The Senior Year III

            Hikari Yagami never thought home could have arrived quicker.  The intensity of which she slammed the door crashed like nails on chalkboards; her steps rung like thunder to the Hitomitsu's on the floor beneath.  However, while Mrs. Hitomitsu beat her broom on the ceiling, the rhythm created quickly drowned, slipping beneath the pounding heartbeat in her head.  Hikari's eyes stung red and her legs shook violently; slightly dizzy, the room was beginning to swim but the temperamental pride of a Yagami heirloom kept her going. 

            Blind with rage she flew side-to-side from the room, not positive where her room was in the moment of discontent.  The sound of falling pieces brought her crashing back to earth.  Kari spun madly, dropping to her knees, the broom still banging beneath the floor as she examined the damage.  The old glass chess-set had entirely crashed onto the tile floor undamaged mostly, except the white knight, who'd shattered into three delicate pieces. 

            The holder of light held the fragmented pieces in her shuddering hands, allowing herself to smile, letting just a few tears to fall now quite sure they were for the chess piece and not Takeru.  It had been an old activity of hers and Taichi, aside from soccer, to examine the chess set.  Not play, no, because neither knew nor cared to learn despite Koushiro's best efforts, but just to look and poke the characters like shiny actions figures.  She herself had favored the Queen, being a regal looking piece and the only female besides.  Tai, however, was loyal to the valiant white knight, standing bravely on enemy lines to defend his palace.  Broken now, but she could still trace its little brave eyes despite its fragmented condition.

It was really their secret, though she might have mentioned it to Sora or someone a while back.

            Taichi, having heard the crash, poked his head out of his old room, eyes fresh with tears from his daily mourning session.

            "Hikari-chan, are you okay?"  He asked dubiously, having never actually seen his sister sobbing over a little broken toy horse.  Kari sniffled slightly, her fingers clenched loosely as she pushed her arms up to show him the minuscule broken knight.

            "I dropped the chess set."  She spoke softly, "The knight is broken, see?  He was always your favorite, wasn't he?"  Taichi blinked, before his little blink became a little scowl and he puffed up like a popover.

            "Of course not!  I was always the White King, the most regal.  The best.  The leader."  He enunciated on the word 'leader', his nose forming a ninety-degree angle with the ceiling, "You were the White Queen…Sora was the Black Queen and Yamato was the  Black Bishop."  It was Kari's turn to blink.

            "But…I thought…the knight…"

            "The knight?  Nah…I was the King. I used to wear that paper crown and towel. You were the Queen…Yamato was Bishop and…Takeru was knight!  Remember?  He was the white knight-"

            The little figure crashed to the floor again as Hikari let out a scream to shake the dead and stomped into her room, shrilling a mouthful of words Tai had no idea she even knew, let alone how to use.  Her bedroom door slammed closed.  There was a slightly muffled scream from inside, crashes of glasses, ripping doors open and the loud, reckless shuffling of hangers.  Again, Hitomitsu below banged her broom against her ceiling. 

Taichi blinked.  And shrugged.  And moseyed on into the kitchen, unworried.  It wouldn't have been the first time it'd happened.

            Daisuke examined the little holes in the ceiling as he talked, his hands clasped over his stomach as he rested, stretched in a straight manner over the couch.

            "And then they made a weird truce, and went off, and I came here.  I think…this might have something to do when I was seven, and my parents wouldn't get me that bright blue and orange soccer ball I wanted for Christmas…what do you think?"

            Kita looked up from the little cow picture she'd been drawing on the yellow paper and shrugged.  "I really don't know what to make of it, Daisuke."  She put the notebook on the coffee table.  "But uh…don't you think we should be studying?"

            "Oh yeah…"  Sheepishly, he let his socked feet rest on the floor and Kita moved into the empty cushion beside him.

            "Daisuke?"
            "Kita."  He asked indifferently, reaching for the textbook that also lay next to the coffee table.  She casually brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, resting her fingers in her lap.

            "I ah…I wanted to say that…"
            "Yeah?"  He asked, now preoccupied with finding the correct page in the text.  Her hand swiftly reached over and slapped it shut.  Sharply, her eyes met his own.

            "I wanted to tell you thank you, for not letting that little incident in ninth grade change the way you act around me."

Ninth grade?

            And suddenly, all the memories of green and brown and white and black and blue all came flooding back to him.  He'd honestly forgotten about the entire incident up until that moment.  Suddenly, Daisuke realized how close those strong biceps were to his unprotected midsection.  How her knees faced him.  In one easy swish, she could crush his 'manhood' for all they were worth.  She could head-butt him into the adjacent wall if she just moved her head a little further.

            He cringed mentally at the thought.

            "Daisuke?  Daisuke, you're shaking."  It was true; his hands were experiencing their own personal earthquake.

            "Yes…yes well…thank you…ah…Kita…"  He stammered, and smiled sheepishly.  At her genuine smile, he felt the imperative need to gain distance.  He scooted in the opposite direction until his back met with the ever-trivial couch armrest.  Dai gulped as Kita enclosed the gap, their shoulders barely touching.

            "Are you okay?"  Her voice was rich with concern.

            "Yeah, I'm…I'm ah…I'm ah…good."  Daisuke tried to smile, but all that came up with a little quiver of in his mouth.  She smiled again, pursing her uncolored lips.

            "Then…"  Kita drew little circles on his knee.  "Do you want to make out?"

Daisuke fell off the couch.

            "Kita!"  Shocked as he gasped.  She gently placed herself on the floor, crawling on all fours as he backed away.

            "Daisuke you have no idea what I'm going through!"  Poor Dai felt himself desperately running out of space.  "Ever since Tanako-Sensei told me that he wanted me to help you with studying for the final I've been unable to think of anything else but you!" 

"But that was just yesterday!"  He squeaked in protest.  As expected, Daisuke backed himself right into a wall.  Kita edged up on him.

"Oh but it's so much more than that!  Every time I passed you in the hall, on the stairway, or at lunch I felt so guilty.  All I want to do is make up every moment of pain or fear or dread of me.  Every minute.  Please…let me show you how sorry I am…" 

"Don't you…"  Kita rested her hands on his shoulder as she closed in, "think this is a bit sudden?"

