THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE...
By Stiltzkin

Author's Note: Sorry for getting this posted up so late. School and work has been taking a lot of my time lately and unfortunately writing had to take a backseat. Furthermore, for some odd reason this chapter didn't want to written or posted. It took an insanely long time to write it and when the first draft was done I couldn't help, but to keep editing, and re-editing it.

I still have my doubts and I'm not totally in love of how this chapter came out, but I thought it's been long enough so here it is. Moreover, my many friends at school have constantly told me that I'm my own worst critic so my views may be biased or tainted. I found that some of the Takeru scenes to be rather repetitive and jejune and Hikari's journal to be redundant and far to many clichés for my liking - so please indulge me while reading those parts.

An extra note for my loyal Takari readers, please note that the story may be going in the direction of a Daikari, but it doesn't mean that it'll end as one, so please no flames. I'm still in debate on how this story will end and it could end either way. Enjoy.

* * * * * * * * * *

"The longest journey a man must take
is the eighteen inches from his head to his heart."

- Unknown.

* * * * * * * * * *

CHAPTER FOUR: IRONIES AND DOUBLE DATES.

It was times like these that Hikari hated the fact that her mother was so health conscientious, because she needed the junk food and unfortunately there was none to be found. She couldn't sleep and needed to stay up for her graduation later on that day. There was no coffee in the house and even if there was she didn't care for the taste for it. Sugar was also banished from the house along with soda so she couldn't get a sugar rush, but more importantly she needed the sugar for therapeutic reasons.

It was times like these when she missed her father the most, because he was the only one capable of hiding junk food in the house without her mother's ever-watching eyes from noticing. What she needed now is chocolate bar the sweeter the better something to sooth her agony.

Her mind was clouded by the events of her date last night, especially about the goodnight kiss, or to be precise the attempted goodnight kiss. 'Why did I picture T.K. at the moment I tried to kiss Davis? What does it mean? Does this mean I like him?' She agonized over many questions similar to those all night. "No I can't like T.K., he like Chastity." Hikari exasperated. The last thing she wanted was to be in a love triangle. "Why does love have to be hard?" She whined sobbing into her arms.

"Because if it was easy then love would be trivial." Taichi smiled joining his sister on the balcony connected to her room.

"How much..." She gasped.

"Did I hear?" Taichi smiled completing his sister's thoughts. "Just the rhetorical question." Taichi sighed. "Here I thought you might like this." He smiled sympathetically giving her a mug with brown liquid.

"What is this?"

"Hot Chocolate." Taichi replied nonchalantly. "I know you like white chocolate, but you know how I don't believe in the stuff." He sighed.

"How did..."

"...I get it?" He completed her question. "Before dad died he told me all his hiding places for all his junk food and the secret to how it should be hidden." Taichi smiled. "I thought you might need it considering you've been up all night."

"How did..."

"...I know you've been up all night?" Taichi smiled finishing his sister's question. "Your bed was unmade and my balcony is adjacent to yours. I saw you out here last night before I went to bed and you remain unchanged when I woke up a few minutes ago."

"Oh." She suppressed a smile and blushed. "Thanks." She smiled slowly inhaling the sensual vapours of the forbidden drink. Then she slowly and ceremoniously took a sip of the hot soothing sweet chocolate making sure that this treat would last a long time. 'Nectar of the gods.' Hikari thought smiling as she reached the zenith of pleasure. "What no marshmallows?" She teased.

"I'll remember next time." Taichi smiled looking at his sister with brotherly concern. He quite enjoyed watching his baby sister taking this form of remedy. 'I knew she needed that.' He smiled to himself. He took a sigh and another sip of his hot chocolate and quickly debated all the ways to continue this conversation. 'What would father do?' He wished he knew. "A penny?" He asked rhetorically.

"Pardon?"

"For your thoughts." He completed the phrase. "It's an American expression Mimi told me once." Taichi sighed. "It means I want to know what you're thinking and willing to pay for it." He smiled.

"How much is an American penny?"

"Oh I don't know about 1.3 yens." Taichi sighed.

"That's how much my thoughts are worth to you?" She asked with indignation.

"Well what do you expect? It's Saturday! The end of the week! My allowance is almost gone!" Taichi teased.

"That's okay." Hikari chuckled to herself. "I don't think they're worth that much any ways." She sighed taking another sip of her hot chocolate. "Besides I'm willing to pay you more for this hot chocolate even without the marshmallows." She teased.

"Consider it even if you tell me what's on your mind." Taichi offered. "And next time I'll remember marshmallows." He smiled.

"Deal." Hikari smiled. "I just wish I knew where to begin." She sighed thinking. "What do you want to know?".

Taichi sighed thinking. "Why didn't you want to talk to T.K. last night when he called? Did you two have a fight?"

"No, we didn't fight." Hikari sighed. "But I feel just as bad like we did."

"I don't understand."

"Last night was the first time I broke a promise and lied to T.K." Hikari sighed. "I never done that before."

"Is that why you were up all night?"

"No." Hikari sighed. "Not entirely."

Taichi knew that she was still hiding something so he continued to probe. "Pretty bad date huh?" He asked nonchalantly.

"No." Hikari smiled. "I really had fun considering what happened."

"What happened?"

"Well as you know we went to Matt's concert to listen to a couple of songs, then we went to Le Rendez-Vous."

"Le Rendez-Vous? Very classy."

"And expensive." Hikari smiled. "We had no idea what we were ordering because the entire menu was in French, we were scared half the time wondering if we were eating brains so we asked the waiter to recommend something." She chuckled looking at her brother who looked confused. "Inside joke." She smiled. "Then when the bill came Davis reached into his pocket and realized that he lost his wallet."

"Oh no." Taichi sighed. "What happened?"

"We spent the rest of the night washing dishes to pay for our meal." Hikari smiled reminiscing about all the fun she had.

"I'm sorry that must have been horrible."

"No, I had fun." Hikari smiled looking at her brother. "Really." She reassured her brother. "Honest."

"Okay." Taichi sighed still with disbelief. "Then what could be possibly wrong that you have to spend all night thinking?" He probed. "Did Davis try to kiss you last night because if he did I'll kill him?" He vented with an overabundance of over-protectiveness that only an older brother could give.

Hikari suppressed a smile. "Wouldn't you like to know?" She taunted.

"Well are you going to tell me?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out." She smiled.

Taichi sighed reaching into his pockets. "All right here are some marshmallows for your hot chocolate. It was my trump card just in case you were being difficult." Taichi smiled dropping three marshmallows into her mug. "Now spill."

"I knew you were hiding them." She smiled looking at her brother who was impatiently waiting for her answer. "No we didn't kiss." Hikari smiled. "Davis wanted to but I wasn't ready." She lied. Hikari had debated whether to tell her older brother about seeing Takeru before kissing Daisuke, but with his big mouth everyone in her world would know by the end of the day, she just didn't trust him with this juicy secret.

"Good." Taichi sighed. "It's important that you feel ready before you kiss a boy, perhaps when you're...oh, I don't know forty or something." Taichi lectured to his baby sister. In response he saw Hikari chuckled to herself. "What's so funny?" He demanded.

"For a second you sounded like dad." Hikari smiled.

"You take that back!" Taichi demanded. In his heart of hearts he considered it a complement, but instinctively no fifteen-year-old boy would like to be like his father.

"Call it a foreshadowing of the inevitable." Hikari smiled.

"So if it wasn't the date or the kiss then what is it that's kept you up all night?" Taichi sighed.

Hikari took another sip of her hot chocolate and sighed. "How do you know when you're in love?" She asked rhetorically.

Taichi started to chock on his hot chocolate. "Whoa...what are you saying? Are you telling me you're in love with Davis? Kari it's been one date! You can't be in love at least not with him!" He said flabbergasted.

"How many dates did it convince you that you were in love with Sora?"

"That's different."

"Uh huh." She sighed unconvincingly. Hikari smiled to herself, secretly she like seeing her brother jumping to conclusions. "And besides what if I am in love with Davis?" She smiled.

"Well for starters he's like...well...he's like..."

"You?" Hikari sheepishly added.

"Well, yeah." Taichi gasped. "Could you imagine loving your brother?"

"Well I do love you."

"I mean romantically."

"Oh."

"Could you imagine the disturbing images?"

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "I mean what was I thinking? I could do so much better than you." She teased.

"Exactly." Taichi sighed. "Hey what is that suppose to mean?" He freaked out realizing what he just say. Hikari started chuckling at her brother's rashness. "You could do a lot worse than me!" He protested.

"No, no, let's think about it." Hikari continued with her taunting. "You and Davis are obnoxious, rash and reckless what was I thinking being in love with Davis? I mean I didn't know how Sora loved you..." Hikari gasped realizing what she just say. "I'm sorry Tai, I didn't mean to...it just slipped out."

"That's okay Kari." Taichi sighed dejected. "I know all too well about your acerbic tongue." He sighed.

"Why can't you forgive Matt and Sora?" Hikari sighed. "It's has been a long time since your fallout with them. I really missed the fellowship we all once had." Hikari sighed reminiscing.

"Me too." Taichi sighed. "It's just so hard and I'm scared that it will never be like it use to be. Look at me." He chuckled to himself. "The bearer of the crest of courage afraid to make amends." He sighed. "Isn't it ironic?"

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "Life can be like that sometime. Look the sun is rising." She said looking into the horizon. They watched the sun peeped over one of the tall buildings slowly changing the dark twilight sky into an amazing mosaic of red, orange and purples.

"It's beautiful." Taichi sighed with awe. "It's been so long since I saw one."

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "Let's watch it in silence."

"Good idea." Taichi sighed.

They leaned on each other watching the amazing event and slowly drinking their hot chocolate. Brother and sister just wanting to forget their problems hoping that this new day would bring them some happiness. "Hey Tai, thanks." Hikari smiled.

"No problem, what are big brothers for?"

* * * * * * * * * *

Takeru stirred slightly, wrenching in his slumber. It took him an eternity to get to sleep and when he did he couldn't stay that way. All night he has been trying to rationalize why Hikari refused to talk to him to the point where his eyes grew heavy, tired, and encumbrance and swayed to the inevitable.

Echoes, sounds, and phantoms from the past soon haunted his unconscious. Takeru felt himself dangling from a magical rope. He looked down, the balcony was a couple meters below him and to the right, and the ground seemed bottomless. Suddenly the sounds of a metal door being destroyed in a powerful blast roared through his mind.

Hikari's screamed echoed through his mind like a banshee. She was terrified. "I must whip this. It costs me a fortune in new doors." The devilish laughter resonated through his essence.

"Keep climbing, I'll distract him!" Patamon said digivolving into Angemon. The six-winged angel stood in brilliance of white light for a moment before attacking. A battle was inevitable the angel and the clown form hell fought it out. The eternal struggle of light and darkness commenced, but alas sometimes angles do fail.

