Providence and Fate
This ficcy is dedicated to the Takari supporters. Our endless efforts have resulted in nothing. The animators and the dubbers will obviously be flooded with our complaining mail and our mallets. We have put up a good fight though and through all this time, it was worth it. On the bright side, Hikari didn't marry Daisuke! By the way, I'm really, really sorry for not getting this up sooner but a lot of things are going on so please forgive me! I'm also trying my hand at writing Harry Potter fics and originals so I'm really sorry!
In case you forgot, here is the last paragraph from the last chapter:
Doko ni mo Hikari went, she was somehow reminded she had to go in two weeks. That night, Hikari lay in bed staring up at the empty ceiling. It would be one of her few days left here in this apartment. From under her bed, Hikari produced a Sony Walkman and listened to one of her tapes. Music was comforting at times like these. Slowly, the tune lulled her to a plagued sleep with unsettling dreams.
From the bottom of his heart, Takeru gathered up all his courage to find strength in asking Hikari out on a date. This seemed so different from the times that Takeru had just asked Hikari to go with him somewhere whether it be the skating rink in the winter or the park in the spring. All during the day at school, Takeru was wording his question so it wouldn't hint anything too obvious. Daisuke noticed the discrepancy whenever Takeru answered the sensei. He was curious at that and also noted that whenever the sensei called on Hikari, Takeru's eyes would gloss all over.
'Strange' Daisuke thought to himself. He knew that Takeru couldn't be thinking about the prom because the prom had already come and gone and he knew it couldn't be any of the school dances because there were no current dances.
Hikari sat in Core class waiting for the bell to ring. The sensei had just given an awfully long lecture and the class was getting boring. She nearly drifted of to sleep when the sensei asked her a question but fortunately, the bell rang signifying the start of the next period. What luck, it was lunch.
Her head spinning, Hikari slipped past the other students out of class. She fumbled with the silver combination lock and opened it after a couple of unsuccessful attempts. Placing all her possessions in the tiny locker space, she headed off outside. Hikari was going to skip eating lunch in the cafeteria and take a walk outside. She wasn't very hungry anyway. At times like these, Hikari always took comforting walks to clear her mind. The chilly spring air soothed her as she pushed the school's front door open and walked out onto the desolate sidewalk. A few people were outside, some out for a smoke and several others just chatting. The strong burning scent of a cigarette reached Hikari as she wrinkled her nose in disgust and walked quickly to get away from the putrid smell. The man with the cigarette started walking towards Hikari as she tried to get away.
"Hey there baby. What's the rush?" asked the man casually as he dropped his cigarette to the ground, crushing it with the toe of his expensive leather shoe still stiff with newness.
"Get away!" answered Hikari. She and the stranger were on a quiet side street.
The man was reaching for Hikari's hand when suddenly a blonde boy came running fast around the corner.
"Get your hands off her!" he screamed as he lunged for the man tackling him to the ground.
"What's up with that!?" yelled the stranger.
"Go NOW or I'll call the cops on you." The blonde boy responded. It was Takeru.
"OK. Geeze kid. How did you even find her? She was alone. You must be her boyfriend or something."
"GO NOW!" Takeru reiterated.
"I'm going. I'm going." And the stranger left reluctantly.
"Hikari, oh my goodness. Are you OK? Don't you ever go running off like that again. You just left the class without saying a word to anybody. I was so scared when I couldn't find you in the cafeteria." With that Takeru embrace Hikari in his arms.
"I was so afraid. If you hadn't got here in time who knows what would have happened? Thank-you Takeru." Hikari held onto Takeru tightly as her face flooded with silent tears. She felt somehow strange because the hug Takeru was giving her radiated with so much caring and concern. It was almost like Takeru loved her and would die if she went away. Maybe Takeru really did love her.
"Are you sure you're OK?"
"I'm sure, silly. Now stop worrying. I'll walk back to the school with you." Replied Hikari as Takeru wiped the tears away from her face. Her cheeks were rosy from the cool air but she looked simply angelic. Takeru caught a few sideway glances on their way back to the school as he gathered up his courage. When they were inside the school property, Takeru spoke up.
"Hikari, would you be interested in dinner this Friday? I mean, nothing special, just dinner and maybe a walk at the beach or something." Takeru tried his best to make this sound like something casual but his voice was strangled with nervousness.
"Sure! Why not? I mean, I've only got a few weeks more left here, and I think I should spend it with the people closest to me." Hikari replied trying not to sound too jubilant.
