Sorry to JyouraKoumi, who's name I always seem to get wrong and for some reason I wrote hated Koumi in a review…. I'm a bit ditzy at times.
I've noticed that the only people who have reviewed are only two people. That's… annoying.
"Tell a man there is 300 billion stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch it to make sure." Jarger.
Last Time:
I pulled up to the front of the airport entrance but they were no where in sight, so I parked my car and went in 'okay if you're gonna ask for a ride at least be ready when I get there'
New Arrival, Flight 3156 from Boston, MA, USA now landing at 8:31pm
'I wonder how Mimi and Izzy are doing' I opened my phone and dialed her number….
Hikari's POV
Odaiba Airport
8:31 P.M.
I listened as the phone rang a few times before someone answered. "Hello" said a male voice tiredly.
"Izzy" I asked while looking around for Tai and Sora.
"Oh hey, Kar, how's it going" he asked, his voice livening up a bit.
"I'm fine, Iz, where's Mimi… and why is there an echo?" I asked stopping my search, and stood skittishly in front of the information booth and across from the bathroom. I really don't like being near a bunch of people I don't know. Schools okay cause theres a bunch of familiar people, and they have a few Security Guards posted around the halls and courtyard but this place was HUGE. With a bunch of people , of all nationalities, and ages bustling around it was easy for me to feel antsy.
"Mimi's in the bathroom, where are you?" he asked curiously, breaking me from my thoughts. I swear I could hear the gears in his mind ticking.
"I'm at the airport picking up Tai and Sora. They came home for winter vacation. Sora said Jou was too busy to pick them up so Tai called me to pick them up, but of course the genius is making me look for him, I'd at least expect Sora to make sure they were NEAR the entrance." I rambled on to him. I hated it when I rambled, it made me feel stupid.
"No wonder" he said in an understanding tone.
"What do you mean" Dial tone was all I got "Izzy...Izzy?"
"The echo was there because we were standing to close" I turned around "Izzy!" He grinned "Hello Kari" he said hugging me, I hugged him back, slightly unsure of what I should do.
"Hey who are you to be hugging MY boyfriend!" I heard, a small half smile presented itself on my lips.
"That Mimi, would be my sister" I heard Tai say. I quickly released the reddening computer geek and jetted over to where i thought he would be from hearing his voice, but it was impossible. Too many people were blocking me 'where is he' I thought frustrated, standing on my tippy toes .
"Who are you looking for?" said some one on the side of me.
"Umm, just someone" I responded knowingly.
"Well what does he look like maybe I could help" the person said.
"What makes you think it's a guy?" I asked raising my left brow.
"Just a guess" I held in a small laugh.
"Well if you must know, he's about 6' 2", bad hair, big feet. Pretty damn ugly if you ask me, he always has wax sticking out of his hairy ears not to mention he stinks. Bad. Like my brothers old gym socks…from the 7th grade." I answered grinning all the while.
"You know your pretty mean for a girl" the guy said also grinning.
"Yeah, well for that comment id just have to add 'sexist pig' to my lovely description of you." I said turning to view the guy fully.
"Glad to be of help, Sis. How could I miss the chance to be slandered down to a tall bad hair, big feet , ugly, bad smelling turd" he said
"You forgot Hairy, wax filled ears." I added smartly and silence slowly took hold of us.
I looked at the guy. He looked back at me. He smiled sadly and I hugged him. Bending his head over mine, keeping our hug tight, the man whispered "How have you been, Angel."
"Real good Tai. Real Good." I replied back in the same tone.
"Great" he said as we let go of each other, I felt something wet touch my head. When I went to see his face, he had already looked away, so I went to the girls to say hi.
"Hey guys" I said somewhat shyly, shoving my hands in my pant pocket.
"Hey Kar" Sora said giving me a side hug. I guess I'm never gonna get rid of that nickname. She's the 3rd person to call me that today.
