Author's notes: Okay, nothing to say here. Just the whole Digimon's not mine, I'm making no money, please don't sue me, disclaimer thing. But now that that's over, WHAT ARE YOU DOING READING THIS PART? GO ON TO THE STORY!
MOVING ON
By Android Eleven
Three weeks later, the second-last week of April, it was TK's birthday. Yui had long since recovered from her bout of the flu and Kari hadn't lost her job, though she'd come awfully close. Ken and Yolei had a beautiful new baby boy with blue eyes and a soft tuft of blue hair like his father's. Little Koji Kamiya had turned 5 two weeks before (His birthday was on the same day that the baby had been born). Izzy had come back from a six-week trip to the US. And Matt had broken up with his girlfriend and had started dating a waitress at one of his favorite restaurants.
Anyhow, it was TK's birthday and, as Izzy had finally come home from his trip to America, he had insisted that they throw a party for TK at his huge house out in the country.
So that's where everyone was that Saturday afternoon, Digidestined, wives, kids and all. Ken and Yolei's baby boy was creating quite a stir and everyone wanted to hold him. And so, of course, when TK had finally gotten a chance to hold him, his cell phone rang.
He sighed unhappily and passed the baby to Kari. He reached to his belt, where his cell was clipped, and answered it. "Hello, Takaishi speaking."
A voice hesitantly replied on the other end of the line. "...Takeru? It's me."
TK straightened and went rigid. Kari, Matt and Yui seemed to be the only ones who noticed and were surprised by the sudden movement and the look on TK's face. A look of shock mixed with intense dislike and sadness. Then he whispered tentatively, "Saruko?"
Not seeing the equally shocked looks on his observers' faces, TK stood and walked to the corner of the room, listening to his wife speak as he did. "Yeah, it's me. Look, Takeru, I need to talk to you. It's important. Are you alone?"
"No," he replied brusquely. "But give me a minute." He covered the mouth of the phone and yelled across the living room to Izzy. "Hey, Iz! Can I use your phone console for a couple minutes?"
"Feel free!" was Izzy's only reply. Takeru slipped down the hall and into one of the rooms. Inside was a blue-gray console much like a computer. He slid his cell phone into a slot off to the side and a holographic projection of the face of his wife flickered into existence.
But TK had been in such a rush to get out of the living room that he hadn't noticed when Kari had given the baby back to his mother and she, Matt and Yui had followed him. Seeing him enter the room down the hall, they each looked at each other and came to a silent agreement, nodding. The all stood outside the door with their ears against the wood, listening.
Inside, TK finally spoke. "Well? What do you want, Saruko?"
Saruko remained silent for at least an entire minute before avoiding the question entirely. "How have you been, Takeru? Where are you living now? I tried calling the old house number, but it seems that it was disconnected. I had to call your cell instead."
"I'm back home in Japan. I missed my family. And I'll bet yours misses you, you should probably visit them once in a while," he said, referring to his estranged Chinese -in-laws. "But I'm fine. So is your daughter, by the way, it was so nice of you to ask." Outside the room, in the hall, Yui winced at her father's tone. Inside, Saruko remained silent. A few moments later, TK exasperatedly repeated his question.
"What do you want, Saruko?"
The young Chinese woman sighed, finally speaking. "I want you to sign the papers finalizing our divorce, Takeru."
Of all the things TK had expected her to say, that wasn't it. It was a long time before he could manage to say anything in reply. "When did we start one?"
"Farther back than you realize," was Saruko's only answer.
TK seemed to be having a hard time breathing. "But... I mean, isn't there something... we've been together seven years now... can't..." He paused for a moment, trying to pull himself together, but he could only succeed in uttering a one word question. "Why?"
"Because I'm not happy anymore. I haven't been for a long time."
Takeru couldn't help a surge of anger. "And you think TED can make you happy?"
Saruko scowled, marring her attractive features. "I didn't ask for your opinion, Takeru. All I want are the signed divorce papers. I'll fax them to you tomorrow."
