Happy Ending
"I guess you're all packed now?" asked Salima as she watched her friend cram all her things into her suitcase.

"Yep," said Misao as she smiled, "The good thing is that Mum's coming over to give me a hand,"

"Yep, and we're all going to dinner tonight!" said Salima, "The last farewell dinner, I just wish you didn't have to go away,"

"In a way, I'm happy that I'm leaving but I'm also sad," said Misao, "I just don't think I'm ready to live in Tokyo. So many memories just I just can't rid from my mind, but don't get me wrong, I had a great time here!"

"I'm glad you did," said Salima, "I'm just sorry that you got stuck with Tala!"

"It wasn't that bad, we put our differences aside," said Misao, "We're talking to each other now, so is he coming tonight?"

"Damn!" said Salima, "I knew I missed something,"

"Salima!" exclaimed Misao, "Even if we weren't talking, it would have be a kind gesture, after all he did kinda turn into my long term babysitter,"

"I guess," said Salima, "But I have to meet your mother in the bus station in approximately half an hour,"

"OK," said Misao, "Well you give me his address and I'll go there," Salima raised her eyebrows in suspicion as she moved towards the address book and began to write it down on a piece of paper and handed it to Misao.

"Just no yelling, and forcing him to come," said Salima warningly, "I don't wanna see him not enjoying himself tonight because you forced him,"

"You won't," said Misao, "I'll make him come...,"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"No!" said Tala as she arrived at his apartment an hour later.

"Come on Tala, it will be fun!" said Misao, "Please!"

"No, N-O!" said Tala as he stormed into his kitchen.

"Sheesh, you are such a boring person!" said Misao, "What happened to your sense of fun and adventure,"

"I have no sense of adventure," said Tala and looking coldly at her said, "Or emotions,"

"That's what you say, but then what the hell happened earlier on in Salima's apartment," thought Misao as she sat down on his sofa, "Tala, please. I'd really like you to come,"

"NO," said Tala for the last time.

"Geez man!" said Misao, "I have had to resort to begging! And you're still not going to accept?"

"That's right," said Tala as he brought a lemon tea for her.

"You are sooooo boring!" said Misao as she drank her tea.

"I know," said Tala as he drank his own. Misao slammed her cup down on the table and got up.

"Fine," said Misao as she left the apartment but then stopped at the door, "I probably won't see you again then...so I guess this is goodbye," She looked deep into his blue eyes, hoping to find a glimpse of hope that he would come, but she saw nothing but cold ice blue eyes staring back at her.

"Yep," said Tala as he opened the door, Misao looked at him in hatred as she went out of the door. Tala closed the door behind her as he sat down on his sofa, "Goodbye Misao,"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As Misao made her way back to Salima's place, she saw her mother waiting in Salima's living room.

"Misao!" said Yuriko, "How have you been my dear?"

"Good!" said Misao; however her face betrayed her cheerful reply.

"Are you OK?" asked Salima worried for her friend.

"I'm fine!" said Misao.

"Did you enjoy your visit in Tokyo?" asked Yuriko eagerly. Misao smiled and nodded. "Good, because I have some important and it should also be very exciting for Kane and Salima as well,"

"What is the news Yuriko?" asked Kane as he settled down in the living room.

"I feel that it is the right time now, Misao seemed to cope in Tokyo and so I think it's perfect," said Yuriko, "As you know I applied for a more convenient hours job,"

"Did you get the post?" asked Misao.

"Yes, except we will have to move from Kyoto," said Yuriko.

"Where?" asked Salima in shock.

"Here," said Yuriko happily, "Misao my dear, we're moving back to Tokyo!" Misao was speechless, everything was too soon and she didn't think she could do it. Instead of answering she turned on her heels and ran out of the room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Ah damn!" said Tala as he remained seated on his chair. He remembered the last expression that he would ever see on Misao's face, and it was not a happy one. "Why does she want me to come to dinner so much? Last week, she would have yelled in my face if I said I would. Did whatever happen mean anything?" Tala got up as he began to walk around his apartment pondering possible answers, but every time he tried, Misao's angry expression came back to him, "Ahhh! She has this way of making me feel bad about myself when I'm not in the wrong! Damn that girl!" Tala grabbed his coat as he ran out of his apartment and to Salima's apartment.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I don't get it, this news should have pleased her," said Yuriko, "She would be near you two again! Just like old times!"

"Yuriko," said Salima gently, "She isn't ready," Yuriko and Kane looked at her astounded.

"But she enjoyed herself and enjoyed visiting you," said Yuriko.

"She told me today that there were just too many memories that couldn't be forgotten," said Salima, "I'm sorry Yuriko, if I had known before I would have told you,"

Yuriko sat down on the chair and sighed.

"Ever since we moved to Kyoto, I always knew that she never opened up to me," said Yuriko, "She always said that she was alright, but she would block me out so I never knew what was wrong with her," As Salima comforted Yuriko, Kane went to answer the door.

