And then, Takenouchi…

"Hey." Is all I manage to say as I stand before the gravestone. I had this whole speech prepared in my head, but now that I'm actually sitting here in front of it, the words seem meaningless and inappropriate. "I'm moving back to Odaiba. I finally met with my friends like you've been bugging me to do ever since we met. You were right after all. They're irreplaceable really. They still put up with an idiot like me." The tiny hand I'm holding with my right hand squeezes a bit. "I love Osaka. It's our home. Where our beloved little Tatsu was born. Where I met you, and where we fell in love. Where you lived." A sad smile creeps on my lips, "I've lost something very important to me, and I'm going back to my first home to try and find it again. This is probably what we would have done eventually anyway." I chuckle a bit.

I release my son's hand and crouch down as if to whisper in her ear. I place a hand on the gravestone and close my eyes. "Once I find it, I'll be back. I promise." With my left hand, I place the flowers I'm holding gently in front of her resting place. Purple hyacinths to show her that my lifeless spirit has been rekindled by hope. I vow to find what I have lost, not to become like the man I used to be, but to surpass him. The man I used to be with my friends, the man I used to be with you, and the man that sometimes makes his appearance as long as his son is around.

I continue standing for a bit in front of Yui's grave. Tatsuya needs a bit of time with her too, after all. It's hard to believe that in a few days he'll be five years old. It still seems like yesterday that he was big enough to be cradled with just one of my arms, and she was still by my side. Tatsuya looks at me and I nod silently, communicating that it's time to go.

The drive there is silent other than little Tatsu looking around in awe at the places we pass by. Today is the day we move into the apartment I had scouted out while on vacation in Odaiba. My job? What about it? To work is to lose, after all. Just kidding, but I did quit. Such a boring office job didn't suit me, and I was beginning to tire of the monotony of every day. The company Koushiro works for has a data entry position open, and I'll be working there until I find myself a job I want. Then again, I'm not really sure what I want. It's embarrassing really, to be five years out of college with a degree and still having no idea about what to do with your life. Oh well, better late than never.

After what seems like an eternity later, I park in the parking spot I had arranged for me in the complex. I step out of the car and stretch a bit. All that's left is to move our personal belongings in. I'm thankful for having matured enough to have the foresight to already have our furniture moved in before driving here.

After we brought our stuff in and finished unpacking, I sit on the couch and let my body sink down into a lounging position. After a few moments I turn my attention to the small body lying down next to me on the couch, chest rising and falling rhythmically in a peaceful slumber. The poor little guy is all tuckered out after the long trip. His body is sprawled out lazily and inelegantly. Like father like son, I chuckle to myself. I pick him up and move him to his bedroom, which is just right across from mine. I tuck him in and stroke his hair for a few seconds. I feel like I'm forgetting something.

Just then, I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I take it out and read the name, "Sora Takenouchi" on the caller ID. Oh. I was supposed to tell her when I got here so she can come over and help us get settled in. Whoops. Well, if I ignore her call she's just going to be more upset with me later, so I hit the answer button on my phone and brace myself.

"Hello?"

"Taichi, you forgot to call me didn't you?" I can almost hear her grinding her teeth in frustration through the receiver.

"Sorry, I just thought it wouldn't be necessary to bother you. There wasn't that much left to do and I actually just finished up." I cross my fingers hoping she believes my bluff. Yes, yes of course I didn't forget about you! I just forgot to tell you that I didn't need your help. That's exactly what happened.

I hear her sigh on the other end, "Well, alright if you say so. You haven't eaten dinner yet right? I'll at least come over and cook something up for you." Well, she's at least playing along with it. That's something.

Truth be told, we weren't doing so hot. Sure, we're supposed to be together, but it sure as hell didn't feel like we were. We constantly find things about the other that annoy us and constantly bicker. True, we bickered constantly when we were younger, but it's not the same. The affection isn't there, and we get genuinely frustrated with each other. And of course the biggest problem is the complete lack of intimacy. It just felt too awkward to try to be that close. Hell, I have difficulty even just hugging her. The truth is that I just don't feel the same way I used to about her, and while she claims that she has never stopped loving me, she knows that I need a bit more time to adjust to this whole new situation and respects that. That doesn't mean she's not frustrated about it. As much as she tries to hide it, she's frustrated with the fact that she can't make too much physical contact with me, lest she put me in an uncomfortable position and drive me further away from her in the process. So, simple normal things that she would be able to look over usually annoy her to no end.

"I haven't had a chance to go grocery shopping yet…" I fully brace myself for the nagging I'm about to endure.

"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of that. I'll be there in about an hour!" Her cheerful voice comes out loud and clear through the receiver. She's unusually chipper today, oh well I'll roll with it.

