Betrayal- Meeko Melodie

Meeko: (cheerfully) Hello, I'm back! Digimon does not belong to me AGAIN... (sigh)

Chapter 7: Say Goodbye?

As Zoe stared at Kouji's back in the dark, she wished that he would turn his back and told her that he would forgive her. But he didn't. He never did. She walked back to her house in despair and opened the door. Mrs. Orimoto was still awake, waiting for her daughter to return. But when she saw her daughter in misery, with her eyes all red and blotchy, she wore an anxious expression on her face.

"What happened, Zoe?" Mrs. Orimoto asked with worry.

"It's...it's nothing," Zoe said.

"Have you been crying?" her mother asked.

"No, mom," Zoe said, "I'm just tired, that's all." Mrs. Orimoto didn't believe her, of course, but she didn't want to get Zoe upset, so she said, "Then get to bed early." Zoe nodded and walked in to her room.

But she didn't sleep when she got into her room. Instead, she lye on her bed for a long time, thinking what she had done in the last few hours, feeling ashamed but she couldn't do anything to stop that feeling. Desperate, she stayed awake for a long time until she finally fell into an uneasy sleep.

The Next Day

The birds were singing as the morning dew on the green grass was still visible. Zoe woke up, stretched, yawned and looked at her clock on the bed-side table: 6:30 am. She didn't want to wake up that early; she didn't want her brain to run off to last night's events again, it brought too much indignity to herself. She felt guilty after what she had done and she knew it was wrong but she did it anyways. She did not know what she was doing and that it was just a mistake . . . or a wrong feeling, or whatever it was. Zoe had to tell Kouji that she was sorry. But didn't she already apologize to him yesterday on the beach? Yes. She did. But Kouji was too furious and angry to accept her apology last night. Zoe decided to ask for forgiveness again.

Zoe walked to the washroom and brushed her teeth and took a quick shower. She changed her clothes and head to the kitchen to make breakfast. She cooked herself some bacon and toast a piece of bread ended with a cup of coffee. Just when she was taking a sip from the steaming cup, Mrs. Orimoto appeared in her nightgown. She just poured herself a cup of water and sat down opposite of Zoe.

"Want me to make you some breakfast?" Zoe asked, looking at her mother, who was holding her cup of water to her mouth. Mrs. Orimoto shook her head and asked," What happened yesterday?"

"Nothing," Zoe lied. Mrs. Orimoto knew that her daughter wasn't telling the truth so she asked again, this time with care," What happened last night, Zoe?" When Zoe shook her head, she said," Tell me and we can discuss together."

"This is not just some math problems we can discuss during class," Zoe said, a little bit too loud. Then Zoe looked over at her mother's hurt face, she said," Sorry."

"That's ok, sweetie," Mrs. Orimoto said, patting Zoe on the shoulder," you're right. Sometimes people just have to deal with their own problems." Zoe smiled weakly at her mother. She finished her breakfast quickly and ran out.

Outside, the sun had just risen and the sky was getting blue as the sun rose higher into the sky. Zoe ran nonstop to the Minamoto resident and by the time she got there, she was out of breath and she had to rest against the wall before she could press the bell.

RRIIINNG! Nobody came to get the door. "Maybe they're still asleep," Zoe thought and she swore under her breath. She pressed the bell again. "Come on," Zoe muttered hurriedly," somebody answers this stupid door!" Finally, Zoe heard footsteps coming closer to the door. The door opened and out came a woman- Kouji's step mother.

"Hi," she answered and saw Zoe," and how may I help you?"

"Erm . . .," Zoe hesitated," I'm sorry to wake you up Mrs. Minamoto. But is Kouji home?"

"That's ok, dear," Mrs. Minamoto said, and answered Zoe's question," Kouji is not home now. He went out really early this morning. He just left us a note." At that, she handed Zoe the hand written memo.

Father, Mother:
I have to go out for a little while. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I'll be back as soon as I can.

Love, Kouji

Zoe read it, handed it back to Kouji's stepmother and thanked her. She continued to walk on the streets, thinking where Kouji might be. Then it struck her- the beach. She used her fastest speed and practically flew down there. But when she reached there, there were only people enjoying the sunshine as usual but no Kouji. She recalled last night's conversation with him, but unwillingly. She shook the thought out of her head as she cleared her mind and thought again where Kouji might be if he was not on the beach.

Next, she searched at the café where she had eaten breakfast with him on the other day, but still: nothing. She looked for him by calling his friends' numbers but they all had the same answer: sorry, but I didn't saw him today. Now Zoe was getting very frustrated and thought," Where the heck is Kouji hiding?" Dreadfully, she walked back to the Minamoto resident for the second time that day. But wait! There was piano music coming from the house. It was the familiar music that Zoe had heard as she rushed to the door and basically pound on it.