"Why are you wearing the boy's uniform?" Mimi said crossing her arms after hugging me. "Yeah I know the school didn't change the rules that much since we've left" Izzy continued.
"It doesn't matter" Tai answered for me. "Any way where are you two headed?" he said to Izzy and Mimi.
They both glanced at each other. "Well, my parents wanted us to go to there house" Mimi started. "And mine wanted us to go to theirs" Izzy continued. He seemed to be doing that often. "But we don't want to upset them and we want to stay together" the said in unison. "So we're going to a hotel." Mimi finished.
I blinked. Blinked again. And then said "You guys spend way to much time together" My phone than took the liberty of ringing. "Come on ill give you a ride" I said walking to the car "Someone's calling, Hold on" I said before quickly picking up the phone without bothering to look at the Caller ID.
"Hello"
"Hey Kar, what are you up to." 'There goes the fourth person. Wait he knows my #?'
"Uh, well actually TK, I'm leaving the airport" I mumbled as I reached my car.
"The airport?" he asked confused
"Yeah, I had to pick up Tai and Sora. Jou's at an exam or something" I answered, unlocking my car with the button on my keychain.
"But Kari, Jou's here. He's talking to matt in the kitchen; here let me put him on – Hello"
"What are you doing there." I said walking away from listening range "You were suppose to pick Sora and Tai up" I questioned. I wasn't mad just curious.
"Are you serious, what time is it?" he asked. I think he sounded scared. I knew why too. Tai said lately Sora's been a bit moody.
"Its 8:57 Jou, don't worry about it, she's fine. In fact she thinks your taking an exam. Now as long as you let her believe that, there wont be any problems." I comforted him.
"Hey Kari what the hold up?" Tai called
"Ill be right there." I shouted back
"I hope your right, hey hold on Matt wants to talk to you – Hey, Ruby, you haven't told them I'm here yet have you?"
"No why" I asked. "Good. Listen I heard about what you and TK were talking about; a small reunion type thing, it's a great idea. I think we should do it and everyone would sleep here afterwards. My moms on a business tip and dads at the station. Jou's gonna call Yolei and Davis, are you in?" he asked
'This is becoming the best day in my life in the longest time.'
"Hell yeah, let me just drop by my house and get some clothes and we'll be right over."
"But wait won't that cause suspicion?" he questioned.
"You've got a point Blu-
"Kari come on were hungry but more importantly, I'M hungry. Kari. Kari don't ignore me. KARI!!!"
I clenched my teeth tightly "you hear that" I asked Matt "That's my sanity slipping out the window." I sighed "I'll think of something, but in the mean time you'd better make some of your world famous whatever before I kill your boyfriend"
"Kari he's doesn't like me lik- "buh bye Yamato" I said hanging up on him.
"KARI!"
"TAI! You do realize I'M the one driving right. So at any given moment I can just 'forget' to hit the breaks and speed on into oncoming traffic. Do you want that" I screamed at him, getting into the car, started the ignition and pulled the car out of the parking.
"No, but neither do you, that's why I'm not worried." He replied nonchalantly.
I looked at him. He was looking forward with a small smirk on his face. Than I turned back to the road.
"Jackass" I mumbled.
He looked at me. "I love you too"
Around 20 minutes had past and we still had about 5 or ten till we got to the apartment. Through out the entire drive so far they've been talking about stuff at college like the people, the grades they're getting and the teachers and how they swore particular ones were out to get them (Tai). I pretty much stood out of it, focusing only on the roads, as they had began to get slippery at certain streets cause of the snowfall. That was, of course, until Sora asked the one question that made me swerve slightly into the next lane and brought a big ass grin to my face.
"So Tai, when are you gonna ask Matt out?"
I swear I could not remember feeling so giddy in years. That feeling just grew as the conversation continued.
"Yeah I mean, everyone knows you like him, I mean except him" Mimi said, laying her head on Izzy's Shoulder.
I quickly took a glance at Tai and then back at the line that had began to form from the red light. His face at first was blank, but soon changed as he began to speak.
