AN: As I am writing the sequel to this (yes! I am alive, there is hope!), I realize that there are inconsistencies with the timeline that I'm trying to write… so the proposal scene in this chapter has been totally revised. If you're reading my sequel at the moment, think of that as a hint to what's happening in the chapter that I'm writing and plan to post soon…

Together Again: Chapter 3

Plans Go Awry

          Kari Kamiya stood at the door of her New York City apartment, rummaging through her purse for her key. It had been a long day—she'd taken the day off to visit her son Aaron at camp, but she'd had to return early because of the many appointments she had the next day. Finally, Kari's hand emerged, holding the key, which she then used to let herself in. Dragging in her small bag and dumping it on the floor, Kari sighed as she crashed on the couch. This place is so lonely, she thought. If only… But Kari knew that it could never be. They'd agreed to be separate a long time ago, live different lives. But was a career really worth giving up love and family? She was starting to question that now. For it had been over ten years, but somehow, she could not move on.

          Kari shook her head, as if she could physically get rid of her thoughts, and decided to get ready for bed. It was already one in the morning here in NYC, and she had a long day ahead of her tomorrow. She took her purse into her room, and set it on the bed as she got her night clothes ready. The CD had spilled out onto the bed, and when Kari came back, she found it there, and remembered Aaron's words: "Mom, listen to this. It's a friend of mine, and she's trying to get a record deal. She's really good." She trusted Aaron's judgment, and so placed it in her CD player as she picked up her brush and ran it through her hair, listening for the song.

There's a song that's inside of my soul

It's the one that I've tried to write over and over again

          Kari froze, her brush mid-stroke. It was this song… a song that had special meaning for her. The voice was very good—no doubt about that—but it was the song that struck her, and bombarded her with memories.

I'm awake in the infinite cold, but you sing to me over and over and over again

So I lay my head back down, and I lift my hands and pray to be only yours

I pray to be only yours

I know now you're my only hope

Sing to me the song of the stars

Of your galaxies dancing and laughing and laughing again

*Flashback*

          It was the day before Kari was leaving for New York, to study abroad for a semester. She knew this was going to be the last time she'd be able to spend time with T.K. for a long while, so she was really looking forward to it, knowing that it would create a memory that she could treasure for a long time.

          Kari didn't know what T.K. had planned for her that evening, until she realized they were headed to the park not far from their houses. There, she found a picnic ready and waiting for them, and the serenity of the area added a special touch of romance to the setting. The two of them sat by the lake, underneath a multicolored ceiling of clouds and sky, with the setting sun barely reflected in the lake. Kari didn't tell TK about what she was thinking—she didn't have to. He picked up on it right away when she lay back on the blanket and looked up at the sky.

          "Light, what's wrong?" Kari smiled. Only TK was allowed to call her that.

          "Nothing… I'm really excited for this trip… but I'm going to miss you so much."

          "I know." T.K. kissed her forehead and began to stroke her hair lightly. "I'm going to miss you too… more that I could ever imagine." They sat there for a while; all they needed was knowing that the other was there.

*Real time*

          As the song played on, Kari felt an overwhelming sadness come to her. She had never fully battled away the darkness; since she was the keeper of light, she was the most acquainted with darkness. That darkness was accompanied by a memory that she thought she had buried a long time ago.

When it feels like my dreams are so far,

sing to me of the plans that you have for me over again

So I lay my head back down,

and I lift my hands and pray to be only yours

I pray to be only yours

I know now you're my only hope

*Flashback*

          "Congratulations, Mrs. Takaishi, it's a girl!"

          Kari leaned back in exhaustion, tears streaming down her face. This was her second child, her little girl, yet TK wasn't there for her. He had said something about a writer's convention or something like that. He didn't know, however, that their daughter decided to be born two weeks early. Still, Kari thought, he's been neglecting his family for his career. Maybe now, things will get better.

