Chapter 1
In a small apartment in Odaiba, a young woman in her late thirties is cleaning up the living room. The phone rings suddenly and startles her. She walks over to the phone hook to pick up the receiver.
"Hello, Kamiya residence," she announces, putting her free hand on her hip.
"Hey Kari! It's T.K.," came the reply.
"Oh! T.K., hi!" She replies back, a little surprised. She walks to the couch and sits down, happy to talk to her ex-husband.
"So how are you?" T.K. asked.
"Tired. Other than that, I'm great! I was cleaning the place up just now," she wipes her forehead.
"Oh, I'm sorry for interrupting! Would you like me to call back?" He said quickly.
"No, T.K. It's fine. It's only once in a while that we get to talk, right?" She insisted.
"You sure?"
"Yes, T.K. Now let's talk! How are you?"
"Terrific, as usual!" He replied enthusiastically.
"That's good!" She replied just as enthusiastically.
"How's your son?" He said jokingly.
"Difficult," she sighed. "Don't forget, he's your son too."
"I haven't forgotten."
"Better not have. How's your son?" She joked back.
"Your son too!" He countered.
"Smart Alec!" She countered back.
"Oh, he's fun," T.K. chuckled. "Challenging, but fun," he finished.
"I'm sure he would seem fun to you. You have the mentality of a boy his age!" She teased.
"Hey, watch it now!" He warned, also teasing. "He's almost a man."
"Well, I can see you're pretty proud of yourself, Takeru."
"Yes I am, Hikari."
"Alright buster!" She said standing up quickly. "You know better than to call me 'Hikari'," she joked.
"Then, you have to call me by my nickname," he joked back.
"Fine. Now, if you'll let me, I would like to speak to my son."
"Oh, I get it!"
"Get what?"
"You don't want to talk to me anymore?"
"I do. But I want to talk to my son. I haven't spoken to him in a really long time."
"Okay, you get your wish."
Kari hears T.K. calling their second son over to the phone. She hears some noises and then a new voice. "Shaun?" She questions to her youngest.
"Kari!" He yells in excitement to hear from the woman of whom he doesn't know as his mother.
"Hey there! How's my favorite little blonde boy?"
She knew she was the only mother figure in his life- even though she really was his mother, but he didn't know that- but she still felt crushed every time he didn't call her mom. All she knows is that she wants to tell him desperately that she's his mother. She jumps back to reality when Shaun replies excitedly.
"I'm happy now that I get to talk to you!"
"You weren't happy before?" Kari asks a bit worried.
"Hm-hmp! 'Course I was! I'm just even happier!"
"Oh!" She responds, slightly chuckling.
"Hey Kari," Shaun begins in almost a whine, "when do I get to see you and Haruki again?"
"Well... I don't know. How about this weekend? Haru-"
"This weekend?!" The 10-year-old exclaims, cutting her off. "That's great!"
Kari can't help to laugh. "I'm glad you think so! Haruki and I will come over this time. Sound good?"
"Yeah!"
She laughs at the enthusiasm her son is letting out. "Let me talk to your father, so I can see what he thinks."
"Okay!" There is silence for about ten seconds, and then a husky voice is re-introduced. "Kari?"
"Yeah?" She asks almost innocently.
"What's this I hear about you and Haruki coming over this weekend?"
"Well, technically, it was Shaun's idea," Kari answers, sounding as if she was playfully blaming him.
"As are most of the things you get him excited about," T.K. counters also playfully.
"Why, T.K! It almost sounds as if you're blaming me!" She says in fake shock as their first born enters the apartment.
"Mom! You're talking to T.K. without me?!" He exclaims after hearing his father's name mentioned- even though he doesn't know it's his father.
Startled, Kari quickly whirls around to face her son. "I'm sorry sweetie," she begins. "Would you like to talk to him?"
"Duh!" He says as he takes the phone from his mother.
"Is that Haruki I hear?" T.K. asks hearing the excitement from the 11-year-old on the other end.
"Yeah T.K., it's me!" Haruki responds to his idle. Sadly, it's not his own Uncle Tai who is his idle.