"How about this Friday at 7:00 then? I'll pick you up at your apartment." He said as calmly as he could, refraining from his wave of relief and keeping the last thing that Hikari had said in mind.
"Okay. Thanks for worrying about me. Thanks for being there for me." Were Hikari's last words before they entered the school building. Luckily, lunch was not yet over, leaving 10 minutes to catch up with Miyako and the others. Daisuke was wondering where the two had been in fear that he was losing to Takeru for Hikari, but he relaxed when he saw Takeru go away for basketball practice.
"So, Hikari, where were you and Takeru?" Daisuke interrupted Hikari and Miyako's conversation.
"Nowhere. Really, Daisuke I don't think it's any of your business." Hikari replied rather coldly than her usual friendly self. Even she was surprised a bit at her harsh words.
"Oh, I see." Daisuke said in response rather taken aback, as he decided to keep quiet for the rest of lunch.
"Ready for soccer practice Dai?" Satoru asked as he bumped shoulders with Daisuke by his locker. Satoru was in University but stayed on the local soccer team.
"Huh, What? Oh. Oh yeah." Daisuke responded rather absently.
"What's up, man? You're so zoned out today. What's on your mind? Hikari?" Satoru teased.
"Actually, yeah. She's been treating me like utter cow dung lately and I feel like I've lost her, even as just a friend."
(A/N): I refrain from using slang words and swearwords instead of cow dung because I am a Christian. F.Y.I. Back to the story.
"Aw, come on, Daisuke. She doesn't hate you. Do you ever stop and think about people other than yourself? Think of what she's going through. In a few weeks or so, she has to leave her loved ones and her dearest friends behind. Have you ever thought about how hard it is for someone to leave the place she has been for all her life? I think she's just a slight bit depressed, that's all. Put some sense in your thoughts Daisuke."
"I know," muttered Daisuke, "But don't you understand, Satoru? I love her. I don't want her to suffer but she won't let me into her heart. Why?"
"Why don't you ask her? I'm not Hikari." replied Satoru thoughtfully.
"You think it's that easy? Have you ever tried having a heart to heart talk with Miyako? It's the same situation except she loves you as back."
"Daisuke, don't say things you don't know." scolded Satoru growing slightly pink.
"Whatever." Daisuke dismally retorted as the boys headed off to soccer practice.
That Friday night, Takeru picked up Hikari right on time. She came out of her room wearing khaki coloured capris and an elbow length navy blue shirt. She had a butterfly clip in the place of where her pink clip usually was. Takeru smiled at her and the two of them walked out of Hikari's apartment door as Taichi and Sora closed it behind them.
"Where are we going?" asked Hikari curiously.
"Oh, just that restaurant by the beach." replied Takeru reassuringly.
"Mmm. Sounds good." replied Hikari absently.
They strolled along the boardwalk in the setting sun to the small little restaurant by the harbor where boats where bobbing up and down ready to be stored away in the sheds for the winter that was to come. Finally, the two stopped in front of a red-bricked cheery building. They entered as the chimes above them clinked together.
"May I ask how many people?" queried the man at the front desk.
"Two, please."
"Smoking or non-smoking?" asked the man who was apparently a waiter as he took two of the menus of the shelf beside him.
"Non-smoking." replied Takeru.
"Very well. Please follow me."
The waiter led them to a small table by the window looking out to the waters. He handed them the menus.
"I will be with you in a moment." he said curtly and left.
"What do you want? I'm trying the seafood. I heard it's great." Takeru asked.
"Well, I think I'll try the seafood fettuccini." replied Hikari.
The waiter returned with a pad of paper and a pen.
"What would you like?" he briskly questioned as he had several other customers to attend to.
"I would like the seafood fettuccini." Hikari went first.
"And I would like to try the rice with seafood." Takeru finished.
"Anything to drink?" the waiter questioned as he jotted the orders down.
"An iced cappuccino for me." Takeru said.
"How bout, um, a cup of tea for me." Hikari answered.
"Very well. So, it is a seafood fettuccini, rice with seafood, an iced cappuccino and a cup of tea."
Takeru and Hikari nodded in agreement. The waiter left as he gave the orders to the chefs in the kitchen.
"So, is it your first time here?" Takeru asked.
"Actually, yes. Thanks for taking me here."
"No problem at all." Takeru answered in a cheery voice.
"I'm going in three weeks, Takeru." Hikari's voice was much quieter.
