Last Edited - 14.12.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 Eight
(By Flipstahhz)
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Two steps at a time, Hikari Kamiya wandered up the cement staircase. She could feel the adrenaline rushing through her veins giving her more confidence to continue with her peculiar quest. Now she was certain she'd do anything to find him. No, Kari wasn't going to let him out of her clutches this time…not this time. Hopefully, he would give her a second chance for acting like a complete blind idiot for the so many years that had past.
The woman gave a lopsided grin as she imagined the words Sora would supposedly say to her of how bizarre it was to actually go to the person's door.
She didn't care that the person she had seen may not be Takeru. She thought that it couldn't hurt but to try and find out whether her heart was actually beating for the specific man that she had come to love, adore and admire. If it wasn't Takeru...if it wasn't him...she would still keep searching.
Colours blurred her eye, at the speed she was running. She wanted to stop to take some air and have a rest, but she knew that if she did so, she'd miss her opportunity…to find out the truth. And she certainly didn't want her memory to fail her. She didn't want to forget which level apartment he was at. Her eyes darted everywhere then suddenly paused at she perceived something, making her come to a stop. She gaped.
She had thought she was being deceived, but the more her eyes lingered around the corner she became certain who the figure was. She could see the clear image of another brunette of the opposite gender, waiting patiently by a specific door. He held out his knuckles to knock on the door. His face was rather calm and serene, but Kari knew that down deep inside the man he was nervous with guilt and was fighting the will to run away.
Off course she would know the male's emotions and reactions by now, he was her ex-husband after all…
Yet the question repeated in her mind with a throbbing curiosity…"What was he doing here?"
Daisuke Motomiya's warm chocolate eyes swept over the hallway as if he felt someone else's presence. Kari instantly flattened herself against the cold hard wall. Her sharp hearing caught the door cracking open and the sound of his footsteps gradually becoming faint.
He's going in! That apartment had to be Takeru's home…why else was Daisuke there? He had not many friends in Tokyo. But why was he specifically at TK's place? He hates TK…right
She shook her head in irritation of the fact that her conscience was speaking to herself.
The door closed...
Hikari hesitantly approached the door, about to knock, then changed her decision and held back her hand.
" Think before you act," the quote sprouted from her mind.
It was Yolei's usual saying to give advice to her, even though the lilac haired woman had broken it a number of times. The brunette resisted the urge to loudly tap on the door and took Yolei's advice.
Wisely thinking things over before rushing in a quite awkward situation.
Perhaps I should wait until Takeru and Daisuke's conversation has ended…if I go in now, TK would probably link me to Daisuke and think that we are fooling around with him once again. Or he might eventually leave because he might not be able to handle the position with us both there.
She nodded to herself. Now that was plan she intended to keep to herself. Hikari pressed her left ear against the wooden door, listening to their muffled conversation with extreme suspicion…
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"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.
( continuation from previous chapter)
Takeru's soft blue eyes didn't give the usual glisten, but he offered a weak smile. " Truthfully Daisuke, why have you come here…what have you come to say against me?"
Daisuke fixed his facial expression to the ground with nothing but regret and guilt, " To apologize Takeru. For what I've done."
" It's strange how typical it is for you to apologize right after Kari did a couple days back. Do you think I'll believe you? How can I know that you're actually apologizing when I can't see your face…when you're really not facing me. How do I know if you're not playing with me, this time…like you've done so many times before," replied Takeru in a hurt voice but didn't stop, " Settle this like a real adult, and look at me. We were young before, and I want to see if you've changed."
The brunette shrugged with a forceful grin staring straight to the blonde man's kind eyes, " I came here also to talk and to also seek advice…and I know you give the greatest advice around. I still remember you were the best advice giver since…since our friendship broke. The thing is…I divorced with Hikari and thought I should go talk to you after pleading Ken for your address."
Takeru raised a eyebrow," I already know you're divorced…but why do you want to talk to me about Hikari?"
"Hikari…she still loves you," he whispered in a raspy voice, " I don't know why I'm telling you all of this when you're with Catherine, but Kari's feelings for you have been pretty darn obvious. I've been wanting to tell you that in ages...about, about Hikari."
" Catherine and I separated…we were just too different for each other. I don't really know the evidence whether Kari loves me or not, so I don't know if you're telling the truth or not. Like how weird it is of you all of a sudden rocking up and telling me all this. It's a bit to late, you should have told me earlier." TK sighed then admitted, " You know what, Daisuke? I actually feel comfortable talking to you…just like old times, before this whole incident occurred. You were one of my closest friends, you know? While I thought that I'd find it hard to even talk to you after all this time. I guess I was wrong. "
" Same here. I thought we'd never talk to each other again. I thought that when I came here you there was a possibility that you were going to kick me out. But knowing you as a person, I knew you wouldn't. Sometimes you're to nice for your own good, TK. Perhaps that's why my ex-wife is still in love with you you. Though you seem to always hide your pain bottled up within yourself…and it always reflects in your eyes. Just like now...all I see is pain from you Takeru...it's good to talk things out...and I'll be here for you, since these many years I haven't. I'll make it up to you," stated Daisuke sternly. " So what happened with Catherine?"
Takeru licked his dry lips. " I caught her cheating with Taichi. They've been seeing each other behind my backs right after your wedding, ya know. Kari warned me about two days ago about her, and I couldn't help but trust her. I kept an eye on Catherine…and found her with Tai at Tokyo View Hotel."
"They didn't…" objected Daisuke as lines on his forehead appeared with concern, his eyes widening in disbelief the impossible. " That's terrible. That's vile."
"Yeah, they did. And yes, that is vile."
"How can you take this all, TK, and not do anything about it? You've got to stand up for yourself! I thought that I gave you too much shit already. Then you find out Catherine's cheating on you with Tai. I would have socked Tai at that spot!"
