well, I'm planning on writing a very small Christmas story, It might at the most 3 chapters long... but I'm really looking at 2 :)

Its just a small Taiora story!

Snow is falling….

Children are laughing…

Everything seemed right…

The dark haired boy walked slowly down the snow covered sidewalks with his short red haired friend.

"You do realise tomorrows Christmas eves?"

"Mmhmm"

"And you are only wanting to do your shopping tonight?"

"What are you planning on getting her?" The scarlet haired boy asked his tall tan friend, who walked right beside him.

The boy swung his arms up placing them behind his head "ehhh, I don't know maybe another hairpin or some gloves" He replied shutting his eyes tight with an unnatural grin on his face.

It grew silent….

"What?" The brunette questioned while letting out a small giggle.

"Don't you think you aught to try this Christmas Tai?"

Tai stopped in his foot steps as the smaller teenager continued walking as if nothing had happened; he looked up at the slow delicate snowflakes that constantly fell since this morning. It was dark, even though it was only around 6:00. He slowly decided to catch up to his friend "What do you mean try this Christmas…. Izzy?"

Izzy continued his slow but steady pace as he forced a half hearted smirk at his friend

"You can't possible be this stupid" Izzy stated as he kept on walking leaving Tai confused and yet perceptive to his comment.

Tai continued walking at his acquaintances right side, letting his comment slide out from underneath them.

They continued to walk in silence until someone decided to shatter it with light conversation about how Christmas is one of the most over rated holidays, right next to Valentines Day. With all the blabbering about holidays and teasing about school grades they finally arrived at there destination.

The sight of one of the largest malls in their areas, it was one of the major hot-spots during the holiday season, without any questions Tai held on to Izzy's wrist and pulled him into the shoulder to shoulder traffic ahead of them.

"What do you think about this?" Tai questioned as he held up a multicoloured scarf that touched the floor even when holding it above his unkempt hair.

Izzy shook his head with what looked like a jaded look upon his face, Tai scrunched up his face as he rolled the scarf back up and laid it back down.

"Well, I don't know what to get her" Tai proclaimed making Izzy feel like it was all his fault that he can't decide and what to get Sora.

Izzy chuckled and stated "Maybe you're not looking hard enough?"…

Tai glared at Izzy's attempt to ease his frustration, clearly not helping him and only making it worse.

"Not looking hard enough?" Tai mockingly replayed what was just said "How could I not be looking hard enough, I found things that she likes"

Izzy followed Tai around the store listening to every complaint Tai had about all the objects he picked up.

"I have a solution" Izzy stated reassuringly to his friend with his index finger held high, Tai's eyes widen interested about what this key to his anger could be.

"What if…"

"You don't get her anything"

Tai's content feelings nearly shattered in front of him as he put his head down letting out a loud scoff.

"But…." Tai's voice cracked as he hesitated to finish, Izzy slightly tilted his head in confusion and curiosity "But, what?" Izzy questioned.

"I want to get her a gift that means….something" Tai answered while rubbing the back of his neck, Izzy a little more intrigued by what Tai meant by something he questioned him "What do you mean by something?"

Tai's face flushed pink as his eyebrows narrowed down "Something! You know….."

He was tripping on his words as he gave up half way, and decided the only way to avoid this conversation was to walk away from it. Tai did so.

Izzy followed him out of the store "Tai" he spoke with a contradicting tone; Tai continued to find other thing to distract himself with.

"Hey, look at this! Do you think Kari would like a snow globe?"

Izzy knew what this foolish game was leading to.

"Nah, I didn't think so either, maybe I should get it for my Mom"

He continued to listen to his friend ovoid every question he brought to his attention, but Izzy was not enjoying this silly game now.

With a shove to arm "Tai" Izzy barked.

"Will you please stop talking…. For once" Izzy raised his voice uncertainly.

Tai's eyes widen with the action he had received from his friend, but yet as always he had excused any treatment he got from him.

"Why are you getting so worked up?" Tai answered with an adolescent chuckle at Izzy who clearly wasn't impressed.