"I can't stop you Hikari. I will always ask myself; why do people have to grow up change and marry, but I realize that it's all a part of life. How long are you going away for?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I've decided that it's better for me to take both courses so I'll have both degrees and a wider horizon when it comes to choosing a career," Hikari took a breath at this point, "I'll be gone four and a half years in total. I'm sorry Takeru but I know this is what I must choose."
"Where are you staying?"
"One of my distant aunts in Canada has offered to board me for my teaching course in Canada, but I don't know what I'll do for the three years in the United States. I'm thinking about renting an apartment complex in which I can share with Hitoru, one of my friends, and Daisuke because they both might be going to study in Massachusetts as well and at the same University at least for a year if not more."
Takeru cringed for a moment at the thought of Daisuke staying with Hikari.
"What's wrong, Takeru?"
"Uh, never mind. Just an ugly thought came to my mind."
Hikari suddenly shifted her attention to the waters. A slight orange glow coated the surface of the azure waters as the sky was blushing with tints of red, pink and yellow.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she sighed.
"Yes. I wish it was possible to capture a moment and keep it in a bottle forever." Takeru spoke from his thoughts.
"If I could do that, I certainly would have a good many bottles!" replied Hikari.
The waiter soon returned with their dinners and drinks and talk was quiet during dinner. After, Takeru paid for their meal and they left the quaint little restaurant.
"Care for a walk?" Takeru asked slowly.
"Why not?" Hikari said cheerfully as she stepped on the sand.
"If you take off your shoes and socks and walk on the sand, it's really comforting."
Hikari giggled but followed suit as Takeru was removing his running shoes. They walked side by side in the cool air as the sky was darkening by the second. Suddenly, the first sign of a star glimmered in the night sky as another and another appeared. Soon, the sky was littered with tiny pinpoints of luminous stars. Hikari washed her feet in the cool water and dried them on the rocks as she put her socks and shoes back on. Takeru did the same. All evening they had not spoken but Takeru wanted desperately to say something.
"Hikari, have you any dreams that seem distant?" Takeru, at this, was referring to their relationship only as friends but Hikari seemed not to notice.
"Oh yes. Everybody must have some kind of dream or goal that seems unachievable but that's the point of life. To strive for something you wish to achieve."
"I want to ask you something, Hikari. I know you are going away but will you someday promise to be my wife?" Takeru spoke softly as he took her hands in his.
"I…" Hikari stammered, "I don't know," she said waveringly. She was confused at being suddenly pulled up to the surface into the adult world and the calmness of her undisturbed space had been broken.
"What do you mean? Is it Daisuke?" Takeru said apparently taken aback. He felt so sure Hikari had loved him all these years.
"I can't give you my word on anything, Takeru. And it isn't Daisuke. Oh why did you have to do this? We are friends. And friends we shall remain forever." Hikari said as she broke into tears and pulled her hands out of Takeru's. Running at high speed, she ran through the crowded streets of the night, her tears obscuring her vision, but Hikari didn't care. She ran all the way to her apartment, fumbled with the house key and locked herself in her room. There she collapsed on the bed and sobbed her heart out. She was confused and she despised Takeru and herself. It could never be the same again.
Takeru stood there motionless for a few seconds as his treasure fleetingly escaped him. He was alone but he then came back to earth and ran after Hikari. Takeru caught a few glimpses of Hikari before losing her completely, dodging through all the street vendors and pedestrians. He walked home slowly and dejectedly, thinking what went wrong. When he arrived at his door, Takeru opened it a creek before entering. His mother had fallen asleep in front of the television.
'Good, I can get to my room without her asking any questions.' Takeru thought as he quickly locked the door behind him and crept to his room, shutting himself in. He took his coat off and flopped in his bed staring at the blank ceiling above. Some particular words echoed in Takeru's mind and they really stung him too. 'We are friends. And friends we shall remain forever.' Of course they were friends, but weren't they something more? Takeru was deeply troubled.
"White ceiling, I'm just like you. My life is as bleak and unfulfilled." He yelled up to his ceiling but to no one in particular. Eventually, he drifted off to an uneasy sleep.
"Hikari, you don't sound to good. I'm coming right over to cheer you up. I need to take a break from studying." Miyako was on the phone with Hikari.
"No, Miyako. Please don't. You don't understand." Hikari said pleadingly.
"Too bad, Hikari. I'm coming whether you like it or not. I have something to tell you anyway." Miyako stated firmly and hung up.
Hikari sighed. When Miyako made up her mind, she made up her mind and nothing was going to get in her way. Ten minutes later, Hikari answered the door. Miyako was there with a smile on her face and a parcel in her hand. Hikari let her in and they walked to her room.
