Notes: I have been re-watching Digimon series 1 and 2 again and I got really annoyed that Sora and Tai had this huge thing going for ages then suddenly she likes Matt and they get married. Its one of the few couples I just can't get behind that the anime did. So me being different and having to have my way I have written this story for Tai and Sora. If you are a fan like me then please read but any Matt and Sora lovers don't bother unless you want to be open minded as I have no place for flames about story ideas, only for good reasons. Anyway enjoy.

The Courage of Love

Chapter 1: Lost In Memories

"I just don't get it!" Sora said closing the book and turning onto her back on the bed. Sora had been behind on some of her school work for almost a month now, something she hated. She just didn't get some of her collage courses and it was driving her up the wall. Normally in these cases she would turn to Izzy but he was going to a different collage and taking different classes, so she turned to Tai. It wasn't like him to excel in any form of school work but when it came to politics and ethics he really knew his stuff. So this was the 3rd night in a row that Sora had been at Tai's for a cram session. "It's giving me a head ache," she said in a strained voice "I can not get it, I just can't!" and at that she took Tai's pillow and shoved it into her face.

"Oh come on you were doing well yesterday," Tai said laughing at her over reacting. Then again she had done the same yesterday as Tai remembered. Screaming and slamming her book and again using his pillow as almost a muzzle. "Just show me what page you're stuck on and I will help you," Tai said sitting up straight and he to had been lying on his stomach only on the floor. Without making a noise Sora picked up her book and held it with one hand at Tai to show him the page she was stuck on. "Uh Sora that's page one," Tai said with a smile on his face that ran into his voice.

"I know," Sora said lifting the pillow off her head. "That's the page I'm stuck on," and at that she sat up and said "I'm sorry Tai I just don't get this stuff, maybe I should just drop out!"

At this Tai raised his hand and started to shake his head saying "Owe no you don't. I took computing for you so you are sticking with me in politics, besides who else would make fun of Mr Mukogawa and his goofy hair," she looked up at him and smiled. "See that's more like it, you got the ethics stuff last night and you will get this stuff tonight all we need is a break from the books," and as he said that he picked up his own text book as well as hers and threw them into his closet then slammed the door on them.

"Thanks Tai," Sora said gratefully "you always know the right things to say and the right things to do," and as she said this she realised how right she was. Tai taught her so much over two days about ethics and it was more because of how he done things that made her mind take it all in. even as a child he was the one who could lead them and clam them down and get them all up again with not only his words but also his actions. Guess that's why, no matter what, Tai had always been the leader of the group. She had admired that about him for some time but never had the guts to say it. The only time she had come close was right then.

"Well what can I say," Tai said bringing Sora back away from her own thoughts "I always was good at learning," at this Sora looked at him in a quizzical way. "Well not all the time," he said with a smile and they both began to laugh.

"Are you kidding you never learn," Sora said still laughing "remember at soccer camp? It took you 3 and a half games to realise the Steve would always switch to his left foot before he would shoot."

"Oh yeah, but hey I still beat him in the end," Tai said laughing. They stopped and Tai sat next to her on the bed as she turned and faced him. "We have had a lot of good times together," he said with a smile "inside and out side the Digital world,"

"Yeah we really have," Sora said looking into his eyes then looking down onto the bed. It felt so strange to be with him like this and feel so uncomfortable. She had been friends with Tai since she could remember and had always been with him. They had, had their ups and downs but they had always been close. It just seemed that now there was something different. It had always been a little more when they were kids but more a crush on a friend nothing major but now it almost was more. "Do you remember," she said trying to stray away from her thoughts and stopping the awkward silence "when we first went to the Digital world?"

"How could I forget?" he said going into his own memory. "To think we thought Kuwagamon was a tough Digimon," he said laughing "we sure learned that wasn't true,"

"I can't believe how scared we were," Sora said looking at the wall visualising that day.

