Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. I do not own DEL or Compaq either (well, my computer is a Compaq, but I certainly didn't create them.) Meg, her parents, and Sekio are my own creation.
Coincidence or Fate?
Summer's over. What a bummer. Especially since, this year, we have to take computer classes. That's where I'm going to now. It's my luck that I have it first everyday.
My friends say I'm so lucky because they start school a couple weeks before me. I say if I'm really lucky, I wouldn't have to go at all. I think I hate it more than the rest of them. Joe actually used to like it. But he doesn't like much else. Izzy would love this class. He probably knows more than the teacher.
I sat down at the computer nearest to the door. It's not like I don't like them, having spent so long in the DigiWorld I shouldn't, but I don't have much use for them. More use than I did at home since the cheapest way of communicating with my friends is e-mail, but still not much.
I pressed the button on the screen or monitor, as Izzy would say, and a green light came on. But nothing else happened. I started to raise my hand.
"You have to press here." The girl next to me said. She pushed it for me.
"Thanks." I said.
"No problem." The girl grinned.
"You may spend 15 minutes getting acquainted with your computers. You may go online if you wish."
I rolled my eyes. How corny. But at least I could go online. I logged on with my online name and found I had e-mail from Sora.
"You have a pen pal in Japan?" The girl asked interested.
"Lots of them. I grew up there. I just moved here a couple of years ago."
"Cool. I was born there. I lived there for four years, then moved here, then moved back when I was eight and came back here when I was twelve and haven't been there since. Basically we've just gone back and forth. I'm probably going with my parents next summer. We'll stay with friends of theirs."
"I'm probably going then, too." I said. "By the way, my name is Mimi."
"Oh, I'm Meg."
Meg? That didn't sound Japanese to me.
She must have noticed because she said, "It's really Megumi but no one calls me that."
"Oh. Where did you live?" I asked.
"Odaiba," she replied.
"That's where I used to live!" I exclaimed.
"Cool. They have this son that they want to set me up with. Maybe you know him. My parents say I'm on the computer too much and I never get out. But he's like a computer genius or something."
"What's his name?"
"It's Koushiro."
"I don't think so. It sounds familiar though."
"Well, if he turns out to be a jerk, you could always introduce me to someone you know."
I laughed. "I don't think you'd be interested in them. Matt's really cute but he has like a ton of girls drooling all over him. He's a musician. Joe would kill me if I set him up. Izzy is a computer fanatic but the only girls he really talks to are my friends and me. His computer is his first and only love. And Tai is reserved for Sora, even though neither of them will admit that they like eachother."
"Wow, you have a lot of guy friends."
"We've been friends for years."
"Yeah, but still."
I shrugged. I certainly couldn't tell her why were friends. But it doesn't seem weird to me. I guess other people will never understand the bond we have.
* * * * * *
"Oh, wonderful… uh huh… great…"
Mom was talking to her friend in New York. They're coming here soon. I'm not sure when. I'll find out as soon as Mom gets off the phone.
My parents are pretty excited about this. I'm dreading it. They have this daughter that they want me to go out with. Just my luck. This completely ruins my plans for the summer. All I want to do is relax, hang out with my friends, save the DigiWorld… basically normal stuff. The only girl I'm excited about seeing is Mimi. She's staying with Sora for the whole summer. We all decided we were going to spend a lot of time together. It was going to be like old times. But now this. I'll be lucky if I can be with them at all.
Mom hung up the phone and poked her head in. "Izzy?"
"Yeah, Mom?"
"We've finally got a date! They're coming two weeks from Tuesday."
"Tuesday? That's when Mimi comes!"
"Well, it's no surprise. They're from New York, too, remember? They might even have the same flight."
"When is it?"
"I believe it is 10:45."
"That's the same time as Mimi's does." This makes things even worse. We were all going to meet her at the airport together. Now I won't even have a minute alone with the others.
"We're all going to meet them at the airport."
"I don't have to stay with you, do I? All my friends are going to be there."
"You can do both. Meet Mimi and the Katos."
"Wonderful."
"Izzy, don't be so unenthusiastic. You're a teenage boy. You should be spending as much time with girls as you do online."
"What do you think I do online?"
"That isn't funny."