"Angemon, no!" He mumbled twisting and twirling in his bed.

"I'm scared." Hikari cried.

"It's okay." He reassured her and secretly feeling guilty for making her feel that way. He knew that he was scared too, but he reminded himself to put on a brave face to quash her fears. "Angemon will be fine, but you've got to keep on climbing. Don't let that joker Piedmon scare you." He smiled looking into her eyes.

"Okay." She returned, he felt better that she was no longer afraid. Hikari continued to climb, but it was sliced by a sword inches above her hand. Takeru could hear her screams echoing through his mind.

"You've reached the end of your rope!" Piedmon laughed sinisterly. His laugh sent shivers down his back. Takeru attempted to continue on when he felt Piedmon's hand grabbing his leg.

"Sorry if I gave you a wedgie." He laughed at his bad joke.

"Let go of him!" Hikari demanded reaching down grabbing onto his hand.

He looked at her and the clown below him his sinister black eyes sent chills down his spine, he knew that down there was the ground even though he couldn't see it. He returned his gaze into her beauty brown eyes. It was warm, comforting, and filled with light, he couldn't let that die. Couldn't let her die if they fall. "Let go Kari, or he'll get you too!" He said.

"Okay." She smiled relinquishing her hand. Takeru tried to scream, but nothing came out. The two stars, her eyes, the light of his life started to fade and blurred. He was falling, the wind brushing against his ears, plummeting down, down, to the inevitable - his death. He looked up and saw the proverbial light at the end of the equally proverbial tunnel disappeared. She was gone and so was his light and with that his hope.

Takeru sat straight up in bed panting heavily, his heart beating with a vengeance, and his body drenched with sweat, he quickly looked around his room, feeling relieved to find that it was a bad dream, yet that fact couldn't shake the memory of the nightmare away. He brushed the few strands of flaxen hair away from his eyes. Looking out the window, he saw the rising sun outside slowly illuminating the city below. "Why?" He whispered quietly.

Climbing out of his bed, he tiptoed his way across the room, his way illuminated by the soft glow of the rising sun. He opened the door to the balcony and allowed the morning zephyr to osculate his naked torso. 'It was just a dream.' He tried to convince himself.

Takeru sighed watching the rising sun. He usually liked this time of day, the dawn. It always reminded him of Hikari; to him it was a metaphor of what she meant in his life.

He was the embodiment of perpetual darkness; a universe with no moon or stars and Hikari would be the light that entered into his world. She was his hope, his light, and his raison d'être.

Yet today, it pained him, his heart was overwhelmed with grief, sorrow, and anguish to the point of death; well at least he thought so. This was his first broken heart and the wound was deep and in his mind there was no end in pain.

Even the cheery smile of the daystar didn't comfort him, instead it reopened the wound in his heart that was recently cut not too long ago and threw salt upon his breast - it reminded him of her smile. "Good morning Kari." He whispered sadly to himself. The early morning zephyr stung his tears dry.

"Hey you're up early." His mother commented with motherly concern. "Couldn't sleep?" She asked.

"Yeah." Takeru sighed drying his tears.

"Want some company?"

"It's a free balcony." He sighed not objecting to her presence.

Nancy took a sip of her coffee and watched her son staring into the urban vista of the city. "I heard you mumbling in your sleep." Nancy strategically sighed. "Did you have a bad dream?"

"Yeah." Takeru sighed. "That or a premonition." He mumbled under his breath.

"Pardon?"

"Never mind." He sighed. "I'm just had a bad night that's all."

"Kari didn't call?"

"No, I called her. She didn't want to talk to me." He sighed, his eyes on the verge of tears. "It's the first time she broke a promise to me, albeit a trivial one, it still hurt nevertheless." He sighed looking towards the rising sun. "I guess I didn't know how to react." Takeru sighed.

"Maybe she had a good reason not wanting to talk to you."

"Maybe." He sighed, though he had doubts about it. Takeru had been racking his mind for most of the night figuring what that reason was. "I fear I'm losing her mom." He sighed, his voice cracking forming the thought.

"How so?"

"Oh, the little things we use to do together." He sighed. "Yesterday when I picked her up to go to school she was already gone with Davis and she didn't bother to call me, she's usually more considerate, but more over it was our time, our tradition and she broke it frivolously. That along with the broken promise and lies, well I..." He sighed unable to complete the thought. "Then again I guess I couldn't blame her. I always imagined her waiting for me, but I guess her patience was depleted and decided to move on." He sighed. "It no one's fault but my own. I should have told her sooner...if only I had the courage."

"So what are you going to do?"

"What else?" He sighed. "Watch the sunrise and continue my day."

"It is beautiful." She gasped. "It's been so long since I saw one." She gasped taking a sip of her coffee.

"It's like this every morning." Takeru sighed. "That is if you get your noise out of your computer once in a while." He teased his mother.

"Ha, ha, very funny." She replied with dry sarcasm.

They shared a moment of laughter together. She was glad to see her son smile and laugh again. It's been such a long time since she saw him like that. "So you're just going to step aside." She sighed.

"Yeah." He sighed. "Promises I made a long time ago."

"Promises worth keeping?" She asked. "Especially when it compromises your heart?" His mother asked.

"In this case yes."

"All right." She sighed kissing her son on his head. The salt of the sweat on his hair lingered on her lips. "If that's what you really want." She sighed watching the sunrise.

They revelled in the morning silence, the breeze and the song of the morning lark the only sound in the air. "Mom? How long does it take to mend a broken heart?" Takeru asked.

"Whoa. Why don't you ask me about the nature of the universe? It's an easier question to answer." She sighed.

"I'll ask you that tomorrow." He smiled. "Today I would like to know how long it takes to mend a broken heart." He reiterated his question looking at his mother.

She turned to her son and saw the morning light glittering in his sapphire blue eyes. Eyes full of hope, of innocence, of pain wanting relief, eyes expecting answers. 'I wish I had one.' She thought to herself. "It's different with everyone." Nancy sighed grooming her son's hair. "You're probably in pain right now, pain with no end in sight. Everything you see reminds you of her; the thought of her being with him increases that pain; she's the first thing you think of in the morning and the last at night; she probably even haunts your dreams and ruins your appetite."

"Sounds a lot like me." Takeru sighed returning his gaze towards the horizon. "When will the pain be dulled?" He sighed.

"I wish you I could give you a quantitative answer."

"But you can't."

"No." She sighed. "The pain is with you every second of every day and in time those seconds would spread to minutes, then hours, then days and one day you'll wake up and know that it's time to move on and then you do." Nancy sighed watching the sunrise.

"Like you and dad?"

"Yeah." Nancy sighed sadly.

"Does it still hurt?"

"Sometimes." Nancy sighed. "Days like our anniversary, his birthday, or the holidays usually bring the pain out again." She sighed chuckling to herself. "Ironic isn't it? We've been divorced for eight years and I still miss him."

"Do you think I'll ever get over Kari?" Takeru sighed.

"Do you want my honest opinion?"

"It's the reason I ask."

"I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself." His mother sighed. "Kari has only been on one date with Davis." She sighed. "You have to tell her your feelings." Nancy pointed out. "There's still time for this situation to turn around." She sighed taking a sip of coffee.

"How many dates did it take you to know that dad was the one?"

"Well..." His mother sighed.

"Yeah, just like I thought." He sighed crestfallen.

"Why are you so reluctant in telling her?"

"Besides my promise?"

"Yeah." His mother sighed. "As misguided as those promises maybe I still have a feeling that there's another reason." She sighed.

"Am I that transparent?" He sighed to himself. "Don't answer that." He quickly interjected before his mother could answer.

"Why not?"

"It's another unsaid tradition that Kari and I have...one of the few we have left and I don't want to ruin it." He sighed.

"All right, but you still have to answer my question." His mother smiled.

"I'm scared." Takeru confessed. "I'm scared that if I tell her she'll not feel the same way, that she'll laugh at me and our relationship will never be the same. I just can't risk our relationship of ten years for the possibility of our love."

"I doubt that would happen."

"It happened to Matt and Sora." Takeru pointed out.

"Just because it happened to them doesn't mean it'll happen to you."

"I just can't risk it."

"Takeru, it is better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all." His mother sighed. "Which is easier? Living a life of rejection of that of regret?" She asked rhetorically.

Takeru smiled to himself. He was thinking about the very same question two days ago when he decided to tell Hikari his feelings. At that time his answer was rejection, but now it's different. "My mind says rejection, my heart says regret or visa versa it's hard to distinguish the two lately." He sighed looking his mother in the eye. "I'm willing to live a life of regret, especially over this matter." He sighed.

"That is of course, your prerogative." His mother sighed. "But don't expect me to be happy about it." She sighed giving a supporting smile.

"Thanks mom." He smiled kissing her.

"Go on, put a shirt on." She sighed. "We have to pick up Kari soon."

* * * * * * * * * *

'Dear Dairy,

It's me again. Why do I keep writing that? It's not like anyone else would write in this thing. Sorry about not writing last night, but you'll understand when you hear this. Okay, okay, I'm stalling. I guess you want to know how my date went last night.

Well my date with Davis wasn't perfect in the secular or ecclesiastical view, but...memorable nevertheless. We started out the night dancing at Matt's concert - he even played the song that he wrote for Sora, which reminds me I have to do something to thank him, I know it wasn't easy for him, but it was so romantic the way he dedicate the song to us.

We went to Le Rendez-Vous it was so romantic. The restaurant conveniently lost our reservation because well...it seems that Davis has been calling for reservations for the last eight weeks without showing so they thought it was a prank. With his charm we manage to get a table and our meal fifty percent off. That didn't help though, but I'll tell you more about it later.

Our date began with a small argument...I guess it's partially my fault. I shouldn't have talk about T.K. so liberally especially when I know the animosity between them. I told him that there was nothing to be jealous of because I have no romantic feelings for T.K. whatsoever...at least I don't think so...

After having our first argument dealt with we actually had fun, that is, until the bill came. It seems that Davis lost his wallet and we ended having to wash dishes for dinner, now I know what you're thinking, but I had fun, really, honest. We almost kissed twice in the process - almost.

What did the busboy say? 'We all have to sing for our dinner.' I thought that was a clever phrase...must be American because I never heard of it before. Tai told me another American phrase this morning, 'A penny for your thoughts.' I'll tend to that phrase later.

Davis felt so bad for how the date went. I reassured him more then once that I had a good time. I hope he believed me, because I was sincere about it. I even told him I'd go out with him tonight, which reminds me I have to figure what I want to do. I was supposed to get back to him this morning at graduation.

I was expecting Davis to kiss me last night and true to form he did. What I didn't expect was the ramifications of trying to kiss him. As I was about to kiss him I saw T.K. standing there instead of Davis. I freaked making some excuse about not kissing on the first date and rushed to my room.

