Part 2 faster than I thought! Sorry for typos or weird language in advance.

Taichi's POV. Definitely rated M (lemon content).

7.2. No regrets

Taichi felt dizzy. Not from the alcohol, but because of Sora.

2,5 years ago they shared their first big kiss. Only 4 months ago they shared their second one. Not a big one, but it was still a kiss. And tonight they shared their third one plus more. It was nice, sweet and heated, everything he had hoped for.

Prior to them dancing he had urged her to loosen up and dance with someone else. He had left her alone for only a view minutes only to find her declining man after man. Jealousy was the first emotion he experienced followed by the want to defend her as if he was one of those alpha men. Taichi quickly figured out he couldn't do that, because she was just his friend even though he wanted something else. His indifference was just a façade to hide his jealousy.

The moment she told him she would rather make fun with him, he had to do his best to keep his cool. But when she glanced him those seductive looks and started dancing the way she danced his indifference faded. The passionate kissing was not only the result of the happenings of that night, but also the result of the serious feelings he had developed towards Sora over time. And as much as he wanted the kissing to go on forever, he needed them to talk first.

They could always talk about everything, but when it came to their blossoming romance, talking became the hardest thing for them to do. Every time they had kissed or something happened on the romantic side they mutually decided to act as if nothing had happened. The reason being the importance of their friendship to the both of them, which wasn't a lie per se. Looking back at it, it seemed more like an excuse, at least to Taichi. An excuse for his fear of both loving and losing her.

"Sora, I'm sorry. This is a mistake. I don't know what came over me. And I don't want us to get awkward around each other. And I-"

"Taichi. Stop. It's okay. I get it."

"Our friendship is more important to me. Losing you as my friend… Sora, I don't think I can live with that."

"Don't worry, me neither."

He recalled the conversation they had after that first kiss in his head, her face when she said the last sentence the most clear. She smiled, looking like she understood, but she seemed disappointed at the same time. Back then he had not seen the sadness in her face, but in his memories that sadness was what he explicitly remembered. And when she as a matter of fact announced to him that 'it never happened', all he did was reply with a nod. No conversation, just a nod. That one nod definitely fell into the category stupid decisions and mistakes. A mistake he was going to make up for tonight.

After leaving the club they quietly walked to their apartment, holding hands just like they did on their way to the club, although it felt different. Then he was happy and excited, now he was nervous and scared of what could happen and how she would react. Looking to his left, Sora looked just as nervous as him.

Once back at the Airbnb he led her to his bedroom, not wanting Hikari or Takeru to hear them talk. Sora followed him into his room, closing his door for him. As she turned around she locked her eyes with his before she threw herself at him and pressed her lips to his. She did it with so much force he almost lost his balance, but he managed to keep standing.

"Sora. Stop." He said in between the kissing, grabbing her wrists and placing her arms to either side of her body to make her stop. She just stood there with a startled face. Her gaze found the ground.

"I thought you wanted this," she mumbled.

"I do. I think so, but-" he sighed. "Look, we never talk about these things properly. For example 2,5 years ago when we kissed and we decided it was a mistake? Why the heck did we decide that if we're on the verge of doing this right now?"

He saw her biting her lip. Did she know he was right or was she getting annoyed with him? It was clear to him he didn't want her to misunderstand. He felt panic set in. "I'm not going to put my, er- well, you know, in you then deciding it's a mistake the next morning or whatever," which wasn't the best thing he could say either, though it was enough to grab her attention. He could now look her in the eyes while he spoke.

"Even if it's a mutual decision, I don't want to make that decision afterwards. I want to do that before anything happens. I want a conversation about this and both of our consents before we even start kissing again."

Usually she was the one who was thinking things through or getting angry with him because he was being too reckless. But when it came to the growing romance between them and the friendship that was at stake for that romance, Taichi was the careful one. They had been friends for 20 years now for Kami's sake. If he really wanted to find out what his romantic feelings were exactly towards his ridiculously beautiful female companion that happened to be his best friend since childhood, he at least wanted to find out the right way. Not over a hot and sweaty night with drinks, dancing, kissing and the possible sex that was right around the corner.

He looked at her, water in her eyes. He instantly felt bad for wanting to talk first, but he also knew it had to be done sometime. He wanted a solid base, something to build on. "I'm not going to sleep with you as if it's one of those drunken nights," Taichi explained when Sora remained silent for too long.

"We haven't drank that much," he heard her mumble in response. That was what she had to say? He shook his head to her comment, knowing he wasn't getting through to her the way he wanted.

"I know, but that's not what I mean," he stated. Taichi took a seat on his bed and patted the spot next to him signing Sora to take a seat as well which she did. He turned his head in her direction so he could look her straight in the eyes for the umpteenth time that night. He tried to be as calm and collected as possible.

