Chocolate Boxes
*Side notes: I was inspired to write a few one shots in honor of the month of love as I work my way through the semester before picking back up on my bigger story! I have named each chapter after a piece of chocolate in an assorted box. This collection of stories will involve many different couplings, though I do stan Taiora! I'm excited to expand and play with new ideas and personalities.
~Cinnamon Blush~
The wind whirled outside his window, causing the rain to slant and slam against the glass. The weather was supposed to be sunny, but who can accurately predict the weather these days. Taichi Kamiya sighed, glaring at the dark clouds as he lounged on his grey couch. "Today was supposed to be… Better than this…" Tai's eyes shifted from the clouds to the single rose he had placed on his glass coffee table. A piece of spring to contrast the dark weather.
His phone buzzed on the coffee table and he eyed it, trying his best to read the contact without moving from his strangely comfortable position. Rolling his eyes, Tai lazily reached for his phone, his hand falling short. He grunted, stretching his arm and willing it to stretch. Plot twist, his arm did not stretch, but he did end up on the ground.
Groaning on his carpet and already a bit annoyed with the day, Tai sat up, close enough to grab his phone. A smile tugged at the corners of his lip as her name flashed across his screen. The woman he had been interested in, or forced himself to enjoy the company of, Emily.
"Hey! Bummer about the weather right? Guess a stroll just wasn't in our books today. :( But dinner tonight?"
Tai felt his smile falter. A little rain never hurt anyone and Tai liked the rain. It was unpredictable. She was always so dramatic. Sighing, he willed his thumbs to reply:
"Yeah… Maybe! Just let me know."
He pressed send. Emily was someone Tai had met while finishing up University. She was sweet, but very selfish. The only time she did something for Tai was when she would benefit too. He couldn't blame her, he knew she was still head over heels for her past boyfriend.
"Guess that stroll wasn't in our books today," Tai said in a mocking tone, blinking as he turned back to the window. He sat in silence, the only sound his breathing and the rain on the window.
Throwing his hands up, Tai stood and grabbed his jacket, deciding that a stroll was in his book today. "Jaunt. She should have used the word jaunt. It's so much better," he muttered as he grabbed the keys to his apartment, pulling his hood up and over his head.
Tai walked to the outside elevator, pulling his jacket closer on his shoulders as he waited. He frowned, pressing the call button again… again… again… before punching it. "Ouch…" he pulled his red knuckles away and stuffed his hand back into his pocket. "Stairs it is…" It was not his day. He was on the seventh floor and the stairs were slick when it rained. Determined to not let her win, and realizing he had turned this into a competition, Tai began his descent.
His phone buzzed again about halfway down the stairs. He pulled it out of his pocket, looking down to read who it was from. Matt. Hm.
"Hey man! Don't forget dinner tonight. Sarah will be PISSED if you and Emily don't show up."
Tai rolled his brown eyes, cursing himself. Sarah was cool, but she was Emily's best friends. This meant, sadly, that she wasn't a fan of Tai because he was 'not good enough for Emily'. Tai thought that was bullshit, Emily was just… Whatever he should reply.
"For sure! We should b-"
"H-HEY!" Tai jumped, scrambling to catch the cardboard box he had ran into and the arm of whoever yelled at him on the other side. The hood of his coat slipped off of his head, the water wetting his hair. He stuttered out an apology, stuffing his phone in his pocket, hoping they didn't notice.
"Watch where you're going…" The woman muttered, reaching to the ground to pick up the keys she had dropped, her blue jacket covering her face. Tai was not in the mood for this. Setting the box to the side, Tai prepared to alert the woman that she shouldn't be on the stairs with a stack of boxes in the rain.
"Maybe we wouldn't have problems passing each other if your boxes didn't take up the stairs!" The words came out a bit louder than he thought. He saw the woman stiffen, her hands gripping the keys. He swallowed nervously, he had made a huge mistake. A big one.
"The elevator… Is broken…" She said, obviously just as strained about the day as he was. She grabbed her keys, stuffing them into her pocket as she reached for her box. The woman grabbed her box and turned towards Tai, freezing as her eyes landed on his face.
Tai gave her a confused look. He knew he wasn't too bad to look at, but she made it obvious. "Taichi…?" His confused look changed to a weird look. Nodding slowly, Tai replied "Who's asking?" The woman let out a laugh, shaking her head as she caught her breath.
Her voice was familiar and it made his heart flutter. Who was this woman? She calmed down enough to reply, "I'm moving into this building. C'mon, help." Realization set in as she gave him the box and began to push him back up the stairs. "Seventh floor. Three flights to go. This is my last box and it's being a real bitch." He didn't hesitate to let the smile cover his face.
As they reached the seventh floor, Tai stopped and waited for her to lead the way. He watched her closely, realizing he missed the way she walked with posture that was almost too good and a confidence that came too easily. The woman passed his door, stopping at the one next to it.
