I don't think I should write too much now, I'll just go straight to the point…hope you enjoy this chapter…
CHAPTER 5
Reflection (Eternal Blue)
Hikari Kamiya made the last preparations before leaving her room. It was a matter of minutes before her boyfriend, Ryo Asamiya picked her, and they would go together to the Valentine's Day Party. For that reason, she hurried to finish her hairdo. Eventually, she left the bedroom and walked to the living room, where everybody was waiting for her. Just before she showed up in there, she prepared for the unavoidable flattering. With a soft sigh, she slowly walked into the room.
"Oh, my God, you look absolutely…dashing…"
She ignored her mother's words and showed her outfit to the other members of the audience: Tai Kamiya and Sora Takenouchi. Kari had decided for something different, much like the new attitude she had been showing since she started going out with Ryo. A tight dress, with a beautiful dark blue color, like the ocean at night, which went from below her shoulders to her ankles. Sora was wearing a similar dress, but hers was black, like Tai's tuxedo. Also, Sora had decided to show her bare back a little more than the usual, much to Taichi's pleasure. Tai was looking at his sister with a concerned looked. Even if he had stopped caring as much as he used to care about her since he started going out with Sora, he still didn't like the idea of watching his little sister with such outfits. I guess I'll always be Tai's little sister, after all…
"So, sis…you told me you were on a double date?"
"Yep…but we're supposed to meet Yolei and Ken at the entrance."
"Alright, so…what are we waiting for?"
"For my boyfriend, maybe…"
"Oh, yeah…"
It hadn't taken her long to realize that Taichi didn't like Ryo. Neither did Sora, or Matt, or Izzy, or Cody for that matter. Yolei didn't seem to care, and Mimi…well…she lives in America. If Davis had any kind of resentment, he was hiding it pretty well, and she didn't talk that much with Ken to know his opinion. But she didn't care about their opinions, she loved Ryo Asamiya, he had made a difference. He hadn't made the mistakes TK did, and she wanted him. Maybe I'll marry him one day… Kari thought with a giggle.
But…which were those mistakes you just mentioned? An inner voice said.
Shut up! I'm going out with MY boyfriend, to have the night of my life, and no one will stop me!
"Look, it's raining again." Sora said. Kari looked at the window, and witnessed the soft rain falling from the sky. It wasn't much of a rain, actually. The plants were probably very happy, but she found it quite annoying.
"Thank God the party is indoors. That goddamned rain has tried to ruin all of my dates…I wonder when will these rains stop."
"Hikari! Thank God our mother just left the room. What if she had heard you!?" Tai replied angrily. But Kari just ignored her brother.
The night of my life…yes, and nothing will ruin it…
A loud giggle was released when the bell rang, and Kari hurried to the door, which soon revealed the image of Ryo Asamiya in front of her. And he had made sure he had a good look.
"Whoa…lookin' good…" Kari said flirtatiously.
"And what about you? You look…fantastic…" the dark haired man replied.
Five minutes later, the two couples –Tai and Sora, Ryo and Kari- left together to what promised to be the party of the year.
While Sora and Tai looked at each other dreamily, Kari tried to work things out with her conscience, but an old tune brought memories to her mind. Davis, and TK, and their videogames…
A legend of old.
A story forgotten.
The memories of true love
stolen from time.
A darkened romance.
Try hard to remember.
A doorway to the heart
beckons your mind!
And now, a corner of night
can lift the weight from you.
It's in your hands.
If just you understand.
Oh, great, now I can't get those two out of my mind…
But at the same moment Kari cuddled closer to her boyfriend, and Sora tried to hold Tai before he decided to beat the crap out of Ryo, the Sorcerer Hunter checked out for the sharp dagger he carried with him, and made sure it was ready for a swift strike.
This is gonna be too easy…
*********************************************************************
Four hours later, the two loners looked around the scene with nothing in mind. As they had gone by themselves, they had absolutely nothing to do. All of their friends were dancing, while they wondered why they had gone there in the first place.
"So, Davis…wanna dance?"
