"He Said What?"
«Takari»

A/N: Just in case I get a note defending rednecks or the south, the short passage in here is not meant to put down or discredit southerners in any way, shape, or form. lol I like how Texans talk. That certain part was written from a past experience from a dear love one. To make it short, if I like an accent, I usually use it somehow in my writing. Right, TLA? «;p»

Translations:
* Hai = Yes

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Chapter 3
"1 Way Ticket from HOU to JFK"

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The strong pitter-patter of rain made its presence known on a newly edition Mitsubishi Eclipse's front window shield as frantic window wipers swept away to no avail. It was early morning and Yamato had offered to drive Takeru to the Writer's Convention then drive him back home on his lunch break from work. For some reason Takeru declined asking if he could use Sora's car instead. He would use the directions he copied from the internet for a nice tourist tour and promised to call his brother if he was lost. Wondering why cars were driving on the wrong side of the road nearly crashing onto oncoming traffic soon proved it to be the wrong decision. He pulled to the side of the road panting in relief. The convention could wait.

Wow, did these people drive crazy! What was going on? This wasn't one of those countries that drove on the other side, was it? Yamato had to drive in this every day? After this, not him. Give him the good 'ole subway any day. After a minute to himself to calm down he thought about going back in the street – That is until the pitter-patter turned into ferocious sheets of rainfall.

He sighed turning off the engine, reclining in the seat and putting the emergency lights on. Talk about Texas April showers. There was a strong, quick flash of lighting that made him jump in fear. Strangely, it reminded him of the special time he shared with Hikari in the park. It was one time he wished they could have stayed longer to see what would have happened. This was where he almost told her.

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"You cheated," he laughed swinging his last slice of bread to a squirrel about six feet away who gladly accepted it.

"Did not," she returned the laugh. "You just have a small stomach."

"Me? A small stomach? How did–I don't remember stating in the rules that dumping the rest in the pond for the ducks is allowed."

"I don't remember the rules saying that I couldn't make up rules," she winked.

The two sat underneath a tree at Odaiba Park on a blanket as they had a picnic on that breezy weekend afternoon. The sky was turning gray threatening to shorten their outing. Nevertheless, Takeru suggested on short notice that they'd have a food eating contest. Whoever finished their portion first would make the other share a secret. Needless to say, after the fourth bite Hikari rushed to throw the remaining of her portion in the lake for the ducks while Takeru stared at her dumbly then at his food. So much for that.

The blonde decided to retaliate with good spirits after her comment. He took a dab of icing off a cupcake and wiped it on her nose and bangs before she had time to react. It was her turn to look dumbly at him. Before they knew it, they were both engaged in a food fight.

When all was done, both laid back on the blanket drenched in food laughing. After all had died down Hikari took an area of her hair that was smeared with icing and did her best to lick it off. It proved to be sticky.

She smirked. "Boy, am I gonna have fun washing this out."

He grinned putting an arm underneath her head as they both laid on their backs scooting close pointing to the sky. "Mom always says that we're machine washable. Don't worry. The way I see it if we stay here any longer we'll get drenched anyway. Okay," he turned to his side to face her. "Should I 'fess up now, or wait for another time?"

The brunette took one look at the sky, scrunched her face in thought, then turned to her side as well to face him. "Dish it all out. We'll take a risk."

"What do you want to know that you don't already?" he gazed at her with amusement.

"Seriously, anything?"

"My life is an open book."

"You asked for it," she sang. "What's in your soul? What does your inner self say?"

His eyes widened with mixed curiosity and shock that this best friend would ask this deep question. He couldn't possibly tell her the truth. "What in the world made you ask that?"

"Nuh-uh. Don't derail. What's in your soul, Takeru?"

He looked away groping for words. How would he go about it? "My soul…Okay…Well, some people say your soul is your mind; that it's one instead of the 'mind, body and soul' thing. I think the mind is just what it is: logic; whereas, the soul is what houses your true deep feeling and the body is your temple."