"Are you just going to stand there or…" She smirked at him as she opened her door, waving him in. He shook his head, smiling as he rushed into her apartment. He set the box down, her coat slipping from her shoulders as she shook out her wet, red hair. "Hoods don't do shit in these storms!" He laughed, watching her and not believing his eyes.
"Sora… When did you…" She turned, the two just stared at each other. It had been five years since the two had last seen each other, and not on great terms at that. Long story short, Tai's girlfriend at the time felt threatened by Sora and had decided Tai could no longer talk to her and Tai agreed.
Before the other could say anything, the two were in an embrace. Sora nuzzled into his chest and Tai wrapped his arms tightly around her small form. He breathed in the smell of her hair, his favorite. Sora chuckled, pulling away as she looked around at the boxes.
"I… I am not going to unpack," she anxiously rubbed the back of her neck, "I drove seven hours to get here. I deserve a break." He nodded, looking around her apartment and chuckling at the boxes and lack of furniture. "We can hang at my place. I have furniture and food?"
Sora perked up at his offer, "You live around here?" He nodded to his left, "right there, actually." Sora did a small celebratory dance and giggled, Tai smiling and high-fiving her in response. "I was actually thinking a nice jaunt through this rain would be a bit more refreshing than being cooped up inside," Sora said, looking at Tai with hopeful eyes, wanting him to tag along.
Tai blinked. Jaunt. He knew that word was better and how could he say no to a jaunt? Not hesitated, Tai grabbed his jacket and opened her door, ushering her out. "Well what are we waiting for?" She slipped back into her coat and stepped outside.
The pair made their way through the puddles, Sora stomping and aiming the splash at Tai. He chuckled, kicking water in her direction. They ended up at a park.
Tai smiled to himself, he wasn't a man to believe in fate, but Sora made that hard. No matter what happened between the two, she always seemed to find her way back to him. He looked over at her, watching her as she looked up into the rain, letting the water fall onto her face.
"Tai?" Sora said, "Why did we stop talking?" Tai's eyebrows drew together as she turned to face him, her expression unreadable. "I… I was a stupid teenage boy?" He replied, knowing it wasn't what she was looking for. She gave him a weak smile, "no… Why did we never reconnect? I texted you a few months ago that I was moving here and you didn't reply." She turned to look back at the rain.
Tai frowned and racked his brain for any memories of her message. Oh. Matt had told him not to reply. To move on and just try to get to know Emily. "Sora… I was afraid that you wouldn't be the same…" He heard her let out a sarcastic chuckle.
"Well surprise. I'm still that bitch." She winked at him and he felt his cheeks flush. "If it makes you feel any better, I moved here in hopes of running into you. I just didn't think it would be so easy."
Tai eyed her a bit confused, the rain making his hair stick to his forehead. "What? Why?" Sora shook her head then turned to face him, "Really? You don't know?" He did know. But he didn't want to be wrong. "I don't believe in fate, but you make that hard…" She was blushing, her crimson eyes looking to the ground. That's what he always thought of her.
His heart was beating and he turned to mirror her. "Hm. Does this make us romantic? It's raining… You might be crying… Moved to run into me…" Sora nudged him as he laughed at her reaction. "And you are still great at ruining moments." He smirked at her, catching her eyes with his. Sora's blush deepened.
Tai was lost in this girl. The girl he always thought was too good for him, the girl who would only see him as a friend. The girl who moved to his city hoping he was still waiting for her, even if he didn't know that he actually was. The girl who took jaunts in the rain and reminded him what it was like to feel love.
Reaching forward, Tai cupped Sora's cheek. Both of them felt their breath catch in their throats. Leaning closer, Tai finally did what he had wanted to do for years. Kiss Sora Takenouchi.
He pulled away, the first thing he saw was her smile being met by his own. "So that's what it feels like to kiss Tai Kamiya." He rolled his eyes playfully, that's what all of the girls would joke about back in high school. Tai leaned in, kissing her again.
He would have continued if it wasn't for the vibrating of his phone. Sora wrapped her arm around his as he answered it, pulling close to him as she watched the rain.
"Hey Matt… Dinner! Oh… Yeah I'll be there…" He hung up and turned to Sora. "Wanna get dinner?" She shrugged, "sure sure." He didn't care what Sarah would say, or Emily as a matter of fact. The two walked quickly, her fingers tangled with his.
They walked into one of the best restaurants in Tokyo, Tai noticing how Sora didn't care that her soaked coat and hair didn't fit in with the dresses and heels of the woman around her. "Do you think we're overdressed?" She joked. Tai shook his head and smiled, turning a corner and heading towards the table.
"Hey sorry we're late…" Tai said quietly. Sarah turned to speak, eyeing Sora as the realization of Emily not being the girl on Tai's arm set in. She picked her phone and began texting right away. Tai gave her a sarcastic smile.
Matt stared. His eyes going between the two and down to their intertwined hands and back to them. "You guys… Are really overdressed for this restaurant…" Tai smiled brightly and Sora waved at Matt before bringing him in for a hug.
"You know, I would say I'm surprised, but I'm not," Matt said smiling at the couple.