"I spend plenty of time with girls. Mimi's a girl. Sora's a girl. Yolei and Kari are girls. You're a girl."
"You know what I mean."
"Come on, Mom. It's not fair."
"It's plenty fair. Get out of that virtual world and come into the real world for a change."
"Digital."
"Whatever. Computers are not everything. When was the last time you did something outside? And I don't mean sitting outside with your laptop."
"Well, I…"
"Exactly. Well, you'd better start." Mom sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm only doing this because I care about you."
I sighed, too. "I know. Are we done yet?"
"Yes." Mom left and I turned back to my computer.
* * * * * *
"What time is it?" Joe asked for the hundredth time.
"We still have ten minutes." Sora replied. "It's probably going to be late anyway."
"I hope not. I have a rehearsal in a half-hour." Matt said.
"I just want to get this over with."
"Aren't you looking forward to it?" Tai asked me.
"I'm looking forward to seeing Mimi. But my parents' friends are coming, too. That's why they're here." I pointed to them standing a few feet away from us. "They're staying for the whole summer and they have a daughter our age."
"Too bad," said Joe. "I'd hate it if I was set up."
"Yeah," added Matt. I think that almost never works out. Especially when your parents do it. Either she's going to be a snob or a real weirdo. Never normal. That's too good to be true."
"She can't be that bad." Tai piped up. "But if you don't like her, I'm available." Sora glared at him. "Just kidding." He said meekly. If those two don't like eachother, then I don't like computers.
"Flight 300 from New York will be arriving momentarily," came a voice from the overhead speakers.
"Finally!" Joe exclaimed.
The plane landed and the passengers started filing out. A middle-aged couple ran over and hugged my parents.
The woman turned to me. "You must be Izzy. The last time I saw you, you were a little kid. He's so handsome." She said to my mom.
I tried not to show my disgust. I hate it when people do that. "Nice to see you, Mr. and Mrs. Kato." Tai made gagging noises next to me. We ignored him.
A minute later I saw girl with pink hair and yellow stars in it. She was talking to a girl we didn't know. But we knew her.
"Mimi!" We all shouted.
She hurried over to us. "Oh, I've missed you guys so much!"
"We've missed you, too." Sora said. The two best friends hugged.
"Wow, that is pink."
Mimi laughed. "Joe!" She hugged him so hard she nearly knocked his glasses off. Then she hugged Kari and TK and then Tai and Matt. Lastly, she hugged me.
"Where are the others? I was hoping they'd be here."
"Yolei had a family reunion this weekend. When I told her she was going to miss your arrival, she had a fit. My right ear is still recovering. And Cody had this kendo tournament thing. I'm not sure about Davis."
"He went to a two week soccer clinic." Kari replied. "His coach made the whole team go. I wish he hadn't left."
"Why? You don't miss him, do you?" TK asked worriedly.
"No, although it's weird without him. I just wish he were here because while he's gone, I'm stuck taking care of DemiVeemon."
While we were talking to Mimi, the girl she was talking to went over to my parents and the Katos.
"Izzy," Mrs. Kato said. "This is our daughter Meg."
"Oh, um, nice to meet you."
"No way!" Mimi said.
"This is strange." Meg commented.
"What is?" I asked confused.
"I don't believe it."
"Believe what?"
"We go to the same school." Meg explained.
Mimi didn't say anything. She just kinda stood there gaping at us.
* * * * * *
This is too weird. Out of all the people in Japan, Meg's parents went to set her up with Izzy.
I could see them being a good match for eachother, because of their similar interests. And I can see why their parents feel that they need to get away from a computer screen. But, even though it makes sense, I'm not too happy about it. For one thing, I'm upset at my own forgetfulness for not remembering Izzy's real name is Koushiro. And I have this weird feeling. It's even stranger than this. But it could possibly be jealousy. I don't know why. Izzy and I are friends and all, but we've never been that close. Aside from being Digi-Destined, we never really had much of a connection to eachother. Think about it. We're completely and totally opposites. But then there's the saying "opposites attract." I never really believed it. Izzy probably only believes the scientific part of it. Still… what is it then? No matter how hard I try, I just can't think of another explanation.
