Disclaimer: I don't own anything in this story. The idea for this story is loosely based on the story "Spring Ranting" by LastRedSeaKin that I read a while ago (…it's very good, you should read it!)
Anyway, this is a TAIORA, but the other characters will make some appearances. I might also include some other couples, but not too much.
I've recently gone through this story again and fixed it up a bit (though not much of the actual story has been altered) but some things are different. I found out the real names of the Digidestined's parents, so that's one difference already.
Chapter One: Welcome Home…………………………………………………………...
Seventeen-year-old Sora Takenouchi sighed as she shifted positions on the bus. She was on her way to her mother's house, where she would be staying for one month. Thirty-one days…she could take that, right? How had she gotten herself into this mess, anyway?
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'Sora, I've gotten a job offer in America,' Sora's father told her.
'What! Does that mean we have to move, Daddy?' Sora asked, upset.
'Well, I'm flying down there in a few days to check it out, which means you'll have to stay with your mom for the month, until I get back,' he began.
Sora opened her mouth to protest, but was cut off by her father. 'And I know that you and your mother haven't exactly gotten along lately, but you have to go, it's final. I've already called your mother, and she said she'd be glad to have you stay with her while I was gone. I'm going there to check it out. If I like it, I'll be moving to America. You can come, if you want. If you don't want to leave Japan, you'll have to live with your mother, and there are no other options. But if I don't decide to take the job, we'll stay here, unless you decide you want to live with your mom instead.'
'Yeah, like that could ever happen!' she exclaimed.
Sora got up from the table, ran up the stairs to her room, and slammed the door shut. She called her friend, Yolei, who tried to console her. She decided it was no use to argue with her dad and beg him to take her with him to America, and began to gather up her belongings. A few days later, after calling her friends and telling them she would be gone for the first half of summer vacation (she didn't tell any of them, other than Yolei, about America yet, because she didn't want to worry them) she got on the bus, which was to take her to her mother's house, three towns over.
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Now, Sora was sitting on the uncomfortable and awkwardly quiet bus, wishing she had talked her dad into letting her come with him. Her father's words echoed in her head: 'I know that you and your mother haven't exactly gotten along lately…'
Haven't gotten along lately? That's an understatement, Sora thought. She and her mother rarely got along, and it had been like that since the divorce. When her parents separated, about three years ago, she had to choose between staying in Odaiba with her mother, and leaving with her father. She loved Odaiba, and she never imagined having to leave it (and her best friend, Mimi) but she couldn't bear to stay with her mother, just the two of them. They argued all the time and the only thing that ever managed to keep the peace was her dad. Without him there this summer, she just knew it would be an all-out war.
She hadn't even seen her mother since the day she left with her dad. She had never called to invite Sora to stay with her, or to even see how she was doing. Though they had their problems, deep down, Sora loved her mother, and almost missed her, in certain ways. She was sort of looking forward to this month. Maybe they could bond, and then she could possibly stay in Japan.
It wouldn't be all bad, she knew. She knew the town pretty well, and knew how to get around on her own. It would be nice to see all her friends again, especially Mimi. They had been best friends since either of them could remember and, although they had sort of lost touch these past few years, she was sure they'd pick up right where they had they left off.
Suddenly, the bus stopped. Looking around, Sora noticed she had reached her destination, and an uneasy feeling settled into her stomach. She was here; she was really back in Odaiba. She got off the bus, oversized duffel bag in hand, and looked around for her mother. She spotted her almost right away. She waved excitedly, and Sora got the fleeting impression that this might not be so bad, after all. Perhaps they had both changed, and would make an effort to not butt heads so much. Her mother walked over, and about fifty yards away, began picking up the pace, running to greet her.
"Sora, honey, I missed you so much! How have you been? Was it a good ride over?" she inquired as she hugged Sora.
"I've been good, and yes it was a pretty good ride over. I was kind of bored, and the other people were all old and weird, but it's okay," she laughed. "How have you been?" She almost couldn't believe it. They had been together for almost a minute, and weren't fighting—a new record maybe?
"I'm a lot better, now that you're here!" She felt a pang of guilt for leaving her after the divorce, for never calling or writing or visiting.
They walked to the car, and Sora put her bag in the backseat. She had changed a lot since she was little. She was no longer a tomboy, in fact, she was sort of a girly-girl. She had brought quite a lot of clothes and a bit of makeup with her, but somehow, it miraculously fit into one bag. Her overall appearance was very different. She was much taller, about five-foot-nine, and her hair had grown a little longer, a little past her shoulders. Her crimson eyes were the same as ever, only now the lashes were intensified with black mascara. She had her favourite lip gloss, Sparkling Bubblegum Pink, on her full, pouty lips and her ears had been pierced a second time, each hole showing off a small diamond stud. She was wearing a baby pink t-shirt that showed off just a tiny bit of her slim midriff, and a denim skirt, to reveal her long, tanned legs. She nervously pushed some hair behind her ears, hoping she made a good impression.
"There's one more thing you should know, though, dear. There's someone else living with us," her mother informed her. Is she living with a guy? My mother? No way! Sora thought, uneasily.
