CHAPTER 10: On the Floor

"Derek…" Matt said with gritted teeth.

"Matt!" Derek seemed to be pretty pleased on seeing Matt.

He is still acting, the hypocrite. Matt thought. He was really boiling with rage and was trying pretty hard to keep in control of himself.

"Matt, what is wrong?"

That was it. Within seconds Derek was on the floor with Matt's fist in his face.

Derek seemed to be shocked but immediately pushed Matt back and sat up. "Matt….." Then suddenly comprehension dawned on his face. "You have met Kevin, haven't you?"

"Yes and he has told me what kind of a beast you are you fucker." Matt said and was about to pounce back on him.

"Matt. He is wrong. You'll have to listen to me."

"You are not worth being heard."

"If Kevin is worth being heard, then I most definitely am. Matt it was not I who kidnapped Mimi but someone else. Somebody you don't even know."

"How do I believe you?"

"How did you believe Kevin?"

"It is you or else what are you doing in Odaiba in this building."

"I have a pretty good reason. If only you'd hear me out."

"MATT!" T.K. came running towards him with Kari and following them was a most stunning blond woman. Matt remembered her from that day…..Claudia.

Sora was totally freaked out. She was taking deep breathes still. She was on the verge of fainting but had to force her eyes to stay wide. She was not even daring to blink in case she slept or became unconscious or anything. She was at a loss regarding what to do. Just then she heard something which gave her goose bumps.

"Sora…. I know you're here…..come out before I drag you out."

Daniel was almost singing the words.

He is a maniac. Sora thought. Now she didn't even dare breathe too loudly. She held her knees to her chest. She was petrified. Tai….How much she wanted him just now. How much she wanted to hug him. That is when a realization came across her. This must be how Mimi must have felt….or rather was still feeling…. That thought made her even more uncomfortable. Daniel was still speaking. She could hear burnt doors being opened and closed as Daniel searched for her. His voice was coming closer and closer. She knew she didn't have much time. She looked around fervently for something she could use as a weapon but all she could see were ashes and a few old pieces of wooden furniture….nothing which she could find.

And then finally the door opened. Sora tried not to panic preparing for the worst. She didn't even look up and buried her face in her knees and felt hands around her shoulders. "Sora….."

The voice sent hope down Sora's body. The voice was gentle and soft. And Sora pulled her head up to look into the chocolate brown eyes of the person holding her. He looked so good at the time. Just the last person she expected to see here but the one she had been craving for the most. All sorts of questions ran through her head. How did he find her? When did he come to Odaiba as a matter of fact? But none of that mattered any more. Nothing did except the fact that he was there and holding her in his arms.

She hugged him as she had so long wanting to do so. And then she couldn't help it. She burst out the tears she had long since been holding back and wet his shirt.

"Tai….." She whispered.

"Sora, what happened?" There was a hint of worry behind the calm voice.

"I….. Just I have wanted you for so long…" Sora said and before she realized what she was doing, she placed her lips on his and kissed and to her surprise he kissed back. That was the best kiss she had ever had with any boyfriend….. In fact there was no comparison. She didn't want it to end but as she came to her senses and realized what she was doing she hastily pulled back red in the face and looked at him but to her surprise he was smiling.

"Tai…."

"I love you Sora. I…..I never ever realized this. But I always did. I misinterpreted the love but now I understand it. I was an idiot to date Jacqueline or any girl I ever dated. I….I almost thought that I lost you to Daniel who is a freak I must say. He missed this door apparently searching for you and just now I find you here and you kissed me and…."

"Tai you are blabbering!" Sora said laughing.

Now it was Tai's turn to turn red. "Um…you get it, right?"

Sora leaned forward and whispered in his ears. "I love you too."

Tai then gazed at her. He ran a cool hand down her bruise and the clots and scars. His touch made Sora feel good. And the look in his eyes changed. He was really mad now.

"That idiot of a Daniel did this, didn't he?"

Sora nodded.

"It… I had to pretend to love him Tai. It was necessary…"

"Necessary!" Tai said.

Okay he is really way too mad now.

"You mean this." He jerked his hands towards Sora's bruise. "You better have a good explanation for this."

"How about I tell you Tai?" A voice said. Both Tai and Sora turned to see Daniel standing in the doorway. "She did this because I had her beautiful best friend."

Tai's eyes widened at that as he turned to look back at Sora who nodded.

"Yes, don't be too shocked. I have Mimi. But I am not satisfied with her. Ah! I so hate people who are satisfied, they never seem to want more but I do and now I want your girlfriend." Daniel was now barely a foot away from there. Tai and Sora had stood up to. Tai stood protectively in front of her.

"You dare lay a finger on her….."

"You of course Tai are free to go. Leave her and go take your friends and never return. I might even let Mimi go. Just give me Sora."

"Trust somebody like you to suggest such a thing."

