Monday early morning, March1 – Ohashi Train Station

From the train station, there were three places in sight that sold magazines and all of them were taking delivery of the much anticipated, final issue of the Kawashima Ami story. All of the previous issues had quickly sold out as each one seemed to reveal something new and completely unexpected about the young celebrity and her friends. Fans, reporters, and the talking heads of the media had already been speculating what the is final issue might reveal, but no-one was suspecting a marriage. Mostly, no-one suspected that because her public marriage to her mystery fiancé was already advertised as happening on the same day as the magazine's release. Even now, as the latest issues of the magazine were being delivered to supermarkets, convenience stores, and news-stands – the marriage party was already beginning to get ready.

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Monday early morning, March1 – Yamada Suites, Kyoto

In Kyoto, the bride, groom, mothers, grandparents, and other family members were already starting to get ready. Since Kawashima Anna was involved, the preparations would include an army of support people. Costumers would make sure the Kimono's were worn correctly. Hair stylists, manicurists, and make-up artists would insure that everyone looked perfect. Choreographers had already gone over every step of the ceremony with every participant and would be there in the shadows to make sure to correct any misstep. The most important people at the moment were the weather analysts.

Due to the weather predictions for the day, existing plans were already scrapped and they were now looking at Plan C on the choreographers run books. Since the clouds would break by eight in the morning and be nice for a few hours, everything was being accelerated for a morning wedding. Predictions of an overcast by noon and rain only a few hours later, had washed out the original plans for an afternoon wedding.

Kawashima Anna, Yasuko, Ami, and Ryuuji sat around a table having breakfast as the support staff whirled around them making last minute changes to the already planned option. Ryuuji shifted his gaze and watched the hurried assistants as he sipped his coffee.

"Are you worried about marrying my daughter or about the changes to the plans?" Kawashima Anna asked with a barely suppressed smile.

"I'm already married to your daughter." Ryuuji replied, and the changes are concerning, but I'm not worried. More like… fascinated."

"Oh?" Anna was intrigued. As always, it was difficult to read his feelings from Ryuuji's facial expressions. Anna had not anticipated fascination.

"I guess I'm not worried because you're not worried." Ryuuji told his mother-in-law, "You work with these professionals all the time, so if you're not worried – then I'm not worried."

"I had no idea I was so… confidence inspiring. What is it that you find fascinating?" Anna wanted to know.

"At first it looked like complete chaos with a lot of people running in different directions urgently." Ryuuji replied, "But, after watching them, I can see an order and a reason for every movement. Instead of chaos… it's like an orchestra."

Anna smiled. She was extremely happy for her daughter. This young man was a remarkable find after all. Ami had already told her mother that he was an amazing student and had a mind for math and science, but it appeared that his mind was keen beyond just the coldness of numbers and formulas. If he ever took a serious interest in the entertainment industry, Anna was convinced that Ryuuji would do well there too.

"Sorry we're late." Yamada Yukiko and her youngest sister Haruko had arrived at the same moment as Ryuuji's grandparents.

"It's good to see you two." Ami asked, "Where is Natsuko-san?"

"One of us had to stay behind to manage the hotel." Yukiko answered, "So I came along with the spare."

"Spare?" Anna asked.

"Yes," Yukiko answered as Haruko blushed, "If anything happens to Ami-chan, my little sister will step in and marry Ryuuji-sama."

"Onee-chan!" Haruko groaned as everyone laughed.

Ryuuji's grandmother noticed the blush on the girl's cheeks and found herself wishing that she had more grandsons.

"Oh my!" Yasuko reached across the table and took the hands of both of the Yamada sisters. "You called her onee-chan! I'm so happy for you!"

"Yes," Yukiko forcefully hugged her little sister, "the three of us have been getting along splendidly." Ever since you came into our lives. For the rest of my life, I will aspire to be the big sister that you have shown me. It's all thanks to you and I will never forget it, Onee-chan.

"Enough!" Haruko struggled out of her big sister's embrace, "I smell something delicious and I'm starving."

