Last Edited - 15.12.o5

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OFFICIALLY MISSING YOU

Chapter Eleven

(By Flipstahhz)

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He'd be there in half an hour. He needed to explain what happened between Daisuke, Hikari and Takeru…after all…it was his entire fault.

He definitely didn't want Kari to get into even more trouble…

Taichi Kamiya sighed. He had explaining to do…

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The red light flashed on the traffic light, causing all cars to stop and enabling the pedestrians to cross the busy road. In one of lanes, a driver sat on his seat, strumming his fingers on the steering wheel…irritating someone next to him.

"Takeru!" Hikari huffed in irritation as she stared at his fiddling fingers then at Takeru's artificial expression. " I know you're worried, but please can you stop fidgeting! It's really annoying Takeru…just put it in your mind that everything will be fine…just leave it all to me."

"TK," he corrected. " And I can do this. I'm not leaving it all to you.."

"Oh my god! Even when your nervous like hell…you still have to say that! You still have to correct your name!" Kari exclaimed as she rolled her chocolate like eyes. " If you're really that nervous, just let it all out and talk to me. Don't just hang back and bring it all out by strumming your fingers on the steering wheel!"

"No Kari," TK sighed as the green light appeared as he accelerated the car. " It's only that I find it extremely hard to talk to your parents after not seeing them in a while, and how you haven't even told them about how you divorced with Daisuke! How do you reckon they'll act when you tell them? Why are you so calm about this big issue?"

"TK, I know it's hard for both you and me…but we've got to try," she sighed. " Why do you think we've been in this car for hours? I want to talk to them, back in old Odaiba…and explain. I can't hold onto this secret any longer…and I don't want Tai to break the news and make it even worse!"

"Yeah, I'm trying to understand…but it's just strange for me, alright?" Takeru explained. "Where do I turn?"

"Turn right at the next curb," Hikari informed as the car jolted around the corner. " Anyway, it was your idea to solve things with my parents in the first place…so that we can strengthen or relationship."

"That's true," shrugged TK as he decided to turn on some music…

All I hear is raindrops falling on the rooftop


Oh baby, tell me why'd you have to go
'

Cause this pain I feel it won't go away


And today I'm officially missin' you

I thought that from this heartache,

I could escape


But I've heard it long enough to know


There ain't no way


And today I'm officially missing you

Ooh...can't nobody do it like you


Said every little thing you do, hey, baby


Said it stays on my mind


And I-I'm officially

All I do is lay around, two years full of tears


From looking at your face on the wall


Just a week ago you were my baby


Now I don't even know you at all,

I don't know you at
 all

Well, I wish that you would call me right now


So that I could get through to you somehow


But I guess it's safe to say, baby


Safe to say that I-I'm officially missin' you

Ooh...can't nobody do it like you


Said every little thing you do, hey, baby

Said it stays on my mind
And I-I'm officially

Well, I thought I could just get over you, baby


But I see there's something I just can't do

From the way you would hold me


To the sweet things you told me


I just can't find a way to let no one through

Ooh...can't nobody do it like you


Said every little thing you do, hey, baby


Said it stays on my mind


And I-I'm officially

It's official


Hoo, you know that I'm missin' you, yeah, yes


All I hear is raindrops, oh, yeah


And I'm officially missin' you

"TK…you know that song?"

"Yeah."

"That was one of the songs that I always would listen to…and I'd always think about you," she whispered as a shade of pink played on her cheeks. " Back when..well..back when you left for Tamachi, and I thought I'd never see you again..."

"Same here," TK smiled as if he were in a dreamy trance. " It hurt so bad whenever I'd listen to this song. Even though it's only a song, I guess it holds a lot of meaning"

"We were both confused."

"No, I wasn't…I wasn't confused because I knew that deep down…I loved you…," he spoke softly as his bright blue, but warm, eyes gazed back at the road with hints of amusement dancing in them.

"I remember all I wanted was to just tell you how much you meant to me…but I never could at that time," Kari said thoughtfully.

"We're here," Takeru cut off calmly with a wink disturbing their peculiar conversation. Even though his tone was rather serene and casual, his body had tensed up. He rigidly parked the car, got out and formally opened the door on the passenger's side.

"Thanks Mr. Takaishi," Kari giggled as she gave a small kiss on his forehead, which she had to stand tiptoes to do so. "You're such a dopey gentleman."

He held out a hand a bit sarcastically, yet truthfully, and Kari slipped her own into his. " Anything for you, my lady. Anything...for you"

The two made their way up the flight of stairs and TK gestured the brunette to knock on the door before them.

