Chapter Four: Moving
The next week went by in a hurry. Matt and I had to take extra English lessons to improve our skills before moving to America, so rather then always staying after school for extra help, we got our computer whiz friend, Izumi "Izzy" Koushiro to help us out. At first our red headed friend had been reluctant to help us, claiming Kido Joe to be better suited for the job.
"I would've went to Joe, but he's so busy with junku that he's not available." Matt had explained to Izzy. [1]
"Well, I'm not really that great at speaking it, but I'm good with translating and writing it." Izzy explained. "But what you really need to learn is how to speak it. Wouldn't it make more sense to stay after school with your English teacher or hire someone?"
"Oh come on Koushiro! I /know/ you can speak the language better than any of us." Matt had insisted. "Besides, we already are getting some extra help, but we need more then they can give."
"I can't drop everything I'm doing just because you need some help speaking a language that /I/ can't even speak well!" Izzy had retorted frustrated.
"It's only for a week..." Matt persisted. "And you /can/ speak it! Why do you keep saying you can't?!" Izzy had his arms and legs crossed as he sat in his computer chair with his eyes closed, thinking it over. After a moment of silence between the three of us, our friend responded reluctantly,
"Fine. I'll help you, but it's only because you're moving soon."
Our sessions with Izzy were more relaxed compared to being with Ms. Hinata, my English teacher. With all our extra help we were improving, but were nowhere near where we needed to be. When we told dad of this he sighed and said the three of us would need to take lessons even when we got to America and that the language club at the school would be mandatory.
My friends and improving my English skills took up most of my time, although mom did manage to drag both Matt and I out to dinner on Tuesday.
"Once you move to America, it's not like I can see you any time I want." She remarked. "I promise to come visit you though and make sure your father's taking care of you."
"We'll be fine, we've been taking care of ourselves for quite some time." Matt had answered cooly. Mom just sighed and went on to other topics and the three of us (mainly anyway) had a good time.
Matt got an oddly timed call from Tachikawa Mimi, our fashion model friend who moved to America a few years ago, on Thursday night (or early morning, whichever you prefer). Takenouchi Sora had written an email to the New Yorker and told her about our moving there. Mimi had gotten so excited about it that she called my brother (forgetting the time difference) once she got the message. It turns out that we're going to be living pretty close to Mimi.
"Maybe a street or two apart." Matt had recalled from the phone conversation. "She's really happy about it."
"Well that's cool, at least we'll know someone there." I replied. "Besides, we didn't get to see Mimi too much once she moved. Now we'll basically be living next door to her like old times."
Yesterday The Teenage Wolves held their 'farewell for now' concert during the early evening/late afternoon. The whole gang (even Joe!) showed up for the concert and most of my popular brother's fan club were bawling through out the entire show. During any free time that we had I saw Matt furiously writing away in a worn black notebook. I had wondered what he had been writing, but he wouldn't let me take a peek. I found out it was new material for the band, which they sang at the concert.
As the concert was coming to a close, the lights dimmed tremendously and only a sole spotlight landed on my brother. He strung the cords on his guitar and began to sing.
//This may be the last thing that I write for long.//
The fan girls had swooned and cried. Screams of "We love you Yamato!" or "Teenage Wolves forever!" erupted throughout the crowd. A sob had broken out behind me making me jump in surprise. I and the others had turned around to see Motomiya Jun sobbing while holding a sign high above her head stating "Teenage Wolves 4ever and ever!"
"Jun! Put that down, you're blocking the view of the people behind you!" Davis shouted over the crowd.
//Can you hear me smiling when I sing this song? For you, and only you.//
The lone spotlight separated into a few different color spotlights and the song picked up the pace.
//As I leave will you be someone to say good-bye? As I leave will you be someone to wipe your eye?//
The girls went wild, I blocked my ears from all the earsplitting shrieks. I didn't know how Matt could put up with this. I didn't get how he could take all this attention as if it was nothing when he's always been pretty quiet. Then again, he's always been pretty popular even if he only has a few close friends.
