(April 1st, 2010)

Okay, so this chapter is over TWICE the normal amount I've written in previous chapters. But I did promise that if you gave me my reviews I would update (see where this is going? Do you get what I'm hinting at? lol :P).
Thank you to all who had reviewed and left wonderful messages; I love you all.

Disclamier: I still don't own Digimon or any of its characters.

THE DOMINO EFFECT

FunkyMonkey713

CHAPTER 5: Changes

~KPOV~

When Hikari's alarm went off the next morning, something changed. Last night at dinner she had told her parents about her day, just as she did every dinnertime and spent the rest of the evening in a semi-hyper state. Until she went into her room and looked around taking in its dishevelled features; she had clothes strewn everywhere covering every surface. Textbooks, binders and books stacked high on her desk; she couldn't even think of the last time she did her work on it. Her drawers looked over-stuff and her shelf of makeup that hovered below her mirror was a complete mess.

As she surveyed the mess, something hit her, she wasn't sure what but she finally decided to do something about it. That evening she had spent over three hours de-cluttering her room; something she hadn't done in years. She went to bed feeling exhausted but pleased with her accomplishment.

Now, at six in the morning, the same time she'd been getting up since she was ten years old, it seemed different. She didn't drag herself out of bed like she normally would, anxiously anticipating Tai's loud yelling and banging on the door. Today, she awake even before her alarm went off. She got up and picked out her school uniform that was hung up in her closet, it took her almost no time to change. Normally she would have straightened her curly locks and pinned it back, but today she decided to leave it in its untamed form and pushed a black satin hair band instead. She put two silver drop earrings on and stared at her reflection.

Her deep mahogany coloured eyes brought out her matching her hair tone, although she was told sometimes her eyes turned a chocolate ruby colour. With her curls in full swing she thought she could see gold and copper strands that she hadn't caught before; but then chalked it up to the newly cleaned reflective surfaces in the room. It was 6:34 and she was debating on make-up; should the new Hikari wear more make-up? She pondered then decided she was going to be late if she didn't stop self-obsessing. She put on her recently polished black school shoes and made for the kitchen. Her parents were already gone and Tai hadn't come home last night, but that wasn't anything new. A chocolate pop tart flew out of the toaster and she left the apartment heading for Takeru's building.

It took her about twenty minutes; the sun was hiding behind clouds on the horizon so it was still dark, only streetlights guiding her way. She arrived with a couple minutes to spare; he was waiting for her, green backpack slung across his shoulder and a long piece of fabric in one hand. His hair was casually wind swept and his uniform was flawless. As is he. She said to herself as her mind wandered off to what his torso looks like under the crisp white shirt. Stop it you stupid girl. Boyfriend. You have a BOY-FRIEND. A metal slap and she returned to the real world.

"Good morning sunshine, how is my little glimmer of light today?" He mocked as they strode through the park. She playfully hit him on the arm, because she was too tired to aim for his head.

"Oh har har. You're just so witty, not everyone can be a morning person you know."

"Maybe, but at least if you are then you could eat a proper breakfast." Her stomach growled in reply and she flushed red with embarrassment; she attempted to smack him again. He laughed and danced around her feeble attempt at violence so early in the morning. The rest of the way to school was the same, jabs and jokes at each other's expenses. For some reason, she'd never felt so comfortable with someone other then her brother; a relationship so effortless that she's tried for years to find else where when Tai went gaga over Sora. She'd felt like she'd known Takeru for years instead of a day; like the best friend she'd lost when Tai went MIA*.

Hikari's mind was at ease knowing that these odd feelings she'd been having obviously weren't crush-like symptoms, but the feelings that one would have for their best friend. Once they arrived at school, they weren't seen apart for almost the entire day except for Takeru's gym class when Hikari had photography. During that one-hour class she didn't feel completely alone, because Takeru and their time spent together that morning occupied her thoughts. The two of them had sat in the back of every class, whispering and joking with each other. The teachers didn't really seem to notice because they assumed that Hikari, one of their prize students, was just helping the new kid out with some difficult questions.

When they had arrived at lunch, they sat with the gang and Takeru blended in like he had always been there. It seemed like he and Iori especially got along well, which was surprising because Iori was a shy kid who didn't put himself out there to make new friends. Miyako and Catherine had both commented on Hikari change of hairstyle saying that it suited her better then her old look. Every once in a while she would look across at Takeru to see his piercing blue eyes gazing at her, changing sometimes from blue to steel as thoughts seemed to cross his mind. Then his eyes would re-focus and realize that she was looking at him too; he would give her the most amazing heart-stopping smile. After her photography class was over she waited for Takeru outside of the change rooms like she had yesterday.

~TPOV~

He strolled out of the door, looking wet but refreshed; Hikari knew that guys just loved gym because it gave them a chance to show off their "manly skills". But, like yesterday, his uniform was lacking in the tidiness the school required of their students.

"Didn't you hear a word I said yesterday? I told you, you can't go to class looking like this." She gestured her hand up and down his body, he chuckled.

