Greetings all! Here's the latest exciting (riiiiight) installment of my wonderful (whatever) story. *grins* Sorry it took so long, School starts Tuesday and I've come down with the flu. figures, doesn't it? What a way to start my senior year...
I'm getting meaner in this chapter, there's a warning. Yet another thanks to the wonderful Lavender Ana for beta-reading, and finding all of my typoes! :) Also; a big thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, you're all awesome! ^_^
Have fun reading, and don't forget to review!
TWELVE MONTHS
By: Laura
Chapter Two: September 2027 - Torrential Winds
September is a month of beginnings. The beginning of School. The beginning of Autumn. It's a time to, excuse the pun, turn over a new leaf. August wasn't a happy month for many. Even memory of the reunion seemed jaded with betrayal and pain. September brought hope of new beginnings to many. Hope that would quickly falter and plummet.
Dreams are fragile things that blow in the wind like a falling leaf. The torrential winds of September swept up dreams and tore them to shreds.
September's promise of new beginnings was empty, as so many promises are.
~Anaia Izumi
-- -- --
The rain was what first alerted Sora to the fact she wasn't about to have a good day. It was pouring in her open window, onto her desk. The sizzling noise coming from what used to be her laptop computer woke her minutes before her alarm was supposed to go off. Swearing, she jumped from her bed and ran to rescue the machine from the rain. "I just had to pick last night to leave the window open." She muttered, thankful that both her sons were with their father.
That wasn't all that went wrong for her that morning. She burned her toast, spilled her coffee, and misplaced her car keys. The rain ruined her hair, she didn't have an umbrella, and by the time she got to work Sora looked like a drowned rat that had been hit by a stampede of water buffalo.
Sitting on her desk was a large folder marked "BiyoBird Sales Report" With a scowl, she ignored it. She knew it didn't contain good news.
Almost immediately after she settled at her desk, the door opened. "The board wants a meeting, NOW." The angry face of her Sales Manager informed her. "Might want to be on time, since we're probably all out of jobs." He shook his head sadly.
Sora eyed him silently. Sure, the man was a huge pessimist, always behaving like this when the Board wanted a meeting, but there was something different in his eyes this time. "I'll be there soon." She said softly.
Once the door had shut, she reached tentatively, almost fearfully towards the sales report on her desk.
Then her world slipped away.
-- -- --
Chewing thoughtfully on the end of a pencil, Anaia Izumi surveyed her class lists for the new school year. With classes beginning in three days, she needed to prepare. With an almost silent hum, she started writing notes on the various pages before her. She almost didn't hear the ring of the telephone.
"Hello?"
"'Nai? It's Toicy."
Anaia's face lit up at her cousin's voice. "Hey! How's Cody doing?"
"He's fine. He took Amelia to the courthouse with him today, she loves it there." There was a visible change in the younger woman's voice. "I have a problem..."
"Oh? What's wrong?"
"You have to promise you won't tell Cody, he'll just worry, you know how serious he can be!" her voice was slightly frantic.
"I promise, I won't tell Izzy either."
"I was throwing up again, like I used to when we were in College."
Anaia paled. "Are the headaches back?"
Toicy murmured an affirmation.
Anaia's pencil fell to the ground, her work forgotten. "Is there any chance you're pregnant? Nausea and headaches are symptoms of that..."
"No, I'm not pregnant... After Amelia's birth, Cody and I agreed we only wanted one child. He went and had that operation..."
"Oh god, Toicy, you have to go see Dr. Kujai"
"I know, I'll call my mother later and get his number." Her voice fell even more. "I'm scared, 'Nai."
"I am too" The older woman admitted. "But we can get through this together, we do everything together!" Anaia smiled faintly, that was true. They had married within months of each other, both to digidestined, and their daughters were only a year apart in age.
"I hope so..." Toicy murmured.
-- -- --
Matt Ishida smiled faintly as he watched his children. The older boy, Tyler was getting beaten at VideoFighter3K by his younger brother, Chris. In his own childhood, the tables would've been turned, with Matt beating TK at such things.
