And here's part 2 of this fic... Told you it wouldn't take long for me to get it up. I only needed to reread and proof read it like a million times... I realize that this probably not going to be as good as I hoped it would turn out. However, I would love to thank all of you for your fantastic reviews. And since I'm not all that familiar with medical terminology, please forgive me...
I don't own Digimon... on with the story...
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Heartbreak
by Jade
part 2
"Uh oh," Joe said, "I'm late. This is going to be bad. Dad's going to be mad at me. Could this day get any worse?"
Joe rounded the corner as quickly as he could heading toward Odaiba Hospital where he interned. He had decided to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor and so was now training next to his father at Odaiba Hospital. Because of his high grades and great potential, it didn't even matter that he had direct relations within the top people of the hospital. It did, however, help him get along with many other top doctors who were all willing to help him achieve his goal.
But this also made the weight on his shoulders to be the best even heavier. As the son of the very respected top cardiologist, James Kido, Joe needed to make sure that he not only made himself look good, but he also had to make his father look good, by being an over achiever altogether.
Today was definitely not the day for him, he thought to himself as he sped down the sidewalk. He had stayed up late to finish his summer project, and slept right through his alarm clock going off. His father, having had been called into the hospital during the night for an emergency surgery, wasn't there that morning to make sure Joe was up in time.
SMACK!
Joe fell backwards after colliding blindly into an unsuspecting pedestrian who was just standing there absentmindedly. Papers were scattered around the two as each tried to collect themselves before getting back up to there feet.
"I am so sorry!" Joe cried out before he even looked to see who it was he had almost run over. He rubbed the small of his back and looked over to the auburn red haired girl who was pulling herself to her feet. He gasped, "Sora?"
The teen looked down at her older friend and smiled, "You really need to learn how to watch where you're going? You could easily take someone out with that speed." She bent down and began to pick up the papers that fell out of her business envelope.
"I'm sorry, Sora," Joe said, "I overslept and was in a hurry to get to the hospital before my dad decides to kill me. I wasn't watching where I was going. Are you okay?" He bent and began to help Sora gather her things. He caught a glimpse of one of the sheets which looked to him like medical papers, but shrugged it off. He figured that they belonged to Sora's mother, knowing that Mrs. Takenouchi had a heart problem.
"That's alright, Joe," Sora said, "You worry too much." She slipped the last sheet into her envelope and looked at her watch, "You might want to get going, Joe. Don't wanna be late, now do you? Your dad's going to be angry." At those words, Joe gave Sora a quick good-bye and then dashed off faster than he had ever run before. Sora laughed and shook her head, then headed home.
Joe was fortunate enough to make it to the hospital with five minutes to spare, but not enough time for him to catch his breath before he had to get ready for work.
"I was wondering where you were," Dr. Kido said to his son, "Usually you're here-" he looked at his watch "-fifteen minutes ago."
"I know, Dad," Joe said between breaths, "I overslept this morning. I'm sorry."
"No problem," Dr. Kido chuckled as he went through a clip board of papers, "As long as you're here." He walked over toward the receptionist and said, "I'll see the next patient now." He handed the clipboard to the nurse and headed back into his office. The nurse nodded and headed over toward the small waiting room outside of Dr. Kido's office. Joe decided that he'd better head off to where he was supposed to be before he got into any real trouble and headed out the door, just as he heard-
"Sora Takenouchi." Joe stopped in his tracks and looked at the nurse. She looked around the room and then called out again, "Sora Takenouchi. Dr. Kido will see you now." She looked around feeling a little irritated and confused. The patients in the room glance up at the nurse, but none made any acknowledgement that they were the person being called. "Sora Takenouchi? Excuse me, are any of you Miss Sora Takenouchi?" Again the patients glanced up, then back down. The nurse shrugged and turned back around to retrieve the next patient's clipboard.
Joe stood aghast. Sora? What had Sora been doing here? Where was she now? He slapped his forehead. Duh! Sora was on her way home. You ran into her outside, remember? Joe still felt confused though. Why had Sora come here with an appointment to see his father?