"I wasn't scared," Tai said in a defensive way. This made Sora laugh and even Tai laughed. Tai didn't even know why he was laughing. It seemed Sora always had that affect on him, if she laughed he had to as well.

"You weren't scared?" she said in a scoff "what do you call hiding in a tree with Izzy?" This made them both start laughing again.

"Ok so I was a bit shocked but I still wouldn't say scared," Tai said wiping his eyes to clear them. "Don't forget my crest was of courage, that meant I couldn't get scared," he said making it almost fact.

"That didn't stop you from getting scared," Sora said with an amused look on her face "though I never saw it I got told you were ready to wet you're pants going through the electric wall the second time," Tai froze at this. Sora hadn't meant it but she had hit a sore spot. Tai never forgave himself for that slip up and even in jest he took it hard. "Oh God Tai I'm so sorry," Sora began but was cut off by Tai razing his hand.

"You're right of course," he said as he began to stand. He walked over to the wall then placed his hand on it to give himself balance. "I am so sorry Sora," he said, his voice was weak "it was because of me that you got taken away by Datamon and you almost got destroyed,"

"Hey it was fine in the end," Sora said comforting him "You saved me remember?"

But it appeared Tai wasn't listening as he shouted "I was so weak and stupid!" then punched the wall hard.

Sora stood up and put a hand on his shoulder and said "You are the strongest person I know. You saved me quite a few times and you saved me from Datamon, never tell yourself anything different Tai!"

Tai rubbed his eyes with his hand then turned to face Sora and said "Thank you Sora," they then hugged. It felt so right to be with her, holding her close to him. Tai was sure this was the moment but just as he made up his mind Sora backed away looking out the window.

She couldn't explain why she done it. Her body, her heart and her mind were all screaming at her to do it but that little voice that had stopped her so many times before stopped her again. It had been that same voice that made her wait so long for Matt and if it hadn't of been for Tai saying to go for it so many times she would never have done it. But who would tell her to do it now? Tai can hardly help her when its him she is scared to get close to.

"Don't forget about you're crest Sora," Tai said trying to gain control of a already shaking voice. He felt so bad that just a moment ago he and Sora had been so close. Tai would kill to get that moment back even for a second.

"The crest of love," Sora said not really thinking about it at all but instead wrestling with that little voice that was ripping her apart.

"That's the one," Tai said walking up to her and putting a hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked at him with a distant look in her eyes, as if seeing right through him and yet taking in every part of him as well. "When you told me that was you're crest I couldn't help but smile," he said in a quite shivering voice "it summed you up completely and made perfect sense that someone with so much love had that as their crest," Sora had tears in her eyes. She wanted him, was ready to beg for him to stop but she also knew what was coming and had to, with all her being hear it. "And of course," Tai said leaning in close "it was so perfect because I……..I love you!"

Neither Tai nor Sora had realised their lips were together. All they knew was that they were on heaven. Their hands stayed at their sides and their tongs stayed inside their own mouths as not one or the other had considered what else could be done. They were merely enjoying the moment of their lips together.

As they broke apart Sora was still crying. Tears ran down her face and she couldn't explain why. Tai lifted her head with his hand and had a confused look on his face and all she could say was "I'm so sorry Tai!"

Tai watched her run out the door wanting to run after her but couldn't get his body to do it. He felt lost drifting outwards into a sea of despair. Engulfed by his own sorry and that fact that a moment ago he was in such sweet embrace with the girl he loved and now, some how he made her cry. He stood like that for some time lost in the nothingness of his thoughts until his sister put him to sleep. He was lost and he knew that so was Sora.

Notes: Well that's chapter 1 done. I haven't been so inspired in ages, all my other stories are doing fine but this has really got me going for it. If you want to find out the ending to this twisting tail the keep your eyes out for on coming chapters and please review. If it's bad tell me how to improve and if its good tell me why just so I know what to follow with. Thank you all and keep reading.