//As I go, remember all the simple things you know. My mind is just a crutch and I still hope that you will miss me when I'm gone...//
"Wow, Yamato-san has really improved his writing skills." Kari had shouted over the squeals and noise the band was making.
"Yeah!" Miyako had piped up loudly. "Wasn't it Minomoto Koji who used to write the songs?" [2]
"How did you know that?" I asked the glasses wearing girl.
"Oh, well you know, I never forget a pretty face." She had laughed before becoming a deranged fan girl and shouting the bass guitar player's name and waving a small banner like Jun's.
"Miyako, where did you get that?" I remember Iori asking and then Davis asking /why/ she had it.
"Oh leave me alone!" The purple haired girl spat fed up. "I love you Koji!!"
//This is the last song!//
"Miyako, I thought you liked Ke-" Kari had started but Miyako quickly covered the surprised girl's mouth.
I remember Daisuke grinning. "Ah, come on Miyako, who is it?" Miyako glared at him, still covering Kari's mouth. Davis continued slyly, "The name begins with the letters 'K and e'. Hmm, who do I know with those two letters in his name?"
His maroon eyes had traveled to the academically famous boy sitting next to him who had seemed to be ignoring their antics and concentrating on the show. "Could it be-"
"Drop it Davis!" Miyako yelled blushing furiously at the same time Kari had pried Miyako's hand off her mouth and agreed with the embarrassed girl.
//The hearts start breaking as the year is gone. The dream's beginning and the time rolls on.//
"Isn't he wonderful!?" Jun had exclaimed happily, tears streaming down her cheeks. Davis turned around to face his sister with a look of confusion etched on his face.
"I thought you liked Joe-senpai's older brother? You're not infatuated with Yamato again are you?" He questioned. Jun scowled at him and waved her banner around a little more before replying,
"There's nothing wrong with admiring his talent is there?" She demanded from her little brother.
"Um.. I guess not." Davis had replied sheepishly.
//It seems so surreal, now I sing it. Somehow I knew that I would be this way, somehow I knew that I would slowly fade. Now I'm gone, just try and stop me now.//
"Oh he shouldn't have said that." I laughed a little. "His rabid fan girls will be all over him at the end of the concert."
"Yeah, begging him not to go." Davis returned.
"Well who would want a stud like him to go?" Miyako demanded. We looked at her with puzzled expression for a moment. "Did I just say that out loud?"
The song had started to slow down, a gentle tapping of the drums, strumming of the bass, and Yamato's smooth voice bring the song to a close.
//And will you need me now? You'll find a way somehow. You want it, too. I want it, too...//
The lights then dimmed and total darkness came, the last cord of Matt's guitar closing the last song the Teenage Wolves would sing for a year. The auditorium's back lights came on and the people applauded madly, screaming at the top of their longs, begging for more.
My friends and I had decided we'd go back when the place wasn't as crowded (or noisy for that matter), so until then we made our way to the park to go hang out. At least till it was 'safe' to go back, as Daisuke put it.
"Hey, as long as Jun's in there it's nowhere near safe." He stated hanging off of the monkey bars.
"You really shouldn't say things like that about her." Ken had told the goggle-headed boy as he managed to hang himself upside down on the bars.
"How are your English lessons going Takeru?" Iori asked me.
"Well, they've improved, but Matt and I are nowhere near where we should be." I replied with a grin.
"That's okay, Mimi-chan will help you out!" Miyako had pointed out. "After all, she speaks the language fluently now."
"Are you going to be living near Tachikawa-san?" Ken had asked me. I nodded.
"Only a street or two apart from each other."
About forty-five minutes to an hour later we decided to head back to the gymnasium where we found my brother, his band mate Koji, and Taichi cleaning up the stage and Sora, Joe, and Izzy near the technical equipment. Izzy was busy unplugging cords and entering codes into the computer, where as Joe and Sora were leaning against the stage chatting contently.