Tai was waiting for me with T.K. on the phone. I guess T.K. was worried about me not calling him back. I promise to get back to him and talk about our date, but I couldn't talk to him and told Tai to make up some excuse. So in the first time in ten years I broke a promise and lied to him. I don't know how I'm going to make it up to him.

I spent the whole night rationalizing why I picture T.K. when I was kissing Davis. Do I love him? The thought of thinking of T.K. in a romantic context has never crossed my mind. In any case, it's too late. It seems that T.K. likes Chastity Shiozaki, who ironically likes someone else; it's obvious that he doesn't think of me in a romantic context. Then why can't I get the thought of his lips on mine out of my head?

Isn't it ironic? I might be in love with someone who likes someone else who like someone else. Hey that was fun. In Davis' case he likes someone (me) who might like someone else (T.K.) who likes someone (Chastity) who likes someone else (T.K. was ambiguous who this may be). Does that make any sense? I hope it did. If not then join the club, because it's driving me nuts!

It is times like these that I wished that my dad were still alive. He always knew what to say and put things into perspective like only he could do. Tai did an above average job though; he even brought me hot chocolate with marshmallows like daddy use to, but it wasn't the same. I can't blame him though; daddy had more life experience and his love life wasn't in shambles like Tai's. Then again, it felt comforting knowing that I wasn't alone in my romantic despair. How did T.K. put it? Misery loves company.

Helping with my love life is not the only thing I wish daddy were still alive for. Today Tai and I are graduating from Junior High and Elementary school respectively. With only one parent and two different ceremonies brings quite a conundrum. Who's ceremony would mom go to? Mom said that she would go to Tai's graduation service and arranged it with T.K.'s mother to videotape mine.

I guess I understand why my mother would go to Tai's graduation; I mean what is more important in the grand scheme of things, an elementary school graduation or a junior high? Ironically when I graduate junior high, Tai would be graduating high school. I have a feeling that I'll lose out to my brother to that too. I wish daddy were still here...why did he have to die?'

"Kari! Your ride's here." Her mother's voice emanated from the living room.

"Coming!" She replied. 'Got to go, my ride's here. Write to you later...' Hikari quickly scribbled the last sentence in her dairy and put it in her book bag and walked out of her room, her mother was standing by the doorframe waiting for her.

"Sorry mom, I was writing in my dairy." She smiled.

"I understand." Her mother smiled. "Before you go, I wanted to apologize about not going to your graduation ceremony."

"Hey mom, don't be sorry." Hikari smiled. "I understand. Even super moms couldn't be in two places at once and trust me you are a super mom."

"Thanks." She smiled. "Now get out there, T.K.'s mom is waiting for you."

"T.K.'s mom?" She gasped. "Where's T.K.?"

"I don't know, he didn't show."

"Where is he?"

"I don't know." Her mother sighed. "I might be a super mom, but I'm not telepathic. Why don't you ask her?" She replied walking towards the living room. Hikari quickly followed after her with a bad feeling haunting her.

"Good Morning, Miss. Takaishi." Hikari greeted politely.

"Good Morning Kari, you look beautiful today."

"Thank you." She smiled. "Umm...where's T.K.?" She hesitantly asked.

"He's downstairs in the car. I'm double parked."

"Oh." Hikari sighed, the feeling of uneasiness still there.

"Are you ready to go?" Nancy Takaishi asked.

Hikari snapped out of her gaze and blushed slightly. "Yeah. Let me get my coat." She said heading towards the closet. "Ready." She smiled.

They walked towards the elevator and entered. Hikari was still lost in thought; she was wondering why Takeru didn't rush up to pick her up. His mother's explanation was simple enough, but she couldn't shake the bad feeling. Nancy Takaishi noticed her concerning disposition. "Something wrong Kari?"

"It's just strange that T.K. didn't come up. I thought he'd fight you tooth and nail to pick me up." Hikari sighed.

"Who says he didn't?" Nancy smiled. "If I sent my son up to fetch you. I'll be waiting forever."

"Yeah I guess that's true." She sighed unconvincingly.

Nancy Takaishi looked at the source of her son's broken heart and the origin of his sorrow. 'She genuinely worried about him.' Nancy thought observing what she considered a surrogate daughter - a daughter she always wanted.

She wanted to tell Hikari about her son's feelings to end his melancholic demeanour, but she knew that it wasn't her place to do so nor did she want to lose her son's confidence in her. 'I have to respect Takeru's decision, even thought I disagree with him.' She exasperated. 'Yet I have to tell her something, so she wouldn't worry.' She rationalized. "The truth is T.K. isn't feeling well." Nancy sighed.

"He's not sick is he?" Hikari asked with concern.

"No." Nancy sighed. "He's just having women problems." Nancy sighed hoping not to reveal the obvious.

"Oh, you mean Chastity Shiozaki." Hikari sighed.

"Chastity?" Nancy was confused. 'Is Takeru in love with two women?' She allowed that thought to enter her mind. "Who's Chastity?"

"She's the object of your son's affections." Hikari explained. "He hasn't told you?" She asked with confusion.

"No." Nancy sighed. "I just know that he really likes this girl who evidently likes someone else." She said suspiciously looking at Hikari.

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "I wouldn't be concern if T.K. hasn't told you, I found out her name yesterday and I had to corner him against a wall with Matt beside me to get the name out." Hikari explained.

"Really?"

"Yeah. It's too bad that she likes someone else." She sighed.

"Yes, it is a shame." Nancy replied with suspicion. She was now able to put the piece of the puzzle together. Her son told Hikari that he liked this Chastity Shiozaki to explain why he was feeling so blue. 'If she would only know how wrong she was.' Nancy sighed allowing that thought to tempt her. "He was really despondent last night." Nancy sighed. "Please don't mention I said anything."

"Understood." Hikari smiled.

They quickly dashed through the vestibule of the apartment building to a blue car that was double-parked near the entrance. In his peripheral vision he saw Hikari running with his mother. "Act cool." He coached himself. The last thing Takeru wanted was to allow Hikari to think that she hurt him.

"Hey T.K." Hikari smiled entering the car.

"Hey Kari." Takeru turned greeting in return.

Hikari was happy to see his cerulean blue eyes sparkling at the sight of her. Their eyes locked and for the first time they saw pain and uncertainty in each other eyes. Hikari suppressed the memory of wanting to kiss him, while seeing her made Takeru's heartache. For the first time in their relationship there was a cold silence between them.

"You two have your seatbelts on?" Nancy asked breaking the silence. The two children responded with affirmation instantaneously. Nancy started the car and started driving.

The silence in the car was uncanny, like there was an intense wall between the two. Nancy wanted to make some small talk, but anything that crossed her mind would put her son in a very uncomfortable spot.

"So..." Takeru broke the silence. "How was your date last night?" He asked nonchalantly, trying to conceal the fact that he was hurt. Hikari knew by the sound of his voice that he was hiding something - something that he didn't want her to know.

"Great." Hikari replied unconvincingly, that is only to Takeru. He knew the pitches of her voice as well as she knew his. She too was hiding something that she didn't want him to know, and he knew that. "I'm sorry that I didn't call you last night...it's just that..."

"I understand." Takeru sighed. "Tai told me that you were asleep. I guess you were tired from your date last night." He added quickly hiding the fact that he didn't hear her conversation with her brother over the phone last night.

"Yeah, it was." Hikari replied knowing that he knew the truth. So there they are, three people in a car, knowing that everyone was hiding something, but too afraid to confront each other. So they continue with their pretence, their charade and continued their small talk.

Nancy felt relieved that the school was within her sights. She just couldn't take any more of the pretence discussion that they were having. 'Hikari obviously feeling bad about something, but what?' She thought. "We're here." She announced stopping the car.

The three exited the car in silence and walked towards the front doors of Odaiba Elementary. The silence and the pretence were driving Hikari crazy; she decided to break the charade that they were playing ever since she entered the car. "T.K. could we talk?" Hikari sighed. "In private." She added those words at his mother.

Nancy took the hint and smiled. "Honey, I'll be waiting for you in the auditorium." She told her son crossing the threshold into the school.

"What is it Kari?" Takeru asked.

Hikari waited until his mother was out of earshot before beginning. "I wanted to apologize for not calling you and about breaking my promise last night." She said sincerely.

"I told you that I understand."

"I know that you heard our conversation over the phone last night." Hikari pointed out. "I know this and so do you."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Takeru replied innocently.

"Cut the pretence!" She exasperated. "You know that you can't fool me Takeru Takaishi. We both know that you overheard my conversation with Tai, and we both know that we're trying to hide it."

Takeru exasperated and sat down on the front steps of the school. He looked at his love and patted a spot next to him suggesting that she should sit down. Hikari smiled and agreed waiting patiently for him to begin. "You're right." He sighed. "I do know the circumstance of why you didn't want to talk to me last night, I just don't know the reason." He sighed chuckling to himself. "I have been hiding things from you too."

"I know." She sheepishly returned.

"You do?"

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "I had the suspicion for a while."

"Since when did we start hiding things from each other?" Takeru sighed reminiscing over the good old days. "We use to tell each other everything. What happened to us?" He rhetorically asked not expecting an answer.

"I don't know." Hikari sighed. "Maybe life's more difficult in Junior High." She sighed not believing the answer. "Maybe we're growing apart."

"Maybe." Takeru sighed. "I hope not." He smiled looking at Hikari. She smiled and leaned against his shoulder.

"T.K. what are you hiding from me?" She sheepishly asked.

"I can't tell you." Takeru sighed. "At least not now, or maybe ever, but I'll promise I'll tell you when the right time comes, if it ever does." He replied enigmatically. "What about you? What are you hiding from me? Why wouldn't you talk to me last night?"

"I can't tell you either." She sighed. "At least now, but I'll promise to tell you when the right time comes." Her voice cracked mimicking Takeru's pervious statement.

"I see." Takeru sighed. "I guess it's only fair, each of us hiding something from each other." He sighed.

"Yeah." Hikari sighed.

"Hey Kari!" Daisuke yelled.

Hikari bolted her head from Takeru's shoulder and looked in the general direction of Daisuke's salutation. "Hey Davis." She smiled.

"What are you guys doing?"

Takeru and Hikari looked at each other searching for an answer in each other's eyes. "Talking." They replied in unison.

"What about?"

"Life." Takeru exasperated.

"Oh." Daisuke sighed. "So Kari have you decided what we're doing tonight?" He ostentatious asked.

"The two of you are going out again?" Takeru gasped trying to hide his tears.

"Yeah." Hikari blushed at her best friend. "It's getting late." Hikari sighed. "Could we talk about it after graduation?" She asked Daisuke. The truth of the matter she hasn't thought very much about the date.

"Okay." Daisuke smiled. "Milady may I have the honour of escorting you in?" He quixotically teased, offering his arm. Daisuke was playing on the fact that they were crowned prom king and queen a couple of nights ago.

