The Miracle of a Courageous Light.
The Sweet Sound of Goodbye.
The day of the funeral arrived on the Yagami children quicker than they had expected. In the previous eight days the siblings had exchanged so many tears, hugs and quiet nights in talking about all the times they'd had together with their parents. Sometimes they even shared a few laughs. After all, this was their mourning time.
Aiko had left them on two days ago. She had preparations of her own to make and she promised Taichi and Hikari that she would take care of Iziko and Maeaki's funeral plans. Everything had been organised by the couple. It was to be a simple, clean service.
"Hikari, it's the 27th." Taichi called to his sister the moment he was fully awake. He heard some movement in the next room before he heard the sound of someone opening his door.
"Taichi today is going to be tough, isn't it?" Hikari looked at her brother; her eyes were red and swollen. He hated seeing her like this. Taichi nodded.
"Of course Hika, but we'll get through this. How about we take today a step at a time? We won't really see it as the 27th. We'll see it as just another morning. Let's start with breakfast?" He wanted to make this as painless as he could for them both. Hikari nodded. They both walked out of the room together and towards the kitchen.
Hikari made her way to the fridge and found a few eggs.
"How do omelettes sound Taichi?" She asked, turning towards her brother.
"Sounds great, need any help?"
"No."
"Okay, well I'm going to have a quick shower. Have you had one yet?" Hikari nodded and Taichi went off in search of a towel.
After breakfast the two went and found the clothes they had bought earlier that week. They dressed themselves then headed back to the family room. The wake was going to be in their apartment. A few family members were coming back to offer the children their support.
'Even at a time like this, I still don't think I can handle being around them all right now.' Taichi thought to himself as he pulled down a few family photo albums. The two siblings had studied these albums for the last few days, sometimes with Aiko, hoping to find some answers.
"After today Hikari, we'll start packing. Then we'll be on our way to some 'secret hideout'. Then…"
"Then we'll start school at 'Woodland Manor School, Italy.' Are you scared Taichi? About leaving this place?" She looked at her older brother, tears welling up once again inside those deep, chestnut eyes.
"A little. I just can't help thinking it's for the best Hikari. We've read through the brochure together, it looks like a good place. I'm sure we'll be fine there. We just have to think positive." Taichi pulled his sister into a hug and kissed her forehead. "I'll protect you, I promise."
At 10.30am the Yagami siblings left their apartment building to be greeted by Aiko sitting in the parking lot. They walked over towards her car. She gave them a small wave and opened up the door to the backseats. They sat together, all huddled up. Aiko drove in silence.
They reached the church a little before the rest of the family started arriving. Taichi and Hikari stood by the door with Aiko, waiting.
The ceremony was beautiful. It was full of bright orange lilies and pure white roses, just what Maeaki had always said she wanted. It was as if she knew.
Hikari ended the ceremony by reading one of Maeaki's favourite poems. It was read clearly and Hikari was proud of herself for not breaking down in the middle of it. Everyone was in tears and clapped hard to show Hikari that everyone was offering her support.
Hikari and Taichi were the first two to leave the church. They arrived at the Yagami apartment a few moments before the family. It was peaceful and a serene atmosphere. Taichi couldn't help feeling it was nice to have the family altogether again without an argument or some sort of competitive behaviour. They were getting along because they were in the presence of two young, vulnerable children who had just lost their parents for no good reason.
After everyone had left Aiko took Hikari and Taichi down to the crematorium. They wanted to see their parents one last time before they were gone for good.
They walked in cautiously. They looked over the thick, wine coloured coffins at their parents. They were there, eyes closed and looking so peaceful. They looked as if nothing had happened and that is what scared the pair the most. 'Why?' Taichi would ask himself, knowing Hikari was feeling the same way. The both said their silent goodbyes and followed Aiko back to the car.
Again the ride home was in silence into Aiko thought it was best she tried helping the children along with the next step.
"I think its best you start packing up your belongings as soon as you get home. Tomorrow, take some money and spend the day doing whatever you want. Try and relax a little, invite some friends and just enjoy yourselves okay? It'll probably be a while before you see your friends again."
"I think you're right Aiko. There's only a few days left before we leave for Italy." Taichi said quietly. Hikari was silently sobbing on his chest. He'd shed his fair share of tears today and previously during the week. He felt that tomorrow was the stepping stone. Tomorrow was going to begin a new marker, a new starting point for the both of them. Taichi knew exactly who to call.