They both flinched at the name, but with different reasons.
"A long time ago, right after my brother and Sora finally revealed they were a couple, Taichi spoke to me out of bitter jealousy. He told me that he instructed you to ask Hikari before I would…and you did, but a realized you would have done what he said because you admired Tai and wanted to get more attention from him. I thought things out and also figured that you would have done it out of envy because I remember how you disliked the friendship that Hikari and I shared. I guiltily remember how you were always left out…I wanted to talk to you, but I was weak."
Daisuke nodded as he accepted the truth and spoke in a croaky tone, " You're not weak, but the rest of what you just said..you got that all right. I looked up to Taichi as a role model since he was the popular soccer player at school. I was young then. We all have our faults. The problem was that I dragged this for too long, and ended up marrying Kari for no reason. I could have stopped it all along, but I didn't. We had nothing similar and never got along causing so many useless fights, I always thought of her as a friend - not as a wife or a lover. Then finally, after being naïve for quite a long time and never wanting to realize it, I conclusively accepted that Tai had used me. I knew he did it for revenge…but I didn't understand why he's still after you. I thought his jealousy was over and that he had grown out of the nonsense. I don't understand why he was with Catherine…Knowing you, Catherine wouldn't have been chosen as a girl friend with out a good purpose. She had to have some common sense."
" I know Catherine, inside and out. She was like a replacement for Kari, but she never was. It's true, she's one of the most kindest people I know. But I couldn't believe that she'd do that with Tai. Catherine's not stupid to cheat with him after he has seen what happened to Kari and I. I have a feeling that she really loves him and Tai really loves her. Probably I was so caught on in still wondering if Kari still shared feelings for me, that I ignored reality and didn't even realize Catherine and my relationship breaking up before my eyes.
" TK, Kari still loves you…you better put that through your head and stop being total idiot! After all these year your image hasn't erased from her head. I swear, after all the grief that Taichi and I, well mostly Tai, have caused you…just follow your heart. Don't be afraid of Love. Or else it will keep approaching you, pulling you down into a darker depression."
"How would you know?"
"You're not the only one who has problems, Mr. Takaishi," Daisuke gave a lopsided grin and a wink causing them to both laugh for the very first time, breaking the ice.
"You're forgiven Daisuke. For my stupidity and your ignorance," Takeru mocked at the both of them. " Let's just pretend that those years didn't happen, and move our friendship on from here."
"Sure thing," chuckled Davis, " I guess it's best if I leave now. Good day and good talk."
Daisuke bowed.
This made Takeru laugh even more as he thought , " One problem down…yet many more to fix up…"
Takeru got off the chair and followed the brunette man, " You're welcome to visit any time you want. It's great to having some one around in this gloomy apartment once in a while."
"Sure…"
"And Daisuke? I might know someone who'll want to meet you…perhaps a blind date? A set up?" questioned Takeru as Daisuke's eyes widened with the pure excitement that looked like he was a young kid again.
"Okay…I'll be back before you know it TP!" Daisuke smiled. " And you'd better get your work together and think of something to win Kari's heart again!"
Takeru unlocked the door with his key and Daisuke and him stumbled back as a young woman fell down onto the floor.
"KARI!"
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"S-sorry!" she stammered.
Kari immediately got off the floor as blood rushed to her cheeks in the same time, awkwardly dusting the dirt from her clothing. She was wearing a plane yellow dress with pink flowers scattered around it in a random pattern. Her hair was half tied up, while half was down being held with a pink flower clip. Hikari's eyes fluttered with embarrassment as she stared at the two males in front of her.
"Um…eh.."
"Talking about the devil…" Daisuke started, breaking the uncomfortable silence and was resisting the urge to go into fits of laughter. What a coincidence that they were all here...
TK gave Davis a look then glanced back at the woman. "You guys weren't just mucking around with my mind again, were you?"
"No…I swear!" Davis exclaimed, waving his palms. " I don't know how she got her-"
Kari cut him off, " Daisuke came here by himself…I'm sorry I listened to your conversation you two…I couldn't help myself, I was just about to charge in. I went here to Tokyo to look for you, Takeru. I thought I saw you up there on the porch…and then I saw Daisuke enter your apartment. I knew that you lived here. I need to speak with you, TK…"
"Okay, I think it's best if I go," Davis got his queue to leave and walked calmly out of the door with a last quick gaze at the two, " Good Luck, TK. Or should I say, the both of you?"
With that he gave Takeru a slight friendly punch on the shoulder and walked out with a broad lopsided grin. Takeru turned around to face her. He couldn't help but hide his beam. Daisuke and his friendship was smoothened out…and now Kari was here. He wasn't dreaming. He had forgotten how beautiful Kari looked. After not encountering her for a long time he only remembered her as a lover, best friend and for her personality…not her beauty...but for who she was...
"You probably won't give me chance now…" she said in a soft voice, " This mess I've caused. I though-"
Takeru put a finger on her lips. " No one can fight what happened. Whatever happened has happened. The past is the past. And I will always give you a chance…That is, if I'm thinking the same idea what you are thinking."
"We need to talk things out first," she smiled innocently as his finger was still on her lips. She adored the presence whenever she was near the man and was making no effort to move away from his touch. It was familiar, and precious…every moment with him, she could always treasure it forever. His atmosphere was pleasant.
TK nodded and pulled her arm weakly towards a comfy chair. He took a seat next to the brunette, " I've heard quite a lot today and I'm ready to hear more explaining, so don't hesitate. Just bring it on."
Kari nodded and started…
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NEXT CHAPTER: Love is in the air…everywhere I look around! Singing what…MIMI! okay, Mimi's will be in the next chapter too (hint hint..hehe)