Preface – dated January 1, 2004
Hello to all of you reading this! I just wanted to insert a few comments here before you begin.
This story was finished in November 2003. It started from a simple idea to write a Parent Trap story Takari style to this awesome, awesome piece of work. I'm not trying to be conceited, but as of now, it is the only story I have written that has gotten 100+ reviews. It also took me a whole year to write. In that year, I think my writing improved dramatically. It's gotten such a good response—the latest, which actually has touched me the most, has now made this a bedtime story—yay!!! (Read the reviews if you want to know what I mean. =D) I'm amazed how much people like this story. It makes me feel like a good writer. =D I am in the process of revising this for the little annoying things like punctuation and stuff, but overall, I hope you enjoy. It is truly my masterpiece.
Another comment I wanted to throw in—from the Together Again story, if you want a really good visual of Aaron, check out Sora from the PS2 game Kingdom Hearts. That's what I imagine Aaron to look like, for the most part. (Sans the big yellow shoes. LOL)
Thank you for the reviews from "Together Again," if you read it (80 and counting!), and I hope you enjoy this semi-continuation. This story is a sequel of sorts, because it follows the "Together Again" timeline through interludes, and at the end. But at the same time, it isn't, because it focuses on T.K. and Kari (a pure Takari, unlike the prequel AND the sequel) and basically, their love story. This story is what you would find if you opened up the book that T.K. gave Kari the Christmas he proposed to her, if you remember where "Together Again" left off. It's written in T.K.'s point of view, as you will find very shortly.
One last note - If you didn't read "Together Again," I highly suggest that you do, otherwise you may get lost in the prologue and the interludes. =D
Now, go read the story, and enjoy it. Thank you for bringing me my wish – 150 reviews! YAY! You guys rock.
-light*hope
And of course, the disclaimer (grumble grumble):
If Digimon were mine, 02 would still be airing, Taiora would be an official couple (go Taiora!) and Takari would be a real thing, not like something hinted at or anything. In other words… they're not mine!!!! Deal with it.
One Light, One Hope
Prologue: New Beginnings
-Los Angeles, California-
"Flight 192, with service to JFK Airport in New York City, now boarding."
"That's you," T.K. Takaishi said, very softly. He and his fiancée, Kari Kamiya, and their two kids, Aaron Kamiya-Takaishi and Hope Takaishi, stood, along with Aaron's girlfriend, Kendall Motomiya.
"Tell me again why you have to leave?" Kendall asked Aaron.
"I'm going back with Mom to pack up the apartment… we're going to try and sell it. I'm probably going to transfer over here somewhere, and Mom is going to see if she can work with her boss so that she can work full time here. As for Hope… well, she can really be anywhere she wants to, but she's got a gig over in Times Square tomorrow night, so she's gotta be there."
Kendall made a sad face. "I don't want you to go."
"I'll be back soon. I promise you." Aaron kissed the top of Kendall's head. "In the meantime, take care of my dad. Make sure he doesn't get too lonely."
"I dunno about that, Aaron… if I'm lonely too, I'm not going to be much help."
Aaron smiled. "I'll call you and write you, okay? And I'm definitely going to miss you."
"Me, too."
"Kari… how long are you going to be gone?"
"I don't know. I'll see what I can do… but I promise I'll be living here again by June."
T.K. made a face. "That's six months without you, Light."
"I know." Kari's eyes reflected their sadness. "But I'll always be here." She put her hand on T.K.'s chest, right over his heart. "I promise I'll never leave you."
T.K. placed his hand over hers and lifted it to his lips. "I love you, Kari."
"And I love you, too, T.K." They kissed briefly and then the brood got ready to board. T.K. turned to his daughter and hugged her. "Don't stay away too long, Hope."
"I won't. I'll be back here before you know it." This was true—Hope was coming back in a week. "Bye, Daddy."
"Bye, honey. Take care of your mom for me, okay?"
Hope smiled. "I will." After a quick hug for Kendall, Hope rushed to catch up with her mother and brother, and with heavy hearts, they departed.
On the plane, Hope dozed off quite quickly. The poor girl had been so tired out lately with all the recording and promotions she'd been doing that she needed her sleep. Beside her, Aaron looked passively out the window, and Kari knew he was thinking about Kendall. She herself was thinking about her fiancé. The last few months had been the happiest she'd had in years, and now she was going to be separated from him again. A few defiant tears sprang to Kari's eyes, but she blinked them back. She knew that if their love could withstand twelve years of separation, six months—if that; Kari was going to try to get back as soon as she could—would be bearable. Still… she missed him. And then she remembered something he'd told her:
"I know it's going to be a while until we see each other again, but until then, if ever you're doubting my love for you… read this book. I promise it'll erase any doubt."
Kari dug into her carry-on and looked for that present—and then she found it. It was a thick book, nicely bound, with a gold cover and the title imprinted in pink: "One Light, One Hope." Kari then realized that this was one of T.K.'s works… and opened the cover eagerly, wanting to know its contents.