Dedication of chapter: Musetta's Waltz, DarkMetalAngel of Destruction, MiMi-TaIcHi-4EvEr, JyouraKoumi! Thank you for your reviews! They're much appreciated! As for the story, it will be a Taichi x Mimi, but you gotta trust me.

Disclaimer: Don't own it. Could you ever think I would? ;-)

--XoX—

"Somehow I knew something like this was gonna happen," said a voice in her doorway.

"I'm going even if it kills me." Mimi gave him a glare. As she pulled her covers off, she admitted, "I hope it does kill me."

"You can tell Sora that you forgot to tell her you have plans with me." He crossed his arms and leaned against the door pane. Unmoved by her intentions and glares, he would only smirk at the situation…although he really did care about her.

"Michael, you and I both know I gave you the key to my apartment not because I wanna sleep with you—God forbid I ever would, but because I need someone to drag my butt outta bed." Mimi strode across the waxed wooden floors and past the blonde, her dear friend since childhood. He, however, wanted something more… The press believed the two were dating, which Mimi and her lawyer dismissed completely. The tabloids still had their eyes open.

The model continued, "How's Hollywood?" She opened her first closet filled with the casual, yet trendy attire. Wanting to go unnoticed, she chose the clothes from the prior seasons.

"Interested in being an actress for a change?" Michael raised a brow.

"To co-star with you would be a fault for my image," Mimi retorted. Michael was an Oscar award winner for best actor. He was like his father before him, and girls would swoon for his gaze.

"My people will call your people," he joked. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed dramatically. "I think you should get out of it. Seriously, you'd be asked if you could be the maid of honor and the first to say, 'Congratulations! I'm so happy for you!'"

"Well, I am."

"The dark circles under your eyes say otherwise."

"I don't care."

"You should be true to your feelings."

She cracked. No one ever tells her to be true to her feelings. No one. "I've been true to my feelings all these years, thank you very much, Mr. I'm-so-mighty! Do you think telling my best friend and her will-be fiancée I love him until my heart breaks would be good for the situation? I AM HAPPY FOR THEM! BUT I CAN'T STAND THE FACT THAT HE NEVER REALIZED I LOVE HIM!"

She was on the verge of tears now, and Michael took a step forward. "Mimi…" He cared about her and really, truly did.

"I think you should go now. I—I'm going to be late…" She turned away from him as the tear rolled off her porcelain cheek.

He understood and nodded even though she couldn't see. Michael called out to her as he made his way toward the exit, "Good luck, Mimi."

--XoX—

Lately, Taichi never felt like getting up in the morning. It all seemed routine to him: get up, dress up, and go to work. Work was this thing that pays the bills, the thing that you'd love and like if you were going to stick with it until retirement or your expiration date. Luckily, he finally told his secretary to do his wake-up calls and list the assignments that were due today as well as the meeting in two hours. He had to give the woman some credit for putting up with his fearsome and grouchy tones. The only way she would agree to it was if she got a raise. Smart woman.

The phone rang. Expecting his secretary, he picked it up after the second ring, "Hello?"

"Mr. Yagami, rumor has it that you've been out of the country canoodling with Wall Street. Unfortunately, someone has been rummaging through the circuits and tampering with your files… I'm calling on behalf of Microsoft—"

"I wonder what goes through your mind sometimes, Koushiro, mainly the part that controls your sense of humor." Taichi ruffled his hair and looked at his travel alarm clock: 7:15 A.M. "It's called Saturday morning, and Sora's coming in two hours."

"What happened last night? You don't return calls, do you?" Koushiro asked. Koushiro Izumi was a computer whiz and the careers to prove it. Bill Gates was proud of him and always consulted Izumi for better ways of improving Microsoft. In addition to that, Koushiro was offered a number of jobs from NASA and Sony. Sometimes Taichi wished the guy wasn't so smart.

"Would it matter if I did? What do you think happened last night?"

"Taichi, it doesn't take a genius to know you're off-center. Something's bothering you. What happened between you and Mimi?" Koushiro prodded. The redhead knew him quite well, and his common sense could always ground Taichi to open up. Besides, they were talking on the phone. The worst that could happen would be Taichi hanging up furiously and ignoring him for a week.

After a pause on his side of the line, Taichi said, "I told her that I was gonna propose to Sora as soon as I arrive in Japan."

Koushiro asked, "You're going to propose?"

Taichi braced himself for the words like, "It's about time!" or something to that extent.

"How did Mimi take it?"

"She was upset. I don't get it… I thought she'd be happy for me."

