YEA! I got reviews! That's so cool. Anyway, I got this out as fast as I could humanly do.
*NOTE* Some people are happy I used Matt as the bad guy..some aren't. I don't really care one way or another. I love Taiora and Sorato equally, but since this is a Taiora story, I used Matt as the bad guy. If it was Sorato, it would've been the other way around! I wanted the bad guy to be a digidestined and since Sora and Matt are together in the series, he would've been believable for the bad guy, okay? Sry, I had to say that!

*~*~*~*~*

Sorry Doesn't Cut It
by: lily-angel

"If you're going to do something tonight that you'll be sorry for in the morning, sleep late." - Henry Youngman

*~*~*~*~*

The black-blue night sky twinkled with millions upon millions of bright stars. They showed no emotion, but yet seemed like they were crying for the princess...

Quietly, Sora took all of her clothes out of the satchel and put them back in their place, still sniffling. Her so-called 'finacee' Yamato was threating to kill her mother and father...or worse, her one and only true love Taichi. Her hand went slowly to her cheek, where he had slapped her. She winced as she softly touched it.

For the first time in her life, Sora was scared.

She had finally found love, and then all hope of it was shattered. They were going to run away...then they could be together. But, Yamato found out and threatened to kill her family. He needed her to capture her father's land. There was no treaty. There would not be peace.

And it scared her to death.

Sora dropped to her knees, her tears renewed. Taichi...what would she do without him by her side? Without him protecting her from her new fate? She needed him....she loved him. Sora covered her eyes and sobbed quietly.

"Sora?" Tai whispered as he ran up to her and pulled her to him. "Oh my God...what happened?" He lifted her chin to look her in the eyes and saw the bruise on her cheek. He gently graced it, causing Sora to wince. "Who did this to you?" he asked, his blood boiling.

"Oh, Tai. I wish you were here," she said, her tears still falling, "Yamato...he found out..."

"About..." he looked her in the eyes, "...us?"

She nodded solemnly, tears rolling down her cheeks. "He...he...grabbed me and told me that if we weren't here in an hour, that he would kill my mother, father, Biyomon, and then he would find you and kill you." She sniffled, shaking her head, "I couldn't do anything but just sit there...he slapped me and called me a wench....and I couldn't do anything about it! I needed you with me so badly, Tai, I needed you by my side." She started sobbing again and Tai took her in his arms.

"Sora...I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you. I shouldn't have left you..." his eyes shimmered as he tried to hold back his own tears, "If I was already a knight, then none of this would happen. I would be a noble...but I'm not..." He looked down at the floor as if in disgrace.

"Taichi, what are you saying? That this is your fault? 'Tis no ones! Even if I have to drop the Takenouchi name and become a commoner...if that's what it takes to be with you, I'll glady do it! But, Yamato will surely kill my parents if I don't marry him..."

Tai's head snapped up, in surprise. His eyes widened and then he smirked. "You will marry him, then."

"What?! Have you gone mad?!" she stood up and stared at him, shocked, "I thought you of all people..."

Tai got up and held Sora's shoulders. "Please, love, let me finish. You will marry him. That way, you can stop the Ishida invasion from the inside, not the out. You can convince your mother that you will still need a bodyguard, so I'll be with you." He started pacing, thinking the plan up as he went. "Once you are in the castle, you can gain the trust of the King and Prince. If they try to invade, using you as bait, we can kill them in their sleep."

"Tai...it just might work. But, what if we can't kill them?? What terror would they unleash on the world if they get my father's land?" Her eyes became misty once more, thinking about the poor people of the kingdom.

"It will have to work. Sora, this might just be our one and only chance." He smiled a little, wiping the tears from Sora's beautiful face. "Don't cry. I'll be with you."

She returned his smile as best she could, "Yes...you will be with me." She leaned in towards him, and kissed him gently. He kissed her back, his arms pulling her slender body closer to him.

"Don't ever.." she started, but was cut off with a giant knock at the door. "Oh, God! Yamato!! Quick, hide, Taichi!"

Tai ran and slid himself underneath Sora's large bed, hidden by the crimson sheets. Not a second to soon, the door burst open, revealing a mad blonde.

"So," he snarled, walking closer to her, "You are still here. What a pleasent surprise." Sora looked into his eyes and was frightened by the cold ice she saw in them. She slowly stepped backwards, the fear creeping into her warm heart.

"Yes," was all she could whisper.

"So I guess your lovely Taichi is sparred...for now."

"And my parents?" she asked in a hoarse whisper, still backing slowly away from his advancing figure.

"Also sparred."

Sora kept walking backwards, not wanting him near her again. But she stopped suddenly, as her bed kept her from going any further. Yamato walked up to her, his eyes glowing with the power he had over her now.