"Do you remember my friend Yuuko who used to live here? Well, she and her family lived on the other side of town, so her kids went to a different school than you did. Actually, her son went to Odaiba High the same time you did, but I doubt you'd remember him. Anyway, her husband got a job offer so they moved a few towns away, but her son didn't want to leave. He was planning to live here on his own and finish up his last couple years, but the thought of the poor boy all alone was terrible, so I offered the house. It was really empty, with only me in there, so I let him move in," she explained. "His name is Tai Kamiya."
Sora thought back, trying to remember Yuuko, with no luck. Tai went to Odaiba High with her? She couldn't remember him, either. Maybe when she saw him she would know. "What's Tai like?" she asked.
"Let's see...he's the same age as you, and very friendly. He's really funny and nice, very easygoing. I think you two will really hit it off…" her mother went on and on, telling her all about Tai, what he liked, what he didn't like, all the things you learn from living with someone. Finally, they arrived at the house. Sora grabbed her bag from the backseat and followed her mother inside. She looked around; it was the same as ever, not one object seemed out of place from the last time she was there.
Upon entering, to her left, was the staircase, with the same banister and carpeting and everything. There was the living room with the same, white couches and white carpeting, and two small steps that brought you to the kitchen, which was still hard flooring. There was an island in the middle of the kitchen, with a small sink and a hanging light. There was another counter, one that was attached up against the wall, with another sink. Sora was pleased to note that there was the same refrigerator and oven as always, though the kitchen table and chairs looked new. Sliding glass doors, right beside the refrigerator, brought you to the backyard, which had a nice patio and a big, underground pool.
There was a hallway to the right of her, which led off to the laundry room, a small bathroom, and a spare bedroom that nobody had ever used, because they also had a nicer one, upstairs. The house was very clean and elegant. It was even bigger than Sora remembered it to be.
She noticed a boy leaning against the island in the kitchen, watching the TV in the living room. He looked up, and smiled at Sora.
"Hey," he greeted her. For a moment, Sora was dumbfounded. He was very good-looking, much better than the boys back at her town. He had messy brown hair that somehow suited him, and shining brown eyes that she could see from her place, fifteen feet away from him. He had a strong jaw and straight, white teeth. She gave him the once-over. He had good posture, which was always a bonus. He was tall, taller than her; slim, but not scrawny. He was wearing a plain blue t-shirt (which showed off his muscles nicely, Sora thought) and baggy shorts.
She instantly knew, without a doubt, that she was going to have some fun during this coming month. She smiled at him, glad she picked an outfit that showed off her own assets.
She set her bag down beside the door, kicked off her shoes and walked towards him. "Mother," she called as her mother walked down the hallway and out of sight, "I have a bone to pick with you."
"Oh, and what is that?" Her mother's voice sounded uneasy.
"Well," Sora said, smiling very flirtatiously at Tai, "you spent the entire car ride over here telling me all about Tai here, but you left out what a cutie he was!" She stretched out her hand, inviting him to shake it. "Sora," she introduced herself.
"Tai," he said, grinning at her. He was rather flustered by the beautiful girl standing in front of him. She sure looks different than in her pictures, he thought to himself. He noticed that Sora was staring at him thoughtfully. "Everything alright?" he asked, concerned that he had something on his face.
"I know you," Sora said, trying to think of where she had met him before. "Mother?" she shouted to the other room as her mother poked her head out, "Do I know him?" Her mother smiled.
"High school, maybe?"
"No, that's not it..." Sora mumbled, racking her brain.
"Well, I think you two met once before, when you were about six. Remember Tai, your mother threw a Christmas party, and we were invited?"
Tai nodded, vaguely remembering her from eleven years before. "I'm surprised you remembered that," he said softly.
"Well," Sora beamed, "a girl never forgets her first kiss."
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A six-year-old Sora and parents walked into the Kamiya's house, which was covered with Christmas decorations, and a beautiful Christmas tree in the corner. Her parents made their way to the group of adults, her mother letting go of her hand and telling her to go play with the other kids. She immediately wished she had Mimi with her. Sora wasn't normally a shy girl, not in the least, but all the other kids were already friends, and she felt awkward, like she was trying to force her way into the group.
'Hi, I'm Tai. This is my house,' a small boy with busy hair says. 'This is my sister.' He points to a smaller girl, a few years younger than himself.
'I'm Sora,' she said quietly. Tai looked up, and noticed they were standing under mistletoe. He kissed her on the cheek.
'What was that for?' Sora asked, her mind screaming that she had just gotten cooties.
'Well, all the grown-ups do that when they stand under this thing…I think it's a law or something,' he said with wide eyes and a lopsided grin. Sora nodded, understanding. He grabbed her hand and introduced her to the group of kids.
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Tai grinned, lopsided of course, at the memory. Sora smiled devilishly and leaned in very close to him. She could smell his cologne, and it was driving her crazy. He shut his eyes, smelling her hair. It smelt amazing. He felt such a strong attraction to this girl, and he had only known her for all of five minutes. Sora reached behind him, pressing her body against his, and grabbed an apple from a fruit dish sitting in the middle of the island. She backed away, and took a bite. Then she winked and hurried up to her room, grabbing her duffle bag on the way.
Boy Tai, he thought to himself as he watched her go, are you ever in trouble this time.
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Okay, that was chapter one…so tell me what you think please!
Thanks for reading, and please review! xoxo