"Fine." TK had been on the verge of hanging up, before a thought struck him. "What about Yui?"
Saruko frowned, obviously tired of the conversation. "What about her?"
"Don't you want to discuss custody or something? She IS your daughter, you know."
"Keep her," she said dismissively. "I don't have any time anymore as it is. I wouldn't be able to take care of a six-year-old, too."
"Seven," TK interrupted quietly. "She'll be seven in a couple weeks."
Saruko paused before replying unemotionally, "That's right." She sniffed. "Besides, she's always liked you better anyway. Look, Takeru, I've got to go. I'll fax the papers to you tomorrow."
"Fine," he muttered again, angry once more. "Do whatever the hell you want to do. It doesn't mean a damn to me anymore."
Saruko merely spoke sadly. "Good-bye Takeru. Take care of Yui for me." And then she hung up.
TK stared blankly at the wall. Divorced. He was going to be divorced. Of course, he knew it had been coming; he'd have been a fool not to realize it. But still, the enormity of it was overwhelming. He hadn't expected it so soon.
He was so preoccupied that he hadn't even noticed that he was crying until Kari came into the room and wrapped her arms tightly around his trembling frame. She didn't tell him that everything would be okay or that time heals all wounds or any words of false comfort like that. She simply sat there, hugging him, being with him. And, as he hugged her back and quietly sobbed into her shoulder and then felt his brother's comforting arm wrap around his own shoulders, he thanked God that he had such wonderful people in his life.
* * * * *
The next day, Yui was sitting in front of the television in her Uncle Matt's apartment and she was feeling more bored than she had ever been since moving to Japan. Her father had sent her over there because he didn't want her to see him during the whole reading and signing of divorce forms procedure. And, to be honest, Yui hadn't wanted to see him do it either.
But this didn't do anything to help the fact that she was bored. There was nothing on TV and she'd forgotten to bring any books with her. She asked her Uncle for any books, but he said that most of the ones he had there at the time were probably too "mature" for her. After picking up a couple and skimming through the first few pages, Yui agreed with him.
Finally, Yui shut off the TV and just walked around. She'd been doing this for a few minutes when something in the corner of the living room caught her eye. It was number of big, very thick books that looked a little like her binder at school. Photo albums.
She was just carrying one over to the couch to get more comfortable when her Uncle Matt came back from his trip downstairs to do his laundry. He lugged his basket in and dropped it to the floor by the couch and plopped down beside his niece. "Whatcha doing, Sweet-pea?"
She grinned. "Just looking through this photo album. Want to help explain some pictures?"
Matt glanced at the book. That had been TK's album, meaning that most of the pictures were of TK taken by assorted friends and family at different points during his teenage years. This would be amusing. "Sure kiddo. Now, get up here!" Matt pulled a giggling Yui up in his lap and opened up the book.
The first picture was the classic Digital World one, the one that had been taken when TK was eight and everyone was leaving because the portal between the worlds was closing. Yui had a hard time identifying her father and burst out laughing when she did.
The next one was one that had been taken four years later, all the old and new Digidestined included. Then there were some family pictures and a number of school pictures, too. There were a few from TK's first day of high school, with Kari and Davis on either side of him, wearing the same green uniforms, grinning from ear to ear.
Then there was one with TK about to take a jump shot while playing basketball. He had been wearing the white-with-green-trim school jersey and shorts combo and had a white headband keeping his spiky, sweaty hair out of his eyes.
And the next one was with Odaiba High's entire basketball team carrying TK up on their shoulders while he waved a gigantic trophy in the air. Yui looked to her Uncle for an explanation. "That was during his senior year. Your dad won the national basketball league for his high school that year, you know."
Yui blinked. "He did?" Matt nodded, smiling.
"I'm surprised that he never went pro, but he seems happy enough as an author. But I bet he could still be a famous basketball player if he wanted to be." Yui grinned.
"That's neat. Thanks for telling me, Uncle Matt."
While he was busy mussing her hair up as much as he could, Yui turned the album to the next page. She froze as the picture came into view.