"Your chef here is wonderful," Ryuuji told the Yamada sisters – since this hotel was owned by their family. "Which saddens me to say this but you'll need to order something that can be made quickly. The wedding plans are being moved up to eight this morning."

"What?" both sisters cried out as they appeared to have been anticipating a lavish breakfast.

"Why the need to rush?" Ryuuji's grandfather would like to have sounded authoritative, but he always felt like a school boy when he was around Kawashima Anna. It was no secret any more; his wife had revealed to everyone at the dinner last night about his long time crush on the starlet.

"Deteriorating weather." Kawashima Anna answered as she put her hand over the grandfather's hand, "I hope this is not too upsetting."

"No." he wanted to say more but he also wanted to hide the fact that an old man like himself was blushing all the way to his hair roots.

"It will be overcast by noon and raining by early this afternoon." Ami added while trying not to laugh at the parental antics going on.

"It looks like it might rain now." Ryuuji's grandmother commented as she took her husband's other hand and gazed out the big picture windows at the featureless gray canopy overhead. She was mainly looking out the window so that her husband wouldn't see the glee in her eyes. For someone who liked to talk as much as he did, it was spectacular to see Anna-san shut him down to monosyllable responses.

"That's supposed to move out in the next hour." Ryuuji assured her, "By the time the ceremony starts, we should have sunshine and puffy clouds." Ryuuji too noticed the fun that his grandmother and mother-in-law were having with his grandfather, but he began to worry. If he had a heart or blood pressure problem, a blush that intense could be fatal.

Sunshine and puffy clouds.

Ryuuji's grandfather had been asked what wish he would make for his grandson's wedding and marriage, and… he had been at a loss. Having never seen his grandson until he was almost an adult, he didn't really know that much about the boy. But, what little he did know… more importantly: what he felt – was that Ryuuji was a good boy and would be a good man. Kawashima Ami was impressive too. Tall and beautiful like her mother, she also seemed to have a good head on her shoulders. With two young people so capable, what kind of wish would be useful for them?

Splendid! That Ryuuji-kun would be the one to come up with the perfect wish for their future is somehow appropriate. I shall wish for their future to filled with sunshine and puffy clouds. Having got that task completed made him forget about having to eat a rushed breakfast. Uh oh… I have no hands. Anna was still holding his right hand and his wife had his left. It took him moments to realize what this meant. Unwilling to let go of either hand, he would be going to the wedding ceremony… hungry.

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Monday mid morning, March1 – Ohashi High School Gymnasium

"This has been an incredible school year for Ohashi High School, for Japan, and for the world. Many of you…"

The Principals speech wasn't terrible, but Minori was too excited to pay attention. So many incredible things were happening in her life. She had been accepted into Waseda University on an Athletic Scholarship. She had wanted to go there for several reasons. Their softball program was one of the best in the country and… it was also close to where her new best friend Minami Umeko lived. Indeed, Umeko had celebrated with Minori several times since the news that she had been accepted. She had even offered Minori a room in her apartment, in case she didn't want to live in the dorms. Minori could see her dream getting just that much closer to her grasp and that filled her with joy and determination.

"… as we think of the friends we had along the way and those that cannot be with us today…" a snippet of the Principals monologue caught Minori's attention and made her remember the absent friends that were important to her. One of the girls on the softball team never came back to school after her bout with the virus that almost killed her. She was okay, but her family had made the decision to pull her out and let her concentrate on recovery, then she would repeat the year in April. Minori was a little envious that she would get to be here another year, but with all of her friends gone, it would be meaningless for Minori. She also thought about Kitamura and wondered if he was still chasing Sumire or if he had passed her and made her his kohai yet.