"My parents are out and my brother is at Sora's… again, even when he should be studying for his exams."
The two girls sat on the carpeted floor beside Hikari's bed.
"So, why the long face?"
"I'll tell you after you tell me what you came over for." Hikari responded curiously.
"Ok fine," Miyako pulled off her purple mittens and revealed a golden ring band with a small, shimmering diamond plastered in the centre of it. The ring was on her slender middle finger and looked beautiful in contrast to the pale pigments of her skin.
"Like it?" Miyako said rather expectantly.
"Like it? It looks so pretty on your finger. Don't tell me, it was Satoru!" Hikari said accusingly, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" she gushed.
"Well, you seemed so occupied with school work and life and it just happened three days ago. He just asked me. We aren't marrying for four years at least. We both believe it is important to finish our education and my mother won't let me get married until I'm at least 22."
"Oh, I'm so happy for you." Hikari burbled with joy as she hugged Miyako tightly.
"Well, what's your problem? Why are you so dismal?" Miyako suddenly turned her focus to Hikari.
"It just that Takeru asked me to promise him something." Hikari started quietly.
"What can be so bad about that? What did he ask you to promise him?" Miyako asked.
"He asked me to promise him that I would someday be his wife." Hikari spoke, her voice almost fading to a whisper.
"What did you say, Hikari?" questioned Miyako with anticipation.
"I told him that I couldn't promise him anything and I ran." Hikari choked, breaking into tears.
"YOU DID WHAT? HIKARI, ALL THE DIGIDESTINED THINK THAT YOU TWO ARE MEANT TO BE, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE DAISUKE. HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO HIM AND YOURSELF? WHY?" Miyako said, apparently extremely exasperated.
"Because I'm confused. Oh, Miyako. I don't think I can ever truly love him like that. I don't care for anyone in that way." Hikari spoke in between her sobs.
"Oh, I'm sorry Hikari. Didn't have any right to blow up at you like that. It's just that all these years I believed that you two loved each other and were destined soul mates. Hikari, I'm sure if you rethink this over you will realize that you are wrong."
"No, Miyako. I've only tricked myself into thinking that I ever loved him in the years before. I don't love Takeru but I don't want to hurt him. I hate myself now. Why can't we just be friends?"
"You have already done permanent damage to Takeru that cannot be rectified. Being friends is not enough for Takeru, Hikari. He wants your love, not your friendship. Here, take this. It's a blue scarf I knitted for you to remind you not to forget your home when you go to America." Miyako said as she handed the parcel to Hikari.
"Thanks so much, Miyako" Hikari sniffled as she wiped her tears away and opened the package eagerly. The blue scarf was a navy blue with small white snowflakes knitted into the corners.
"Oh it's beautiful," Hikari smiled weakly as she gave Miyako a hug, "And it will certainly remind me of home." she whispered.
Miyako had to leave then because she had to get back to her studying. She left as Hikari thanked her over and over again.
"It's alright, Hikari. Just think about what I said. You may be wrong about Takeru." Miyako said as she left the apartment. After Miyako had gone, Hikari sat on the couch and sighed despairingly.
"B-B-B-B-B-R-R-R-R-R-I-I-I-I-I-N-N-N-N-N-G-G-G-G-G!!!!!"
"I'll get it!" Takeru hollered to his mother from his room.
"Moshi moshi?
"Hi Takeru, it's Satoru."
"Hey, what's up?" Takeru asked rather distractedly. His mind was on other things.
"Well just thought I'd tell you a couple of things that you might like to know."
"Go ahead."
"Well, I'm engaged to Miyako but we aren't getting married until we finish school." Satoru said rather flustered.
"Even the world is against me!" roared Takeru.
"What?"
"Oh, never mind."
"Okay… and, uh, Daisuke is going to Massachusetts for his technology course. He's planning on going on the same flight as Hikari."
"Great," Takeru said sarcastically, "That's the last thing I need to know."
"What's that?"
"Never mind, Satoru. It's okay. But thanks for telling me."
"Okay. Talk to you later."
"Bye."
Satoru was confused at Takeru's emotions but suppressed it with his happiness for Daisuke being accepted by Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Takeru was punching his pillow. The only word that came to his mind was 'Why?' He sat down on his bed, defeated, and put his head in his hands. The world was not at ease.
(A/N): Please read and review. I wrote more to compensate for my lateness. Please review. Oh, and if you were wondering, I assure you this will be a Takari ending. Guaranteed. I am a
Takari-ist after all!