Matt stopped to stretch as Tai and Koji lifted a speaker and disappeared backstage, carrying it off stage. "Hey Koji, you can go home if you want. These guys can help me out." Matt directed to the long black haired guy backstage.
Koji appeared, his blue bandana hiding most of his black ponytail his green eyes quizzical. "You sure?"
"Yeah, I'll catch up with you tomorrow after school-"
"Nah uh, we've got plans tomorrow." Came Tai's voice from backstage. Matt ran a hand through his sweaty hair.
"That's right..." I remember my brother muttering. "We'll work something out, I'll talk to you tomorrow no less."
"Alright, if you say so Yamato." With that Koji picked his guitar case up and waved good-bye to all of us before leaving.
All of us had been quiet making sure no 'outsiders' were around before discussing plans for our trip to the Digital World the next day, today.
Now I stood outside of the elementary school with Kari, Davis, and Ken. We were waiting for Iori before heading back to the Junior High to meet up with Miyako and the others in our school's computer lab. We heard the school bell ring and shortly after Iori made his way out of the school doors and over to us.
"You ready?" I asked him. He nodded and the five of us headed to the Junior High, pretty quiet.
I only had one more day before I moved. One more day before I got on a plane and set off for America. Only one more day to tell Kari how I felt about her... I could never seem to find an appropriate time or way to let her know without it being awkward. Matt told me it would be weird any way I did it because it was normal, so to just go for it. But I couldn't. What was the problem? Being embarrassed or was it something different? Like the fear of being rejected?
"Takeru?" Came Ken's voice. I snapped out of my thoughts and smiled a reassuring smile before we entered the Junior High and headed up to the computer lab.
Davis threw the door open to reveal Miyako and Izzy debating where to go in the Digital World, smudging the computer screen with finger prints. Tai and Matt were poking fun at the computer geeks, Joe and Sora just smiling and shaking their heads at them.
"Something tells me this will be a long trip." Joe smiled.
"Joe-sempai, you came!" Iori noted cheerfully walking over to his mentor. "I thought you would be too busy to come due to cram school."
"Nope." Joe smiled reassuring. "I can play hooky for a day, besides I needed to spend some time with my friends before two more members of our party leave." He replied gesturing to Matt and I.
"Don't say it like that, you make it seem like they're not coming back." Tai said to the older boy over his shoulder.
"I guess some things never change." Kari smiled. "Still pessimistic as always."
"Hey, I've gotten better." Joe defended himself.
"Gomamon will be proud." I laughed.
"Yeah, but you're still as uptight as you always were." Came Izzy's voice as he clicked on an icon making a computerized beep. "There. Everyone accounted for?"
"Yup." Came the replies.
"Everyone have their digivices?" Sora asked looking around. Everyone held theirs up, us youngsters holding up the D3's.
"Hey Izzy, do you still need a D3 to open a gate?" Miyako asked looking at her D3.
"Not anymore. I fixed that problem so any digivice can open the gate." He replied holding his digivice up to the screen. "With that said, let's go!" A blinding white light engulfed the red head and he disappeared from view.
We arrived near a lake with a small beach. It reminded me from the first time when we had to say our good-byes to our digimon partners. The small t.v. gate behind me turned off as the last of us came through the portal. I looked around at the scenery, lush exotic trees were in full bloom with a cloudless blue sky. It was peaceful, but sad that I'd be breaking the news to Patamon of my moving.
My moving wouldn't seem like such a big deal to the 'hamster with wings' as he had been nicknamed unluckily, but it would make it harder to visit due to the circumstances. "Should we look for them?" I asked.
"Nah, they're probably on their way now!" Davis replied searching the horizon. "I think I see them now actually..."
"T.K!!!" Came the childlike voice of my best friend. I turned around to find the big blue eyes flying into me. The force of his impact sent me stumbling backwards, but I regained my balance and gave him a hug.
"Patamon!"
"I've missed you so much!" Patamon snuggled in my chest.