He was interrupted from his nostalgia by the doorbell. Warning his boys to behave, Matt went to answer the door. Standing before him was his ex-wife, looking like she'd been through hell.
"Sora?" He worriedly ushered her in from the rain.
"Matt..." She burst into tears and buried herself against his chest, seeking comfort in him as she had during their marriage. "It's all over Matt... Everything. The business is bankrupt."
The blonde man winced, and held her against him. "I'm so sorry..."
"I'll have to sell my house. All of my money was in that business."
The two children had heard the sound of their mother's weeping, and quickly hurried to the foyer. "Momma?" Chris asked, hesitantly reaching for her. "What's wrong, Momma?"
Sora continued weeping, absently pulling her children against her. "I'm so sorry, boys... I tried."
Tyler looked up at his father, confused. "Dad? What's Mom talking about?"
It wasn't a fun night for the torn family. Sora stayed in the guest room of Matt's house, unwilling to return home. When Tai came to the door with the intention of taking Matt to a bar, Sora had fought with the former leader of the Digidestined over his insensitivity and she slammed the door in his face.
Pressed against an unfamiliar pillow, Sora wept.
-- -- --
"Hey Dad! Guess what?"
TK Takaishi looked up from his computer into the eyes of his only child. Leaning back in the chair, he smiled at him. "What?"
"I made the team!" Jesse grinned. "Only the best boys in school get to be on the basketball team, and I made it!"
"That's great!" TK gave his son a high-five.
"You think Mom would've been proud?" The young boy's voice was hopeful.
"I know she would've." TK replied. His wife, Catherine, had been murdered when Jesse was just three. The poor boy never really had a chance to know her. They had stayed in France, mostly because TK didn't have the heart to tear the boy away from his home. Part of him wished Jesse had a stronger relationship with TK's brother, and his two sons. "Jesse, after the Basketball Season, how would you feel about taking a vacation?"
The young boy blinked. "A vacation? In the middle of the School year?"
"Well, not really a vacation... Would you like to take your second semester of school in Japan? With your cousins, and your Uncle Matt?"
"Would you come too?"
TK nodded. "Nothing permanent, just a chance to spend some time with family. You could see your Grandparents..."
"That'd be fun..." His expression turned serious. "Just as long as I don't miss any basketball. The season doesn't end until December."
"I promise," TK assured his son with a laugh "You won't miss any basketball games."
-- -- --
Toicy Hida sighed sadly at the doctor. "Isn't there anything we can do? I know there wasn't before, but that was twelve years ago..." She looked at him hopefully.
Dr. Kujai looked wearily at her. "You've grown into a wonderful woman Toicy, with a wonderful husband and a wonderful daughter. I wish I had better news for you, but I just don't think there's anything we can do this time..."
"How long?" Her voice was quiet.
"A few months... spend them with your family, Toicy. I can give you painkillers for the headaches, but otherwise there isn't much I can do. You've always known that."
"There's still a chance, right? A chance it'll go away, just like it did when I was younger?"
The older doctor regarded her with pained eyes.
-- -- --
Toicy's always been my best friend. The sister I never had. The one person I could always rely on. When we were in College, we lived off campus in a small apartment together. She began getting very ill. Headaches, Nausea, Fainting spells... Her mother eventually sent her to a specialist, Doctor Kujai. She was diagnosed with some rare virus with no name, just a series of numbers classifying it.
They gave her only a few months left to live.
She pulled through, by some miracle. The disease just left her... We both feared it would return, and we both knew it would. It wasn't until right after she got better that we met Izzy and Cody, She never told him about her near death experience.
The first two weeks of September were hard, she sat Cody down and told him everything. Toicy called me afterwards, saying Cody took it really well. I just don't know.
Everyone was facing inner struggles that month. With the collapse of her business, Sora was forced to sell her home, and moved in with Matt for the sake of their children. Tai still hadn't snapped out of his depression, in fact, Kari feared it was getting worse. Things continued to go downhill...
