Longest chapter yet. I hope you like it
Disclaimer: I do not own digimon
Hotaru picked at her pasta with her silver fork.
" Not that hungry today?" Izzy asked Hotaru as he placed an identical tray down beside her. It was lunch time, and Hotaru and Izzy were the first to arrive at their lunch table outside on the lawn. The cafeteria was serving past a today, which is normally Hotaru's favourite dish. However, because of everything that happened yesterday, Hotaru had lost her appetite. Just as Tai promised, Damien did not talk to her about what happened last night. He was polite and made conversation about an upcoming school project. But, Hotaru still noticed Damien staring at her from the corner of his eye.
Hotaru shook her head in answer to Izzy's question. "Are you alright Hotaru?" Izzy asked as he sat down next to her. Izzy noticed that Hotaru had been especially quite all morning, and it also seemed like she was trying to avoid him. "Hotaru, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about," Izzy started, but he was interrupted by Matt patting him on the back.
"Hello smart people!" Matt said as he sat on the other side of Hotaru. "Guess who I brought with me?" He said laughing, as Mimi put a huge picnic basket down.
"Look everybody, Mimi bought lunch!" Screamed Davis as he ran towards the table. Kari , TK and the new digidestined fallowed behind him.
"I was bored at home, so I thought I'd make you all lunch!" Mimi said, as she started to serve the food. " Izzy, I made your favourite." Mimi said as she winked at the computer whiz. "I'm starving!" Davis cried as he squeezed in-between Izzy and Hotaru.
"It's kind of crowded here " Matt whispered in her ear, as Mimi handed her a delicious plate. "Want to ditch this crowd and sit by the tree, where you can actually breathe without smiling Davis' man stink?"
Hotaru nodded in response and fallowed Matt over to the tree near by the lunch table. Matt reached into his black backpack and pulled out a red and black checkered blanket, and placed it on the ground. He gestured Hotaru to sit on it.
"Why do you carry a blanket around in your bag?" Hotaru asked, raising her eyebrows.
Matt chuckled. He was nervous primarily, thinking Hotaru would reject his offer to sit by the tree, or force, she wouldn't talk to him. "Well, Miss Kamiya. I am a serious aspiring musician. And as an aspiring musician, it is essential that I carry around props to help me succeed." Matt grinned mysteriously.
"What ?" Hotaru asked as she crossed her legs on the blanket. Matt laughed. " I just like looking at the clouds when I have trouble with my music. And I have trouble with my music pretty much all the time."
"I heard about what happened yesterday" Matt said a few minutes later. He turned to face Hotaru. Hotaru looked at him confused. "It must be difficult to be in class with him, and have to pretend like everything is normal." Hotaru's confused expression turned to one of horror.
Hotaru's mind reced franticly. How did Matt find out about last night? DidTai tell him? They are best friends. No! No way. Tai had always protected her secret. Tai would have never told anyone about this. Then what was Matt talking about?
"What are you talking about" Hotaru asked cautiously. She could hear her heart beating like crazy
" Mimi told me about your conversation at her house yesterday" Matt explained
Hotaru let out a sigh of relief. "Oh that."
Matt laughed. "What? Did you have a very eventful night? You're not an undercover superhero are you?" Matt said laughing. "Silent brilliant girl by day, and crime fighting super hero by night." Hotaru smiled in response.
"I think it was pretty cool and mature how you handled it." Matt said. Hotaru blushed. "She loves him. " Hotaru shrugged."I believe they belong together, and Mimi will make Izzy very happy. I just want everyone to be happy."
"So have you ever loved anyone?" Matt blurted out, immediately kicking himself for being straightforward. Matt always prided himself in being a cool and slick guy, especially with the ladies.
Hotaru laughed. "You're as bold and daring as Tai said". She actually very much liked Matt's straight forward personality. She liked how he talked to her like a normal person. Everyone else she knew, include her parents, Tai, Kari, Izzy and her friends, always spoke to her like she was a child. Like she was fragile and about to break with the tiniest of words
Matt vigorously shook his head. "You know I'm not really the bad ass tai makes me sounds to be. I'm actually a pretty decent guy." Matt said sincerely.
"I know you're a good guy. You're my brother's best friend, so I doubt you're an evil villain, that I have to defeat during the night. And I love my mom, dad, sister and brother."Matt looked at her confused, wondering why she said t the last part.
