Last Edited - 12.12.o5

NOTE: I now know that Odaiba is quite 'near' or 'in' Tokyo, so this is one of the main errors in this fanfic. Though, for the sake of this story, I've decided to stick by Odaiba being far from Tokyo. Sorry for the impreciseness.

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OFFICIALLY MISSING YOU

Chapter Seven

(By Flipstahhz)

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It was nighttime and it was getting late. Catherine hadn't come home yet. Since the conversation with Hikari, two days had drifted by for TK. He wouldn't believe what said; yet it still remained in his warning him. Takeru had tried his best to convince himself that Kari was wrong about Catherine cheating on him. Catherine would never do that. Would she?

And how could she say that she, Hikari Kamiya, loved him? Now surely that was a mistake. After all that has happened, TK would never take that in…it simply was the wrong timing and just simply wrong to proclaim her love to him after her 'so-called' divorce with Daisuke Motomiya. Had she cracked it? He didn't even have the evidence that it was true. It was two surreal to believe. Daisuke and Hikari divorcing? She never thought that would happen.

Then why had Takeru approached the phone for a number of times? Why did he want to contact Catherine at work? How could he not trust his wife and let himself trust Kari...when he knew, or thought, that she was telling a lie about her?

The wrath of confusion took after TK once again, making him feel stranded. Nowadays he couldn't possibly tell whether Hikari was telling the truth or not. Yet, his fingers tickled with suspicion and were fidgeting to dial Catherine's work phone number to check up on her. Thoughts took over his head… Should I just meet Catherine at her work? Should I stay here and pretend that nothing has happened. Should I ring and check up on her, so that I can prove to Kari that Catherine would never betray my trust?

Somehow, TK still felt gullible to what Kari had told him. Anything Kari said made him feel gullible. She had been his best friend when they were both younger…TK was her best friend, the cheerful boy that would do anything she wanted.

He snatched the cordless phone and voraciously dialed the number memorized in his head. Sighing in irritation, he was falling in Kari's trap again.

The person on the other line picked up.

"Good evening. This is Sarah-Lee speaking from the Tokyo Healthcare Department. How may I help you?" asked a woman in a kind tone.

"Oh…hey Sarah," TK cleared his throat, recognizing one of Catherine's work mates, " It's TK. Can I speak to my fiancé?"

"TK! How are you?" she exclaimed, " I'm really sorry, but Cath left four hours go about 6:00pm. She said she was going to a hotel or something…"

"Hotel?" repeated Takeru, " What's she doing there? She was supposed to be home at 6:30, now it's already ten!"

"I'm not sure…she never told me. She was getting all dressed up; I thought the two of you were going on a date or something. I'll ring you up if she comes back. I'm really sorry for not being any help to you."

"Don't worry about it," Takeru sighed, " But do you know which hotel she went to and give me the address of that place?"

"It's the finest hotel, Tokyo View. I don't think you need the address since it is pretty popular…didn't you stay there one night on a date with her? Catherine tells me a whole lot about you, TK."

"As a matter in fact, we did stay there…a long while back," muttered TK with suspicion, " I really need to get a move on, thanks Sarah!"

With that, he hung up the phone.

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The traffic was immense, but luckily enough for TK he had finally managed to arrive at Tokyo View. Adrenaline ran through his veins as he waited impatiently to be served.

An old perky woman with gray hair, rolled tightly in a bun glanced over at the middle-aged man with dazzling blond hair.

"How may I help you, sir?" she questioned as she suddenly turned back to the computer she had been on and continued typing.

"I'm in search for Catherine. Have you seen her? She has short wavy blond hair and was most likely wearing a suit," described TK as he pictured his wife that morning, "Are you even listening to me?"

"Yes I am! But there are no Catherines in this building. Though there were quite a lot of blond woman here. Now, can I get back to my work? We are very busy and don't have time for this matter!" commented the angered woman, " Will you kindly go now?"

TK paused. An idea flashed into his mind and tested the name just in case, " Kamiya?"

"What? I told you not to disturb me!" glared the woman in an annoyed tone.