This ficcy is dedicated to the Takari supporters. Our endless efforts have resulted in nothing. The animators and the dubbers will obviously be flooded with our complaining mail and our mallets. We have put up a good fight though and through all this time, it was worth it. On the bright side, Hikari didn't marry Daisuke! By the way, I'm really, really sorry for not getting this up sooner but a lot of things are going on so please forgive me! I'm also trying my hand at writing Harry Potter fics and originals so I'm really sorry!
In case you forgot, here is the last paragraph from the last chapter:
Doko ni mo Hikari went, she was somehow reminded she had to go in two weeks. That night, Hikari lay in bed staring up at the empty ceiling. It would be one of her few days left here in this apartment. From under her bed, Hikari produced a Sony Walkman and listened to one of her tapes. Music was comforting at times like these. Slowly, the tune lulled her to a plagued sleep with unsettling dreams.
From the bottom of his heart, Takeru gathered up all his courage to find strength in asking Hikari out on a date. This seemed so different from the times that Takeru had just asked Hikari to go with him somewhere whether it be the skating rink in the winter or the park in the spring. All during the day at school, Takeru was wording his question so it wouldn't hint anything too obvious. Daisuke noticed the discrepancy whenever Takeru answered the sensei. He was curious at that and also noted that whenever the sensei called on Hikari, Takeru's eyes would gloss all over.
'Strange' Daisuke thought to himself. He knew that Takeru couldn't be thinking about the prom because the prom had already come and gone and he knew it couldn't be any of the school dances because there were no current dances.
Hikari sat in Core class waiting for the bell to ring. The sensei had just given an awfully long lecture and the class was getting boring. She nearly drifted of to sleep when the sensei asked her a question but fortunately, the bell rang signifying the start of the next period. What luck, it was lunch.
Her head spinning, Hikari slipped past the other students out of class. She fumbled with the silver combination lock and opened it after a couple of unsuccessful attempts. Placing all her possessions in the tiny locker space, she headed off outside. Hikari was going to skip eating lunch in the cafeteria and take a walk outside. She wasn't very hungry anyway. At times like these, Hikari always took comforting walks to clear her mind. The chilly spring air soothed her as she pushed the school's front door open and walked out onto the desolate sidewalk. A few people were outside, some out for a smoke and several others just chatting. The strong burning scent of a cigarette reached Hikari as she wrinkled her nose in disgust and walked quickly to get away from the putrid smell. The man with the cigarette started walking towards Hikari as she tried to get away.
"Hey there baby. What's the rush?" asked the man casually as he dropped his cigarette to the ground, crushing it with the toe of his expensive leather shoe still stiff with newness.
"Get away!" answered Hikari. She and the stranger were on a quiet side street.
The man was reaching for Hikari's hand when suddenly a blonde boy came running fast around the corner.
"Get your hands off her!" he screamed as he lunged for the man tackling him to the ground.
"What's up with that!?" yelled the stranger.
"Go NOW or I'll call the cops on you." The blonde boy responded. It was Takeru.
"OK. Geeze kid. How did you even find her? She was alone. You must be her boyfriend or something."
"GO NOW!" Takeru reiterated.
"I'm going. I'm going." And the stranger left reluctantly.
"Hikari, oh my goodness. Are you OK? Don't you ever go running off like that again. You just left the class without saying a word to anybody. I was so scared when I couldn't find you in the cafeteria." With that Takeru embrace Hikari in his arms.
"I was so afraid. If you hadn't got here in time who knows what would have happened? Thank-you Takeru." Hikari held onto Takeru tightly as her face flooded with silent tears. She felt somehow strange because the hug Takeru was giving her radiated with so much caring and concern. It was almost like Takeru loved her and would die if she went away. Maybe Takeru really did love her.
"Are you sure you're OK?"
"I'm sure, silly. Now stop worrying. I'll walk back to the school with you." Replied Hikari as Takeru wiped the tears away from her face. Her cheeks were rosy from the cool air but she looked simply angelic. Takeru caught a few sideway glances on their way back to the school as he gathered up his courage. When they were inside the school property, Takeru spoke up.
"Hikari, would you be interested in dinner this Friday? I mean, nothing special, just dinner and maybe a walk at the beach or something." Takeru tried his best to make this sound like something casual but his voice was strangled with nervousness.
"Sure! Why not? I mean, I've only got a few weeks more left here, and I think I should spend it with the people closest to me." Hikari replied trying not to sound too jubilant.
"How about this Friday at 7:00 then? I'll pick you up at your apartment." He said as calmly as he could, refraining from his wave of relief and keeping the last thing that Hikari had said in mind.