"It seems like forever…"  Her breath was hot on his cheek.  And then by some resonance on Dai's part, he managed to squirm from her grasp.  Kita's small hands pushed against the wall.  Daisuke, especially flustered after that encounter, stammered as he tried to remember where the door was.  Kita stared at him with her small, doe eyes, sparkling from emerald to jade.

"Please reconsider."  She whimpered.  Daisuke tried to ignore the plea, but after three years of terror, his teenage hormones started to kick in again.  And seeing her, all alone and small on the floor…well, he was a free, unrestrained love-um-and-leave-um kind of guy.  And one just doesn't say no to those kinds of opportunities!

But alas, he was already clinging to the doorknob, and with a final will of strength…

"IhavetogoKitabye!"  And quickly shut the door.

Then opened the door and practically tackled her before the journey to the couch.  And, somewhere between an hour to an hour and a half of savage kisses, Dai looked up, particularly unhinged and asked,

            "Are we tallying this?"

            The answering machine blinked.  Takeru looked up in a tired sort of way, considered, then moved languorously towards it and pushed the 'play' button.  A French accent filled his ears.

            "Hello?  Takeru, this is Catherine.  I wanted to wish you goodbye before I leave tonight; my flight takes off at nine, if you'd like to come.  Bring Daisuke along, if you wish.  Thank you for being so hospitable to me on my little vacation here.  Goodbye."

"Thursday, three-thirty-seven, PM." BEEP!

            For a half second, he wondered why he never noticed the answering machine blinking before.  Then checked the clock; it was just about eight five, and the airport was twenty minutes away.

            "I've got nothing to lose."  He thought, almost bitterly, grabbed his jacket and the keys from the counter.  The door slammed shut thirty seconds after.

            Takeru took advantage of Yamato's not being home and stole the car, stopping in front of the apartment complex that brought up thoughts he chose to ignore.  The Itogazaii household was obvious; in the windows facing the street were rows and rows of swimming trophies.

Knock.

            Daisuke looked up.  Kita tipped her head back, viewing the world from upside-down.

            "I wonder who it could be."  Kita murmured, untangling herself.  One arm had gone through the sleeve of Dai's shirt and wound around his collar, while the other had three of her fingers stuck in his belt loop.  After several seconds they'd separated, and sat on the couch, staring at the door.

            "Hello?" Uttered the voice on the other side.  Kita treaded to the entrance and pulled it open.

            "Oh, konbanwa Takeru!"  Daisuke peeked over her shoulder.

            "Oh, hey.  Lemme get my stuff."  Inside, items had toppled; lamps and porcelain bowls, fruit brushed from the table, pictures on the wall hanging crooked, Tanako's textbook half under the sofa, for the most part appearing forgotten.  Takeru blinked, but said nothing.

Daisuke had placed all of his belongings into his backpack and hoisted it over his shoulder, starting out the door.  Kita leaned, an odd expression on her face, upon the doorframe as maroon-haired Dai stepped outside.  He touched over quietly, leaned down and kissed the corner of her mouth. 

"Goodnight, Kita."  In return, she mouthed him just below the ear.

"Goodnight, Daisuke."

Again, Takeru blinked but said nothing. 

Together, the boys walked off to the car, which parked on the side of the empty street.

            "What was that?"  Takeru asked with a monotone expression.  Daisuke closed his mouth in thought, and lifted his dark eyes to the night sky.

            "I…don't know."

            "You ought to know."  His voice, Daisuke noted, was slow and choked.  He thought of the half-burnt lights flickering on motel signs at the more desolate areas of town –when compared, the lights and his voice were quite the same.

            After Takeru scantly explained where they were going, there was nothing more to say.  Daisuke took the opportunity to mull over Takeru's words.

            "Thank you for being so hospitable while I was here.  You are true friends."  Catherine kissed one side of Daisuke's face, then the other.  Daisuke smiled and waved his hand.

            "It was great to have you here."

            Takeru was standing back.  He looked distracted, fiddling with his fingers and such.  Catherine moved to give Daisuke a hug.

            "What is wrong with Takeru?"  She whispered.

            "He and Hikari had a fight this afternoon."

            "Somehow…"  She paused, "I feel this is my fault."
            "It was bound to happen," Daisuke answered truthfully.  Catherine released their embrace when she thought Takeru was suspecting something.  "Friends for ten years and no major squabble, it had to happen some time."

            "I suppose…"  She trailed off then, touching his shoulder as if it were equivalent to 'au revoir!' and another kiss on each cheek.

            "I would like to come back again, someday."  Takeru patiently bent down so she could say goodbye.  Each kiss delivered just below the eye.

            "It was nice seeing you again, Catherine."

            "And yet…"  She raised her head wisely, "You cannot help but wish I had never come."

Takeru cast his gaze guiltily to the side.

            "I am sorry, Takeru, for the grief I have caused you."  She touched his hand gingerly.  "But I will say, my dear friend, that in these situations, it is you who must play the man."  There was a squeeze between their fingers, and she stepped back.

            "Catherine!"  A voice called from behind.  Catherine smiled brilliantly.

            "It is time for my flight.  Au revoir, Takeru!  Until we meet again!"  Takeru gave a slight wave.  Daisuke, however, was beside himself.

            "MICHAEL?!"  He cried.  Michael gave him a solid noogie over his maroon scalp.

            "Dai, old friend.  How have you been?  I didn't know you'd be here to see my dear Catherine off!"  Daisuke gawked.

            "Dear Catherine?!"

            "Oh, didn't I tell you?"  Catherine fled into the Yamato Ishida look-alike's arms.  "Michael and I are engaged.  His father is flying us to Paris, where we will be married."

Somehow, Daisuke could not understand why he had missed the gold band around her fourth finger.

            "All the best…"  Dai stated, the traditional lost half-smile appearing on his face as the two whisked themselves away to the family plane.  As they disappeared, he scratched the back of his head.

            "Never saw that one coming."

            After Takeru drove Daisuke home, he went to sleep.  It was his way of dealing with things; when he was asleep, he did not have to cope with the world's problems.  Therefore, he slept.

And he was all right.

For a while.

But not really.