"Hey there son! How are you?"
"Good!"
"Just good? Is your mother not treating you properly? Am I going to have to talk to her again??" He playfully questions.
Haruki laughs almost uncontrollably, making Kari look at him strange and wondering what T.K. had said that was so funny. "No! I meant to say 'unbelievably well.'"
"Okay. That's good! Haruki, guess what?"
"What?"
"According to your mother and Shaun, you're coming over this weekend. Isn't that exciting?"
"Really?!" Haruki turns to his mother. "Is it true were going to see T.K. and Shaun over the weekend, Mom?!"
"Yes it is," Kari replies, stifling a giggle.
Haruki smiles widely and returns to his conversation with his idle. "Hey T.K! Can I talk to Shaun now?!" He asked jumping in excitement at the thought of talking to his best friend whom he doesn't know as his brother.
"Sure!" There's some shuffling and Shaun speaks. "Hey Haruki!"
"Hi!"
As the boys converse, Kari flashbacks to the night of hers and T.K.'s divorce.
~FLASHBACK~
T.K. is sitting on the couch and watching TV. Kari comes in through the door, not only exhausted, but looking a bit sad. Realizing something is wrong, T.K. does what any loving husband would do and asks her if there's a problem.
"Light? What's wrong?" He asks as he stands up.
"Please, T.K. don't call me that." Kari, now in tears, sinks to the floor, her face buried in her hands.
Kari's sudden monotone outburst took T.K. aback. "What? What are you saying, Ligh- uh, Kari? Are you sure you're alright?" He was trying desperately to remain calm, but on the inside, he was screaming in horror that his wife might not love him anymore. Little did he know that's exactly what the problem was.
"Takeru, we need to talk," she said through sobs.
T.K. knew something was horribly wrong and that she meant business because Kari rarely ever said his given name. "About what?" He asked, unsure he wanted the answer.
Kari sniffled, trying to gain some courage to tell her husband what she dreaded more than anything in the world to say. "We... w-we n-need to... to... I can't! I just can't!"
"Can't what?" T.K. was beyond concern and was now even more unsure he wanted to know what she was talking about. "Just say it," he coached gently. "Come right out and say it." It was taking all his will power to hear what she had to say.
Kari inhaled a big breath of air deeply and released it sharply. "I'm so sorry T.K! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry. Please, forgive me. I never thought I would have to say this, but..." She trailed off. T.K. saw she was having trouble getting the words out, but remained silent. Tears started to prick his eyes. He blinked away the new moisture. He knew from the way she was acting that she truly was sorry for whatever it was she desperately didn't want to say, but knew she had to. "I'm... I'm not... I'm not..." She takes in a deep breath, hoping it would make it easier to say what she needed... even if she didn't want to say it. If only it wasn't true. The only way she'd know for sure if it was true or not, is if she kissed him passionately. She weakly gets up and makes her way to where T.K. is standing. She gets on her tip-toes, wraps her arms around his neck, and kisses him as passionately as she can.
T.K. kisses her back, though, slightly surprised by her sudden action, considering her earlier actions. The only sad thing was Kari didn't feel those same sparks she felt as a teenager when she and T.K. were first together. Back then, it was 'together forever'. Now, it was 'together... until now'. She broke the kiss, sure about her feelings. T.K., not wanting it to end, grabbed Kari's arms, and kissed her furiously. Knowing he obviously still loves her she kissed him back and let him have his last kiss from her. She thought back to their adventures in the Digital World together, when they confessed their feelings for each other, their first date, their first kiss, when they first told each other they loved each other, their wedding day, their honeymoon, getting pregnant for the first time and second time, and then all the bad times. She couldn't stand to feel like this. It was true, though... that she didn't love him anymore. That couldn't be helped. Now, T.K. had tears streaming down his face. He broke the kiss when he couldn't breathe and decided that he might as well hear what she has to say, and get it over with.
He's breathing heavy now and has a serious expression. "Tell... me."