"Ah! I knew it. You and Matt are too heroic for it. But let me ask Sora. I know that she too is heroic and thus she will have a different answer than you. Sora, I will let Mimi go….forever. She will want a taste of freedom of course, wouldn't she? You also want it for her, don't you? Well you can give it to her. Just ask your over protective boyfriend to let me have you and Mimi can go."

"Tai…" Sora said. " I am willing to do it….for Mimi."

"Sora!" Tai said a bit frustrated and a bit angry and a bit annoyed and a bit protective. "You know Mimi would never want that and we can deal with this jerk and get Mimi too!"

Daniel completely ignoring Tai continued to address Sora. "It is a bargain Sora. Jacqueline is right there with Mimi. She is on the fifth floor of this building Sora."

Tai caught a word which stunned him in Daniel's sentence. "Jacqueline…She…..she is involved in Mimi's kidnapping."

"Yes of course she is dude! She played it bad with you but it was on my instructions. This was all my plan to distract you. So I could get the chick here. You fell for it and I almost got her…" Daniel could not speak further because now he and Tai were rolling on the floor hitting each other wherever they could.

Sora looked around again. She had to do something. She was not letting Tai get hurt though he did seem to be stronger than Daniel but Daniel was more quick and a bit…..experienced. Of course Tai had experience with Digimon and Matt….but that was almost it. Tai was usually a friendly guy and hardly ever got into even verbal fights with anyone forget rolling on the floor with a psycho…God knows what he was!

Then she caught it a sharp piece of wood. She ran up and stabbed Daniel on the leg. He gave a yelp and collapsed back hitting his head hard. She pulled up Tai and the two ran out of the place.

They were so close again. Mimi knew Matt was there. She had heard Jacqueline speak to Daniel about them. She so badly wanted to get to him. But she had lost all her strength in the past few years. Besides today she had not eaten anything since nobody had been around there.

Now she could see Jacqueline glaring at her tied up figure with those sly green eyes of hers. Then Jacqueline spoke. "You will be free soon if Daniel succeeds."

"I would rather not be free if the cost of freedom is my best friend."

Jacqueline shrugged. "Well then both of you can enjoy your life together since Sora will be here at any cost."

"You are not even worth being called humans." Mimi said.

Jacqueline was about to retort when suddenly a loud scream echoed. "Daniel…" Jacqueline whispered.

She jumped up and ran out.

Mimi stared after her. Had one of her friends succeeded in doing off with Daniel? She had never heard Daniel scream. And it sounded like he was in great pain.

Within seconds Jacqueline came running back. "Your friends have gone a step too far." She said. "They are going to pay." And from a small drawer placed there she grabbed a revolver and moved back out.

Mimi stared after her terrified for them out there. She prayed silently that nothing would happen to Matt or Sora or anyone…..

"Daniel…..of course…D for Daniel!" Matt said as he, T.K., Kari, Derek and Claudia paced inside the building.

"I am sorry we should have informed you." said Claudia.

"You sure don't look like an Interpol agent!" T.K. said.

Claudia shrugged. "I am not supposed to or else I wouldn't have been able to pull it off this long."

"My head is still spinning from your bizarre story."

"My only regret is…..Diana…The person I did this for. And she is gone." Derek said.

"Don't worry Derek. Once we get our hands on these people they will never ever touch a girl again." Claudia said. And she gave Derek a reassuring smile which he returned.

They like each other. Kari thought.

Just then Matt banged into Tai. He stared at Tai and Sora. And let me add that by that time Tai was of course not in a too good condition. And well we know of Sora….

"My God! What has happened to you two?"

"Fifth floor! Mimi!" Sora panted.

"Of course! Fifth floor." Claudia said turning to Derek. "The place he gave to Jacqueline!"

"You?" Tai said staring at Claudia.

Matt shook his head and said "No time! Let's get Mimi and then there will be a lot of time for…SORA!"

Tai swiftly turned around at Matt's tone only to see his ex-girlfriend holding a gun at the head of his present girlfriend.

I do so love cliffhangers! Though I am guessing you guys don't! I was listening to real rapid songs while writing this so this took me ages to write since I'd start singing! Hope you guys enjoyed. The next chapter will contain all the explanations and Matt- Mimi meeting. After that will be the last chapter, the epilogue. I am open to any suggestions regarding the epilogue. I will try to update as quick as possible cause my half-yearlies are approaching and I'd like to get it over before them. I hope the part with Tai and Sora was okay. I really didn't think and just wrote it as I was typing well but then I don't seriously think about anything! Sorry for the short chapter! I will try my best to make the next one longer

And please! It won't hurt you to review!

Missylesa; Thanks!It was not Derek! So no explanation!

Lilyangel003; Thanks!

Taioramimatotakari567; Thanks!Yup! They are definitely cute! But Mimato is my second fav. couple. Taiora's my fav.

Yami Ishida; Thanks! I will try to update as soon as possible.