"You're deriving again," she warned.

"Hold on," he acknowledged. "What's in my soul," he took a deep breath then looked her square in the eyes. "A hopeless romantic."

She smiled surprised then joked. "The Child of Hope is a hopeless romantic? How charming."

He chuckled. "It's true, it's true. When I grow old and gray I want to share my wedding photo album with my grandkids. I want to tell them of the magical time I first met their grandmother and of every other time in between. I'd never harm her because she would be a fragile angel…Hikari" he scooted closer whispering. There seemed to be a mystical atmosphere developing. "I have to tell you something."

She must have felt it too because she whispered back. "Yeah?"

Man, those lips looked inviting. "For the longest time, I didn't know how to say this. Hikari, when I look at you…"

He couldn't finish it. It was left lingering in the air. The risk of losing his best friend would be unbearable. As the words seemed to be restricted his deepest desire took over. Right as his lips brushed hers, a quick, strong and close flash of lightening greeted them and their natural reactions to jumping away occurred. Then, as if right on cue, the heavens opened unleashing its contents not allowing either party time to comprehend what just happened. As fast as they could they gathered their things and each headed off to their own home alone. They never spoke of that day again. It seemed to be a fluke in time.

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'I love you, Hikari,' was what he mouthed watching the rainfall on the car front window. All he could think was how simple it was to say it only to let weather like this prevent it. He never was able to muster the courage to bring the event up again. His cell phone woke him out of his daydream. Gah! What's the point of having one when you're prone to forget about it?

"Hi! Guess where I am?" the person on the other line sang. "Wish you were here."

"Just thinking of you, Hikari," he chuckled.

"Eh? Don't you recognize who this is?"

Takeru nearly dropped his cell as his posture quickly straightened. "Tea!" Oops. "Hi! How are your grandparents? And thanks for figuring out the time change," he thought to add the compliment. "It must be late over there."

"You sound guilty," she stated awkwardly.

"Huh? Of what?"

She sighed. "Nothing. I can't stay long. Grandpa wants to share home videos. Call me?"

"Yes, of course. Hey, take care," he insisted.

"Ditto. See ya!" her happy attitude returned. "Go sell your books!"

That was one disaster avoided. He breathed out a sigh of relief reclining the seat again. If this weather didn't let up in ten minutes he would call his brother. He wasn't given the chance though. Before he knew it, he was blinded by a yellow light and someone knocking on the driver side window. Squinting, he made out what seemed to be an elder cop in a yellow rain jacket motioning to roll down the window. Curiosity peaked as he obeyed.

"Are you alright, son?" the cop asked in a think, Texan drawl.

Takeru blinked with an uncomfortable chuckle. Shoot! He had a feeling to update his English! What the heck did this guy ask him? He could speak enough to get by, but this guy's accent was too thick. Instincts switched on responding back in Japanese only to swap expressions with this public service man. Not cool. It was at this time he was doubly grateful to receive a translator for the convention – that's if it wasn't cancelled. On top of that, the wind that was picking up was causing the rain to sweep inside. Takeru tried his luck with his minimal English struggling.

"Eh…Help drive. Hai, help drive."

"What's that, son?" the cop turned the flashlight off leaning in to understand. "You're asking me to drive you somewhere?"

Once again, the only word Takeru could understand was 'drive' and that was only because the drawl landed on that word. He took a chance nodding his head. "Hai, drive."

The elder police officer chuckled. "Forgive this old red neck of his ignorance of Korean culture, but there's no need to keep telling me 'hello'. Follow me," he motioned toward the patrol car.

Takeru's jaw slightly lowered. Did he understand correctly? Did he hear…Korean? And he wasn't tell him 'hello' either…

"Well, come on now, son," the elder cop urged with another wave of the wrist. "I ain't gonna wait here all day."

The blond shook it off. Weird American. He grabbed his jacket that was laying on the passenger seat to use it to cover his head and followed the cop inside the patrol's backseat. With the patrol car in motion the police officer looked at him from the rear mirror asking, "Where do you need to go?"

