Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or its characters! They are property of Toei Animation…you know…the same people who thought Sora and Matt would make a good couple! I also don't own any of the Mariah songs! I'm just an obsessive fan of hers with no life. I work to buy her albums because I know she needs the support!
Ishida "Matt" Yamato - 21 going on 22; Tachikawa Mimi - 21
Special thanks to XRazorXBladeXKissesX for beta reading!
The Emancipation of Mimi (I Want U, Too) Chapter 1: It's Like That, Y'all!
It was summer 2005 as Tachikawa Mimi sat in the first class section on a plane writing song lyrics to record for the next time she entered the recording studio. She was flying home back to Tokyo, Japan for a five-day concert of her sold-out shows.
The twenty-one-year-old was now a multi-platinum, international pop star. After winning her first Grammy for her debut album, her team of people felt it was wise to start a tour.
"What better place to kick-off your first tour than your birth city?" Her manager, and ex-boyfriend, Michael Williams asked her.
They severed their ties after Mimi's parents returned to New York…after she left her baby on his doorstep. Michael did not know about her tumultuous history, which was a great thing because Mimi planned to keep it a secret.
So did her parents.
Not that they would tell anyway; they're dead.
Tachikawa Keisuke and Satoe died two years prior in a car accident, leaving a then nineteen-year-old Mimi alone…and filthy, stinking, unbelievingly rich. She inherited her parent's $500 million (¥58.2 billion)—not including the royalties from her album and upcoming tour—fortune.
With her sudden wealth, Mimi immediately sought out a lawyer to have everything signed over to her son in case something happened to her. She knew money would not replace an absentee mother, but she felt it was the least she could do. Aside from the very few people that know her secret, her lawyer was the only other person who knew she had a three-year-old child.
With the legal documents secured, Mimi decided to pursue a career in modeling. It was just by a stroke of luck she was singing a song to herself at a casting call one day when one of the modeling scouts overhead her. He introduced Mimi to a well-known producer, and one Grammy and an international tour later, the rest was history.
Mimi seriously considered flying to Tokyo the first chance she got after her parents premature death, but fear got the best of her.
There was no way he would want to see her after what she did three years ago. He would not understand why she made the decision she made. He would not listen to her if she were to tell him she gave up her son out of love…and protection.
Mimi mentally cringed when her mind replayed the cruel words her parents said if she was going to keep her son. She did not want her son mistreated. She did not want her son growing up in an unloving and uncaring environment. As difficult as it was, Mimi knew dropping her son on his doorstep was the best decision. She knew deep in her heart, he would love, care, and provide for her son.
How her heart ached that day he called out her name after he discovered her son on his doorstep. All Mimi wanted to do was turn around and run into his arms. All she wanted was for them to be a family—just the three of them together, happily ever after.
However, she knew her parents would not allow it. It was one of the many disadvantages of growing up rich and privileged. Her family had a "reputation to maintain", and if any one of her parent's high-profile friends found out that "darling little Mimi" had premarital sex, got pregnant, and gave birth to an illegitimate child all before her eighteenth birthday, she would have indeed, "shamed the family's name".
Therefore, her parents threatened her. Mimi knew her parents would stop at nothing to make her should-have-been family's life miserable. They did have the money and power to bring their threats to life.
Mimi sacrificed her son, along with her heart, for her should-have-been family's happiness.
After her team pestered her—"I don't want to do an international tour!"—Mimi finally agreed.
This is a bad idea. A very bad idea, she told herself, what if I bump into him? Mimi knew the chances of her running into him were zero to none. Tokyo is indeed a large city, and now that she's a celebrity, she knew she'd have security guards protecting her at all times. She will be in Tokyo, not the small, "everybody-knows-your-name" suburb of Odaiba.
Still…what if… I'm not ready to face him again. He hates me I just know it! What if he bought a ticket to one of my shows? No…if he hates me—and I'm sure he does—he wouldn't do that. Still…
"Meems?"
Mimi gazed into the deep, azure eyes of her manager and male best friend. "Yes, Michael?"
"Is something wrong? You look kind of…distant…"
Shaking her head as she fingered her ice blue, silky tresses, Mimi replied, "No, Michael. I'm fine, really. I appreciate your concern."
"That's good to hear." He nodded slowly. "I bet you can't wait till you get back to Tokyo after being in America for so long. Hey, you know what; you might even see some of your friends, again!"