"You asked me if I ever loved somebody." Hotaru said, answering the blonds' confused expression.
"Noooooo, I meant if you ever loved a boy." Matt said shaking his head, smiling. It was hard to tell if she was joking, or if she was really naive.
"Oh, well in that case, No."
" Really ? Not even one single boy? How come?"
" I thought all boys were single. Didn't know they came in doubles." Hotaru teased Matt. Matt blushed. "My old school was only girls. It's kind of hard to love a boy when the only male around you for 5 miles is 60 year old janitor who hates all students." Hotaru said laughing
So she can actually joke around Matt thought smiling. He was enjoying talking to Hotaru. Talking to her was different than what he thought it would be. Whenever he watched her talking to other people, it always seemed like she was thinking about what to say, before she said it. Similar to how Kari used to be in middle school. But, at the current moment, Hotaru was surprising him. She was even cracking some lame jokes
"So how are you holding up?" Matt asked
"Izzy?" Hotaru questioned. Matt nodded in response.
Hotaru shrugged. "It's kind of hard, when I have all the same classes with him. And today, I have to wait for Tai and Kari to finish soccer and cheerleading , so I don't know how to ditch Izzy. He's either going to tell me to come to computer club, or come sit with me in the library. Mimi said she wanted to talk to him after school, but I know he's not going to meet up with her if he thinks he has to stick around with me." Hotaru explained.
"Why don't you come to my band practice then?" Matt asked.
" Ummm-" Hotaru stuttered. Matt kicked himself mentally once more. He remembered TK telling him that Hotaru was really shy, especially around new people and boys.
" Actually, I just remembered, I don't have band practice today." Matt lied. "How about you help me pick up something Kari's birthday at the mall today?"
"umm ok?" Hotaru said not completely sure if this was a good idea.
"Don't worry about it." Matt told her noticing her hesitancy. "I will talk to Tai about it after lunch." Matt prayed to all the gods that his best friend would be in a good mood after eating Mimi's food. Maybe I could get Sora to give him a few kisses to make my case easier. He thought with a evil grin.
Hotaru smiled. " Thank you Matt." They both stared at their friends
"Something else is bothering you isn't it?'" Matt asked
Hotaru said nothing and looked down. Hotaru's smile faded.
"You know it makes it better to talk about it. Especially to a friend. " Matt said." It's even better to talk about it to a stranger. "
"you're not a stranger Matt, I know where you live." Hotaru said as a small smile crept on her face. " And you know where I'm going to be at 4. "Matt laughed, and gazed at her with his ocean blue eyes, hoping she would continue.
"it's just, I thought when I left my old school, I could start fresh here. I thought I could forget all the bad, and all if it would go away. " Hotaru whispered. Matt nodded in understandment. " I have everything I ever wanted here, yet I feel like I can't run away from my fears. Like they fallow me everywhere." Hotaru whispered quieter. Matt turned his body, so he completely faced Hotaru.
" Sometimes Hotaru," Matt said gently," we cannot run away from the things we wish to be away from. Sometimes , regardless of how are we try, our fears always find a way back in front of us. The best this to do then isn't to run away, but rather to face them and vanish them for good. And you don't have to do that alone Hotaru. You are surrounded by people who love you very deeply ." Matt said, smiling gently at Hotaru. " Don't ever think you're alone Hotaru. You have an army of friends behind you."
Hotaru smiled gently. "I'm never going to be alone?" She asked. Matt shook his head. "Never." He answered. "The digital world picked the right person to bare the crest of friendship Matt." Hotaru said smiling at Matt.
Hotaru's mood lifted considerably for the remainder of the day. Izzy was a little disappointed when Hotaru informed him her plans with Matt.
" Well ok," Izzy said, as he walked with Hotaru to the cherry tree at the end of school. "Mimi's been asking to meet up for a while, so I guess I'll see her today. " He said trying to hide his confusion with Hotaru's new friendship with Matt. Hotaru smiled triumphantly. Finally their going to talk one on one.
Matt , Tai and Mimi were already waiting by the cherry tree when Hotaru and Izzy approached them. Tai walked towards his sister as she approached.