-- -- --
Matt leaned against the doorframe to his kitchen. He observed Sora silently as she leafed through the classifieds. Her degree was in fashion design, but her fashions had flopped. There wasn't much market for someone like that to get a steady job. He didn't mind that she was living with him, he loved seeing his boys every day. It just made memories of exactly why they had divorced resurface in his mind.
He loved Sora when they were teenagers, and he knew she loved him. They loved each other throughout their marriage, the birth of their children, and even through their divorce. Love had nothing to do with why they split.
At some point in time their love for each other had evolved into a very deep friendship. He loved Sora, but he loved her as his closest friend. She had felt it too, that evolution of feelings. They both began to long for the passion and romance that they couldn't provide each other. It had surprised everyone when they announced their divorce.
Their intense friendship had remained intact throughout everything, and Matt knew that he could always depend on Sora, no matter what.
He was glad she felt the same way.
Matt was shaken from his thoughts when the phone rang. Motioning to Sora to continue with what she was doing, he grabbed the portable receiver and headed towards another room.
"Hello?"
"Matt? It's Paul, I have huge news." Paul worked at the Japanese Space Agency, he was in charge of organizing missions.
"Oh? What's the news?" Matt leaned against his desk.
"Tyoua was thrown off the Hephaestus 4 Mission, and since it launches in less than a month, you're the only person qualified to take his place."
The prospect of going back into space made Matt shiver with anticipation, then he remembered Sora. "I don't know, Paul…" He couldn't just leave her, and what about Tai? If anyone needed a friend it was him. Plus, he had heard from Ken that something was wrong with Cody's wife... this was the worst possible time for him to have to leave.
"Come on Matt, one more time, before you're too old."
He snorted. "I'm thirty-nine, that isn't old."
"You're not John Glenn, Matt."
"Can I think about it?"
"Not really, if you decline I'll hafta put a message into NASA and the Russian Space Agency looking for another astronaut." Paul grunted softly. "C'mon Matt; you know how much I hate those snotty Americans..."
Matt sighed. "It's tempting, Paul..."
"Space is calling you, Matt."
"I just can't say no..."
-- -- --
Yolei knocked softly on the door in front of her, and shifted nervously. Why she was nervous, she didn't know. This was the home of the man who had been her best friend since she was eight. She had found the five year old Cody playing alone in the sandbox, as his Grandfather watched. That had been the basis for a strong and lasting friendship.
Before she could become too lost in nostalgia, Yolei found herself face to face with Amelia, Cody's young daughter. Her eyes were slightly puffy, but the girl's face boasted a large smile.
"Yolei!" She squealed, wrapping her arms around the violet-haired woman's legs. "Did you bring Tomaya with you?" She asked hopefully.
Yolei smiled and patted Amelia's head. "Sorry sweetie, Tomaya wanted to stay at home this time. I'll be sure to bring her over sometime soon. Is your father home?"
"Yeah, he's playing with his sticks."
It took Yolei a moment to figure out what Amelia meant. "His Kendo Sticks?" She was surprised. Cody had given up Kendo when his grandfather passed away not long after his seventeenth birthday.
Amelia nodded. "Yeah, he's swinging them around and stuff, it's funny to watch."
With a small laugh, Yolei followed Amelia through the small house to the backyard, where Cody was practicing Kendo maneuvers.
"Daddy! Yolei's here!" The small girl then turned and headed inside, saying something about wanting to wait for Mommy to get home.
Cody turned and fixed his olive green eyes on her. Then he grinned broadly.
Yolei was shocked yet again. For someone who had been told a few weeks earlier that his wife was most likely dying, he seemed to be taking it pretty well.
Setting his Kendo sticks down, he walked over to her and gave her a warm hug. "Hello Yolei! Toicy had an appointment, but she should be back any minute now. Can I get you anything?"