"You guys seem to forget that as much as I may like 'love!' him, he's never around, he doesn't like me which by the way, is the reason im trying to avoid this subject. Oh and did I mention he's NOT GAY!" he said, raising his voice at the last two words.
"At least, not openly" I said keeping my eyes on the road, turning right onto a one way, my street. The talking had ceased.
"What did you say?" Izzy asked. I could feel Tai's eyes burning into the side of my face.
"You heard me" I said, pulling in to the first parking space I could get.
"How do you know?" Tai asked.
"Ill be right back I'm just need to get some of TK's things that he left and bring them to him before we go." I said, getting out of the car. The passenger door opened as well, as Tai came out of it.
"Don't ignore me, Hikari"
I promptly rolled my eyes, and retorted "I'm not ignoring you, Taichi." I walked into the elevator that and old lady had just walked out of. He followed, standing in front of me as I jabbed the broken number 6.
"How do you know?" he asked.
"My best friend is his brother, how do you think I know." Yeah it was a lie but what he didn't know couldn't hurt him. I hadn't had the heart to tell him how messed up our friendship was, that is ifyou could still call it one.
"Are you sure" he said hesitantly. I looked straight into his chocolate brown eyes. This was my older brother. The man who had taken over the name of 'Father' in my life. He looked so determined and yet so… susceptible to rejection.
"Tai look at me" I said. He complied. "I would never tell you anything this important, just to get your hopes up and your dignity squashed." I walked out of the elevator and proceeded down the hall, Tai walking beside me. " besides now you can finally stop wandering and ask him out" I continued.
"Okay, I'll do it once I see him. Im not doing this over the phone." He looked up to the ceiling, his face contorted into one of dejection. "Heh. Who know when the hell that will be." He stated, shrugging.
I smiled to myself. 'I do'. We began to slow down as we reached our door.
"Shit. I forgot the keys in the car. Sorry Tai but do you mind getting them for me." I said, giving him the 'eyes'.
"Alright ill be right back." He said running down the hall, stumbling quite literally into the elevator door. 'ouch' "Kari, is that you?" 'Mom's home' I looked back down the hall to tell Tai to come back but he had already left.
"Yeah mom, its me." She opened the door. She looked exhausted. "Hey mom" I said giving her a small hug.
"Where'd you go" she asked following me to my room.
"I went to the airport to pick up Tai and Sora" I explained, looking through my closet for one of my bags.
"Really where is he." She asked looking back at the front door, as if expecting him to come through at any moment.
"He just went downstairs to get my keys from the car. Hey mom, guess what? Everyone's home. Matt, Mimi and Izzy, they're all here. Matt's throwing a small get together cause he thinks only Tai and Sora are here. He doesn't know that I picked Izzy and Mimi up at the airport and that I'm bringing them with me so basically nobody but me know everything about what's going on. Oh and were all gonna sleep over there tonight. Do you mind, I just need to get back into something familiar again." I finished saying, filling up the bag I had found at the bottom of the closet with clothes and my journals and some other books to make my cover up look real.
Sniff, Sniff
I took a sharp look at my mother stopping what I was doing. I've had to much experience with that sound. "Mom what's wrong, why are you crying?"
She didn't try to hide the tears, if anything she let them out more. "Nothing dear, it's just. You're acting like a normal 16 year old girl" she said walking back out into the kitchen. 'She's been worrying me, she's been so depressed ever since what happened. I know she's trying to hide it but with something like that its hard… I should know.
"Kari, are you in here – oh hey mom" I heard Tai say. I decided to take the time Tai was using to catch up with mom to get changed into something else beside my damn uniform. I threw on a pair of baggy black khaki's and a blue short sleeve shirt with black fishnets underneath. I took out the choker that TK gave me at our 13th birthday party. It was a black ribbon with a silver angel hanging from it. On the back of the angel was the crest symbol of Light.