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Tension engulfed the cramped room. It was hard to believe that this home was where Hikari and Taichi used to live, for it looked completely different than it had been. Takeru and Kari sat on the sofa, facing Kari's parents – Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya.

"So honey, it's pleasant to see you've finally made up with Takeru," Mrs. Kamiya smiled. "But where is Daisuke?"

"Umm Daisuke," Kari forced a fighting weak smile. " That's the reason why we came."

"So you didn't want to visit us, you just came to talk about Daisuke?" Mr. Kamiya raised his gray eyebrow. " What happened?"

"Well, I guess you could say that," Kari spoke guiltily then said slowly, as she tried to pick the words carefully, but at the same time back them straight forward words. "The reason is ...-Daisuke and I divorced."

A swift silence flew upon the four people. Mr. Kamiya looked as if he were trying to restrain his anger while Mrs. Kamiya appeared rather ill suddenly.

"Why?" her father croaked, still sensing that something else was yet to be revealed. "What happened with you and Daisuke? I thought you loved him…this is an embarrassment to our family's name. How could you Hikari?"

"I didn't love him," she whispered simply. "I didn't want to live the rest of my life when we never shared the same feelings for each other."

"I assumed," Mrs. Kamiya spoke up. Eues glued to the floorboards. " But I brushed it away because I thought you were making the right decision. You were old enough, I thought. I suspected that you didn't love him. Not once had I seen the two of you lose yourselves in each other's eyes…not even once..."

"So you came here to give us a burden?" Mr. Kamiya asked dangerously. " But something tells me that you didn't only come here to explain about what happened…there's something else isn't there?"

Hikari's father could read her face like an open book. Meaningfully, Kari nudged TK with her elbow.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Takeru spoke for the first time with an obvious artificial smile. Kari and him had planned this out, in case Mr. Kamiya would get a bit over board before she would break the news of their relationship.

"Sure," nodded Mrs. Kamiya, she still felt paler than usual.

As soon as he was earshot out of the room Mr. Kamiya fumed. "It's him isn't it? How long have you been seeing him behind Daisuke's back?"

"I-I…"

"Don't you start like this young girl…I know you're heart was broken when you got divorced…but I don't want this boy to break your heart again! Don't you understand? The pain you go through, it hurts your mother and I too," he interjected angrily.

"But -"

" This Takeru might be playing with you! I know how men are, and I used to be like that…the type causing trouble! I also understand…you haven't even had contact with him in a long time. Wasn't he jealous of you and Daisuke…and maybe he wants to cast revenge upon you!" he interrupted once again. " That's right! He wants revenge!"

"Takeru would never do such a thing," Kari shouted as furious tears streamed down her raged face.

"Why can't you follow your brother's footsteps?"

"Why would I?" she replied harshly, all of a sudden gaining confidence and fluttering her eyelids in rage. She never wanted to be compared to Taichi...never again..

"Don't speak like that of your brother! You need to be taught some respect, after how I've brought you up…"

"That is it!" Mrs. Kamiya yelled. "I'm fed up with the two of you screaming at each other, it's obvious Kari has done things for her own reasons she would kindly say, but you won't keep quiet and listen to her! Why can't you here her out? She still hasn't finished explaining!"

In defeat, Mr. Kamiya shrunk back into the cushioned sofa. " Go on then…"

"I love him," Kari sighed. "I always had. Daisuke married me out of something else, I can't say…I married and went out with him because I was afraid, I was afraid of how I was so in love with Takeru. Don't you recall how we used to be really close, as best friends? I also didn't want to shatter the friendship…but I guess I really did."

"Why are you so blind Kari…he might not love you. I -we can't risk it!"

Suddenly, another brunette stormed into the room.

"There is nothing to risk, dad. It was my fault, my doing to cause such a mess. You can trust Takeru..And if there is any other person right for Hikari, it's him."

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Takeru was following the phase that he had sworn too. The phase was to pretend to go to the bathroom, but instead to listen to what they had to say about him, Kari and Daisuke. He let his back slide upon the cold wall and listened to their conversation… the conversation was turning out really badly. All he wanted was to get out of the Kamiya' house as soon as possible...he felt uncomfortable, and especially if they were talking ill behind his back. He also wanted to back there and support her, but Kari had told him not to interfere. After all, she had told him it was between her parents and herself. But he couldn't help but feel weak.

TK understood how her parents felt of him, if he were Kari's father that was exactly how he'd act to protect his daughter. He would probably be more protective than Mr. Kamiya. He realized that was how Matt had acted over protective at times. He frowned when he remembered it was he that had pushed his brother away. Not the other way around. He was glad that they're relationship had strengthened.

