Chapter 4
A/N: Hey all- Long day- not feeling well, so I'm not in the talkative mood…Mondays suck, and I have a feeling Tuesday won't be too much better. Thanks for the reviews- they at least were a nice surprise on such a crappy day- but anyway- I'm alive and that's what matters most…I guess. Ok ttyl
Disclaimer- you know it by now-
-
More time passed. Things only worsened for both sides. Sora determined to not be a burden to Taichi's life, kept very little contact with her past, except for one day…
"Guys! Guys! LOOK!" Kari ran into the living room one night. The usual crew were gathered around the Kamiya living room. They were chatting, all except for Tai. He sat silently at the window, looking drained. That was the new Taichi Kamiya. The one that had appeared a month after Sora's departure. He no longer held much hope of finding her. He and the others had nearly exhausted all efforts to find her, and it had scared him deeply.
"What is it Kari?" TK asked.
"It's an email! And you'll never guess who it's from!"
"Well then tell us." Yolei smiled at her excitement. They so rarely were happy these days that when they were it was a big thing.
"It's from Sora!" Kari looked over to where Tai sat.
At the sound of her name, Tai instantly sucked in his breath and closed his eyes.
He had been having dreams of her lately. Never before had he been apart from her this long… it was like going into withdrawal from a drug. In his dreams they were happy- Sora was in his arms and the baby was in hers. But every morning for the past few months, he would awake alone… he often wondered if she dreamed of him.
"Taichi, it's from Sora." Kari repeated as she showed him a piece of paper with a letter printed on it.
He slowly began to awake from his stupor as she began to read the note.
=
Dear Kari and everyone,
I have to ask you all to forgive my silence and sudden departure. By now you must know I've decided to stay with my father here in America.
I needed to leave for several reasons, but I don't feel like going into details now.
I just wanted to not make you worry more than you already have. I can only ask you all to forgive me.
Please know that I am well, or as well as to be expected.
The baby is quite healthy, the doctors say and will hopefully arrive in a few months.
I don't expect you to understand my actions, but please know that I did what I had to do.
I don't want to be a burden to anyone, least of all to you… Taichi.
Please be happy in your own life. And do not worry about us, we are safe and cared for.
I must go now dear friends. I miss you all very much. And I hope to come back when things are better.
I love you all,
Sora Takenouchi
=
Kari had just finished reading the letter when Tai grabbed the paper from her hands. He reread it as he shook out of fear and sadness.
"Did she have a return address?" Izzy inquired.
Kari shook her head. "It was her father's email account. And there was none."
"I have to go to her." Tai said suddenly.
"Taichi, you know we don't know where she is over there." Ken spoke.
"But can't we just look up Mr. Takenouchi in a phone book, or college registry?" Cody inquired.
"It's worth a shot again." TK suggested.
Tai ran to his old room, he had since moved out of his parent's home and into an apartment.
"Kari- where did mom and dad put those old suitcases?" Tai called as he looked through the storage room that use to be his room.
"Tai what are you doing?" Kari asked.
"I'm going over to America, and I'm going to find her. I've sat and done nothing to clear things up. I can't take it anymore."
"But Taichi where are you going to start looking?" Matt asked.
"I'll talk to Mimi in New York. I know she's not telling us everything. She has to know where Sora is!"
"Then I'm coming too." Justin added as he too stood and joined Tai.
-
Sora felt horrible. She had been in and out of the hospital for a few weeks now. The doctors said that her depression and stress levels were going to start effecting the baby soon. And that it could be a very difficult delivery. At the moment she laid back in the soft sheets of her bed, just staring at the ceiling.
With her small frame, coupled by the baby's needs Sora found herself tired and sore all the time. The doctors had prescribed that she not over exert herself and that bed rest was very important.
But she hated bed rest…lying around and doing nothing- it only brought out the unhappiness she was trying so hard to hide from everyone, even herself.
She had sent several emails to Kari- but she dared not read any of their responses. They would only bring more pain. That and they would probably cause her to return to Japan- but that would only cause even more stress and heartache. Tai would feel obligated to be there for her- she wanted his love more than ever, but not his pity or compassion out of duty.
The only regular contact she had with her old friends was Mimi in New York. It had been Mimi's idea that Sora should email the others. They had been so worried, according to Mimi.