"Why are you acting so strange?" Izzy asked Tai who clearly wasn't paying attention to him, Tai's eyes wondered around the store before finally answering the question that drifted long out of the picture.

"I'm not strange Izzy"

"I didn't say that"

"Sounded like it to me"

"What's going on?"

"Nothing"

"Then why are you so flustered"

"Because…."

"Because what"

"I can't find Sora a gift"

With that Izzy let out a long drawn out sigh placing his chin against his chest, letting the pompom at the end of his hat fall forward.

"Well, let's keep looking"

Tai let out a forceful smile as he continued walking around the mall, dragging his vertically challenged friend around.

After all that walking around and there being no hope to satisfying Tai with a gift for Sora they decided to make a visit to the cafeteria where they were selling hot-chocolate to surely warm you up.

They purchased two and found a table to sit down at, Tai blew on his hot-cocoa as he took a big swig of it Izzy cocked an eyebrow as he watched Tai make a funny face before swallowing it "Its HOT" Tai exclaimed.

Izzy shook his head before replying with "That's why they call it Hot-chocolate Tai"

Tai frowned at Izzy's smart ass remark "Of course, thanks."

They sat in silence as they people watched and took sips of their hot beverages; this time of year was always so busy. You could hear the bells jingling and the rush of body's flying in and out of the department stores, the sounds of the false Santa sitting in the middle of the mall yelling out his classical Ho Ho Ho.

"Are we going to keep looking?" Izzy asked after the long period of time they wasted sitting in the food court.

"I don't know, there's just one more store I want to look at" Tai replied with a genuine smile this time.

They both stood up and walked to the nearest garbage bin, they threw out there empty cups and continued on there adventure to find a present.

Izzy felt like there were walking in circles, he swore he saw that same person or that same mall elf shaking the same bells in front of that same store.

"What store are you looking for Tai?" Izzy lazily asked his friend.

Tai swung his head at Izzy with an unreadable look on his face "It's just over here" Izzy couldn't trust Tai right now without a doubt, but he continued to follow the wondering teenager that lead the way.

They walked into a jewellers store and by this point Izzy was more than confused "What are we doing here?" Tai smiled as he flung his index finger in front of Izzy stating "You said to get her something she's always wanted right?"

"I never said…"

"And Sora is always telling me she wished she had a necklace" Tai interrupted with a smile. Izzy was surprised that he might finally get her something so he ignored his friends' ignorance and walked along dragging his hand across the glass cases, trying to help Tai find something he would know Sora would like.

"What about this one?" Izzy questioned pointing to a simple oval pendant. Tai made a revolted face and proceeded to look himself.

"This one" Tai said with utter certainty in his voice, Izzy walked over to the dark-haired boy as they stared in a state of pleasure at this striking necklace. It looked like two heart being entwined together, one at the top and on at the bottom.

"Isn't that a little romantic?" Izzy questioned.

"May I help you?" An older man requested placing a hand on each of their shoulders.

Tai spun around and childishly pointed at the necklace "I'll get this one"

The man walked behind the counter grabbing a key from his pocket and unlocking the case retrieving the request and placing it on the glass case.

"Would you like to get a better look at it?" The man questioned, Tai immediately nodded with a smile stretching almost ear to ear on his face, Izzy was relived that they finally found something that Tai agreed on.

Tai seemed to study every inch of this piece of jewellery so intricately, even examining the chain.

"We'll take it" Tai demanded with a beam of light on his face.

The man took the necklace back and walked over to the cash register.

Izzy nudged Tai "You don't even know how much it is" Tai responded with a grin

"You can't put a price on…"

"And your total is $ 234.49"

"239 what?" Tai rapidly responded

Izzy chuckled as he joking mocked Tai "What were you saying; you can't put a price on what?"

Tai gazed at Izzy burning his comment from the inside out as he pulled out his wallet from his pant pocket.

"Wait, are you sure about this Tai… you know that scarf we were looking at was just as nice" Izzy tried to ease the tension that seemed to be floating around.