"Well, what do you think, Taichi?" Koushiro asked flatly. "You're finally realizing something?"

"What—?"

Koushiro hung up abruptly, not bothering to say good-bye.

--XoX—

"Shoot," she said. The hem of her skirt ripped, and knowing the delicate fabric, she hurried to the nearest restroom in the terminal. She was quick and resourceful when it came to clothing, much to the surprise of her childhood friends. The auburn-haired girl was once a tomboy with a need to play soccer.

She was pretty disappointed at how the airports in the United States weren't as bright and cleanly-looking as Japan's. What would it matter anyways? She pulled another skirt from her bag and hustled into a stall.

In exactly two minutes, she was out looking as bright and cheery as ever. The long flight from Tokyo wasn't that bad, and today was a promising day…

An hour and a half later…

Time flew so fast, Sora could hardly believe it. She sat in the five-star restaurant with Taichi, her long time boyfriend. It was nice to see his face again, almost like she was high above the water. Takenouchi Sora was grateful for her life—a strong circle of friends, parents to support her, boyfriend to always love her, the soaring career, and being able to say that she lived life. It brought a smile to her face that life was going so well…

"We have to wait for Mimi! I haven't seen her since the fall showing!" Sora beamed. She squeezed Taichi's hand tighter and got him to smile. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said softly, "I haven't seen you since last month." His thumb stroked her knuckles and he gave her grip a tighter squeeze.

"You look sad."

They were seated at a round table set for three people and a yellow rose in a small, yet intricate vase. Their table was in the middle of the other tables and catching views of their whole environment including the sunlight reaching out from the entry way, where Mimi happened to be standing with a small smile. From her stance, one could say that she looked like an angel.

Sora noticed Taichi's softened gaze and looked to see what he was staring at. She got up from the table and ran to her friend. Sora hugged Mimi who laughed in returning the hug and both broke into conversation.

"How've you been? You look wonderful, Mimi!" Sora said.

"Thanks, how was your flight?"

"It was good, but I'd like some real food now."

They joined Taichi at the table and he nodded to Mimi, who gave him a small smile. He would watch her reactions…

"So how is everything, Mimi?"

"Pretty good."

Taichi perceived her reply—slightly dropped tone. He analyzed her smile—a sad one. Her eyes had joy, but she blinked often…

"Modeling is everything I dreamed it would be, but with shows and shows, I begin to wonder what else I can do."

"You mean like acting?"

"I don't think so."

"I'm sure Michael could help you," Sora suggested. "Are you two dating?" She laughed pleasantly and sincerely.

"No, it'd never be that way, but he has been hoping we'd get together. After all, that's what the magazines hope for these days. But I think singing and cooking would be a lot more interesting actually."

Taichi reminisced their earlier years together. He had met everyone when they were in summer camp. Mimi was always popular with the karaoke and was once hailed "Princess Mimi". She really had the beautiful voice, and everyone thought that she could be a singer if not a model when she grew up. But cooking?

"I never knew you cook," Taichi said. He grinned and watched the lady animatedly explain.

"I usually like Sam—(she turned to Sora)—that's my butler, and his cooking," she said. "I have to admit baking sweets is so much fun. Sora, you have to try my crème brûlée!"

Sora laughed and agreed. "All this talking makes me hungry. Tai, what do you want to order?"

Lunch went on, and Sora asked Taichi and Mimi if they heard anything from their old friends. She learned that Michael was beginning to work on another million dollar movie as the main character and Miyako and Ken were happily married with a second kid on the way. Koushiro, as Taichi explained, was making new computer programs that were more efficient than the firewalls. Takeru and Hikari were also dating, much to the dismay of Taichi, who suffered from the Big Brother Complex. As for Jyou, the last anyone heard from was that he was becoming a neurologist.

Mimi asked Taichi, "Have you heard from Yamato lately?" Out of the corner of her eye, she could have sworn Sora twitched.

"He's happy with his solo career. I hate to say it, but the guy's bigger than ever since he broke the band up. Why do you wanna know?"

Men sucked with subtleties. Mimi always knew that. She cast him a glance, both flirtatious and intimidating, "Just wanna know how he was doing. I'll have to visit him some time."

Sora said, "Yeah, it would be nice to visit him. That'd be a much better idea than calling him. His manager is getting a little paranoid because he has had some stalkers in the past." She laughed with the image bright in her mind. Something was haunting her at the back of her mind, but she pushed most of it away. She looked to Mimi who nibbled on the chocolate mousse.

"So have you found the perfect guy, Mimi?"

The question haunted Mimi. Taichi's ears perked up, and Sora noticed the silence.

