Misunderstandings: Part Three
By: Sakura
~*Flashback*~
With detention over, Yagami Hikari quickly left the classroom without another glance and headed to her locker. At the moment, she didn't want to talk to Takeru. She was afraid of asking him…afraid of getting turned down…
Odaiba High was throwing a formal dance for everyone. But the rules for this dance was that the girl had to ask out the boy. The idea came from Sukimi Chiharu, the social rep on the student council. Of course, Chiharu had reasons for suggesting this, but no one knew them and no one else knew it was her suggestion.
"Wait, Hikari!" Hikari whirled around and saw Takaishi Takeru trying to catch his breath, since he had just run after her and finally caught up. "Why did you leave so fast?" he gasped out. Hikari turned her back to him and bit her lip. What was she going to say? Sorry, but I'm afraid to ask you to the dance so I don't want to see you? She began to fiddle with the lock on her locker, pretending to be absorbed with her task but Takeru saw through the act instantly.
"Hikari," he said softly, as he took her hands away from the lock and held them in his. "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," answered Hikari briefly as she looked at the ground. Her eyes darted to glimpse his face and she knew Takeru knew she was lying. Suddenly, he released her hands and leaned against the locker, his arms behind his head, his eyes closed, and a mischievous smile on his face.
"I bet I know what's wrong," he said in a knowing tone. Hikari simply stared at him wordlessly. Takeru opened his eyes and turned to face her. "You're thinking of asking someone to the dance, right?" Again, Hikari stared at him, speechless. Takeru grinned at her and pretended to study his nails. "Well, since I'm still partnerless, and you're desperate, I guess it's okay for you to ask me." Hikari eyes widened in surprise first, than finally anger, and she smacked the laughing Takeru with her binder continuously when he didn't stop laughing.
"Dummy!" she shouted. "I'm not desperate! And I wouldn't ask you to the dance if you were the only person left on Earth, Takeru!"
Takeru caught the binder in his hand and held it away from her. His blue eyes, previously dancing with laughter, had suddenly turned very serious. "Hikari, hold on," he said quietly. Finding herself caught under the spell of his beautiful blue eyes, Hikari suddenly froze. "The truth is…I…Hikari…I want to go with you!" The words all came out in a rush, Takeru trying to say it before he lost his courage again. Hikari could only stare at him.
"You…want to go with me?" she whispered. Takeru nodded. "Takeru…I…"
"I wanted to ask you, Hikari," he said in earnest, "but because of that dumb rule…" Takeru took a deep breath. "You're not mad at me, are you?"
Hikari pretended to glare at Takeru. "After that scene, I don't know why I would want to go with you!" she said. But before Takeru could have time to react to that, Hikari immediately put the question before him. "Takeru, will you go to the dance with me?" Takeru's eyes instantly lit up and he impulsively pulled Hikari into a hug and they both laughed. "It's great to be able to laugh and smile sincerely," reflected Hikari to herself with a small smile.
"Takeru, let me get my books and then we can leave, okay?" asked Hikari. Takeru nodded, his smile still stretched from ear to ear. He was so happy at that moment. Hikari wasn't sad anymore and she wanted to go with him to the dance. For once he was looking forward to a school dance. Hikari finished getting her things and closed her locker. Unexpectedly, Takeru took all her books out of her arms and carried them, ignoring her protests. He smiled at her and she returned his smile genuinely. Without thinking, Takeru placed his arm around Hikari and the pair walked down the hall, leaving the school.
Out of the shadows stepped Chiharu, angry tears rolling down her cheeks. She had just returned from cheerleading practice when she distinctly heard someone shouting that they would not ask Takeru to the dance. Curious about who would even think of asking out her Takeru, Chiharu quietly tiptoed toward the source. When she reached the intersection in the hallways, she gasped, then quickly ran back and hid behind the lockers, afraid that they had seen her. Takeru was with Hikari…it was Hikari who had shouted out in anger and she was now hitting Takeru with her binder. They hadn't seen her. Chiharu slowly crept back and peeked out. Takeru had taken hold of Hikari's binder and said something, something that Chiharu couldn't hear. Hikari replied, equally as quiet. But then, one sentence caught her attention immediately.
"Takeru, will you go to the dance with me?"