"So Hotaru, I've already told dad that you'll going to the mall with Matt, and he says it's okay. " Tai narrowed his eyes and looked Matt. " That's cause my dad doesn't know you like I do Ishita. Call me when you get to the mall, and you take care of my sister." Tai said, waving his finger protectively.
Hotaru shook her head, embarrassed at her brother's overprotectiveness.
" Relax Taichi. I'll keep your sister safe and sound" Matt said, and then he leaned and whispered something to Tai that resulted in Tai slapping Matt on the back.
"Stop frowning Hotaru, You'll get white hair. Com'on let's go" Matt said as he took her book bag. Matt and Hotaru bid good bye to their friends and made their way to Matt's car. "Forgive me if the car is a little messy, " Matt said as he held the passenger door open for Hotaru
"Thank you" Hotaru said as she got into the car. She thought it was pretty nice of Matt to do that. Matt entered the car as well. "Your car isn't that messy." She said sincerely, addressing the scattered paper, and gym clothes on the back seats. ." Tai's worse, He actually has food from last week in his car." Matt laughed as They sat in comfortable silence as Matt pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road. It was raining outside, and the raindrops made a gentle tap tap noise on the window
"I don't normally drive this slow. It's just Tai would kill me if he found out I was speeding with you in the car." Matt laughed. He was driving a 50 on a minimum 60 raod. He did a 70 when took the same route earlier today.
Hotaru blushed." Tai's just very protective of Kari and me. He can't help it."
" No no! Don't get me wrong. I actually like that he's over protective of his sisters. I'm like that with Tk too, but I don't have to worry as much because he's a boy. "
Hotaru smiled. "Tk's lucky to have a brother like you."Matt laughed once more. "Tk's lucky to have a brother like me, because it keeps Tai from killing him if anything happens with Kari."
"Tai told me that your parents brought you back to Odaiba after your grandmother died. " Hotaru nodded. "You must miss her." Matt said
" All the time. But since I'm here with my parents, Kari , Tai and everyone else, it's a bit easier to deal with." Hotaru said, looking out the window. Her grandmother always like rainy days.
"Do you like it here or at your old school" Matt asked.
"I like it here. Mostly, because I get to live with my family now. When I was at the academy, I only got to see them on holidays and some weekends." Hotaru explained. "It feels good to have them in the house when I wake up, and to know that I get to see them every day. When I was at the academy, I felt so lonely. It was like I lived alone."
" I know how you feel. I pretty much live alone too. " Matt said as he pulled into the parking lot of the Mall.
"Kari told me, that your parents are divorced. TK lives with your mom ,while you live with your dad." Hotaru stepped out of the car, and under the umbrella Matt had opened for her. The pair quickly hurried into the mall,
" Yeah, but my dad is pretty busy at work, so sometimes he doesn't even come home. Usually it's just me at home. Sometimes TK comes over and stays the night with me, but I don't let him do that often, because that means my mom has to be alone." Matt lead Hotaru up the escalators , and into a store specializing in cameras, and accessories. Hotaru noticed five girls from their cool eyeing Matt and her since they got into the mall.
"That's really sweet." Hotaru said. Matt showed Hotaru a pink camera bag with a white flower on the side. Hotaru nodded in approval.
"Some of our neighbors actually think my dad and I are just roommates. They always find it hard to believe that we're related." Matt also selected a ultra focus zoom lens, and headed for the cash register.
"Why is that?" Hotaru asked, also thinking that Matt really didn't need her help in picking out a present for Kari.
"Well for starters, since we moved in there, my dad and I pretty much enter and leave the apartment whenever we want. Not like a traditional family. And there's the fact that we look nothing alike. My actually look much like my mom, blond hair, and blue eyes. My dad on the other hand has black hair like you and dark brown eyes." Matt explained laughing. He paid for the gifts, and the pair left the store.
"I know how that feels" Hotaru muttered as she fallowed Matt to the sitting fountain.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Matt sat on a bench facing the fountain, and Hotaru fallowed. Hotaru shrugged. Matt noticed that she does that when she has something on her mind that she isn't too comfortable sharing
"Well you've seen my family. They all have brown hair, and brown eyes. Whereas I have black hair and green eyes. I kind of stick out in family pictures."
