Daisuke coughed a bit of blood into the snow coated ground. He wiped his mouth and stared at his hand before shaking, "damn it…"

The crunch of snow could be heard beside him, Iori stood there with his hand. Daisuke looked over and shook his head, "I'm not worth it–."

Iori grabbed his arm and lifted him up, "You won't get anywhere on the ground."

Daisuke looked at Iori with a defeated look. Both his cheeks red, he dusted the snow off of him.

Iori took a step back, looking down, "you're not gonna ask 'why didn't you tell me?'"

Daisuke put his hands in his jacket. "I know why you didn't tell me. I know why everyone else didn't tell me. I… I just didn't know…"

Iori crossed his arms, "and if you did?"

Daisuke looked up at the snowy sky. "I would have gone to see her. But I… I am just a piece of shit."

"You're not wrong," A different voice spoke up. It was Yamato with Jun behind him. "But you're not a piece of shit for not knowing."

Jun walked over, "Takeru-san must have put his back into that punch."

Daisuke nodded, "I think Taichi would have to if we weren't sitting down."

Jun smirked, "trust me, he got his due a while back. Do you want to go home? I mean I know you are here and all, but… I don't want my younger brother to feel uncomfortable."

Daisuke shook his head, "if I leave now. I may just make things worse."

Jun pat his shoulder, "Daisuke-san, I can see in your eyes this pain, but don't make it worse."

Daisuke swung his arms to a shrug. "But didn't I make it worse for Hikari-san…" he put his hand on his chest, "she… she was in high school. She–."

"Dropped out," Yamato came over, putting his hand on Daisuke's other shoulder. "She left high school early. She worked for most of her pregnancy and still works today. But stop acting like she's in a gutter. Look, you can feel guilty for not being there with her through this, but she's not helpless. She did a lot on her own. Miyuki-san… did she look neglected? Did she look abused? Did she look like she was miserable?"

Daisuke shook his head.

Yamato chuckled, "Hikari-san did that. Don't think she's helpless. She's very strong-willed."

Daisuke took a deep breath, "cute too."

"Hm?" Everyone looked at him.

Daisuke looked at the apartment, "okay, I think I can face her now."

"Hikari-san?" Iori asked.

"Miyako-san."

"How was my mother able to have so many?" Miyako yelped out as she held Erina's hand.

Jyou came over with a small towel to wipe the sweat off of Miyako. "Hormones can be a reason…"

Miyako teared up in pain, "but what about the pain. How could she last this four times?"

Erina giggled, "different people have different responses. When I gave birth to Genki, it didn't hurt compared to what people told me…" Miyako yelled out in pain, "and what others experienced."

"I-I blame… you!" Miyako turned to Ken who came over with a small tub of warm water. "You did this on purpose. Because I got drunk on that one date back in high school. You never forgave me! And now I am experiencing this pain because of you."

Ken put the tub of warm water down and walked over to his wife. He touched her face, "my apologies…"

"D-Don't apologize," she replied cutely, "I love you forever…" then she returned to take deep painful breaths.

Karen gazed at Miyako, "so that's what I'm gonna experience…"

Koushiro groaned when typing into his computer. "Has the baby started crowning?" He asked.

"No," Mimi walked over and smacked his head. "You can help out. Makino-san is helping out by getting some towels clean."

Makino sighed while holding a basket of them in the side. "It's okay Mimi-san, there's only so much we can do. We can only wait for the baby to be born." And a yelp from Miyako. "Hopefully soon…"

Miyako took a deep breath, "you know… I think I'm starting to feel better. I feel at peace for some reason…"

"Auntie Miyako-san looks fat!" Miyuki came in through the door happily.

"Oh great! The pain is back!"

Miyuki ran over, "Auntie Miyako-san, is it going to be a boy or a girl? I hope it's a girl!"

"Honey," Hikari walked over and pat Miyuki's head. "I told you that Miyako-san is going to need some space. Be considerate."

Miyuki nodded, "but I can't wait. I was so sad when Genki-kun came out as a boy. I want another girl, Chosen Children Child!"

"There has to be a better way to say that," Ken sighed.

The front door creaked open, "Oh," Miyako felt the chill breeze, "that feels nice."

"Are you alright?" Annia came jogging up to Miyako. She rubbed Miyako's hand that was holding Mimi's.

"I could be better," she huffed before glancing at Takeru, rubbing his fist. "What happened to you?"

Sora and Taichi both came in and sighed.

Takeru glanced over at Hikari, "I slipped in the snow and landed on my fist."

Taichi walked over, "technically, I did too."

Miyuki giggled, "so foolish." Hikari glaring at her daughter over that comment.