The sight of Takeru suddenly throwing his arms around Hikari in a hug and them sharing laughter was too much for Chiharu. She leaned against the lockers, tears springing to her eyes, and slowly slid down until she hit the ground. The tears wouldn't stop, no matter what. Even when she brushed them away, more fell to replace them. "Takeru…" she whispered. Her heart felt like it was breaking…
Hearing Hikari close her locker door, Chiharu quickly found a place between lockers and stood very still in the shadows, not wanting them to know she had seen them. And seeing Takeru walk down the hallway with his arm around Hikari's shoulders was another harsh blow to Chiharu. But it didn't make her sad. No, it made her angry. "It's all Yagami's fault," muttered Chiharu bitterly. "I'll get her back for taking Takeru from me. She won't get him…ever…I'll make sure of it."
~*End Flashback*~
Unlocking the door, Hikari walked into her apartment with her son behind her. Kumiko Taka tried to stifle a yawn but it was never missed from Hikari's eyes.
"It's been a long day," she said softly, giving her son a hug. "I'd say it's time for you to go to sleep."
"But, mom," protested Taka. At Hikari's stern gaze, Taka nodded and hurried to get ready for bed. Hikari put her jacket away and then walked into her own dark room. The blinds were open, letting a stream of moonlight fill the room, and Hikari walked to them and stood still, staring out at the brightly lit city.
Most of that day had been spent in catching up with old friends, talking about days long ago, and watching their children play together in the Digital World. When dusk began to set in, the DigiDestined began to part, with promises of another reunion in the near future, and then each family left and went their own separate ways. All of their Digimon opted to stay in the Digi-World. The drive home for Hikari and Taka was uneventful, but both of their minds were filled with thoughts of the reunion.
"Takeru…" whispered Hikari. Out of the corner of Hikari's eyes sat a photo frame on her side table, beside her clock. Hikari walked toward her side table picked up the photo, slowly sitting down on the side of her bed. There were three figures in the picture. Hikari, Taka, and…Two tears drops suddenly fell and splattered onto the glass covering of the frame. The third figure had dark green hair and his laughing hazel eyes mirrored Hikari's and Taka's in that photo. Hiroshi…
Soon, thoughts of her late husband began to push out those of her first love…She was afraid that thinking of Takeru would mean she was being unfaithful to Hiroshi…and her memory of him…Hikari truly loved Hiroshi, but a small part of her always had cared for Takeru. But Hiroshi had left her, and Taka, to a place where neither could follow…Five years ago, there was a terrible car accident where one car lost complete control and skidded straight into a second car, killing the driver in the second vehicle. That driver had been Kumiko Hiroshi. The driver of the first car miraculously survived, having nothing more than a broken arm, a few broken ribs, and a minor concussion. Hiroshi was not so fortunate, not even able to escape with his life, for he died the instant the cars impacted. Hikari was slightly comforted with the fact that the doctors told her about how it all happened so fast that Hiroshi wouldn't have felt much pain…hopefully none at all.
But if only it weren't Hiroshi! There wasn't a kinder or gentler husband, caring father…The tears continued to stream down her cheeks as Hikari held the picture close to her heart. She missed Hiroshi terribly…
A light knock on her door caused Hikari to start in surprise. "Yes?" she asked softly, choking back sobs. Taka slowly crept into her room and watched his mother from behind as she vainly tried to wipe away all traces of her tears. He had stood quietly at the doorway and watched as her few tears turn into a sob, her shoulders shaking visibly. Hikari placed the photo back on her side table but could not turn around to face her son just yet, not with her eyes wet with tears. Two arms suddenly reached out to embrace her and Hikari turned to see Taka hugging her.
"Don't cry, mother," he said, trying to fight back his own tears. "I'll always be here for you, you know that." Taka turned to look up at his mother and smiled briefly. "Besides, dad wouldn't want you - us - to be sad forever." Hikari placed her arms around her son and held him in a close embrace. He was right; Hiroshi wouldn't want them to be sad forever. But still…she missed him.
Snuggling close to his mother, Taka soon fell asleep in her arms. Hikari couldn't sleep right away, her mind going in circles, mulling over the day's events. But as sleep began to overcome her, Hikari realized that seeing a particular someone again had slightly dulled the pain in her heart, even though she had tried hard not to let it.
"Takeru…"
Author's Note: It's the first time I posted a chapter/fic in over a month! -_- Sorry…I hadn't meant that. Anyway…this story is taking a weird turn, ne? Is it bad? Is it good? I have to say that there's only one person that motivates me to work on this fic. PC^Gurl! ^_^ I've been rather depressed as of late, but PC^Gurl always manages to cheer me up (*giggles* though I don't think she realized that ^_~). Thanks PC^Gurl! This chapter is for you!
*Sakura
~The Animé Archives Team