Someone walked by Dr. Kido's office and called to Joe snapping him out of his thoughts. Joe looked up to see a friend of his who was also interning at the hospital and rushed out the door to his department, completely forgetting about what he was thinking about before.
----------
Sora sighed as she headed toward her house. She turned back around and looked toward Odaiba Hospital. She didn't know why she had left the hospital. She had shown up there so she could receive help and insight on her condition from Dr. Kido. But as she had sat there waiting for her turn to see the doctor, the more she worried she'd know the truth about how serious her heart problem really was. At the end, she acted on instinct and walked away.
Maybe I should go back, Sora thought, I need to know how bad this really is. Maybe it's not so bad. Maybe it's only a minor problem. If it is just a minor problem... her face became hopeful, but then she frowned, "So what if it turns out to be a minor problem? I can't change what I've already done. He'd never forgive me. I've already hurt him. I don't want to hurt him again." She felt a tear trickle down her cheek. She brushed it away and blinked away the rest of the tears that threatened to overtake her.
She looked up and stopped in her tracks. Her friends stood in front of her apartment building awaiting her arrival. She took a deep breath and headed in their direction again faking that same bright smile she had been giving almost everyone who spoke to her.
"Sora," Matt began, "I think you know why we're here."
Sora shook her head and lied, "Actually, I don't. Why are you here?"
"Sora," Kari said still feeling the hurt she had felt from realizing her brother's pain, "Please, if there's something wrong, you know you can tell us." She looked at Sora pleadingly with her sad brown eyes- an exact replica of Tai's large chocolate brown ones, but which also gave a completely different effect. Sora turned her head away. That was the last thing, yet also one of the only things she wanted to see at the moment- something that would remind her of Tai.
"What makes you think that there's something wrong?" Sora smiled almost choking on her words.
"Cause I know you," Kari said, "I know that you love Tai and that you would never intentionally hurt him if you could help it."
"Kari..." Sora licked her dry lips and shook her head, "You wouldn't understand."
"How do you know?" TK interjected, "You won't even tell us what's going on, Sora. How do you know we wouldn't understand?"
Sora shook her head. She looked at the young blonde, then at Kari. She turned her attention to everyone else who was there: Matt, Izzy and even Yolei.
"Mimi called me this morning wanting to know how you were doing," Matt brought up, "She said that when she called you last and asked you about Tai, you hung up on her. I know there's something you're hiding. If not, then why do you keep avoiding the subject of you and Tai?"
"I just don't want to talk about it," Sora said. She brushed past her friends and headed up toward her house without saying another word. Again, she had fought her mind and her heart trying to decide whether or not she should just tell them. In the end, she came to the same conclusion she had many times before. It was best that she kept this to herself.
"Sora," Kari called to her. Sora stopped walking and slightly turned her head.
"Give me some time to myself," Sora said suddenly in the most sincere voice she'd used all week, aside from the faked cheeriness, "When I collect my thoughts, I'll try to explain everything." Without another word, she walked into her house, headed straight toward her room and broke down in tears after locking her bedroom door.
Outside, her friends just looked at each other and then walked away all hoping that Sora would really tell them what was going on with her.
----------
"I'm coming!" Sora called out remembering that her mom wasn't going to be home tonight. She headed toward her living room and made a left toward her front door where someone stood outside knocking at it for the last five minutes, "Hold on! I'll be right there." She pulled the door open, being careful not to fully unchain her door.
"Hey, Sora," the familiar older friend said pushing his glasses up.
"Joe?" Sora shut the door, unchained it and pulled the door back open, "What are you doing here?"
"I needed to talk to you," Joe said, "It's about something I found out today while I was at work."
Sora gave him a confused look, but invited him in and closed the door behind him.
"Sora," Joe began taking a seat on the couch in her living room, "I want to ask you something and I want you to be honest with me." He gave her a serious look when she chuckled thinking that he was trying to joke about something. Her face straightened and looked at the 'big-brother' like person in front of her.
"What is it Joe?" Sora asked sitting in the chair at the other end of the coffee table.
"Sora," Joe said, "is there something wrong with your health? And I'm not asking about a simple cold or flu. I'm asking about something more serious. Like a heart disease or heart problem."