            Friday was busy.  Jittery and emotional, Odaiba High was excited about the strangely late, but well-worthy prom on Saturday.  Daisuke noticed that Hikari could not have been more jubilant –he noticed her brilliant smiles and laughing voice, and the little bit of pain beneath her eyes.  Takeru, however, was on the moon.  He could not even answer the questions in AP Calculus unlike the usual ease he displayed.  He could not keep up with the rest of the team in Gym, and did not appear during lunch, even under 'the tree'.  Daisuke heard someone had seen him sleeping during English and when class let out the teacher did not bother to wake him.  So he left him alone –Takeru was old enough, and could sort out his own problems.  For the moment, in any case.

Takeru, however, was not entirely sure.

            He trudged into Japanese Literature IV barely before the first bell and took a place in his assigned seat.  He folded his arms, exhausted, and let his forehead rest between them and the desk, breathing deep, warm breath.

            "Oy, Takeru."  They were a group of raucous boys a year or so younger than Takeru, who stood around in IV until second bell, hitting on the older girls.  "Oy, Takeru-sempai."

Takeru felt it unnecessary to respond.  The group gathered around his desk –he could envision their wide, lewd smiles.

            "Takeru-sempai looks as though he had a sleepless night, ne?"  They sniggered.  "He looks as though he's had quite a busy evening, what?" Another one piped.  They snorted louder.

            "Takeru-sempai," For a respectful address there was no actual respect, "we saw you leaving Hikari's apartment building last night, very late.  Very late."  Takeru lifted his head then, perhaps curious to hear. 

The fact was indeed true –after he had dropped Daisuke off in his apartment building, Takeru had decided to crash in his father's apartment, which was in the same complex as Hikari.  The idea was that, as Ms. Takaishi was a very perceptive woman and could have easily dragged Takeru into a long chat about his emotions towards Hikari, which he did not want to discuss; he would stay there one night and leave in the morning, after his Mother had left for work.  The only reason Mr. Ishida had decided to live there in particular was to be 'close to Takeru as he hadn't been when he was younger' without 'unintentionally trying to rekindle a broken marriage' by living in the same apartment complex (though Takeru had a hunch either of his parents wouldn't have minded the other living next door).  Perhaps, if it had been other people or another time, he might have found the situation funny.  Hilarious, even.  But this was no laughing matter.

"Takeru-sempai…"  They were daring each other to say it, "How was she?"

Takeru smiled a deadly sort of smile that silenced them completely.  And murmured, with a strange, frightening voice,

            "You're touching my hat."  The boys sprang back as if he had condemned them.  He stood, his lean body amounting to its six foot five glory, and leaned on the desk, denying his first instinct to defend Hikari, and the second to play along with their little game until she arrived for class.

            "Perhaps," he chose instead, and spoke in a slow, authoritive voice, "the children should get back to class, ne?" 

The boys shifted uneasily before giving a courteous bow.

            "Yes, gomen, gomen…of…of course, Takeru-sempai."  They shuffled off then, not daring to complain in his presence.  Hikari moved in on their way out –she paused, just for a second, to observe Takeru.  He seemed taller, taller than yesterday even, and strangely graceful, with his slender physique.  He was not, at first glance, muscular.  He never had been really, though his abs developed well after five years of every after school athletic curriculum the Gym teacher could talk him into.  He was too quick and agile, however, to be well-built; often, he struck her as much too gentle –though he was not one to push around physically, by any means at all.

He is no angel, she strictly reminded herself.

            Though Hikari divulged to herself, almost willingly, that he did look very angelic just then, with the sun coming in from the window, illuminating his brilliant golden hair.

            "Hikari-chan?"  She realized she had stopped completely, though only for two seconds.  So she smiled convincingly, and put her hand over her eyes for show.

            "The sun is very bright today, isn't it?"

            There was a shuffle beside him, and Takeru noticed that Hikari had taken the same seat beside him as always.  She folded her fingers easily across her desk, and pushed her hair over her shoulder, curtly ignoring him.  He objected to himself that she had always been like that –always trying to prove exclusively to him that his presence meant nothing to her.

            "Konnichiwa, Hikari."  He murmured indifferently.

            "Konnichiwa, Takeru."  Her voice icily spoke.  It had disrupted their daily routine; Takeru would say 'Kora, Hikari.' and she would respond 'hey, hey, T.K.!' she would lean over, one hand gripping the edge of her desk and the other hiding her mouth in a cute expression, 'did you see Isamu-sensei's tie?  Hamsters, like Patamon.'

So class began, and ended.

It would figure, Hikari thought sourly, that it would be their turn to clean up the classroom.

Somehow, they managed to achieve a full twenty minutes of getting around an empty classroom using only coarsely urbane conversation.

            "Would you please clear the chalkboard?"
            "Yes.  Would you sweep out the door, please?"
            "Certainly."

            The last two jobs required they stand together, however –Hikari to straighten out Isamu-sensei's desk, and Takeru to clean it off.  Their hands both knocked Isamu-sensei's I'm Number One! cup and it clattered into large pieces on the ground.  Their eyes met uneasily.

            "Gomen."

            "Gomen."  No one moved.

Hikari gave a frustrated sigh and bent to lift the broken porcelain.  Takeru bent down after her.

            "Hikari."

She ignored him though, and continued to clean.

            "Hikari."

The brunette finished quickly, stood and moved towards the trashcan.

            "Hikari, are you really so proud that you will not listen?"  She jerked to a freezing halt, and slowly turned, glaring darkly.

            "Say it then." Deep inhale.

Takeru moved forward first but stood significantly away, breathing, but not really knowing where to start.  Her patience dwindled.

            "It's no good."  He said abruptly, and looked down to the floor, "I mean…"

Another soft breath.

"It isn't good…for me to be mad at you.  We've always been friends…I…I don't think I could live like this.  I mean…"  He closed his eyes, collecting his thoughts, "I can't imagine living, not being near you, not being your friend.  It's been so long...we were friends at the very beginning…we should be friends at the very end, too." 

He looked up.  To his surprise, she had not walked out, but rather stood looking flushed and examining her shoes.  There was a long bout of silence.  And slowly, Takeru started to worry that he'd said something wrong.  But she suddenly spoke,

            "I don't believe you."  She growled softly.  "I don't believe…don't think that…you can just…just…"  Hikari shot up angrily, "I play a lot of soccer you know!"

Takeru blinked.

            "And…the next time you make me mad…I'm going to…I'm going to kick your butt!"  She jumped forward, forgetting the broken porcelain in her hands, and banged her fist against his chest, aggravated at her own weakness.  He didn't flinch as she hit him over and over, each fist making her eyes redder and redder –finally, she fell into the rough fabric of his shirt.  She was silent for another long moment. 

