-Destiny-
There is something about hospitals that unnerves me. The cleanliness of the place, the prayers being said in the chapel, the cries of a relative who lost their loved one and the joy of the new parents who welcomes their newborn child into the world. The beeping sounds of the monitors has been my companion for 3 days now. Since I've arrived back, my dad has been sleeping. The doctor said he'll be sleeping most of his time now and I've stayed by his side waiting for him to wake up but also readying myself if he never opens his eyes again. I watch my dad breathe in and out shallowly, his chest rising and falling in a normal pace. I lay my head on the side of the bed and before I know it, I'm deep in my sleep.
"Destiny. Wake up." I hear a frail voice within my dream and notice someone is shaking me lightly. I open my eyes and look up to see my dad smiling at me as he withdraws his hand from my shoulder. "When have you gotten back?" He asks as I sit straighter.
"Hey dad." I smile at him. "3 days ago." I tell him and he nods."Why didn't you tell me?" I ask him, my tears slowly brimming on the corner of my eyes. "Why did you stop the medication and not tell me about it?" He smiles sadly at me.
"I'm sorry. I know I should have told you." He says tilting his head to the side. "I just didn't want you to worry about me. You're still so young and full of life. I don't want you to waste it watching over your old man." He explains as my tears flow down my cheeks.
"That's not fair dad. Of course I'm going to look after you. You're my father." I tell him wiping the tears away. "It's not fair for you to decide on stopping the medication without telling me."
"I know. I just didn't want you to come rushing back home. I wanted you to spend time with your mother and brother." He tells me taking hold of my hand. "How was your vacation?" My dad is the master of subject change. "Did you enjoy yourself?"
"Unexpectedly I did." I tell him accepting his wish to change the subject to a lighter one. "California has changed since the last time I went there. More people and more stores." I tell him and he listens.
"Did you meet with Ken? He called me asking if you were really in California." He asks watching me intently.
"Yeah I did. He called me early in the morning and we hang out. He was busy helping his dad though so I didn't get to be stuck with him for the entire vacation." My dad laughs.
"He's a good boy." He admits smiling. "How's your mom and Jeff?" I look down at my hands thinking of what to say to him before looking back.
"They're both okay. Well you know that mom and I did have a mother-daughter bonding time. And you were right dad, she's the most beautiful bride anyone has seen, I just wished you were the one standing at the end of the aisle." I confess to him which he smiles sadly.
"Destiny, I did once stand at the end of the aisle watching your mom walk towards me." He says probably recalling his wedding day. "How are you and Jeff? I was hoping you had set aside your differences." I grimace at that getting an eyebrow raised from him.
"Jeff and I might have left on a sour note." I pause before explaining. "He accused me of stealing his girlfriend. He found out about his real identity and then he hated me for leaving the wedding during the reception." Dad sighs after I explain to him what has happened.
"And did you steal his girlfriend?" He asks making me shake my head no quickly. "Why do I sense that you might have left something in California." This is more of a statement than a question. I smile sadly as I remember her blue eyes and auburn hair.
"I might have left my heart there." I tell him honestly and I see my dad's brown eyes shine with curiosity.
"Did you fall in love with Jeff's girlfriend?" He asks and I can't help but chuckle.
"No dad. But I am in love with a blue eyed, auburn haired girl." I say to him, smiling happily now when her face pops into my mind. "God she's just perfect. Beautiful on the inside, gorgeous on the outside."
"My oh my. Looks like my little girl has been love struck." Dad says smiling at me. "And who is this girl?"
"Her name's Sam. She just barged into my life and I don't think she'll ever leave. I don't want her to." I say and dad just grins at me.
"I'm happy for you baby girl." Dad says to me and I squeeze his hand. "I want you to promise me one thing." He connects his eyes with mine. "Promise me you will live your life after I die. Don't get stuck here just because of the memories we have here. Go to places. Find that girl and live." All I could do is nod. "Good. This whole being confined in a hospital bed makes me tired." He closes his eyes and not long after he's fast asleep. I hate to think of the life I have to live after my dad pass away but it was inevitable now.
Weeks has passed and dad have decided he has enough of the hospital environment. It was easy to convince his doctor to get him home after complying to his wish for him to spend his last remaining days at home. The atmosphere at home has remained the same. Dad would read his papers on his chair while I do what I normally do. I haven't heard from Sam since the day I came back to Japan. I miss her terribly but my attention has been focused lately on my dad and spending the days with him. It sucks. Waiting for death to come claim my dad's life.
"Excuse me." I turn around and so did dad to find Kasuke entering the room. "There are visitors outside." He informs us. Dad and I exchange looks before I stand up and follow Kasuke to the lobby of the house.
"Who are they?" I ask the moment we're far from dad's location.
"Your mom and your brother." He says as we reach the lobby while I stop dead in my tracks.
