I don't really like this chapter. I struggled with making it realistic, and I'm still not proud of it. But every story has one, right? Well hopefully I'm just being hard on myself and you guys indeed enjoy it. If not, please don't hate me!
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In the two weeks that have passed since I kicked Sora out of my apartment and out of my life, I haven't had much time to think about her. I've buried myself into my work. Paperwork, field work, and the all around supervision of the fire station, have become my daily life. I've barely had time to hang out with my family or friends. That's why decided to take the day off and help Matt move all of his stuff into their new apartment.

"Thanks a lot man," he tells me as we haul pieces of his bed out of the back of my truck and up the stairs to his top floor apartment.

"No problem," I huff as we struggle to turn the corner with this headboard. Two girls exit the apartment next door to Matt's and smile our way. Their cute, so I politely smile back, but that's it. Not only do I have a heavy headboard pushed against my ribs, but I'm really not in the mood to flirt with anymore pretty faces. The last one really let me down.

"Cute girls living next door?" I chuckle as we drop the headboard amongst it's companion bed parts. "Mimi's going to have a field day with that one."

Matt joins in on my laughter. "Are you saying my wife has jealousy issues."

"She shouldn't, but she can be a little crazy when it comes to you and other women in a ten-mile radius." I joke. "Case and point, Jun."

"Yeah, well that was my fault." He grins sheepishly, "I shouldn't have been so wild in my younger years. Now I feel sorry for Jun,"

"I don't." I snort, "She needs to take the hint. It's okay to be a fan. But you're married now."

"Want a beer?" He offers after he nods in agreement to my statement.

"Yeah, I need to take a breather." I stretch.

We both grab a beer and relax on the living room set that the Tachikawas bought the newlyweds as a house-warming gift.

"So," Matt begins before taking a swig. "Have you talked to Sora?"

I snort in amusement, "No, I don't plan on it either. I told you from the very beginning neglected housewives were trouble."

"You were really starting to fall for her weren't you," My best friend chuckles.

I shrug, "I guess so. It's like she had my head in a cloud for the past months. Like...I was under some kind of spell."

"Sora's a really great person Tai. I don't know what's gotten into her. Maybe the stress of getting married?" Matt replies. I shrug again, not really wanting to discuss the matter.

I pick up my phone off of the small coffee table in front of us.

"I have five missed calls from my mom and three from my dad?" I furrow my brow.

Matt makes a 'hmm' sound and leans forward to grab his phone. He gives an equally surprised look and says, "T.K. called me twice too." he says as we both call back our respective relatives.

My mom picks up on the third ring. "Tai!" she yells frantically into the receiver.

"What's wrong Mom?" I ask her sitting up and placing the bottle down on the coffee table.

I hear my mother break down into tears and I'm both afraid and confused. A few second later I hear my father's calmer, but still upset voice.

"Tai. It's Kari. She's in the hospital." My father tells me, "Its serious this time Tai."

I hear Matt next to me trying to coax a frantic T.K. down on his phone.

"I'll be there soon," I tell my father and hang up my phone.

"That was T.K." Matt tells me standing to head towards the door with me. "He said Kari had a really bad seizure?"

"Yeah, that's what my mom said." I mumble storming out of the apartment. Matt lags behind to lock his door before sprinting to catch up.

I drastically break every speed limit as I drive to the hospital. Matt is silently sitting in the passenger seat.

When we arrive at the hospital, I hurriedly sprint to the circular desk and find out information on Kari's room. She's in ICU so I'm unable to see her right away. In the hallway outside of the ICU door, I find my mother slumped over, with her head resting in my father's lap. My father is sitting upright, his eyes are close and his head tilted back against the white wall behind him.

Across from them is T.K. who is slumped forward with his elbows resting on his knees and his hands gripping his blonde tresses. He's a mess.

"Dad," I clear my throat as we approach the group. Matt goes over and sits with his brother.

"Tai." My father replies, raising his head from its resting place against the wall. "She's in Intensive Care right now. We haven't been able to see her." he whispers, stroking the back of my mother's hair. She's asleep in his lap, but occasionally lets out a soft sob.