"Taichi Kamiya? Has a man by that name got a vacancy here?" Takeru's stern eyes searched the woman's expression. "Taichi Kamiya."

"Do you think that I'm deaf? Hold your horse's boy, I heard what you said clearly. Right now, I'm searching his name on our guest list. I don't know why you're so interested in the man anyway," the woman nodded her head, " Young people these day…don't respect their elders."

Takeru tapped his foot as he tried to get a good view what was happening on the computer screen, " There it is! That one."

The woman gazed upon the name, which TK had pointed at, then double clicked the name, and "There you go, son. Number 118, Level 6…and I could do with a thank you, you know."

"Thank you!" TK called over his back, as he ran to the nearest elevator.

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110

Takeru was running now, he was close. He was running to his fate…the truth. The had a hunch now that Kari might have had been telling the truth, and this made him speed up even more. Everything linked and made sense. The look Catherine had given Taichi at Kari's marriage. How Catherine had come to this hotel…and the room was under Taichi's name. It could be true…but TK couldn't come to believe it…how could it? TK didn't even notice the splendid patterns on the marble floor…he was too absorbed in finding the truth.

112

He could feel his heart thudding at an extreme rate. He was nearly there. He quickened his paces, with every single grain of energy he had left in his exhausted. His blond hair wavered as he ran. His expression on his face was neutral, but determined. He had to know…he just had to!

116…

He gulped for air, and hurried more…straining his feet to move faster with force. This would determine to him who was right and who was wrong. Takeru came to a halt. He had finally arrived...

118

The numbers danced before his started eyes, which then fell on a sign that clung onto the door handle.

'Do not disturb'

The message was well clear enough. Do not disturb? Now Takeru's head was beating with questions. And he certainly knew, that what remained behind the door would give him all the answers he wanted. His right hand reached over to the knob, and turned it slowly…the door was actually open…they hadn't even bothered to make sure they looked it!

It was time…

With a hint of hesitation, he thrust the door open. His eyes bulged in awe at what he had witnessed…he wasn't expecting it to hurt this bad. So this was the real truth. Kari was telling the whole truth after all.

Two people, he knew to well have betrayed him. They were both nude on the bed, with sheets tangled all over them. Blood rushed to both of their cheeks as they tried their best to cover themselves.

Catherine gazed in shock at her fiancé she had been cheating on. And Tai…he couldn't stare at the boy because by his gesture he was completely full of guilt. They laid there in astonishment, uncertain what to do.

Takeru felt utterly disgusted as fury roared inside of him. His fingers ran through his hair as he shook his head in disbelief…trying to wake him from the haunting dream, the nightmare that he could never wake up from.

"I can't believe this," he said in a hoarse, but dangerous, voice as he rushed out of the room and slammed the door loudly behind him.

"TAKERU COME BACK!" Catherine shouted, as she got off the bed…finding her garments. " WE CAN EXPLAIN!"

"Leave him be."

"Leave him be, Tai? Are you insane? How could I leave him be after what he just saw?" cried Catherine, "I don't care what you think anymore…but I'm going after him. To finally explain everything!"

"Do as you wish," said the brunette gruffly as he wore a frown, " I told you, you should have broke it off with him earlier."

Catherine swept her hand across his cheek, " TAI! Can't you see how naïve we've been over this matter? You're making things worse as it is. We need to go after him!"

Taichi put his hand where he had been slapped and leered back at the woman he loved, " I know. But I don't think I'll be the right person to talk to him now. You are…I've caused him too much pain and am not worthy for doing so. I love you Catherine, go after him!"

"Love you too," she whispered. She had finally gotten all her clothes on and was rushing out of the door.

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The cold breeze swept the crowded streets of Tokyo City with a variety of colorful lights dazzling the ordinary night. A man that appeared to be twenty years old of age dug his frosty hands deeper into his pockets for warmth, shivering with every step he took down the lonely street filled with tall buildings. He breathed in then exhaled, hoping that his stress would vanquish as well, but it didn't. He continued to walk, slicing through the fog from the warm air he had let out earlier. He no longer wanted to be part of the complicated world anymore, but why did he still cling onto hope? Why did he want to continue his messed up life when he had already suffered from too much...way too much

His wife had cheated on him...

