A/N: Okay, this is a whole lot later then I thought it would be, but it's here.  I don't usually do this, but I'm giving ages for this fic.  I had to play around with them a bit I hope no one minds.  The grade levels are American, because I still can't quite grasp the Japanese system.  Here they are…Taichi: 17-Junior, Yamato: 18-Senior, Sora: 17-Junior, Mimi: 16-Junior, Jou: 18 (older than Yamato though ^.~)-Senior, Koushiro: 16-Sophomore, Takeru: 12-grade 7, Hikari: 12-grade 7.  Also, Advanced Physics is a mixed class of Juniors and Seniors…you'll see what I mean later.  I guess that's it for now.  Enjoy! ^.~

Disclaimer: Don't own anything you recognize.  Also, I took the title from a song by the same name by Jessica Folker.  Anyone heard it?…Anyone?…It's a really good song, however, it has nothing to do with the story…I just couldn't think of anything else, so please don't kill me…

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

To be Able to Love

By: Valentine Taylor

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The green scenery rushed by outside the tinted window.  Ishida Yamato, teenage rock star extraordinaire, sat in the backseat staring at the passing colors.  His fellow band members were there as well, but they were all just as tired as he was.  No one said anything.

This was all right with Yamato, however.  It gave him time to think, which is what he was doing. 

'I can't believe we're finally home.  I'll be able to see all my friends again; it's been three months.'  He smiled at the thought of all his friends' happy faces welcoming him back.  'And I'll have to get back to school again.  I can't believe the teachers gave us homework to take on our tour!'  Yamato shrugged mentally.  'Oh well, at least I didn't fall behind.  That's always good.'  A ring brought Yamato out of his reverie.  He retrieved his cell phone from his jacket pocket.  "Hello?"

"YAMATO!"  A voice yelled over the line.

"Jeez Taichi!  I don't think you said it loud enough; one of the guys isn't looking at me like I grew two heads," Yamato said, sarcastically. 

"Sorry, but I haven't talked to you in what, three weeks?"  This was true.  Though Taichi was his best friend, Yamato hadn't had time to talk to him because the last three weeks of the tour were the most hectic.

"Yeah, sorry 'bout that.  But I'm coming back to school on Monday."

"That's great!  There are a lot of people who are looking forward to seeing you again."

"Yeah, I'll bet," Yamato grumbled, thinking of the mob of rabid Yamato fans that would be waiting for him at school on Monday.

"Actually," Taichi started mischievously, "You know that girl Tachikawa Mimi that hangs around with us?  She has been asking for you."  Yamato could practically hear Taichi's grin.

"Really?  She's that cheerleader girl with the pink hair, right?"

"Yeah.  Man, she's a taker.  I think you should at least ask her out when you get back."

"You think?  Are you sure she isn't just another fan girl?"

"Nah, she's for real.  I've been keeping an eye on her for you," Taichi replied.

"I want to see for myself."

"Whatever man.  I gotta go.  See you Monday."

"Talk t'ya later."  The line clicked, and Yamato put his phone back in his pocket.  Then he closed his eyes, hoping sleep would overcome him for the rest of the ride.

~*~*~

Sora bent down to tie her shoelace.

"Good game Takenouchi!"  Her coach yelled from the side of the court.  Sora stood up straight and waved in thanks.  After playing for a few more minutes a whistle blew, signaling the end of the practice. 

Sora gathered her belongings and put her racket in its case.  After saying good-bye to everyone, she began her walk home.  Sora watched the cars passing next to her and couldn't help but wonder when her car would be out of the shop.  She was getting sick of breathing exhaust fumes.  She could swear she was losing brain cells.  She pushed her tennis bag further up on her shoulder.

She felt as much as heard a car slow down behind her.  As it pulled up beside her, she realized that it wasn't really a car at all; it was a limo.  Slowly the window rolled down, and a head popped out.

"Hey cutie!  Want a ride?" The boy asked, a huge grin on his face.

Sora rolled her eyes and kept walking.  The limo kept inching along beside her.  Another face appeared in the window.  "Please?"  Sora smiled at the boy's puppy dog eyes.

From inside the limo, Sora heard yet another voice.  "Hey Yamato, look at this girl!  Maybe you can convince her to let us give her a ride!"

"Whatever," came the cool reply from another new voice.

The first boy reappeared.  "Fine, but you don't know what you're missing!"  The window rolled up, and the limo sped away.  As she watched it go, a little voice in Sora's head said, 'You should have accepted.'  Sora just shook her head and continued on he walk home.

~*~*~

"That girl was hot!" Miaro exclaimed.

"Total cutie!" added Takashi.

"What did you think Yamato?" Aki asked.

Yamato turned to the window.  "I didn't really get a good look."  He really hadn't.  All he had been able to see was a tennis racket case, a duffel bag, and a head of auburn hair.

"You missed out," Miaro replied.

"Whatever," was all Yamato replied.  His mind was elsewhere.  He was thinking about the Mimi girl.  He remembered doing a project with her in Advanced Physics earlier that year.  She was also in his circle of  'close' friends.  She had been really nice, and he remembered vowing to himself to get to know her better, in hopes of getting her to go out with him.  But since then he had been extremely busy and he hadn't gotten a chance.

However, now that he was going back to school, and back to advanced physics, he would have just the chance he needed.

Besides, she was pretty.  He remembered her perky look and bright smile and how she always twisted her pink hair around her finger.