That's all Sora wanted to hear- she couldn't stand Mimi talking about them. So she asked her not to talk of the others and to keep her secrets from them.
Mimi had been reluctant to do so, but she understood Sora's reasons. Mimi, herself was torn between her deep friendships with the group and Sora. But Sora needed her right now.
-
The pink haired beauty ran down the stairs of her family's very nice apartment in new York City. There was a knock at the door and both her parents were gone. Not knowing who could be at the door, Mimi opened the door with a smile. The three who greeted her caused a major shock to her.
"Mimi!" Kari smiled as she gave her friend a big hug. Mimi was frozen. Before her stood the serious forms of Taichi, Justin and then Kari was still hugging her.
"W…what are you guys doing here?" She finally stuttered after Kari released her from the hug.
"It's a long story, but can we come in… we need to talk." Kari said taking Mimi's hand. The bearer of the crest of sincerity looked like she was about to faint as she led them all into the family's living room.
"Mimi, we need your help." Kari started as everyone sat down after Mimi had gotten them all drinks.
"Kari, please… please don't ask me to betray her. She couldn't take it if she found out… she's been so fragile lately…" Mimi began. She knew very well what they were going to ask her to do.
"So you do know where she is?" Justin asked quietly. He had met Mimi several time before her move to New York, but that was only because Sora knew her.
"Please Mimi- I need her! I need to see her." Tai suddenly pleaded as he knelt at her feet. Mimi could tell he was also hurting. Almost as much as Sora herself was.
'What do I do?' Mimi asked herself. She wanted all this mess to be sorted out and soon. But Sora was so ill lately and so weak that a confrontation of wills would surely mean disaster for her and the baby. Mimi needed to think things through. This would probably be the hardest decision she would ever have to make in her life.
"Taichi… I…"
"Please Mimi. Just tell me where I can find her. I won't tell her that you told us. I need to settle things." Tai continued pleading.
"You still love her?" Mimi asked as she looked into his deeply pained chocolate eyes.
"I never stopped… I couldn't deny my heart what it desires more than anything else." He said. Mimi almost blushed after hearing those romantic words.
'No Mimi- this isn't the time to go all hopelessly romantic and day dream.' She told herself as her mind wanted to drift and think if the one she cared for felt the same for her.
"Taichi. I want to help you. Really I do. But, it's just that Sora… she's not in a position to take on any more stress." Mimi tried to explain with out getting them all overly worried.
"What? What's wrong with her?" Kari asked.
"Is she ill? What happened?" Justin also chimed in.
"She's been ordered to bed rest, she was trying to hard to get things done- that the stress and emotional tolls could hurt the baby… if I'd take you to her now, things would only end worse off then they are." Mimi said sadly. "I want the two of you back together and to be happy so bad, but I can't. I'm sorry Taichi."
"Can I at least see her? All I want to do is see her again." Tai said fighting back tears. "I'm begging you Mimi."
"so we came all this way for nothing?" Justin said.
"No- we've come all this way, Mimi… maybe if you could just talk to her… or let me talk to her." Kari asked.
After a few moments of silence Mimi looked back up to her friends.
"I… I will try to talk to her, but I can't promise anything. It wouldn't be good to force her to see you, so it's up to her."
"Thank you Mimi." Tai said as he stood and sat down calmly.
"I'll talk to her tomorrow- she's at an appointment now." Mimi sighed. "Maybe you should talk with her father. Getting him to understand what happened might make things easier on Sora later on." Mimi suggested as she took a piece of paper and wrote an address on it. "Mr. Takenouchi is at the University right now- maybe you could go and see him today. He knows a lot more about Sora's condition than I do."
"Thanks again Mimi, we'll go and talk to him." Kari said as she hugged her friend again. The trio left their bags at Mimi's house. They were spending the duration of their stay in NYC at her house. After catching a cab the three entered the research laboratory that Mr. Takenouchi worked in. Mimi had written the office number and direction on the piece of paper for them.
"I think this is it." Justin said as he pointed to a large office door.
"Do we just go in?" Kari asked.
"The receptionist said he should be in there- his class is over for the day." Justin replied. Taichi was silent all the way over to the room. He had begun to feel relieved that they had indeed found Sora. But the path to her was still an obstacle ridden one. However, he didn't care what he had to do to get her back.