Sora stiffened. Her smile faded and her face became expressionless again. She began to shake her head 'no' to deny the fact, but she knew that the expression on her face had already given away the answer.
"Does this have anything to do with why you rejected Tai?" Joe asked. Sora looked at him blankly, again, not answering. Joe sighed, "Sora, why are you doing this? Actually, the question should be, why are you putting yourself through this?"
Sora looked away feeling the tears well up in her eyes once again. She could feel the pain in her heart all over again from her sadness and emptiness.
"You're afraid," Joe said, "I can see it in your eyes. But why are you so scared? You know you can always come to any of your friends. We'll be behind you one hundred percent. You know that. And Tai. You know that Tai will always be there for you."
Sora shook her head, "I know, but that's not the problem." Her voice was cracking and tears were beginning to escape down her cheeks again.
"Then what is it?" Joe asked in a loving brotherly tone.
Sora looked at him with those hurt eyes, "I don't know. I'm- I just don't know what I'm so scare of."
"Sora-" Joe began.
"Joe, I need to be alone," Sora said wiping away her tears, "I need to collect my thoughts." She got up and walked toward her door.
"Sora, you can't hide from this-" Joe stood up.
"Joe," Sora said in her stern tone. He nodded understanding that she really wanted him to leave. He walked out the door, but not after Sora said one last thing, "Promise me you won't say anything to Tai or anyone else." Without waiting for a reply, Sora shut the door.
Joe sighed, "I guess, I'll just have to promise her." He remembered the code of confidentiality that he, as a part of the Odaiba Hospital staff, had to agree to. Unless a patient gave permission, he was to never speak of his or her problem to anyone else.
----------
Sora walked slowly down the sidewalk. She had made up her mind to go find Dr. Kido. And this time, she would stay for her appointment. She felt a need to know about her condition. She needed to know if there was any possibility that this would only be something minor enough to fully treat.
But she still felt fear about finding out. She stopped walking and whirled around thinking, What if this is bad? What if this is worse than I thought? She shook her head not knowing whether or not she still wanted to go through with it. She turned and began heading home.
She suddenly stopped in her tracks as she felt a bit of pain shoot through her chest. It was then that she remembered she had forgotten to take the medication Dr. Rei had recommended for her- the one she was to take each night before she went to sleep. She slumped against the wall beside her and fumbled through her bag for the other medication- the one for emergencies only. Right now, it seemed practical.
She pulled out a small bottle of pills and cautiously, but quickly unscrewed the lid, while at the same time thinking, If it hurts this much, this has got to be a serious case. She held back tears of both fright and pain as she followed the directions of the medication, popping two of the small white pills into her mouth and then swallowing. She then put the lid back on the bottle and lowered herself to sit down.
After a couple seconds, her breathing became normal and the pain began to subside. She dropped the bottle back into her bag, but to her surprise, it missed and instead hit the ground and rolled off. Her eyes widened and she immediately reached for it, but it continued to roll away. She pulled herself up and hurried after the bottle as it continued down the sidewalk. Finally, though, it stopped... just as it hit the familiar looking sneakers of someone just passing by.
Sora panicked as the person bent over to pick up the bottle. She kept her head down as she awaited the predicted outburst from this person she knew.
"What's this?" the familiar male voice said. With his soft azure blue eyes, he glanced at the label unintentionally, but began to read it when his eyes spotted his friend's name and the kind of medication it was. He ran his hands through his blonde hair and looked at the older girl in front of him, "Sora?"
Sora took a deep breath and looked up. Her hand sprang out and she grabbed for the bottle, but missed when TK took a step back.
"What's going on Sora?" TK asked. He studied his friends tense, pale face already figuring out the answer.
"TK," Sora choked out, "please. Give that back." She reached for the bottle again and succeeded in retrieving it. She immediately dropped it back into her bag, making sure that this time it hit it's mark.
"Sora," TK's eyes softened, "Are you sick?"
Sora didn't answer him. She knew there was no way of denying it now. He had seen the evidence of a problem- her prescribed medication. She just hung her head and shook her head, not in denial, but in confusion and sadness.
"Is this why you're avoiding Tai?" TK asked in a concerned voice, "This is why you've rejected him. But why?"