But did he care? No, he didn't. He already had felt more hurt than this before, long before. He was hurt that the person he trusted could cheat on him with his wife. The person who had told him he couldn't even go out with his younger sister, many years back.

He was like a second brother to him…

Mourning, he let silent crystal tears fall down his pale face from his ocean colored eyes. He couldn't stand hiding his pain and defeat any longer. At least no one there could see him… He mainly blamed all the events that occurred on himself. It was his fault that he always trusted people in the first place. Trusting always got him slapped with misery in and endless repeated sequence.

His feet had leaded him to a deserted park and he let himself sink into the hard wood of a bench nearby.

The solitary figure closed his eyes, blond hair caressing the sly wind. He began to dwell on what he had lost, what he had and what he wished for. He knew that he could not do anything to get what he wanted. If he had it all it would be as if he were a selfish person, but he knew that it was much better than being alone and tackling his own demons. He was never living the present in the first place. He didn't live in reality. No, he lived in his past.

He missed her...

Even though he had just witnessed his fiancé and Taichi together…he still thought of her…

Hikari Kamiya

A hand tapped his shoulder, and instantly he turned around to face her.

"Catherine," he murmured. He was in not mood to talk to her. " I feel sorry for you. You fell for Tai. Ha…I never saw that coming."

"TK! I'm so sorry! I really didn't mean to! It was ju-"

"I understand," he interrupted, " I've known it for quite some time that you have had feeling for Mr. Kamiya. And I still have feelings for his sister as well, you probably figured that out."

"Kari…she warned you? And she was right about me…of how stupid I was TK," guilt evident on her exhausted complexion, she had hidden this for too long. Somehow she felt glad and relieved at the same time for finally revealing her secrets.

"Yes, she did warn me," he agreed as he looked at his shoes, " Ever since Tai and you had met eyes I could see what was happening. Kari's warning also made it evident. From the day we got married…we drifted away from each other. I would understand why you saw Tai as a better man to love. I thought I loved you..but whenever I thought of love...I'd just imagine Kari in your position..I'm not sure...I'm so sorry, Catherine for having me to put up with..."

"No, It's my fault... but..but did you know this all along?" Catherine repeated, " That I liked Tai?"

"Yeah, I guess I did. I had my suspicions, but I never would admit it to myself. Like how I would never admit to Kari that I loved her, " replied Takeru. Catherine felt as if TK's ice wall had broken and they were having their first true conversations in months. " I felt disgusted when I saw you with Taichi, though. You betrayed my trust. If you didn't want to be with me, you could have just told me Cath…"

"But I felt sorry for you TK…I accepted your engagement ring because I…I felt sorry for you, and what you've been through. I'm sorry for using you like that. I thought that I could help you recover, but it clearly wasn't. You still loved her. You always had."

"And I thought I was in love with you because...I thought of you as Hikari...and imagined you as her whenever we kissed..," TK responded, " I guess we both screwed up on this one...didn't we?"

"Yeah," she laughed. TK joined in. It Catherine stared at him, startled. It had been a while since he had heard his bubbly laughter. It made him look younger.

Catherine moved in closer to the boy. And gripped him into a tight hug as tears spilled down her eyes, " I'm so sorry Takeru…I didn't mean for this to go far…please forgive me."

Takeru stared at the woman in his arms, and cuddled her back, " There's no need to be forgiven when you've done nothing wrong…but followed your heart. It was my fault as well. I will always love you Catherine…but only as a friend."

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Hikari Kamiya and Sora Takenouchi had finally arrived at Tokyo, Sora had left Leah with Yamato. They both adjusted to their new environment since they never had been to Tokyo before. It was hell more crowded in comparison to Odaiba. It had been a day since TK's unfortunate discovery, but the two didn't know that yet…

"How in the world are we supposed to find TK when we don't even have his address?" asked Hikari in frustration, "This is hopeless. All we know is the road's name where he lives at…but not his address number!"