A/N: Hey all- Long day- not feeling well, so I'm not in the talkative mood…Mondays suck, and I have a feeling Tuesday won't be too much better. Thanks for the reviews- they at least were a nice surprise on such a crappy day- but anyway- I'm alive and that's what matters most…I guess. Ok ttyl
Disclaimer- you know it by now-
-
More time passed. Things only worsened for both sides. Sora determined to not be a burden to Taichi's life, kept very little contact with her past, except for one day…
"Guys! Guys! LOOK!" Kari ran into the living room one night. The usual crew were gathered around the Kamiya living room. They were chatting, all except for Tai. He sat silently at the window, looking drained. That was the new Taichi Kamiya. The one that had appeared a month after Sora's departure. He no longer held much hope of finding her. He and the others had nearly exhausted all efforts to find her, and it had scared him deeply.
"What is it Kari?" TK asked.
"It's an email! And you'll never guess who it's from!"
"Well then tell us." Yolei smiled at her excitement. They so rarely were happy these days that when they were it was a big thing.
"It's from Sora!" Kari looked over to where Tai sat.
At the sound of her name, Tai instantly sucked in his breath and closed his eyes.
He had been having dreams of her lately. Never before had he been apart from her this long… it was like going into withdrawal from a drug. In his dreams they were happy- Sora was in his arms and the baby was in hers. But every morning for the past few months, he would awake alone… he often wondered if she dreamed of him.
"Taichi, it's from Sora." Kari repeated as she showed him a piece of paper with a letter printed on it.
He slowly began to awake from his stupor as she began to read the note.
=
Dear Kari and everyone,
I have to ask you all to forgive my silence and sudden departure. By now you must know I've decided to stay with my father here in America.
I needed to leave for several reasons, but I don't feel like going into details now.
I just wanted to not make you worry more than you already have. I can only ask you all to forgive me.
Please know that I am well, or as well as to be expected.
The baby is quite healthy, the doctors say and will hopefully arrive in a few months.
I don't expect you to understand my actions, but please know that I did what I had to do.
I don't want to be a burden to anyone, least of all to you… Taichi.
Please be happy in your own life. And do not worry about us, we are safe and cared for.
I must go now dear friends. I miss you all very much. And I hope to come back when things are better.
I love you all,
Sora Takenouchi
=
Kari had just finished reading the letter when Tai grabbed the paper from her hands. He reread it as he shook out of fear and sadness.
"Did she have a return address?" Izzy inquired.
Kari shook her head. "It was her father's email account. And there was none."
"I have to go to her." Tai said suddenly.
"Taichi, you know we don't know where she is over there." Ken spoke.
"But can't we just look up Mr. Takenouchi in a phone book, or college registry?" Cody inquired.
"It's worth a shot again." TK suggested.
Tai ran to his old room, he had since moved out of his parent's home and into an apartment.
"Kari- where did mom and dad put those old suitcases?" Tai called as he looked through the storage room that use to be his room.
"Tai what are you doing?" Kari asked.
"I'm going over to America, and I'm going to find her. I've sat and done nothing to clear things up. I can't take it anymore."
"But Taichi where are you going to start looking?" Matt asked.
"I'll talk to Mimi in New York. I know she's not telling us everything. She has to know where Sora is!"
"Then I'm coming too." Justin added as he too stood and joined Tai.
-
Sora felt horrible. She had been in and out of the hospital for a few weeks now. The doctors said that her depression and stress levels were going to start effecting the baby soon. And that it could be a very difficult delivery. At the moment she laid back in the soft sheets of her bed, just staring at the ceiling.
With her small frame, coupled by the baby's needs Sora found herself tired and sore all the time. The doctors had prescribed that she not over exert herself and that bed rest was very important.
But she hated bed rest…lying around and doing nothing- it only brought out the unhappiness she was trying so hard to hide from everyone, even herself.
She had sent several emails to Kari- but she dared not read any of their responses. They would only bring more pain. That and they would probably cause her to return to Japan- but that would only cause even more stress and heartache. Tai would feel obligated to be there for her- she wanted his love more than ever, but not his pity or compassion out of duty.
The only regular contact she had with her old friends was Mimi in New York. It had been Mimi's idea that Sora should email the others. They had been so worried, according to Mimi.
