Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Dark Wings, White Wings ❯ To Forgive and Remember ( Chapter 8 )

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. Only the story's mine.

AN: The information on the updates of my stories will be posted in my bio including the date the next chapter will be out. Please read and enjoy this. . .if you can. ^-^

***

Chapter 8: To Forgive and Remember

Love does not always find a way: but gives

A promise that it cannot be destroyed.

It's even killed and buried: yet it lives

In every heart in which it's crucified.

Love is sheer joy. But has to suffer you

And me. It can't avoid its Calvary.

Silent. Unseen. Transparent, pure and true,

Rich in its own reward of poverty.

When we can find us one to whom to turn,

On nothing but on it can we rely

To consume us, or else we can but burn

In just the fire we persecute it by.

Love cannot help but always wish all well.

Its denial is the essence of hell.

The three days passed in a blur. There was much celebration and rejoicing in the kingdom of Heaven. It came as a surprise yet people were glad for a full day of feasting and fun. The heavy rain outside didn't affect their mood any longer.

The day that the announcement was made, the King commanded the cooks for a grand feast and for the decoration of the entire palace. Dressmakers and Hairdressers were summoned for the Princess and also for Daisuke. The two spent an entire day in their rooms, attended by personal helpers and fussed over by the dressmakers, for wedding garments must be made.

Measurements were taken and outlines of the clothing were discussed. Hikary made no effort to speak with any and only answered when she was asked a question though those were short and precise answers. She sat still for five hours while they experimented with her hair, never moving. Although the helpers found this quite odd, they didn't say anything for it made their job much easier. The entire time, the girl stared into the huge mirror in front of her that adorned one part of the wall.

She never smiled.

They tried many different things with her hair and showed her many kinds of laces and jewels. To all of these Hikary only nodded her head. The dressmakers could only give each other questioning looks and didn't give any comment. It was clear that the Princess didn't care how she appeared at her wedding. She gave no voice to her thoughts nor any suggestions and she left all the decisions to whoever was in charge. And when everything was done and decided except for the colour of the dress, Hikary was asked to choose.

To that she answered, "Black."

After a moment of hesitation, the dressmaker replied.

"But Your Highness, it is your wedding day! And black is such a. . .a dark colour for such a bright event. It will not be good luck. Pray, choose another colour."

Hikary was silent. The dressmaker, seen that the girl wasn't about to reply anytime soon, continued.

"How about pink or white, your favourite colour? Or would you like. . ."

"White would be fine." Hikary answered. And that was all she said. There was no argument and Hikary didn't press further.

***

Plop.

Another stone landed in the water.

Plop.

He was here again. Now that he already came once, he found it easier to visit this place. He still loved it, now more than ever. Yet he also hated it. It was like this kind of candy, sweet and sour at the same time.

Plop.

Around him, the rain droned on. He was dry though. The leaves above him protected him from the droplets of rain. And there was a nice flat rock where he could sit and think.

Plop.

Three days ago, he wasn't anything like this and yet three days ago was what made him come here. Today would be the wedding and he wondered what she was doing now. Would she be dancing with her new husband? Or maybe it was in the middle of the ceremony.

He let his imagination run. She would be clad in white silk in a long flowing gown that exposed her shoulders. And her hair would be the way he remembered it except there would be flowers in them. The sleeve would have to be short to show off her arms. And in her hands there would be a bouquet of flowers and whenever she moved, the light would shimmer in her dress and make her look as if she was floating. Her eyes would reflect the light and a gentle laugh bubbling around her mouth.

He smiled to himself. Three days ago, he wouldn't have dared to this. Yet now, it was easy for him to conjure that vivid picture in his mind. He wouldn't forget and he didn't need to forget.

Plop.

He should move on but not forget. This time he'll move on with the memories. The sour and sweet memories.

He smiled again.

He loved her.

Plop.

That's all that matters.

Takeru thought.

The rain began to stop as a few rays of sunlight shone through the clouds.

***

Daisuke could barely hold still while getting dressed. Finally the day he'd been dreaming of since he was a child was finally here! Taking one last look into the mirror, he rushed out of his room.

"Whoa! Slow down Daisuke!" Taichi called out as he barely avoided from bumping into the younger boy.

"Sorry Taichi. Is Hikary-chan ready yet?" Daisuke asked.

Taichi laughed. The boy before him didn't seem much like someone who was about to get married. Daisuke acted more like a five-year-old, bobbing up and down.

"She should be but I think her maids said that she wanted to be alone for a few minutes."