It was a younger, skinnier version of her father, much different from the Takeru Takaishi she knew and loved, but then, all the pictures in that album looked like that. No, it was the fact that he was with Kari.
TK was wearing a light aqua-colored button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and Kari was wearing a yellow tank top. And their arms were wrapped around each other, their foreheads touching. They were gazing into each other's eyes and were almost kissing.
When Yui looked, wide-eyed, at her Uncle, he looked away. "They told me that they were just friends..." she trailed off questioningly. Matt looked embarrassed.
"Oh, they were more than that, kiddo. A lot more. They were in love." Matt paused and was about to say something else when the phone rang. He sighed and went to get it, but turned back for just a moment and smiled. Then he continued out to the kitchen.
"Hello?" Yui heard from the kitchen a second later. "Oh, hey. Yeah, she's fine. Just looking through an old photo album." A pause. "Nothing interesting. You done yet?" Another pause. "Yeah, I can bring right over. She's been pretty bored. Okay, see ya in a bit. Later." Then he hung up.
He came back in the living room and sat down again. "That was your dad. He's done his stuff and says you can come home any time now." Yui simply nodded.
"What else can you tell me about my dad and Kari?" she asked suddenly. Matt was startled.
"Well, uh, they were dating for about a year when your dad left for England. I guess they kind of faded apart after that."
"'Things that fade can be restored,'" Yui quoted quietly. Matt looked at her questioningly, but she merely shook her head. "Don't ask. I just heard it someplace. Do you think it's true?"
"What?"
"Do you think that they still like each other?" Yui clarified. Matt sat back for a moment, looking thoughtful. Then he looked back down at his eager-looking niece.
"You know something, Sweet-pea? They just might! You and I are going to have to do some digging."
Yui rubbed her hands together and tried to look evil. "MWAHAHAHAHA!"
* * * * *
Author's notes: Sorry this took so long. I've been working on The Arrow. That's just letting all of you out there know, I haven't given up on it. Chapter 15 is just taking forever. Anyhoo, pop in again soon, the next part'll be up soon. Toodles! ^_^
MOVING ON
By Android Eleven
Three weeks later, the second-last week of April, it was TK's birthday. Yui had long since recovered from her bout of the flu and Kari hadn't lost her job, though she'd come awfully close. Ken and Yolei had a beautiful new baby boy with blue eyes and a soft tuft of blue hair like his father's. Little Koji Kamiya had turned 5 two weeks before (His birthday was on the same day that the baby had been born). Izzy had come back from a six-week trip to the US. And Matt had broken up with his girlfriend and had started dating a waitress at one of his favorite restaurants.
Anyhow, it was TK's birthday and, as Izzy had finally come home from his trip to America, he had insisted that they throw a party for TK at his huge house out in the country.
So that's where everyone was that Saturday afternoon, Digidestined, wives, kids and all. Ken and Yolei's baby boy was creating quite a stir and everyone wanted to hold him. And so, of course, when TK had finally gotten a chance to hold him, his cell phone rang.
He sighed unhappily and passed the baby to Kari. He reached to his belt, where his cell was clipped, and answered it. "Hello, Takaishi speaking."
A voice hesitantly replied on the other end of the line. "...Takeru? It's me."
TK straightened and went rigid. Kari, Matt and Yui seemed to be the only ones who noticed and were surprised by the sudden movement and the look on TK's face. A look of shock mixed with intense dislike and sadness. Then he whispered tentatively, "Saruko?"
Not seeing the equally shocked looks on his observers' faces, TK stood and walked to the corner of the room, listening to his wife speak as he did. "Yeah, it's me. Look, Takeru, I need to talk to you. It's important. Are you alone?"
"No," he replied brusquely. "But give me a minute." He covered the mouth of the phone and yelled across the living room to Izzy. "Hey, Iz! Can I use your phone console for a couple minutes?"