          The little bundle, with soft wisps of TK's golden hair, and deep chocolate-ruby eyes that Kari had given her, was placed into Kari's arms and Kari smiled. "Hello, my little angel," she cooed. The baby, who had ceased crying and was now looking up into the eyes of her mother, snuggled in closer to her, instinctively knowing that her mother needed her. Kari tried to blink back tears as she thought of all the trouble her family was going through. This little girl was her only hope to bring them back together. "We need you, little one. Your daddy isn't here right now… but it's not his fault. Hopefully when he gets back, you can meet him, and then maybe…" She trailed off. For a while, she felt like no one really needed her. But one look at this little miracle, and she knew that at least someone needed her—very much. "You're my only hope," Kari whispered.

          Just then, a nurse came in to check on them. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but we need to record a name for her birth certificate."

          Kari looked down at her daughter and nodded. "Hope. Her name is Hope Takaishi."

*Real time*

          "My Hope," she whispered. She missed her daughter. It had been so long since she had seen her… or even thought about her. "Funny how this song made me think of her," Kari noted. And actually, the singer was pretty good. Very good, in fact. She reached out to stop the CD and add it to the top of the pile of potential artists, but something stopped her—the next few words of the song, which triggered yet another memory.

I give you my destiny

I'm giving you all of me

I want your symphony singing in all that I am

At the top of my lungs, I'm giving it back

*Flashback* (AN: This flashback continues from the first flashback from earlier.)

          TK was nervous. Kari could tell. Someone who didn't know him as well as she did wouldn't be able to notice… but she'd known him for nine years, and had been romantically involved with him for half of that. Sure enough, TK's slightly wavering voice asked, "Kar?"

          Her eyes shifted from the sky to TK's brilliant azure eyes. "Yes?"

          "I… uh, I have something to talk to you about."

          Kari sat up expectantly. "What is it?"

          TK exhaled. "We've known each other a long time, and in that span of time, we've learned to love each other."

          Kari smiled, but didn't say anything. TK continued, "Do you remember back when we first got together, and everyone was telling us that they'd been waiting for it for ages?"

          "How can I forget?" Kari rolled her eyes. At the tender age of fourteen, the two of them had been officially declared a "couple," and everyone from their brothers to Sora and Mimi (Kari regarded them as older sisters) to even Izzy and Cody had congratulated them and said something along the lines of, "Well, it's about time!"

          They both laughed at this and TK continued, taking Kari's hand into his own, "One of them—I think it was Sora—told me that she knew that we were meant to be together. She said that she believed we were going to be together forever."

          Kari nodded, and she thought she might know where this was leading to, and her heartbeats quickened. "Now, after all we've been through, all the years we've been together… I think she's right… even through the separations we may encounter. So… before you leave… I want you to have this, so that you know how much I love you, no matter what." He pulled a small object out of his pocket and presented it to Kari. "Open it."

          With unsteady hands, Kari took the small box from TK and opened it slowly. Glistening inside was a light pink stone, the symbol of the Crest of Light barely visible within it. It was set atop a band of gold. Kari gasped. "Oh, TK…" When she looked back up at him, TK's eyes expressed something she'd never seen before, and he asked her the one question that would change her life forever.

          "Hikari Kamiya, my angel of Light, will you marry me?"

          Kari beamed, not hesitating for a second. "Of course, TK. I want that more than anything in the world."

          TK's smile rivaled that of Kari's as he swept her into a big hug. "I love you, Kari. More than anything in this world." He pulled away from her and took the ring that was sitting in her lap and slipped it on her left ring finger. "Thank you, Light. You have made me the happiest person in the world. I am so lucky to have you."

          Kari stroked her fiancé's face gently. "I'm the lucky one, Takeru." And she leaned in to kiss him, underneath the now darkened sky illuminated by the first beams of moonlight.

*Real time*

          I was so happy then, Kari thought sadly. As the song finished up, she realized that she needed to stop living in the past—or at least, talk about it with someone. She could think of only one person that was close enough to meet and discuss the song and her memories with… but she couldn't call him now. "As soon as I get up tomorrow, I'll call him," she resolved, as she got into bed and listened to the talent that flowed from that CD.