"It's a student's job to rebel against regulatory dress code. Not everyone can be little miss-perfect-role-model." She laughed and yanked on his undone tie, forcing him to bend down again so she could fix it. His face hovered slightly above her head, her face was eye level with his neck and her hands moved without her even thinking about it.

"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say you did this on purpose so I would do your tie for you." As she finished, leaned closer taking a deep breath near the base of his neck. Her soft hair brushed his chin lightly and trailed down his neck as she moved with a path of fire behind. Her overwhelming scent of watermelon and raspberry made his breath intake come as a gasp as he tried to remember what she was talking about.

"Uh… Well… You do tie a tie better then I can." She giggled as she faced him at eye level, her normally chocolate flashed ruby then back; it was so fast he thought he had imagined it.

"Well, that's because I don't think there's anyone who can tie a tie better than I can." She let go of his tie practically making him fall over. He straightened up attempting to regain his dignity and rolled his eyes at her as they started amble towards calculus.

"Oh, well la-di-da! Aren't you modest!" His voice dripped with sarcasm as he dodged another blow from her. "awww now now, don't be hatin'. I just speak the truth." He snickered as her cheeks turned a faint pink and ducked her head to hide it; personally he thought it made her look even more beautiful. He wrapped an arm across her shoulders and hugged her to him. "Come on, let's go to class and I promise when we walk home I'll even buy you Starbucks if you stop trying to hit me." She laughed and swacked him over the head,

"Yeah you better buy me something, without me you'd be kicked out of school for your dishevelled uniform." They both cracked up as they entered the classroom, not even noticing the odd looks and dirty glances they received.

~KPOV~

Walking home was less eventful then it was yesterday, they discussed possibilities for three historical influences from the renaissance period that they have to do for a history project they were assigned to do together. When they got off the train, Takeru wrapped his arm around her shoulders and her arm around his waist. To passers by, they looked like a couple, but to Hikari this was something best friends did. Her brother did the same thing, so why shouldn't a guy who obviously just a friend be able to do it? The majority of her brain believed this whole-heartedly, but the very small portion knew she was lying to herself; every time the tiny voice came into her head she shoved it away.

After they passed through their shortcut, they stopped at Starbucks where Takeru treated her to a steaming hot chocolate with extra whipping cream while he purchased a mocha latte. They sat in a pair couches by the window, as the light disappeared from the sun and emerged from the city.

"Okay so can I ask you a question? I think it's kind of personal and I don't want to seem tactless for asking." Hikari watched Takeru waiting for an answer; he was intrigued and therefore nodded his consent. "Why did you move here?" She sipped her drink, waiting but not pushing for an answer. She had tried to ask the question in a more subtle way up until now; she personally felt like she could tell him anything, so she was hoping he felt the same. He took a deep breath and looked up from his coffee; a resentful expression replaced his previously joyful one.

"Well, it's a long story… but I guess I was bound to have to tell it sometime." He scratched the back of his neck and looked around, checking for eavesdroppers? Hikari wasn't sure, but since the shop was empty except for the baristas he seemed to feel better about talking.

"My parents had been together for nearly 25 years, they had my brother Matt almost 21 years ago. Between that time and when I was born 3 years later, my dad cheated on my mother. He claimed it was only a one-night stand on a business trip when he'd had too much to drink. They fought and nearly divorced, but then I was born and everything changed. See, he's a travelling businessman for Yahama, he promotes new items and makes proposals for new partnerships around the world." Takeru took a deep breath, staring at a patch on the Hikari's chair; eye's glazed over. "Up until this year, he took a trip every month for a week or so, instead of every other week for weeks on end.

My mother is a journalist for a big Japanese international newspaper, so she travels a bit too. She would leave my dad in charge of Matt and I… and he was… he would… well… let's just say we wouldn't get along… and then… my mother found out he'd been keeping a girlfriend half his age in a condo we own in Fukoka. She lost it on him and they divorced a few months ago, my mother had been offered a promotion here a couple years back and so she finally accepted it. I think being close to Matt was also a draw for her. So I guess that why I'm here now."

He finally looked up at her again; he seemed angry but also ashamed, like he had done something wrong. She yearned to comfort him, she couldn't even imagine going through something like that. Suddenly her issues with Tai seemed very small. She reached out her hand and took his, looking him straight in the eyes.

"You know that it isn't your fault right? It had nothing to do with you." He was silent as he dropped his gaze avoiding hers. "TK, it's not your fault! Some things in life you can't control, some things were destined to happen. Do you understand me?" She shook his arm and pulled his chin up forcing him to look at her. His eyes were still glassy but he slowly nodded and smiled weakly.

"I know. I'm being stupid, just sometimes it doesn't feel like I deserve anything. You won't… tell anyone will you?" He looked at her dubiously and she felt a little hurt by his remark.

"Why would I ever tell anyone something you don't want to share? I won't say anything unless you say otherwise okay?" She took his hand again and pulled him up, walking towards the door. "And you can do the same for me deal?" He smiled and she could see him returning to his normal self again.

"You got yourself a deal. I hope you're ready, cause you're stuck with me now." He chuckled as they walked through the park to his apartment. "Oh crap! Before I forget, tomorrow I can't walk to school with you, I have a doctor's appointment first thing." She pouted her lips at him expressing her obvious disappointment.