"Feel free!" was Izzy's only reply. Takeru slipped down the hall and into one of the rooms. Inside was a blue-gray console much like a computer. He slid his cell phone into a slot off to the side and a holographic projection of the face of his wife flickered into existence.
But TK had been in such a rush to get out of the living room that he hadn't noticed when Kari had given the baby back to his mother and she, Matt and Yui had followed him. Seeing him enter the room down the hall, they each looked at each other and came to a silent agreement, nodding. The all stood outside the door with their ears against the wood, listening.
Inside, TK finally spoke. "Well? What do you want, Saruko?"
Saruko remained silent for at least an entire minute before avoiding the question entirely. "How have you been, Takeru? Where are you living now? I tried calling the old house number, but it seems that it was disconnected. I had to call your cell instead."
"I'm back home in Japan. I missed my family. And I'll bet yours misses you, you should probably visit them once in a while," he said, referring to his estranged Chinese -in-laws. "But I'm fine. So is your daughter, by the way, it was so nice of you to ask." Outside the room, in the hall, Yui winced at her father's tone. Inside, Saruko remained silent. A few moments later, TK exasperatedly repeated his question.
"What do you want, Saruko?"
The young Chinese woman sighed, finally speaking. "I want you to sign the papers finalizing our divorce, Takeru."
Of all the things TK had expected her to say, that wasn't it. It was a long time before he could manage to say anything in reply. "When did we start one?"
"Farther back than you realize," was Saruko's only answer.
TK seemed to be having a hard time breathing. "But... I mean, isn't there something... we've been together seven years now... can't..." He paused for a moment, trying to pull himself together, but he could only succeed in uttering a one word question. "Why?"
"Because I'm not happy anymore. I haven't been for a long time."
Takeru couldn't help a surge of anger. "And you think TED can make you happy?"
Saruko scowled, marring her attractive features. "I didn't ask for your opinion, Takeru. All I want are the signed divorce papers. I'll fax them to you tomorrow."
"Fine." TK had been on the verge of hanging up, before a thought struck him. "What about Yui?"
Saruko frowned, obviously tired of the conversation. "What about her?"
"Don't you want to discuss custody or something? She IS your daughter, you know."
"Keep her," she said dismissively. "I don't have any time anymore as it is. I wouldn't be able to take care of a six-year-old, too."
"Seven," TK interrupted quietly. "She'll be seven in a couple weeks."
Saruko paused before replying unemotionally, "That's right." She sniffed. "Besides, she's always liked you better anyway. Look, Takeru, I've got to go. I'll fax the papers to you tomorrow."
"Fine," he muttered again, angry once more. "Do whatever the hell you want to do. It doesn't mean a damn to me anymore."
Saruko merely spoke sadly. "Good-bye Takeru. Take care of Yui for me." And then she hung up.
TK stared blankly at the wall. Divorced. He was going to be divorced. Of course, he knew it had been coming; he'd have been a fool not to realize it. But still, the enormity of it was overwhelming. He hadn't expected it so soon.
He was so preoccupied that he hadn't even noticed that he was crying until Kari came into the room and wrapped her arms tightly around his trembling frame. She didn't tell him that everything would be okay or that time heals all wounds or any words of false comfort like that. She simply sat there, hugging him, being with him. And, as he hugged her back and quietly sobbed into her shoulder and then felt his brother's comforting arm wrap around his own shoulders, he thanked God that he had such wonderful people in his life.
* * * * *
The next day, Yui was sitting in front of the television in her Uncle Matt's apartment and she was feeling more bored than she had ever been since moving to Japan. Her father had sent her over there because he didn't want her to see him during the whole reading and signing of divorce forms procedure. And, to be honest, Yui hadn't wanted to see him do it either.
But this didn't do anything to help the fact that she was bored. There was nothing on TV and she'd forgotten to bring any books with her. She asked her Uncle for any books, but he said that most of the ones he had there at the time were probably too "mature" for her. After picking up a couple and skimming through the first few pages, Yui agreed with him.