"Very funny…"
Cody Hida smiled at Davis' obvious state of boredom. At least his friend was an interesting one, and maybe he could make a conversation after all. But, when it comes to Davis, you never know…
Cody was now 15, and his almost excessive training had helped him become a pretty handsome man, even if he still lacked a little in the height department. But he was intelligent, and strong, and it was all he needed. He thanked God he had inherited the best things from his family. At least I don't have a never ending obsession with prune juice…he thought. His eyes still showed that interesting, yet cold sparkle from the old days, but his hair was growing a little too much, and it resemble Ken's hairstyle-a lot. And if there's something he didn't want, it was been labeled as Ken's "mini-me". He knew what to expect, after meeting Tai Kamiya and Davis Motomiya, who, by the way, was asking him a question.
"So, how is it you came alone, Cody?"
Cody sighed. He had seen that coming. In other times, Yolei would have been the one behind that question, but now she was too busy dancing, kissing and drooling all over Ken to do that anymore. And reality struck him once again, like a sharp knife of truth.
"Hello, Earth to Davis. It's me, Cody! Doesn't that answer your question, or do I have to use mimic?"
This time, it was Davis who sighed. Cody just ignored him, and looked aimlessly at the crowd in front of him. They look so happy…so…complete…even Joe has that cheesy smile…it will take plastic surgery to take that off…
And there he was, drifting endlessly in a sea of couples, in a world he didn't belong to, with a destiny he had already accepted.
My friends…I've lost them, and it's all love's fault…love…something I don't belong to…love…something I'll never have…
A destiny lost.
A bond that's been broken.
The memories, of a time
that slipped away.
Just open your mind
the way lies before you.
A doorway to the heart
you seek to find.
Love can change the key you hold
into a gilded chance
So tear a memory from your mind
and make it real.
*********************************************************************
"This is so funny…"
"What?"
"You, and me, dancing…"
"I don't see the joke…"
"Of course you don't, Mimi, of course you don't…"
Mimi Tachikawa and Matt Ishida danced to the pace of a slow, romantic tune. A cold breeze from the outside sent a shiver to the girl's spine, at the same moment the blonde man pulled her closer. Mimi just closed her eyes, allowed him to lead her, and tried to forget…
But her eyes eventually opened, and met the sight of Koushiro Izumi. First, she thanked God that the redhead hadn't caught her looking at him, and then she tried to get a better look…
He had changed. Definitely, and permanently. His newest experiences: with life, friendship, and love, had released a side of him she had never seen before. And sometimes she wished she had never seen that side of him.
He looks so…mature, but he also has that…aura of…tension around him…what are you becoming to, Koushiro? What's going on with all of us?
At the same time, Matt fixed his eyes in another couple. A man, and a woman, who had what he lacked. But it pleased him to admit that he wasn't jealous. In fact, he was happy for them. Yes, he might feel a little lonely sometimes, but he had long stopped competing against Taichi Kamiya. After all, he always had present in his mind the reason he had decided to breakup with Sora.
Yeah, yeah, I'll admit it. I'm not ready for a serious relationship. Not with my "tough guy" attitude, at least. But the time will come, when people change, and I want to experience some new things.
He got his sight out of the couple and noticed that someone was staring at him. But he was already used to it, especially when certain Digi-Destined told that person about his breakup with Sora Takenouchi.
But that doesn't mean you have a chance with me, Jun Motomiya…you're just not my type, sorry…And then, looking at the soft, delicate flower dancing with him, a new thought made its way in his head.
After all, it wasn't such a bad idea to come here tonight. Nice music, good food, I've got a sexy cutie dancing with me…wait a minute…did I just think that!?
Blue Star above me,
Your mystic shimmer tells of love I should know.
Whisper your secret
to soothe my doubt and calm my fear.
*********************************************************************
"Did I tell you that I love you, Sora?"
"Four times in the last twenty-five minutes, Tai."
"Well, that means I'm going for the record. I love you, Sora."
"Why is it that I never get tired of hearing that?"