"I hate it when you say things like that Takeru…" Her muffled voice whimpered, "they always make me cry."

Her shoulders shuddered.

            Reluctantly, Takeru draped an arm over her gently trembling frame.  In the streaming light, he remembered how frail she was.  The first years he'd known her he remembered she was always sick, always fragile.  He wondered whether she was still fragile, if not outside, then inside.

            "Are you going to the dance with Catherine?"  Hikari murmured.

            "No."

            "Are you going to the dance with me?"

Takeru paused for a moment.

            "Do you want me to?"
            "No."  He smiled softly.

            "Okay."

            "You were supposed to argue, you dimwit."  She wiped her eyes and looked up, a faint resemblance of her familiar smile on her face.  It was then that Takeru noticed her hands were bleeding.  He forced her fingers open.  Broken porcelain from the cup, its sharp edges had induced a series of small cuts along her fingers and palm.  He dragged her to Isamu's desk and instructed her to sit on it, then opened the first drawer where Isamu kept most of his junk, including the bandages.

            After finding the bandages, Takeru left the other junk he'd pulled out before on the desk while he finished tending Hikari's injured hands.

            "They weren't very deep…I'm pretty sure they'll be gone by morning."  He stopped guiltily.  Couldn't he have waited to talk until after she'd thrown the porcelain away?  Hikari seemed to read his mind.

            "It's my fault.  I was careless."  Something clicked, but either of them neglected to notice.

            "It's a shame we didn't use these sooner."  He motioned to the pair of gloves under the pile of rubbish.

            "Mmhmm."  She smiled.  Takeru looked guilty again.  Delicately, Hikari touched the sides of his face.

            "I'll be fine."  She smiled jokingly, "Next time I'll use protection."  They laughed softly.

            "Ahem."  Takeru and Hikari jumped.  Isamu stood off near the door, giving them a strange leer.

            "Are you done in here?"  They flushed awkwardly, throwing their hands behind their back and stumbling to bow.

            "Yes, Isamu-sensei."  The two students excused themselves from their teacher's presence.  Isamu seated himself at his desk and frowned at the pile of possessions he'd collected from students during the year.  Mostly condoms, strewn among various other things.

            Hikari and Takeru couldn't have…

            He pulled out the bottom drawer.

And smiled.

            No one had discovered the stash of chocolate rice balls!  Isamu sensei smiled and unwrapped a sweet.  Chocolate.  Mm.

            Takeru and Hikari walked home together in comfortable silence, either of them stopping at the crossroads home.

            "I'll see you tomorrow at the dance, Kari."

            "Right.  Save me a dance okay?  Ja ne!"

Hikari started home.  But she could no sooner take three steps when T.K. enveloped her in his arms from behind.  She froze, flushing slightly.  Then smiled softly.

            "Is this okay?"  He asked after a moment, never loosening the slightest.

            "I told you…you can hug me whenever you like, Takeru."  If anything, his grasp tightened.  Silence, then…

            "I love you."  Came his discreet whisper, then he let go.  Hikari was too paralyzed to move.  And by the time she turned around, he was already diminishing into his apartment building.  It felt like a long time before her legs could move again, and she led herself into her apartment complex.

            Hikari dumped the bandages in the trashcan right before the elevator, having realized that the cuts were even less deep than Takeru had suspected, and left only pinkish marks in a few places.

            "I'm home!" She called buoyantly.  Her smile dropped at the corners slightly upon seeing four upset faces.  For once, Taichi was not in tears.

            "Hikari…"  Okaasama started, then frowned.  "Hikari-chan, something has come up."

            Hikari carefully slipped off her shoes and moved to sit on the couch beside Sora.  Her mother and father, Rinoa and Nobusuke, sat across from them.

            "Grandmother Reiko is very sick, Hikari.  She wants us all to go to Yokohama.  Your father and I, in respect for her wishes as this could very well be the last time we see her, have decided we will all go."

Hikari sat motionless.

            "Do you understand sweetheart?"  Riona asked, gently stroking her daughter's hair.  Hikari nodded slowly.

            "Yes…and…no…no the Prom…"

            "I'm sorry."  Hikari stood up, a little stricken and obviously sad, but not physical emotion otherwise.

            "I'll go…pack my things."  Taichi leaned behind Sora, lightly ruffling his baby sister's hair before she trudged off to her room.  The door barely shut.

            "Moshi-moshi?"

            "Takeru?"

Takeru blinked for a moment.

            "Hikari?  Why didn't you just come over-"

            "I can't."  He frowned.  From the tone in her voice she didn't sound very good.  "We're going to Yokohama.  About Grandmother Reiko.  We won't be back for a few days."

            "But the prom-"

            "I'm sorry, Takeru.  I…I have to finish packing.  I'll see you later."

Click.

            Takeru held the dead phone in his hands, then hung up.  Hikari was being dramatic.  Never the less…

            He finished pressing the trousers of his formal wear and hung them neatly from his door.  He decided he would ultimately deal with the whole thing in the morning, pushing the ideas toying in his mind aside.  Just in case, however…

            Takeru reached for the phone book and started to flip through it.  When Hikari Yagami was involved things always started to get complicated.

            "TTAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKEEEEEERUUUUUUUU!!!"  For a moment, he almost thought it was Sarah Little and the rest of the I Love Takeru club, but this time it was Daisuke who tackled him, one arm wedged around his neck and the other pounding into his hair.  "I'M SO GLAD YOU GUYS AREN'T FIGHTING ANYMORE!"

            Despite the fact that Daisuke was very light for someone who ate so much, he was starting to weigh on Takeru's back.

            "Get off."  Daisuke lowered himself.  Kita came up from behind him, draping herself on the shorter of them like an expensive curtain.

            "Where is Hikari?"  Takeru sighed, and ran a hand though his blonde hair.  When he arrived to pick her up, a neighbor informed him that they left late last night.  Lots of bags, she said, like they would be staying for a week or so.

            "She's not here."  He muttered finally, and sighed again.  Daisuke and Kita gave him a questioning face.

            "Will she miss the Prom tonight?"  Dai inquired persistently, holding Kita's leg so she wouldn't fall backwards.