Finally, Yui shut off the TV and just walked around. She'd been doing this for a few minutes when something in the corner of the living room caught her eye. It was number of big, very thick books that looked a little like her binder at school. Photo albums.
She was just carrying one over to the couch to get more comfortable when her Uncle Matt came back from his trip downstairs to do his laundry. He lugged his basket in and dropped it to the floor by the couch and plopped down beside his niece. "Whatcha doing, Sweet-pea?"
She grinned. "Just looking through this photo album. Want to help explain some pictures?"
Matt glanced at the book. That had been TK's album, meaning that most of the pictures were of TK taken by assorted friends and family at different points during his teenage years. This would be amusing. "Sure kiddo. Now, get up here!" Matt pulled a giggling Yui up in his lap and opened up the book.
The first picture was the classic Digital World one, the one that had been taken when TK was eight and everyone was leaving because the portal between the worlds was closing. Yui had a hard time identifying her father and burst out laughing when she did.
The next one was one that had been taken four years later, all the old and new Digidestined included. Then there were some family pictures and a number of school pictures, too. There were a few from TK's first day of high school, with Kari and Davis on either side of him, wearing the same green uniforms, grinning from ear to ear.
Then there was one with TK about to take a jump shot while playing basketball. He had been wearing the white-with-green-trim school jersey and shorts combo and had a white headband keeping his spiky, sweaty hair out of his eyes.
And the next one was with Odaiba High's entire basketball team carrying TK up on their shoulders while he waved a gigantic trophy in the air. Yui looked to her Uncle for an explanation. "That was during his senior year. Your dad won the national basketball league for his high school that year, you know."
Yui blinked. "He did?" Matt nodded, smiling.
"I'm surprised that he never went pro, but he seems happy enough as an author. But I bet he could still be a famous basketball player if he wanted to be." Yui grinned.
"That's neat. Thanks for telling me, Uncle Matt."
While he was busy mussing her hair up as much as he could, Yui turned the album to the next page. She froze as the picture came into view.
It was a younger, skinnier version of her father, much different from the Takeru Takaishi she knew and loved, but then, all the pictures in that album looked like that. No, it was the fact that he was with Kari.
TK was wearing a light aqua-colored button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and Kari was wearing a yellow tank top. And their arms were wrapped around each other, their foreheads touching. They were gazing into each other's eyes and were almost kissing.
When Yui looked, wide-eyed, at her Uncle, he looked away. "They told me that they were just friends..." she trailed off questioningly. Matt looked embarrassed.
"Oh, they were more than that, kiddo. A lot more. They were in love." Matt paused and was about to say something else when the phone rang. He sighed and went to get it, but turned back for just a moment and smiled. Then he continued out to the kitchen.
"Hello?" Yui heard from the kitchen a second later. "Oh, hey. Yeah, she's fine. Just looking through an old photo album." A pause. "Nothing interesting. You done yet?" Another pause. "Yeah, I can bring right over. She's been pretty bored. Okay, see ya in a bit. Later." Then he hung up.
He came back in the living room and sat down again. "That was your dad. He's done his stuff and says you can come home any time now." Yui simply nodded.
"What else can you tell me about my dad and Kari?" she asked suddenly. Matt was startled.
"Well, uh, they were dating for about a year when your dad left for England. I guess they kind of faded apart after that."
"'Things that fade can be restored,'" Yui quoted quietly. Matt looked at her questioningly, but she merely shook her head. "Don't ask. I just heard it someplace. Do you think it's true?"
"What?"
"Do you think that they still like each other?" Yui clarified. Matt sat back for a moment, looking thoughtful. Then he looked back down at his eager-looking niece.
"You know something, Sweet-pea? They just might! You and I are going to have to do some digging."
Yui rubbed her hands together and tried to look evil. "MWAHAHAHAHA!"
* * * * *
Author's notes: Sorry this took so long. I've been working on The Arrow. That's just letting all of you out there know, I haven't given up on it. Chapter 15 is just taking forever. Anyhoo, pop in again soon, the next part'll be up soon. Toodles! ^_^