Ryuuji and Ami were particularly missed. Ryuuji had been selected to give the closing speech at today's graduation ceremony, but he was in Kyoto, getting ready for a wedding now. And Ami… Minori had to recall how much had changed between her and Ami over the last year and a half. Minori played the ditz, but her eyes had been open the whole time. She had seen the changes that Ryuuji inspired in Ami in the previous year, and even in the latter half of this year. That tall blue haired girl had gone from being an obnoxious obstruction that seemed to alternately help and hurt Taiga, to being a truly reliable person, the only one that could save Ryuuji, and even a good… friend. Every time she saw Ryuuji's happiness when he was with her… a happiness without pain, she knew that they were right for each other.

And then there was Taiga. A best friend for years and suddenly gone. Minori was sure that Taiga was still alive… somewhere out there. Taiga had left all of her friends behind to grow up, and make amends with her family. Running away to grow up seemed absurd to Minori, but maybe that worked for Taiga. Perhaps she had achieved on her own what she never did around Minori. Certainly, she needed to grow up. Never wanting to be thought of as a petulant and spoiled little girl, she unfortunately acted like one – so everyone treated her like one. This was a cycle that only made Taiga angry and depressed. Minori had figured out early on that Taiga would need someone to show her how to be a confident and responsible person, or she would need a caretaker… or both. Try as she might, Minori had not been able to change her friend's attitudes or behavior. It had been for that reason that Minori had pushed Ryuuji toward Taiga. She had hoped and believed that he could accomplish what she could not.

But that had not been fair to Ryuuji. While Taiga got a measure of stability out of the relationship, Ryuuji got a few good memories, and a lot of abuse. Some times, the abuse that Taiga dished out to him made Minori cringe and even hate herself for having set him up with her. Minori often wondered if it wasn't really love that had possessed Ryuuji, but Stockholm Syndrome. Perhaps he had never truly become comfortable with Taiga… he had just become used to the pain.

Whereas, with Ami… Minori remembered an occasion when she had run into them at the Shrine Park where they liked to work out. They were still wearing their school clothes and were sitting underneath a tree. He was seated with his arms around her as she leaned back into him between his long legs. A flash of beauty from her perfect white thighs framed between the hem of her skirt and the tops of her dark socks had got Minori's attention but it was the look of pure unadulterated joy on their faces as they laughed together that she would always remember. Ami's head was thrown back with long blue hair dancing all around her face, and all facades and pretenses gone as she laughed in pure joy. She could even see the delight in Ryuuji's usually expressionless face as he held her tight. Minori's first reaction had been jealousy. Jealousy that the joy she was witnessing should have been Taiga's… or her own. But she let that go. In truth, she had never seen Ryuuji that happy before… and he deserved that happiness.

Minori felt better when she thought of it that way. Taiga was off growing up and finding herself, and Ryuuji was over his sadness and finally finding true happiness. Perhaps it is better this way after all.

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Monday late morning, March1 – Ohashi Train Station

It was amazing how little was recognizable from the train right up until it got to her destination. The moment that she saw things that she recognized, the excitement in her heart doubled. As soon as the train came to a stop, she was out the door at a run. Still only a hundred and forty-five centimeters, she was very good at long distance running. She knew she would need that endurance to make it to her old high school before everyone left. There would be no time on this run for stopping and reminiscing or even a break at a street-side vending machine for a drink. She needed speed.

The girl in the unfamiliar black sailor uniform ran past the convenience store and the news stand, where the latest magazine cover showed Ami and her sinister looking husband in western style bride and groom outfits. She ran past the SudohBucks where the big screen monitors were showing the final scenes of the ornate traditional wedding broadcast from Kyoto. She was out of breath when she arrived at the school and could hear Noto's voice coming from the ceremony in the gymnasium.