That's all Sora wanted to hear- she couldn't stand Mimi talking about them. So she asked her not to talk of the others and to keep her secrets from them.
Mimi had been reluctant to do so, but she understood Sora's reasons. Mimi, herself was torn between her deep friendships with the group and Sora. But Sora needed her right now.
-
The pink haired beauty ran down the stairs of her family's very nice apartment in new York City. There was a knock at the door and both her parents were gone. Not knowing who could be at the door, Mimi opened the door with a smile. The three who greeted her caused a major shock to her.
"Mimi!" Kari smiled as she gave her friend a big hug. Mimi was frozen. Before her stood the serious forms of Taichi, Justin and then Kari was still hugging her.
"W…what are you guys doing here?" She finally stuttered after Kari released her from the hug.
"It's a long story, but can we come in… we need to talk." Kari said taking Mimi's hand. The bearer of the crest of sincerity looked like she was about to faint as she led them all into the family's living room.
"Mimi, we need your help." Kari started as everyone sat down after Mimi had gotten them all drinks.
"Kari, please… please don't ask me to betray her. She couldn't take it if she found out… she's been so fragile lately…" Mimi began. She knew very well what they were going to ask her to do.
"So you do know where she is?" Justin asked quietly. He had met Mimi several time before her move to New York, but that was only because Sora knew her.
"Please Mimi- I need her! I need to see her." Tai suddenly pleaded as he knelt at her feet. Mimi could tell he was also hurting. Almost as much as Sora herself was.
'What do I do?' Mimi asked herself. She wanted all this mess to be sorted out and soon. But Sora was so ill lately and so weak that a confrontation of wills would surely mean disaster for her and the baby. Mimi needed to think things through. This would probably be the hardest decision she would ever have to make in her life.
"Taichi… I…"
"Please Mimi. Just tell me where I can find her. I won't tell her that you told us. I need to settle things." Tai continued pleading.
"You still love her?" Mimi asked as she looked into his deeply pained chocolate eyes.
"I never stopped… I couldn't deny my heart what it desires more than anything else." He said. Mimi almost blushed after hearing those romantic words.
'No Mimi- this isn't the time to go all hopelessly romantic and day dream.' She told herself as her mind wanted to drift and think if the one she cared for felt the same for her.
"Taichi. I want to help you. Really I do. But, it's just that Sora… she's not in a position to take on any more stress." Mimi tried to explain with out getting them all overly worried.
"What? What's wrong with her?" Kari asked.
"Is she ill? What happened?" Justin also chimed in.
"She's been ordered to bed rest, she was trying to hard to get things done- that the stress and emotional tolls could hurt the baby… if I'd take you to her now, things would only end worse off then they are." Mimi said sadly. "I want the two of you back together and to be happy so bad, but I can't. I'm sorry Taichi."
"Can I at least see her? All I want to do is see her again." Tai said fighting back tears. "I'm begging you Mimi."
"so we came all this way for nothing?" Justin said.
"No- we've come all this way, Mimi… maybe if you could just talk to her… or let me talk to her." Kari asked.
After a few moments of silence Mimi looked back up to her friends.
"I… I will try to talk to her, but I can't promise anything. It wouldn't be good to force her to see you, so it's up to her."
"Thank you Mimi." Tai said as he stood and sat down calmly.
"I'll talk to her tomorrow- she's at an appointment now." Mimi sighed. "Maybe you should talk with her father. Getting him to understand what happened might make things easier on Sora later on." Mimi suggested as she took a piece of paper and wrote an address on it. "Mr. Takenouchi is at the University right now- maybe you could go and see him today. He knows a lot more about Sora's condition than I do."
"Thanks again Mimi, we'll go and talk to him." Kari said as she hugged her friend again. The trio left their bags at Mimi's house. They were spending the duration of their stay in NYC at her house. After catching a cab the three entered the research laboratory that Mr. Takenouchi worked in. Mimi had written the office number and direction on the piece of paper for them.
"I think this is it." Justin said as he pointed to a large office door.
"Do we just go in?" Kari asked.
"The receptionist said he should be in there- his class is over for the day." Justin replied. Taichi was silent all the way over to the room. He had begun to feel relieved that they had indeed found Sora. But the path to her was still an obstacle ridden one. However, he didn't care what he had to do to get her back.