Sora eyed the road, with the raging traffic of cars and the people moving everywhere that it was really hard to stick with Kari that she had to scream back, " He could be anywhere! Maybe if we split up…and try to find him?"

"Great idea, Sora…in getting LOST! Doubt that will ever work!" moaned Kari, " There is a chance of one in a hundred percent chance we'll find him!"

"It's worth the try isn't it? We're here already. Don't be a chicken," shrugged Sora, " And don't blame it all on me. If you really love Takeru…you would be using your eyes right now, not your mouth. And I'm the one helping you…if it weren't for me, you'd probably be sitting on your ass bawling your eyes out at home and doing nothing!"

"Thanks for the encouragement," Kari rolled her eyes, " I'll stick with the plan then. I'll go right and you go left."

"Sure…anytime. I'm glad to not hear you complaining for once," smiled Sora as she pushed her to the right, " Meet back here at 2pm?"

"Yeah…sure."

It had already been twenty minutes since the two females had separated. Kari was tired. She had gazed everywhere she could possibly gaze. She felt like she was dragging her feet wherever she went, she was ready to give in and give up the search. All her hope was currently destroyed…then a voice came to her head…

" …And remember Kari…that I will be on your side. Never forget that."

Sora's words came back to her mind, giving her encouragement.

"I'm not going to give up that easily! Thanks Sora," she smiled to herself and continued to walk on, through the summer's heat.

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Takeru stared glumly at the dead roses in front of him. Now that Catherine wasn't living with him, he had remembered that living things always come to its end. The flowers hadn't been changed, she had been in charge of that. After TK had walked in them, Catherine had felt uncomfortable and decided to leave the apartment immediately. He didn't argue with the idea though. But it was strange…living by himself. He swiftly grabbed the roses and felt the thorns jab into his fingers.

This is one in many reasons why I hate dead roses. All they bring is bad luck.

He pushed the sliding door open and stood on the balcony, staring down at the huge crowds rummaging through the noisy city.

And I hate noisy cities…there is never fresh air in this place.

He thought bitterly to himself. He was in a hateful mood. He didn't know what to do with his life anymore. He thought of saying sorry to Kari, but his pride prevented him to do so.

He looked back at his pricked fingers. Scarlet blood coming out of the small wounds on his hands. Takeru went more closely towards the edge of the balcony and tore each dead pedal from the rose…making it fall down to the people of Tokyo…observing what the wind had plan for each dead petal. He felt like a foolish young girl playing the game 'he loves me, he loves me not.' But in that case, he was a man … pondering ' she loves me, she loves me not.'

He continued the procedure, not knowing how long he was out there doing it. Then there was a knock on the door. He dropped the remaining roses and rushed towards the entrance of his home.

How dare that person disturb my peace? How dare…

"Daisuke?" he gaped in awe at the person by his door.

"Yeah, it's me," the brunette replied with a melancholy expression written all over his face, " We need to talk."

"Damn right we need to! Come in Daisuke, make yourself at home," TK felt as if he had finally cracked it. He was being 'nice' towards his rival.

"I thought you'd say that…after all the things I've said to you…you still act kindly towards me…"

" You're lucky. I'm just in the mood," TK smirked.

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Kari's last footsteps of inspiration left her. There was still no trace of Takeru…or where he even lived. She examined the footpath and suddenly noticed that a bunch of dead petals lay on the cement. She looked up, and gradually saw more fall down. She hurried to the scattered petals and looked up once again, this time to see only one more pedal falling down and distinct dirty blond hair…then it was gone.

Could it be?

She was almost sure that that man could have been Takeru. Why? Because in Japan, not much people had pure blond hair…and he resembled every appearance how TK would look from afar.

What's there to lose? It could be him…you never know until you find out!

Her conscience stirred in her head, urging her to go and follow her heart. She nodded with confidence and entered the building.

I'm going to find you Takeru…no matter what...

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NEXT CHAPTER: Daisuke apologizes to Takeru of all the grief he has caused him and Kari and Takeru finally meet face to face! Till next time…on OFFICIALLY MISSING YOU!