Tai Kamiya enjoyed the closeness with his girlfriend and eternal love, Sora Takenouchi. Nights like that one made him think how his life had changed in just a few years. I had heard that being a teenager meant a lot of changes, but I definitely wasn't expecting something like this…
Soon, a decade of changes, twists, plots and revelations would reach an end, and the memories he cherished reminded him of a story worthy of a book. But I guess TK is the one with the artistic touch… The thought of TK brought him back to reality, and his eyes unconsciously scanned the area, searching for his sister. Strangely enough, she was nowhere to be seen. But the sensation of his fingers trailing through Sora's bare back, and the scent of her hair, combined to the wonderful aroma of her perfume dragged him back to the dream world.
Memories…
…throwing up in Sora's trademark hat…and facing the wrath of a pissed off girl…
…becoming a hero and living the adventure of his life…risking everything…and winning against all the odds…
…the challenge of growing up, becoming a teenager, and learning a new life style, when he accepted he had fallen in love…
…the Christmas he always wanted to forget…the day his heart died…the day his dreams shattered…
…the years of solitude, challenges and meaningless studying… as he had nothing else to do in life…
…but then, he remembered…the day he finally understood the meaning of happiness…
"Tai, do you…"
"Yes, I love you."
…that was the first time I said it…thank God it wasn't the last one…I just have no idea how lucky I am…if everybody had what I have…everyone would be happy…well, then…what do I have left to achieve?" But Tai just smiled, because he knew the answer.
"Why are you smiling? What's so funny?" Sora asked. But what she met left her completely amazed. Those eyes… She had fallen in love with those eyes, and the love they represented. His love, for her. And she knew there was nothing else she could need. Everything else was just an added bonus. And lost in those eyes, she realized her boyfriend was kissing her. And she wasted no time to reply. What did I do to deserve you, Tai?
"I'm dancing with the woman I love, gazing at her wonderful eyes, admiring her unmatched beauty, and realizing that she's mine. Do I need any other reason?"
"Kiss me, Taichi."
And so he did.
When the comet pulls the bow,
The stars begin their dance.
The time when destiny and hope
will give birth again.
**********************************************************************
What happened to us? When did we change so radically? When did friendship become love, love become hate, hate become sadness, and sadness become darkness? And after all this years, some of us have succeeded, while some other still remain on the road, yet I wonder…who are we?
Koushiro Izumi looked at the ceiling of the coliseum. It resembled a night sky, but the irony behind the scene was easily noticed. While rain fell outside, the inside showed him something that was supposed to be the perfect starry night. He looked down, at the couples, and a smile was formed on his face. Even if he didn't have a couple if his own, he felt awkwardly satisfied. It was a familiar sensation, the feeling of a work well done.
After all, I did the right thing. It was better to breakup with her, before the emptiness got filled with sorrow. And I'm sure we'll both get over this pretty quickly. After all, she's Mimi Tachikawa. But I…how long will it take me to feel like that again…?
He looked at his watch. Midnight was getting closer, but for the people in there, the night was far from over. He caught a glimpse of Cody Hida leaving the coliseum, a sight that didn't surprise him at all. After all, he had done that several times before becoming Mimi's boyfriend himself. But now that he was alone again, he didn't want to leave. He had felt something with her, and he wanted to feel it again. In the meantime, he looked at the couples dancing, the people chatting and drinking, and some of them leaving the place, probably looking for a little more "action". Leaving the place through the same door Cody had used seconds ago. The same door Ryo and Kari had used half an hour before.
Well, I just hope she knows what she's doing…cheers… he thought as he had a sip of his glass of cocktail. And that's probably the reason he didn't notice the person sitting next to him. Only when he looked to his right, he got the sight of a woman who would eventually change his life…forever.
*********************************************************************
"Hey, you have gotten much better since the last time!"
"Well, I do what I can…"
Yolei giggled as she observed the effort her boyfriend put into the simple act of dancing. But he had to learn someday, didn't he? She thought. She wondered how she had become who she was, and how did she end up in the arms or Ken Ichijouji, former Digimon Emperor, actual owner of her heart. Maybe her story wasn't the most romantic one, or they didn't live the mushy stuff people see in the movies, but she was definitely happy. She could remember…
"Ahem…Yolei…hmm…well…"
"What is it, Ken?"