"Of course milord." She smiled plying the charade. She got up from the steps with the help of her king's hand. She smiled and gazed into his brown, chestnut eyes. Suddenly she noticed that Takeru was still sitting on the steps. "Coming T.K.?" She asked noticing that he was in a gaze.

"Yeah." He sighed. "Just give me a minute." He smiled getting up. Hikari gave a reassuring smile and crossed the threshold of the school with Daisuke. Takeru sighed watching them walked arm and arm away, his heart pierced by the sight. 'Remember T.K. you chose regret over rejection, don't give up your convictions now, especially when everything's getting harder, you're doing the right thing not tell Kari your feelings. Remember it was you who chose this dark path that you now tread, as it is you who must walk it alone.' He thought sadly. "I'll hope you'll be happy with him." He sighed walking through Odaiba Elementary, perhaps for the last time in a long time.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Coming!" Yamato exasperated. "It never fails." He mumbled. "Every time I get into the shower someone's always comes to pay a visit." He mumbled under his breath. He quickly dried his golden blond hair and wrapped the towel around his waist and stormed towards the front door.

The doorbell had been ringing continuously for five minutes without pause and it seems like it wouldn't stop anytime soon. 'I hope this is not another obsessed fan.' He sighed. 'Just when I got rid of Jun Motomiya...' He sighed secretively crossing his fingers hoping that it wasn't another obsessive fan. "If you're selling me something, I don't want it." He yelled sarcastically opening the door. "T.K.? What the..."

"Hey Matt." He greeted nonchalantly. "Glad you're home." Takeru mumbled crossing the threshold of the door not waiting on ceremony of being asked in and dashed towards the chesterfield and threw himself upon it. "You're right." He exclaimed melancholy.

"Of course I'm right." Yamato smiled. "What else is new? I'm always right." He smiled walking towards Takeru and saw his baby brother covered his head with a cushion. "Just exactly what am I right about?"

"I like Kari." His voice filtered through the cushion.

"What? I didn't hear that." Yamato lied.

Takeru took the pillow off his face. His icy blue eyes peered into his brother's. "It's Kari! Not Chastity! Kari is the girl that I like!" He exasperated.

"Big surprise." Yamato sarcastically sighed. "So when are you going to tell her?" He asked sitting on the armchair opposite the chesterfield.

"I'm not." Takeru declared.

"You what?" Yamato gasped.

Takeru sat up and looked at his brother's shocked face. "I'm not going to tell her my feelings." He sighed.

"Why not?"

"Because she's with Davis now." Takeru confessed brokenheartedly.

"T.K." Yamato replied sympathetically. "I hardly believe that one date with Davis means that she's with him." He tried to reassure.

"Really?" Takeru answered sarcastically. "Then how many dates did it take you to know that Sora was the one?"

"That's..."

"Different?" Takeru completed his brother's sentence.

"You heard it before?"

"Yeah." Takeru sighed. "Mom and dad said the same thing. I didn't believe it then and I don't believe it now." He sighed. "Besides they're having their second date tonight and for what I gather she was the one who asked him out." He added.

"I'm sorry." Yamato whispered. "But still it doesn't explain why you won't tell Kari your feelings. Men have been telling women who were in love with other men their feelings for generations. So the question still remains: why won't you tell Kari your feelings?"

Takeru looked at his brother and thought for a moment. 'Should I tell him the reason? The truth would hurt him.' He thought. "I don't want to put her in the same situation as you did with Sora?" He replied above a whisper.

"You mean what Tai did to Sora?"

"What you did or what Tai did, its all semantics." Takeru sighed. "Regardless I don't want to force Kari to chose between Davis and I." He reiterated. "I would rather be her friend then to live my life without her."

"Just because it happened to us..."

"Yeah I know." Takeru sighed. "I've heard it before. I just can't take the chance of that happening and I know that you can't guarantee that it wouldn't happen to us." He pointed out.

"I wish I could." Yamato sighed. "I wish Sora, Tai and I could be friends again." He sighed. "I wish everything could go back to the way it was." He sighed. 'I wish we could have served a better example to you.' He thought secretively to himself.

Silence was in the air while the brothers were in deep thought. Takeru broke the stillness with a slight chuckle. "Ironic isn't it?" He snickered.

"What?"

"The digidestined with the crest of Friendship not having or keeping any friends." Takeru teased.

"Not half as ironic as the digidestined with the crest and digimantle of Hope losing hope...especially over a girl." Although it was meant as an observation it still pained Takeru to hear it. Yamato saw how his comment hurt his brother and decided to change the subject. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Do what?"

"Not telling Kari your feelings?"

"Yeah." Takeru sighed. "This is the path I've chosen."

"It's a very painful one."

"Yeah I know." He sighed.

"Then I don't get it, why are you here?" Yamato sighed.

"Pardon?" Takeru gasped. "I don't understand."

"Well it seems like you figure everything out on your own." He said leaning back into his chair. "So why did you come here, if not to pester me?" Yamato smiled.

"Gee I thought I was welcomed here." Takeru smiled.

"You kidding me? Half the time I'm trying to get rid of you." He teased. "Seriously now why did you come over?"

"Brotherly support." Takeru confessed. "That and because I'm hungry."

"All right." Yamato smiled. "I'll go make some lunch." He got up and headed for the kitchen. "If I remember correctly you like spicy meals don't you?" He asked with a devilish smile.

"Uh...yeah." Takeru lied. "But you don't have to really, I ordered some pizza before I came - my treat." He smiled. "I remember your cooking all too well." Takeru teased.

"Oh." Yamato sighed. "And I was really looking forward to it." He teased sitting back down.

"Hey Matt since when do you answer the door in a towel?" Yamato growled and threw a cushion towards his brother in response.

* * * * * * * * * *

'Dear Dairy: Addendum,

It's me again. I really have to get an inventive way of introducing myself. In any case, I had an interesting (for lack of a better word) morning. I was expecting T.K. to pick me up for graduation, but was pleasantly surprised to see his mother. She made a reasonable excuse of her son's absence, but I had a feeling that it was a rouse and I was right.

It seems that T.K. knew about the lie I made yesterday when I came home from my date with Davis and he knew that I broke my promise that probably damaged our friendship in the process. I wanted to tell him about my attempted kiss with Davis last night - that I saw him there standing next to me instead of Davis, but I couldn't, especially the way he feels for Chastity.

So there we were: T.K. hiding the fact that he was hurt and I hiding a revelation that could possible change our relationship forever. So instead of the truth we put on a pretence of civility and had one of our most shallow conversations, all in the name of protecting each other.

I confronted T.K. about our pretence and to my surprise he was hiding something from me too - that is beside the fact he knew about my deception. I was shocked and hurt to hear that. It's the first time in our ten-year relationship that we kept things from each other. T.K. is right; we use to share everything with each other, what has happened to us? I hope we're not growing apart - he has been a big milestone in my life.

I just realized today that another word for graduation is commencement. Taking from the verb: to commence meaning to begin or to start. Perhaps, this is the beginning of the rest of my life and perhaps a better relationship with T.K. - Why don't I believe that? What good relationship starts out with a foundation of lies and secrets? Why do I think that this metamorphosis will be the destruction of our relationship?

In other news, today was my graduation. It was rather exciting and scary to know that we've outgrown our elementary lives and are heading to the cruel world of junior high were every mark counts towards the determination of high school entrance and ultimately into collage.

Ken Ichijouji a.k.a. the boy genius was valedictorian - not totally a big surprise. T.K. and I were co-salutatorian that was a big surprise, not for T.K. because he's a bright fellow, but for me. I never knew that I was that bright certainly not for contention for salutatorian, as for Davis...well he's down there somewhere.

Speaking of Davis, he asked me about our second date tonight. It's not like I've forgotten about it - it's just that I felt incredibly embarrassed talking about our relationship in front of T.K. and the fact that I felt much less enthusiastic about going out with him then I did when I made the date last night also factored in. Then again when I made that date it was before the disastrous kiss, which rocked my foundation.

Ugh...What am I to do? I can't go out with Davis if I have these feelings for T.K. and I certainly can't use Davis in the mean time if I don't feel the same way he does for me. Why does love have to be so hard? How does one know when they're in love? I tried to ask Tai this but he freaked and I can't talk to mom because she'll make a big production about it and the last thing I needed was another lecture. I would go to my big sister if I had one, so I went to the next best thing...'

"Kari what are you doing here?" The familiar voice interrupted her writing.

Hikari looked up and smiled at Sora Takenouchi and her mother. "Hey Sora, Mrs. Takenouchi." She greeted getting off the bench near their flower shop. "I just wanted to talk to you."

"Oh." She sounded surprised. "What about?" Sora asked.

"Umm...it's private."

"Oh." She gasped. "If it was that important you should have e-mailed me. I would have stopped what I was doing." Sora reassured.

"And drop your only mother-daughter day at the mall running up your father's credit card bill? Never." Hikari teased seeing several shopping bags in each of their hands.

"How very thoughtful." Sora's mother smiled in returned. "Isn't she thoughtful Sora?" She smiled opening the shop.

"Indeed." Sora smiled handing Hikari a couple of bags that she was holding. "Com'on in, we can talk while you'll help me rearrange some flowers while mom takes her customary nap." She smiled.

"Sounds like fun." Hikari smiled crossing the threshold of the humble flower shop. "But I have to warn you I don't exactly have a green thumb." She cautioned.

"I'll risk it." Sora smiled. It took her a good fifteen minutes in the back to put away her stuff she bought on her father's credit card. "So who's the guy that's bothering you? Davis or T.K.?" Sora smiled coming out of the back room.

"How do you know that I'm having men problems?" Hikari gasped feeling a little embarrassed about the obviousness of her state of emotions.

"Oh, it wasn't so hard to figure out." Sora sighed. "You and Tai have a good relationship and could talk about anything and everything under the sun except boys." She teased.

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "He's rather protective."

"I think the word you're looking for is overprotective." Sora smiled picking a sprig of orchids and placed it aesthetically in a glass vase. "So are you going to tell me or not?" She smiled.

"Eventually." Hikari sighed. "It's just complicated." Hikari said handing Sora another sprig of foliage.

"Isn't it always when it pertains to matters of the heart?" Sora sighed, having some recent experience in that area.

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "Sora, how do you know when you're in love?" She sheepishly mumbled.

Sora chuckled secretively to herself. "You couldn't ask a more difficult question could you?" She sighed looking at her long time friend. "Kari, if you have to ask that question it's rather a good indication that you're not." Sora pointed out. She saw disappointment in her eyes and took sympathy for her. "Kari, just exactly why are you asking me this question?"

"Last night I had my first date with Davis."

"My condolences." Sora jested.

"No I had fun, really." Hikari protested. "Why does everyone think it would be such a bad ordeal?" She asked with frustration.