So I lay my head back down

and I lift my hands and pray to be only yours

I pray to be only yours

I pray to be only yours

I know now you're my only hope

~*~

(A week and a half later)

-POV: Aaron-

          "I can't believe this is it," Hope sighed. It was the last day of camp, and as she waited for Dad to pick her up, she gave me a piece of paper. "This is my e-mail address," she explained. "I figure it's the safest way to communicate, since my dad can intercept phone calls and snail mail. My screen name is on there too."

          I took it and stashed it in my "most important works" folder. "Thank you, Hope. I'll e-mail you as soon I can, okay? Oh… and if our original plan doesn't work… you might need this." I handed her a folder chock-full of short stories, poems, longer works, plays, screenplays, and "fan fiction," as it was called, that I had written.

          Hope gingerly opened it and sifted through some of the papers. "Thanks, big bro. If I don't need it, I'll keep it as a reminder of you and these good times." She smiled bittersweetly, and I saw tears forming in her eyes. "Oh, come here you." I gathered her into a big hug. "Don't cry. I'll keep in touch. And you know we're gonna have to get Mom and Dad together again somehow, so we will be together again before you know it."

          Hope sniffled in my arms. "I know. I just don't want to leave, now that I know I have a brother. We'll be across the country from each other!"

          "Not for long. I promise." Suddenly we heard her name being called and she looked up. "Dad's here."

          "Then you'd better go." Hope didn't budge.

          "Come on, Hope. The sooner you go, the sooner we'll see each other again."

          Hope nodded and gathered up her stuff. "'Bye, Aaron. You better keep in touch with me, or else."

          I cracked a smile. "Don't worry about it, little sis. You'll be tired of me before you know it."

          She turned one last time and shot back, "I doubt it," before she walked out of the room.

          "Goodbye, little sister," I whispered after her, a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach. Goodbyes weren't usually hard for me, but this one… this one was different.

          One by one, all of my new friends left, until it was just Kendall, Dawn, and me. "My dad isn't gonna come," Kendall finally said. "I have to get from here to NYC by myself."

          "Not all by yourself," I told her. "I'm going there too. And I have no ride. So we can go together."

          Kendall brightened. "Yay! Can I come with you to your mom's house? 'Cause like… I have no idea where my dad is at the moment. I can get in contact with him from there."

          I ran my hand through my hair. "Sure. It's cool." I checked my watch. "My flight is scheduled to leave soon, so we better get going."

          "Okay." We gathered up our belongings and started to head out, but not before we said goodbye to Dawn. "Thank you so much for all your enlightenment, Dawn. I really appreciate it."

          She smiled warmly. "No problem. I'm glad to have met you, Aaron. You, too, Kendall."

          She smiled back. "I'll make sure to talk to my dad about you."

          "Me too," Dawn agreed. We all exchanged hugs and prepared to leave.

          We finally arrived in New York at about eleven at night. Kendall was amazed at the city—she'd never been there before. "We just kind of live wherever my dad thinks a noodle shop will thrive," she'd explained. She was wide-eyed as we took the subway back home. It was amusing to see her like this. Throughout our journey home, I had been observing her. She was actually very pretty, with a great sense of humor, and very witty. She had this natural grace—I guess it comes with being a dancer—and was just really, really cool. I decided I liked her. Not like liked her—not yet anyway—but I wanted to get to know her better before I made any decisions.

          Finally, we reached my apartment and I let myself in. "Mom?" I asked. "I'm home!" I looked in the direction of the living room and dropped my stuff, my mouth hanging open. My mom was with someone. And not just with someone—she was kissing him! I was about to turn to Kendall and apologize on behalf of my mom when my mom and this guy abruptly broke apart. "Aaron… hi… I can explain," my mom stuttered.

          I tried desperately to keep my cool. This would not bode well with Hope's and my plan. I was about to turn to Kendall again with my original intent when she asked something that shocked us all.

          "Dad? Wh—what are you doing here?"

*GASP* A Daikari? No!!! (Don't worry, I'm not that evil.) See what happens in the next chapter…