* * * * * * *
After we left the airport and dropped their luggage off at home, the six of us went out to dinner. I, to my dismay, was seated next to Meg.
"So, Izzy, how's everything going?" Mr. Kato asked.
"Fine, I guess."
"Your parents told us you were very good with computers." Mrs. Kato said.
"Well, I…"
"Izzy practically lives on his computer. It's on all the time." My dad said.
Why must they always make such a big deal out of this? It's not like it's a bad thing.
"Meg's is, too," said her mother. "I can't even figure out how to turn it on, and she makes the most complicated thing look like nothing." Meg blushed.
"What kind of computer do you have?" I asked. It was the first question that popped into my mind. Maybe I need to get another hobby. My aim was to somehow draw the conversation away from computers. Not to mention us.
"Um, a Compaq." She replied.
"Oh, those are good. I don't see them too often here, but I've heard."
"It was ranked second in America when I got it. DEL was the first, I think."
"Oh." We grew silent. Meg picked at her salad.
"You two should go out tomorrow. Show her around. We'd take you all tonight, but I'm sure you're tired from your flight."
"Of course. I'm sure you would have more fun without us anyway."
Meg and I both gave our mothers looks. I don't know about her, but mine said plainly; "Get me out of this!" She returned it with a classic, motherly; "I don't think so," look.
I gave up. I knew there was no arguing with her. "I guess." I said glumly.
"Wonderful!" Mrs. Kato said. "I'm sure you two will have a great time together."
"Yeah, great." As great as getting a tooth pulled. I added silently.
* * * * * *
"Mimi, did you ever hear of packing light?" Sora asked me. We were carrying my bags into her apartment.
"I'm staying the whole summer. I need all these suitcases."
"10 of them? When you go home, they're going to have to send you luggage on a separate plane. I'm sure you're going to have double the amount once you leave."
"No, I won't. I'll have triple."
Sora cracked up. She opened the door.
"Mom?" No one answered. "I guess she isn't home. I'll see if she left a note."
Sure enough, there was a note on the kitchen table.
It read:
I'll be home soon. I was invited to see my friend's begonias and I just couldn't pass it up. Dinner's on the stove. You don' t have to wait for me.
Love,
Mom
PS Welcome back Mimi!
"Do you want to eat now?"
I shook my head. I can wait. Let's go for a walk."
"Okay. Let me just write a note in case Mom comes back while we're gone." She scribbled something on the paper and we went outside.
"It is so great to be back." I said. "I've missed it here so much."
"Don't you like it in New York?" she asked.
"Yes, but it's so different. This will always be home for me."
"What do you want to do tomorrow?"
"Guess." I replied.
"Shop, shop and shop some more."
"You know me too well."
"Hey, see that guy over there?"
"Which one?" I asked.
"The one that's staring at you."
"That guy over there?"
"Yeah."
"What about him?"
"Don't you recognize him? Well, I guess it's been a while. That's Sekio. He went to our camp."
"Oh, now I remember."
"He's coming over." He walked over to us. "Hey," said Sora.
"Oh, hi Sora." He said without looking at her.
"You remember Mimi right?"
"Oh, yeah. You moved back?"
"No, I'm just staying with Sora for the summer."
"Cool. Are you busy tomorrow?"
"No."
"Do you want to go to the movies with me?"
"Sure," I said.
"Great. I'll pick you up at 7, okay?"
"Okay."
"See you tomorrow."
"Typical Mimi." Sora teased. "You barely been here for five minutes and already you have a date. No wonder I'm still single. You've taken them all."
"Not all of them. Tai's available." I replied.
"Yeah, leave me with the bad ones."
"Whatever you say."
"He's my friend. Not my boyfriend."
"I never said he was."
"But you implied that I like him."
"I never said that either. You must be imagining things."
"I do not like Tai!" Sora exclaimed.
"Okay, okay. I was kidding." That wasn't exactly true. If Sora doesn't like Tai, then I don't like shopping.
Sora must have read my mind about the last part because she said: "You're going to miss some shopping if you go out with him."
"No, I won't. We have to go to the mall tonight."
"We?"
"Yeah. We can invite Kari to come with us. It'll be a girls night out."
Sora groaned. "I need to learn to keep my mouth shut."
"At least I'm happy. Right?"