'Why cant things be as simple as back then?' I thought in the back of my head. "No" I said to myself. "I won't let it ruin tonight."
I put my hair in a low messy bun with a few strips of unintentionally falling on either side of my face. I looked in the mirror, debating whether or not I should put eye shadow on. After a moment I settled with just eyeliner and left to find Tai. He wasn't with mom so I checked his room and sure enough there he was sitting on his bed looking a picture frame.
"Hey I'm ready" he looked up. "Alright let's go" he said firmly, as he stood up he tossed the framed in the trash bin by his desk.
It was a picture of our father.
He walked out of the house and I followed. "so how are things between you and TK" he said taking my bag. "He's got a girlfriend Tai, nothing is going" I replied knowing exactly where this was leading to.
"Fine Kari, what's she like anyway?" I hesitated. 'What should I tell him' I hadn't told anybody but Matt and you saw he how reacted. Now imagine Tai. But I've been lying to everyone for so long; I can't do it any more. I mean. Maybe only about what happened.
"Angel what's up" He said concerned. I can't lie to him. He's been my rock for this past year... I just can't lie to him about my progress anymore. Or rather lack of.
"Do you really want to know about her" I asked him, slowing down a bit to let him catch up with me. If I'm thinking about something serious when I'm walking I usually walk fast. No Idea why.
"Well from the way your acting, I know I do." He said about to push the 'Down' button for the elevator.
"Don't" I said. "this is going to take a while and I don't want to talk about it in front of the others." He nodded and led the way to the stairs. There were 6 flights but from all of the walking in the digital world and the soccer practices I went with Tai to we'd be fine.
I sighed. "To everyone else she's this great person, funny, pretty nice you know the works. But towards me…"
"What. How does she treat you?" he asked. Tripping on one of the last steps.
I sighed again. "Tai, she seems to find the fact that I'm his 'Bestest Friend' threatening."
He groaned. " Okay, 1st off why and 2ndly why did I hear sarcasm in your voice when you said 'bestest friend'" he said raising a finger each time.
"I don't know. I think it may be because she knows how close we were or something and I said it like that because well.." it hurt me to say this " I think that because how I acted towards him; lying and mouthing of; I think that because I changed so much without any explanation, it just took it's toll on him so he focused on his new relationship. We rarely talk when we're in the halls and stuff but with Keiko on my ass its nothing like it used to be. With any of us, Yolei and Davis, too and yes Keiko used to be my friend." I said. I felt like crying but I'd done enough of that for one day. No need to worry him anymore than I already have.
"I'm sorry it didn't work out for you Angel, I really am, but you cant let her be the reason you don't try to reestablish your friendship with TK I mean what the worse you can do." He encouraged softly. "We can talk about the group later"
"Tai, she takes up all of his time and even in the rare moments that we find we can hold a conversation, she always finds us and cuts it short. She's even badgering me to stay away from him, she's a bitch Tai, a psychotic bitch. I've fought her twice already and one of those times was today. That's why I was late and before you ask I'm fine. And I didn't start it either. Tai the worse of the matter is that TK's not only oblivious to what's going on but he's madly in love with her and as much as it hurts I have to respect that" I said walking down the final flight, "but that doesn't stop the fact that sometimes I think id rather be blind so I didn't have to see them together"
I looked at him. He seemed to be deep in thought, so we walked the rest of the way in silence. "Kari" he said suddenly
"Yeah Tai"
" I understand what your saying completely, but I have one question to ask" he said seriously
"What is it?" I asked.
He averted his eyes away, and then back to me. " I know you say he loves her but Kari, the bigger question is … does she love him?" he asked looking over the passenger side of the car. Getting in after he said what he need to say.
For once. I didn't have an answer.
So I drove.
Hmmmm. I wonder what you guys think is gonna happen… honestly id really like to know. Id also like to know what you think so far of the progress I'm making with not only the story but my writing. Please be a helpful reviewer and don't be afraid to criticize. REVIEW!!!!
Hopeful.Light.Takari.