            "Maybe she went to the salon for some all day pampering."

            Takeru shook his head.

            "She's in Yokohama.  I don't think she'll come tonight."

            "WHAT?!"

            "But you guys are going to be voted Prom King and Queen-"

            "And if the queen isn't there they have to take the alternate-"

            "And the alternate this year is-"

            "Sarah Little.  I know."  Daisuke gave his best friend a piteous glance. 

            "Don't worry.  I think it'll turn out alright.  I may have to go out on a limb though, so I need you on standby."

            "You can count on us!"  Kita cheered.  Daisuke gave an exuberant thumbs up.  Takeru smiled.

            "Thank you."

            Hikari was depressed, but since she was sitting in the home of her ill grandmother, everyone presumed that was the reason.  Taichi sat by her, brushing his hand over his hair.

            "Yo."  Hikari looked over and smiled.

            "Yo."  Her brother leaned back into the arm of her chair, resting his hands behind his head.

            "I'd say there'd be other dances, but you're all grown up now."  His fingers ruffled through her hair gently, "I remember my Senior Prom.  You put that pink barrette in my hair and I didn't notice."  He smiled slightly, and she laughed.

            "Anyway."  He slid down into hair chair; they were slightly squished, but it was alright.  Tai slung an arm around her shoulder.

            "I miss those days."

            "Yeah, me too.  I guess I'm not the only one who's grown up, huh?"

            "Guess not."  Hikari sniffled and leaned over, giving Tai a nice hug.
            "Thanks, Nii-chan."

            The doctor stepped out of the Grandmother Reiko's room and coughed to achieve everyone's attention.  Riona and Nobusuke rushed over.

            "Doctor, how is she?"

            "Please, will she be alright?"  The doctor's solemn face turned into a smile.

            "Your mother will be fine, Mr. Yagami.  She's just caught a weak cold.  Miso soup, green tea, a box of tissues and a good night sleep is all I can recommend.  She'll be fine tomorrow; she's one tough old bird I'll give you that."

            "Who are you calling OLD?!"  A tissue box flew out and beaned Doctor Nishidake right in the head.  He rubbed the back of his skull and smiled apologetically.

            "I'll just be on my way."

            The family rushed into the room where Grandmother Reiko was a tiny bundle nestled into a great big bed.  Her tiny eyes stared at them as they entered in a quick but processional fashion.

            "Well Nobusuke I hope you're satisfied.  I told you it was nothing to be worried about."

            "I should have honored your wishes, mother."  He placed a target on his head and Grandmother Reiko whapped him securely on the head with an oversized fan.

            "I feel better already~!"  Her mood shifted suddenly and she stared down every one of them.

            "Now all of you get out of here.  Except Hikari.  I want to talk to you."  Hikari approached her little grandmother and knelt beside her whilst the rest of the family drained from the room.  She smoothed her gray skirt gently and approached.

            "Yes Reiko-Obaasan?"

            "Come closer my child."  Hikari, feeling a bit odd, scooted into the older woman.

(OLDER!  OLDER!  NOT OLD!  -dodging tissue boxes-)

            "You have such pretty hair."  Reiko stroked her hair gently, then politely requested that Hikari scoot away.  Personal space invasion made her nervous, she said.

            "What time is it, Hikari?"  The brunette looked at her watch.  "Eight o' clock."

Her grandmother smiled sympathetically.

            "I apologize for your father making you come all the way out here for nothing.  I suppose I ought to be more careful about getting sick.  But listen, I've got an idea."  Her eyebrows raised.  The last time Grandmother Reiko had an 'idea' was the astounding plot to cut Taichi's hair several (thousand) years ago and we all know what happened with that.

            "You look like a sentimental girl.  You brought your dress with you didn't you?"

Hikari blushed and nodded.

            "I thought so.  I was a girl too.  Once.  A long time ago.  Ah…those were the days~!  I remember back in 1953.  Keitaro Suzuki…I remember his face so well…"

            "Uh…Reiko-obaasan…"

            "Oh yes well.  What time does this dance of yours start?"

"Nine."

"Well then you don't have much time!"

Her seventeen-year-old heart started to race, but she tried not to get her hopes up.

"Time for what, Obaasan?"

"To get ready of course!  Cinderella must attend the ball tonight, whether I have to take you myself."

Hikari squealed but quickly repressed herself.

            "Reiko-obaasan I couldn't ask you to do this-"

            "No, I figured you couldn't.  Consider this my dying wish."

            "But…but…"

            "Well I don't think I'll think of anything else to ask you within the next fifty years."

She squealed again and hugged her grandmother.

            "Arigatou!  Arigatou gozai masu Reiko-obaasan!"  Hikari, with a few more profuse thanks ran into the living room.

            "Sora!  Sora you have to help me get ready!"  The carrot haired girl bounced up, understanding immediately.  Sora, too, gave a very exuberant cheer and the two of them ran into the spare room.  Riona followed after a moment.

            Taichi gave his father a glance.  Nobusuke stared on for a bit.  From the spare room, long and short tones of squeaks and squeals emitted into perfect hearing.  Things like 'oh!  Oh it's absolutely wonderful!' 'No, It's supposed to go like this.' 'Oh, yes, that's much better.' 'Ha-ha, I haven't done this in forever.'

            His father sighed and lifted the newspaper before his face, as if it were a force field of some kind.  Taichi sweatdropped.

            Takeru adjusted his tie and looked in the mirror.  The outfit had been Yamato's idea entirely –it was a change, a big change, but he it was rapidly growing on him.  Mimi couldn't have chosen a more appropriate time to be back in town; his older brother was in a better mood lately, and even allowed him to borrow his car.  For half-price, of course.

            His basketball player physique stretched long in the navy blue.  He skidded out of his room just as his mother was coming through the door.  Her arms were full of papers and she gave him two glances before dropping them carelessly on the floor.

            "Is it tonight?"  Takeru smiled softly and nodded.  "Oh honey…"

            She moved over the papers, staring at him with her wide, misty blue eyes as she rested her fingers over his lightly tanned face and smiled.

            "I hadn't remembered tonight was your Prom Night Takeru.  It just seems like you never got that far.  I almost thought…"  And she laughed then, gently, reluctantly dropping her hold on him.  "I almost thought you were still in grade school.  I see you every morning while you're sleeping. You always look like such a child."  She laughed harder, a little sweeter, but Takeru only smiled sadly, because he could see the tears running from his mother's eyes.