"Okay. Thanks for worrying about me. Thanks for being there for me." Were Hikari's last words before they entered the school building. Luckily, lunch was not yet over, leaving 10 minutes to catch up with Miyako and the others. Daisuke was wondering where the two had been in fear that he was losing to Takeru for Hikari, but he relaxed when he saw Takeru go away for basketball practice.
"So, Hikari, where were you and Takeru?" Daisuke interrupted Hikari and Miyako's conversation.
"Nowhere. Really, Daisuke I don't think it's any of your business." Hikari replied rather coldly than her usual friendly self. Even she was surprised a bit at her harsh words.
"Oh, I see." Daisuke said in response rather taken aback, as he decided to keep quiet for the rest of lunch.
"Ready for soccer practice Dai?" Satoru asked as he bumped shoulders with Daisuke by his locker. Satoru was in University but stayed on the local soccer team.
"Huh, What? Oh. Oh yeah." Daisuke responded rather absently.
"What's up, man? You're so zoned out today. What's on your mind? Hikari?" Satoru teased.
"Actually, yeah. She's been treating me like utter cow dung lately and I feel like I've lost her, even as just a friend."
(A/N): I refrain from using slang words and swearwords instead of cow dung because I am a Christian. F.Y.I. Back to the story.
"Aw, come on, Daisuke. She doesn't hate you. Do you ever stop and think about people other than yourself? Think of what she's going through. In a few weeks or so, she has to leave her loved ones and her dearest friends behind. Have you ever thought about how hard it is for someone to leave the place she has been for all her life? I think she's just a slight bit depressed, that's all. Put some sense in your thoughts Daisuke."
"I know," muttered Daisuke, "But don't you understand, Satoru? I love her. I don't want her to suffer but she won't let me into her heart. Why?"
"Why don't you ask her? I'm not Hikari." replied Satoru thoughtfully.
"You think it's that easy? Have you ever tried having a heart to heart talk with Miyako? It's the same situation except she loves you as back."
"Daisuke, don't say things you don't know." scolded Satoru growing slightly pink.
"Whatever." Daisuke dismally retorted as the boys headed off to soccer practice.
That Friday night, Takeru picked up Hikari right on time. She came out of her room wearing khaki coloured capris and an elbow length navy blue shirt. She had a butterfly clip in the place of where her pink clip usually was. Takeru smiled at her and the two of them walked out of Hikari's apartment door as Taichi and Sora closed it behind them.
"Where are we going?" asked Hikari curiously.
"Oh, just that restaurant by the beach." replied Takeru reassuringly.
"Mmm. Sounds good." replied Hikari absently.
They strolled along the boardwalk in the setting sun to the small little restaurant by the harbor where boats where bobbing up and down ready to be stored away in the sheds for the winter that was to come. Finally, the two stopped in front of a red-bricked cheery building. They entered as the chimes above them clinked together.
"May I ask how many people?" queried the man at the front desk.
"Two, please."
"Smoking or non-smoking?" asked the man who was apparently a waiter as he took two of the menus of the shelf beside him.
"Non-smoking." replied Takeru.
"Very well. Please follow me."
The waiter led them to a small table by the window looking out to the waters. He handed them the menus.
"I will be with you in a moment." he said curtly and left.
"What do you want? I'm trying the seafood. I heard it's great." Takeru asked.
"Well, I think I'll try the seafood fettuccini." replied Hikari.
The waiter returned with a pad of paper and a pen.
"What would you like?" he briskly questioned as he had several other customers to attend to.
"I would like the seafood fettuccini." Hikari went first.
"And I would like to try the rice with seafood." Takeru finished.
"Anything to drink?" the waiter questioned as he jotted the orders down.
"An iced cappuccino for me." Takeru said.
"How bout, um, a cup of tea for me." Hikari answered.
"Very well. So, it is a seafood fettuccini, rice with seafood, an iced cappuccino and a cup of tea."
Takeru and Hikari nodded in agreement. The waiter left as he gave the orders to the chefs in the kitchen.
"So, is it your first time here?" Takeru asked.
"Actually, yes. Thanks for taking me here."
"No problem at all." Takeru answered in a cheery voice.
"I'm going in three weeks, Takeru." Hikari's voice was much quieter.
"I can't stop you Hikari. I will always ask myself; why do people have to grow up change and marry, but I realize that it's all a part of life. How long are you going away for?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. I've decided that it's better for me to take both courses so I'll have both degrees and a wider horizon when it comes to choosing a career," Hikari took a breath at this point, "I'll be gone four and a half years in total. I'm sorry Takeru but I know this is what I must choose."