"Well…the thing is…I was wondering…areyoufreethissaturdaynight?"
"Maybe if you said it slower, and facing me, not the floor, I could understand you better…"
"…Are…are you…are you free this Saturday night!?"
"………"
"Yolei…"
"………………"
"Yolei……"
"Are you…are you asking me out?"
"…well……maybe……the question is…do you want to…?"
"God knows I want to!!!"
"Ken…"
"What?"
"Are you happy?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean it…are you happy…with me?"
"Yolei…I thought your bright mind didn't make such silly questions. I won't answer to that."
"Ken…"
"Be quiet! I'm trying to count here!"
Yolei just giggled, as she forgot her worries, and remembered herself that she now had a boyfriend, and that she wasn't the bratty girl with goggles she used to be. She now was a woman, and that was exactly what Ken saw in her.
A woman…when did that happen?
Then if it's to be,
I'll find a glimmer of the life I should know.
Only that moment
Can show me what I hold so dear.
************************************************************************
Silence. That was the constant at TK and Mina's house that night. The only sound came from the rain falling outside and the TV with low volume inside. Mina wasn't actually paying attention to it, though. It was there just to keep her company, something TK didn't excel at lately. Her eyes were focused on the figure sitting next to her, as she looked for any signs of life coming from him.
He was sitting on the couch, his head resting on her hands, which were lifted below his chin. His eyes were focused on the distance, but Mina knew he wasn't looking to anything in special. He was just…there. Mina paid attention to the continuous sound of the rain drops falling from the sky, and she wondered when that would stop. The rainy season had ended long ago, and the rain didn't stop falling. But she already had her suspicions. She was almost sure the reason for that rain was…
"Mina…"
Takeru's voice startled her, as it took her sometime to recognize it as TK's. But his voice released a sigh from her throat and her relief was evident with the way she replied.
"Yes, Takeru?"
"Do you think I'll ever love again? Do you think I'll ever have a reason to be happy on Valentine's Day?"
How can he think that!? Mina thought. His feelings for Kari were obvious, just like his jealously for Kari's boyfriend, whose name escaped her mind at the moment. But she knew his heart was broken, and it ached when she realized there was practically nothing she could do.
"Or course, you silly! You're in love! I can see that! Don't give up your hope that easily! It's not the end of the world, geez!"
TK didn't move an inch, but he didn't stop talking.
"But…I'm not sure anymore…she looks so happy…maybe…I wasn't the man for her, after all…"
Mina mentally kicked herself –repeatedly- while she replied again.
"Don't say that! You two make the cutest couple! Even I admit that! And I'll tell you something. There's still plenty of love in that big heart of yours. You just have to find and talk to her, and she'll probably come back to you…after all, real love always wins…doesn't it?"
As she leaned closer to his best friend, TK allowed himself to smile a little. Maybe Mina's right after all…maybe I just have to talk with her…
"Now a smile's a lot better! I guess you deserve…" she interrupted herself to kiss him on the right cheek. What she didn't expect was Takeru to look at her at very same moment…
**********************************************************************
(N/A: Hehehe…prepare yourselves…oh and sorry for ruining it a little…)
When TK Takaishi woke up the next morning, the first thing he did was reconstructing the events of the day before. When they returned to him mind like a tidal wave, only three words came out of his mouth.
"Oh. My. God."
"Hmm…so you enjoyed it too, Takeru…"
Oh, my God, what did I do!?
The memories of last night, what happened between the two of them, whatever had possessed him during that moment of weakness…but there was no excuse…he had slept with her…because he had wanted to.
I felt so lonely…so…abandoned…I just wanted to feel it again…even if it wasn't as strong, but…I just did it…because she offered herself…
And now the details of last night returned to him, maybe more detailed that he had wanted to… (Flashback!)
