Author's Notes: One more chapter down.

I kind of want to write a friendship story about Mimi, Sora, Miyako, and Hikari hanging out, mostly because of something that happens with Hikari in this chapter. I'm focusing on this story though for now.

Thanks again to everyone who reviewed, favorited, or followed this story.

By the time Sora and Yamato had gotten back, Taichi felt like he could hang out with Sora like he used to. Then she actually walked through the door and his confidence fell; still he was the Child of Courage, leader of the original Chosen Children, surely he could talk to an old friend.

It wasn't going as well as he hoped.

He ended up seated in between Mimi and Sora on the couch, while Yamato was sitting to Mimi's right. It was really uncomfortable really; Mimi and Yamato were acting flirty (in Mimi's case) and shy (in Yamato's case) and it was getting on his nerves. In addition to that, he was hyper-aware of Sora; he noticed the slightest of movements from her, from her pushing a piece of hair behind her ear to her knee brushing up against his.

He never used to be this aware of Sora, this on edge around her. He wasn't sure how to fix it either.

Luckily, before this torment could go on the others finally got here.

Koushirou and Hikari arrived within minutes of each other. He practically threw himself at their feet in gratitude for finally showing up and breaking the awkwardness; it was also nice to see them since they had both gone to different universities and he didn't get to see them as much.

Koushirou was studying computer science or programming or something (Koushirou had tried to explain to him what he was actually majoring in once and he had dozed off in the first few minutes of the explanation) while Hikari was studying education; she was going to the same university as Takeru, Yamato's little brother and her boyfriend of two years, who was studying journalism.

He shook hands with Koushriou and gave his little sister a big hug.

She hugged back just as tight. "I missed you, Tai."

"I missed you too, Kari."

The next few minutes were taken up by an exchange of greetings and then Hikari and Koushirou both took seats next to the couch. Taichi's stomach rumbled in hunger and he asked, "Can we start eating without Takeru?"

Sora rolled her eyes. "You can't wait?"

"I'm hungry."

She was about to say something back, something probably very sarcastic if he knew her, but then Hikari spoke up, "Actually, I don't think he's coming."

She was fidgeting nervously in her chair, which only intensified when everyone turned to look at her. Without meeting anyone's eyes, especially her brother's, she explained, "Yeah, we had a fight before I left."

Taichi was very concerned now. Takeru and Hikari got along so well, it was almost shocking to hear that they were having some kind of fight. Logically, he knew that they had to argue sometimes, every couple did, but it was still weird.

"You two don't usually have huge fights. It'll probably blow over soon."

"No." She paused for a minute, looking unsure of how she wanted to express what she was about to say, and then finally said, "In fact…we kind of…broke up."

Taichi stood. "I'll kill him."

Hikari objected and Sora tried to grab him by the arm, but he dodged her and rushed out the door. Sora, muttering darkly under her breath, went after him.

The others were stunned for a moment but then Yamato recovered first. "Anyone want pizza?" When no one answered right away, he went into the kitchen and brought out one slice for himself and once for Mimi.

She looked surprised for a moment and then smiled up at him. She opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by Koushirou.

"You're not worried that Taichi will murder your brother?"

Yamato shrugged. "Not really. Sora's going to talk him down, like usual, and he'll be back up here for pizza."

Sora was being infuriatingly calm about the Takeru and Hikari situation.

While he was pissed off and pacing around the hallway waiting for that damned elevator to get her (and internally debating whether he should just take the stairs), she was leaning against the wall, hands in her pockets, and looking at him like he was crazy.

This was not an unfair assessment though Taichi would never admit it and Sora would probably use an adjective other than "crazy" to describe him.

She said in a measured tone, "They broke up. It happens. Stop acting like Takeru ran over your cat and come back inside for pizza."

He glared at her and she stared back unflinchingly. Her calmness was unnerving and he broke eye contact first. He wasn't any less angry though and he continued ranting, "That jerk obviously broke her heart-

"You're just assuming that, Tai. Kari could have broken up with him or it could have been mutual for all we know. You're acting ridiculously."

"No, I'm not. You don't get it, she's my sister and-"

"She doesn't need you to fight her battles for her." He opened his mouth to retort but Sora didn't pause for him to speak, "She's eighteen now, Tai, not eight, she has to be able to fix her own problems without you helping her. Besides you can't protect her from everything, that's impossible."

He didn't want to admit it, but she had a point. He was always trying to protect Hikari, ever since she nearly died of pneumonia when she was little, but even he had to admit that he had to back off a little. Even Yamato, who used to be as protective of Takeru, didn't lose his cool over their siblings breaking up. He overreacted plain and simple.

That didn't admit he had to be happy about being wrong.

He glared at her and muttered, "You and your logic. Why do you always have to make so much sense?"

She shrugged. "It's just one of my many charms."

He snorted and then nearly jumped when she reached out and grabbed him by the hand. Not meeting his gaze, she walked back into the apartment, tugging him behind her. He wondered if she was afraid he'd run off after Takeru if she let go; she didn't have to worry, lecturing people was practically her super power.

Still it felt nice, she had very warm hands.

Even after she let go to get pizza, he could still feel the sensation of her holding his hand in hers.

Author's Notes: This chapter was going to be longer originally, but I decided to move some more Taiora relationship development to the next chapter.

Constructive criticism is accepted.