"That makes me feel so much better." Sora said dryly.
"It'll be fun. I'm sure you'll find something Tai will like on you."
That set her off. I laughed. It's good to be back.
* * * * * *
"Do you want popcorn?" Sekio asked.
"No thanks. Let's go find seats. It's going to start in ten minutes."
"'Kay." He put his arm around me.
I started to remove it. Other people might think that's something Sora or Kari would do. But I do, too. At least, on the first date. Maybe at the end if things go well. But not at the beginning.
Just as I was about to, I saw something that stopped me. Izzy and Meg had just walked in.
"Come on," I started to say. But I was too late. They had spotted me.
* * * * * *
After our sightseeing tour, which didn't seem necessary since she was originally from Japan and has been here before, our parents convinced us to go see a movie while they went to a play or something.
We were engaged in a very dull conversation. About what, I don't know. I just nodded with an occasional "uh huh."
I was trying to figure out a possible way to fake my own death when she said: "And Mimi said that your first and only love was your computer."
"What?" That caught my attention. "What brought that up?"
"She was telling me about all of you."
"Oh. Right. I knew that." I'm not surprised that Mimi said that about me. But I was a little hurt. Is that all she thinks of me? A computer geek? She's called me that before. Of course, people say mean things when they're starving, and they're friends are ignoring them, I still feel bad about that, but still. I guess I've always taken our friendship for more than what it was. The only reason she hangs out with me at all is because of the DigiWorld. We wouldn't be friends for anything else. That bugs me. I don't know why I care.
I tried to put Mimi out of my mind. How hard that turned out to be.
"Hey, look! It's Mimi!" She appeared to be relieved. "Let's go say hi."
"I don't know…" I began.
"Why not?" Without waiting for an answer, she practically dragged me along.
"Oh, hey guys." Mimi said. She didn't seem too thrilled to see us either. "Sekio, you know Izzy right?"
"Oh, yeah. You're that computer guy."
For the first time, I noticed the guy with her. I don't know how I didn't notice. He was all over her like a bad suit. Well, I'm exaggerating. But he had his arm around her.
Needless to say, I wasn't very happy about this. So unhappy, in fact, that I put my arm around Meg. She looked surprised, but she didn't resist. For a moment, I felt bad about leading her on like that. But I can't change it now.
* * * * * *
I couldn't help but notice the look on Izzy's face when he saw Sekio with his arm around me. And then he put his arm around Meg. Even though I wasn't thrilled with them together, Meg is my friend and I don't want to see her get hurt. I don't think he did it because of me. He probably doesn't like Sekio and he's trying to prove himself or some macho thing that Izzy doesn't normally do. That must be it. It's certainly better for me than the other explanation that's been nagging at my mind: that they really do like eachother.
"Are you guys going anywhere after the movie?" Sekio asked them.
Meg shrugged. "I don't think so."
"You guys should come with us. We're going out for pizza."
"I don't think…" Izzy started to say.
"We'd love to." Meg cut him off.
"Um, great." I said, trying to sound as cheerful as possible.
"We're going to miss the movie." Sekio said. We all went into the theater. Only one movie shows there at a time, so we all had to see the same thing. We sat down in the middle row: Sekio, Me, Izzy and Meg at the end. I think I'd feel a lot more comfortable sitting next to Meg. Then maybe I'd forget who her date was.
At one point during the movie, I saw Meg whispering something to Izzy. He smiled and then he saw me looking at them. Embarassed, I turned away. But not before I saw her put her hand on his. For some reason, that made me sick to my stomach. Automatically, almost like I wanted to, I put my head on Sekio's shoulder. He grinned and pulled me a little closer than I would like. But I didn't do anything about it. I took a sideways glance at Izzy and Meg. They looked pretty cozy. Maybe I had been wrong. Maybe this wasn't a competition to make the other jealous; they just liked eachother. This made me feel even sicker. But that wasn't the worse part. I saw them kiss! Whether or not it was, he won. No doubt about it. I got up without a word and spent the rest of the movie in the bathroom. I just couldn't take it anymore.