            "Ha ha,"  He carefully wiped her tears, "please don't cry."

(Ha Ha is a formal term for 'Mother)

            Naruko Takaishi rubbed her eyes while she giggled slowly.

            "I'm sorry, Takeru, I don't know what's gotten into me.  This is one of those days I've been unconsciously preparing myself for…and when it gets here, I still cry."  She smiled again, and touched his cheek.

            "There's something I want to give you.  I think it's the right time."

            Takeru followed his mother deep into the darkness of her room, momentarily forgetting about his plan as he watched his mother burrow into her jewelry chest.  The room itself was only kept because he cleaned it on the weekends when she wasn't home, but he never touched the jewelry case.  It was a little dusty, coated in fingerprints, but she pulled from its depths a long, old box.

            "Do you remember, when your father and I split up, Takeru?"  He swallowed slightly, and nodded.

            "It must have been the week after.  We were going for ice cream, and you pointed at this little necklace in the jewelry store.  You were really little, Takeru.  Do you remember?"

            Feeling incapable of words, he simply shook his head.

            "Well…it was the prettiest little necklace.  And you never had much of a take for jewelry before, but you wouldn't leave the thing alone.  It was expensive, but…I bought it anyway.  You asked me to keep it for you.  Until the right time, you said.  It was strange.  But now…"  She closed her eyes and lifted her head to the ceiling as if asking for guidance from some higher power.  His mother, who had never been one for religion or things like this, looked as if to ask a question to the wind and expected an answer.

            "Yes…now, now is the time you told me about when you were little.  You were a strange little boy, Takeru."  She gave him the box, stood on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek.

            "You better go on now, or you'll be late.  I might just talk you into morning-"

The words slipped as Takeru pulled his strong arms around her. It was warm and comforting –it reminded Naruko of her ex-husband, and the way his embrace was like breathing in and out of chocolate, and made her want to dance.

            "Thank you, Mom."  He stepped back, and, with a wave, grabbed his keys and was out the door.

            "Timing Takeru!  Always remember the timing!"  Naruko Takaishi shouted as he closed the door behind him.  She didn't feel much like working after that; she reached for the phone and started to dial Kenji Ishida's number.  Coffee and old times might be nice—  he almost might have forgotten that both his son's had grown up.

            "Kita-chan."  Kita Itogazaii looked over at her boyfriend Daisuke with questioning appeal.  They both wore maroon, he wearing a formal button down shirt with black suspenders and black pants, she in a matching bodice cut dress that ended at the knees.

            "Kita-chan, do you think everything will be okay?"  She smiled and affectionately patted his head.

            "Yes."

            Strange, she thought, that everything for them would come in place so quickly.  Rumors were spreading already –Kita Itogazaii and Daisuke Motomiya were fast lovers, didn't you see?  But she didn't care.  She wanted it to last for as long as possible.  The two of them sat outside of the La La Port Ski Slope, the dance not really heating up yet and everyone preferring rather to talk than dance at all.  It was cold –almost April now, school would be out in a few days.

            "Do you think everything will be okay with us?"  He inquired, looking at her from the side.  Kita was taken aback by the question.  Did he want to break up so soon?  Her breath caught in her throat.

            "Do you mean that…"  She paused, searching for words, "That we should…"


Daisuke smiled.

            "No!  I just wanted to make sure that you're happy."  He touched her hand.  "It seems like…I dunno…like I loved you for a long time.  I guess."  He scratched his nose with another boyish grin.  "I'm not very good at saying this stuff."

            Kita leaned her head on his shoulder and smiled happily.

            "It's alright.  I understand.  I think that we should give this a try."  She said softly, and sighed.  Daisuke blushed furiously, but couldn't wipe the grin from his face.

            "So…do you really think it'll all work out for Takeru and Hikari?"  Takeru had called an hour or so earlier while they were inside, just after he left his house.

            "What do you think, Daisuke?"

            "I hope he doesn't run out of gas…there's only one gas station between Yokohama and Tokyo.  But I think that…it'll be fine."

            "Well then."  She smiled wider and scooted closer into his side.  "You're really cute, you know?"

            "Yeah.  I know."

            Taichi's eyes fell out of his head.

            The dress wasn't intricately patterned, but the design lay within the cut.  All white, like a wedding dress, but contained an element about it that became her rather than anything else.  A sleeveless square-neck half top underneath with a sheer chiffon top over, with loose puff sleeves and long white gloves.  Chiffon wings puffed along the low back –it gathered gently at the waist before flowing out, long in the back but shorter in the front, displaying (but not flaunting) her delicate legs.  The straps of her white shoes climbed up her calves and tied at the knee –a bit to high but a welcome change.  It was perfect.  Beyond perfect.  It was like a divine messenger delivered it straight to her fingertips.  And this, all coming from Taichi, was very remarkable indeed.

            "Do you like it?"  She inquired shyly and stepped into the light.  Nobusuke couldn't speak –neither could Taichi.

            Grandmother Reiko hobbled out of her room with a thick blanket over her head.

            "Oh!"  She looked at Hikari once, twice, her vision circling all around the room before falling on her again.  

            "I'd say that I'd died but your father is still here!  Like a wonderful spirit…tell me, where has Buddha taken my granddaughter?"  Kari couldn't say much –she just smiled and turned pinkish and such.

            "Hikari!"  Sora cried.  "We've got to go!  It's already nine thirty!"

            "But…my make-up…"

            "You're already so beautiful sweetheart."  Nobusuke supplied, finding his voice somewhere buried under the sofa, "You don't need to hide it."

            Kari smiled and hugged her father, and then hugged Taichi.

            "Thank you."  She turned to her grandmother, mother and Sora.  "Let's go."

            "Alright!"  Reiko cheered, though a cough came out.  Nobusuke instantly panicked.

            "Mother you…you can't go out!  You're sick-"

            "Quiet sonny boy!"  She whapped him with her fan again, "I've had enough out of you.  You boys watch the house!"

            The four women followed each other towards Grandmother Reiko's car.  Taichi coughed and sat back down.

            "I know they'll make it there, but how are they going to make it back?"

            The cars swerved and honked past as three terrified woman and a little old lady

(SORRY!  SORRY!  -dodging more tissue boxes-) drove towards the center of Tokyo.