"Sora, I like you. Hell, I even love you for that matter. And I can only hope that you can answer the feelings I have for you." He looked at her, her breathing heavy. She must have been just as nervous and scared as he was, Taichi thought. "I just don't want to have regrets over the mistake we could possibly make tonight. Because what if we share the bed tonight and we find out we're not really in love or whatsoever. Then what? I don't want to put our friendship at stake and I don't see how we can manage to stay friends when we will actually share the bed tonight and it happens to be mistake."

"I get that. Me neither." She said. To him it sounded like a repetition from the words that were already spoken back in his apartment years ago. He was using the same excuse and she was using the same words to answer with. Taichi thought of another way to tell her what he wanted to tell her.

"Okay imagine we decide to take a leap together to find out what this is, then I want to do it the right way at least."

"What's the right way?" She asked him.

"Like a date."

"We had one."

Did he miss something? Was there something he wasn't aware of? "No, we had not?"

"When we went to my mother's Ikebana exhibition together last April."

"That wasn't a date."

"Was it?" She quickly countered. "In the end you said it felt like an awkward date, remember?"

"Er, yes, that's true. But it was because of the awkwardness in that situation. Not because it was a da-"

"Hell, we even kissed Taichi! So to me it did feel like a date!" She interrupted raising her voice going from mumbling Sora to almost yelling Sora in almost a split second. It scared him for a second before it stirred up his own hot-headedness.

"That's exactly what I mean Sora! That happened and we never talked about it again!" He stood up. He was surprised by his own reaction, so he quickly switched back to a more softer tone still standing looking down on her. "Sure, it did feel like a date and I wished we had called it a date from the beginning. But we didn't Sora. And now we are here, maybe moments away of making the biggest mistake of our lives leaving us with regret. And I don't want to have regrets when it comes to you. Ever again." He sincerely told her before letting himself fall back into his seat on the bed.

"Taichi," she softly started after a short silence. Sora had gone back to calm and collected Sora again. He noticed his hands trembling. "I think- no, I know I am in love with you. And therefore I don't want to have regrets either, but in this friendship, or even relationship, we have it's very hard to completely avoid regret."

He wasn't sure whether it were her words or the soft and tender way she brought it, probably both, but it caught his attention. A warm expression returned to her grimace as her copper eyes gently caught his brown ones. She placed her hands on his still trembling hands.

"And I'm wondering what I'm going to regret more," she continued, a small smile escaping her lips. "You see, we can be intimate tonight and everything goes wrong afterwards. Then yes, we will regret this night," a light blush appeared on her cheeks. He felt her lifting her hands from his only to fumble with her own fingers as she proceeded. "Or we can decide this never happened, just like we did when we kissed for the first time years ago. When I talk for myself, back then I made that decision because I was simply scared to love you or say it out loud. And, think about it, we have possibly lost 2 whole years with each other because we weren't able to be honest with each other and even ourselves. At least, that's how it feels to me." She showed him a warm smile.

"Taichi, I regret the way I acted, or better said not acted on my feelings towards you that night. That's the burden I partially unknowingly carried with me for the past 2 years." Sora was talking straight from her heart and all Taichi could do was listen in awe. He silently agreed with her before she concluded her flow of words. "So because of that I'd rather regret this one night over never finding out what could be."

He gasped. This was what he wanted, right? A conversation with these words. He shot his eyes to the ground, softly shaking his head before bringing his eyes back to her.

"You're really feeling that way?" He wondered out loud. She nodded. "I'm afraid," he suddenly added without knowing why exactly.

"I'm afraid too Taichi," she answered. "I'm afraid to give it- this a name. Because when we do, then yes, it can go wrong. But to me this- no wait, you are worth that risk." She placed her hand on his shoulder, gently massaging it. Taichi fell silent for a moment. Sora was definitely much better than he was with words.

"Sorry I'm just really confused right now." He had to get his thoughts straight.

"It's okay, I am confused too." She sweetly reassured him.

He softly laughed to himself, rubbing his temple with one hand. "We're complicated, aren't we?" She laughed at his statement taking back her hand from his shoulder. He couldn't help but to think she still looked a little sad to him.

With his eyes he followed his hands falling back into his lap. "I think I'm just really scared I'm not able to love you like that. Like- Kami this is going to sound so cheesy-, loving you the way you deserve." Het let out a loud sigh.

Sora laughed. "Don't worry. You already gave me more love than you probably think you gave me." He smilingly looked at her. She answered his smile with one of her own, the blush on her cheeks getting redder.

"Will you please sleep with me tonight?" She eventually asked. Her question brought him back to the time she had asked him to stay with her after she had been sad over her breakup with Yamato and the disappearing of Piyomon.