"I don't know, TK," Sora let a tear slip down her cheek. She looked up to face him, "I just- It's for the best, TK."
"How is this for the best?" TK almost felt outraged, "Sora, you're obviously suffering from some sort of health problem-" he noted the pale complexion that was still on Sora's face "-And you're not letting any of your friends know about this. Why?"
"I just don't want anyone to worry... about me," Sora said sadly, "It'd be... too painful."
"Sora," TK shook his head, "You shouldn't keep things like this from friends. We all care about you a lot and you know it. You have to tell us these things. So we can care about you and share it with you. We would never let you battle this alone."
Sora bit her lip sadly and held back her tears. She looked into her young friends eyes which were now level with hers- being as how he had grown up so much over the years- and saw the sincere look he gave her. She totally and completely understood... but she still felt that this was a matter she needed to face alone.
"TK," Sora said, "Please... promise me you won't let anyone know. Please."
TK shook his head, "I can't do that Sora." He stared back at her crimson rubies and did all he could to fight the urge to buckle down and agree to keep her secret. He wanted to help his older friend- the girl who had taken care of him when no one else was ever around- the girl who was always like a mother to him... the older sister he never had... But he also knew how unhealthy and how wrong it'd be to not let his other friends know. As far as he knew, the group of friends were just like a big family... and if one of them were in trouble, they would all fight the battle together and share each other's sorrow.
"Please, TK," tears began to stream down her face.
"I can't, Sora," TK took a step toward his "big-sister"-like friend, "Sora... you're just putting yourself through a lot of pain doing this." He placed a hand on her shoulder.
Sora shook her head, "You don't understand."
"I understand that in trying to be selfless, you've succeeded in being selfish," TK said coldly. Sora looked at him hard and in confusion.
"TK-" Sora began as she wiped away her tears.
"No," TK shook his head, "Sora, listen to me. You say that you didn't want to tell any of us because you didn't want us to become saddened by this news, but at the same time, you've been pushing away all your friends." Sora shook her head and wanted to speak, but TK continued, "Did you think that by pushing us all away, by keeping things all to yourself it would make things better? Sora, the only thing that you've succeeded in doing is causing pain to all of us... more pain just by pushing us away... You won't talk to us, you won't even tell us what's going on. It hurt us a lot more when you avoid us... it makes us think you don't want us around anymore. You're not treating us like friends by doing this."
"TK," Sora began. She shook her head, "I never intended to hurt anyone at all. Not even Tai, but I just- I'm scared." She hung her head.
"What are you scared of?" TK asked, "Are you scared that we'll care about you and share you pain? Is that it?"
"No," Sora said, "I don't know what I'm scared of." She said this so softly that TK had to strain to hear.
"I know that it seems easier to just push everyone away and hope that we'll stop caring," TK said, "I know you, Sora. You're hoping that if we stop caring about you, then we won't hurt as much if something... happens to you."
Sora didn't speak. So far, everything that TK had said was right... and she knew it. She buried her face in TK's shoulder and sobbed quietly, being unable to fake her cheeriness any longer. TK embraced his big sister friend. She seemed so different... so fragile now. She was still like a big sister to him, having taken care of him all the time. But he knew that now it was his turn to comfort her and be there for her.
"TK," Sora said finally raising her head after a couple seconds, "I want to ask of you only one favor."
"Sora, I can't do it," TK repeated.
"No," Sora shook her head, "I just... I'll tell everyone about my problem... I want to tell them in person. I promise you I'll tell everyone. But I need just a little bit of time..." She still hung her head.
"How much time?" TK asked.
"I'm planning on seeing the doctor some time soon," Sora said, "and until then... I don't want to say anything yet. And I don't want you to tell anyone..."
"Will you at least assure everyone-?" TK began.
"I'll tell them something... when the time is right," Sora said.
"Promise?" TK asked.
Sora nodded, "I promise. I'll let them know that something's going on... but until I see Dr. Kido and find out my current condition, I'm not going to say anything more." She almost had to laugh at herself. For the longest time, she had been the one to take care of TK. She had been the one looking over him and helping him decide right from wrong. She could remember being there to help him make the correct decisions and teach him about people and life. But now, he turned around and tried to take care of her. It was true, TK had really grown up since about eight years ago when she first met him. He was no longer just a kid.
