Sora and decided: she would go to find Tai. She loved him. After 3 years she still loved him. And as Mimi told her, Tai needed her now more than he ever needed her before. She got out off her office and met her secretary Sara before she left.

" Sara, I think I'll follow your advice and I will leave for a while. As I can see today we don't have much work so why don't you go home," said Sora at her secretary.

" O.k, Ms Takenouchi. For how long will you be absent?" asked Sara.

" I don't know yet. As long it needs… to fix some things".

" All right then. Will you please inform me when you are going to return?"

" Yes, you must be sure for that. Work is work."

" All right, Ms Takenouchi. I'll be waiting for your call."

"I must go now because I am in a hurry. Bye Sara."

" Bye Ms Takenouchi and… good luck with Mr. Kamiya."

Sora was ready to leave when she realized what Sara told her. "Excuse me?" asked surprised.

" I said good luck with Mr. Kamiya. I know you still love him Ms. And I know that in the end you two will be together again."

" I think that Ms Tachikawa has influenced you. I don't know what to say Sara, but anyway thanks," said a surprised Sora.

After little time Sora left her office and headed to her house. On the road to her house Sora continued thinking. When she arrived at her house she continued thinking about it. She remembered some happy moments she had with Tai. She went to her room and opened her dresser. There she saw a box, which had a long time to open: 3 years. She sat at the bed with the box at her hands. At first she hesitated to open it but at the end she opened it. Inside the box she found some albums with lots of photos with her and Tai. They were some photos from their marriage and some during they were married. She looked at them carefully and she noticed how happy they were. Her attention caught a photo from their marriage. That photo showed herself with her beautiful white dress and next to her was a man with short brown hair in his blue tuxedo. Both of were very happy that day.

Sora stayed staring at this photo for long. As she was staring at the photo, in her mind came some memories from the time when they were married. She thought what Mimi had told her in the morning: ' Tai needs you Sora. You two must be together. Go to him Sora. Go.' After lot thought she decided to call Mimi and tell her the decision she made.

" Hi, Mimi. It's Sora. I thought about that you told me in the morning and I decided to go at the cottage."

" Really? That's great. I don't know what to say. You made the right decision. I hope things between you and Tai will get better and you will be together again. Huh… Sora, there is someone who wants to talk to you."

" Ok, Mimi. I'm waiting," replied Sora. She waited a little and then she heard another female's voice on the phone. She recognized quickly. It was Kari, Tai's sister.

" Hi, Sora. It's Kari".

" Hi Kari. It's been a long time, hasn't it?"

" Yes, it has. I learned just now that you would go to see my brother. He's in the cottage if you don't know. Honestly Sora, I hope you will be back together. I believe that you have learned about… the problems, which he had with his health."

"Yes, I learnt that from Mimi. She also told me that he had got at the hospital two times. Kari, how is he? Please give me an honesty answer. I want to know."

" Well he's better now. His blood pressure is still high. Not as the times he get to the hospital but it's still high. Joe told him that he must be very careful. The last time his condition was serious and if that happens again… that would be probably… fateful for him."

" What? … I didn't know that his condition was so serious," said Sora and from the other line of the phone Kari understood the worry tone in her voice.

" I know but… you know him so well as me. He's so stubborn to admit that. And sometimes… He is in pain. I don't like seeing him like that Sora. He's my brother and I love him so much."

" I know. I know Kari," replied Sora sadly hearing that Tai was more serious than she believed.

" I know you still love him and you care about him. You can't hide it, Sora even if you claim the opposite."

" Why are you all saying me the same thing? I …" but she paused.

" Don't deny it Sora. You and my brother are so stubborn to admit how you still feel for each other. And don't tell me that there aren't any feelings."

" I… I don't know what to say Kari."

" You don't have to say anything Sora. Your actions show how you feel about my brother. Go to him Sora. I think that you two must be together. I wish you good luck."

" Thanks Kari. That gives me courage."

" Don't thank me for anything. I want to see you and my brother happy together again. Oh, and something else. What are you going to tell to Tai when you get at the cottage? Tai doesn't know that you are planning to go, does he?"

" No, he doesn't and I don't want you to tell him either."

" Don't worry, I won't tell him anything. Well, goodbye and good luck Sora."

" Goodbye Kari. And thanks for another time."

After Sora closed the phone she started packing some stuff for her trip the next morning. At night when Sora went to sleep she thought about how was going to face Tai. She was anxious and scared too. What was he going to tell her when he would see her? It has been a long time since the last time they met: since their divorce. She was thinking these matters when after short time she finally fell asleep …

To be continued…

Couragechild: "I hope you like 1st chapter of the story. I'm waiting for your reviews. I will be back with the 2nd chapter of our story. See you soon!"