Hisamitsu Noto? Why is he giving the speech? Did he surpass both Kitamura and Ryuuji? Whatever. Taiga thought about waiting at the entrance to the gymnasium but she didn't want to be swarmed by a gazillion curious morons. Looking around, she knew the perfect place. From the window in their old classroom, she would be able to see everyone spilling into the courtyard after the ceremony was over. Running as quickly and quietly as she could, she made it to the familiar old classroom and peered out the windows into the courtyard. Taiga watched as the first of the graduates made their way into view with the tubes that held their graduation scrolls. She saw Maya before anyone else since she was doing something so odd. She was holding onto Noto-kun's hand and looked like the happiest girl on the planet. She could see the happy-stupid grin on Noto-kun's face and decided that if Ryuuji tried to pull something like that, she would have to crush his fingers. Still, they both looked awfully happy. I guess there were a few changes around here since I left, but it doesn't matter. I'm back to get what is mine now. That mutt better be happy to see me… but not too happy. I don't need a dog that gets too excited and wets himself. Still… Taiga looked around at the familiar room and came to a decision when her eyes fell on the utility locker in the back by the windows. … it would be fun to surprise him for once. I'll just wait until… Taiga's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of running feet in the hallway.

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Minori finished saying farewells to her friends on the softball team and was looking around the familiar courtyard when she caught a momentary glimpse of that long dirty blond hair in the window of the classroom that they all shared when they were second years. Classroom 2C.

Taiga? No, it can't be! But… but the hair was definitely… It must be her. Minori took off at a run. She had to know for sure.

The graduating students in the courtyard showed interest but not alarm as one of their own suddenly dashed back into the school building. Minori unleashed her full athletic prowess and feet slapped the floor in long strides as the lone figure ran through the locker room and into the building. Strong legs took the stairs two at a time. No-one was in the long hall that led to that familiar classroom so the approaching figure gave away a warning as the sound of each footfall echoed down the long hall and into the neighboring classrooms.

Minori flung the door to the room open but there was no-one in sight. She actually felt relief when she didn't find anyone there. Only motes of dust swirled in the rays of sunlight coming in from the unshuttered windows. The desks, having finished their use for the year were lined in perfect rows, the chalkboards clean, the lone utility locker… Of course. If it had been anyone else she was looking for, Minori would have walked away by now, but Taiga had hidden in the utility locker before. As she approached the locker, she was hoping against hope: Please don't be here Taiga, please don't be here Taiga!

Minori could tell that Taiga had wanted to surprise Ryuuji by the disappointment and shock on her friends face when she opened the door. Why Taiga? Why did you have to come back now? This is so not going to end well for you.

"Minorin?" Taiga gasped, "I… I thought you were..."

"Ryuuji..." Minori looked sad as she appeared to be finishing Taiga's sentence. With tears already present but not yet spilling down her cheeks, Minori looked into Taiga's eyes and told her beloved friend, "Ryuuji won't be coming for you."

"What?" Taiga trembled with disbelief and rage at Minori's words, "Why the hell not?"

"Because he has finally found happiness…" Minori said without any inflection, "with someone else."

Down in the courtyard, conversations stopped when they heard someone scream, "No! That disloyal mutt!" The scream was immediately followed by the unmistakable sound of someone getting slapped hard.

"That was Taiga's voice!" Maya gasped.

"Look!" Haruta pointed up at the windows where they could see Minori shouting at someone. "They're in our old classroom."

There was a brief pause as everyone wondered what they should do. Then almost everyone that still remained in the courtyard was running back into the school building and heading for Classroom 2-C.

"Despair caused by a selfish little bitch that made him love her, then just walked out of his life." Minori's scream could be heard echoing down the hallways toward the incoming horde of students.

With the sound of so many people running through the hallway, they couldn't hear the other side of the conversation, but they could hear Minori's screams pretty clearly.

"A note? You left a note and sent us all a picture of Venus! But you never called and you never answered!" Minori's voice echoed again.

Noto was sure it was Taiga that Minori was talking to now. They had speculated on the meaning of the star for a while until Kitamura and Sumire had analyzed the geo-location, date, and time from the picture file and determined that the only thing in the sky bright enough to show up at time was the planet Venus – not a star at all.

Students entered quietly through both doors of the classroom now. Missing for over a year, they were all stunned to see Taiga again. Wearing an unfamiliar black school uniform, she was on the floor with the hand-print of a hard slap on her face and tears running down her cheeks. Her jaw was trembling and her eyes darted about as if looking for an escape from this mad horrible dream.