"Thanks, I'll help you cook once you get here. See ya." I end the phone call and smile a bit to myself. I was nervous about coming back home, but something about this just feels right. Aside from the awkwardness with Sora, that is. Well, the circumstances have changed a bit, so maybe this won't be so bad after all. I walk out into my living room and look around to take in my surroundings for a bit.

"Happy birthday, Tatsu!"

"Make a wish!"

The five year old enthusiastically blows the candles out on his cake. He looks up to grin at me and Sora, proud of himself for blowing out the candles without any help. That's my boy, alright.

"So… what did you wish for?" I give my son a little smirk, because he fell for this so easy last year. I just loved seeing the disappointed look on his face when I told him his wish wouldn't come true because he told me out loud. It was adorable, but of course I was inclined to fulfill his wish last year because he gave me a good show. He just wanted a new video game after all, and I love video games so it was a total win-win for me. Sure enough, he opened his mouth to tell me what his wish was.

Of course, I didn't account for the fact that Ms. Party-Pooper Takenouchi was here too. "Taichi! Tatsu don't listen to your father, your wish won't come true if you say it out loud!" I glare at her a bit before turning back to my adorable son.

"I have a feeling I already know what it is anyway…" I give my son a big grin as I hand him my present to him.

"A soccer ball!" He hugs it like a girl getting her first teddy bear. Man, this little boy was too adorable. I wonder if I looked like this when I got my first soccer ball. "You're the best Papa!"

I flash him a huge grin and a thumbs up. "You're at that age son… I've already scouted out a club you can join. You start next week, how does that sound?" He drops the soccer ball and tackles me into a hug.

He looks up to me with those big adorable brown eyes of his, "I love you Papa!" His smile fades for a second and turns into a semi-fake frown, "But, I don't wanna wait until next week!"

I look back and forth between Sora and my son. Sora was watching us with a warm smile on her face, not wanting to interrupt our father-son moment. I catch her glancing a bit longingly at the soccer ball on the ground next to us. Hey, that gives me an idea.

"Let's go to the park. All three of us! Your lessons start today, boy!" My son only tightens his embrace on my legs maniacally chanting, 'you're the best, you're the best, you're the best!' And Sora looked completely elated at the suggestion. She must have missed it too, not having played much, if at all, since she quit in middle school.

"Even though I'm giving you private lessons, don't expect me to give you preferential treatment at your practice next week!" I beam at my son again.

"Wait, Taichi you don't mean-"

"Yep! Just call me Coach Yagami!" I give them both a thumbs up and the Yagami grin, "Well, assistant coach, but whatever! I've been in contact with the head coach of the club for a week and he's been looking for an assistant. He's couldn't turn my offer down, I did make a pretty good name for myself playing at university, you know." I wink at Sora a bit. This was the most "me" I've acted in a long time and it felt really… good. Well, I guess it's always been soccer that has been able to dig up my true self underneath all this gunk that was my persona of recent years.

Sora only looks at me and smiles. I give her a confused look. "Are you alright, Sora?"

"What do you mean?"

"No snide remarks? No 'get over yourself, Yagami?' No 'Stupid Taichi?'"

She thinks for a moment before she shyly averts her eyes from me before saying, "Well, I guess I'm just glad to see you acting like yourself again…" Well this was awkward. I didn't expect you to just come right out and say it. Thankfully, my son has been great at breaking any awkward tension between Sora and I during these times. This would be no different as a I feel a tugging at my shirt.

"Papa, 'let's go already!" I ruffle his hair as a thank you for bailing me out of that awkward situation

"Well, go get dressed already then!" He scampers off to his room to go get changed.

"I'm gonna go stop by my own apartment to change into some better clothes." Sora heads towards the door, "I'll meet you two at the park!" She smiles at me before you disappears behind the door.

The park we go to has two goalposts set up on its main field. Soccer is super popular in Japan, after all. I frequented this park when I was younger to practice on my own, and it wasn't used very much by anybody else. Almost like it was my own private training field. It hasn't seemed to change at all in all these years.

Time passes as I start my private soccer lessons with Tatsuya. Truth be told, I was a bit nervous. Sure, I had volunteered to coach at a local high school a few times during university for a community outreach project, but I don't have any experience teaching young kids. However, my worries seem to be groundless, as my son seems to be quite the natural. It's only been half an hour, yet he's showing off skills that took me weeks to develop when I first started. This boy would someday surpass his father if he kept this up, and although that set off a bit of envy deep within myself, I was truly elated for him.

It also helps that today I had an amazing assistant. Sora was always the nurturing type, so I'm mentally jotting down notes while watching her teach him what he wasn't understanding while I was teaching him. She's a great example of what to do. Using her methods as a foundation for mine will be very helpful when I start my position as the assistant coach for Tatsu's club next week.