"I'm sure" Tai replied, "Can you even afford it?" Izzy questioned Tai, knowing half the time he spent his money on something stupid. Tai chuckled at Izzy as he responded

"Of course I can, this was my collage money but I thought I would take out a few hundred just in case I need it for something important and this is one of those moments."

Izzy was sceptical about this whole situation, but supported any stupid decision Tai made.

Tai paid the cashier and retrieved the bagged gift.

"Would you like some coupons?" The man behind the register asked, Tai held up his hand and shook his head as he walked off.

"I would" Izzy said as he grabbed some of the coupons that the man had offered.

"Here is one, you receive $50 off your next purchase of anything $99.99 or more" The man explained some of the coupons; Izzy wasn't paying full attention to what the man was talking about.

"IZZY! Can we go now?" Tai complained at the exit of the store, Izzy slowly looked back as he nodded slowly.

He started grabbing the coupons and was ready to leave before the man placed a hand on his "By the way, the necklace would go great with your eyes, I think he picked out a good one" The cashier stated with a wink.

Izzy's eyes widened as he was more than unsure of what to say, so he cracked a small smile and bolted out of the store.

He raced out following Tai as they walked the busy halls of the mall again, Izzy thought it was necessary to comment upon exiting the store, "That was an expensive necklace, she must really mean something to you if you were willing to spend that much on a…

"I'm hungry" Tai stated, being more obnoxious then he was before Izzy knew that meant he wasn't going to answer his question let alone let him finish.

"Well, why don't we go get something to eat?" Izzy questioned only knowing the answer would be…

"Food-court?"

"Mmhmm"

They slowly made there way through the crowd and past all the late night Christmas rush, while walking to the food-court Tai heard a giggle… It sounded familiar.

"What?" Izzy questioned at the abrupt stop that Tai had made in the crowed shopping centre.

"Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"That" Tai said as he completely turned the opposite direction, Izzy was startled with the state of which he was walking in.

The boys turned at a corner, walking against the current of which traffic flew, Tai unexpectedly turned back around…again

Izzy desperately tried to keep up with him "What are you doing?" Izzy question as he bumped into Tai's back.

"Ouch…Sorry" Izzy said while rubbing the side of his cheek that he slammed into Tai.

He wasn't responding….

"Tai?"

Izzy slowly walked around from the back of Tai, so he could get a closer look at what was going on. Izzy's eyes slowly opened wider as he was now witnessing what his paralyzed friend had, Sora was standing there in a simple Holiday based store with someone…

The blonde haired boy cracked a smile as he shook the sow globe in his hands, the boy then leaned to her ear and whispered something, Sora giggled again as she placed her hand on his shoulder "I think I'll get it, thanks Matt" She said giving him a very awkward side hug.

Tai's lips quivered as he felt his heart beat grow faster; he felt that time was slowing down for a moment that everyone around him had stopped. Replaying the smile he gave her and the vibrations of her giggles played like an endless record in his head.

He knew that things have been different ever since they moved into high-school; that something wasn't ever quite right.

Sora stopped playing on the same soccer team as Tai… Heck she stopped playing soccer in total, she moved to tennis which never seemed to catch Tai's interest.

Matt moved onto his music, which Tai knew he could never understand.

Tai knew Sora for a long time…..He was friends with her longer that Matt was. He always promised to never let anything happen to her, he looked out for her and she looked out for her and she looked out for him.

He didn't want to believe it when he thought that Sora and Matt got closer since high-school, what was it that Matt did that he didn't.

Every thought and memory raced through Tai's mind within the speed of light. He wanted to erase what he just saw out of his mind, he wanted to pretend she was there by herself, she saw him and is now walking over to him she has a small smile on her face. Her face lights up as she's walking towards him "Hey Tai!" her voice echoed in his mind, "What are you guys doing here?" Her voice shatters his dreams as he realises she standing right in front of him…asking that same question.

"Hey Sor" Tai replied seeming to avoid the question and ignoring Matt completely, Izzy felt more than awkward so he responded with "Sorry he's been having an off day, we were just looking for some last minute Christmas presents" Izzy giggle unconsciously.