"Okay," TK said. He gave Sora a warm embrace, "This is what's for the best, Sora." He smiled, "You want me to walk you home? Or are you going to go straight to Dr. Kido's?"
Sora shook her head, "Well, I was planning on going, but I-"
"You're scared of the results," TK finished for her. He nodded, "I can come with you." He looked down when his pager went off.
"Kari?" Sora smirked. She craned her neck to see TK's pager.
TK nodded, "Yeah, she just got out of cheerleading practice and she wants to go out to eat."
"Go ahead then," Sora said.
"Why don't you come with us?" TK asked hopeful, "Then we'll brave the doctor's office together. I'm sure Kari will understand. She'll want to know."
Sora began to shake her head, but saw that TK wouldn't take no for an answer. He grabbed her hand and pulled her with him, "Come on, Sora. What you need now are friends to hang out with." Sora reluctantly went along.
Tai rounded the corner across the street and watched the two leave. He had arrived to see Sora crying in TK's embrace, but that was about it. He saw them speak and then he watched as TK received a page from Kari and the two headed off. Whatever it was that TK had said to Sora, it had made her seem a little cheerier than he had seen her the past few days. Sora didn't smile brightly, but for the first time that week, Tai saw a more sincere expression than he'd been seeing.
Sora's sad, Tai thought, Why was Sora crying? What's going on?
----------
"I saw you and Sora talking today," Tai said as he walked into the kitchen.
TK looked up from the television as did Kari. They exchanged glances.
"So what did you guys talk about?" Tai asked. Not exactly having been his usual cheery self lately, he had no intention of dropping hints on what information he wanted to ask about. He would just say straight out what he wanted to say and hope that he would receive an also straightforward reply. He popped open his can of pop and began drinking from it.
TK and Kari both tried to give the older brown-haired boy their most innocent "I-don't-know-what-you're-talking-about" look.
"I went off to lunch with Joe today," Tai said, "Then I saw Sora with you." He looked directly at TK.
"Tai..." TK remembered the conversation he had with Sora earlier. He knew that Sora would never break a promise and so he in turn promised her that he would allow her to explain everything when the time was right.
"Well?" Tai said beginning to feel more irritated than he already was. He had seen how hurt Sora looked. He had seen how Sora had cried on TK's shoulder. Now he wanted more than anything to find out what it was that was going on with Sora.
"Tai," TK began, "I don't know what to say to you." And it really was true. This situation with Sora had put him into quite a dilemma. On one hand, he knew that he had to tell Tai. The misunderstanding between him and Sora had gone on for too long and on top of that, Tai hadn't been the same since... He was never happy anymore and spent a lot of his time moping. It was only a day ago that he had begun gathering himself again; but even so, everyone could still tell how much he was hurting over Sora.
Tai crumpled his now empty can, having gulped down all the pop in less than a couple seconds. He breathed in deeply feeling annoyed and very angry, but he forced himself to calm a little bit knowing that getting on TK's case would probably just prevent the boy from saying anything at all.
"Come on, TK," Tai said, "I know something's up. You can tell me."
TK stood his ground and shook his head, "I don't know what to tell you. I don't know what you're talking about, Tai."
"Look," Tai said trying his best to contain the slowly sprouting rage within, "I'm trying to be straight forward with you. The least you could do is the same thing. Don't lie to me, TK." Though he remained calm, TK could still see the hurt in his eyes, now encompassed in anger.
"Tai," TK said, "There really isn't anything I can tell you. And yes, I did run into Sora today, but I still can't tell you anything."
"TK-" Tai began again, his right hand unwittingly closed together and his knuckles were turning white from the tight fist he now had.
"I just can't, T-" TK didn't even get a chance to finish off his statement. Blinded by anger, Tai had grabbed TK's shirt collar and pulled him up close.
"I don't want to hear 'I can't,' TK!" Tai said between clenched teeth. He then began raising his voice causing TK to turn his head, "I want to know what's going on with Sora! I know something is wrong. When I saw you guys today, she was crying! I could see the hurt in her eyes. Do you have any idea how it feels to know that the one person you love is in pain, but you don't even know why?!"