"What happened?" I ask running my hands through my hair.

"She and T.K. were over Nancy's and she fainted. Halfway to the hospital, T.K. said she began to seize, and when he got her here she had passed out again." my dad sighs and looks over at T.K. who still hasn't moved from his frozen position. "That's all we know right now."

Minutes pass and our group grows larger, as Nancy comes running down the hallway, her cream colored suit and high heels signal she's come here from work. She sits on the other side of T.K. and holds him for a moment before walking over and leaning down in front of my mother, whispering encouraging words to her and stroking her back.

Mimi arrives and replaces T.K's mom at his side; stroking his back and holding him motherly. Soon after the doctor enters the room and delivers the news.

"We were able to get her stabilized, but she's still very very ill. Her fever peaked at 105, and she was once again at serious risk of brain damage. He got her here just in time."

I hear Mimi whisper to T.K. "See, you did everything perfectly. She'll be alright," before I tune back into the doctor.

He continues, "She is having kidney failure. She'll need a transplant."

I hear my mother gasp and begin to cry again. I grab her as she stands and tries to walk out of the hallway, wrapping her in my arms and holding her close. "It'll be alright Mom." I'm trying to control my own emotion and stay calm for my mother.

"We're going to prepare a room for her and begin running tests. When she wakes up, you'll be allowed to see her." he bows his head and then turns to leave.

"Oh, Tai" my mother cries out. "Where are we going to find the money for a transplant?" I pat her back to soothe her but she continues. "I don't want to lose my baby..." she chokes.

"We're not going to lose her Mom," I tell her pulling back and gripping her shoulders, looking her in the eyes. "Don't worry about the money."

"Yuuko don't worry, we're all here for you," Nancy chimes in.

"Let's get some coffee down at the cafe honey," my father coaxes my mother down the hallway.

I decide to head home and rest before I head back to the hospital tonight. I call the station and inform the chief of my family emergency, to which he replies, "Take all the time you need Kamiya."

My mind is heavy, as is my heart. I've gotten so used to Kari being back in good health, that it's hard to register the severity of her current situation. If Kari doesn't get this transplant her life will be in serious jeopardy.


My wedding is in three weeks, and I've been throwing myself into planning it while managing my two businesses and dealing with other stressors. I've returned to my old, stressed out self again; which is fine by me. It keeps my mind off of Tai.

There has been no attempt at communication on either side. After two weeks since our argument, I'm pretty sure Tai is still furious with me.

I still haven't reveal my infidelity to Cale yet. I know it's wrong, but I can't bring myself to tell him. Not when he repeatedly tells me how wonderful I am. Or when he playfully suggests we elope, because he can't take waiting for our wedding date anymore. I still don't see him as often as I would like to, but I'm guaranteed to have a station filled with roses when I arrive to work at Sakura.

One morning I awoke to find my entire living room filled with 'I love you' balloons and dozens of roses. There was no special occasion, it was more of a 'Just Because I Love You' gesture. While I'm gloomily approaching our wedding date, Cale has turned in to a complete romantic.

My dress still isn't coming out right, and I'm starting to get frustrated with myself. I don't understand why I keep adding alterations. I've never been the type to care about minor details, even if I'm in the fashion industry.

"Sora!" I hear my name being frantically called out as T.K. burst into my salon, his eyes are red and puffy as if he's been crying for days.

"T.K. what's wrong?" I ask sitting my comb down and stepping from behind my client.

"It's Kari. Sora she's sick." He tells me frantically, "She's really sick and she needs all of these procedures, and-" I cut him off and motion towards my office.

I turn to my client and apologize for the inconvenience. "Mai will you finish Mrs. Tano's hair for me, while I talk to T.K?" Mai nods and sits her lunch to the side.

"Nikki take messages on all my calls." I call out and she calls back an 'Okay'.

"Okay T.K." I sigh as I take a seat in my office chair across from him. "Calm down and tell me what's wrong."

"Kari's in the hospital. She's been in there since Monday. She had a violent seizure, a 105 fever, and now she's having kidney failure." he tells me in an almost robotic tone. My hear breaks at the terrible news and i instantly think about Tai and his parents, and what they might possibly be going through.