Suddenly, a new voice entered the outrageous conversation.

It was Tai…

It wasn't just because he was there; it was because he was actually sticking up for him in front of his own parents. Tai's bravery and common sense had come back…

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"It's my fault…it's my entire fault," Taichi choked, unaware that he was crying. He had been carrying the guilt, the heavy burden for too long…it was about time he released everything instead of cowardly hiding what he had felt...

"What…what to you mean?" stuttered Mrs. Kamiya in confusion.

Kari gave a weak beam. So Tai had finally came to admit the truth… He was her brother, and she was going to forgive him. She stood up and helped her brother to the vacant seat next to her on the sofa.

"It was my fault from the beginning."

His father stared at his star son, his brown eyes wanting Tai to continue what he had to say.

Taichi gave a heavy sigh as he didn't stare directly at anyone, but at the coffee table which was situated between his parents and himself. " It's a longs story. And the biggest mistake of idiocy I've come to learn and regret."

" When Yamato and Sora, my two best friends, started dating…I felt left out. I knew they were destined to be together, and I had a tiny crush on Sora then…and I happened to take this frustration on the wrong people…"

"How are Matt and Sora Takenouchi related to this? They're married!" Mrs. Kamiya asked curiously. "I still don't understan-"

"Hear me out," Tai stated sternly, interrupting his mother and then repeated, " I took my frustration out on the wrong people. I always knew there was some close connection between TK and Kari…I became jealous with envy. I loathed how they were best friends…how I could see their young love that I would never truly have. I hated it…then I -."

Kari squeezed his hand.

"Then I remember I talked to Kari," he spoke gruffly but tried to ignore his sister besides him, gulping and speaking through his tears, " I told her that TK was a bad influence. I told her a bunch of lies, and to accept Daisuke as her boyfriend because I told her he was the right guy. I knew how TK was going to react, I knew that their friendship would become distant. But I never knew that he would actually leave Odaiba to go to Tamachi."

He proceeded, " I also had some thing against Takeru because he looked so much like Yamato. I hated it. It was like his always smiling face was teasing me in some way…and I was the one that also forced Daisuke to marry Kari. And to urge Kari that she was doing the correct decision, but in her eyes…she knew that she wasn't. She still loved him.."

" Of course I did," she quietly murmured, so that only Taichi could hear.

" Then on her wedding day, I saw that Takeru had a date. And still that vengeance was still playing in my heart when I saw Matt and Sora together again. I started secretly seeing Catherine behind his back. So I was the fool who was seeing someone behind everyone's backs…but then the vengeance died down…because..well I fell in love with her. I fell into my own trap. Kari somehow found out the week that she divorced with Daisuke…so I warned Catherine about it and to not let Takeru find out, for I knew Kari would do anything to do so."

Taichi said guiltily, " I told Catherine to do this because I didn't want Takeru to get even more hurt. I already had caused him enough trouble…and to this day…the guilt still is filled within me. I never got to say sorry to TK and ask for his forgiveness."

Mr. and Mrs. Kamiya couldn't believe it, they were utterly speechless.

"I-I don't know what to say…" Mrs. Kamiya said quietly in awe.

" What were you thinking?" Mr. Kamiya finally managed to roar, "Messing with your sister's life like that?"

"I say, we forget about this…" the only blonde walked out from his hiding spot and cracked a mischievous grin. "I'm sorry for listening to the conversation, I just couldn't help myself."

In disbelief Taichi felt a wave of embarrassment.

"I guess you heard TK…and what I said was true," he spoke firmly in confidence. "I'm sorry for the hell I've made for you."

"Don't worry…love conquers all," he chuckled.

"You're fine with it?" Taichi stood up to face his blue eyes directly.

"I'm fine with it," TK stated as his eyes fell onto Kari, whom was beaming. " I'm just relieved I finally got the girl in the end…"

It all was over…

There was a cough, and they all turned around to face Mr. Kamiya.

"We still haven't finished with you…Tai," he said. "I have a feeling we are all going to be here for a long time. Take a seat all of you!"

Mrs. Kamiya couldn't help but smile,. " It's like the three of you are still children, you still need to be lectured and to know all your lessons. I'll go fetch some coffee, looks like you're going to be here longer than expected..."

"We already know what we did wron-" Kari started.

"I am in charge of this house…and I have the right to…"

Taichi, Takeru and Hikari exchanged sheepish glances. The lecture would last more than an hour.

But over all...all was well

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Song Used: Officially Missing You by Tamia! Haha. The song that influenced this story. I have to give dedications to that ;D