I'm very flattered to get your feedback! Since I wrote the story to experiment with second person storytelling, I actually wasn't sure if anyone would even finish reading the first part.

And I think your common criticism is very fair and I completely agree – the story, if it ends up Takari, is basically poised to be unfair to the narrator. So first I'm glad that I created a character that you find likable (at least to some degree). It would've been a copout on my part to make Takeru's wife a completely awful person, and in fact I really enjoyed writing her voice, which flowed a lot more easily than most of Perhaps Love. Secondly, to be honest, I feel that the story, as it is currently set up, doesn't need to end up Takari. It might even be more natural for it to end up Takeru/OC. Unfortunately I'm just too biased to head down the alternative route.

Finally, remember that here we have an unreliable narrator, so what she perceives to be the truth isn't always the complete truth.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the ride!

Witches with White Cats

With perfect hindsight, the warning signs are all there. You just choose to ignore them as you go ahead and prepare for your wedding. You've been planning this since you were a girl, so it has to be perfect, the culmination of all your childhood dreams. It will take place outdoors, in the botanical gardens, under a cloudless and bright blue sky. There will be round tables covered by white tablecloths and a harpist playing Pachelbel's Canon. And at night, there will be a live band and dancing and maybe even karaoke.

Being your parents' only child, they devote all their efforts to helping you. They hire the best wedding planner in Tokyo, who takes care of everything with terrifying efficiency, down to the exact shade of roses used for the flower arrangements and the type of chocolate used in the wedding cake.

Takeru doesn't take part in much of the planning, although he displays amusement for your childlike excitement and dutifully accompanies you whenever and wherever you need him.

The only imperfection, as far as you are aware, is Hikari. Most brides won't think twice about not inviting their grooms' past girlfriends. The problem with Hikari Yagami is that she is so much more than just a past girlfriend. Even the mere suggestion of removing her name from the guest list is unthinkable.

You voice your concern to Aya when you try on your final wedding dress, a month before the wedding. The two of you have been eating vanilla cake and drinking champagne in your parents' penthouse. You carefully set the veil on your head and admire your reflection. The dress is a perfect replica of a princess ball gown that you have once seen illustrated in one of your favorite picture books, with a fitted bodice studded with diamonds and a full skirt.

"Absolutely beautiful," says Aya. "You will take Takeru's breath away."

Your face light up as you imagine the look on Takeru's face when you join him at the altar. Then you sigh and step out of the dress, pulling your dressing gown back on. "I'm not so sure about that," you confess, laying your wedding dress carefully on the bed.

"What's wrong?" Aya says, setting down the champagne and putting a comforting arm around you. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet."

"No," you say. "Of course not. I'm very happy. It's just –" You don't know how else to put it. "It's just that Hikari will be there."

Aya blinks. "Er…light?"

"No, Hikari Yagami." You stab angrily at your cake, pretending that it is her face. It brings you little satisfaction. "You know. Takeru's old girlfriend? The one you saw around campus like a million years ago?"

Aya does not, to her credit, say, "I told you so." Instead, she frowns. "Why'd you invite her then?"

"I can't not invite her, Aya," you say. "Takeru's friends and family love her."

More than they will ever love me, you add to yourself, though you are too proud to admit that out loud.

"But he's marrying you," she points out, hearing the subtext. "So he loves you more. Besides, from what I've heard and seen, she's not a vicious type. She won't try to ruin your wedding or run off with Takeru."

"No," you say, even though it'd be all too easy to cast her as the evil witch who's out to ruin your happy ending. "No, you're right, she's not the type. But if you see the two of them together…it's like…I don't know." You gesture wildly. "There's something there that I don't like, but I can't describe it."

Aya considers. "What does she do for a living?"

"She's doing a teacher's certification program right now. Wants to teach kindergartners someday, apparently. She was a professional photographer, but I'm not sure what happened with that."

Aya brightens. "That's perfect!" she says. "Hire Hikari to be your wedding photographer. She will be too busy taking pictures to talk to Takeru, and she will even have to wear work clothes to work with the equipment. There will be no way she's stealing your thunder."

You brighten too. "Aya, you're a genius!" you say, hugging your maid of honor. "This calls for more champagne!"

Aya's plan sounds perfect for the rest of the afternoon. Broaching Takeru with the topic of hiring Hikari as the photographer, however, proves to be more difficult than either you or Aya envisioned.

"That's a terrible idea," he says, once you've told him. "Have you already asked Hikari?"

"Not yet, I wanted to check with you first," you say.

"Well, don't," he says sharply.