"Where are you staying?"
"One of my distant aunts in Canada has offered to board me for my teaching course in Canada, but I don't know what I'll do for the three years in the United States. I'm thinking about renting an apartment complex in which I can share with Hitoru, one of my friends, and Daisuke because they both might be going to study in Massachusetts as well and at the same University at least for a year if not more."
Takeru cringed for a moment at the thought of Daisuke staying with Hikari.
"What's wrong, Takeru?"
"Uh, never mind. Just an ugly thought came to my mind."
Hikari suddenly shifted her attention to the waters. A slight orange glow coated the surface of the azure waters as the sky was blushing with tints of red, pink and yellow.
"Isn't it beautiful?" she sighed.
"Yes. I wish it was possible to capture a moment and keep it in a bottle forever." Takeru spoke from his thoughts.
"If I could do that, I certainly would have a good many bottles!" replied Hikari.
The waiter soon returned with their dinners and drinks and talk was quiet during dinner. After, Takeru paid for their meal and they left the quaint little restaurant.
"Care for a walk?" Takeru asked slowly.
"Why not?" Hikari said cheerfully as she stepped on the sand.
"If you take off your shoes and socks and walk on the sand, it's really comforting."
Hikari giggled but followed suit as Takeru was removing his running shoes. They walked side by side in the cool air as the sky was darkening by the second. Suddenly, the first sign of a star glimmered in the night sky as another and another appeared. Soon, the sky was littered with tiny pinpoints of luminous stars. Hikari washed her feet in the cool water and dried them on the rocks as she put her socks and shoes back on. Takeru did the same. All evening they had not spoken but Takeru wanted desperately to say something.
"Hikari, have you any dreams that seem distant?" Takeru, at this, was referring to their relationship only as friends but Hikari seemed not to notice.
"Oh yes. Everybody must have some kind of dream or goal that seems unachievable but that's the point of life. To strive for something you wish to achieve."
"I want to ask you something, Hikari. I know you are going away but will you someday promise to be my wife?" Takeru spoke softly as he took her hands in his.
"I…" Hikari stammered, "I don't know," she said waveringly. She was confused at being suddenly pulled up to the surface into the adult world and the calmness of her undisturbed space had been broken.
"What do you mean? Is it Daisuke?" Takeru said apparently taken aback. He felt so sure Hikari had loved him all these years.
"I can't give you my word on anything, Takeru. And it isn't Daisuke. Oh why did you have to do this? We are friends. And friends we shall remain forever." Hikari said as she broke into tears and pulled her hands out of Takeru's. Running at high speed, she ran through the crowded streets of the night, her tears obscuring her vision, but Hikari didn't care. She ran all the way to her apartment, fumbled with the house key and locked herself in her room. There she collapsed on the bed and sobbed her heart out. She was confused and she despised Takeru and herself. It could never be the same again.
Takeru stood there motionless for a few seconds as his treasure fleetingly escaped him. He was alone but he then came back to earth and ran after Hikari. Takeru caught a few glimpses of Hikari before losing her completely, dodging through all the street vendors and pedestrians. He walked home slowly and dejectedly, thinking what went wrong. When he arrived at his door, Takeru opened it a creek before entering. His mother had fallen asleep in front of the television.
'Good, I can get to my room without her asking any questions.' Takeru thought as he quickly locked the door behind him and crept to his room, shutting himself in. He took his coat off and flopped in his bed staring at the blank ceiling above. Some particular words echoed in Takeru's mind and they really stung him too. 'We are friends. And friends we shall remain forever.' Of course they were friends, but weren't they something more? Takeru was deeply troubled.
"White ceiling, I'm just like you. My life is as bleak and unfulfilled." He yelled up to his ceiling but to no one in particular. Eventually, he drifted off to an uneasy sleep.
"Hikari, you don't sound to good. I'm coming right over to cheer you up. I need to take a break from studying." Miyako was on the phone with Hikari.
"No, Miyako. Please don't. You don't understand." Hikari said pleadingly.
"Too bad, Hikari. I'm coming whether you like it or not. I have something to tell you anyway." Miyako stated firmly and hung up.
Hikari sighed. When Miyako made up her mind, she made up her mind and nothing was going to get in her way. Ten minutes later, Hikari answered the door. Miyako was there with a smile on her face and a parcel in her hand. Hikari let her in and they walked to her room.