"Hey Kane, is Misao in?" asked Tala as Kane let him in.

"Misao ran out of the house," said Salima.

"Please don't say that I upset her!" said Tala.

"What did you do?" asked Kane.

"I refused to come to dinner with her," said Tala, "And she's the kind of girl who can make everyone feel bad, even when they're doing what they think is right,"

"Tala, this is Yuriko," said Salima, "Misao's mother," Tala looked at the depressed woman; he now knew where Misao got her pretty looks and features from. "Yuriko just told Misao that she was moving back to Tokyo, and Misao fled after hearing this,"

"Hello Yuriko," said Tala, "That would make sense, she's not ready,"

"Do you know something that we don't?" asked Kane.

"If you know anything at all," said Yuriko as she wept, "Please tell me!"

"I think it's to do with the past," said Tala, "I don't know a lot cos she doesn't open up easily, but she told me about the memories of her elder brother Shiro. Something about when she told you things, you didn't seem to hear her,"

"We had problems of our own, our son had just died!" said Yuriko defensively.

"Yeah, but you had Misao," said Tala, "She was still there, but you neglected and ignored her,"

"Is that why she was so depressed in class?" asked Salima as she looked at Kane who nodded remembering that time.

"Knowing that you would do nothing about it," said Tala, "She kept all her problems to herself. Misao had a lot of unhappy memories in Tokyo, it would make sense that she didn't particularly want to live here,"

Ushering Kane and Tala into the kitchen, Salima left Yuriko for a minute and closed the door of the kitchen.

"OK," said Salima, "We need to find Misao, Yuriko and her need to have a mother/daughter moment. It would help for them both to clear this up properly,"

"OK, I think that Salima should stay with Yuriko," said Kane, "You can't leave her on her own,"

"OK," said Salima as she agreed, "You and Tala split up and find her. And be careful," The two boys nodded as they left the kitchen and putting on their jacket, they opened the door and exited the apartment.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Misao stood on the bridge overlooking the beautiful view of Tokyo as the sun set. She walked along the bridge until she reached the park where she began to pick some stones up and skim them in the water. Her eyes held sorrow in them as she began to think back to the past.

FLASHBACK

A young boy with sleek black hair and intelligent brown eyes bent down and held his hand out, as young Misao took his hand and walked around with him.

"Brother, where are we going?" asked Misao as she looked at the busy streets.

"Just stay with me and everything will be OK," said her brother as he smiled at her, "Where we are going is a surprise,"

"Yay! I like surprises," said Misao happily, "You're the best brother, Shiro!" Shiro bent down as Misao hugged him.

END OF FLASHBACK

Furiously she began to throw her stones in instead of skimming as they made one ripple as they splashed in. Tears began to fall down her face as she sat on the grass and looked up into the sky.

"Oh Shiro, why did you have to leave?" asked Misao as she began to cry, "Why is everything happening now! Sure, make me go to Tokyo for a few weeks and I'll have no objections, but make me live there! I don't have enough strength to carry out such a strenuous task as that,"

Misao looked up as she saw a shadow looming over her; Tala was standing behind her holding out a tissue for her, his blue eyes betraying no emotion.

"I heard the big news," said Tala, "I guess I was wrong, that angry expression on your face would not be the last I saw!"

"I suppose," said Misao as she smiled slightly while wiping her eyes with the tissue, "What are you doing here? You made it perfectly clear that you didn't wanna come tonight,"

"I come on behalf of those who care for you," said Tala.

"You included?" asked Misao.

"I guess," said Tala as he shrugged, "All your friends and family care for you. Salima wants you to talk to your mother,"

"And let me guess, you're going to drag me back if I refuse?" asked Misao amused.

"No," said Tala as he sat down beside her, "I won't force you into anything that you are not comfortable with,"

"I'm not ready," said Misao simply.

"To talk to your mother sincerely or to move to Tokyo?" asked Tala.

"Both," said Misao, "I guess, I'm just a little worried about what my mother would think, and then there are too many memories that I can't forget here. Shiro took me here for the first time, and I guess those memories still live on,"

"No one's asking you to forget those feelings and memories, they live on in your heart, but they don't want you to dwell on the past, they want you to look to the future," said Tala, "Wait, I swear we had this conversation before?"

"We have," said Misao, "So what are you doing here, let me guess you got bored?"

"Nah, I just thought that since I was around, I might as well help out," said Tala.

"If I go back now, will you come tonight?" asked Misao hopefully.

"You don't get things from me that easily," said Tala with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Man, you are such a boring person!" said Misao, "I know that dinners in restaurants are not exactly your style, but haven't you ever done anything different before?"

"Nope," said Tala.

"Where is your sense of adventure or for that matter your daring spirit?" asked Misao, "If you never take risks, live will be boring and you'll never figure out what could be!"