The kiss had been completely accidental, and they both separated almost immediately, blushing madly.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Takeru! I swear it wasn't my intention…" Mina said. "…but that doesn't mean I didn't like it…" she finished in her mind. But her look changed to concern when she noticed the way TK was looking at her. It was a face she had seen before, but never from him. Her heart began to beat faster when he placed his right palm on her left cheek, and caressed it softly. She took the risk and moved her face to kiss Takeru's hand, but before she could do it, she felt how she was pushed. A second later, Mina was lying on the couch, and TK was practically on top of her, his eyes shooting sparks of dreams, desire and lust. Mina didn't have the chance to say a word before he moved his arms around her waist, enclose her with a tight grip, and kissed her. It was strong, passionate, his tongue looking for a way inside her. She moaned, welcoming him and enjoying the incredibly pleasant sensation flowing within her. Takeru released his right hand off her, and she immediately grabbed it and placed it on her chest, so he could feel her heart which was about to explode. Only after nearly five minutes of intense passion (and an overwhelming need for air) they let go of each other. They didn't know why, but they were sweating a lot, as if they unconsciously admitted the mistake they were doing.
"That was…well…whoa………oh!" Mina exclaimed when she realized TK's right was still touching her breast. TK immediately moved it away, his cheeks turning bright red (again).
"I'm sorry…"
"After what you just did, you really shouldn't be sorry…" Mina said playfully as she leaned closer. She, after all, had feelings for him, and obviously he had some kind of feelings for her, and she was disposed to find out how strong they were. Only when Takeru hugged her again, and shared another kiss with her, she was sure that he wanted more. Much more.
"You know, it's kind of hot in here, don't you think?" she whispered before licking TK's left earlobe. His answer was the question to all of her doubts, and completely turned her on, by the way.
"…maybe it's because you're wearing too many clothes…"
She looked down, at her black tank top and her blue jeans, giggling like a little girl. But the look on her eyes showed a very different person. She was a very grown up woman, who was about to do something she had wanted to do since the moment she met that man, and she was going to make sure it would be a night they would never forget. After all, she didn't want him to have a disappointing first time. When she finally took the lead, and made TK lean on the couch; when she lost herself in his two pools of clear blue water; when the random kissing became a make out session, and the make out went a little further, as they locked themselves in Mina's bedroom, and got rid of their clothes; when they cuddled together, and shared soft, tender kisses, while sliding their hands on the body of the other; and finally, after an eternity of passion and desire, when they feel asleep, each one hugging the other, as if they never wanted to let go, Takeru Takaishi and Mina Kirahashi enjoyed the night of their lives…
(End of flashback…heh…)
"Oh, my Godness…this is definitely not good…" TK muttered to himself.
"You think it wasn't good? To me, it was awesome…it makes me wonder if it was really your first time…" Mina said softly, while she cuddled closer to the man on her bed. She enjoyed the feeling of her naked body against his.
"Please, don't start now, Mina…"
"I didn't do anything…you were the one who started…I just…enjoyed it…" she said with a big grin, while her soft and skilled hands caressed and touched the right places, and tried to soothe TK in a world of pleasure. But TK's thoughts were too strong to be ignored.
"Now I will never be able to see Kari's face…ever again…"
What TK ignored was that such possibility could be more real that he could think. More real than anything he could EVER want to think…
This is gonna be too easy…
Until that moment, I'll find some comfort in the love
within my slumber.
Turn on your charm and hold me near.
Blue Star above me,
Your mystic shimmer tells of love I should know.
Whisper your secret
to soothe my doubt and calm my fear.
Blue Star above me,
when shadows lengthen and the dark looms ever closer,
turn on your shine and hold me near.
********************************************************************
End of chapter 5…
*Prepare HUGE barricade against the Takari fans* I'm done with this, and man it was tough to write it! I don't to do anything like this ever, ever again! Bu Takari fans, be merry! TK and Mina's relationship has reached its peak (except for a little extra moment a while later), so now it can do nothing else but going down! And believe me, it will go down! (My apologies to those reviewers who thought about a TK/Mina possibility. I have different plans for my cute sorceress…). By the way, that song is "Eternal Blue", from the video-game Lunar 2: Eternal Blue (Complete). A good song, by the way, from a very good game.
Anyway, see ya next time, and prepare, because BIG things are just around the corner!
Daneel Rush (daneel_ff@hotmail.com)