"Kouji," Zoe shouted," Open the door, please!" The piano didn't stop and Zoe knew that his parents weren't in there because they would have opened the door.

"Kouji!" Zoe shouted again, this time louder," Look, I'm really sorry for what I have done." But still, the piano sound didn't stop.

"I'm sorry," Zoe cried out, banging the door. This time, the piano did stop but no foot steps came near the door.

"I can explain," Zoe shouted with extreme anxiety, still pounding on the door. But she was getting weaker and weaker as her energy used in her shouting and pounding were drained out from her body and she slowly slide down on to the ground. Then the piano all of a sudden started again. The song sounded really familiar and she suddenly recalled it from the time she heard it on the radio with Kouji. She remembered him saying that it was one of his favorite songs and he wrote the sheet music for this song himself. She sang it softly to herself as the music washed over her.

(Italics stands for lyrics)

In the years to come

when you think about these moments that we shared

In the years to come

all you gonna think it over and how we live each day with no regrets

Nothing last forever though we wanted to

The road ahead holds different dreams for me and you

Sometimes goodbye

though it hurts in the heart it's the only way for destiny

Sometimes goodbye thought it hurts

it's the only way now for you and me

Though it's the hardest thing to say

I miss you every day in everyway

So say goodbye but don't you cry

Cuz true love never dies

In the year from now

maybe there were things we wish we never say

In the year from now,

maybe we'll see each other standing on the same street corner no regrets

Each and every end is always written in the stars

If only I could stop the world I'll make this last

Sometimes goodbye

though it hurts in the heart it's the only way for destiny

Sometimes goodbye thought it hurts

it's the only way now for you and me

Though it's the hardest thing to say

I miss you every day in everyway

So say goodbye but don't you cry

Cuz true love never dies

And when you need my arms to round in to I'll come for you

Nothing will ever change the way I feel

Sometimes goodbye though it hurts in the heart

it's the only way for destiny

Sometimes goodbye thought it hurts it's the only way now for you and me

Though it's the hardest thing to say I miss you every day in everyway

So say goodbye but don't you cry

Because true love never dies

Zoe sang out the song, following the beat of the piano. The tears forming in her emerald eye finally rolled down her rosy cheeks as the last note ended. She knew what it meant. This was a message to her. She knew that because Kouji used his piano to play it out for her and for her alone.

Zoe's silent tears still fell; she couldn't help it. After all they have been through; they broke apart from each other because of Zoe's one move. This one action had cut off their connection. After that song, the house was still.

Kouji had closed the lid of the piano and walk up the stairs with heavy foot steps. He had heard Zoe's shouts from inside the house but he didn't open the door. He really wanted to, but he couldn't make himself do it. After what he had seen last night, he couldn't fell asleep. Whenever he thought about Zoe, he would saw her kissing Kouichi, his own brother.

He made up his mind to play that song to end the relationship. He didn't know if it worked or if Zoe got the message. He didn't care. He really didn't. Kouji just want to escape from her and make himself not to care about her or think about her.

Outside the door, Zoe stood up shakily, her face shining with tears. She didn't try to knock on the door again and she slowly walked away from the house, still sobbing softly to herself. She wanted someone to hug her closely, to comfort her, but no one did. Zoe walked herself to the beach and sat down on the log which Kouji had sat on last night. Thinking about him just caused her to be in more pain. Now, her tears had dried, leaving a tear mark across her cheeks.

"Why did he do this to me?" Zoe thought bitterly. Then another little voice inside her head answered," It's your fault that he do this to you, Zoe Orimoto. "

"It's all your fault."

"Yea . . ." Zoe said softly to herself, "It's my entire fault that Kouji abandoned me, it's nobody's fault but mine."

Zoe gradually, unsteadily walked out to the water. Little by little, deeper and deeper into the dark, forbidding sea . . .

"Zoe!!" a coarse voice shouted. The figure ran into the sea; by now, Zoe had walked into the chest deep water and she couldn't hear anything, but her heart beat . . . THUMP! THUMP! (That's the sound of heart beat, if anyone was just wondering.)

Now, waves were washing over Zoe's head, causing her to drink in the sea water and she couldn't breath; she was breathing in water, making her gasp for more air. But just when Zoe was still struggling, a strong arm pulled Zoe out of the water. By the time she was being laid on the beach, she was unconscious. The boy blew air into her mouth and some water was spurt out and Zoe opened her eyes; she found herself looking into a pair of deep blue eyes.

"Ko . . . Kouji," Zoe whispered weakly.

"Don't talk," the voice said kindly. But it wasn't Kouji's voice, Zoe would've recognized him if it was his voice.

"Kouichi . . .?" Zoe asked dimly. But without hearing the answer, she fainted.

Meeko: Ok. See, its longer right? I told you so. Ha-ha!