"And I have you right where I want you," he said as he pushed her onto the bed. Sora's eyes widened in shock as she realized what he was trying to do to her. She slid backwards on the bed, trying to get away, but Yamato crawled up and was over her in a flash. He held her down and kissed her once more, forcing his tongue into her mouth.

Tai growled lowly under the bed, his hand reaching for his sword. Swiftly and silently, he unsheathed it, and began to get out from his hiding spot. No one, not even a prince, was going to get away with harassing the princess in her own room.

"Sora...Sora? Where are you?" her mother's voice called from the hall. "Sora?" She peeked her head into her room, seeing Yamato sitting on the bed, talking to Sora, who was lying down. "Ohhh...Sorry to interrupt you, Prince Yamato."

"Oh," he said, flashing a smile, "You didn't interrupt anything. Sora was just telling me how much she loves roses."

"Yes, yes, well, I'll see you in a bit, Sora, okay? I need to talk to you."

"Yes, Mother," she said, trying not to let her pain come through in her voice.

Yamato kept smiling until the Queen was away. He got up and went to the door. "You got lucky, Princess, but next time, we will continue that 'discussion'." He laughed and walked away, slamming the door as he left.

Sora could no longer hold it. "Tai..." she cried out as the tears came to her again. Tai had her in his arms as quick as he could, his blood boiling because of what Yamato tried to do to her. "Tai...I don't know how long I can stand to be with him. H escares me so much...I can't even get to my sword, must less wield it...I'm going to need you and your love to save me from ultimate pain ang suffering." she whispered, barely audible.

"And you'll get it..." he said, making the gap between them smaller, "I love you so much, Sora. I couldn't stand to be without you."

"Then you can do me one favor, Tai."

"What's that?" he asked, a childish grin creeping over his face.

"Quit choking me."

Tai laughed as he let her go. "Well, sooorry, Lil' Miss I'm-A-Princess-And-You're-Not."

"You want to be a princess?" she asked, a look of total confusion on her face.

"Sora!"

"What? You said it, not me. I merely took the opportunity and said something about it. Blame yourself. You set yourself up." She laid back down, this time relaxing. She loved the feeling of pure joy that Tai made her feel. It was like pure happiness and she had forgotten all of the pain she had felt mere seconds ago.

Taichi slinked over her, the grin replaced, "Well, you've been a bad girl and I guess you have to be punished," he said as he pulled her into a passionate kiss. They pulled apart to breathe and fell into each other's arms.

"Tai?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't ever leave me again." she said, snuggling close to him.

"I won't," he said and yawned, fatigue taking him over.

"Sleep well, my love," Sora whispered as she closed her eyes.

"You too, beautiful," he whispered back, falling asleep with his true love in his arms.

*~*~*~*~*

"Sora? You didn't come last night!" her mother said, banging on the door. "Sora! This is your mother! Open this door right now!!" Her mother waited, but when no sound was heard in the room, she opened the door and burst in. "Sora, how many times do I have to....oh, my sweet Lord..." she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. "Sora Lynn Takenouchi!!! In the name of the Holy Father, get out of that bed this instant!!!"

Sora awoke to a start, seeing her mother angry at her. But why? She didn't do anything lately....Taichi. She turned around to see her beloved bodyguard next to her in the bed. His eyes were open, but he was frozen with fear and shock. Sora knew what he was thinking. They both would be sent into the dungeon for this. "Mother, I...I can explain..." she stammered, coming to her feet and walking up to her mother.

"Explain what?!" the Queen turned around and shut the door of the princess's chambers. "Explain that I caught you in bed with a commoner... your own bodyguard?! He's supposed to protect you, not seduce you!!"

"Mother! He did not seduce me!! We didn't even do that, Mother. Just please...let us explain," she begged her mother, hoping that she would let her tell the story.

"Queen Takenouchi..." Taichi got off of the bed and bowed to his queen, "please let us explain. After that, feel free to throw us into the dungeon for breaking the law." Silently, he was praying that she was as merciful as he had heard.

The Queen looked at the two teenagers and remembered....remembered her childhood and her true love...."Alright. I'll let you explain what happened here...but that doesn't mean you're off the hook. I could still arrest you."

"Thank you, Mother!" Sora quickly sat down on the bed, followed by her mother and Tai. Sora took Tai's hand and started. "It all started yesterday afternoon...."

*~*~*~*~*

Yamato ran his hand through his hair. *What am I doing?!? I don't even like this girl...or her land. I don't wnt to do this!! It's...wrong. And what about Mimi?!? What the hell am I supposed to do about her?!*

Yamato paced in his room. His father had told him thousands of times...."This Takenouchi girl is important to my plans...She will try to run away, but if she's carrying your child..."

"NO! I won't do it!!!" he yelled, pounding his fist on the wall. "I have to tell her the truth...I can't stand to see such a sweet girl be hurt by me and my stupid loyalty!! No, I will not do it. I will not hurt her anymore than I already have. The King may be my father by blood...but not by heart."