As the limo pulled up in front of Yamato's apartment, he came to a conclusion.  He would ask Mimi out on Monday in Physics.  After saying good-bye to the other three occupants of the limo, Yamato closed the door and entered the apartment building.

~*~*~

MONDAY MORNING

Yamato was on his way to school in his new silver MGF Roadster.  As he pulled up to a stoplight, he saw two school-age boys and a flash of auburn out the corner of his eye.  He turned his head and saw that the two boys were harassing a girl that looked a little younger then he.  Thinking he couldn't just let the boys hassle the poor girl, and he was early going to school, he pulled over.  Getting out of his car, he sauntered over to the group.  "There you are honey.  I thought you said you were going to meet me in front of the corner café."  The girl looked up at Yamato like he was nuts.  He just gave her a stern look that clearly stated, 'just play along.'  He continued.   Oh well.  My bad."  Gesturing to the two boys, he asked, "Are these friends of yours, babe?"

One of the boys looked at Yamato and glared.  "We were just askin' if she wanted us to accompany her to the school."

"Well, I don't think she does, now that I'm here."  Yamato looked at the girl, silently telling her to say something.

"Thanks, but I think I can manage now that..he's…here," the girl stated, sounding sort of pathetic.  She gave the boys a weak smile.

The second boy stepped up to the girl and ran a hand down her arm.  Loud enough for Yamato to hear, he told her, "Maybe another day when your boyfriend decides not to disrupt our fun."  After that, the two boys started down the street.

As they walked away, the smile left the girl's face.  "Gross," she muttered.

"Are you all right?" Yamato asked.

"Yeah, fine," the girl replied.

"Good."

~*~*~

 Sora watched the boy who had helped her get into his car and shut the door.  She couldn't believe that had just happened.  She had been so afraid of what the two boys were going to do, then along comes a complete stranger who helps her get rid of them.  She heard the boy's car start, and she tried to let the past five minutes sink in.

"Well?" she heard the boy's voice ask.

Sora turned to the car.  The boy was leaning over to see her through the open passenger side window.  "Huh?" she asked, then smacked herself mentally for sounding so clueless.

Well aren't you going to get in?"  Sora could hear the amusement in his voice.  "I may not really be your boyfriend, but what kind of guy would I be if, under any circumstances, I said I was going to give you a ride, then didn't?"

Sora couldn't believe how courteous the boy was.  "Are you sure it wouldn't be a bother?"


Smiling, he replied, "Unless you're not going to Odaiba High, I'm not exactly driving out of my way!"

Deciding to accept the boy's offer, Sora got in the car.  "Thanks for all your help, and for the ride," she said nervously.  She had never been driven anywhere by a stranger with an expensive car before.  She was kind of excited!

"My pleasure.  Besides, we wouldn't want those guys to catch you again, would we?"


Sora shook her head slightly, laughing quietly.  She took a moment to sneak a peak at the guy next to her.  She looked from his blonde hair to his blue eyes framed by long, dark lashes, to his Odaiba High uniform.  He had the brownish pants and white button-down; the top button was undone and the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.  The green school blazer was hanging on the back of his seat.  All-in-all he looked really, really good.  However, he also looked popular, which was a category Sora didn't fall under.  Sure, she had a large group of fiends, but they weren't "popular".  Sora and her friends didn't go to parties where everyone got drunk.  Her friends didn't brag about whom they had slept with the last weekend.  She didn't go to sports games just to be seen.  The boy next to her looked like that type of person.  Self-consciously, Sora pulled the hem of her skirt down, covering more of her legs.

"So, did you like, know those guys?" The boy asked suddenly.


"Umm, not…exactly," she answered hesitantly. 


"Why were they bugging you then?"

"They're in my Japanese class.  I told both of them that I didn't want to go out with them.  They were very persistent."

As they pulled into the school parking lot, the boy answered, "Just be careful."  He grinned at her, "I won't always be there for you."  Sora was surprised by how familiar he looked with that grin on his face.  She just couldn't place where she'd seen him before.

"Yeah, thanks."  The two walked together to the doors of the school.

"Where are you heading?" the boy asked.

"History."

"Hmm, I have English.  I guess this is where I leave you."  The boy reached down and took Sora's hand in his.  Bringing it to his lips, he kissed it swiftly.  "Maybe I'll see you around."  Then, after flashing her a million dollar smile, he turned and walked to a group of people who seemed to be waiting for him.

Sora stood, unable to move for a moment, then headed towards her History class.  She would have to tell Koushiro all about the morning events when she saw him at lunch, no doubt!

~*~*~

"Hey Yamato," Taichi greeted the blonde as he approached the group.  Who was that girl?"

Yamato casually answered, "I dunno.  I gave her a ride."

"Did you catch a name?"

"No," Yamato admitted.  "Hey, there's Mimi."  Both boys looked down the hall a short distance to a girl wearing a cheerleading outfit with pink hair.  "Didn't she like, live in America last year or something?"

"I think I've heard her say that before," Taichi replied.  "Are you going to ask her out today?"

Yamato thought for a moment.  Was he going to ask her out?  This was only his first day back to school.  Then again, he had decided over the weekend that he would ask her out today.  He did have advanced physics second period.  "Yeah, I think I will.  She's in my second class."

"OK, but I won't see you until lunch.  You'll have to tell me how it goes then."  Yamato nodded, and first bell rang.

~*~*~

TBC…

A/N: So what did you think?  Was this a good first chapter?  R&R please!

~*Valentine*~