TK took a deep breath and faced Tai with a stern face. TK just stood there, not even squirming or trying to break free. He knew exactly how strong Tai was, despite the fact that TK was equally strong.
"Tai," TK said, "I can't tell you anything."
"TK," Tai said, "I'm not asking you. I'm telling you: I want to know what's going on with Sora. I know you know. Just tell me!" His strong arm instinctly began to lift the poor young blonde off of the ground, but stopped when a pair of delicate hands were placed on his.
"Tai, stop this!" Kari cried with the same anger as her own brother, but toned down enough to keep her rational, "It's not TK's fault, he promised Sora that he wouldn't say anything about her situation."
"You know too?" Tai didn't even attempt to lower the younger boy as he glanced over at his sister.
Kari nodded, "Yes, Tai. Put TK down." She sounded stern, but not stern enough for Tai to obey.
"Why are you keeping this from me?!" Tai asked angrily whiling roughly yanking TK a good six inches off the ground.
"I said stop it Tai!" Kari cried, "Sora asked us not to tell anyone about her heart problem!! And the only reason I agreed was because she promised that she'd clear everything with everyone when the time was right!"
That was all it took to make Tai crack. His angered expression immediately faded. TK was dropped back onto his feet as Tai stood there with a confused and blank look on his face.
"What?" was all Tai could choke out from the sudden surprise information he received.
"Kari," TK said softly shaking his head.
"I'm sorry, TK," Kari said, becoming calmed now, "I had to. There was no way I'd have been able to keep this from Tai." TK nodded in understanding and knew that this would have probably been the best thing to do.
"Tai," Kari put an arm around his right arm, hugging him tightly, "Sora's sick. She never intended to hurt you or anyone at all. She just didn't want anyone to worry about her." Kari looked up at her big brother's confused expression, "Tai, Sora didn't want you to have to go through the pain that she's been going through... not the physical pain from her heart disease, but the emotional pain that would come with it. And so she pushed everyone away from her, hoping to be able to swallow all the pain herself."
"She..." Tai didn't know what to say.
"Tai," Kari said, "I know you'd rather hear this from her personally, but Sora really loves you. She never stopped loving you."
Tai looked at his sister and she nodded with reassuring eyes. She didn't like seeing her brother so hurt. She equally didn't want to see the strong mother-like figure in her life go through pain either. She had agreed that she'd keep her mouth shut so long as Sora kept her bargain of the agreement by coming out and explaining her situation. But in a situation like this, Kari just decided that it'd be best to let the one love of Sora's life to know what she was going through...
----------
Sora sighed and rested her head on the pillow of her bed. She couldn't sleep. She felt too anxious and very, very restless. A total of three of her friends knew about her problem now. She sighed again, louder this time.
Flashback
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Kari sat back in shock. She looked at TK with a hurt expression, "You knew?"
"I just found out," TK said grimly, "I ran into Sora before you paged me."
Kari looked into Sora's eyes, "Is this why you hurt my brother?" She almost felt enraged, but at the same time she felt confused and still surprised.
"Believe me Kari," Sora began choking on her words a little, "I- I never had the intention of hurting Tai-" she felt a tear trickle down her cheek and she buried her face in her hands "-I would never ever do anything to intentionally hurt Tai. I just- I don't know... I- I love Tai... more than anything in the world... more than my own life. I just- I never wanted to hurt him and I know I did. I know I messed up this time..."
"She's been keeping this bottled up inside of her for the longest time," TK said, "She's been suffering ever since she found out. Pushing Tai away only killed her inside even more."
Kari sighed, "I'm sorry Sora."
Sora shook her head, "No, it's my fault. I feel so bad."
End of Flashback
Tai, I hope you'll understand, Sora blinked away the incoming tears.
"Sora?" a sweet voice called from outside her door.
Sora pulled herself up, "Come in, Mama."
The door opened and the middle-aged woman came in with a sad smile, "How are you feeling? You certainly kept this a secret for long enough." Sora could see the tiredness in her mother's eyes along with the sadness.
