Starful

Chapter 12

Daisuke awoke, he rubbed his eyes and looked at his surroundings. A dark room with a slight chill. The blinds creeped the little sunlight there was.

Daisuke groaned and he rubbed his neck. He moved to his side and slipped his feet into the slippers that his mother bought. He stopped in his tracks and heard some talking from the other side of the door. He slowly walked to it where the murmurs became clear words.

"We should tell him!" Said his mother.

"I don't know if it's the right time," his father replied.

"He's going to find out!"

Daisuke tilted his head, what are they talking about?

His mother spoke up again, "I'll tell him before he finds out because if he finds out…"

Daisuke leaned his head, "he surely will panic."

He touched the door and leaned, I always felt something was off. Not that I was gone, but like… something about me being gone. I know expecting a surprise welcome back party wouldn't be welcomed, but it's like everyone was hiding something from me despite me hiding things from them. Like something they think I would know, but I didn't. I wonder… I wonder what it was.

I wondered why Hikari-hime was a talking point with everyone I spoke to.

Daisuke took a step back. He stared at this young raspberry haired girl with slight tan skin. But her facial features were of Hikari when she was that age back then.

Suddenly thoughts were flooding into his head. Every conversation and every reaction made sense. Everyone seemed so mad… it's not because I left without a word. It's because I left… Hikari-hime… pregnant.

Daisuke collapsed to his knees.

"A-Are you okay!?" Miyuki panicked, putting the picture away.

Daisuke huffed as his chest hurt. He looked at his daughter with shock. His nails dug into his chest as he felt this urge to pass out. His body shaking as he grit his teeth. He thought of her: Hikari.

"Are you okay?" Miyuki was concerned, putting her hand on his shoulder.

Daisuke stopped breathing heavily, he looked up at the young girl, "D-Do you know who I am?"

Miyuki blinked, "you're Daisuke-san! The leader of the Chosen Children!"

Daisuke's eyes widened, she doesn't know I am her father. Hikari-hime never told her. Daisuke froze when he saw something in his peripherals. He turned his head quickly and his face dropped to horror.

Hikari stood there, a cold expression in her face.

"Mommy!" Miyuki jumped, "look," he grabbed Daisuke's hand, tugging on it. "Daisuke-san! The person who saved the world."

Hikari licked the inside of her cheek and raised a brow, "yeah… that's him."

Miyuki finally noticed the tense air, "mommy?"

Hikari marched forward, Daisuke putting his head down. She reached down and separated her daughter's hand from his. Simply glaring, "did you tell her anything?"

Daisuke looked slowly at her, "no… I…"

He was caught off guard when Hikari marched away holding Miyuki's hand. "Wait," Miyuki protested.

Daisuke looked down and began to breathe heavily again. He grabbed his chest the same way as before and then turned. "Hikari-san!"

Miyuki, who was basically being dragged, smiled. Hikari stopped, but didn't turn back around. Daisuke put his hand on his chest, "I… I can explain." Hikari's shoulder tensed and she looked back. He faced her once more, this time more determined than scared. "I… I…" his face dropped as he looked to the side. Shamefully closing his eyes.

Hikari bit her lower lip angrily and glared, "figures…"

As Hikari was turning around, a car pulled up, screeching as it stopped.

Daisuke was first confused, but immediately became a bit scared when Taichi walked out of the driver seat. Sora, from the passenger seat, came out, a bit concerned.

Taichi stood between Hikari and Daisuke. "Looks like you found him before I did, Hikari-san." He turned to his sister and niece.

Hikari looked away angrily, "why are you here?"

Sora came over, "Miyako-san went into labor and we thought it would be nice for us to take you."

Hikari nodded, "I was heading there."

Sora pat Hikari's shoulder, "I would have guessed… but you can say. We wanted to make sure you found out the situation… of Miyako-san of course. Before…" she turned to Daisuke with a slight glare, "it got to you."

Daisuke looked over at Hikari, sighing. "I was just saying 'hi'." He smiled sadly, "don't mind me."

Sora sighed too, "Miyako-san requested for you." Hikari's eyes widened, Taichi turned to the side and Miyuki, who was sad about Daisuke being left behind, was now excited. "She wants you to come over and experience her giving birth to her first child."

Daisuke's jaw dropped, "me?"