I can tell how much she missed soccer as I watch her happily demonstrate drills for Tatsu to do. After about another hour, an idea pops into my head.

"Sora, how about a little one on one? Like old times?" I give her a smirk. Like me, Sora can't resist a challenge.

"Oh?" That look on her face pretty much gives me the answer to my challenge, "Just make sure you take it easy on me Mr. College-Star." She says with a sarcastic tone in her voice.

She would never actually want me to take it easy on her, as it would make her feel as if I was looking down on her. She would be able to tell right away. Back in our younger days, she was one of the few people that would be able to keep up with me on the field. Although, she has only ever managed to beat me in one of our showdowns once.

Of course, now she is no match for me at all. At first I don't hold anything back at all maneuver the ball around her effortlessly. It's almost too easy- like dancing around a human shaped cone with the ball. When she has possession, taking it from her is like taking candy from a baby. At this point I think it's safe to assume that she knows she's in way over her head. At least that's what that glare she is giving me is saying. I hear Tatsu mutter an, "Uh oh..." In the distance, as if he knows I'm in hot water.

"Hey, I told you to take it easy on me Mr. Fancy Feet!" Aren't you a bit old to be pouting like a child? I have to admit, it's a bit cute.

"My bad," I let out a hearty chuckle, "you always used to say that sarcastically when we were younger. 'Take it easy on me, I'm just a girl you know,' so I just assumed..." Her glare intensifies, clearly she did not appreciate my imitation of her.

The only time I had ever taken her seriously when she said something like that, I had lost miserably. It was when we had first met, waiting for our parents after club practice. She's still glaring a hole through me, but I motion for her to get into position. Two more goals of mine later and she throws her hands up in frustration. This could be bad.

"Alright, let's call a timeout. Hey, Tatsu! Run through those drills some more!" I call out to my son and point him in the direction where we had the cones set up. Looking over at Sora, she still seems to be fuming at me. All of a sudden I feel all the confidence I had regained from my soccer mentality leave me, but somehow I manage to work up the nerve to walk over to her and say something, "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," she mutters. Her expression softens up and she hesitates for a few moments, "Sorry, I'm not mad at you. I'm just frustrated at how rusty I've gotten." I involuntarily chuckle at this, which brings her glare back into my view.

"Well, you're the one who gave up soccer for tennis y'know. Of course you're going to be rusty," I explain, "but… for being so rusty, you still got some moves. Come on, you never used to give up like this, show me what you've got Takenouchi!" She looks at me for a few moments, as if I had said something weird. Confusion sets in on my mind for a few seconds before the realization strikes me.

"You're really becoming more like yourself again," she gives me a beautiful smile while voicing the thoughts we both had about this moment we just shared. Not only that, but it seems like we can talk normally again. Like we used to when we were younger.

Soccer is what brought us together in the first place when we were in first grade. Now, more than 20 years later it's brought us back together again. I have to admit how corny and romcom-esque these circumstances are. I have to remind myself that this isn't an anime, this isn't a light novel, and this isn't some terrible meta fanfiction. This is my life. I've never been one to believe in fate, I feel like the very concept of it undermines our free will. Fate and freewill are juxtaposed and you can't have both, but in this very moment as I stare into her eyes and begin to feel emotions I haven't felt in years stir up inside of me, I think I might buy into the concept of fate just a little bit.

But, what if these emotions I'm feeling aren't completely genuine? What if as soon as we leave this field, we go back to feeling awkward and not being quite sure what to say to each other? Will my confidence leave me again? My soccer mentality is a part of me, sure, but it's just the adrenaline and my competitive spirit taking over giving me all of this confidence. I can't help but remember a time where my soccer mentality was the only aspect of my being. I don't mean that in the sense that soccer was the only thing ever on my mind, but that my soccer mentality now is a remnant of my old personality, before becoming this bitter, cynical man.

Sora shoves my shoulder with her fist challengingly and gives me a smirk of her own, breaking me from my thoughts. "Well, I think I'll take you up on that offer Superstar. Just because I'm down 4-0, doesn't mean I can't make a miracle comeback after all." I find myself instinctively smiling, all worries gone from my mind. Whatever happens after this, I'll deal with it as it comes.

We continue our showdown from before, and Tatsuya takes a seat on the sidelines to watch us finish what we started. I decide to let up a little bit more as I telegraph my movements a bit more than I already was. To my surprise, she keeps up, steals the ball from me, and takes off to score a point for herself.

