DT: Real quick " is out load, ' is thought, and Italicsare a flash back, and everything in a flashback is something someone said, no mood or motion in the actual scene is included.

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Winter Days

Chapter one: Sora's Sadness

Sora Takenouchi sat on a bench as snow slowly fell around her, her face buried in her hands, her heart broken in two. Not more than an hour ago Tai Kamiya, the love of her life, had told her that he loved another girl, some tramp from his math class.

'I shouldn't hate her, it's my fault after all. I chose Matt over Tai but we turned out to be a lousy couple, now Tai had moved on.' Sora thought

Come on Matt

No Sora, I'm not going to.

Come on Matt, just this once

I said no, now drop it.

Pleeeease.

Sora, Quit it, I'm not Tai!

'That was our last argument. We broke up the next day to preserve what was left of our friendship; it was a mutual breakup. We had only been together for a month. Kari told me that Tai took Matt and me real hard at first, she wasn't too happy with my choice herself, but Tai was strong and pulled through. He's stronger than me; I don't think this hurt will ever go away.'

Hey Sora, I've got big news!

Really Tai? What's up?

It's about a girl

A girl you like?

Yeah.

Who is she?

Hiroko from my math class.

Oh... That's great Tai!

"I'm so stupid."

"No you're not" Said a familiar voice

Sora looked up and saw Kari Kamiya standing in front of her (bet you thought it was Tai) "Hey Kari" Sora said

Kari frowned and said "Sora, what's wrong?"

"Nothing" Sora lied "Nothing at all."

"Don't lie to me Sora, you've been crying, I can see it." Kari said then involuntarily shuddered

"Cold?" Sora asked

"No" Kari said

"Now you're lying." Sora said.

"Fine, I'm cold, but that doesn't matter right now. Right now you need to tell me what's bothering you." Kari said

"You shouldn't be outside if you're cold" Sora said trying to get Kari on a different subject.

"You're right, I'll go inside" Sora cheered herself internally but stopped when Kari said "and you're coming with me."

Sora was about to protest when Kari grabbed her and pulled her to her feet. "Come on." She said, when Sora didn't budge she sighed grabbed her arm and pulled her along towards her apartment. (Kari has had to compete with Tai all her life so she's strong, and the icy/ snowy pavement helps)

When Sora figured out where she aimed to go she said "Kari wait, not your apartment please, I'll go inside and talk with you, but please let's go to my place instead."

Kari looked back at Sora with a raised eyebrow and said "no tricks?" (Tai had also made her cautious against trickery)

"Promise" Sora said with her free hand over her heart.

Kari released her and they walked to Sora's house. Once inside Sora was relieved to find her mother was not home. Both girls took off their heavy jackets and snow boots and left them by the door, leaving Sora in a maroon wool turtleneck sweater and dark blue jeans and Kari in a pink hooded sweatshirt and pants (the same pair from "A Very Digi Christmas"((if the colors clash or whatever my bad, it looked good in my head.)) ) . Kari went into the living room and Sora set some water to boil, when the kettle whistled she took it off and made two mugs of hot chocolate. Sora took them into the living room and handed one to Kari, who had just turned on the Electric Fireplace.

Kari sipped her hot chocolate and brought it away from her lips then said "So what's going on Sora?"

Sora set her mug on a coaster on the table in front of her, her face displaying her grief openly. "It's your brother."

"Tai? What'd he do this time?" Kari said

"It's not his fault, it's mine." Sora said

"Sora, we both know it's almost always Tai's fault." Kari said

"Not this time, trust me." Sora said

"I wouldn't have to if you tell me what's got you upset." Kari said

"Tai's got a crush on some girl in his math class." Sora said

When Kari stayed silent Sora continued. "Kari, do you remember when Tai asked me to Matt's concert and I said no?"

"Yeah, Tai was broken up about it for weeks." Kari said

"And you know how Matt and I broke up a month later."

"Yeah, where are you going with this Sora?" Kari asked

"Do you know why we broke up?" Sora asked

"No, neither of you ever told me." Kari said

"It's because I was treating him like Tai, I thought I was treating him like I should treat a boyfriend, but it was how I treat Tai." Sora said

"Playful anger, fake vengeance (IE: "well if you're so sorry then take me to dinner Tuesday night" The guy probably wants to anyway) and stupid games. Sora, that is how you treat a boyfriend, just not Matt." Kari said

"I know, and when I figured that out, I figured out I liked Tai all along. I was going to tell him, I really was, but for one reason or another I never did. Now he likes someone else, suppose its karma." Sora said

Kari set her mug down as well and sat next to Sora then said "Don't talk like that. You made the wrong choice before, but if anything you are supposed to fix it now. Make Tai see that he still loves you."

"How am I supposed to do that?" Sora asked

"You know how they saying, "The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach?" Kari said

"Yeah." Sora said

"Well if that's true then Tai is the manliest man in the world." Kari laughed

Sora didn't laugh but smiled weakly and said "Thanks Kari."

"I'll help you cook if you want." Kari offered

"Thanks, but this is something I should do on my own, besides I think it's time I make good on a promise I made to Tai anyway." Sora said standing up.

Kari stood up too and checked her watch "Sorry Sora, I've got to go. My mom expected me home half an hour ago."

Kari left and Sora walked into the kitchen and began to cook her special treat for Tai.

At least you could leave us the cookies

Tell you what; I'll make some special ones for you

I'll be waiting, Thanks

Sora was tired and covered in flour, but she was done. The cookies were done and wrapped, and the kitchen was clean. Sora took her intricate package into her room and set it gently on her desk. She then took a shower and went to bed.

When Sora woke up the next day she found that she had a test message from Tai. It read "Kari told me that you had something to talk to me about. What's up?"

She replied "I'll tell you face to face. Meet me at our spot at 6:00"

Sora spent the rest of the day preparing, and when it was 5:40 she departed for the park, cookies in hand.

When Sora got to the spot where she and Tai would normally meet, she sat on a nearby Picnic table that was now covered in snow. A short time later Tai arrived and greeted her.

"So you said you'd talk to me here. What's going on?" Tai said after Sora returned his greeting.

"I wanted to apologize for making you wait so long." Sora said

"What are you talking about?" Tai asked

Sora handed him the package and said "I told you I'd make you some special ones."

Tai opened his gift and saw several cookies with Orange Icing on top that formed the Crest of Courage, or a crude likeness of Agumon's head.

"Wow, Thanks a lot Sora!" Tai said

"There's something else too." Sora said

"What is it?" Tai asked taking a bite out of one of the cookies.

"It's about what I said at matt's concert." Sora said

"Oh that." Tai said putting the cookie back in the bag.

"I wanted to apologize for that too. I made a stupid decision, and I hurt you." Sora said

"It's ok." Tai said "I would never ask you to go against your heart to make me happy" Tai said

"That's just it Tai. I wouldn't have." Sora said "I should have chosen you, and after Matt and I broke up I realized that you were the one I liked, not him."

"Sora I… I can't" Tai said

"I know, I'd never ask you to go against your heart either." Sora said

Sora stood up and began to walk away just as Tai was getting out of ear shot, she said "I love you Tai Kamiya."