"Venus?" Taiga was visibly shaking as she crawled backwards on the floor to get away from the advancing pink haired jock that was obviously very upset with her. Amber eyes were wide open, but it didn't seem that she was seeing anything, "It was supposed to be a star. So what if I didn't call? I left a note..."

"Forget about the damn note!" Minori screamed, "Even after he gave up on calling you… as he wasted away… dying right in front of all of us… you still could have saved him. I called you. His mother called you. Ami-chan even called you... everyone called you!" Dammit Taiga, will you please stop making excuses and blaming everyone else and just… just… apologize for being such an incredible idiot?

"Dying?" Taiga gasped and seemed, for the first time to be thinking of someone other than herself.

"You could have saved him with three words. That's all he needed from you, but I guess you couldn't be bothered." Minori glowered down at Taiga as she took three steps to stand over the diminutive girl's body, "So, what's your excuse? Battery ran out? Lost your phone?"

It was unpleasant for the classmates to see this. Minori had become the abrasive and furious Tiger and the panicking Taiga was cowering and looking for a way out of this madness.

"Minorin, please tell me!" No longer trying to crawl away, she pushed herself up onto her knees and pleaded, "He didn't die did he? You saved him, right?"

"First tell me your excuse!" Minori hissed. No excuse would be good enough, but depending on what Taiga said, Minori might not be able to stop herself from beating her idiotic little friend to a bloody pulp. Minori's fists clenched when she saw that Taiga was finally going to answer the question.

"I put the phone in a box after I sent the picture of the star. I didn't want to use it as a crutch. I wanted to prove to him… and to me, that I could stand on my own." Sobbing, she begged her former best friend, "Please tell me he isn't dead!"

"Congratulations on learning how to stand on your own. You may be relying on that skill more than you had thought." Minori decided that Taiga's excuse wasn't completely imbecilic and her voice finally softened as she told Taiga, "I didn't save him, but he isn't dead."

"Thank you, Minorin!" Taiga sobbed and reached for Minori's hand.

"Don't thank me yet," Minori took Taiga's hand and prepared to deal more pain than the slap ever had.

Noto and Maya were the closest and Yuri-sensei wasn't too far away. Noto wondered if he should stop this and glanced over at his former teacher. She shook her head. Maya squeezed his hand in quiet agreement that Taiga needed to be told the truth, and Minori was the right person to handle this.

"Someone else saved him… and married him." Minori told her friend as she looked into confused and frightened eyes.

"Ah!" Taiga cried out as if she had been stabbed. No! This isn't… I didn't want… What have I done? The world that had become too crazy, went dark. The shaking stopped as unconsciousness took her away from a reality that had become too painful.

Holding Taiga's hand firmly, Minori had prevented a concussion from Taiga's head slamming into the hard tile floor when she passed out. Unable to hold onto the rage any longer, the wracking sobs started and the tears burst from her eyes and ran down her cheeks. Minori sat down next to the small but inert body and cradled the familiar face in her lap. It was several minutes before she could choke back the tears enough to say words again.

"Why Taiga?" she bawled, "Why did you come back?"

Maya couldn't stand to see Minori's sadness and frustration any longer and turned to Noto. She saw that he had his cell phone in his hand and knew what he was thinking. She knew he was going to take a picture of Minori holding Taiga and she knew who he was going to send the picture to as well. He hadn't done it yet though and seemed to be looking to Maya for approval. She considered it for a moment, but the picture was just too much. She pointed to his keypad and he understood. Both of them were glad they didn't send the picture. It would have been too emotional and could have ruined what was supposed to be a very happy day for Ryuuji and Ami. The text said simply that Taiga was back and no more.

Finally looking up, Minori saw that dozens of students had come into the room and more were out in the hall. There was no talking or even whispering as they all looked on the scene before them with shared heartache. If Taiga woke up now, she would see almost all the friends she had made that year. Almost. She would notice the three that were missing. Then it would be her turn to deal with despair.