"hhhmmm, honestly I've never noticed that. You , Tai and Kari are so caring towards each other, it's hard not to think you're related. It took me a while to treat TK like a brother. What about your grandmothers and other extended family. Any of them have black hair or green eyes?ยด Matt asked. He noticed a red head he went out with two months ago, walk by him. She passed by giving him a evil look, and eyeing Hotaru.
"My mom's side all have light sandy brown hair and brown eyes. I don't know about my dad's side." Hotaru noticed the red head, and wondered why she was giving Matt the evil eye.
"What about your dads mother. Have you ever asked her?" Matt asked her. Hotaru remembered TK and Kari talking about Matt wanting to break up with a red head at the start of the school year.
"My grandmother always had white hair for as far as I can remember. I never asked anyone about why I looked the way I look. My grandmother always had so much on her mind, I didn't want to add to her burden. And now, even I I wanted to I can't." Hotaru whispered the last part. Her heart ached with longing for her grandmother's wisdom and caring warmth.
"Hey hey Hotaru! I didn't mean to make you sad. Let's change the subject ok. So do you keep in touch in with any of your friend's from your old school" Matt asked rapidly. He felt like a dumass for upsetting Hotaru.
"Why do you want a few numbers?" Hotaru asked, touched by Matt's attempt to cheer her up.
Matt shook his head vigorously." NO NO! I'm not like that anymore." He cried. It was kind of hard to give this girl a good impression when people have already told her many bad things about her.
Hotaru laughed." Relax Matt, I'm only teasing. I have two best friends at my old school. But the curriculum at my old school is very demanding and it's hard for them to talk to me every day. Usually we just e-mail them on the weekends. But you know, they have mid semester exams coming up soon, so the emails are also very brief." Hotaru explained.
"You miss them a lot?"
"Yeah sometimes. But It's a lot easier because I have you guys to keep me company."
"How long have you been friends?"
"Since we first started school at 4 years. "
"They quiet and shy like you?"
Hotaru laughed. "Did you just call me quiet and shy?"
Matt smirked "Yes, I did"
" I've been talking to you all day haven't I" Hotaru answered, smiling as well.
"Who but you in the genius class Hotaru? You've been only talking to me during lunch, and right now." Matt teased. Hotaru looked at him with an amused expression. " I remember when you first got here. You didn't even say a word unless you were spoken too. Even then you would say a little as possible. ESPECIALLY to me! You would barely even look at me" Matt said putting on a fake puppy face look
"Well that's because I was forewarned about you from my big brother. He said you always had your ways with girls, and that you had your sights set on me." Hotaru, said as she got up slowly and started walking. She was happy, Matt couldn't see her blushing. Matt stared in shock and horror at what Hotaru said. Firstly he couldn't believe Hotaru just said that, and then secondly He was going to kill Tai for saying that to Hotaru. No wonder Tai agreed to let Hotaru go shopping with him.
Matt got up and caught up to Hotaru. "You know that's not true Hotaru. Tai was just joking around"
"Stop frowning Matt, you're going to get white hair. I was just joking around.d" Hotaru teased laughing
" I take back what I said about you being quite." Matt said laughing. "So where are we going?"
"Huh?" Hotaru asked confused. She's never been here before
"you got up and started walking so I thought there was a store you wanted to check out." Matt answered , amused.
" I've never been here before " Hotaru admitted
Matt laughed." I almost forgot. Actually, there is a store I wanted to show you. " He lead her to a store that sold all types of lamps. "Kari once told me that you like to collect lamps". Hotaru nodded. "This store is amazing" Hotaru said, as she started browsing the isles.
"Why do you like lamps so much?" Matt asked as he observed Hotaru examining the lamps.
Hotaru shrugged. " They give light. You know, I feel with lamps, the soul is enlightened and pure. I feel safe."
" Are you scared of the dark?"
Hotaru shook her head.
"Then what are you scared of?"
Hotaru turned around and faced Matt. The dimmed store was illuminated with light from the lamps all around her. It made her skin glow like the moon. Hotaru took a deep breath.
" That's my biggest secret Yamato, closest to my heart. One that burdens only me."
Matt took a step closer to her, secretly rejoicing that she used his full name. " I would like to lift that burden away from your heart Hotaru."