"What?" He raised an eyebrow. Her face turned into a bright red, realizing what she had just said.

"No! I mean stay with me!"

He laughed, making her annoyed with him. He thought it was cute though.

"Don't laugh at me! Taichi!"

"Sorry. You're cute," he complimented her. The redness left her face, only a blush remaining on her cheeks. She was one of the most, if not the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. He smiled as he closed in, not able to ignore his feeling for her anymore. He placed one hand on her warm cheek and pressed his lips to hers. She smiled while kissing him back. It was nothing like the kisses they had shared earlier tonight, but still there was a certain heat to them. Slowly their tongues got involved again and the simple kiss turned into a sweet but short but subtle make out session. Taichi felt his hands slowly and cautiously wandering along her body. He felt her doing the same.

"Say Taichi," she began, breaking the kissing. "For what it's worth, we don't have to have plain sex tonight. I don't want that." Taichi felt his heartbeat speeding up. She had absolutely no idea what she did to him, sultry pecking his lips before fully closing to hug him around the chest. "It's enough when you love me like this."

He was smiling, folding her into a tight embrace. He loved this girl and her being close to him was more than enough. It was all they needed anyway. For now. Or?

"Or,-" she said somehow echoing his thoughts, a small but mischievous grin across her face.

"Or what?" He loosened his grip on her so he could look at her properly.

"Or we could make love instead?"

He was in awe. "Sora," he said, sighing and closing his eyes. He saw her grimace rapidly change into one with regret. She misinterpreted him though he was just making up his mind.

"Sorry, I just-"

"You sure?" he interrupted.

She fell silent then nodded in reply, still a little taken aback by his sudden turn in mood. "No regrets," she added almost whispering. He felt his heart beating out of his chest, a shiver down his spine. This was it, her consent. Taichi smiled taking her back in his embrace, slowly but passionately kissing her.

"If there's anything you don't want me to do or to happen, just tell me. Okay?" He told her. She nodded one last time.

Taichi placed his hands on either side of her face, devouring her with another kiss. He felt her hands reach for the buttons of his blouse. She was quick, Taichi thought as his hands travelled further down to the hem of her yellow top. With one swift motion he pulled it over her head and off, only breaking the kiss for a few seconds. He helped Sora taking of his blouse throwing it on the ground next to her top, his lips still on hers.

They gently stripped each other down to just their underwear before he slowly pushed her back on the bed. He took a moment to look at the stunning and amazing girl lying on his bed. Through his eyes she looked beautiful, strong and fragile at the same time. Taichi felt his heart skip a few beats in disbelief of what was happening. Until that moment he had no idea he was longing for her so badly.

He wanted to touch her, explore her, feel her. But he wanted to love her above all.

He carefully positioned himself on top. With his legs on either side of her he tried to not put all of his weight on her. He intertwined his fingers with hers and slid their intertwined hands over the sheets to just above her head. Next he leaned forward, putting more weight on her hands so their foreheads touched. They had been close and intimate before, but being half naked on top of her was a whole other level. His heartrate increased hearing her gasp and feeling her lightly squeeze his hands. He closed in for another one of many more kisses, one that made her moan under him.

"You okay?" Taichi asked her. He wanted to make sure she was at ease with him and the situation. She gave him her assent freeing one of her hands to caress his face and pressing her lips to his. Her touch gave him goosebumps all over and the heart to proceed with his actions.

With his lips and hands he made the slow sensual trip over her upper body down to the seam of her black panties, making her softly moan. He placed his fingers in the sides of her panties to pull them down and off. As he moved himself between her legs, spreading them while moving, he looked up only to see her with her head back and her back arched. Her hands were gripping the sheets, anticipating his next move.

He planted kisses on the inside of her thighs and womanhood in between orally pleasuring the woman underneath him. His hands were roaming her bare skin, noticing the softness of it. He looked up to check if she was enjoying it as much or, even better, more than he did. A cocky smile escaped her lips when she caught him peeking, proving him she was indeed enjoying what he was doing. So he went on with his oral performance. Eventually her moans got louder and more frequent announcing the climax she was reaching. Right after she climaxed he traveled back up to meet her face again.

She was panting heavily, giving him a satisfied look. With her thumb she brushed and cleaned his lips, then pulled his face to her for a passionate kiss. Her hands moved through his hair and down along his spine while he moved to spread her legs a little more. The butterflies in his stomach were at its highest while hovering over her with his pelvis against hers, the fabric of his underwear the only thing separating their skins.

He felt Sora reach for the seam of his boxer and helped her by taking them off himself showing his stiff manhood. Taichi could hear her laugh a soft yes as an answer to the question he was not able to ask yet. She knew he was going to ask her for the third time if she was okay and he figured she had grown a little impatient. He widened his eyes in surprise of her boldness, though he did like it.