"I'm sorry, Mama," Sora said looking down at her hands, "I just didn't want anyone to worry."
"You know I would have eventually found out," her mother sat down on Sora's bed next to her, "Dr. Rei is a good friend of ours. She would have told me soon enough. I'm just glad that I heard it from you."
"Oh, Mama," Sora felt tears welling in her eyes, but blinked them away. She leaned forward and embraced her mother warmly.
"But what about your friends?"
Sora pulled back and looked her mother in the eye, "I..."
"I know for a fact that you and your friends are very close. They're almost like a second family to you. Are you planning on telling... anyone else?" her mother said the last two words in a way to indicate that she was referring to one certain person. Sora immediately caught on and shook her head.
"I don't know, Mama," Sora said, "I can't tell him... It's hard enough knowing this myself. It's going to be even harder telling him." She hung her head.
"I may not be an expert," her mother said raising Sora's face, "But I am your mother... and I know that deep down, you really care about this boy. And he loves you more than his own life. For this reason, he deserves to know... But in the end, whether you decide to tell him or not, that's your decision."
Sora looked back down, "I promised TK and Kari that I would tell everyone... and I never break promises... but..."
Mrs. Takenouchi shook her head, "Promises are just bonds. Though they should never be broken, it doesn't take too much to do so."
"I saw Dr. Kido today," Sora said, "He told me that he'd have the results of my check-up by tomorrow." She chuckled, "He made a little bit of an exception for me because of Joe."
"Whatever the results may be," Mrs. Takenouchi put a hand on her daughter's shoulder, "You do whatever you think is for the best, Sora. Just follow your heart. You know how." She smiled and then left Sora's room after giving her daughter one more long tight embrace.
Sora lowered herself back down on the bed and closed her eyes, "I just hope everything goes alright." She opened her eyes and stared out the window at the moon, "I'm sorry, Tai. I never meant to hurt you. I... love you."
~*~*~*~*~*~
He looked around the huge park. Loose dry leaves blew in all directions via the cold, nippy breeze. He paid no heed to the sudden unexpected coldness for this summer day. To him, it was nothing compared to the emotional coldness he felt from the empty void and the sadness in his heart. Nonetheless, he shoved his hands into his wool pockets and proceeded to wander around with no definite destination.
He watched as children ran around laughing and screaming... Parents yelling at those kids to be careful... But none of this excitement brought any type of warmness to his broken heart.
***
She brushed a lock of her auburn hair out of her face. A blank, almost uncaring, yet expecting expression was lain upon her delicate face that used to be full of cheer, strength and love. Her head slowly raised as she heard her name being called.
To her, everything seemed to be moving in slow motion as she made her way toward the doctor's office. Her heart was beating at a very rapid pace. She held her breath and felt a dizzy spell come over her, but forced herself to ignore it. Instead, she whirled around on her feet and dashed out of the office, paying no attention to the nurse who was calling to her.
***
Tai sat down on an empty park bench. He sighed sadly, staring out at the group of children happily chasing the ball around in a game of soccer. His mind drifted off... He had known his best friend since he was a little boy, but it was on the soccer field that he had been formerly introduced. And it was also on that same soccer field that they had fallen in love and became the best of friends.
He sighed thinking about what had happened over the past couple days...
After TK and Kari had, so nicely, told him about Sora's current condition, he didn't know what he had to do. He knew that he had to be there for her, yet he also realized that seeing her would cause both of them to break down in sadness. He had tried to find her just so he could be by her side, but each time, she had avoided any type of contact with him. And he knew exactly why...
***
Sora ran. She didn't stop. She was too afraid... scared of what the end results for her were. She was scared that seeing Dr. Kido would only be telling her how much longer she had to live. It felt like a death sentence.
She finally slowed to a stop in the middle of the large park. She caught her breath and slumped down onto the nearest bench, then buried her face in her hands.
Why is all of this happening to me? Sora lifted her head. She looked at her bag and slowly opened it to pull out that horrid business envelope. The one that carried the bad news she had received only days and days ago. She felt a lump form in her throat, but shrugged it away. She laid the envelope next to her and then proceeded to stare blankly out at the young children playing soccer.
