Chapter 21
Misaki woke up before dawn. Her memories were back but Tora had said there were memories in the journal that could make her her suicidal. She needed to understand what he'd meant. She flipped toward the back of the journal and started to read. It was pretty clear that the year leading up to the car crash had been bad. Very bad. She remembered that it had been hard but it wasn't until she reread her words that she could feel the emotions she had been carrying at that time.
Her love for Takumi had never died. In fact it was still with her now, but back then it was so present, so much a part of her world that she couldn't imagine anything else. She had tried to move on. She had started dating Tora, but with Takumi constantly in her mind, her heart just couldn't consider loving anyone else no matter who they were or what they were like. She had written about guilt. She was troubled that she was leading Tora on, that he seemed to be falling for her but that she would never be able to love him. At least not when her every fiber yearned for Takumi. Takumi… the boy she thought had forgotten completely about her. No. The boy that appeared at the time to have never really cared about her at all. She had felt despair believing that she would forever live life hoping for something she had never really had. Guilt knowing she was using the only person trying to save her. These were the dark memories that had haunted her.
She could understand why Tora wanted to protect her from them. The one thing Tora hadn't considered was that the car crash had given her a gift. It had taken away the memories of Takumi for just a while and that had allowed her to open her heart up to new possibilities. That window of time where she was only part of herself allowed her to see that there were other paths in this world that could bring her happiness. It was because of that gift that she was able to learn to love Tora. If Tora had known this, would he have still kept the journal hidden? But she had needed that break to discover this new reality. If he'd give her the journal as soon as she'd emerged from the comma he would have been right. She would have just reentered the same hopeless world from which she sought escape. And why wouldn't she have then tried to escape a second time? It was only because she was able to live for this time without the burden of her past that she had discovered a different perspective. Could she blame him then for withholding this from her?
But her heart had opened itself to Tora because she had, to a degree, confused him with Takumi. Did this change the fact that once her heart was open, it was Tora's actions and words that had won him a part of her heart? And she now knew that no matter where in the world he was, a part of her would always belong to Takumi. Was it fair to stay with Tora when he loved her and only her but he would need to share at least a part of her soul with someone else? She closed the book. She shouldn't stay here in Takumi's home. It only confused her and would weaken her resolve to try to do right by Tora. Besides, Tora would be worried sick. If she didn't get back home soon, he would start looking for her. He'd call her mother's first and when she wasn't there it would scare him and her mom. She should get back and try to explain to him that, while she was upset and needed some time to sort out her feelings, she wasn't going to just throw him away. She was going to try to make this work.
She got changed and silently thanked Phillip for being so amazing. She wrote a quick little note to thank Takumi and left it on the night stand. Then she quietly slipped out of the apartment careful not to wake the sleeping man on the couch.
Takumi awoke about 15 minutes after Misaki had left his apartment. He reminded himself of his commitment. He would not give up his fight this time. He didn't care if she married Tora. He would still stalk her and pursue her and in the end she would see that it was hopeless to resist. They were meant to be together. Somewhere in her heart she knew it. He could tell… and she had said as much. Misaki was so wrapped up in trying to do the right thing. She thought that her brain would guide her to make the right choices in life but sometimes she needed to listen to her heart for advice. He started breakfast but then decided it might be best to wait until she was ready to wake up so that the food would still be hot. He peaked his head into the bedroom to gauge when she might wake up. She was gone. He felt an emptiness fill him. Why was she gone? Where had she gone?
He noticed the post it on the nightstand. She'd gone back to talk to Tora. He thought he could talk to her this morning that he could help her see the error she was making. Didn't she see what Tora had done? Couldn't she feel that he, not Tora, was the right person for her? He didn't want to have a long protracted period of winning her back. It wasn't good for any of them. If she really cared for Tora, she shouldn't stay with him because in the end, she'd end up leaving him. Maybe it wasn't too late. Maybe he could get to her before she went back to Tora. Takumi called down to the front desk. "A girl left this morning. I need to know if you remember when." Takumi described Misaki and found it had only been about 20 minutes since she'd left. If he hurried, he might be able to catch her at her apartment complex.