As we reset our positions, I call out to her, "What did I tell ya? You still got some moves, Takenouchi!" I grin at her, "But, it seems like I don't need to take it that easy on you." She only grins in response to this. It's her turn to start with possession, and she charges forward at me with a determined look in her eye. She's up to something, I know it. This is something she always did when she got desperate for a goal, trying to trick me in to thinking that she's just charging recklessly at me intending to switch directions at the last second, when in reality she starts to switch directions a couple meters away only to misdirect me and stay her course. Even after all these years, I can read her like a book.

Here it comes, which way is she going to try to make me think she is going? Right? Left? It doesn't matter, I'll only pretend to bite the bait. However, it doesn't go as planned. I guess she is pretty rusty after all, tripping on her own feet like that, and the next thing I know I fall on my ass with her falling on top of me. It doesn't hurt at all, but the next thing I know her face is inches away from mine. She has her eyes closed bracing herself for the pain from the fall, not yet realizing that there was something soft to break her fall, AKA me. Her eyes open slowly and our little situation becomes more apparent to her.

Those emotions I felt from all those years ago start welling up inside me again while looking into those beautiful eyes of hers. Her face starts to redden, although I'm not sure if it's from embarrassment about her tripping on her own feet, or from our close proximity. Sure, we haven't done anything intimate at all, but that's not a good excuse to act like a coy schoolgirl, we're adults now, after all. Not like I'm one to talk, as I find myself staring into her eyes with my heart racing, partly due to the exercise, and partly due to the woman I'm practically embracing currently. I've kept myself from being happy for so long, that my body moves on its own, my right hand cupping the back of her neck and pulling her lips on to mine.

Her body jerks in surprise, but relaxes and lets herself fall into the kiss. We pull away finally after a few moments. I give her a small slight smile. Despite what I just did and the beautiful woman currently smiling happily at me, I can't help but feel a tightness in my chest. My thoughts go back to my late wife, and a feeling of guilt washes over me. Sora seems to sense what I'm thinking and opens her mouth to say something, when we hear some distant calls of "gross, yuck," and the like in the distance. We turn our heads to Tatsuya on the sidelines gagging. No matter how fast our circumstances as a family have made him mature mentally, he's still a kid after all.

We turn back to each other and laugh, the awkward tension being broken up once again by my son. His sense of timing couldn't be more perfect, really, no sarcasm here. Sora stands up and offers a hand to help me up, "We have a show down to finish," she winks at me with a smile.

I stare at her hand for a bit in hesitation. In that moment a gust of wind blows carrying the same familiar feminine voice that speaks to me every now and then. It's okay, I just want you to be happy. I know that these words and the voice are all in my head, in my heart, and in my memories, but I can't help but feel like she is actually watching over me and encouraging me with these words. I grab Sora's hand and pull myself up, and give her the most genuine smile I've given her in years.

"I'll let you win this one." Sora stares at me wondering if I've lost it. My smile turns into a grin and only then does she understand my double entendre.

"Hey, it's me. I'm back. Just like I said I would be." Here I am, once again. As if sensing my hesitation once again, my hands are squeezed reassuringly, both of them. "I've got someone to introduce you to this time. It's a bit late, but this is the person I always told you about. This is Sora."

"It's nice to meet you, thank you for taking care of him all this time. I'll forever be grateful to you. Now, it's time for me to repay you. I'll take care of him, I promise. I'll take responsibility for his happiness from now on. I can't ever replace you, and I know that, but I'll do my best." These words surprise me, coming from Sora. I didn't expect her to actually say anything, but it makes me happy. A warm breeze blows by, as if accepting her resolve.

"I finally found what I had been missing this whole time. I've found my courage again. You were right, I did need to go see my friends, and I'm sorry that I didn't listen to you back then. But, I'll be able to move forward. I'm ready to be happy again, just like I promised you I would be." Tears start to well up in my eyes, and usually I'd hold them back with all my might. However, I let myself cry this time. "I'll always love you, thank you for helping me open my heart up again."

"Mama, my wish on my birthday came true." I turn to my son in surprise. "I wished that Papa could be happy again, and now he is. Even though he's crying. I miss you Mama, but I'll be okay, I promise." He finishes talking and turns to me to give me the signature grin.

I place a new bunch of flowers on her grave and stand back up. Orange gladioli flowers representing the courage I had lost. But, I have it back now. I have the courage to face life again, and to accept my own happiness. The three of us embrace each other, ready to start our lives as a family. Another breeze blows by like a fourth pair of arms enveloping us in an embrace, I love you too.

This isn't goodbye, I'll be back again to visit. We will see each other again. In the distance, I hear a familiar tune we used to sing as children. When we had lost all hope, this tune gave us the strength to go on.

In this world of nothingness that arises out of an infinite dream

It seems as though our beloved desires will lose

But even with these unreliable wings, covered in images that tend to stay

I'm sure we can fly, on my love.

Hope you enjoyed it! Make sure to let me know what you think.