Mimi's stomach fell to her knees when her when her manager mentioned the "F" word. She did not contact anyone from the old gang purely from shame and guilt. She knew he told them what happened and she did not want to answer any "why" questions.
Mimi placed her notebook and pen inside the pouch in the seat in front of her. It's too late to turn back now the plane's landing. I'm home…
- - - - -
"Cleanup on Aisle 7", a male's voice was heard throughout the walls of Kakemono Supermarket.
Twenty-one-year-old Ishida Yamato, better known to his family and friends as "Matt", covered his face with his hand and groaned in frustration. "Damned high-schoolers; always fucking up shit," he muttered under his breath. He released the microphone to the loudspeaker, cursing the fact that it was summer vacation and he helped the store's manager hire a bunch of clumsy delinquents who couldn't even stock items without breaking something. "I'll be so glad when school starts!"
Matt was one of three assistant managers (the youngest as a matter of fact) who helped supervise the Kakemono Supermarket. After his first two years since he was hired, his supervisor was impressed with Matt's work ethnic and promoted him to Shift Leader, then to Assistant Manager.
That meant more benefits, more pay, and of course, more responsibilities. Speaking of which, Matt began to head towards Aisle 7, knowing no one else would volunteer to clean up whatever that spilled.
How did my life end up like this? Matt thought bitterly as he slowly began his journey. When I started working here, it was only supposed to be temporary. I never thought I would be working a dead-end supermarket job for three years! Even with my promotion, I hardly have enough to support MJ and myself. Thank goodness, I can use my employee discount whenever I go grocery shopping.
Sighing wistfully, Matt rounded the corner and scowled at the pile of magazines on the floor…and the bumbling teenaged fans that obviously caused it.
"Like ohmigod, she's so pretty!" a redhead sixteen-year-old squealed excitedly.
"Totally!" another blonde replied with equal excitement. "I can't wait to go to her show tomorrow night!"
Together the pair of best friends thumbed through one of the magazines, rapidly reading the article, then tossing it in the pile on the floor along with the others.
"Me either!" the redhead shouted joyously. "I still can't believe we bought the last two tickets to her concert!"
"Look!" the blonde pointed to another magazine. "We missed one!"
The teens made a beeline to snatch the magazine from the stand, but before they could move an inch, a voice stopped them in their tracks.
"What's going on here?" Matt yelled at the girls. He narrowed his eyes at the carelessly strewn magazines on the floor, and glared at the teens. "What are you girls, doing?"
"Uh…nothing…" the blonde slowly replied, cowering in fear along with her friend when they noticed Matt's irate expression.
Together they slowly backed away from the fuming assistant manager as he slowly advanced towards them. The redhead looked at the blonde and gave her a short nod.
Before Matt could reach them, the teens burst into a sprint, quickly running away from him.
Releasing an irritated sigh, Matt knelt down and picked each magazine one-by-one. He turned one over and glanced at the cover, and immediately tossed it to the floor.
There she was.
The woman after three years still haunted his dreams, reveries, and nearly everything else involving his subconscious.
Tachikawa Mimi still looked as beautiful as she did now, just as she did when her parents separated her away from him at graduation three years ago.
Obviously, she lost the baby fat, and Matt slowly licked his lips admiring her slim, curvy figure. On the magazine's cover, Mimi's long, pretty, ice blue hair was tousled, and she stood in a sexually suggestive pose blowing a kiss, wearing an ice blue, satin bikini, with matching satin ice blue pumps. The cover's headline read Pop Sensation Mimi Kisses and Tells All.
Matt wanted to snatch the magazine, along with every other copy and destroy them. Once upon a time, her body was solely for his viewing pleasure, only. He knew he couldn't take the magazines and risk losing his job, so he tucked one underneath his shirt to purchase before his shift ended.
"I swear Kami is punishing me," Matt groaned as he gathered the rest of the magazines from the floor. "She's known worldwide and has more money than God, and yet I'm dirt-poor, and stuck working my ass off in this hellhole. Life isn't fair."
"No boss, it's not. We do what we have to do in order to survive." Keitaro knelt down next to the sullen blond and helped him gather the magazines. "But you gotta admit," he said as he held up one of the copies of Pop magazine, "Mimi's pretty hot! Man, I wish I had the chance to have her for only one night! I bet her legs are just as long in person!"
Yeah, they are.
"Too bad I have to miss her concert, though." Keitaro sighed regretfully.
"Concert?" Matt looked at his employee and asked, "What concert?"