Sora almost smiled remembering that it was on a soccer field that she fell in love with her best friend. It was on a soccer field that she first formally met her brown haired knight in shining armor. But her smile quickly faded... It had become such a nuisance... her conscience was. She could kill herself right now. Time after time, Tai had come looking for her... Time after time, she had pushed him away or altogether avoided him. She regretted treating him the way she did. She wanted to have him near her... but just thinking that if her end results turned out that her condition was incurable, then she and Tai would never be together. This made her want to push him away even more... to get over with the pain before they became any closer to each other... before she had a chance to hurt him even more...
***
Tai leaned back and rubbed his face. He felt tired. He felt sad. He was feeling just about anything but happy and joyful right now. He let out a deep breath and stood up. Maybe walking will help more, he thought heading around the park again.
He stopped in his tracks though. Sitting merely a few feet away from him, was his angel... the love of his life...
"Sora," Tai whispered. Determined not to let her get away this time, he approached her as she buried her head in her hands for the second time since she got there. He knew that she could sense someone coming toward her, but she made no attempt at looking up nor acknowledge his presence.
Slowly, he reached out a hand to her and set it on her shoulder. He felt her stiffen up a little as he sat down next to the beautiful girl. She still refused to look up, but spoke with her sweet voice, tinted with an attempt at rudeness, "Go away."
He swallowed and spoke her name. He could immediately feel the girl tense up as she slowly raised her head to face him. Their eyes met. He felt the sadness and pain in his heart intensify when he saw the also hurt engulfed crimson ruby eyes of the one he loved.
She looked away, but he raised a soft warm hand to turn her back around. With one hand he wiped away a solitaire tear that had managed to escape those beautiful eyes. He smiled sadly at her hoping that he could somehow reassure her that everything would be alright... hoping that he could reassure himself that everything would be alright. He watched sadly as Sora's eyes began to tear up again.
Before he knew it though, she brushed away his hand and jumped to her feet. In the same split second, he jumped up after her and grabbed her arm. He forcefully whirled her back around to face him as she tried to runaway from him.
I can't let her go, Tai thought, I can't let her run from me anymore. I need her and she needs me. I need to be by her side.
Sora's eyes watered. "Tai," she squeaked out, but was inaudible to the world. She began to sob uncontrollably, breaking down and throwing her arms around her best friend, then burying her face in his shoulder.
Tai instinctively wrapped his arms around her tightly- he didn't want to ever let her go again. "Don't worry, Sora," Tai whispered to her, "Everything will be alright. I'm going to be here for you, no matter what. I'm never ever leaving your side... ever..."
"Tai," Sora cried still sobbing. She pulled her head up to look at his face... that outstandingly handsome face... She rested her forehead on his chest as she continued to cry her heart out, "I'm so sorry, Tai."
"Shh..." Tai said smoothing out the girl's auburn red hair.
Sora looked up at him as she began to stop her tears from falling, "I'm sorry, Tai. I- I never ever meant to hurt you."
"I know, Sora," Tai wiped away the tears that had streaked her face, "I know."
They looked deep into each other's eyes and for the first time in a long time, they could see in each other, something else besides the hurt and the sorrow... For the first time since all this had begun... a feeling of warmth and a feeling of happiness could be seen in the two lovers' eyes once again. Warmth, happiness, joy, relief, sincerity...
"I love you," they both said at the same moment.
... and love.
Sora pulled back into the warm embrace and held on to him tightly, and Tai did the same. He kissed his beloved lightly on the top of her head and closed his eyes. He finally felt like himself again... he finally felt the empty void disappear and he was finally whole, with more... And Sora... Sora was feeling the exact same...
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I hope you liked it. I tried my best. After the last chapter, I'll have two complete fics now.
Yeah, and I know, I know, hurry up and finish The Ancient Prophecy of Light. Hurry and take care of Pride and Love. I'm working on them... And about ten other ideas that are in the process of being written.... I'm pathetic.
Don't worry, people, there's more. Unless you want to end it right there, which is your decision. I'm in the middle of righting the next part, which will be the epilogue.... Probably Sora's results and everything... It'll be pretty short, but I wanted to make sure that I could end this off in a happy way.
Thanx and don't forget to review.