Takeru walked beside Hikari, "I know you know, but are you sure you want him… around?"

Hikari looked over at her daughter, grabbed Takeru's arm and led him to the kitchen, "of course I don't want him around, but what am I supposed to do."

"Reject him from ever being around you."

Hikari crossed her arms and turned around, "I know, but he needs to pay child support. So get the money he owes and move on."

Takeru put his hand on her shoulder, "you never once talked about him after giving birth to Miyuki-san. I always wondered…" he leaned his head, "did you truly ever get over him?'

Hikari bit her lower lip angrily, "no, because I wanted to know why. Why did he do what he did then left…" she looked down, "I don't want to be with him. I just wanted an answer and he couldn't even give me that." Takeru was about to speak before Hikari continued, "but then he gave me this look… of pure regret and pain. Miyuki gave me that look when she broke my childhood whistle accidentally, but it felt much more… for a second. Just a second, I wanted to hold him and tell him 'it's alright'… I forgot… I forgot how easy it was to be in love with him."

Takeru rubbed her shoulder and sighed, "but you can't love him."

Hikari looked over, "would you fall in love with Annia-san if you were in my shoes again?"

Takeru paused and shrugged. "I can't get pregnant nor do I have the organs for it. But… falling in love again with her after hurting me… maybe… with time."

Hikari turned around causing Takeru to let go, "I don't want to give him another chance…"

Takeru finally looked her in the eye, "then don't. Simply don't. Let him earn it, but don't give it."

Hikari gave a pained look, "does he deserve it?"

Takeru leaned on the counter, "you'll find out that answer. Right now, if he doesn't deserve it. You don't give it. When he does… you should do what you can. You're not a teenager in love and pregnant anymore. You're a mom who accomplished a lot on her own."

Hikari nodded, "right."

She looked back at Miyuki who was carrying towels to help out as much as she could. "Miyuki loves him already."

Takeru paused before smirking, "yeah, she's his spitting image when it comes to personality. I can say that without getting stabbed."

Hikari gave a few snorts before giggling. But that stopped when the front door opened. And he was there, Daisuke Motomiya.

He first looked down before facing up, smiling sadly in the process at everyone around. Silence, everyone staring at him before turning to look at different people, mostly at Hikari. Hikari closed her eyes and took a deep breath before marching towards him.

Takeru tried to reach for her, but she was already too far for that.

She arrived in front of Daisuke with Jun almost watching over him. "Your cheek…"

Daisuke frowned, "I fell in the snow and landed on my cheek."

Miyuki laughed in the background, "ha! That sounds funny."

Hikari pouted before nodding, "yeah, it does… come on…"

To everyone's shock, she grabbed his hand and guided him away from the group. Different reactions, mostly of surprise, but Miyako groaned out, "hey, I still need to fall on the snow."

"Hikari-san," Daisuke spoke softly before seeing her guide him into the bathroom. She closed the door once they both were inside.

She let go of his hand and went over to the cabinets. "Sit down, you're too tall to treat you standing up."

Daisuke nodded and sat down on the toilet. He sat there for a bit before glancing over at Hikari. He found his glance turned into a gaze.

Hikari found the ointment she was looking for. She turned and found herself staring at his eyes. Hikari and Daisuke turned red and turned their heads away. "Um…" Daisuke spoke up, "you don't have to treat my cheek…"

Hikari went to the cabinets near the sink and pulled out some swabs. "Quiet," she said, dipping the swabs into the ointment. She bent a bit to apply the swab to his cheek. "Does it hurt?"

"No," Daisuke stared blankly.

Hikari rolled her eyes, "does it hurt now?" She pushed the swab on his cheek.

"No," he replied once again.

Hikari licked the inside of her cheek, "my chest is bigger, huh?"

"Eh!?" Daisuke moved back, redder than before.

Hikari dipped the swab, "my chest. It has grown, right? I was practically a cutting board when you last saw me. Aren't you happy I have a bigger chest?"

Daisuke stuttered before landing on, "I don't know how I should answer. I feel like if I say yes, it makes it sound like I cared what size it was. But if I say no, it sounds disrespectful because you're proud of them. Both answers would make me sound like a pervert…"

There was a cold silence from both.

"Okay," Hikari reapplied the ointment on his cheek, "I just thought you were staring at them."

"I wasn't," Daisuke said nervously.

Hikari moved away, "if it gets too cold, tell me." She went to the cabinet, "met anyone while you were gone?"

Daisuke stared before facing down, "no…"

Hikari took a deep breath, "how should I believe that? How could I believe that you didn't knock up some other girl and you can come back here in hopes that it won't follow you?"