"I don't want to trouble you with it. I don't want to trouble anyone." Hotaru mumbled quietly, and looked down at her feet. Matt took a another step closer to her
"Remember what I told you earlier Hotaru. Face your fears with those closest to you, and you will be victorious."Hotaru took a deep breath, and took a step towards Matt so that they were standing a foot away from each other.
" I can't I'm scared Matt. If you knew everything, you'll start running the other way. "She whispered.
"I will never leave you Hotaru. You will never be alone." Matt said as he took another step closer to her. He was now so close to her, that he could hear her breathing. Hotaru said nothing.
Matt gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and lifted her chin so she could look him in the eye. " I will prove to you that you will never be alone Hotaru. Then will you tell me what you are scared of"? Matt asked gently.
Hotaru nodded. Her heart was beating so fast, she was afraid Matt could hear it. She felt like her chin and cheeks were on fire. "Good." Matt said smiling.
"Can I help you with anything?" A chirpy sales girl asked. Matt smiled back. "Yes ,you can." Matt told the perky sales associate. "Can you give me a quick 5 minutes" Matt told Hotaru, and lead the sales associate to the next isle. Matt soon came back to Hotaru with a bag.
"Alright Hotaru, we should head back. Tai and the others should be finishing up soon." Matt said to Hotaru as he and Hotaru head it out of the store. " You have fun?" He asked as they were the escalator down to the main floor. Hotaru nodded.
" Want to do it again?" Matt asked quietly
Hotaru smiled and looked up at Mat. " You want to buy Kari another birthday present? I'm sure she'd love that."
"You're a joker aren't you?" Matt kidded as he put his hand around Hotaru's waist and pulled her the opposite direction , as she was walking the wrong way.
" You may be a genius, but you're not too good with directions are you?" Hotaru just smiled, because she was too distracted with the goose bumbs running through her body. She felt a warm oozing feeling flooding all over her. She had never felt a feeling as intoxicated what she was feeling now.
Matt and Hotaru drove back to school in comfortable silence. A new band that Matt was into was playing on the car stereo, but Hotaru was unable to focus on that. She was too busy replaying what happened in the lamp store. When had she become so daring to talk to boys like that? And what did he mean, he'll never leave her?
" We're here oh all knowing one." Matt teased as he opened the passenger seat door for her."what? How did we get here so fast?" Hotaru said asked as she got out of the car , blushing
" You better have not been speeding with my sister in the car Ishita." Tai said as he , Sora, and Kari approached them.
Matt laughed. "No, No. Where's TK?"
"He still has practice." Kari answered.
Matt drove the group to the Kamiya's appartment. "How come you didn't go to band practice? " Sora asked matt when they were in the elevator.
" We didn't have band practice." Matt answered, his face going red.
"That's not what Akira said." Kari said smiling. " He was looking for you all afternoon." Hotaru looked at Matt suspiciously, as Matt blushed a deep shade of red. The group entered the Kamiya apartment, to find the parents watching the news in the television. Kari's mother, excited to see the kids, jumped at the chance to try out her new recipes on them. Matt and Sora were force to try out Mrs. Kamiya's experimental dishes, as the Kamiya children snickered behind them.
"Before I go, there's something I wanted to ask you Mr. Kamiya." Matt said. Everybody stared at Matt with curiosity. Tai, Kari and SOra had never heard Matt be so formal before. It usually went against his cool guy reputation
" I was wondering if I could take Hotaru out for a Linkon Park concert , and then to dinner tomarrow night sir." Matt said. He glanced over at Hotaru, and noticed that her face was a bright red. Hopefully she's embarrassed and not mad.
" Yes of course Matt. If that's alright with Hotaru?" Susumu said, looking at his daughter. Hotaru nodded in agreement. What was it with his daughters and going for blond boys?
"Tai?" Matt asked, looking at Tai.
With that, Taichi Kamiya, the courageous leader of the Japanese digidestined, started howling loudly with laughter, which then turned in to tears .
"Taichi!" His mother scolded.
" Yeah yeah! Matt." Tai said between laughs. " You've waited long enough."
OMG this is the longest chapter I've ever wrote. I worked really hard, and even edited twice. Usually I have a lot of grammar and spelling errors. To all the people that enjoy my fanfic, this is my Christmas present to you my friends 3. Also KoumiLoccness, I'm sorry I made you wait so long.. Been busy with work. :D