"Oh, well there are some nice figurines' over there" Sora answered as she pointed to a direction of the store.

"I think were done looking, right Tai?" Izzy nervously questioned.

"Sure" I Tai answered leading on with a question "What are you doing here?"

Sora smiled as she replied "Well Matt was just helping me look for some nice Christmas cards." Matt nodded with Sora's response.

"Oh did you guys hear, Matt's having his first real concert tomorrow! Isn't that awesome?" Sora stated with a light shake to Matt's side.

"Oh, yeah we heard, that's awesome" Tai un-enthusiastically responded.

"Well I hope you both able to make it" Matt replied with a small smirk on his face.

"I'm sure we will all definitely try" Izzy stated with a discomfited smile.

Tai looked down at Sora's hand that held a large globe in it; Sora noticed Tai's wondering eyes and held it up "Do you like it?" She said with a smile.

"It's a snow-globe" Matt stated as he place his arm around Sora, Tai glared at his actions and felt a small fire light within him.

"Do you want one? There are some fancy looking snow-globes over there" Matt suggested in a mono-tone voice, Sora giggled remembering there conversation they had moments ago about snow-globes.

Tai glared at Matt in disgusts as he replied "Why would I want a snow-globe?"

Matt's eyes widen with the snotty remark that was so quick to fly out of Tai's mouth, "Tai, he was only trying to help! Calm down" Sora replied trying to defend Matt.

"Well I don't need his unwanted help" Tai swiftly spoke back, Izzy let out an awkward chuckle as he placed his hands on Tai's shoulders spinning him around "Like I said he's having an off day, We'll catch you guys later" Izzy announced as he pushed Tai out of the store.

Tai flung open the exit door of the mall as he trudged through snow that still continued to fall.

"Tai what's going on with you?" Izzy barked as he followed Tai, he continued to speed walk causing Izzy to walk a little faster.

"Nothing Izzy… okay?"

"Back there was nothing?"

"Go home Izzy, I don't need your help anymore"

Izzy still continued to follow his in-raged friend who still stomp through the snow, Tai made an abrupt stop and turned around "Izzy stop following me, I said I don't need your help anymore."

Izzy stopped as he watched his friend brokenly walk away, until not even a silhouette could be seen.

Tai slammed open the door to his apartment the smell of turkey and homemade stuffing could be whiffed even in the halls of their building "Well, how's my little shopper?" Mrs. Kamiya jokingly asked her son. Tai ignored the question and proceeded to take off his coat and boots.

"Did you get what I asked?" She continued to try and make small talk, heck to get anything out of Tai's mouth. He still didn't' answer and ignored all questioned as he walked into his room slamming the door behind him.

He pulled out the single gift he spent hours looking for from his pocket and threw it on the desk in his bedroom, He was so angry… But he wasn't really sure at what.

He didn't want to be mad at Sora for hanging out with Matt, but who says anything was really going on. What if he was just helping her look for something… or maybe they just bumped into each other like the way he did with her.

Matt was his best friend, he should know that something like this would bother him.

Tai was sure that this was in some way violating the Bro code; Matt wouldn't pull a move on Sora…. As far as Tai knew Matt didn't even like her.

Sora didn't even like Matt….. Or did she?

Tai desperately tried to shake these thoughts from his head and move on as if everything was the same, but they still seemed to creep into his mind.

"Tai, Kari Dinner is ready" He could hear is mom yell from the kitchen

Tai walked over to his door and placed a hand on the door knob he stopped for a moment.

Does she know I like her…?

Maybe I should say something…

He shook the thoughts from his head…again, as he proceeded to open his bedroom door.

"Maybe everything will work out tomorrow; I'll tell her at Matt's concert. What could go wrong I mean it is Christmas?"

Author comments: PLARGH! why did I have to get lazy and stop there... I honestly didnt like the way I characterized Tai... I had to keep going back and rewriting his lines... anyways! stay tunned for more :3

Another note: I had someone question if izzy was gay, no he's not! the guy behind the register thought Tai and izzy were together (like a couple) hehe! that is all :)