            "Uh…Reiko-sama…"  Sora started, who was sitting in the front seat and wincing at each car they nearly hit, "Are you sure you don't want me to drive?"

            "Nonsense!  We're half way there!"  Something suddenly caught her eye.  Grandmother Reiko stopped mid-traffic (luckily there wasn't much) and veered into a gas station.  Everyone was just a little surprised.

            She jumped out of the car and started to wail, "It's him!  It's him!"

            "Who?!"  Riona yelled and pulled herself out of the window.  An old man hobbled out of the store.  Reiko was nearly in tears.

            "It's him!  It's…KEITARO SUZUKI!"  The old man looked up.

            "Huh?  Oh my…I remember that voice…is that…is that…MOTHER?!"

            "No!  Keitaro!  It's me!  Your high school sweetheart!  Reiko!"
            "High school…"  He squinted.  "Yes!  It is you!  Mother!"
            "No…Reiko!  REIKO!"

            "Keiko?"
            "REIKO!"

            "Um, Grandmother Reiko…I thinks it's adorable that you've found your high school sweetheart but Hikari still has to get to the dance and…"  Riona's coaxing was in vain.

            "REIKO!  REIKO!  REIKO FUJIYAMA!"

            "Cake?  Ooh!  I love cake!"
            "NO!  NO!" 

            "We can't just leave her here…can we?"  Sora asked.  Hikari shook her head.  The two girls sweatdropped.

            "At this rate I'll never get there."  She emerged from the car and looked around.  Suburbia.

            "H…H…HIKARI?!"  Kari swiveled around and you'd never believe…


Takeru.

            "TAKERU!"  She fell into his arms.  Takeru was stunned.  He'd gotten lost and had to call information, who then told him of the –only– gas station in his area.  It was odd the way fate worked, and VERY coincidental.  Or maybe not fate but Hikari herself…

            He regained his senses and hugged her back, tightly.

            "Did you arrange this meeting in a dream?"  He whispered gently.  Hikari buried her face into his shoulder and sighed.

            "It seems that way, doesn't it."  He pulled back and smiled softly.

            "Come on.  We're going to be late."  Hikari turned to see –Sora stood and smiled.

            "I'll tell them!"  She called and waved, wiping her eyes.  "Be good!  Have a ball!"

            Takeru helped Hikari into the car and they drove towards the Ski Slope in a comfortable silence.

            Daisuke had been making his fifth round outside by the time Takeru and Hikari pulled up to the entrance.  By now the traffic had died down.  It was eleven o' clock, and the Prom would be over at one.

            Daisuke, with his hands in his pocket, approached Yamato's wonderful car, gave Takeru a high five and kissed Hikari on the cheek.

            "Guess."  He stated bluntly.  Hikari looked at the stars, closing her eyes and smiled.

            "Rika and Tom."  Either of the boys gave her a look.

            "Just a funny feeling."
            "You and your funny feelings."  They groaned together, and laughed.  Daisuke swung his arms over their shoulders with a cherub face.

            "Well, you guys have fun.  I'm off."

            "Dai?  Leaving already?  There's two hours left and we just got here…"

            "Kita and I are going around the corner to the Holiday Inn to be the rush."  Takeru and Hikari exchanged a serious glance, but before they could say anything, Daisuke finished, "They've got this American restaurant in there…Denny's…and it's open twenty-four seven.  Dancing and waiting around to make sure you got here is tasking.  I'll see you later.  Tomorrow maybe, if I'm not whacked."  He dropped behind them and headed for his car.

            Takeru and Hikari smiled and waved, watching their best friend drive away.

            "Ready to go inside?"  Kari offered, pulling his hand slightly towards the entrance.  T.K. gave a dubious glance towards the Prom then shook his head slowly.

            "Not quite."  He looked over towards a dim opening in a gate.

            "After all it took to get here."  Hikari sighed, but smiled and followed him through the small entrance.  It was behind the barrier of the dance itself.  Snowdrift was on, but it wasn't really cold at all, and Takeru's presence was warming so the crystals simply felt like little pieces of air resting on her shoulder.

            They found a quiet bench and sat down, allowing to entwine themselves in a gentle embrace.

            "It's been so busy this whole time, hasn't it?"  She asked, nestling further into his chest.  Takeru nodded against her hair. 

"It's almost…like a dream."

            "Isn't it?"  She breathed.  He pulled away slightly to look into her eyes.

            "Isn't it."  He touched her cheek gently, leaned down…

            Hikari squealed and shook her head.

            "I…I can't…!"  Takeru froze in his spot.  A large sweatdrop made its way down the back of his head.

            "Kari-chan…you know it's…"  His sweatdrop grew, "it's not like we've never kissed before."

            "But it never meant as much."  She whispered and looked away, embarrassed.

            "Alright Mina!"  The voice of the DJ leaked into their ears, "It's time for another slow song, so let's welcome our singer, your entertainment, American pop sensation, from our own native Tokyo, Mimi Tachikawa!"  The students cheered.  Hikari tipped her head back with an excited smile.

            "Takeru, we can't miss Mimi!"  Takeru nodded and smiled.

            "Won't you join the dance?"

            The jazz song was sweet to take up, and Mimi's rich voice filled the air while couples started to congregate on the dance floor.

            "In the moonlight," She sang with a slow smile, her eyes closed, "When the shadows play.  And the thought of what could happen takes your breath away…"

            Takeru carefully took Hikari into his arms and they swayed lightly, a little slower than the song but remarkably on beat still, seeming to meld together very comfortably.

            "Sighs and whispers, quiet laughter in the air…unspoken invitations everywhere.

"In the moonlight,

All the words you say

Make it relatively easy to be swept away…"

            "In the half-light…can we trust the way we feel?  Can we be sure that anything is real?"  Takeru murmured along with the words.  Yamato often sang the song around the house –likely, it was he and Mimi's special song.  He smiled, and he could feel Kari smile too, and the rise in her cheeks.

"Stars keep secrets as they wonder discretely…while the echoes of a song go drifting by.  We must be careful not to lose our way completely…Or the magic that we see here, we can't be sure will be here…"  Mimi turned in her long, flowing dress, among the snow and the dimmed lights.