"She needs a transplant." he continues. "And they were fortunate to find a donor quickly. The doctor advised against using a family member donor just yet."

"Well that's good news, right?" I say hopefully. Even if things are rocky with Tai and I, I still consider Kari a close friend, a little sister almost.

T.K. groans and shakes his head, "The Kamiyas can't afford the operations she needs. They're barely able to pay for the bill accumulating from the hospital bills the past couple of days." He tells me gloomily.

I frown and shake my head. "That's terrible." I mumble to myself.

I console T.K. for a few more minutes, ensuring him that everything will be alright and for him not to worry.

I spend the rest of the day in deep thought and silent prayer for the family I've grown to care about so much.

I decline Cale's dinner invitation, declaring I'm too tired and not feeling well. He offers to come over and care for me, but I'm not going to my penthouse tonight. I need to be with my parents.


A few days later I find myself walking through the hallways of the Downtown Odiba Medical Center in search of a certain lively brunette's room. I find the room and softly knock on the door. I can hear two voices speaking from behind the door, One male, one female.

"Come in," I hear Kari call out. I enter with a smile and a vase full of flowers. "Oh hi Sora!" Kari cheerfully greats me. Laying across the foot of the bed, is a much more happier Takeru.

"Hi Kari; Hi T.K." I reply places the vase of flowers next to the other dozens of gifts.

"It's so good to see you," Kari is still smiling, despite the bags under her eyes, and her flushed face. She's still seems as cheerful as ever.

"Its good to see you up and smiling," I say standing at her bedside. "How are you feeling? You've got a lot of gifts over here!" I motion to the counter over flowing with 'Get Well Soon' cards, teddy bears, and flowers.

"Some days are better than others. I'm still a little weak I must admit, and my joints have been in a lot of pain. My fever keeps rising and falling as well." She smiles and I nod.

"As for the gifts. I've lost count of who brought what. I know that some of them are from my family, T.K's parents, and the Tachikawas. But the majority are from Davis and T.K.' she giggles looking over at the boyish blonde below her feet, who only grinned up at us.

"I think they're competing to see who can buy me the most presents while I'm here." She adds still giggling.

I smile at her joke, "T.K. can we have a few minutes? You know, girl talk,"

T.K. nods, "I'm going to grab some food from the Cafe. What anything?" he asks us both. We both shake our heads no and he leaves us.

"How have you been Sora?" Kari asks me after a few seconds of silence.

I shrug and sigh, "Stressed as usual. My renovation is still not finished, my wedding dress is still flawed, and my photographer is sick in the hospital." I add the last party playfully, causing Kari to laugh.

"I hope I'm out of here in time," she sighs. "I really wanted to graduate next semester. This could set my back another year. Especially is I don't get your wedding on my portfolio."

"Don't worry about Kari. You'll be out of here in no time. I promise." I tell her sitting next to her on the bed.

She doesn't respond, but only smiles and hugs me. "I'll be happy when you and my bushy-haired brother make up and stop being some mad at each other," she grins at me after our embrace is broken.

"He...He told you about it?" I'm growing red with embarrassment. Kari probably thinks I'm some type of whore.

"Yes. But I don't have any ill feelings towards you." she assures me. "I think you're both misinterpreting things."

I'm about to ask her to elaborate, but I hear the door click, and in walks T.K.

"Davis is on his way up," he tells us as he sits a small cup of ice cream on the end table next to Kari's bed. The sweet gesture warms my heart.

"Well I'd better be going." I exhale as I stand from my seat on the bed. I give Kari one last hug as she thanks me for visiting. I kiss T.K. on the cheek and exit the room, just as Davis is walking in.

Kari's words echo through my mind as I drive to Cale's office to visit him.

"I think you're both misinterpreting things."

Even though Kari is a few years younger than me, I'm very curious about her opinion on my situation with her brother.

But now is not the time to worry about that.


Please don't hate me!
Let me know how you feel. I can't take it! (I think lol)
I wanted to write this story in thirty chapters or less, but I think I'll surpass that by only a few chapters.
Read/Review. What's going to happen next? What are we hoping doesn't happen next!