You cross your arms over your chest, not wanting to start a fight so close to the wedding, and yet not willing to back off. "Why not?" you demand.

"Because she will say yes."

With that, he heads into the study and shuts the door, leaving you alone to work through his logic.

You do not give up. The next day, you work up the courage to call Hikari and explain the situation to her. Even though you have never called her before, and even though you cannot call each other friends, she listens and says without hesitation, once you've finished rambling, "Of course, I would love to help out. Thank you for asking me."

You are taken aback. "That's – that's great," you say. "We were going to pay –"

"Don't worry about payment," she says, sounding offended by the mere suggestion. "It'll be my wedding present to you. I'm quite happy to do it for free."

"Oh. Well. Thank you."

You don't know what to say for a while, yet somehow she can tell that you are not quite done. "Is there something else that I can help you with?" she asks. "How's the wedding planning coming along? I can't wait to attend."

"Really well," you say. "On the topic of photography though…Takeru isn't very supportive."

There is a brief silence. "As in not supportive about me taking your pictures?"

"Yes."

Her tone changes very subtly. "He doesn't realize that he'd be doing me a favor," she says. "Don't worry, he will come around. Would you like me to call him and explain?"

Despite your jealousy, despite your shame at your own pettiness, you know that she may be the only person who will get through to him. So you say yes and thank her again, hating the fact that Hikari never gives you any actual reason to hate her.

Hikari is indeed true to her promise. When Takeru comes home that night, the first thing he tells you is, "Hikari called."

"Oh?" you say, trying to sound surprised.

"Good work," he says with accusing eyes before he turns away.

You are still not sure what you did wrong and uneasily wonder whether this argument will come back to haunt you. However, he makes no further mention of the matter, and because you have gotten your way, you put it out of your mind as well.

The day of your wedding is crisp and sunny. The flowers of the botanical garden are in colorful bloom. Everything is perfect, just as you planned, and you revel in the admiration of the guests as you and Takeru slide wedding rings on each other's fingers, his tuxedo and your white dress cutting a stunning contrast against the green lawn. The first time that he kisses you as your husband, you are too busy basking in your happiness to register the coldness of his lips.

Hikari takes her job as the wedding photographer seriously. With an assistant, she has been working nonstop, and even now that the wedding ceremony is over, she is still shooting photographs instead of indulging in the reception with the others. Both Sora and Miyako have tried to convince her multiple times to rest, but she stubbornly continues working, seemingly not even noticing the heat as she tries to find the best angle for the bridal party pictures.

Right after the bridal party pictures have been taken, you see Taichi stride across the lawn, say a few quick words to Hikari's assistant, before taking his sister's arm and marching her over to a chair to sit down. You feel a twinge of guilt as you watch her slump forward on the table, one hand supporting her head and the other nursing a glass of wine from that Taichi thrusts into her hand. Her catlike Digimon is curled up on the table nearby, blue eyes watchful. You have heard from various sources that Hikari almost died from illness twice in her childhood. That, in combination with years of fighting in the Digital World, took a permanent toll on her health.

The guilt lasts until you catch sight of the open concern on Takeru's face. Before he could join her side as well, you shout, "It's time to toss my bouquet!"

Your bridesmaids, along with some of the female guests, laugh and gather in a circle in front of you. You relish everyone's attention – including your husband's – before you toss your bouquet in a long arc. It is headed for Aya when a drunken Patamon flies along, crashes into the bouquet, and flies erratically holding it until both of them land in Hikari's arms. She is so shocked that she splashes red wine everywhere, soaking the white tablecloth.

"Are you all right, Patamon?" she asks, when she recovers. She lifts up the Digimon gently.

"I think so…" the little Digimon moans groggily, making no attempt to get up.

Takeru hurries over, taking Patamon. "That's enough alcohol for the night," he says sternly. Then he puts a hand on Hikari's shoulder. "Are you okay?"

By then, you have hurried over to join them, and you see the intensity in his eyes as he poses the question. He isn't just asking about the Patamon accident.

Hikari looks away and gently shrugs his hand off. "I'm fine," she says. Then she notices you and hands you the bouquet. "Here, I wasn't participating, so this shouldn't count. Why don't you try again?"

You take the bouquet and glance at Takeru. He is still watching her, who is still avoiding his eyes.

"Go on," Hikari says. "You too, Takeru. I'm fine."

Reluctantly Takeru follows you back to Aya and the others. When you turn around to look at Hikari, you see that Taichi has his arm around her. He meets your eyes and stares at you in such a way that you know he has guessed your intentions.