Sora stood in front of Hikari, "yes, you. And it would be very rude of you to deny her request to see her best friend. Wouldn't it? I mean it's not like it's been a long time, right? And Ken-san, her husband, wants to see you too. Is there going to be a problem with that?"

Daisuke looked at Sora then at Hikari who was in shock by this development.

Daisuke looked down again, "I can walk, just give me the location and I'll–." He was shocked when Taichi's arm went around his neck.

"Come now, she's in labor. Don't be rude," Taichi and Daisuke both looked at each other. Taichi with a cold look and Daisuke with a shocked frightened one. "Come on, we have a lot to catch up on."

Daisuke shivered and nodded, "yeah…"

Taichi let go of him and patted his back. "Great, you'll be riding shotgun with me!"

Daisuke grabbed his upper arm. Taichi walked up to the driver side of the door and opened it. "Come on, Miyako-san is in labor, she's not exactly being patient."

Sora guided Hikari and Miyuki to the back of the car. Taichi got inside when he saw Daisuke walk over to the passenger. Immediately getting in, despite the car being a bit warmer. It couldn't feel cold. Feeling the ice glares of Hikari, Sora, and Taichi stabbing his spine.

Taichi turned on the vehicle as the heater warmed everything up. "Ah, good ol driving with the family… and friends…"

Daisuke put on his seat belt as did the others.

Taichi smirked, "what was your favorite song Daisuke-san? The one you made my dad play all the time he gave you rides. 'I left without a word'?" Taichi put the radio on lightly, "or was it 'ditching it all'."

Miyuki suddenly intervened, "I like rock songs! Do you?"

Taichi was even surprised by this.

Daisuke looked over, "I love rock and roll. American Rock and Roll."

Miyuki leaned to look at Daisuke, surprising everyone. "Can you tell me some?"

Daisuke shrugged and smiled, "uh, I don't know the artists or the song names. Just like the rhythm. It goes like Dun Dun DUUN Dun Dun Dun uh! And the guy talks super fast english."

Miyuki giggled, "I still can't understand Japanese Pop songs when they speak fast."

Daisuke chuckled, covering his mouth, "I am still like that. I can hear the same song over and over again, and not even learn the lyrics."

"Ahem…" Sora grabbed Miyuki, "safety, sweetie."

Miyuki pouted and crossed her arms, "I put on my seatbelt."

Hikari frowned before turning to her daughter, "since when did you like Japanese Pop?"

Miyuki chuckled, just like Daisuke did before. Mannerism down to a tea, "I always liked it mommy, but uncle Taichi puts on the boring songs. The one where you can't run. I love music that makes me run!"

Daisuke snorted into a laughter, "when I trained for soccer, oh I put on the fastest songs I could find. Made me feel like I could run faster."

Miyuki pumped her hands and replied, "I sometimes remember a cool song and try to make a cool soccer move out of it!"

Daisuke nodded with a strong smile, "I would do that. There's an actual soccer play I made up with a song. Oh I did this thing at the end when I would flip into a kick."

Miyuki leaned once again in excitement, "can you show me it?"

Daisuke was going to reply. He suddenly saw everyone's face of shock. "Oh…" he calmed himself, "it's a dangerous move and I got hurt. But I can teach you how to make music in soccer plays." He saw Sora's concerned look, "if you promise to be safe. No flipping like me, okay?"

"Promise," Miyuki was giddy as ever. "I want to one day win the soccer tournaments in all my school, Daisuke-san."

Hikari whispered, "you never told me that…"

Daisuke replied at the same time, "I bet you're the greatest player, you can do it."

Miyuki asked, "what about you? Are you the greatest soccer player of your time?"

Daisuke shook his head, "Your uncle Taichi taught me, so he always felt better. But Ken-san was so much better. He was like a mountain to climb. I could never beat him when we went to separate schools. But I beat him once when we went to the same school. Though I quit soccer after that."

Miyuki sighed loudly, "I have this jerk in my school. His name is Akino-kun! He thinks he's better than me."

"Akino-kun? You never spoke about him?" Hikari questioned softly.

Daisuke, accidentally, but unaware interjected, "Akino-san probably doesn't know the secret… uh…." he was about to say his last name. "The secret Daisuke-san maneuver."

Miyuki got giddy once again, "you'll teach me right."

"Of course," Daisuke chuckled, "you can call it whatever you like once I pass it on to you."