* * * * * *
I couldn't believe what I did. That definitely was going too far. I had no intention of actually kissing her. All that stuff was just to try and make Mimi as jealous as she made me feel. I didn't think it was intentional at first, but when she saw Meg and me she looked so strange. Like she was either going to cry or throw up or both. Then she just got up and left. I would've gone after her, if it hadn't been for Meg. We didn't se her until the end.
I hoped they'd just forget about going for pizza. Mimi did, but Sekio and Meg didn't. Jerk. I don't even think he knew something was wrong. I just want to get this whole night over with.
The pizza place was about a block away from the theater. Mimi and I just walked in silence, but Sekio and Meg chatted cheerfully about something. At least they were enjoying it. But I felt awful for doing that to Meg and confused about Mimi's reaction. I didn't have any theories about it except one and that just seemed to far-fetched to be possible.
"What do you want on your pizza?" Sekio asked Mimi. She was staring off into space and wasn't listening.
"She likes pepperoni." I said. "Right, Mimi?"
"What? Oh, sure. Whatever."
"Pepperoni it is then." He didn't seem phased that I answered for her. "I like anchovies myself."
"Me too." Meg said. "Everyone I know hates them."
"They're nuts."
"What do you want Izzy?" asked Meg.
"Uh, pepperoni for me too, I guess."
I barely ate any when it came. Neither did Mimi. Sekio and Meg were deep in conversation. They barely said anything to us.
"Is that okay with you?" Meg asked me.
"What?"
"Sekio said he'd show me around a little."
"Didn't we do that today?" I asked, confused.
"Yeah, but she still didn't see a lot."
"You don't mind, do you Izzy?"
"No, go ahead."
"Great. Let's go."
"We'll be back in a half hour," said Sekio. Mimi nodded vaguely.
We stared at our plates, unsure of what to say to eachother. Once or twice, I attempted to make conversation but failed.
Forty-five minutes had passed, by the time they came back. They looked happy and were whispering to eachother.
"Ready to go?" Sekio asked.
Mimi popped out of her seat. "See you guys later." She practically ran out right through the door.
Sekio put some money down for the check. "I'll se you later." I heard him whisper to Meg. "Bye, Izzy." He hurried to catch up with Mimi.
I stood up and put the rest of the check and the tip on the table. "Let's get out of here."
"Izzy?" Meg said hesitantly as we left.
"What is it?"
"Well, I had fun with you tonight and all… but we, Sekio and I, really hit it off. You wouldn't mind if I went out with him tomorrow, do you?"
"No, not at all." I wasn't upset. She's better off with him anyway. But I felt sorry for Mimi. After all, he was her date. And it was because he liked her, not because their parents forced them.
"Izzy, are you okay?" Meg looked concerned.
"I'm fine. I was just thinking about something else."
"Oh. " We didn't speak to eachother the rest of the way home.
* * * * * *
"You really wouldn't mind?" Sekio seemed surprised. I guess he figured I'd have a fit or something. I really couldn't have cared less. He could marry her if he wants to. It's no concern of mine.
"Not at all. I had a very nice time. Good night." I said as I shoved my key in the lock.
I think he got the hint. "Bye," he mumbled and walked away.
I slammed the door behind me. Sora and her mom were reading in the living room.
"What's the matter?" Sora asked without looking up from her book.
"How was your date?" her mother asked.
"Awful," I managed to squeak out before all the tears I'd been trying to hold back came flooding out.
"What happened?" asked Sora. She put down her book and came over to me with a box of tissues. I took one, but I didn't say anything.
"I know something that might cheer you up," said Ms. Takenouchi.
"What?" I sniffled.
"I was talking to your parents this afternoon, and they said it was all right if you wanted to live with us."
"Thank you," I managed to say. Any other time I would have been thrilled, but after tonight, I wasn't so sure.
"Come on." Sora led me to the coach and I sat down.
"Well," I began, "We were at the movies when we bumped into Izzy and Meg. I felt a little awkward about those two in the beginning, but I figured it was nothing. Anyway, they were flirting and I was flirting with Sekio 'cause I was a little jealous. So, during the movie, he kissed her. And I…" I couldn't continue.
"You like him." Sora finished for me. I guess she had suspected it because she didn't seem very surprised.
"I guess so. I never really thought about it before until I saw them kissing."
"They're a couple now? I thought Izzy didn't want to go out with her." Sora said confused.