He went to his desk, where a small painting was sitting. In it, a small Yamato and a girl with brown hair were playing, happy looks on their faces. In the background was the King and a woman next to him. That was the late queen. A warm tear ran down Yamato cheek.

"Why did you have to die, Mom?" He sat down hard and remembered all the happy times...up to a couple of months ago...

_-=Flashback=-_

"Come on, Matt! It'll be fun..." the girl smiled at him, her eyes saprkling with love.

"Mimi, you now I can't leave the castle! Mom and Father would kill me and you!"

"I'm not suppose to leave either! I mean, what if the Queen calls for her most rusted maid and I'm not here? Don't worry about it! We'll get Takeru to cover for us. Please? I want to spend some time with you...alone..." She took his hand and pulled him towards her, "Please, Yama??"

He smiled and gently kissed her, "Alright...but on one condition."

"What is that, Yama?" she looked deep into his eyes and squeezed his hand affectionally.

"Don't call me Yama." Mimi laughed as they ran to the castle stables. They found Yamato's white horse Sunnen. He helped her up and then got up himself. Mimi wrapped her arms around Matt and sighed.

"This is my most favorite place to be," she whispered.

"Mine too," he replied as they gracefully galloped out of the castle gates, towards Crystal River.

*Later...*

"Meems, what did you want to show me?" he asked as he watched her lovely figure wade ankle deep in the blue water. She raised her arms and twirled around.

"This...all this. It's so peaceful here and I wanted to share it with you." She motioned for him to join her. "Come on, Yamato," she grinned and giggled, childishly splashing in the river water.

Matt ran to her...only to trip on a rock and fall into the warm water. Mimi could hardly contain her laughter as the soaked prince tried to get up.

"What's so funny?!" he asked her as he finally got up.

"Nothing..nothing..." she tried not to smile as she said this.

"Oh, so you think it's funny that I'm all wet, huh?" He grabbed her arms and pulled her into the water with him. They came up out of the water and it was Matt's turn to laugh. He stopped and looked at her. The water made her pink dress cling to all the right place, emphasizing her petite body. He pulled her into a wet embrace and whispered in her ear:

"I'm sorry...I couldn't resist."

Mimi looked deep into his ice blue eyes. She loved him so much....much more than life itself. But did he feel the same way? She could never really be sure, unless he would tell her. But Yamato wasn't known for sharing his emotions...

Matt searched deep into her eyes. He loved her with all of his heart...but how could he tell her? *Maybe if you just said it, baka,* he thought.

"Mimi?" he said, coming out of his trance.

"Yes?"

"I love you. More than life....more than heaven. You're my angel and I want it to stay that way. You're my heaven on Earth." He waited for some sort of response from her. Maybe that's not what she wanted to hear....

Mimi smiled and brought him into a passionate kiss. "I love you with all of my heart, Yamato. Even if you are a snobby prince..."


"I am not snobby!!"

"You never know that...." Mimi was cut off by shouts and screams coming from the direction of the castle. Both looked in horror as they saw dark pillars of smoke coming from the castle...

_-=End Flashback=-_

Yamato remembered the next week as a blur. It turned out that the Queen's private north tower was attacked and burned to the ground. The only person killed was his mother...

His father became distraught, covinced it was the Takenouchi Kingdom that was responsible for the attack. He would listen to no one, not even his sons Takeru or Yamato.

Mimi was concerned for Yamto. He became even more distant. She stayed as long as she could in the castle, but since the Queen was gone, there was no use for her. She moved into a small cabin in the village and came to see Yamato everyday. But she knew that he would never be the same.

Yamato sniffled as tears ran faster down his face. *I'm telling Sora the truth, for mother and for Mimi.*

*~*~*~*~*

"I can't believe it..." Queen Takenouchi said. "That....that....OOOOOHHHHH! I'm going to kill him!"

"Mother, calm down! You know as well as I do that you can't do that." She still held Tai's hand, who had been quiet the whole time.

"Yes, yes, I know. I'm going to go now, the queen's duties need to be met. As for you two..." The pair winced as they waited for her decision. "Your secret is safe with me....jsut no more spending the night together."

The teenagers smiled and waved as the Queen left. "Tai...I'm so glad you're with me."

"So am I." He was about to say something else, but there came a loud knock on the door.

"Yes, who is it?" the Princess asked.

The doors creaked opened and the vistor stepped in.

"Sora...I have to talk to both of you..." Yamato said, his eyes red and tears still falling.

*~*~*~*

So...What do you think?? I thought I'd add Mimato into this. There's one more couple coming up to...can you guess it?? Anyway, review, PLEASE? Oh, and Sunnen is translated into Millenium. I love that name for a horse...sry, off topic. Until next time!!

yours truly and forever
lily-angel