"Mom?" I couldn't help but blurt out. This couldn't be real. There's no way my mom, Pierre, Jeff and Kate are here right now.
"May I see him?" She asks.
"Who is it Destiny?" Dad asks. I stay silent as I let my mom go around until she is face to face with dad. "Clarice." The tone in his voice was of surprise and of adoration even after all the years he hasn't seen her. "I would stand up but I'm afraid I don't have the same strength as I had since the first time we met."
"You don't have to stand." Mom sits and it was our cue to leave them alone.
I never imagined seeing Jeff here, sitting across from me at the place I call home. Since the divorce, not once did he come and visit so seeing him here now is still surreal.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Jeff asks, those dark brown orbs boring into mine. "Why didn't you tell us he has cancer?"
"He didn't want me to." I tell him. "When dad found out about the cancer, he made me a promise. Not to tell you or mom about it." I hold back the tears threatening to spill from my eyes.
"But why?" He asks, tears running down his cheek.
"Because I didn't want you to love me out of pity." Dad's voice breaks out making us look in that direction. "You've grown so much since the last time Jeff." With mom's aid, he slowly walks to us. "You must be Pierre? Thank you for making Clarice happy." He says shaking Pierre's hand before he sits on his chair.
"Dad." Jeff breaths out, lunging forward and engulfing dad in a hug. "I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry." He is sobbing now as dad hugs him back, comforting him.
"Shhhhhh. It's alright Jeff. No need to apologize." Dad says, Jeff pulls back wiping his tears away. "And you must be Kate?" Dad eyes finds Kate who stands up.
"I hope you don't mind me tagging along Mr Fukui." She says which dad waves off.
"Call me Takashi." He says and Kate just nods before sitting back down. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I just didn't want you to stay with me just because I have cancer. I didn't mean to hide anything from you. Not even your true identity." He explains to Jeff. "I'm just glad you came over. I don't want to leave this life without mending our relationship as father and son."
-Clarice-
A few days ago...
My mobile lights up with an unknown foreign number. A part of me hoped that it was Destiny ready to explain as to why she rushed home during my wedding night. I couldn't help but feel hurt with how my own daughter couldn't even stay longer with me but I know her enough to know she does things with reason. Taking a deep breath, I placed the phone against my ear.
"Hello?" I say and with bated breath wait for a reply on the other side.
"Hello. Is this Clarice Clarkson?" A deep man's voice says on the other line and my heart drops to the pit of my stomach.
"Yes. This is she. May I know who this is?"
"This is doctor Miyamoto. I've been attending to your ex-husband, Takashi, for 13 years now. I'm afraid I have bad news about Takashi." My heart quickens at his words. "He only has at least a week or two to live. I would advise for you to at least visit him at his home here in Japan. His wish is to see you before he passes away."
Present Day...
It is still hard to believe the once strong man I knew is now weak and frail. Takashi always did have a pale complexion but this time, the paleness in his skin is not normal. Like he has been hidden from the sun for all the years he has fought this illness. His once full of life brown eyes have become dull but they still have their spark. I watch him breath shallowly, chest rising and falling in an irregular pattern.
"Clarice, can I ask you one thing?" His voice that held so much life before has now become weak.
"Anything." I smile to him. The smile that made my heart pick up its rhythm have remained the same.
"Can I have one last dance with you?" He stretches his hand out to me which I take willingly. "You don't mind me getting one last dance, do you?" The question is directed at Pierre who nods his permission. "Thank you." Takashi leads us to the center of the room. In the corner of my eye, I can see Destiny's tense form.
"Dad." She says but Takashi waves her off before telling her to play the music. When the very first note of the song plays, I look at him in his eyes.
"I thought it would be fitting to play the song we danced to on our wedding day." He slowly but surely leads the dance. This moment made me think back to our wedding day. That day, there were no other people around us, just him and I dancing to our song. As I look at his brown eyes, I feel like we were young again and realized that this could be the very last time I would look into those warm brown eyes. "Hey don't cry." He wipes the tears that escaped my eyes.
"I'm so sorry." I tell him which he smiles to. "I'm so sorry. I should've been there for you." I rest my head against his shoulder as I let my tears fall freely.
"You're here now." He says. The song is almost at it's end. "You will always be my destiny Clarice." He whispers. "And I'm happy that I got the chance to be with you, marry you and have wonderful children with you even if Jeff isn't biologically ours." I pull away to look at him. "I've lived my life with no regrets. Seeing you happy, Jeff happy and Destiny happy, is all I could ask for." He kisses my forehead. He always does this, even back then when we were in our younger years. I touch his cheek and memorize his features. He is still as handsome as the first time I met him despite the look of weakness.