"Uh huh, then why are you here complaining?" Sora asked. "That's usually a good indication that you weren't happy with the date."

"It's not the date that I have the problem with it was the goodnight kiss."

"Did Davis try to kiss you when you weren't ready?"

"No, I wanted to kiss Davis..."

"But?"

"Just when I was about to kiss Davis I pictured T.K. standing right there ready to kiss me back." She cracked with frustration.

"Oh, that is bad." Sora sighed.

"You see my dilemma." Hikari sighed.

"Yeah." Sora smiled. "It's not as overwhelming as you make it to be." Sora said nonchalantly picking up another sprig of orchids. "This problem has a very simple solution, albeit difficult in application."

"What is it?" Hikari gasped. "Please tell me." She begged.

"Who do you like better, Davis or T.K.?"

"That's it?" Hikari replied with disappointment. "That's your solution?"

"I told you it was a simple one..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, with a difficult execution." Hikari sighed. "I've been racking that question in my mind since last night."

"And?"

"Well Davis could be loud, rash, obnoxious, annoying with a very surprising sweet, caring, tender, passionate, and sensitive side. He wears his heart on his sleeve and speaks his mind regardless of how his feelings may get hurt, which is refreshing in this day and age." Hikari's voice started to fade as she entered a gaze.

Sora waited patiently for Hikari to finish her thought when she noticed that she was in her own little world. Sora gave a soft sigh, she knew that look all too well - she once had that look for Yamato and Taichi. "And what about T.K.?"

Her question got Hikari out of her gaze blushing slightly feeling embarrassed for being caught in her daydream. "Umm...T.K. he's my best friend. I've known him close to ten years." Hikari sighed.

"And you have no romantic feelings for T.K. whatsoever?" Sora teased.

"I'll be lying if I told you I haven't." Hikari slightly blushed at the confession. "But my feelings for T.K. are irrelevant." She exasperated.

"Oh why is that?"

"He likes someone else."

"Really?" Sora gasped in disbelief.

"Yeah, her name is Chastity Shiozaki, head cheerleader, long bond hair, blue eyes, alabaster skin, perfect teeth, smart and very pretentious, frankly I don't know what T.K. sees in her." Hikari sighed.

"Sounds like you're jealous." Sora teased.

"I'm not!" Hikari defended.

"Uh huh." Sora replied unconvincingly.

"I'm not jealous!" She protested.

"It's perfectly all right if you are." Sora sighed. "It just means that you're human." She explained.

"Sora, for the last time. I AM NOT JEALOUS." Hikari said pronouncing the last four words to Sora while looking into her eyes.

"All right, all right." Sora lifted her hands as a gesture for surrender. "Your jealously notwithstanding, it looks like T.K. has made his choice no matter how painful it may be for you." Sora pointed out.

"I am not jealous." Hikari protested snapping the stem of the flower she was handling in half. "I'm sorry." She sheepishly whispered at what she's done. "I told you about my green thumb."

Sora chuckled at the sight and quickly forgave her for the broken flower. "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." She continued her teasing regardless.

"Ugh...you're incorrigible." Hikari exasperated, this time restraining herself from breaking another stem. "Since when were you so irrepressible?"

"I don't know." Sora smiled staring into the horizon trying to figure out when and where she picked up that particular quirk. "I think I picked up that idiosyncrasy from your brother when I was...dating him." The last two words took her breath away making her really silent.

"You really miss Tai don't you?"

"Matt too." Sora sighed. "I just wish things could have ended better between the three of us." Her voice became sombre.

"It still can." Hikari said sympathetically.

"I don't know." Sora sighed. "Maybe there's too much water under the bridge for reconciliation." She chuckled to herself. "Funny isn't it? The bearer of the crest of love can't find or hold onto it." She sighed, speaking mostly to herself. "Kari, whatever you do make sure you're definite about your feelings before proceeding any further. It's not fair playing with Davis' heart while you make your decision." Sora pointed out.

"And if I do have feelings for T.K. and in turn he likes Chastity?"

"That's his prerogative." Sora sighed. "You have to allow T.K., your best friend to explore his feelings for Chastity as you for Davis and T.K." Sora pointed out.

"What if Chastity likes another boy."

"Does she?"

"According to the lovesick T.K." Hikari sighed.

"Wait a minute." Sora paused. "Are you telling me that Davis likes you, where you are trying to decided your feelings for T.K., who likes Chastity, who likes some other boy?" She reiterated the whole situation.

"Yeah."

"Why are love problems in Elementary School more difficult then I remembered?" Sora asked rhetorically, picking up another stem. "You realize the whole lot of you are hopeless." She teased.

"Yeah." Hikari started to laugh at the helplessness of her situation.

Sora joined in with her laughter. "Remember one thing, above all else follow your heart and whatever the consequences that happened because of it you'll be far better off then ignoring it." She smiled.

"Thanks." Hikari smiled giving Sora a hug. "I'll do that."

"I wish I could have been more help." Sora confessed.

"No you did, more than you can imagine." Hikari smiled. "I better be going...I have a date with Davis." She sighed.

"Kari." Sora said sternly.

"What I can't break a date I made." She smiled innocently.

"Be careful." She warned.

"I will." Hikari smiled leaving the flower shop. She glanced at her watch and realized that she had to get ready for her date and decided to hasten her pace, while doing so she bumped into an innocent bystander. "My apologize." She apologized and helped picked up some parcels that the stranger dropped.

"That's okay, Kari. Make sure it doesn't happen again." The familiar voice emanated from above.

Hikari gasped and wondered how the stranger knew her voice. She looked up to see the blue-eyed, blond hair mistress. "Chastity?" She gasped getting up and gave the packages to Chastity.

"Thanks." Chastity smiled. "Congratulations on you being salutatorian." She said with suppressed bitterness. Ever since Ken Ichijouji was transferred to Odaiba Elementary every student knew that the battle for valedictorian was fruitless, so the battle for salutatorian was a heated one. Chastity Shiozaki was in high contention for being salutatorian, but came in bitter fourth after the Kamiya-Takaishi pair tying for second.

"Thanks I was pleasantly surprised." Hikari smiled with humility.

"I'm sure you were." Chastity replied and turned leaving.

Hikari watched her walk away and thought how Takeru really liked her. Above all things, even her feelings, she wanted him to be happy, that's when an epiphany hit her. "Hey Chastity what are you doing tonight at six?"

Chastity stopped and turned around. "Nothing, why do you ask?"

"I was wondering if you would like to join Davis and I for a double date." Hikari smiled devilishly. "There's a guy who really likes you who wants to go out with you."

"Really? Who?"

"I can't say."

"Then I can't go." Chastity said bluntly. "A person of my stature can't go out with just anyone." She aristocratically sighed.

"Don't you trust me?" Chastity wanted to tell Hikari what she really thought of her, but refrained herself and remained silent. "All right." Hikari sighed giving up. "It's T.K."

"What?" Chastity gasped with disbelief. She had always thought that her infatuation with Takeru was not reciprocated. Chastity always thought that Takeru liked Hikari, which is why she had great animosity towards her.

"Yeah. Don't tell him that I told you, but he has a big crush on you."

"Really?" Chastity asked with disbelief. "Why are you doing this?"

"I want him to be happy and you make him happy." Hikari sighed. This was the first time Chastity found out how much she really cared for him. "So will you do it?"

"Sure." Chastity smiled.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Thanks for lunch bro." Yamato said throwing a piece of crust into the pizza box. "You should come over more often - especially when you buying pizza, next time order more hot peppers."

"Not even in your wildest dreams." Takeru smiled playfully throwing a cushion at his brother. "You have more money than I do."

"But I'm always broke."

"Right, you have more money than I do." Takeru smiled.

Yamato gracefully threw the cushion back at his brother while answering the ringing phone in one smooth action. "I get you later." He whispered as he put the receiver to his ear. "Ishida Residences, Matt speaking." He answered. "Oh, hey Kari." He smiled, in the corner of his eye he could see his baby brother sit up with attention. "How are you?" He asked to prolong Takeru's suffering. "No, T.K. didn't tell me that you two were co-salutatorians. Congratulations." Yamato said giving his brother the evil eye. "T.K.? Sure he's here." Takeru stood up with excitement waiting for his brother to give him the phone. "I'll check I think he's in the can." Yamato teased.

"What?" Takeru whispered with indignation.

"Maybe if you call back in a half an hour, he usually takes that long."

"What!" Takeru exasperated. With his basketball like finesse he jumped over the glass coffee table separating the chesterfield and armchair where they retrospectively sat and tackled his brother on the floor. "I'm going to get you for this Matt." He intimidated.

"I told you that I'd get you back." Yamato smiled.

At that Takeru manage to wrestle the phone off his older brother. "Kari, Kari, are you still there?" He gasped, panting for breath. He was glad that his older brother was more interested in music then sports growing up, because now he was able to catch up with him and give a decent fight when needed be.

"Yeah. I'm still here." Hikari unsuccessfully suppressed a chuckle. "I hope that I wasn't taking you away from anything important." She teased.

"No." Takeru sighed. "Matt was just playing around with you." He protested.

"Uh huh." Hikari exclaimed, not entirely believing him.

"So why are you calling?" Takeru asked, changing the subject. The last thing he wanted was to have an argument with her.

"I was wondering if you would like to have dinner with me tonight at six at my place?" Hikari asked.

He was elated to hear that she was asking him out on a date. "Yes. I love to." Yamato could see the daffy grimace on his baby's brother face, and then he saw that very smile sour into the crestfallen demeanour he had earlier. "What about Davis I thought you two have a date tonight?" He asked. Yamato recognized the tone of voice he had, he had it once, not too long ago, and it was heartache.

"He'll be here." He could hear Hikari smiling on the other end.

"I don't know Kari." Takeru sighed. "I don't want to be a third wheel on your date." He sighed.

"You won't." Hikari hinted. "There's someone I want you to meet."

"A blind date? A blind double date?" He gasped. "I don't know Kari."

"Please, please." Hikari begged. "You'll really like this girl, I promise." She gloated.

"Kari, I really..." The phone was taken away from him before he could finish his sentence. "Hey." He protested realizing that his brother took the phone.

"Kari, he'll love to." Yamato said.

"What?" Takeru gasped.

"All right, I'll tell him." He sighed hanging up the phone.

"Why do you go and do that for?" Takeru protested.

"To get you out of this self-pity mood that you've been in lately." Yamato pointed out. "I don't want you moping around here all summer like this."

"Aren't I'm allowed?"

"Whatever." Yamato sighed. "Look you have to get over Kari sooner or later."

"Like you did with Sora."

"That's different." Yamato replied. He looked at his baby brother who didn't quite believe him. "For one thing I didn't make a promise to myself to never tell Sora about my feelings for her, like you did with Kari."

"And when was the last time you told Sora your feelings?"