Daisuke replied, "I didn't know you were pregnant… I didn't know. I didn't…"

Hikari shrugged, "yeah, what? That you had a perfectly good reason to leave me to care for a child on my own? Or that you took my virginity and just left the next day? I trusted you." She turned angrily facing him. "I was so nervous that night about anything I did. You know how it felt… the nights I spent thinking what I did wrong? Why would you…?"

She stopped when he got up, looking down at her, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I know that won't make up for what I did. I'm not trying to… when I got back, all I ever wanted was for everyone to be okay. I thought you moved on. Found a partner and had a child with him. If I knew you ended up pregnant that night. I would have immediately found you."

"Why were you there by that bus stop?"

"I wanted to visit where I used to live. I didn't know I'd see you… I didn't…"

Hikari looked away, eyes watery, "okay, then what now? You didn't know you knocked me up, but here we are… what now?"

Daisuke looked in pure sadness before letting out, "I will tell you where I was. I will… just… just give me time."

Hikari glared, "time? I had 5 years of waiting for you to tell me to wait more…"

"Hikari-san," Daisuke clenched his fist. "I don't want anything in return. You don't have to like me or anything like that. And you don't have to get back with me. Even after I tell you why… look… I just can't right now. I'm not ready to tell you why I wasn't there after that night."

Hikari was huffing, fighting the urge to cry and scream.

"I won't tell Miyuki-san a thing. She will never know I'm her father. I won't do anything to hurt you… I know how that sounds after what you've been through. And you don't have to trust me, but I'll still follow through with it. I'll pay you whatever I have to. When I tell you and you want nothing to do with me. I won't beg or cry, I'll accept it. All I ask is for you to give me time and I'll tell you."

Hikari bit her tongue trying to not tear up. This was hurting her more than she thought. Not wanting to trust him while sounding honest. "Six million and eight thousand yen… that's how much you owe me for the four years I raised Miyuki. You have one week to get that amount. After that, you will pay me fifteen thousand yen on her birthday until she's eighteen. If you miss out on any payment, I am done with you."

"Don't cry…" Daisuke spoke.

Hikari's eyes widened realizing she was letting tears fall. "Shut up…" she wiped her eyes. "Here…" she pushed a bottle of pills into his chest. He grabbed onto it as she continued to wipe, "it's so you don't get an infection…"

She reached for the door, but was struggling to get a hold. Daisuke's hand grabbed the knob and opened the door for her.

They both looked at each other for a moment.

Hikari, still fluttering with tears, turned away and walked out. Daisuke closed the door as he sat back down on the toilet. He covered his eyes with his arm, "idiot… idiot…"

Hikari ran to the guest room nearby. Gasping and holding out her chest, she grit her teeth. She huffed a bit before beginning to sob.

Sora sighed, getting Hikari's attention, "you shouldn't be confronting him." She stepped in while closing the door behind her. "He hurt you once…"

Hikari sniffed, "he didn't hurt me this time. He… is good at that. He never hurt me when he's around, only when he's gone."

Sora leaned on Hikari's shoulder, "you're stronger than this, Hikari-san. You became a mom when everything was against you. You raised a loving daughter when things weren't letting you. So, why… why is Daisuke-san making you cry?"

Hikari shrugged, "I… I think it's because of that night. The night I wanted him to have me. That night… I spent days after wanting to recreate it. No, not the actions… we were immature and inexperienced, but the feeling. After we… finished… I fell into his arms and he held me. And it felt like I wasn't gonna be let go. And I remember my heart feeling connected… and I felt his. And he truly cared about me, but then the next day his actions there didn't match it…"

Sora looked to the side.

"But talking to him, seeing him… I feel it… the same guy who held me that night on my birthday. The guy who made sure I was comfortable… he says he has a reason for leaving… and I'm scared… because I'm starting to believe he does."

Sora looked back at the Chosen Child of Light, "why?"

Hikari took a deep breath, "because he's the father of my child."

Author's Note: I don't do much of these anymore. But I noticed an uptick of people reviewing, so firstly: thank you!

Secondly, explanation of why updates take a while. Life, but the biggest thing is I don't want to rush this. As I know how the Fanfic will go… I have had urges to get to the climax or turning point too quickly. Way too early… And it's not that I want the story to take too long. I hate it took nearly double digit chapters for Daisuke and Hikari to meet, that was just cause how much things I wanted to get done before the meat of things. I wish I had time to redo Starless because I regret how much words some chapters were cause I thought more words = better. Now I just want to put down what needs to be put down.

I hope the next chapter doesn't take a while, but I can't make any promises, sadly. But I'm always working on this fic!

Thank you again for reading!