            "In the morning…with the moon away…and if in each other's arms is where we've meant to stay.  In the love light…when our eyes have grown accustom to the daylight, we'll see what waits for us to share…"

            "For all the things we've dreamed of in the moonlight, will be there."  They spun gently as the song picked up a little, and the band entered an instrumental break.  Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves –it was wonderful.  Mimi's soprano tone started up again,

            "Stars keep secrets as they're wondering discretely…while the echoes of a song go drifting by."
            "We must be careful not to lose our way completely…or the magic that we see here, we can't be sure will be here."

            "In the morning, with the moon away, and if in each other's arms is were we've meant to stay.  In the love light, when our eyes have grown accustom to the daylight.  We'll see what waits for us to share.  For all the things we've dreamed of in the moonlight will be…"

            "There…"  Takeru rested his forehead onto Kari's sighed contently.  She smiled back.  Truly…truly this was something like perfection.

            "In the moonlight…"  The song ended and the port erupted with applause.  Mimi giggled and curtsied, waved, and stepped off of the platform.

            "Kari!  T.K.!"  She cried and rushed over, enveloping the two in a slew of hugs.

            "I was wondering when I was going to see you!"  Mimi brushed a long cascade of light brown hair over her shoulder.

            "I've got to go get ready for the next song.  You look wonderful, you two!  Byee~!"  She scuttled away before either of them could say anything.

            Hikari smiled sheepishly.

            "That's Mimi for you."  They grinned and started to draw away, their hands interlinked.

            "All this night…Takeru…"  Hikari started, not really sure how to put it lightly but making a valiant attempt, "You haven't said anything about how I looked."

            He pulled her hand back towards him, holding her close around the waist so that her lips were very close to his own.

            "I wanted to say…that you were beautiful…but it wouldn't have done any justice to the way you look tonight."  Her eyelids dropped slightly and she stood on her tiptoes, brushing her mouth across his lips so lightly it hardly constituted as a kiss.  So lightly that no one even noticed except them.

            "Let's dance some more, okay?"  Takeru, who was in a state of bliss, could only nod.

The last day of school came, and went.

            Summer vacation didn't seem to last long enough, not with them finalizing their plans for college.  Daisuke received a scholarship for an American soccer team –Kita, who didn't get a scholarship but was wealthy enough, would go to the same school for the female swim team there.  In the end, though because of their good grades they could almost literally attend any school in the world, Takeru chose Tokyo University.

Hikari chose Cambridge, England.

            It was September, the time that schools in England started.  Hikari would take a train and leave out of Hokkaido after a quick visit to some old friends before she left.  It was a train station, and the streets were busy.  Daisuke and Kita made it with just enough time to get to the airport.

            "Hikari."  Daisuke was all choked up.  He kissed her, just lightly on the lips.  "I can't believe it's over I mean…"  He wiped his eyes, flushing from embarrassment.  "Here.  Just take this before I get it all wet.  Man, I'm such a wuss."  He firmly shook Takeru's hand, murmuring a brief speech about being his best friend and still being better than he'll ever be.  They laughed then, after a clap on the back, Dai stood back in effort to hide his emotion.

            "Take care of each other, okay?"  Kita said warmly and hugged them both.  It was very emotional.  The two of them waved and hurried off to catch a taxi.  Hikari put the package down with the rest of her luggage and turned towards Takeru.

            The two of them had spent the summer as boyfriend and girlfriend, for what either of them discretely feared would be the last time.  It's not often that a couple can stay together when a continent separates you.  Takeru stepped forward, gently stroking her cheek.

            "I hope…"  He murmured with a slight smile, "that all the boys in England are as ugly as they are in History books."

            "Everyone is ugly in History books."  She smiled sadly, choked on her tears and jumped into his embrace.  Takeru wrapped his arms around her steadily, and stroked her hair.  They separated.

            "This…is for you."  Said T.K., turning a slight shade of pink.  It was a rather square box wrapped in light green wrapping paper with a large yellow ribbon.  The train boarding call started off.  Takeru shuffled his foot.

            "I guess…I shouldn't keep you…you know…waiting…"  Hikari put his box down and stepped up to him.

            "I'll never forgive you if you don't kiss me now."  She stated firmly.  Takeru smiled.

            It was the first real kiss either had experienced and worth the wait.  Nothing remarkably special –no Hollywood kiss, no rain or smoke or steam, nothing special at all.  Except for the fact that it was the first kiss between soul mates, and nothing, no matter how flashy, could ever be sweeter.

            Kari pulled away with a dazed look.

            "I love you, Takeru.  Please don't forget me.  And e-mail me.  Every night.  Or I'll come down here and write them myself."  She rubbed her eyes, helped the baggage hand get her things aboard and boarded the train.  She vividly recalled how angelic Takeru looked one high school day before.

            And as she looked from the window, he was so beautiful…she could faintly trace the long white wings sprouting from his back.

            Hikari blew a kiss, Takeru blew it back.  The train departed, and she watched him until he was gone.  And then…he was.

            It wasn't until sometime later that Hikari remembered to open the presents Daisuke and Takeru had gotten for her.  One, Daisuke's, was a beautifully made photo album.  The first half was all the pictures she'd taken over the years they'd been together.  The second half was blank, with a simple note that said, "for the future."  It had made her cry.

            In Takeru's box was long streams of newspaper.  Hikari fought to find the bottom, and when she did, she spied a long, silvery box that had to be a couple years old.  She lifted it from its chamber and carefully read the note on the front.

            "Please wait, I'd like to put it on. –Takeru"  it said.  Kari's heart started to pound.  Inside, lying on a blanket of velvet was a gold chain.  Also on the chain was a small gold ring.  There was only a tiny diamond in the middle, obviously added recently, and two angel wings surrounding it made of shining opal.

            Tears slipped from her cheeks –the ring was a perfect fit.  She slipped the chain around her neck.  And smiled through her tears.

…the end…

            .::Artemis is wearing a target on her head::. MINA!  I'M SO SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG!  BUT IT'S DONE!  FINISHED!  FINALLY! YES!  .::smiles sadly::.  Please, feel free to beat me with Grandma Reiko's large fan.  Please, don't expect a sequel.  Again, I'm sorry the ending was so terrible.  Maybe I'll rewrite it.

Someday.

Someday FAR away.

Nothing left to say except…

I CAN'T BELIEVE it's DONE!  YEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!

- Artemis