"My parents are out and my brother is at Sora's… again, even when he should be studying for his exams."
The two girls sat on the carpeted floor beside Hikari's bed.
"So, why the long face?"
"I'll tell you after you tell me what you came over for." Hikari responded curiously.
"Ok fine," Miyako pulled off her purple mittens and revealed a golden ring band with a small, shimmering diamond plastered in the centre of it. The ring was on her slender middle finger and looked beautiful in contrast to the pale pigments of her skin.
"Like it?" Miyako said rather expectantly.
"Like it? It looks so pretty on your finger. Don't tell me, it was Satoru!" Hikari said accusingly, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?" she gushed.
"Well, you seemed so occupied with school work and life and it just happened three days ago. He just asked me. We aren't marrying for four years at least. We both believe it is important to finish our education and my mother won't let me get married until I'm at least 22."
"Oh, I'm so happy for you." Hikari burbled with joy as she hugged Miyako tightly.
"Well, what's your problem? Why are you so dismal?" Miyako suddenly turned her focus to Hikari.
"It just that Takeru asked me to promise him something." Hikari started quietly.
"What can be so bad about that? What did he ask you to promise him?" Miyako asked.
"He asked me to promise him that I would someday be his wife." Hikari spoke, her voice almost fading to a whisper.
"What did you say, Hikari?" questioned Miyako with anticipation.
"I told him that I couldn't promise him anything and I ran." Hikari choked, breaking into tears.
"YOU DID WHAT? HIKARI, ALL THE DIGIDESTINED THINK THAT YOU TWO ARE MEANT TO BE, EXCEPT FOR MAYBE DAISUKE. HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO HIM AND YOURSELF? WHY?" Miyako said, apparently extremely exasperated.
"Because I'm confused. Oh, Miyako. I don't think I can ever truly love him like that. I don't care for anyone in that way." Hikari spoke in between her sobs.
"Oh, I'm sorry Hikari. Didn't have any right to blow up at you like that. It's just that all these years I believed that you two loved each other and were destined soul mates. Hikari, I'm sure if you rethink this over you will realize that you are wrong."
"No, Miyako. I've only tricked myself into thinking that I ever loved him in the years before. I don't love Takeru but I don't want to hurt him. I hate myself now. Why can't we just be friends?"
"You have already done permanent damage to Takeru that cannot be rectified. Being friends is not enough for Takeru, Hikari. He wants your love, not your friendship. Here, take this. It's a blue scarf I knitted for you to remind you not to forget your home when you go to America." Miyako said as she handed the parcel to Hikari.
"Thanks so much, Miyako" Hikari sniffled as she wiped her tears away and opened the package eagerly. The blue scarf was a navy blue with small white snowflakes knitted into the corners.
"Oh it's beautiful," Hikari smiled weakly as she gave Miyako a hug, "And it will certainly remind me of home." she whispered.
Miyako had to leave then because she had to get back to her studying. She left as Hikari thanked her over and over again.
"It's alright, Hikari. Just think about what I said. You may be wrong about Takeru." Miyako said as she left the apartment. After Miyako had gone, Hikari sat on the couch and sighed despairingly.
"B-B-B-B-B-R-R-R-R-R-I-I-I-I-I-N-N-N-N-N-G-G-G-G-G!!!!!"
"I'll get it!" Takeru hollered to his mother from his room.
"Moshi moshi?
"Hi Takeru, it's Satoru."
"Hey, what's up?" Takeru asked rather distractedly. His mind was on other things.
"Well just thought I'd tell you a couple of things that you might like to know."
"Go ahead."
"Well, I'm engaged to Miyako but we aren't getting married until we finish school." Satoru said rather flustered.
"Even the world is against me!" roared Takeru.
"What?"
"Oh, never mind."
"Okay… and, uh, Daisuke is going to Massachusetts for his technology course. He's planning on going on the same flight as Hikari."
"Great," Takeru said sarcastically, "That's the last thing I need to know."
"What's that?"
"Never mind, Satoru. It's okay. But thanks for telling me."
"Okay. Talk to you later."
"Bye."
Satoru was confused at Takeru's emotions but suppressed it with his happiness for Daisuke being accepted by Massachusetts. Meanwhile, Takeru was punching his pillow. The only word that came to his mind was 'Why?' He sat down on his bed, defeated, and put his head in his hands. The world was not at ease.
(A/N): Please read and review. I wrote more to compensate for my lateness. Please review. Oh, and if you were wondering, I assure you this will be a Takari ending. Guaranteed. I am a
Takari-ist after all!