The cab pulled up across the street from Misaki's apartment. Takumi could see Misaki standing in front of the building. She was facing the street and in front of her stood Tora. They seemed to be talking. Tora reached over and took one of Misaki's hands and a terrifying thought crosses Takumi's mind. Last night, Misaki said she thought Tora was thinking of proposing. If she came back here and told him she'd forgiven him, what if he decided to try to lock her in. Takumi knew that Tora was a businessman. If a deal is hanging on by a thread, sometimes you do everything to make sure it doesn't fall apart. Takumi needed to get to her. He needed to stop them right now. He had to slow this down so he could win Misaki back without waiting years and watching her wade through a messy divorce. He threw some money at the cab driver and started running across the street. He didn't see anything. All of his focus was on the only thing that mattered to him… Misaki.
Tora too was focused on Misaki. They had been talking for about 15 minutes. He'd come out front to meet her when he saw her text saying she was coming home. They should have moved inside, but she was reluctant to return to the apartment with him. She had been telling him she needed some time to sort through her thoughts and would be staying at her mom's for a few weeks. She wanted to gather some of her things, but would wait until he was out of the apartment. It didn't sound like she was breaking up with him and for that he was grateful. She was definitely upset and he wanted to do whatever she needed to get through this.
He'd been watching her so carefully while they talked. Last night she had been hard to read but this morning her blushes and looks easily gave away her internal thoughts. And that's when he saw it. She was looking at something over his shoulder and her eyes grew wide. She looked as if she was watching her entire world as it was about to implode. He turned to face what she was seeing. It was Takumi. It was always Takumi. She didn't need to say anything. He knew, even if she was lying to herself that Takumi was her world, her everything. She would never be completely happy without him by her side and now that idiot was trying to get himself killed. Takumi, the swift ninja with cat like reflexes was less than a minute away from being crushed by a truck. Tora would have laughed at him if there had been more time. Everyone thought the guy was amazing but they never seemed to notice that when he was with her, he was off his game.
Tora knew what he had to do. He wanted to look back one last time to see Misaki's face but his task just wouldn't wait. It was okay. In his mind, he could see every detail of her face. He had promised to love her and protect her until the day he died. He would keep that promise with his life because she needed Takumi. He ran into the street and dove toward Takumi. He pushed him back with all his might and landed on the asphalt just as the truck rolled into his body. He died instantly. The only pain he had felt was the pain of knowing he would be leaving her. But that pain was dulled by his knowledge that she could now be free. She could go back to her true love and they could live the fairy tale that had always eluded him.
The aftermath of the crash was horrific. Misaki fell to the ground and sobbed uncontrollably. Takumi was knocked unconscious when his head hit the road after Tora had pushed him away. And Tora's spirit got one last look at his world, his beautiful Misaki, before he left this Earth forever.
Four years had passed since that horrible morning. The Walker's were going to the park to let their son burn off some of that unbound energy. They entered a square that was filled with pigeons. The young Master Walker stopped in his tracks and tugged at his mother's skirt.
"Mummy," the two year old said as his mother bent down so they could talk eye to eye. "Tell me the story about my angel."
"Well Tora," Misaki began, "Mummy and Daddy had lost their way, but an angel named Tora found them. The angel looked after Mummy and made sure she was safe and happy until Daddy could come find her."
"And when Daddy finally found her," Takumi continued, "the angel reminded Daddy that nothing should get in the way of time with Mummy and you. And once he was sure Mummy and Daddy would always be happy, he went back up into heaven to find you and send you down to us."
Tora smiled and wiggled out of his mother's arms. He ran off to chase the pigeons while Takumi hugged his wife.
If you reread this - Sorry for spoiling the ending. I'll try to learn from my mistakes and not change styles mid-story next time. Also sorry the end couldn't be changed. A lot of the story was built on the idea Tora would die in the end so Misa and a Takumi would be together. If I left a Tora around, I'd need to go back to chapter 3 and start rewriting there. I think it's romantic that he died saving his rival since his rival would make Misa happier. It's suppose to show how much he loves her. Anyway - I hope the writing of the end is at least better for you. I like it more. Thanks for reading! It really meant a lot to me you guys stuck around and read this and commented.