Aiko dropped them off at the apartment before heading out to work. The two walked in and went straight to their own rooms. They both needed some time alone to think and to start packing. Aiko had told them to only pack essentials and clothing. The Manor School accepted two suitcases per person and one hand luggage bag. It would provide them with computers and internet access, so they wouldn't need their own laptops. The only downside to the school was the disallowance of not being allowed back to their home country until they were sixteen, unless their parents had been given legal guardianship over their children. However during the summer, the children were offered trips around the world and to theme parks and other nice places that was covered in the tuition fee. Where you went depended entirely on your class attendance, efforts, achievements and end of year exams.
It took most of the evening for both the children to finish selecting the items and clothing they wanted to take with them. Hikari went straight to the kitchen to look for something to eat. After finding this mission unsuccessful she used the phone to order a large pizza and some fizzy drinks. Taichi went to the nearest rental store and picked out two of Hikari's favourite films, some popcorn and two new CD's from the superstore. On the way back home he made a phone call in a nearby phone box.
"Moshi Moshi." A female voice answered the call.
"Is this the Takenouchi residence?" Taichi asked politely, hoping he had the right number.
"Yes, who's calling please?"
"It's Taichi Yagami."
"Oh, dear, well why didn't you say so? Hold on, I'll call Sora for you." It must've been Sora's mother. She sounded different than she usually did, she was so cheery. Taichi just wasn't ready to be cheery yet.
"Hello? Taichi?"
"Hey Sora, listen-"
"Oh, Taichi, I'm so so sorry. Are you okay? How is Hikari? How're you both coping? Have you both been eating…?" Taichi smiled as he heard Sora go on. He knew how much she cared about the two of them. Sora was always a friendly face in the Yagami's apartment, she was always welcome. "Taichi?"
"Oh, sorry Sora. Yeah we're both fine. But listen, we're being sent away Tuesday and I was wondering if you wanted to come by with some of the others tomorrow? Kind of a farewell party."
"Oh of course, I'm sure I can gather up a few of the gang. How does 2pm sound? I'll bring some snacks!" Sora said.
"That would be lovely. I'd really appreciated if you came over an hour early, before everyone else. I could die for one of those comforting talks you like to give." Sora giggled.
"Sure Taichi, anything for you and little Hika. I'll see you tomorrow then." Sora hung up the phone and Taichi smiled. He knew he could rely on her. She was so gentle, so kind and so full of love. She was his best friend and that would always remain. After all, Sora was the first to find out that Taichi was gay. He'd broken it to her as gently as he could just because that same day she had told him her true feelings. The fact that she was in love with him. That had been a little while ago now, and he wasn't even sure if she could be in love with him. They were still young. Well, she was fifteen, he'd be fifteen tomorrow. Wait, it was his birthday tomorrow. He knew he'd been preoccupied all week, but honestly, enough to forget his own birthday.
Taichi quickly rushed home. The pizza had just arrived and Hikari had just paid the delivery guy.
"Keep the change." She said with a smile.
"Hika! It's my birthday tomorrow!" Taichi said as he ran through the door, almost knocking the delivery guy over. Hikari burst into laughter at the sight of Taichi. His eyes were lit up, he was panting and he'd left the door wide open. It'd been a while since he'd done something as silly as this. It'd been a while since she'd laughed like this.
"I know silly!" Taichi smiled. Hikari closed the door, still holding the pizza and bag of drinks. "So, what movies did you get?"
"Hakase no Aishita Sushiki and Under the Same Moon." Taichi replied.
"Oh, my favourites. Even though it's your birthday tomorrow?"
"Well, that's tomorrow, not tonight. C'mon, let's watch them." Taichi said, taking the pizza out of her arms and walking into the family room. Hikari had obviously tidied this place up. All the light stuff seemed to be neatly boxed away, ready for Aiko to take home. She told the kids that she'd take care of their stuff until they'd both finished at the Manor School.
The siblings sat down in front of the television and watched the films happily. They stayed up late talking, eating and drinking.
"Hey Taichi, it's just past midnight. Happy Birthday!" Hikari said just as the second movie ended. Before Taichi had time to reply Hikari had dashed out of the room like a racehorse. She came back a few seconds later holding a small package. "For you." She said as she handed it to him.