A helpless and confused look was his answer. The cop tried again using hand signals. He pointed to himself, then signed 'driving the steering wheel', then pointed to Takeru, then put his hands together pressing them against his right cheek tilting his head a bit. "Where do you live? Where is your house?"

House? House! Ha-ha! He understood house! A gleeful cry sprung forth as he turned to point behind him. "House! Hai, house!"

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"Uncle Teej! Teej Uncle!" cried happily the Ishida's three year old daughter running into the arms of her soaking wet uncle. She was too busy to notice the patrol car drive away.

"Hi, sweetie!" he gave his niece a big hug shutting the door behind him and kicking his shoes off. "You have no idea how great it is to be with people that speak your language."

The little girl wrinkled her nose not the least bit comprehending. The emotion suddenly turned to laughter skipping away. "Teej funny! Funny Teej!"

Sora waddled in the living room surprised seeing him back so soon. "You're back? What happened? Goodness, you're soaked! Hop in the shower. I'll get you a towel."

"I'll just use the towel. I need to get back there when this weather lets up." Takeru turned to look out the living room window checking on the storm.

"Why? And why isn't my car in the driveway?" Sora joined him. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes. I just got scared of this weather. Hey, why does my niece keep calling me Teej? Is that my brother's doing?"

Sora smiled, headed off to retrieve a towel, then appeared throwing it to him with good spirit. That spunk in her never left. "What can I say? She's a fast learner."

"Don't teach her 'Teej'," he moaned drying his hair, "I'm Takeru, not Teej, or TK – I'm Uncle Takeru, that is," he paused to say that with emphasis then continued with his drying. "If you ask me that's a weird American name."

"Actually," Sora sat on the couch amused, "we weren't sure on how to translate your name. So, Yamato made it up."

Takeru stopped what he was doing. "What's his?"

"Name? Oh, Matthew. But he didn't like the whole name claiming it to be too proper. So, at work he's 'Matt'."

Interest peaking, he asked again. "Yours?"

"It's the same: Sora," she smiled.

"…What about Hikari's?"

She grinned. "Kari."

"Kari-chan," he repeated as a smile grew.

"Nope," she corrected. "Just Kari. Americans don't use a suffix when referring to friends."

"Really? Get out," he said with this new enlightenment. "Just the name? Then it's only Kari." Kari. No matter in what language her name would send goose bumps traveling all over his body. Beautiful. Gah! There goes that cell phone again. At least it's still working instead of fried from the rain. He answered it.

"Takeru? It's Miyako. Hikari didn't want me to say anything but I think you should know."

"Miyako?" Takeru scratched his temple. "Isn't it three in the morning something over there? Why are you calling at this time?"

"It's important. Didn't you hear me? It's late and I'm really wanting to go back to bed so listen. I'll clear things later when I'm more awake. Did she tell you she broke up with Tokishio?"

He hesitated in answering. "Yeaaah?…But she said it was mutual."

"Sure. Anyway–"

"What are you saying?" he asked concerned.

"Listen," she insisted. "This breakup made her go a little coo coo in the head. So, guess what smarty pants did? She's going with Daisuke to New York."

"What?" he spoke louder than intended. That came as a shock. "Wha-What do you mean?"

"You heard right. In eighteen hours, she'll be in New York with him strolling down City Park taking in the views. Life is strange, isn't it? One minute we're all friends. The other, feelings fly. I guess it was inevitable."

"New York? Daisuke?" He was still trying to digest the first half of the info stumped.

She yawned. "Yep. Alright," yawning again. "Goodnight."

"Wait," he pleaded. There was no answer in return. In shock, he looked to Sora, who in return, sat waiting to hear the news. Instead he ran to pack his clothes and changing the ones he had on.

"What's going on, Takeru?" she raced after him.

"I'm sorry my stay was cut short. Hikari needs me. Call Mimi. Let her know I'm going to New York."

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