Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Harsh Memories ❯ . Fresh tears ( Chapter 16 )

A/N: New Japanese word: Koibito = Lover (male or female)

Takeru Takaishi was extremely happy today. He had been only one night in the absence of Iori's company but to Takeru it had seemed like an eternity. Takeru could hardly wait for the "date" he and Iori had scheduled. Takeru nearly skipped his way up the one flight of stairs that separated the two boys' apartments. He knocked rather loudly on their front door, eagerly awaiting his Koibito's arrival.

Takeru nearly fainted when Iori answered the door. Takeru had not been around when Iori's father had died and so he had never seen Iori like this. Iori had black rings around his eyes indicating he hadn't slept in a long while. His eyes where red and puffy as well. Iori trembled softly as he saw Takeru standing outside his doorway. Iori rushed forward, attempting to burrow himself into his koibito.

Takeru couldn't understand the changes that Iori had gone through. Only yesterday the younger boy was sneaking kisses before his O-Kaa-san noticed. Now Iori seemed to be on the verge of a nervous break down. Finally after what seemed like an hour to Takeru, Iori managed to calm himself down. "Iori-kun, what happened to you? Yesterday you looked so much better. Did something happen at home?" Takeru changed to a soft whisper suddenly, "Did your O-Kaa-san find out about us? Did she hurt you Iori-kun? " Iori just managed to shake his head before once again breaking into tears.

After another ten minutes of holding his koibito Takeru finally managed to calm Iori down. He gently pulled Iori down into a sitting position in the hallway and began stroking the younger child's brown hair. Takeru nuzzled the smaller boy gently trying to get him to relax enough to talk to him. Finally Iori began to speak in a quiet whisper. "Gomen Takeru-kun. I... I just can't really believe what happened. I know he was weak... b, but he shouldn't have died, ne? I just cant believe that O-j, Jii-chan, is dead." The smaller boy broke down once again as the words were dragged from his mouth.

Takeru suddenly understood exactly why his love had looked so bad. Almost everyone that knew the Hidas knew that Iori's O-Jii-san was a pivotal member of his family. The loss must have sent Iori into extremely painful memories (coincidently the original title of the series ^_^) of his O-Tou-san's death. Takeru hugged Iori to his chest and gently began stroking the younger boy's back trying to ensure Iori that he was still loved. Takeru leaned over the smaller form and planted a kiss on Iori's forehead.

(Okay, until I find out Hida, O-Kaa-san's *real* name I will go with my Nihongo Sensei's first name... Tsuneko) Hida, Tsuneko peeked out from behind the ajar door to see the two boys sitting in the hallway. She smiled softly as she thought about the fact that Iori still had friends that would help him in this trying time. She sighed softly as she thought about her (what the heck is father-in-law in Nihongo? oh well) Father-in-law. She still hadn't let it fully sink in that she would no longer be buying his favorite brand of prune-juice or that she would no longer be privileged to her son and father-in-law's heated discussion of Kendo. She mentally worked over the dates once again in her mind. She knew that the ceremony for his ashes would be next week followed by a reception (Japanese funerals follow the Buddhist principal while weddings follow the Shinto rituals. This means that you would hold a small somber service for the ashes {Buddhists believe in cremation} of the fallen. Each person carries this out in attendance coming forward to the ashes and bowing deeply. )

Takeru began to slowly work Iori back into a standing position as he helped the younger boy back into his apartment. Takeru smiled apologetically towards Tsuneko-san as he passed her. Iori moved forward and with Takeru's help finally made it to the couch before collapsing once again. Takeru moved over to Iori's side and slowly leaned Iori down until the smaller boy was resting prone on the couch. Takeru maneuvered Iori's head into his lap as he absent-mindedly began to stroke the child's hair. "I guess this means our little trip is canceled Iori-kun?"

"Gomen Takeru-kun but... I don't really think I could take going to the mall today. Can you forgive me Takeru-kun?"

"Sure Iori. It's just a trip to the mall, nothing really big," Takeru leaned back as Iori

snuggled deeper into the older boy.

---------(Two hours later)---------

Takeru placed Iori gently onto his bed. Immediately Upamon hopped onto the small boy's bed and proceeded to jump onto Iori's chest. The small Digimon ensured that he didn't awaken the boy before looking up at Takeru questioningly. T.K. only shook his head as he flipped the light switch off and left Iori to his nap. Waving a quick goodbye to Hida O-Kaa-san, Takeru exited the apartment. He walked a few doors down until he arrived at the Inoue apartment.

Takeru knocked once before the door was ripped open revealing Inoue Miyako's worried face. "Oh, Takeru-chan. I was expecting Iori-kun but he still hasn't come over yet. I thought he would be over as soon as he got home but I haven't seen anyone from their apartment lately."

"That means you don't know what happened there?"

At Miyako's apparent confusion, Takeru continued onwards. "Well, you see, Iori's O-Jii-chan died a few days ago. Iori couldn't really tell me when since he could hardly say more than a few words at a time and I didn't want to put any more pressure on him." As Takeru finished he suddenly found himself drawn into a tight hug by the now crying Miyako.

"Takeru-kun I didn't know it was so bad! I know how close you two are now since Iori told me how he felt a few days before he left the hospital. He phoned me before you woke up yesterday since I wanted him to contact me as soon as he had told you so that I would know if you were okay. "

Miyako finally released Takeru as he began to break down and cry. Miyako managed to support Takeru's weight as she led him over towards her families couch. After placing him onto the couch she went in search of some tissues. She had a feeling she would need quite a few.

A/N: well that took a lot of strength to write. I personally hate killing any character even if it isn't a main character. Anyways please check my bio for the contest I posted the other day.

Yoshiki.