Takeru could see the proverbial steam coming out of his ear. "You're going on that blind date!" Yamato exclaimed leaving the room.

"No I'm not!" Takeru yelled back.

"Fine then you call Kari and break her matchmaking heart!" Yamato's voice boomed from his room.

"Fine I will." Takeru yelled back picking up the phone. He confidently dialled Hikari's number and listen to the phone ring thrice.

"Hello?" Hikari answered.

"Hey Kari." Takeru greeted.

"T.K." Hikari exclaimed. "I'm so glad that you coming over. I can't wait until you come over. I'm sorry I'm being loquacious, you wanted to ask something?" She said remembering that it was Takeru who called her.

She sounded so happy that Takeru couldn't break her heart. "I was wondering if you want me to bring anything." Takeru sighed making up the first excuse that came through his mind.

"No, just bring your handsome self." Hikari smiled.

"All right." Takeru sighed. "See you at six." He said hanging up. "I'm going to kill you Matt." He mumbled under his breath.

* * * * * * * * * *

For the last couple of hours Hikari Kamiya had been quite the busy bee. She had convinced her brother to be out of the house for her date, which was no easy task to do; she had to call in a big favour that her brother owned her plus the promise she would not be alone with Daisuke in the house. She then cleaned the house, bought some groceries (because she refused to serve her mother's health conscious food), got dressed, and was now cooking dinner for four. She never knew how much work it took to plan a date.

The doorbell suddenly rang; her heart jumped a couple beats. She noticed the time on the clock and realized that her dinner guests were early, the bell rung again. "Coming." She sang rushing towards the door.

"Hi Kari." Daisuke greeted with a smile.

"You're early." Hikari gasped fixing her hair and clothes.

"Yeah. I couldn't wait to see you again." He smiled giving a single long stem red rose as a peace offering.

Hikari took the flower and smiled. "All right, come in." She sighed. "Dinner will be ready in momentarily. Make yourself at home." She smiled allowing her date to enter her house.

"Smells delicious." Daisuke complemented.

"Thanks."

"Could I help you?" Daisuke offered.

"I never knew you could cook."

"Yeah. I'm an expert in making instant noodles." Daisuke boasted.

Hikari suppressed a slight chuckle. "No that's okay." She smiled. "What I'm cooking is more complex then boiling water." She teased.

"Hey, one of these days I'm going to make a fortune running a multi-million dollar chain restaurant of instant noodles, and you Kari would be my noodle queen." He joked.

Hikari couldn't help but to giggle at the joke. "Well until then milord, you can make yourself at home and add this rose to the baker's dozen you gave me on the vase on the dinning table." She ordered pushing him out of the kitchen.

"At your command milady." He smiled headed towards the dinning table where he noticed candlesticks on a mahogany table with a glass vase of red roses as the centrepiece. 'Very romantic.' He thought. He approached the glass vase and put the fourteenth red rose that he gave her in the last three days. "What the?" Daisuke gasped. He noticed that there were four place settings. "Hey Kari is your brother and mother joining us for dinner?" He asked entering the kitchen.

"No. Why do you ask?"

"They're four place settings on the table."

"Oh that." Hikari blushed. "I've invited another couple to dine with us."

"Who?"

"Promise you won't get mad?"

"Don't tell me." Daisuke sighed. "T.K."

"And Chastity." Hikari added quickly. "I set them up on a blind date. I'm a romantic and want to see my best friend happy." She loquaciously added. "So are you mad with me?" She asked innocently wrapping her arms around.

"No." Daisuke sighed, his heart always melted at that look. "It's just that I figure we'll be alone tonight." He sighed crestfallen.

"I'll make it up to you." She smiled running her fingers through his spiky mahogany hair. "I promise." She smiled.

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow.

It took some time to read Daisuke's eyes, they were new to her and she was still trying to get accustomed to them, but with the addition of his devilish smile she had a gut feeling that he had a dirty thought in his mind. "Get your mind out of the gutter!" Hikari said playfully hitting him.

"How do you know what I'm thinking?" Daisuke smiled.

"Call it women's intuition."

"Yeah. Too bad there are no women around." Daisuke mocked. "Ouch." He replied, after Hikari playfully hit him a little harder then she would have liked. Daisuke would have retaliated but something dire was happening. "Umm...Kari I think something's burning."

"Oh...my cake." She exclaimed rushing to the stove.

'Save by the bell.' He thought, giving a sigh of relief. "I'll go answer the door." Daisuke smiled quickly leaving the kitchen. He frolicked towards the door and opened it. "Hey Chastity. Com'on in." He smiled.

"Thanks." Chastity smiled. "I brought some non-alcoholic wine." Chastity smiled giving the bottle to Daisuke. "Is T.K. here?" She asked with a hint of hope in her voice.

"No." Daisuke answered cordially. "He should be here any moment."

"Oh." Chastity sighed. "Where's Kari?"

"In the kitchen." Daisuke pointed. "I wouldn't go there if I were you she just burned her cake." He warned.

"I'll go see if I could do anything to help Kari." Chastity said entering the kitchen. The smell of brunt cake lingered in the air as she entered. "Hey Kari, Davis told me that your cake was burnt. Is it salvageable?" She asked.

"Not unless you like charcoal." She sighed dumping the cake into the garbage can. "I guess we could go out for ice-cream or something after dinner." Hikari sighed.

"I think that's a good idea." Chastity sighed. "We're having wonderful weather tonight." She pointed out.

"Yeah we won't mention the burnt cake." Hikari sighed.

"What cake?" She smiled, pretending that nothing had happened. They shared a moment of laughter with each other. 'She's not as bad as I thought she'll be.' Hikari sighed. "Umm...Chastity?"

"Yes."

"I'll like to thank you for coming over."

"Don't worry about it." Chastity smiled. "I wanted to come."

"Yeah. Well I know that you like another guy." Hikari sighed.

"I do?" Chastity gasped, not understanding what she was talking about.

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "T.K. told me that you like another guy."

"He did?"

"Look, regardless for your feelings for T.K. and this guy, I want you to give him a fair chance, okay?" Hikari pleaded.

"This really means a lot to you doesn't it?" Chastity asked.

"Yeah." Hikari sighed. "T.K. has been depressed and lonesome lately and I want to see him happy, if only for a night." Hikari smiled, trying to hide the fact that her feelings for him were still uncertain. 'I have to let T.K. explore his heart.' She thought taking Sora's advice to heart.

"Okay I will." Chastity sighed, still with a little confusion. She sensed that Hikari was hiding something. 'I wonder if she has feelings for T.K.?' She thought. "Umm...Kari why aren't you going out with T.K. half the school thinks you'll make a good couple." She pointed out.

"Really?" She gasped with surprise.

"You sound surprised."

"I am." She sighed. A day ago she would have laughed that suggestion off, but now she wasn't sure.

"Well?"

Hikari stopped what she was doing and carefully thought of her answer. "Because I'm not the one T.K. likes." She sighed, being careful not to let her emotions get a hold of her.

"But do you like him?"

That question hit Hikari to the heart; she had been debating that very question since last night. "Umm..." She stalled. 'Please God don't make me answer that question.' She prayed and fortunately God was listening. "Oh, look the doorbell." She sighed with relief. "Come let's go and meet T.K." She smiled forcing Chastity out of the kitchen. 'Save by the bell.' She sighed walking out.

"Hey Davis." Takeru greeted.

"Hey T.K." Daisuke replied not particularly thrilled that he was there.

The flaxen hair boy entered the house. "Hey Kari, I brought some dessert." Takeru smiled handing over the box to her.

"T.K. I thought I told you not to bring anything." Hikari smiled with a hint of admonishment in her voice.

"I know." Takeru sighed. "But knowing you, you've probably burnt your dessert." He teased.

"This time it was not my fault! Davis was distracting me!" She protested.

"Sure and I'm the Queen of England." Takeru teased.

"Regardless, thank you." Hikari smiled. She wanted to kiss him on the check when she remembered that she had guests. "What is it?" She asked trying to peek through the box.

"It's a chocolate cake with white chocolate frosting." He smiled.

"My favourite." She smiled. "Thanks." Their private discussion was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Hikari turned around and saw Chastity smiling elegantly. "Oh, T.K. your date, I think you know..."

"Chastity." He gasped.

"Surprised?" She smiled.

"Yeah." He gasped still flabbergasted.

"Complement her." Hikari whispered through her teeth elbowing him in the rib simultaneously.

"Uh...Where you has her infectious charm, grace and splendour, Aphrodite has only her empty pulchritude." He elegantly replied seeing Chastity blush at the complement.

"PUL-kruh...what?" Daisuke asked, his voice interrupted the quixotically moment.

They darted at Daisuke and sighed. "Beauty." The three replied in unison with a hint of frustration.

"Sorry." He sighed. "Some of us didn't graduate in the top four you know." He pouted the statement towards the seconds and fourth placed students.

"Davis! Don't feel that way." Hikari smiled rushing towards him trying to console him.

"I think you hurt his feelings." Chastity whispered.

"I didn't mean to." Takeru sighed still watching Hikari. He turned to his date and smiled at her. "You really do look beautiful." He complemented looking into her royal blue eyes.

Chastity checks slightly blushed flabbergasted at what to do except to look into his eyes. Their intimate moment was interrupted by the sound of the oven bell. "Dinners ready!" Hikari announced rushing towards the kitchen.

"Shall we?" Chastity asked.

"After you." Takeru smiled escorting her to her seat pulling her chair out. 'What have I gotten into?' Takeru sighed. 'How am I going to dig out of this sizeable hole that I'm in.' He thought of an answer to no avail. 'Why did Kari have to pick her out of all the women in the world? No that's not fair to Chastity.' It was then that he made the conscious decision to be cordial and considerate to his date. 'Matt is right, sooner or later I have to get over Kari.' He sighed letting that thought echoed in his mind.

Being true to his word, he was. Chastity and Takeru shared amusing stories, anecdotes, and enjoyed each other's company. He did however, took a furtive look at Hikari now and then when she, Davis, and his date wasn't looking. He was however, unsuccessfully fooling the third person in the party.

With the first stolen glance she dismissed it, with the second she forgave, by the fifth glance she started to be concerned and by the eighth glance she knew that he liked her. 'So the rumours are true.' Chastity sighed the thought pained her. From the beginning of the date she was trying to figure out what was going on. 'Why would T.K. say he likes me when he obviously likes Kari? Why would he lie to Kari and say that I have a boyfriend when I don't? What is going on here?' She thought subconsciously.

It was unanimously agreed upon that they would take a short constitution in the park to allow dinner to set before they have their relatively heavy dessert. The quartet showed how young lovers embraced the idea of the nightly flaneur of the disinterested and the romantically inclined wanderers in the industrious city. Takeru and Chastity took the lead while Daisuke and Hikari took up the rear about a yard away.