"Me too buddy." I cooed. I released him and perched himself on his favorite spot: My head. "There's something I need to tell you Patamon." I told the bat winged giant hamster looking up.
"And what's that?" He asked looking down at me from his spot.
"I'm moving." I replied. He cocked his head to the side.
"What's that mean?" He asked naively.
"Well, nothing really... It just makes it a bit harder to see you." I explained. Patamon frowned.
"Why?"
"I'm moving far away, but it's only for a year and then I'm coming back."
"Will I get to see you while you're away?" He asked concerned.
"Um... Yeah!" I replied hopefully. "It may not be often enough, but don't worry, we'll still find a way to meet!" Patamon smiled happily.
"Right!"
Breaking the news to my digimon friend was a lot easier then when I had to break it to the others, maybe because I still had a way of visiting him while I was gone unlike I did with the others. We stayed in the Digiworld for a few hours and caught up with each other since it was a rare occasion we were all together (minus Mimi). I was sad when we had to go, but like Patamon and I always did when we had to part way, we promised to meet up again. I gave him one last hug before making my way to the t.v. gate and going back to the real world.
That night I found a solution to my problem on telling Kari how I felt about her. I had always been good at expressing myself on paper, such is how I got awards on some of my writing at school, so I decided to write a letter to explaining how I felt... And a request to wait for me.
~*~
The next day I woke up and wondered why I felt to depressed and then I remembered. I was moving. I was moving far away from my friends and from my mom. I also remembered I had to deliver my letter to Yagami Hikari. I cursed at myself for writing such a letter. I had thought about crumpling it up, but it was a little too late for that. I stepped out of bed and entered the small kitchen to the surprising smell of food.
"Morning T.K." Came mom's voice. I gaped at her.
"What are you doing here?"
"Did you honestly think I would go to work on the day of your and Yamato's move?" She asked flipping a pancake.
"Well..." I yawned. "I have no problem with it." She smiled lovingly at me.
"I'm going to miss you so much."
"I'm going to miss you to." I replied still sleepy.
"Do you have everything packed?" She asked putting two pancakes and some burnt toast on a plate before serving it to me.
"Yeah, the packing has been done for a couple of days now." She nodded.
"Well, you have a few hours before you have to be over at your father's. What are you going to do?" She asked curious. I contemplated that.
"Um... Well, I want to hang out with my friends before I go...but first I'll have breakfast with you." I replied as I forced myself to swallow the burnt bread. She smiled at me as she flipped a semi burned pancake in the pan.
"How did Yamato's concert go?" she asked interested. "I was so mad that I couldn't make it. Matt probably hates me." She sighed.
"You know that's not true!" I replied shocked. Mom sighed shaking her head and bringing her plate of burnt food to the table. "You were probably better off not going, it was just a bunch of crazed fan girls and our friends." I tried to soothe.
"Is his band really that popular?" She asked taking a bite of her pancake before getting a look of disgust on her face. "Ugh, this is horrible!" I gave her a lopsided smile on her cooking comment.
"Yeah, The Teenage Wolves are the most popular local band around." I answered her question. Mom just nodded and we ate in silence for a few minutes before she brought up another topic.
We spent the rest of the morning hanging out and making sure everything I was bringing with me to America was already at dad's or packed and in the living room. I got dressed shortly after a call from Miyako asking if I was going to hang out with them.
"Why wouldn't I?" I asked her.
"I didn't know if you were still packing for your move." She replied. "We're going to meet up with Ken, Kari, and Daisuke at the Pizza Place."
"Alright, I'll meet you downstairs in a few minutes then." I told her. After quickly brushing my teeth and putting my note to Kari in my pants back pocket, I left to spend my last afternoon with my friends for an entire year.
~*~
The pizza place was crowded as always as the six of us waded through the sea of people to a free booth. I wanted to give Kari my letter, but I didn't want to do it with the others around. I don't think Ken would say anything about it and Iori probably wouldn't understand the whole thing entirely, but I feared Miyako and Daisuke giving me a hard time. If that were to occur it could embarrass Hikari into not even reading the note and her distancing herself from me.
