Thanks for the reviews! Another quick update before I head off to work!
I left work early this morning. My dad called and apparently we have to meet with a doctor at the hospital.
I'm slightly nervous about what they're going to say. Are they going to go through with the procedure, and set us up on some ridiculous payment plan? Will they send Kari home and tell us to come back when we have the money?
I shake my head and chuckle. They wouldn't do that. That would be inhumane!
Kari has been in the hospital for a week and a half now, and I try to make an effort to visit every day, but work prevents me from doing so. T.K. spends all of his free time at the hospital, when he's not at work, and my mother has permanently moved into the room.
I knock on Kari's door lightly before entering. "Hey guys," I greet my parents and younger sister.
"Sorry, to call you away from work son," My father states. "We figured you'd want to be here for whatever news they have for us
"No problem. I wouldn't want to miss it," I take a seat on the couch next to my father. "No T.K.?" I ask with a laugh.
"He's at work." Kari smirks at me, just as the doctor walks in.
The weird thing is; I don't know this doctor. It's not Kari's regular doctor, whom she's seen all these years. This guy is younger, maybe a year or so older than I am, and tall. Kari's doctor is short, chubby and older.
"Hello Kamiya family." he greets us as he enters the room. In his hands he holds a folder of papers, most likely Kari's medical history, and a clipboard with more papers.
"I'm Joe Kido. I'll be performing the transplant operation on Kari tomorrow morning." He begins but is cut off.
"Tomorrow?" We all say in unison, with the exception of Kari.
"Umm... Uhhh...Yeah, tomorrow?" he sounds slightly nervous and unsure so he looks at the clipboard and reads a few lines to himself before looking back up. "Yes, tomorrow is the date set for Kari's operation. They should have informed you of all of this already."
"We were still under the assumption that since we didn't have the means to pay for the operation that-" My mother falls short of her explanation.
Again, Doctor Kido seems taken aback by our lack of knowledge. "Okay, I'm positive this is the right family!" He frantically mumbles as he flips through the pages on the clipboard. "Hmm...let's see...Ahh yes! Yes Kari Kamiya right?" we all nod when he looks up at us.
"This procedure has already been paid for." He tells us. "By Haruhiko Takenouchi." He extends the clipboard out towards us to show us the signature.
"What?" My mother asks quietly. We're all shocked and confused, unsure what to believe.
"Haruhiko Takenouchi. He's a famed business professor at Kyo-" Doctor Kido begins to explain.
"Takenouchi as in Sora Takenouchi?" My mother asks looking at me and then back at the doctor.
"Yes. That's Mr. Takenouchi's daughter." Doctor Kido nods with a smile. "The Takenouchi's are a family friend. They chose me specifically to perform this operation on Kari. I figured you'd know about it."
We all shake our heads 'no'.
Joe, as he insisted we call him, goes on to explain the procedures of tomorrows operation; but my mind if far off somewhere else. Why would Sora's father pay for Kari's operation? How would he even know she was sick?
I guess it wouldn't be hard for Sora to find out. Not with Mimi, Matt, T.K., and Yolie all in on it. So did she ask her father to fund the operation?
"Kari? You did know Sora's family was going to pay for this?" My father asks my sister after the Joe leaves the room.
Kari shakes her head 'no'. "She did come to visit me. But all she said was not to worry."
"She came here?" I ask raising my eyebrow. Kari nods.
"Well this is certainly a dream come true!" my mother says, her eyes brimming with tears.
"We'll need to thank Sora and her family immediately." My father adds.
I don't respond as I walk out of the room.
My destination is Sora's salon; and I'm pissed!
I'm thankful for a slow day at the salon. I've completed all of my appointments for the day, and I plan on visiting Mimi at her new apartment today.
"Thanks again for locking up tonight Mai." I say as I'm leaving. I finally decided to entrust Mai with a set of keys so that she can open and close the shop when I'm unable to.
"No problem Sora. Have a good day." she replies as she rinses her customers hair.
I'm almost to my car when i notice Tai's truck pulling next to mine. My heart drops to my stomach. This is the first time I've seen him since our fight. I suddenly realize how much I have missed him when I see him hop out of his truck. He looks so handsome, save the angry frown plastered on is face.
"Tai?" I speak as he approaches me.
"You had your father pay for Kari's hospital bills." He accuses more than asks.
"Umm... yeah," I nod, tucking my bangs behind my ears. "T.K. came to the shop a couple of days ago. He seemed pretty distraught."
"So what? Is this your way off 'making things right' between us? Huh? Some type of pity service?" He barks with angry sarcasm.
I'm taken aback. I frown and shake my head, "No, it was my way of being nice and helping out."
"So you're telling me that what you did has nothing to do with you feeling shitty about our fight?" He laughs with more sarcasm. Then he motions is finger as if he's just gotten an idea.
"Oh, wait or is it hush money? 'Please don't tell me fiance I cheated on him'" He states, glaring at me.
"Tai have you lost your mind?" I snap back in shock. I look around to make sure we haven't attracted a crowd. "I asked my father to pay for the surgery so that your sister wouldn't die! It's got nothing to do with you!" I yell.
My anger quickly calms, "Look, you can say that I did it for T.K. Hell, even for myself. Kari's my friend. But it has nothing to do with our relationship."