But Mimi, still able to smile, replied humorously, "How would I know? Do you know a guy that's perfect?"

"No," Sora shook her head. "I just know one who's perfect for me." Taichi looked at her as he thought, 'Does she know?' "Have you found any guy like that?"

"If I have, I would hope finds the perfect girl for him. I trust my intuition as I trust his."

Whether or not it was intentional, it was enough for him to pale. He reached a hand into his pocket and fingered the velvet box. Unbeknownst to him, Sora rested her hand on Mimi's as she mouthed the words, 'Thank you.'

Taichi felt as though this was so wrong, but another part of him ignored that part, somehow afraid that those feelings were true. It was just cold feet, right?

Cold feet. Oh god, this was it.

He looked up and saw the other two girls, watching him.

It broke his heart to hear Mimi say, "Do you have something to show us, Tai? But if it's personal I think Sora should know." She let go of Sora's hand because Sora eyed him in shock and surprise. Mimi's hand pulled away faster than she expected and spilled the red wine all over her beautiful skirt.

Snapping out of a stare, Sora exclaimed, "Mimi, do you need a hand? I wish I could give you a spare skirt, but it's torn at the hem…"

"I think I'll go with that. If I tell people that I got the skirt from you, it'd be in a fashion magazine for next issue," Mimi brightened, though her smile a little off. "I'll be in the restroom."

--XoX—

"I'll be right back. I think I should help her," Sora said softly. If she was stalling, she was a titch obvious. Her cheeks turned slightly red, feeling a little awkward around her boyfriend.

Two plus two equals four. This plus this would equal… Her pupils dilated, Oh god, he was going to propose.

Taichi grabbed her hand and interjected, "Sora, wait. I need to ask you something."

Sora finally nodded and said, "Okay."

Meanwhile, Mimi looked at herself in the mirror. She was beyond pretty, and it was apparent to any guy who glanced at her for more. She stayed in the restroom now with good reason to cry about something. Losing a skirt wouldn't be as bad as losing Tai. Hell, she'd lose her all her skirts for him.

Sora's skirt didn't look all too bad. It fit Mimi perfectly, and she thought, 'Sora loves me so much, and I love her, too. Thank god she's been such a good friend. I should at least be there for her…'

Mimi entered the main room in time to see everyone pause. The waiters and waitresses stopped in their tracks as though they were held in suspension—their trays still above the shoulders. Other people who were busy eating lunch watched the handsome brown-haired man bend on one knee. The beautiful woman folded her hands and tried to keep the tears in her eyes.

"Takenouchi Sora, will you marry me?"

He was serious about her, right? He wasn't toying with her, right?

Sora bobbed her head and whispered, "Yes." She embraced him tightly as though he was her hold on life. People all around them cheered and clapped for the lovebirds. Sora cried as Taichi slipped a simple, yet elegant diamond ring on her finger. Taichi cupped her chin in his hands, and she pulled him in for a kiss.

Even Mimi clapped. She "made up her mind" and thought, 'I'll move on. Taichi's not the only one in the world, right?'

Her heart said otherwise, but there was still happiness. She strode to the table and hugged Sora and Taichi deeply. Mimi took their first photograph as groom and bride-to-be.

And as soon as Mimi put down the digital camera, Sora asked, "Mimi, I want you to be one of my bridesmaids. In fact, I want you to be my maid of honor."

Mimi, shocked, looked at her.

Sora laughed, "Mimi, I want you to be my maid of honor. Will you please?"

"Y—yeah, of course," Mimi said. Inside she was melting under Tai's gaze… Her purse gave a beep, and she gave Taichi and Sora another hug. Someone was calling her. Thank God.

"I'll see you two later!" Mimi laughed. Then she turned and bolted for the exit as fast as anyone in high heels could. To cover up her strange behavior, she fumbled with the contents of her purse as the man at the entrance opened the door.

The light of day was just too bright.

"Hello?" she asked into her cell.

"You okay?" Michael asked.

"Get me outta here," she pleaded.

"Miss Tachikawa is scheduled to leave New York at 3 P.M. thanks to yours truly. Don't worry about it. I'll fly you to Japan," said the voice on the other line. The actor was a fully certified pilot just like his father. What would she do without him? "I can't stay with you, but I talked to your friend Yamato. He'll pick you up and take you to your parents' apartment. Is that okay?"

"Thanks. I'll see you in a couple of hours. You're the best, Michael." Before he could give a witty reply, Mimi cut in, "I don't think so, Michael. See you in a couple hours." She gave a soft laugh and hung up. He was convinced Yamato could help her…

--XoX—