"Oh, you don't know?" Keitaro stared incredulously at the older man.
"No, I don't know." Matt rolled his eyes and sucked his teeth. "So tell me."
"Well, Mimi's going to headline a global tour. She's starting the tour for five days right here in Tokyo! It's the talk of the town! I'm surprised you didn't know about it."
So am I, Matt told himself. I've been so busy with MJ and work; I don't have time to keep up with pop culture. Mimi's going to be in town for five days…
"What day is her concert?" Matt interrogated the young, grocery worker.
"The first show starts tomorrow. But don't push your luck," Keitaro adjusted his glasses and explained himself, "because all five of her shows have been sold out for weeks."
Damn, well that nixes that idea. Standing up to full height, Matt looked down at the young worker and said, "Finish this up for me, will you? I have some business to take care of."
"Aye, aye, sir," Keitaro joked as he gave the assistant manager a mock salute.
"Whatever," Matt rolled his eyes, turned around and left the teen to make a few phone calls.
- - - - -
"DADDY!" three-year-old Ishida Yamato Jr. squealed the moment Matt entered his apartment. The very same apartment he wanted to share with Mimi. This was their daily routine. Every time Matt comes home from work, his son would greet him with a warm, opened-armed welcome.
"Hey, little man!" Matt grinned proudly as he picked up the chubby three-year-old. "You had fun with Aunt Sora today?"
"Uh, huh," the eager child nodded.
Matt sat his son on the sofa next to a glowing Sora. He stood back and admired MJ's appearance. It still boggled his mind to this day. Yamato Jr. looked exactly like him to a tee. He had the same sunshine blond hair and large, bright blue eyes that always bore intense curiosity. He did not look anything like Mimi.
Nevertheless, he did have her personality. Matt saw it in him already. MJ was extremely curious, very happy, and kind. Unlike most children, MJ wasn't afraid of meeting strangers, always greeting them with a large smile and open arms. Matt did not know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. So far, nothing bad happened so he'll consider it a good thing for now.
MJ also inherited his mother's expensive taste, much to Matt's dismay, and bank account.
Matt should have known because all of the signs were there since birth. When MJ was an infant, and whenever Matt would change his diapers (he only used the cheap Kakemono brand), he would find baby MJ with many-a-diaper rash. He tried using the Kakemono brand Diaper Rash Balm—that did not work. He also tried every other cheap remedy as well—none of those worked, either.
Swallowing his pride, Matt finally emptied his pockets and bought the more expensive brand diapers and balm—Huggies and Desitin.
Both worked like a charm!
As the months passed the only baby food MJ would consume was Gerber. The juice he prefers to drink—Juicy Juice. His favorite water is Aquafina. (He does not like the taste from the tap.) Now at the age of three, MJ could eat table foods and he's going through his "macaroni phase" now. The brands he enjoys are Kraft and Velveeta Shells 'n' Cheese.
Matt was the thankful MJ was not old enough to pick out his own clothes, yet. This boy is going to be the reason why I'm going to file for bankruptcy one day.
"Thanks again, Sora," Matt told her, clearing his head from his thoughts. Sora stood from the sofa and hugged her longtime friend. "I feel like I'm using you because you won't let me pay you for babysitting."
Sora waved her hand, ignoring Matt's statement. "I told you I refuse to accept any money from you. I'm more than happy to care for my nephew."
"Thanks again, Sora. You're the best."
"You're welcome, Matt."
"Uh…" Matt grabbed her hand and led her to the kitchen, away from MJ. Once he ensued their privacy, he faced her and asked, "Tell me, have you heard anything about Mimi returning to Tokyo for a concert?" he whispered.
"Oh, um," Sora looked away from Matt's piercing blue gaze to stare at the small, charred oven. "Yeah…I have… It's supposed to be for a few days, or something like that…"
Matt's expression became grim. "How long have you known about this?"
"Oh, um…" Sora still refused to look at the blond. "For maybe a month, now…"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Matt hollered hysterically.
"Because of what happened three years ago…I…didn't know how you'd react to the news. Plus," the redhead finally glanced at the angry father, "Mimi's homecoming is the only thing everyone around town is talking about. Everyone knew, so naturally I assumed you knew, too…"
"Well, I didn't find out until today," Matt told her.
"Oh," Sora nodded. "So, what are you planning to do about it?"