I shook my head to clear those thoughts and concentrated on just having a good time. As usual Miyako and Davis fought, Kari tried to calm both down, I laughed at their antics and Ken observed, a smile on his face, only sometimes making witty comments. After our extra large, double cheese, and triple pepperoni pizza we thought it might be best to walk it off. We visited the comic book store next door so Miyako could pick up a copy of Ribbon Magazine featuring different shojo comics.
"I say we play a game of soccer!" Davis declared as we rounded the corner. "I want to kick T.S's butt one more time before he goes!" He added jokingly.
"Gee, thanks for the moral support Davis." I rolled my eyes with a grin. He winked and gave me a thumbs up.
"C'mon guys, I bet there's no better team then us in New York!" Davis said positively.
"What team?" Miyako, Iori, and I asked in unison not fairing too well in soccer against the other three. Kari and Ken shrugged at each other with smiles planted on their faces.
"I'll be the cheerleader." Miyako stated as we neared our favorite park, little kids occupying the playground.
"And I'll be the referee!" Iori chimed wanting just as bad as Miyako to get out the game.
"And...Uh... I'll be the score keeper!" I added.
"There will be none of that." Davis declared a sly grin on his face. "Soccer is a team effort, you need more than three people to play."
"It's just a friendly game." Kari added on looking at Davis. He nodded a bit disappointed.
"Don't look so disappointed Daisuke, you know you'll beat us anyway." Miyako said glumly.
"Aw, come on guys! Think positive!" I directed to the two gloomy ones sitting on the grass.
"I'd rather just watch." Miyako mumbled before her and Iori hoisted themselves up off the ground and we picked teams.
Kari, Iori, and I on one; Davis, Miyako, and Ken on the other. Davis shrugged his backpack that he'd been carrying off his back and unzipped it. He took out a black and white soccer ball.
"Ya guys ready?" He asked setting the ball down in the center of the field.
"Yeah." We all chorused.
"Let's kick it up then!" He bellowed, kicking the checkered ball up into the air.
The ball landed on the plush grass and the game began. We had a good time, even though Davis and Ken dominated the field and won by ten points. Kari held our team up, but we were still no match for the competitive Ken "The Rocket" Ichijouji and Daisuke "The Ankle Kicker" Motomiya.
"The ankle kicker? Where did that come from?!" Davis asked confused. I laughed.
"Well, you remember a few years back when you had to play against Ken?" I asked.
"Yeah..." Davis replied not sure of what I was getting at.
"Well, in order to keep him from getting a goal you dove in front of him, kicking his ankle." I explained.
"He's done it since then too." Ken smiled.
"Oh shut up! I don't deserve to be called an ankle kicker!" Davis protested.
"Didn't you hear Takeru correctly? You're not /an/ ankle kicker, you're /the/ ankle kicker!" Miyako snickered, which caused her to receive a glare from Daisuke.
Miyako and Daisuke's bickering went on for a few more minutes before we decided to hit another popular hang out. There was only another hour and a half before I had to go back to my apartment and gather my remaining things before heading to dad's. There was only another hour and a half to give Kari my note. I stared absentmindedly at the park as the others started to walk away towards our next destination, taking in the scenery I wouldn't see for another year.
"Takeru?" Hikari's voice broke my train of thought.
"I'm coming." I sprinted over to Kari, who was waiting for me before we made our way out of the park.
We were a few feet behind the other four, walking quietly together. My hand reached for my back pocket where the note with my feelings written out rested. I thought about giving it to her here and now, but then Daisuke turned around and motioned for us to hurry up. I cursed his bad timing, but knew it wasn't his fault. I smiled at Hikari before jogging to catch up with the others and the rest of the afternoon went on like it was an ordinary Sunday, like I wasn't moving after all and it was something that I just happened to dream up. Yet the never ceasing nagging in the back of my mind told me differently and told me I was running out of time.