She blinked. "No, I'm fine. I just came to check up on you."
Cody laughed. "I'm great, Yolei. No need to worry about me." He was talking a little too fast for Yolei's liking.
She pursed her lips. "Are you sure? You know I'm here if you-"
Cody cut her off with another laugh. "I'm fine, Yolei."
Further conversation was interrupted by Amelia's excited shrieking, her mother had returned. Yolei followed Cody into the house and smiled to Toicy, who was followed by her cousin.
Anaia quickly excused herself and motioned for Yolei to come with her. As the two women headed down the driveway towards their cars, Anaia stopped suddenly, adjusting her glasses. "You and Cody are best friends, right Yolei?"
She nodded.
"I took Toicy to see her doctor today. The news isn't getting any better."
Yolei nodded again, sadly.
"She's worried about Cody." Anaia said softly, leaning against her vehicle. "He tries to hide it from her, but he cries at night. He pretends that everything's fine, but she says he cries."
"He was doing Kendo today, he hasn't done that since he was seventeen." Yolei sighed. "I think he's trying so hard to put on a brave face that it's hurting him even more."
Anaia nodded.
-- -- --
Your voice is small and fading
And you hide in here, unknown
Against the starkly white pillow of her temporary bedroom, Sora's tears fell. Her shoulders shook as she wept silently, so she wouldn't wake her sons. Matt was gone, off at the Space Agency for some pre-mission preparations. She had nearly lost him once before to his job, and she was so scared she would again.
Sora wasn't sure if she could handle being alone. She was unemployed, and trying to raise two perfect boys. As much as she hated admitting weakness, Sora needed Matt.
And you mother loves you father
'Cause she's got nowhere to go
Kari Kamiya was sleeping soundly. Gareth leaned his ear against her door, listening for the sounds of her steady breathing. Once he was sure his mother was asleep, he hurried down the hallway of their apartment and slipped out the door.
In front of the building his two older friends were waiting for him.
"What took you so long, runt?" One of them asked.
"Mom stayed up late to watch something." Gareth shrugged. "Forget about it, can we go now?"
And she wonders where these dreams go
'Cause the world got in her way
Toicy watched her husband silently. Had he known she was awake, he'd shove his sorrow inside himself once more, she knew it. Aching to reach out and hold him, it was nearly painful for her to keep her arms at her side.
Cursing her virus, and doctors, and medicine that wouldn't cure her, Toicy's own weeping threatened to overtake her. She had a promising career as an artist, a loving and devoted husband, the most precious daughter she could ever ask for.
I wasn't fair.
What's the point in ever trying?
Nothing's changing anyway.
-- -- --
September is a month of beginnings. The beginning of School. The beginning of Autumn. It's a time to, excuse the pun, turn over a new leaf. August wasn't a happy month for many. Even memory of the reunion seemed jaded with betrayal and pain. September brought hope of new beginnings to many. Hope that would quickly falter and plummet.
Dreams are fragile things that blow in the wind like a falling leaf. The torrential winds of September swept up dreams and tore them to shreds.
September's promise of new beginnings was empty, as so many promises are.
~Anaia Izumi
-- -- --
Coming Soon:
Chapter Three: October 2027 - Life of an Innocent
Children are beautiful, and more often than not, the most important thing in the world to their parents. As Matt leaves for space and Kevlyn grows more distraught with Davis, a tragedy strikes one of the DigiDestined. A Child is Killed.
Well; there we have it for that chapter. I don't own Digimon or the song Acoustic #3 by the Goo Goo Dolls... Try and guess what really happens next time ^_^ What is Gareth up to? How will Matt's mission go? Will Toicy get better? Why weren't Davis, Mimi and Joe in this chapter at all? Why is Laura asking so many stupid questions? ^_^
Reviews make tha chapters come out faster... and reviews = faster chapters = this story not taking twelve months to write (Oh look, laura made a bad pun. How cute!)
Anyways, thanks in advance for reviewing? (Feeling guilty yet?)