"She seemed to be spending a lot of her time in her room doesn't she?" Daisuke asked, a little worried.

"Yeah." Taichi nodded. Then there was a pause. "Maybe you should go talk to her."

"But what would I say?"

"Hey, if you couldn't get her to cheer up then no one will. You're her best friend after all not to mention you're going to be her husband in a few hours. Go on!" With that, Taichi gave Daisuke a little push in the right direction.

Daisuke gave Taichi one last doubtful look before walking down toward Hikary's room.

Daisuke found Hikary in the exact same position as on the day that he proposed. Except this time, she was wearing her long white gown and looking like a goddess that was beyond Daisuke's definition of beautiful. For a moment he only stood and stared then he moved closer.

He opened his mouth to speak but quickly shut it again as he saw something slide down her cheek. A single teardrop hung at the edge of her jaw-line and then it dropped.

In that second, Daisuke knew what he had to do. And as if sensing that something was different, Hikary turned around.

"D-Daisuke," She raised a hand and quickly wiped her face.

Daisuke didn't say anything.

"I'm happy. I'm happy, that's why I'm crying. . ." Hikary explained.

"Are you really?" Daisuke asked.

"What do you mean?" Hikary looked puzzled.

"Are you really happy?" Daisuke asked again.

"Why wouldn't I be? I mean, I have my family, my friends and I have you. It's what I've always wanted. To get married to someone I like."

"What about the person you love?"

Suddenly, Hikary found it hard to keep staring into Daisuke's eyes which seemed to hold all that she was afraid of facing. Daisuke sat down beside her. He gently reached out and raised her chin.

"It's alright. I know you still love him so don't try to deny that. And don't try to cover it up by making yourself believe a lie. You don't have to. If you love him, then you'll be able to forgive him and keep on loving him. And I can see that your love is true, Hikary."

Slowly, Hikary raised her eyes and found that Daisuke was smiling at her even though the smile was mingled with a bit of sadness and she wondered how Daisuke had changed so much. He wasn't the hothead that she used to know. Instead, before her was a young man who was expressing his love to her. And she wondered why she didn't notice it before, wondered why she could have hurt him by her own foolishness. But it was true, she had fallen in love with another and even though she loved Daisuke, it wasn't the same.

"I'm sorry." She whispered over and over. Daisuke gently held her.

"It's alright," He said again. "Maybe we were never meant to be together like that. But I don't think we would have been happy if we married anyway. I wouldn't have wanted you to stay in your room all day staring out the window. And now I know that being happy isn't having you as my wife but seeing you smile and laugh. That's what I truly want. If you're happy then in turn it makes me happy. Maybe that's why we were only meant to be best friends. . ."

Daisuke didn't know what to say anymore. He couldn't even remember what he had just said. Then Hikary looked up. And Daisuke found joy enter his heart again for she was smiling. The first true smile that warmed Daisuke and he couldn't help but smile back.

"Thank you." It was all Hikary said but Daisuke felt the emotion behind those words.

***

It was a few minutes later that Daisuke announced the change of events to the King and Taichi.

"Are you sure this is what you wanted? You could have had her." Taichi said.

"I could have couldn't I? But I don't think I want that anymore. I think I learned something much more important and it's strange, I don't feel jealous or regretful or what I did."

"You are a very kind and brave man, Daisuke." The King replied.

***

Hikary had told Daisuke that she had to do something. And now, after changing into her normal clothing, she went outside. The rain was slacking and was only drizzling at the moment and the clouds were moving away from the sun.

She hurried on toward her destination still with a small smile on her face. A feeling that she hadn't felt for what seemed like a long time was back again as she thought over what Daisuke had said.

He was right, love wasn't something to throw away quickly. Love was a feeling that should be treasured and remembered because if you try to cover or deny it, then you'll be fighting a losing battle against your own desire.

And that's all that matters.

To forgive, to remember. . .and to love.

And as Hikary crossed the gate between Heaven and Earth to the place that her heart bid her to go, she was filled with love.

And as her feet touched the wet grass and as she breathed in the clear and refreshing air, she realized that she was happy.

The lake lay before her eyes transparent and undisturbed.

And as the rainbow appeared in the sky and as a young boy with blond hair and blue eyes turned to stare at her and as their eyes met, Hikary thought. . .

Maybe there was something more.

***To Be Continued. . .***

AN: The sonnet at the beginning of the story is not mine. I found it in a book called `Sonnets' by R.D. Laing. Any questions or suggestions are very welcome. Just put them in the reviews or send me an email and I'll answer them.