"I'm planning on seeing her, that's what." Matt stated flatly. "Come hell or high water, I'm determined to confront Mimi and demand some answers!"
Sora shook her head at the idea. "Matt, don't do anything that'll get you in trouble. Mimi is not the same Mimi, anymore. She's a celebrity for goodness sakes! You could get in serious trouble!"
"I'm not going to do anything drastic." Matt reassured his friend. "All I wanna know is why. Why…why did it have to end the way it did?"
Sora hugged her friend and rested her head on his shoulder. "We all wanna know, Matt. You weren't the only one suffering. I…I suffered, too. I'm supposed to be her best friend. I'll never understand why Mimi…"
"MIMI!" MJ yelled at the top of his small lungs from the kitchen doorway.
"Huh? What was that, little man?" Matt released himself from Sora's embrace to face his son.
"Mimi, Daddy, Mimi! She's on TV!" MJ quickly exited the kitchen to rush into the living room. Matt and Sora tailgated behind. MJ pointed to the television set and sure enough, Mimi stood amidst a sea of television cameras and reporters.
Matt reached for the remote and cranked up the volume on the set.
"Mimi, you've had such amazing success in America. Your debut album sold over one million copies, and you won your first Grammy. After everything that's happened to you overseas, how does it feel to finally be back at home?"
Sora placed her right hand over her heart just as Matt held his breath waiting for the pop idol's response.
"MIMI…MIMI…MIMI…!" her loyal fans chanted in the background.
They watched as Mimi tossed her hair over her shoulders, smiling at the cameras, looking very much like a successful pop diva and spoke.
"Um…you know what? I am very happy to be at home. I was born here, I grew up here, and I had many great friends by my side…"
"Mimi…" Sora whispered while blinking away sudden tears.
"…and I see I have many fans here, too!"
Matt kept quiet, but pursed his lips when Mimi turned towards her fans and waved. They all responded by cheering loudly for their favorite singer.
"Do you have any plans to tour the city, or maybe visit any old friends in your free time?"
"Uh…well, I'm pretty busy with this tour so I don't even think I'll have any free time. However, I would love to take a day to myself and just pamper myself in downtown Tokyo! It feels like I haven't shopped in ages! I'm sure my ladies can relate, am I right?"
Mimi faced the gathering crowd again and all the women shouted their support.
"I'm sure you will. Is there anything you'd like to say to anybody that's here in Tokyo that may be watching, perhaps to your old friends?"
Matt frowned at Mimi's sudden nervous expression. Before she could answer, a hand covered the camera lens, blocking the view. A male voice shouted over the chaos: "No more questions! Mimi has to prepare for tomorrow's show!"
Sora snatched the remote from Matt's grip and turned off the TV. "I guess we'll never know…"
"She…she wants to take a day to go shopping?" the blond asked in disbelief. "She has completely forgotten about us!"
Before Sora could reply, they listened to MJ's voice shouting over their conversation.
"You'll always be my baby…!" MJ began to sing Mimi's number one hit as he circled the living room. "You…and I…will al…ways be…!" Stopping in front of Matt, MJ looked up into his father's eyes and happily cheered, "I like Mimi, Daddy!"
Gathering his son in his arms for the second time that evening, he did not want to say anything that would upset him. Therefore he smiled and replied, "I do too, little man."
- - - - -
I was going up and down, and back and forth thinking of an appropriate title for this story, and The Emancipation just seemed…right. To emancipate means to free (one of the definitions, anyway) and Mimi's finally free from her parent's control over her. Nothing's stopping her from finally being with the one she really loves…is it?
I'm warning you, though…I've never written a sequel before, so don't get too mad if it isn't better than I Want U. Writing sequels is new to me, so…
And from the positive and not-so-positive reviews I received for I Want U, I've decided to make this story have a happy ending! I wanted to try something different with I Want U, but many people weren't feeling it. So, I'm going to go with a regular, clichéd, Mimato story for this one, but with a twist.
About Matt: In most clichéd Mimato stories, Matt is always the rich, popular, suave, rock star, player-type. Best-looking, best dressed, do I need to go on? Well for this story, I wanted him as a regular, 9-5 working a dead-end job, taking care of his son type of guy. I got the idea from XRazorXBladeXKissesX story, Secrets Tied in a Big Red Bow; she has Matt working in a grocery market. That got me thinking, "Hey, that's different! I like that idea!" Matt still maintains his cool, (Tai's a hundred times cooler!) but he's not placed on any pedal stool.