Chastity had hoped that the clear night air would make Takeru forget about his feelings for Hikari, like it would somehow magically flutter away in the slight zephyr that zigzagged through the dimly lit park. It didn't, but then again she wasn't surprised. After the second furtive look she decided to say something. "What am I doing here?" She asked with a hint of frustration in her voice.

"What do you mean?" Takeru asked innocently. "We're taking a stroll in the park." He thought the answer was self-evident.

"No." Chastity sighed. "What am I doing here? It's obvious that you want to be here with Kari." She sighed.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Takeru sighed innocently looking down on the sidewalk.

"I thought this was too good to be true." She mumbled under her breath.

"Pardon?" He asked.

"Never mind." Chastity sighed watching Takeru stealing another glimpse of Hikari and Daisuke laughing together. "Why don't you tell her?" She sighed rubbing her shoulders.

"Tell her what?"

"That you like her." Chastity sighed. Takeru was about to open his mouth, probably to deny her accusations when she decided to beat him to the chase. "Don't try to deny it. I know that look in your eyes." She pointed out.

"What look?"

"Being in love with someone who's in love with someone else, the look of unrequited love." Chastity voice cracked, she was crying inside. "It's a look that I know all too well." Her voice had a hint of melancholy.

That last statement caught Takeru's attention. "What makes you so sure that you're right?" He asked with a hint of defensiveness in his voice.

"Because I'm attracted to someone whose attracted to someone else." She confessed looking into his blue eyes. She has finally had his full attention.

Takeru could see her blue eyes watering; she was obviously holding back her tears. He had a bad feeling that he knew who she was talking about. "Who?" He asked regardless.

Chastity bit her lower lip debating whether she should tell him. "You." She said above a whisper. She saw Takeru eyes blazed up when he heard the news. "Please say something." Her voice cracked.

"I didn't know." He gasped taking his coat off draping it over her shoulders, finally noticing that Chastity was feeling cold. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"The same reason why you won't tell Kari your feelings."

Takeru felt bad that Chastity was feeling the same way he was. "I'm sorry." He whispered. "I never knew you felt that way towards me."

"That's okay." Chastity sighed. "It's not your fault for not liking me."

"Still I hate to know that someone else is feeling the same way I am because of me." He sighed.

"Well at least I'll be in good company." Chastity smiled reaching for Takeru's hand for reassurance; surprisingly he didn't resist.

"I'm not sure that I should be that company." Takeru sighed. "Will you feel comfortable being with someone that put you in this melancholy mood?" He asked thinking that she was talking about him.

"Perhaps, but that's not what I meant." Chastity smiled. "The company I was speaking of are the other girls at school who has their hearts broken by Takeru Takaishi." She smiled.

"Other girls?" Takeru asked.

"You really don't know do you?" She asked. "I guess that's one of the many reasons that makes you so desirable." She smiled to herself.

"What...what are you talking about?"

"T.K. most of the girls at school has a major crush on you."

"No. That can't be true." Takeru blushed. "I would have known."

"You'll be surprised how oblivious you can be and how well hidden we women could hide our feelings." Chastity smiled putting her head on his shoulder.

"If this is true, why haven't any of these girls shown any signs that they like me?" Takeru pointed out, thinking about the throngs of women that chased after his brother.

"Because they know that you are emotionally unavailable." Chastity said turning her head.

Takeru followed her gaze and blushed. "Oh, I am that obvious?"

"Yeah to everyone, but them." Chastity smiled. "So why don't you tell her your feelings?"

"I don't want to put her through the pain of choosing." Takeru sighed.

"Or you're scared that she'll chose Davis over you." Chastity completed his thought with a smile.

"That too." Takeru started chuckling. "We're pathetic aren't we?"

"Yeah." Chastity joined Takeru in their laughter.

Meanwhile, down the path, Hikari looked at the laughing couple and produced a small smile, but inside she was hurting. "It looks like they're getting along." Hikari sighed.

"Yeah, it looks like they're having fun." Daisuke sighed. "You're quite the matchmaker." He smiled. Secretly he was glad that Takeru was with someone else, besides Hikari; everything in the world seemed right for him.

"Oh it's wasn't that hard." Hikari sighed.

"You don't give yourself enough credit."

"I think you're giving me too much." Hikari sighed. "I mean T.K. told me who he liked all I did was set them up and give them a slight push. I just hope that everything goes all right and that he'll be happy with her." She smiled.

"Why wouldn't he?" Daisuke asked.

"Well T.K. told me that Chastity likes another boy besides T.K." Hikari pointed out. "I just hope that she see how special T.K. is." She sighed.

"Me too." Daisuke smiled.

"Really?" She was shocked to hear that form Daisuke.

"Yeah." Daisuke sighed. "He's your best friend and I guess you want to see happy with someone else like you are with me." He smiled.

"Who said I happy with you?" Hikari teased.

"Well aren't you?" He sounded a little hurt.

"Yeah." She smiled reaching for Daisuke's hand. "I like to thank you for being so understanding about tonight." She smiled. "Not many guys would understand." Hikari pointed out.

"Well I guess I'm that kind of guy." Daisuke smiled.

"That you are." Hikari smiled. Their conversation was interrupted once again with Takeru and Chastity laughing.

"Sounds like they're getting along."

"Yeah." Hikari smiled. 'He really does like her.' She thought. 'He's made his decision and I've made mine.' She thought squeezing Daisuke's hand tighter. "You know what, let's stop talking about T.K. and talk about us." She suggested.

"That's a good idea." Daisuke smiled surprised to hear that she suggested that.

A few paces ahead of them Takeru and Chastity walked with more ease, somehow the truth always made a difficult situation easier. "Could I ask you something?" Chastity asked.

"Sure."

"Why does Kari think I like someone else?"

Takeru blushed at the question. "Chastity you have to understand, I wanted to tell Kari my feelings, but like an idiot I spoke of her in the third person. Assuming that she would know that I was talking about her, but she never entertain that thought."

"I see." She sighed. "You told her that you liked a girl who liked someone else and she thought that you were talking about me." Chastity concluded. "My next question is: how?"

Takeru smiled again. "I told her." He replied above a voice.

"You what?" She gasped.

"I told her." He reiterated louder.

"Why me?" Chastity asked.

"Your name was the first one that crossed my mind." Takeru smiled. "It's just that when everyone in my life assumed that the girl in-questioned is Kari I get frustrated." Takeru sighed.

"But the assumptions are true isn't it?"

"Yeah, but it makes me feel like an idiot, when everyone knows how I feel even before I realize it." Takeru sighed with frustration. He looked into Chastity's blue eyes and felt bad for getting her involved with his private life. "I'm sorry I dragged you into this."

"Don't be." Chastity sighed. "At least I finally told you how I feel and gotten a date with you out of this ordeal." She smiled. "It's more then I ever expected."

Takeru stopped and looked into her eyes. "I hope the next guy you like sees how truly special and beautiful you really are." He smiled. "Someone who deserves you and your attention, certainly someone more than I." He pointed out.

"Until then, I'll still be longing after you." She smiled brushing his flaxen sideburns over his ear. Takeru jumped back by the sudden gesture. "I'm sorry, I'd embarrassed you." She quickly continued her stroll.

"Chastity." Takeru said catching up. "I wasn't embarrassed, just surprised." He sighed. "I like us to be friends, nothing more, that is until my feelings for Kari have been resolved." He pointed out.

"I understand." Chastity said a little crestfallen. "Listen T.K. I have a proposition for you." She sighed.

"I'm listening." The statement reached the zenith of his curiosity.

"I'm willing to play the role of your girlfriend to make Kari jealous so she realize how important you are in her life. She obviously has some feelings for you." She said all in one breath.

Takeru was shocked to hear that proposal came out of her mouth. "Why would you offer that?"

"Because I love you enough to give you away."

Takeru's icy blues darted to his companion. "I'm flattered really," He answered, his voice above a whisper. "But my answer would have to be no." He sombrely replied.

"Why?"

"Well firstly, I'll be using you..."

"We'll be using each other." She quickly interjected.

Takeru took a deep breath before proceeding. "Regardless, I'm not accustomed in using people for my selfish wants." Takeru pointed out. "Secondly, this could end in two different ways, all of them badly." He sighed. "Either Kari will take me as her beau and I'll be force to break up with you, or she wouldn't and we'll have to break it off. In any case, we'll start resenting and hate each other because of this pretence and I don't want that to happen."

"I'm willing to risk it." Chastity interrupted.

"I'm not. Despite our feelings for each other I still want us to be friends." Takeru sighed. "Besides, I don't want to win Kari's heart through scheming, plotting, or masterminding into her graces. I couldn't live with myself if I did." Takeru sighed. "I want to win it honestly, virtuously and justly." He pointed out.

"Such a noble heart." She sighed. "You know you stand a good chance in losing her." She pointed out.

"I know." Takeru sighed. "And I'm willing to take that chance."

"I hope Kari sees how truly special you really are." She smiled. "To see how much you love her. I hope that she would be deserving of you." Chastity pointed out. "I want you to be happy T.K. you deserve it." She smiled, instinctively combing his hair with her fingers, this time she was glad that he didn't flinch at her advances. "I better be going home." She whispered.

"What about dessert?"

"I'm not particularly hungry."

"All right, I'll make an excuse and tell Kari that we won't be joining them for dessert." Takeru pointed out.

"You don't have to."

"I want to." Takeru smiled. "Besides until the end of the night I'm your date and I'll act like it until it ends." He pointed out.

Chastity smiled. "I just don't want to pull you away from dessert."

"You kidding?" Takeru sighed. "Kari may like white chocolate, but I think it's a poor imitation of the real thing, and besides you're not leaving me with those love birds do you?" He replied sarcastically. "The last thing I want is to be the third wheel to that. Please I beg of you, let me walk you home. Spare me from this torture." He jested.

"Okay." Chastity smiled unable to contain her laughter. "No one deserves a fate like that, least of all a boy who broke my heart." She beamed.

"Great, my saviour." Takeru smiled. "I'll go tell Kari."

She leaned against a nearby tree watching her first love walked towards his first love and her lover. "What a tangle web we weave..." She sighed to herself, thinking about the situation that they were in. Chastity watched as Takeru hugged Hikari good-bye and shook hands with Daisuke. 'I wonder what excuse he gave?' She thought seeing him walking back towards her.

"Ready?" He flashed his pearly whites at her.

"Yeah." She gave a coy smile. "What did you tell Kari?"

"Nothing much." Takeru sighed. "I thanked her for the both of us for setting us up, told her that we had fun, but we would rather continue our stroll then going back for dessert." He sighed. "I hope that I wasn't being too forward by speaking on your behalf." Takeru sighed.

"No, you weren't." Chastity smiled. "I'm sorry for making you miss dessert."

"I told you that I don't like the taste of white chocolate." Takeru smiled, he saw uncertainty in her eyes. "Tell you what, let's go get some ice-cream to ease your guilty conscious." Takeru smiled offering.