"Ah Hikari, thanks, you didn't have to." Taichi said as he carefully opened the present. Usually he wasn't as hesitant but for some reason he was when it came to Hikari's gifts. She'd been known to pull a few pranks on her older brother.
Inside the package was a small blue box. Taichi slowly opened the lid and looked inside. He gasped. There was a small black notebook with small, silver 'T' on the cover. The pages inside were made of papyrus and leafed, again in silver.
"This is beautiful Hika! Thank you so much!" He pulled his sister into a tight hug. He was truly amazed at the gift.
They both woke up the next morning and began spring cleaning the apartment before Sora got there. They also needed to prepare some lunch for the guys coming over. Hikari took the rentals back to the store whilst Taichi moved some of the heavier items to the side of the room. A removal van would be coming within the next half hour. They were selling their big pieces of furniture, just because they wouldn't be needed anymore and Aiko didn't have any room for them at her place.
Hikari came back just before the removal van left. They had to admit that the apartment just didn't seem there's anymore. What was left of the family room was a table, filled with snacks, a few of the dining chairs and a portable CD player.
The two of them took a walk around. It was so empty and clean.
"This is so unlike me, it doesn't feel like home anymore." Taichi said looking in what used to be his bedroom.
"I know Taichi, usually we'd have to try and find a save path through all the mess." Hikari giggled. "It's not really our home anymore though."
"Yeah I guess your right. This is the last night we'll be sleeping here." Taichi walked over to his bed and sat down. Hikari followed his lead and sat down next to him. She wrapped her arm around her brother. "It'll be okay." She whispered.
Their little bit of silence was broken by a timid knock on the front door.
"That'll probably be Sora." Taichi said as he got up off the bed and made his way to the front door. The knock came again, a little louder this time and was interrupted as Taichi opened the door.
"Happy Birthday Taichi!" She squealed.
"Thanks Sora. Come in." He said as he held open the door.
"Thank you. Hey Hikari!" Sora called out to the younger Yagami sibling.
"Konnichiwa Sora." Hikari called. She had moved her way back to the family room as Taichi had gone to greet Sora.
"Here, this is for you, it's only small, but I hope you like it." Sora said handling a carefully wrapped gift to Taichi.
"Awh, Sora, you shouldn't have. Thank you." He said smiling. They walked together into the family room and sat down on the floor next to the chair Hikari was sat on flicking through a magazine.
Taichi opened the present and inside was a book. Not just any book, it was a scrap book that him and Sora had started years ago when they had first started school together. It had little notes they wrote together, drawings, soccer achievements and photographs.
"Sora, this is incredible! I can't believe you still have this!" Taichi said as he carefully flipped through a few of the pages, memories flooding back. "Wow."
"I'm glad you like it. I know you're both going away so I just thought it could be a nice way to remember me."
"I love it Sora, thank you." Taichi said and pulled his best friend into a hug. He flipped to the last page of the scrap book and there was a picture. It was recent but still well looked at, the edges were a little smudged. It was a picture of all his friends from here in Odaiba. He was so stunned at the thought and care that Sora had gone into to finish the scrap book off for him. "It's everyone! Me, Hika, Sora, Jyou, Ken, Miyako and even little Mimi. Whatever happened to her?"
"No one seems to know, she just disappeared. I miss her though." Sora said, looking down at her hands. "Oh, the guys should be here soon. There all really excited to see the two of you. After all, it's been…oh, I'm sorry." Sora said gasping. She was cut short by a knock on the door. The others had finally arrived.
"It's okay Sora; you didn't mean any harm by it." Hikari said, trying to give of a small smile. Taichi got up to let the others in. He was greeted by shouts of "Hi." He brought them all into the family room.
The party went well, both Taichi and Hikari received small farewell gifts from there friends including a phone card from Jyou. They spent the afternoon and most of the evening laughing, talking and playing party games like they used to do when they were little. They watched movies and talked about what they were going to do when Taichi and Hikari came home.
"Just think of it as a long term vacation." Miyako told them as she left. "I'll really miss you Hikari, you've been such a great friend all these years." Hikari smiled.
"I'll miss you too Miya, you'll always be my friend." They hugged and said their goodbyes.
"We'll miss you!" Taichi called as they walked down the stairs and out of the apartment building. He smiled. He was so proud of all the friends he had and he was really going to miss them.