Tai eyes me suspiciously, as if he's unsure of what to believe.
"I've never seen T.K. so distraught. I couldn't imagine what you and your family were going through either. I remember once upon a time, someone gave my parents the same relief that they are giving yours. Someone saved their daughters life as well. So let us return the favor." I shrug. I don't like the fact that he's yelling at me, but I want him to understand.
"Please give you parents our gratitude." He mumbles after a few minutes. He then turns and walks towards his car.
I want so badly to say more. To apologize for my actions and to hold him. But the look in his eyes still tells me that he still hasn't forgiven me.
I wait a few days after Kari's surgery to visit her in the hospital. I figured I'd give the family a few days to be with her first. I call to make sure she's alone, before heading to the hospital.
"I'll never be able to thank you enough Sora." She tells me as I examine her many gifts on the counter. They seem to have triple in numbers since I last saw her. I recognize one of my mother beautiful Ikebana creations among them, a letter of encouragement and blessing attached to it, written in her pretty script.
"I bet your mother made that herself huh?" Kari asks me.
"Yes. She's an Ikebanist." I smile as I finger the giant bear sent from Tai. I pick up the card next to it and frown. Its a card attached to a balloon and bouquet from Natsumi.
"Those flowers are really beautiful." Kari comments as she notices I'm staring at Natsumi's gift. "Nat brought those to me yesterday. She, Tai and Izzy all visited me last night. We played cards and board games."
I try to hide my disappointment, but I'm sure Kari can read it. So Natsumi must be Tai's new girlfriend or something. I figured it would happen.
Nat's perfect for Tai. She's tall, pretty, and not engaged.
"So how is the wedding coming along?" Kari asks me as I take a seat at the foot of her bed.
I sigh, "Stressful, even with my planner. My dress is a horrid mess! I'm going to the dress shop today, for the first fitting with my mom and bridesmaids." I look at the clock. I'm supposed to be at the dress shop in an hour.
"I really hope I can make it." Kari mumbles. "Two weeks left?
I smile weakly and nod, "Yep."
"Are you nervous?" She asks me seriously.
"A little. I know Cale will be a great husband. I'm just unsure of my capabilities as his wife." I reveal honestly. "There's also a lot of pressure being put on us. We're not allowed to fail where we come from."
Kari nods, "Sounds confusing."
"Every bride goes through it. Mimi was the worst!" I laugh, "You'll understand it one days as well."
"Maybe," she shrugs.
I sigh, "I'm happy to see you doing so well Kari. I've got to head to the dress shop though," I pout.
"Thank you so much for everything Sora," Kari says, sitting up and hugging me tight.
I stand and straighten out the bottom of my shorts before exiting the room. As I round the threshold, I run into the other three members of the Kamiya family.
"Oh, Sora!" Yuuko cries out wrapping her arms around me. I awkwardly hug her back as she begins to ramble her thank you's and blessings. I watch as Tai briskly walks past us and into the room. It makes my heart ache to see him so upset with me still.
"I was glad to help you. So are my parents. They wanted to send their blessings as well," I smile sweetly at Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya.
"Are you leave so soon?" Tai's father asks me.
"Yes, I just came to check on Kari. I've got an appointment in about half an hour." I tell them shortly.
"Well it was so wonderful seeing you." Yuuko states holding both of my hands in hers. "Thank you so much for everything you've done for our family."
I nod my response and back away down the hall.
"Oh and Congratulations on your upcoming wedding Sora." Tai's mother adds. I only smile and briskly walk down the hallway.
"Argh! I hate it!" I groan as I model off my wedding dress in the mirror. I'm surrounded by my mother, Mimi, Yolie, and Mai, who are my three bridesmaids.
"Sora, you're being ridiculous, it's fine. You look fantastic!" Mai assures me.
"Yeah Sor. You're acting like Mimi for crying out loud." Yolie adds throwing her hands towards Mimi, who frowns and punches her arm.
"Sora, I think you're just nervous that's all." Mimi states, she looks over to my mother, "What do you think Toshiko?"
My mother doesn't respond. She only sits there and smiles at me; as if she knows something I don't know.
"I can't walk down the aisle looking like this. The train is entirely too long, and there's some weird stain on the waist line." My bridesmaid all gather around in search of the magically appearing stain. Once again, my mother doesn't budge; she just looks on.
I snap, "Mom, you're not helping me! Why are you even here?"
"I'm here to make sure my dress has the correct alterations. Your dress is perfectly fine though." She replied simply.
"Whatever." I huff turning back to the mirror and shooing the girls away from me. "I'm going to have to postpone the-"
"No, you are not." My mother interrupts me in a calm tone. "You're wedding is next Saturday. And that's how it will stay."
I don't challenge her words for some reason. I just shut my mouth and storm off into the dressing room to take off the stupid dress.
I don't know why, But as the wedding grows closer, I grow more and more antsy and irritated. I'm not myself at all. The normal Sora, is calm, cool, and collective. Level-headed, that's me. For the past year, this wedding had turned me into a ball of nerves.
The only time I ever felt like I was myself was when I was with him.
How you guys liked! Off to work!
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What's going to happen? Only I know! *insert evil laugh*