"Hmmm," Finally some silence as Miyuki pondered, "Motomiya Maneuver."

If everyone was drinking something, they would have spat it out. Except for Daisuke who was simply surprised. "It sounds catchy."

Daisuke smiled happily, "it does, doesn't it."

Miyuki broke the second silence with, "can I call you Dai-san?"

"You absolutely cannot!" This time Hikari raised her voice, blushing.

"What why?" Miyuki whined.

"We're here…" Taichi push on the brakes put the car in park. "Thank god we're here." He took a deep breath, Daisuke and Miyuki seeing everyone out of breath.

Everyone removed their seat belts, Taichi grabbed onto Daisuke's shoulder before he could exit the car. "You stay here for a bit."

Hikari, Sora, and Miyuki all got out of the vehicle. Hikari taking deep breaths looking at a happy Miyuki, not just happy, joyous. Jumping around and heading to the stairs.

She walked ahead of Hikari and Sora, "sorry," Sora said.

Hikari crossed her arms, "it's like you said, Miyako-san wants to see him."

Sora shook her head, "not that… remember those times you said she was just like him… I didn't believe it, but today… god…"

Hikari gritted her teeth, "why is he back? Why is he–."

Sora stopped her, "maybe let's talk about this after Miyako gives birth."

Hikari took a deep breath, "right… at least tell me why Taichi-san is staying behind with him."

Sora looked back, "reuniting."

Taichi looked over and saw Sora and Hikari both get to the second floor. He sighed loudly, "I need to apologize to Hikari-san… I thought she was lying when she said Miyuki-san is like you." He groaned, "Which leads me to the next part–."

Daisuke spoke, "I don't plan on telling Miyuki-san I am her father. I fully believe that's for Hikari-san to decide if and when. Since I just found out about her today, it would be selfish of me to want to be part of her life after not being there for her. That said, I am 100% going to pay for the years I missed out, the times she was pregnant and the future."

Taichi stared, "yeah, what you said, but as her big brother." He frowned looking down, "why? Why did you…" he gripped his knees, "you and her…"

Daisuke looked over, "I don't know if I can answer that with anything that would make sense of why I wasn't here."

Taichi shrugged, "isn't that why you left? You just wanted to nail her and leave? At least you running away from getting her pregnant would make more sense."

"I didn't leave. I didn't want to leave her."

"Then what!?" Taichi hit the steering wheel. Glaring with venom in his eyes and then his voice, "what is it? Why did you have sex with her? Why was my sister knocked up?"

Daisuke gritted his teeth, his eyes getting slightly watery. "What am I going to say to you that will make it better, huh? What can I say? I'll get punched if I tell you… maybe that's what I deserve… look, I can't say it yet. I wish I could, but I can't say why I wasn't around. But I get why you hate me or don't like me for it. The moment I saw Miyuki-san, I realized there was nothing I could do to repair the damage I had done. But I cannot tell you why me and her… had sex. B-Because she ended up having a child and I wasn't here, there's nothing I can say to make it look good. I wanted to hold her! Okay!? I want to have her. I wanted to just… just be with her! I had sex with her because I wanted to feel good and make her feel good." And suddenly Daisuke was hit in the face. His face turned from it as he hit the window slightly.

Taichi was screaming, "Dammit!" He hit the wheel, "why are you right!?"

Daisuke tasted blood in his mouth, "I don't plan on getting back with her… I know she doesn't want me. I promise I will just pay child support and back off."

Taichi leaning on the wheel, he looked down, "if you hurt Miyuki-san and my sister, I won't hesitate to hurt you. Got that?"

Daisuke looked down and nodded, "I will let you hurt me if I cross that line. You don't trust me, but I promise with my life I won't hurt either of them."

Taichi looked at the hand that punched Daisuke. He gripped the wheel before letting it go and opening the door. "Come on."

Daisuke looked over and sighed in sadness. He still tasted blood, but told himself how he deserved it. He got out of the vehicle. Closing the door and turning to the apartment before getting punched in the face. He fell to the ground and coughed the bit of blood the punch caused.

Takeru rubbed the fist he punched Daisuke with and adjusted his coat. "There… Now I can look at you. Good to see you," Takeru marched off. Annia walked with him with her arms crossed. Iori and Hina helping Daisuke who was getting up.