You toss the bouquet again. This time Aya catches it, as intended. You are careful to keep Takeru by your side for the rest of the night, though you really do not need to worry. Hikari does not join in the dancing or the singing. With her Digimon in her arms, she stays close to the Chosen Children, her concerned brother hovering close by.

When the time comes to say goodbye, Taichi is almost hostile. He gives you a curt nod in farewell, and when Takeru tries to engage him in some small talk, he brushes him away.

Hikari tries to save the situation. "Congratulations again," she says, clasping your hand with both of hers. The color has returned to her face with food and rest. "I can't think of a better honeymoon location than Paris."

You thank her. Yes, Paris for honeymoon is cliché and corny but, after all, introductory French is where it had all begun. Takeru doesn't say anything.

"Come on, Hikari, let's go," says Taichi, not disguising the impatience in his tone. "I've already asked your assistant to take care of the equipment. Let me give you a ride home."

With that, he turns around to leave. Hikari offers you an apologetic grin. Then she hurries after him.

"Do you think we've offended Taichi?" you ask tentatively, genuinely concerned. At the very least, you want all of your husband's friends to accept you, if not like you.

Takeru sighs, a deep and regretful sigh. "I broke my promise."

You blink. "A promise?"

He shakes his head, clearly not interested in discussing it further with you. Fortunately, Miyako and Ken come over then to say goodbye, halting any further attempt on your part to probe deeper.

The first bouquet toss ends up counting. Less than a year after your wedding, Hikari is married. By then, she has completed her teacher's certification program and moved to Nagoya, where she met her husband. Her wedding is much smaller and low-key. She invites only her closest friends and family, and her husband, who is an orphan, invites even fewer guests.

Takeru wears an ill-concealed scowl the entire time and his eyes darken when Hikari and her husband lead the first dance. She looks beautiful despite her simple white dress and her husband looks handsome in his radiance. You pull him onto the dance floor after a while to distract him. As soon as the two of you return home to Tokyo, he seems to expel the entire affair from his mind and almost never mentions Hikari again.

You like to think that their story is over. You like to think that while she may have one point been the princess in Takeru's kingdom, now you reign as the true queen.

Less than two years after, Hikari is widowed.

You are seven months pregnant with your firstborn when Takeru receives the phone call from Yamato. He is on the phone for a long time, his voice too low for you to eavesdrop. After he hangs up, he emerges from his study, his face ashen.

"What's wrong?" you ask.

"I need to go to Nagoya." He eyes the surprise on your face. "For a funeral."

Your heart leaps. You may have never warmed up to Hikari, but you certainly never want her dead.

Takeru continues, "Hikari's husband died in a car accident."

"Oh." The idea is too horrible to dwell on. "When is the funeral?"

"Next week," he says. "I'm going to book my flights right now. Do you think you will be okay on your own for a week?"

You don't think your answer will sway his decision in any way, but the last thing you want is to have your husband fly to Nagoya alone to see a widowed Hikari. So you tell him, "I'm coming too."

Takeru frowns. "Don't be crazy," he says. "This is a funeral. Why would you want to go? You barely even know Hikari!"

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind more moral support," you say, and add very boldly, "Why don't you call her and ask if you don't believe me?"

Your husband takes a very deep breath, as if he is trying in vain to calm himself down. He probably would've made a few scathing remarks, if you weren't pregnant. Nevertheless, you get your way and a week later you are standing in the crowd, watching a casket being lowered into the ground.

Hikari stands in the distance by herself, head bowed. The usual light about her is subdued. She has both hands on her stomach, and you can tell through the black suit she is wearing that she, just like you, is expecting.

After the funeral, you see Taichi striding to her side and putting his arms around her. Her parents and other friends follow, and Takeru almost does as well, until you catch his hand.

"What is it?" he asks impatiently. "What do you want?"

He isn't even looking at you. He hasn't looked at you since he arrived at the funeral.

In that moment, you almost hate Hikari. It doesn't matter that her husband has just died and she will be raising their child all on her own. It doesn't matter that it's perfectly reasonable for everyone, especially your husband as her childhood best friend, to offer her sympathy. You hate her that she can be so delicate, so outwardly unremarkable, yet have the special power for making everyone care about her. You realize that yes, she's never asked for any of this, and yes, you are being petty, but you cannot help it.

For once, you have a good reason to keep your husband to yourself. "I'm not feeling too well," you say. You put one hand on your stomach for emphasis. "Could we go back to the hotel?"