"Really?"

"My treat." He smiled.

"Okay."

They headed to the nearest ice-cream parlour, where they split a large sundae and a tall chocolate shake with two straws. Chastity enjoyed the company and talked with him for about an hour before leaving the café. However, she knew that all good things must irrevocably come to an end and soon they were in front of her house.

"Thanks for walking me home." Chastity smiled leaning against the door.

"No problem." He smiled. "I really had a good time."

"Me too." Chastity replied. "Here's your jacket." She smiled taking off the light windbreaker off her shoulders. She saw him gently take his coat and stood there staring at her. The silence added to the uncomfortably and of the moment. "So, I guess this is good night." She sheepishly replied.

"Yeah." Takeru sighed and started to leave.

"Hey T.K." Chastity announced before entering her house. Takeru turned back and walked towards her. "If you ever get emotionally available, please give me a call. I'll be waiting, but I can't promise that I'll be available." She replied with a hint of sadness in her voice.

Takeru sighed and held her cheek. "Nor should you be. I don't expect you to wait for me." He smiled.

Chastity held his hand and leaned forward for a good night kiss. Takeru seeing what was going on position his head in such a way telling her that her advances were unwanted. "I'm sorry." She said searching her purse for her house key.

"No, don't be." Takeru quickly added stopping her in her flight. "It's just that I always picture my first grown up kiss with Kari." He explained.

"I understand." Chastity gave a supporting smile. "Just like I always picture you giving me my first kiss." She said slowly lifting her head to see his equally supporting smile from her date.

Takeru felt her pain; he knew it all too well. He leaned in and gave a gentle, long, kiss on her check. Afterward he stared into her eyes seeing that she was elated by the gesture. "I'm sorry, that's all I can give given my circumstances." He whispered.

Chastity held the spot where he kissed her and blushed slightly. "It's more then I expected." She blushed further.

"Good night." Takeru smiled watching Chastity enter her house. The door closed and she was safe within. He started to walk home when he heard a scream of excitement and jubilation - it was Chastity. "Girls." Takeru mumbled under his breath with a smile and headed home.

* * * * * * * * * *

Daisuke couldn't believe what was happening. He was alone with Hikari in her dimly lit house, snuggled on the chesterfield watching a movie that they decided to watch while having dessert. His heart was doing somersaults because earlier he tried the classic guy manoeuvre of a fraudulent yawn while stretching his arm making it seemingly land over her shoulder by accident. To his surprise Hikari didn't object and leaned into his chest.

"Want more cake?" He heard his infatuation ask.

"Huh?"

"Do you want more cake?" Hikari asked.

"No, thank you." Daisuke replied.

Hikari was surprise at the response. She bolted from the embrace and looked at him with a smile. "Am I hearing correctly? Daisuke Motomiya doesn't want seconds with dessert?" She teased.

"Well to tell you the truth, I'm not a big fan of white chocolate." He sheepishly replied. The last thing he wanted to do was to get in an argument with Hikari. She chuckled at his response and returned to her position. "What so funny?"

"Nothing." Hikari sighed. "It's just that all the men in my life hates white chocolate. First my father, then Tai, T.K., and now you." She replied unconcernedly.

"I could learn to love it." Daisuke suggested.

"No." Hikari turned looking into his deep earthy eyes with a smile. "It wouldn't seem right if my boyfriend would like it." Hikari grinned.

"Boyfriend?"

Hikari blushed with embarrassment for letting that word slip out. "I'm trying the title on you, seeing if it fits." Hikari sheepishly covered, pretending to pick some lint off his shirt.

"And how does it fit?" He asked with a smile.

"I think I like it."

"So you'll be my girlfriend?" Daisuke asked with hope.

"Let's give it a couple more dates." Hikari smiled.

"All right." Daisuke sighed unfazed. "How about we have a picnic lunch tomorrow in the Digital World when we have our reunion." He asked.

Hikari got up with surprise and looked at her date. "Don't you think this marathon dating style will make me boring to you?" Hikari observed that they have seen each other for three nights in a row.

"Never." Daisuke smiled. "I love you Kari, and I want to spend everyday of my life with you." He blushed. "So lunch tomorrow in the Digital World? I'll promise to make you my infamous instant noodles." Daisuke smiled.

"How can I resist such an offer?" She smiled back. With that she heard the rustling of keys being fit into a lock. She grabbed Daisuke's arm to look at the time and knew that her brother was behind the door. "Sit up." She whispered to her date.

"What?" Daisuke confusingly asked.

It was too late, the door parted open. "What the...?" Taichi asked flipping on the lights. His eyes darted towards the duo on the chesterfield. "I hope I wasn't interrupting anything." Taichi surveyed the two guilty children on the chesterfield. "Davis what are you doing here? Kari isn't it a little late for your date to be him?" He asked.

"I...I...was just leaving." Daisuke replied quickly dashing towards the door. He saw that overprotective look in Taichi before and he didn't want to be in the wake of his wrath.

"I'll walk you out." Hikari replied chasing after him. "Tai heel!" She ordered before leaving the apartment. In the cool hallway she managed to stop Daisuke from getting away from her. "I'm sorry about Tai."

"It's understandable."

Hikari smiled giving Daisuke a hug. "I had fun tonight. Thanks for coming over." She smiled releasing the hug and looked into his eyes, they still were holding each other in an embrace.

"Me too." Daisuke smiled leaning towards Hikari for a kiss.

'I was expecting this all night.' She thought. 'And he does deserve it, he's been a perfect gentleman especially with the double date with T.K. and Chastity.' Hikari thought. 'Just don't think of T.K. when you kiss him this time.' She thought closing her eyes and leaning forward for the inevitable.

Her quivering, nervous lips encountered his strong, steady lips. The impact sent a rapture of burning ecstasy cascading through her soul. His lower lip massaged Hikari's once, twice, and thrice as she did the same for him. She felt like floating, then soaring and then her knees gave way.

"Whoa. You okay?" Daisuke asked supporting Hikari when her knees buckled.

Hikari opened her eyes and panted. "Yeah." She puffed; the kiss took her breath away, literally. "That was some kiss." She gasped gently for air.

"I'll take that as a complement." Daisuke smiled, running his fingers through her silky, brown hair. "I'll see you tomorrow in the Digital World." He smiled leaving.

She watched intently as Daisuke walked towards the elevator that seemed to magically open as he approached. "Good night." She whispered and in return he waved his hand like he heard. The metal doors slid closed and so was he.

Hikari quickly opened the door and leaned against it closing her eyes, trying to remember each sensual second of the kiss. She was in her private universe of bliss. That is, until she felt a pair of eyes staring at her, watching her. She opened her eyes and saw her brother standing, watching, and tapping his foot with his arms crossed around his chest.

"Care to explain yourself?" He said with his overprotective voice, Hikari knew that he was angry. Their earlier agreement for Taichi leaving Hikari alone was that she was not to be alone with Daisuke in the house, which unfortunately slipped her mind when Takeru and Chastity decided not to come back for dessert.

"I'm sorry Tai." Hikari sighed. "Not that it's any of your business, it was rather innocent. The four of us had dinner, went for a walk, T.K. and Chastity decided to continue with their walk instead of returning, so Davis and I came home and watched a movie and had dessert. All we did was talk and cuddled." Hikari sighed. "Nothing happened." Hikari smiled.

"There's dessert?"

Hikari chuckled to herself thinking that through her apology and explanation all Tai got out of it was dessert. "Yeah." She smiled. "Chocolate cake, Takeru brought it over tonight."

"Burned another cake did you?" Taichi smiled rushing towards the kitchen.

"It has white chocolate frosting." She warned.

"Oh." Taichi sounded crestfallen as he stopped in his track.

Hikari chuckled to herself again remembering what she told Daisuke about white chocolate and the men in her life. "Am I forgiven?" She asked.

"For the cake or the fact that you were all alone in this house with Davis?" He sarcastically asked.

"Tai, it's late, please don't be facetious with me."

"Fa...what?"

"Tai." Hikari sternly replied. "Am I forgiven?"

"Yes, you're forgiven on both accounts." Taichi sighed. "By the way, what did you and Davis do in the hallway just now?" He asked.

"Oh my." Hikari gasped. "Look at the time, it's getting late. We've better turn in now we have a date in the Digital World tomorrow morning." She added quickly. "Good night Tai." She smiled rushing towards her brother giving a kiss on the cheek and dashed to her room.

"Hey you didn't answer my question!" He yelled after her.

Hikari popped her head from her door and smiled. "I know." She smiled closing the door. She happily skipped towards her bed and gracefully twirled herself unto her bed reliving the most memorable kiss she ever had, well technically the only grown kiss she ever had. She looked at her book bag and took out her leather bound book and pen and started writing...

'Dear Dairy: Addendum,

I GOT KISSED TONIGHT! And by Davis of all people! It was amazing it! My soul went soaring and was on fire...my knees even went weak during the kiss. It was so awesome! I'm so excited and overwhelmed with feelings that I don't know where to start, but the beginning seems like a good place.

Since I last wrote, I had the conversation with Sora. We arranged flowers talking about my so-called love life. In short, she told me to follow my heart, to explore my feelings for T.K. and Davis, and to allow T.K. to explore his feelings for Chastity.

It must have been fate when I bumped into Chastity right after my conversation with Sora. I invited her over for a double date with Davis and me. Shortly later I called T.K. and he agreed, albeit reluctantly to come over for a blind, double date.

Dinner went great and yes I did burn another cake, but T.K. saved the evening when he brought over a chocolate cake with white chocolate frosting, my favourite. That notwithstanding, seeing T.K. and Chastity together made me realize that he really does like her, Chastity liking him back is a different story. I hope she does.

So I consciously made a decision to let T.K. go and concentrate all my strengths into exploring my feelings for Davis. I'm glad I did, because I think I'm falling in love with Davis. I can't wait to tell the girls about it tomorrow and Gatomon - she'll flip hearing the news. I've better get to bed, we're suppose to go to the Digital World tomorrow - until then good night.'

Hikari smiled still having the sense of euphoria consuming her. She closed her diary and placed it on her desk while she got ready for bed. Hikari slowly fell asleep dreaming of him.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Disclaimer: [1] The names of persons, places, and events pertaining to Digimon: Digital Monster Animated Series is not my invention and is the property of Toei Animation, Bandi, and Saban Entertainment - no profit is gained from the writing of this series. [2] Takeru's dream scene is taken and loosely based on the first season, Digimon: Digital Monster episode, "Piedmon's Last Jest". [3] Nancy line: "It is better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all" is a quote from Tennyson (In Memoriam). [4] Sora's line: "The lady doth protest too much, methinks" is taking from Shakespeare (Hamlet: III, ii). [5] This is a fan fiction and as such names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination that is, those not mentioned in the previous clauses and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.