"I'm happy I met you and spent part of my life with you with our children." I tell him. Yes this could be the last time I would see those brown eyes of his but I know I would see them again in the afterlife.
-Sam-
I look down at the address before looking back to the house. I was sure this is the right house but why do I second guess myself?
"Hello young lady. May I help you?" A voice says beside me and I jump before turning to its direction. I see a man on a wheelchair and he looks familiar.
"Uhhh...hi. Is this.." I look down at my phone before looking back at the man. "Is this Takashi Fukui's house?" I ask him and he smiles at me. That smile seemed familiar to me as well.
"Why yes. This is the right house." He answers me before studying me fora second. "You must be Sam?" He concludes making me wonder how he knew my name. "Why don't you come in? It's a bit cold out here." He gestures as his nurse opens the door. I watch as he is roll in to the house before following suit. He says something in Japanese to his attendant before the nurse takes his leave. "I'm afraid Destiny is still out with Clarice. They'll be back later this evening." He leads us to the living room and gesture for me to take a seat on the couch. "I'm sorry for this late introduction but I'm Takashi Fukui, Destiny's dad." He smiles and that's when it hits me. They have the same smile.
"Oh I'm so sorry Mr Fukui. I'm Sam Baltimore." I tell him and he laughs.
"Just Takashi." He informs me. "I know about you Sam. Destiny has talked about you quite fondly." He tells me making me blush. "I'm happy she found someone while she was in California." I can see the sincerity in his eyes. "I was afraid she'd be too afraid to love after seeing how mine and her mother's relationship ended." His smile becomes sad before brightening up. "Please take good care of her. She's my most beloved treasure."
"I will." I give him my word. He nods his gratitude.
"Dad we're back." Destiny's voice rings out to the entire house. "I hope you didn't go running off alone." She comes up to where we are to stop in her tracks. Her cheeks are pink from the cold outside, her blue eyes seeming to gleam through the lights.
"Welcome back. We have a guest." Her dad says as I stand up while Destiny walks up to me. "I'm very sure she came all over here to see you."
"We'll leave you two alone." Clarice's voice gets me to look away from those sapphires to watch her take her ex-husband to another room, leaving just me and Destiny.
"Hi." Destiny says almost breathlessly. "What are you doing here?"
"Hi." I say back to her just as breathlessly. "I couldn't wait to see you. I just...I want you to know that I'm here for you." I tell her resting my forehead against her. "I miss you."
"I love you." She answers back making a smile break through my face.
"I love you more." I say back to her.
-Destiny-
The days have blurred out. Not long after Sam has arrived, dad has been bed-ridden. His condition has gotten worse and doctor Miyamoto has attended to him. He told us to brace ourselves for dad won't last long.
"Destiny." Dad's voice has gotten even weaker now as he reaches his hand to mine.
"Yes dad? I'm here." I grip his hand gently. This is the hand that held mine through everything.
"Remember your promise." His eyes lock into mine before looking at Sam. "When you find someone you love, don't let them go. Cause we only ever find our true love once." His eyes drifts to mom before going back to mine.
"I promise." I tell him as my eyes locks with Sam's blue-gray ones.
"Good." He turns his attention to Jeff who was on the other side of the bed. "Jeff. I may not be your real father but not once did I ever loved you any less than I have love Destiny. You are my son whether you have my blood running through your veins or not. I'm proud of you. I want you and Destiny to love each other, protect one another because you are siblings no matter what." He says as Jeff cries. "One day soon, you'll find the right woman for you and will have a family with her. I love you son." He adds patting Jeff's arm.
"I love you too dad." Jeff chokes out. I watch as dad takes in a deep breath before looking at mom with Pierre standing beside her. "Pierre, take care of them for me. They can be crazy at times but they are the best people you can find." He tells the man who gives him his promise. "Clarice." Mom immediately takes his hand. "I have love and will always love you." He simply states.
"And I will always love you." Mom replies. Dad gives her that smile that I have seen at the very mention of mom's name. His eyes roam the room once more.
"I need to rest now. I'm tired." He says to us. Others might have seen it as him just telling us that he needs to sleep but all of us in the room knows that sleep will be for all eternity.
"I love you dad." I tell him.
"I love you more my sweet daughter." He replies before his brown eyes slowly disappears from our sight as his eyelids shut close. My tears run freely down my cheeks as I watch my dad's chest slowly take in oxygen before it stops. I knew then he has gone to his eternal sleep, it was inevitable but the pain in my chest as I look at his lifeless body is strong. Jeff sobs, turning to Kate as she comforts him. Mom cries on dad's chest, holding him as if to feel him alive again. I turn my head to Sam who is ready to comfort me in this hard time.
"Goodbye dad." I whisper as the room hold no sound other than the cries of the ones left behind.
A/N: For the song that Takashi and Clarice danced to, it's Destiny by Jim Brickman.