Trying to regain composure, she speaks. "I'm so sorry, T.K. I'm... I'm not in love with you anymore." She breathes a sigh of relief that she finally got it out and lowers her head.
T.K. is now completely bemused even though he kind of figured it was something like that. "I... I see," he responds in a raspy voice. He clears his throat.
"But I'm still in love with you. There can't be one-sided love. It doesn't work out." He sighs in a world of hurt. "I'm sorry you feel that way. But I can't forgive you."
Kari gasps in shock to his hurt response. "But T.K. I..." She starts to protest. "I... I understand," she finally concludes as her shoulders sink.
"I can't forgive you because you didn't do anything wrong. I should really be the one apologizing."
Kari looks up at him confused. "Huh? Why?"
"I apparently did something to make you not love me anymore. Whatever it was, I'm sorry."
"What?! T.K. you didn't do anything to make me feel like this!" She looks down and seems deep in thought. "I'm not sure why I suddenly don't feel for you the way I did when we first fell in love. What I do know is that I don't feel the sparks anymore. That's why I kissed you a few moments ago. I wanted to see if it was my imagination making me think I didn't love you anymore. No such prevail." She pauses and takes a deep breathe. "I never thought I'd fall out of love with you, T.K. Takaishi."
~END FLASHBACK~
"Mom?" Haruki worriedly questions his mother.
Sapping out of her reverie, she looks at her oldest son. "Huh? What is it?"
"T.K. wants to talk to you again."
"Oh. Okay. Thank you dear. Go do your homework if you're done talking."
"Okay," he obediently replies and dashes to his room.
Knowing her son always shuts his door when he does his homework, she decided to tell T.K. about what she was thinking. "Hey there, have a nice chat?"
"You know it!" T.K. answered.
"Can I tell you something?" She asked, uncertain if she should tell him.
"Sure. Should I be out of Shaun's earshot?"
"Yes. I think that'd be best."
"Okay. Good thing he's already out of earshot, huh?"
"Takeru Takaishi, you trickster!" She playfully yelled at him.
"Ha ha! Got you good there, didn't I? So what is it you want to tell me?"
"Well, while Haruki and Shaun were talking, I started thinking about the night we divorced."
"Oh! Wow. Well, let's not think about the past and think about now. It was nine years ago. At least it wasn't a stupid fight that broke us up... or money issues. Right?"
"Right! I still can't believe that happened, though. I'm just thankful you remained my friend. It's a good thing I fell back in love you, huh?"
"Yeah after five years," he playfully guilted.
"It's not my fault! You moved to California with Shaun a year after we divorced!" She playfully argued.
"Yeah? Well, it's not my fault that my career took me there!" He playfully argued back.
"Well, you're a good writer, T.K. It was bound to take you somewhere," she commented, hoping it would stop the "argument".
"Yes, I am, aren't I? Thank you for that. Of course, without your help, I never would've become a writer if you, Matt, Tai, and our parents hadn't encouraged me."
"We just wanted you to do what made you happy, T.K. We- me especially- love to see that wonderful smile on your face." She smiled even though he couldn't see her.
The night Kari had told T.K. she wasn't in love with him, she took out the divorce papers she got from Cody on her way home, since he was- and still is- a lawyer. It took two hours just to sign the papers because of the fact that neither one of them wanted to sign them, and they kept talking and reminiscing about good times.
"Well, I guess I better let you get back to your cleaning," he said suddenly.
"Oh! That's right; I'd completely forgotten I was cleaning when you called. My, think of your phone bill!" She said quickly as she realized that fact. "Well, I guess I'll see you this weekend!" She said starting to calm down.
"Okay! Bye Light," he said softly.
Hearing T.K. call her by her nickname, which she'd only allowed him to call her by, sent shivers tingling down her spine... in a good way, though. She smiled and, as softly as he'd done, said her goodbye. "Bye... T.K." With that, they hung up.
End of Chapter 1
Hey it's me! So how was that? I know, it's a slow start, but it's getting there! R&R please!
Reminder: I accept flames.
Note: I only accept flames that will help me become a better writer.