"You mean you're going to let a little girl like me walk all alone to school?" He scoffed at her, "Psht! You seemed to manage just fine until I showed up. One morning won't kill you I promise. Tomorrow evening we can work on our project at my place?" She agreed and then parted for the evening once they reached the base of his building.

~TPOV~

It was raining as Takeru arrived at school, only five minutes to get his books and get to his lit class. The rain was so heavy it felt like his second shower of the day, his hair was plastered to his head and his head hung as he avoided getting water in his eye. He pushed through the clear glass front doors and whacked into somebody.

"Oh god! I'm so sorry! Are you ok?!" He shook his head and waved his hands around in concern around the large body he just hit. A couple other tall, muscular males who had been talking to the guy he bumped into surrounded him. The guy had a short brown mop of hair that stuck out at every possible angle. He was slightly shorter than Takeru, but was definitely not lacking in muscle mass; his face was proportionate in everyway, a model's face. Takeru had the impression that he was one of the popular guys that the girls in school just drooled over, daydreaming and fawning over him twenty-four/seven. The brunette looked at Takeru like he was pond scrum at the bottom of the food chain,

"I'm sorry, did you just hit me?" He turned around to face him face-on, the anger on his face was apparent and one of the guys next to him poked the guys and pointed at Takeru.

"Who's this? Fresh meat? I haven't seen him in school before" He turned towards the sandy-blonde who spoke; he too was handsome with steel grey eyes, full of mischief and knowledge the brunette seemed to lack. Takeru put out his hand; ready to introduce himself when the brunette slapped it away sneering.

"He doesn't deserve a name, he's obviously too stupid to have one" he sniggered, "and too ugly." He turned towards the others and motioned to leave "come on, this guy isn't even worth our time." The group walked down the hall yelling and slapping each other on the backs.

Takeru stood there, a little shocked and soaked to the skin with rainwater. He trudged off to his class (to which he was now very late for) and walked to the open seat next to Kari.

"Hey! I saved a seat just for you!" She smiled, her eyes crinkling as she patted the empty chair. He sat down, his clothes squished and oozed water, he shook out his hair like a wet dog getting her completely soaked.

"Watch it!" She giggled as she covered her hands over her face to avoid the flying droplets. He grinned and shook out harder until she was forced to reach out and hold his head.

"Stop! Stop! Stop!" He obliged and looked down into her face, "alright, fine. You win this time. But you just wait, one day I swear I'll toss you into the pool." The teacher chose that moment to clear his throat and silenced the entire class until Takeru and Hikari realized they were the only ones making noise. They both glanced up and turned a bright scarlet, not unnoticed by the class,

"Now that I have you love-birds attention, let us get back Chaucer's Canterbury Tales shall we?" He turned back to the board and continued his ramble; Takeru and Hikari still felt people watching them, eyes burning into the back of their heads. For the rest of the class they were silent and severely intent on copying the notes from the board.

~KPOV~

When the buzzer rang, they gathered their books in silence; Hikari could hear her classmates' murmuring around her;

"God could she be more obvious?"

"God she's so hot! If she's hitting on the new guy, does that mean she's single??"

"Isn't it enough for her to already have a great boyfriend? She has to go after the only good game around here!"

"I wonder if her boyfriend knows what she's been up to while he's been away?"

She tried to ignore it, but throughout her morning classes she heard more people gossiping as she sat next to Takeru in each class, helped him with questions he had and walked through the halls. Time passed quickly that morning and soon the smell of fresh pizza started wafting through the and Hikari joined Ken, Miyako and the others at their usual table, Miyako and Catherine were bubbly about some school dance coming up, to which Hikari had been trying to avoid talking about; she wasn't a big fan of them.

"Oh come on Kari! You have to come this time! It's not as bad as you think it is!" Miyako whined as she shoved cheese pizza in her mouth.

"No I don't think so. Everyone just goes to get drunk and high then ends up sleeping with their best friend, which results in several weeks of awkward encounters, which therefore make it awkward for everyone else." Iori and Ken laughed but Miyako opened her mouth to argue,

"Don't even try to argue back, you know its true."

"Please just show up, stay for one song. One song! Please?" She drew out the 'e' for dramatic effect and pouted her lips. Hikari threw her head back and laughed,

"Fine, but only one song, then I'm gone, deal?" Miyako nodded bouncing up and down in her seat, "oh my god this is so fantastic! Ok so we need to go shopping and get new dresses. Then we just have to get our hair and nails done at…" her voice was slightly buzzing she was speaking so fast, but Hikari wasn't listening anymore, a sandy blonde and a tall brunette caught her eye across the room, adrenaline rushed to her head making her light-headed and made her stomach flutter. She broke into a grin and jumped from her seat giggling and ran across to the two guys standing by the cafeteria entrance.

*MIA means; Missing In Action

Author's Note:

Ooooooo the moment you've all been waiting for!! CLIFF HANGER. Yes I know. I'm evil.

I hope you enjoyed it!! I'll update as soon as I can with the next chapter! PLEASE REVIEW! (No reviews, no updates!). Thank you loyal readers! :D