"Really?" asked Tala as he looked intently into her brown eyes. Misao nodded and smiled slightly before turning away to the serene river scene. "A risk that is worth taking?" Tala looked at Misao for a few seconds before pondering, "Figure out what could be? Damn! Now I'm getting that same feeling I got earlier on in Salima's place. Could this be that emotion that everyone talks about...love??!?!!? Maybe I'm not as cyberized as I figured," Tala reached out and smoothed back some of Misao's hair. Misao looked slightly shocked by such an action but she didn't back away, she turned to face Tala as she smiled for real.

"Tala I wa-," began Misao but Tala cut her off as he moved closer to her as their lips met in a sweet kiss, filled with emotion and sparks of love. After the special moment was over, Misao looked into Tala's blue eyes, finally a sparkle of emotion showing.

"Act now, talk later," said Tala as they kissed again. Misao felt tears fall down her face as Tala wiped them away.

"So what did you want to say?" asked Tala.

"I just wanted to tell you that I think I may like you, except now I know that I do," said Misao happily.

"I love you too," said Tala, those words coming out of his mouth for the first time, gave him a sense of belonging to this world which he lived in.

For once in their lives, Misao and Tala really believed that they belonged here, in Japan, in Tokyo...and in each other's arms.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"You couldn't find her?" asked Salima as Kane returned back empty handed, Kane gave a regretful sigh as he shook his head.

"I'm just hoping that Tala's having better luck," said Kane as the door opened and Tala and Misao, linking hands walked into the room.

"Misao..," said Salima as she saw the happy expression on both their faces, then she pointed to the living room where her mother was sitting lonely and unhappy. Unlinking hands, Misao went to the living room where she was embraced by her mother happily.

"We should give them a moment together," said Salima as she closed the door, "So does someone want to tell me what the hell is going on between you two?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Misao, I'm so sorry I thought you'd be happy that we were moving to Tok-," said Yuriko.

"Mum!" said Misao, "I don't mind moving to Tokyo, Tala helped me realise that I have always had the strength to face my past! I have the strength of my friends and my family, you mum,"

"Oh Misao," said Yuriko as she bent down and hugged her daughter again, "I'm sorry that I neglected you when Shiro passed away, I was selfish and only thought about myself and my sorrow, I never thought how this would effect you, my own daughter. But now that everything is over, I want us to look forward to the future and I want you to know that I will always be there for you, to make up for the lost years of neglect,"

"That's all I need," said Misao happily as tears began to fall again, "The support of my friends and family, and to know that you will always be there when I need you. I love you mum,"

"I love you too Misao," said Yuriko as she hugged her daughter tightly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Geez, you took a long time," said Johnny as he sat down in the restaurant as he saw Salima, Kane and Yuriko walking towards the table.

"Oh my god!" said Mariam, "Is that Tala and Misao?" Everyone turned around to see Tala and Misao linking hands as they walked towards the table.

"Hey guys," said Tala good naturedly as he let go off Misao's hand so she could slide into the booth.

"Should we order?" asked Yuriko happily as she took up the menu and began to read through all the food available.

Dinner was a joyous occasion as everyone enjoyed themselves, talking and joking about, but no one had a joyful time as Tala did. For once, he felt completely uncyberized. He had feelings, he could feel them and he was happy that they were back. He could joke and laugh without being cynical and for once, he truly enjoyed himself.

"I think a toast is in order," said Salima and Kane as they got up, "To the new couple, Misao and Tala!"

"To Misao and Tala," said everyone as they drank their drink.

"I think another toast is in order," said Kane as he got up, "To Yuriko and Misao, happy mother and daughter, and soon to be happy members of our beloved society," Misao and Tala beamed as they kissed.

"Really, couldn't you do that somewhere more private?" asked Johnny disgusted by the public show of emotion.

"What's wrong with that?" asked Rei as he put his hand around Mariah as she leaned closer.

"It's cute," said Mariah, "It shows their feelings for one another,"

"Speaking of feelings," said Rei as he began to kiss Mariah as well.

"Eww," said Mariam as she began to drain her drink as fast as possible.

"Argh!" said Johnny as he crossed his hands, not pleased that he had to witness two pairs of lovers within both directions of his sight.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After dinner, everyone went their separate ways as they returned to their happy homes. Tala and Misao decided to just walk around in the moonlight as they began to just lazily stroll around in the park. They sat down on a bench gazing at the bright stars and the full moon.

"So," said Tala as he turned his eyes to Misao, "Do you believe in happy endings?" Misao laughed slightly as she turned to face Tala, smiling.

"Yes," said Misao as she cuddled up to Tala, "Yes I do believe in happy endings,"

"So do I," thought Tala as he leaned in for a passionate kiss, igniting a hidden fire trapped between ice, finally freed by the feelings of love that they felt for each other, as they drifted off into their own sweet world, just the two of them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

THE END

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

After such a long time, the story finally comes to an end, only a week away from my first hoped for deadline; I hope that you readers enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Maybe the ending winded on for a little too long, but I dunno, but yeah.