"Hey, Takeru?" Davis said from behind me. I was concentrating on beating King from Tekken 4 and failing miserably.
"Yeah?"
"Have you told Hikari-chan yet?" He asked in a whisper. King lashed a vicious attack on Jun, whom I was playing as, killing her instantly. The red taunting letters of 'Game Over' came onto the screen.
"Not yet." I sighed still staring at the screen. I debated on digging into my pocket for another token to continue my game, but somehow thought better of it.
"You haven't told her?" He asked in a tone of disbelief. "Just when do you plan on telling her?" I turned around to face the goggle wearing boy.
"Look, I've just been kind of stressed out lately. Their hasn't been a good time to tell her." Daisuke crossed his arms and gave a small glare. I suddenly felt guilty. "I am going to tell her before I leave."
"You don't have that much time left! Just tell her now and get it over with!" He spat.
"It's not that simple!" I claimed irritated. Davis opened his mouth to say something more, but a Miyako's voice caught him off guard.
"Hey guys! It's almost four, we should head back!" I sighed before turning to Davis.
"I have a letter that I'm going to give her. I'll give it to her right before I leave." I told him as we started walking to the exit. Davis nodded and we exited the building silently.
The four of us made our way back to Iori's, Miyako's, and my apartment chatting contently. I was a little more detached then normal, but I think the others understood why. As we turned into the parking lot of the front entrance I saw mom loading a few things into the car. She turned around pushing some strands of blonde hair out of her face.
"Just on time." She said with a smile. "Hello."
"Hello." My friends chorused back politely.
"Are you ready to go T.K.?" Mom asked closing the trunk to the silver vehicle. Time seemed to have stopped as my friends looked at me with sadness. Was I ready to go? I don't think so, but I had no choice except to go. It was the decision I made.
"Yeah..." I replied sadly, but did not move from my spot. Mom nodded understanding.
"Well... We shouldn't keep your father waiting." She replied regrettably before nodding bye to my friends and getting into the car. I sighed before forcing a smile onto my face for my friends.
"Well... I guess this is it for awhile." I stated. I looked around my group of friends. They all had gloomy face, Miyako even had unshed tears in her eyes. Their depression only worsened my own.
Davis was looking at the ground before turning his eyes upward and a smile placed on his lips. "Don't sweat it! You'll be back in no time!" He slapped my back a few times before squeezing my shoulder, his way of saying good-bye.
"Yeah, and when you come back we'll throw a big party!" Miyako declared a tear tumbling down her left cheek, but she had a determined smile on her face. "It'll be perfecto!" Miyako made the 'V for victory' sign with a wink.
"And I'll have my mom make some of her special brownies." Iori promised.
"Better have her make a double batch if Izumi is attending." Ken smirked.
Davis laughed. "Yeah, we all know how much he likes those brownies."
"We'll miss you." Hikari stated, almost a whisper.
"Now or never." I told myself as I reached for my back pocket. I pulled out a folded up piece of notebook paper. I looked at it for a moment, nervous, before handing it to Kari. "T-this is for you." I couldn't help but stutter.
She looked at it, but did not unravel it. Instead she just smiled at me, but I could see the sadness in her eyes. "I'll look at it later." She responded.
I looked around at my friends once more before smiling and nodding good-bye to them. I opened the passenger seat car door and commenced to sit down, an echo of good-byes and we'll miss you's as I shut the door. A pang of heart ache and the faint blush still in place from giving Kari my letter stayed with me as I saw my friends one last time through a car window before driving away.
I couldn't help but wonder, did Matt go through the same thing?
~*~
To be continued....
~*~
[1] Junku is a private cram school that some Japanese students attend. Since Joe is always caught up with school work and such I figured he'd be in one of these.
[2] Minomoto Koji, for those of you who haven't guessed, is from Digimon Frontier (Season 4). For that season he is like the Matt of the group ^_^ and also my favorite character from Frontier, so I figured I'd have him have some connection with Yamato. Also, I didn't know if the Teenage Wolves band members actually had names. Sorry if they did!