"He didn't and they're not. She likes Sekio. She's going out with him tomorrow. And he asked her after she kissed Izzy. What am I supposed to do?"
"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything." Sora picked up the phone. "I'll be right back." She went into the kitchen. Her mother and I exchanged a puzzled look.
She hung up a minute later. "We're going to lunch with Tai and Izzy." She stated.
"You called him?"
"No. Tai's going to. That's who I was talking to."
"How is that supposed to help?"
"I said I'd take care of everything and I did. Trust me."
"Okay." I don't know what they had planned to do. I was afraid to ask.
* * * * * *
"Izzy, can you get that?" My mom asked me.
"Sure, Mom." I picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Izzy."
"Oh, hi Tai." I went into my room. "What's up?"
"I was just talking to Sora."
"What else is new?"
"She told me about your date."
"Oh."
"She said Mimi seemed pretty upset."
"Yeah, I'm not sure what was wrong."
"Sora said you kissed Meg."
"Yeah, well, technically she kissed me." I said. "But she likes Sekio now."
"The four of us are going to have lunch together tomorrow."
"What do you mean, 'the four of us?'"
"Me, you, Sora and Mimi."
"I don't know Tai. Mimi and I aren't that comfortable around eachother lately."
"So now you will be. It's your chance."
"What chance?"
"I thought you were the smart one." Tai said. "Your chance to tell Mimi how you feel about her."
"What? We're just friends."
"Come on, Izzy. I know you like her."
"I do not!"
"Yes, you do. And she likes you, too."
"No, she doesn't."
"Yes, she does. Why do you think she was so upset when you and Meg kissed?"
I didn't have an answer for that one."
"Look. Sora and I will be around. I'll lend you some of my courage if you need it."
I considered it for a moment. Maybe I could tell her. It wasn't impossible. And maybe it isn't so preposterous for her to like me too. That decided it for me. But not without a condition.
"Okay, I'll tell her. But you have to tell Sora how you feel."
"What? No. Do not make this about Sora and me. This is about you and Mimi."
"So you do like her."
"I did not say that. Sora is my best friend and nothing more."
"Whatever you say, Tai." I laughed.
"Shut up. You're coming even if I have to drag you. So don't even think about not showing. I'll see you tomorrow." He hung up.
I put down the phone.
"Who was that?" Mom asked.
"Just Tai."
"Oh, did he say anything interesting?" My dad inquired.
"No, just stuff." I said lightly. "Nothing important.
"Okay." But I had a feeling they believed me even less than I believed Tai.
* * * * * *
Tai and Izzy were already seated when Sora and I came.
"Hey, guys!" Sora said cheerfully. We sat across from them.
"Hey. What's up?" Tai said.
"Not much." Sora replied. They started talking, both to eachother and to us, and before we knew it, Izzy and I were having a conversation of our own. I should have had more faith in Tai and Sora. They know how to get a couple to end their problems. After all, they have to do it for themselves all the time. Wait a second. Did I just say Izzy and me are a couple? I think I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
"Aren't we going to that soccer game?" Tai asked Sora while we were walking home.
"Oh, right. We'll see you guys later." They rushed around a corner. Now it was just Izzy and me.
* * * * * *
Now was my chance. I think Tai and Sora said that about the soccer game just so they could leave us alone.
I took a deep breath. It was now or never. "Mimi?" I began.
"Yes?"
"I just wanted to know if…"
"What?"
"It's just, I really like you. I was wondering, do you think we could go out sometime?"
"Like on a date?"
"Well, yeah. It was just a thought. Don't feel obligated to, I just figured…"
"I'd love to."
"You would?"
"Of course I would."
I let out a sigh of relief. "Great."
"It's strange isn't it?"
"What is?"
"Don't you think it's an odd coincidence that I became friends with Meg and she went out with you and now we're going out together?"
"Yes, it is strange."
"Hmm. But maybe it wasn't a coincidence. Maybe it's fate. But you don't believe in that stuff, do you?"
"I didn't use to. But now I think I've changed my mind."
* Coming Soon*
Well, eventually. There will be a Taiora sequel to this, someday. But I have a lot of other stories to write first, so I don't know when that'll be.