You can tell that Takeru wants to say no, because he desperately wants to be among those who are comforting Hikari. However, you have the upper hand and he is powerless in face of your excuse.

"Fine." He almost spits the word out. "But let me at least say goodbye."

You yield. Quietly, you watch as he approaches her and briefly talks to her, no doubt explaining why he cannot stay longer. She nods and lays her hand on his sleeve briefly before she turns back to the others. When he comes back to rejoin you, you almost shrink away from the barely suppressed anger on his face.

"She wishes you and your baby the best," is all he says, before he strides toward the exit.

You follow, marveling at the sheer amount of venom and sarcasm that Takeru could inject in a simple wish of goodwill.

Years pass. After your son is born, and after you and Takeru become established in your respective fields, he as an author and you as an editor, life settles into a comfortable if unremarkable rhythm. Aside from the occasional reunions, contact becomes less frequent between your husband and his old friends. Hikari's name is rarely mentioned. For all intents and purposes, she has completely disappeared from his life.

Of course, fate has a way of catching you off-guard when you least expect it.

When Yoshiro is nine, you and Takeru visit Nagoya to see Yamato and Sora. They have recently purchased a new house, after the addition of two young children, and have invited you to spend the Christmas holidays with them. Since Yoshiro usually spends the holidays with cousins on your side of the family, you and Takeru accept the invitation.

It isn't until your plane touches down in Nagoya that you remember that Hikari lives there too. It has been so long since you've thought of her. However, Takeru remembers, since he still sees her around for reunions, and has already contacted Hikari, which is how you find yourself spending Christmas Eve with Hikari and her son.

Hikari does not seem to have changed much, although there is a quiet sorrow on her face that lends her a haunting beauty. Her son is the spitting image of her, and you can tell that he is the absolute center of her universe.

The boys take to each other immediately and are soon running around the apartment with their Digimon partners. Meanwhile, she chats with you and Takeru in the living room. You can tell that your husband has been distinctly uncomfortable, ever since you arrived, although the reason extends beyond Hikari's presence.

Hikari can tell as well. "You know," she says, getting up, "since dinner won't be ready for another few minutes, why don't we take a tour of my apartment? I have something that I'd like to show you."

In her free time, she goes on to explain, she has begun painting, because it is a more organic way of expressing the world than photography. She's been taking some classes at the local community college and some of her works have been good enough to be accepted into local galleries.

"There's something that I've been working on that I'm especially proud of," she says. "Since writers are supposed to have good eyes for art, I'd like to hear what you think of it."

She leads the way into the guest bedroom, which she has converted into a small studio. Directly facing the doorway is a freshly painted picture mounted on an easel.

It is a monochrome painting of an ocean at nighttime. There is a cave next to the empty beach, and in the distance there is a lighthouse emitting dark light. You are no connoisseur of art and you could discern that her brushstrokes are amateur, yet there is something powerful about her painting, something soulful that you rarely see even in masterpieces.

"The idea just came to me one night and I had to get it down," Hikari explains, her cheeks somewhat pink. "It's called Dark Ocean. What do you think?"

"It's beautiful," you breathe.

"No!" Takeru says harshly. "It's a terrible painting."

Hikari looks stung by the venom in his tone. "I'm sorry you think so."

Had you been a new bride, you would've been pleased that your husband disliked her painting, that your husband hurt her feelings so blatantly, but now you feel unsettled by his uncharacteristic harshness. It isn't natural.

You lay your hand on her arm. "I really do think it's great," you say.

"No," Takeru says, in the same tone. "It's horrible, Hikari, and you need to throw it out. Burn it."

Hikari bites her lip and you can tell that she is trying to hold back tears. You feel a pang of sympathy; you would burst into tears if your long-time best friend criticizes something that you have poured time and effort into. Fortunately, the boys pick that time to show up.

"Is dinner ready, Mom?" Hikari's son asks, wrapping his arms about her waist. "We're hungry!"

She makes a visible effort and composes herself. "Yes, of course," she says, returning the hug. "Come on, why don't you show our guests to the living room in the meantime?"

The boys begin to lead the way out of Hikari's study. You follow before noticing that Takeru does not. You turn around to find him still staring at the painting, the anger on his face replaced by fear.

Maybe it just reminds him of something unpleasant, you tell yourself and proceed to forget about the incident for the rest of the evening.

tbc

Yup, the third version of Perhaps would've involved a Dark Ocean plot. Not very original, considering the volume of Dark Ocean Takari stories out there.

My version does have some differentiating subtleties that are hinted upon, but won't be explored in depth in this story.