He took her yes as her final approval to what was about to happen. Not wanting to risk her getting pregnant he reached for his nightstand where he knew the condoms were. However Sora caught him off guard knowing what he was going to do and grabbing his wrist telling him she was on birth control. Of course she was being the responsible and independent woman, how could he forget.

She looked at Taichi with longing eyes, biting and licking her bottom lip, signaling him to go back to where he had left her. With his fingers he stretched her entrance a bit so it would be easier to enter then positioned himself one more time before fully entering her. He made love to her slow but steady, making Sora moan and pant underneath him.

He bent over to meet her face and lips while keeping the steady rhythm. Her lips found her own path to the side of his neck, leaving a trail of kisses from his mouth to her destination, moans in between. Taichi found her hand, intertwining her fingers with his and pinning her hand and Sora down on the bed. It made her giggle while she enjoyed him moving in and out of her.

Suddenly she fell silent, a smirk plastered on her pretty and flushed face. Her eyes were wide open, not staring into, but piercing through his eyes.

"Is something wrong?" Taichi asked a bit confused by the look she gave him, afraid he was doing something wrong.

"Yes," she answered. Her smirk getting wider while his confusion grew bigger. "Positions." Sora said tackling and flipping him so she was on top. He was impressed to say the least.

"Oi Sora, I underestimated you," he smirked in admiration, letting his head fall back on the pillow.

"You shouldn't," she winked before she leaned forward planting a kiss on his lips, then his cheek and finally his earlobe where her head stayed. "Tell me if there's anything you don't want me to do, okay?" She whispered in his ear. Taichi knew for sure she was definitely not that innocent girl he always thought she was. He reminded himself she was of course the bearer of love, but he had moves and words too.

"Stop," he gave her his signature smirk.

"What?" She said a bit surprised.

"I don't wat you to stop."

Her smirk returned, sitting straight up on top of him before sliding her entrance over him. Taichi placed his hands on her hips feeling the way she was straddling and grinding him with them, her inner walls tightly gripping him. It was surprising to him that she was able to take so much initiative, watching her in sheer astonishment. He adored, admired and absolutely loved this woman. And he wanted to fully see and feel her.

In a swift motion he sat up with her, Sora on his lap with her legs on either side of him and her entrance still over his member. She let out a loud gasp, her head slightly hovering over his she placed her hands on his chest and shoulder. Taichi used one arm to support him to sit up in this position while he opened her strapless bra on her back with his free hand, throwing it into the unknown and exposing her breasts along with the rest of her naked body. He caressed her back with his right hand, pushing her close to his body so he could completely feel the warmth and softness of her skin on his.

She moved up and down and back and forth and he followed, moving in sync with her. They collided, both in movements as in sounds. Their heartbeats matching their pace. It was a moment of closeness Taichi had never shared with anyone before and didn't want to end. A pure and tender moment he wanted to feel and experience forever. He kissed her neck, shoulders and collarbone as she heavily moaned reaching her climax for a second time that night. In a bliss he reached his own climax, closing his eyes and letting out a low sound of pleasure.

Relishing the passionate and physical time he had just shared with her, he let himself fall back on the sheets taking her down with him. He heard her giggle as he met her lips for a soft kiss. She rolled off of him. Taichi looked to his left where he found a satisfied Sora looking him in the eyes. He answered her smiling face with one of his own. And without thinking the 3 words left his lips.

"I love you."

"I love you too," she answered with a big smile, nuzzling into his chest and pressing her naked body to his. He took her in a firm embrace, planting one last kiss goodnight on her temple before slowly dozing off.

After that heated and much needed night there was one week left before Sora, Hikari and Takeru would fly back to Japan. Throughout that week Taichi felt as if he was finally freed. Free from his unresolved feelings, free from doubt over the romantic feelings he developed, and free from the fear she wasn't able to answer his feelings. She answering his feelings and he being able to answers hers felt amazing beyond words.

Sora had been his best friend for 20 years, she had been the girl that unknowingly taunted his dreams for at least 2 years and probably even longer and now she was the girl at his side. Taichi had introduced her to some more co-workers, now calling her his girlfriend. He wasn't sure if they were officially and openly boy- and girlfriend, but she didn't correct him either. He had never felt genuinely happier in his life.

One week later that happiness got mixed up with sad feelings. They were going to say goodbye, 6 long months ahead of them. Taichi knew she was worth the wait, every second of it.

"No regrets." Sora said, her eyes still watery from crying. She cupped his face, looking deeply into his eyes before giving him a long goodbye kiss. It was hard to part ways for approximately half a year after the love they had shared that past week. Nonetheless he smiled, letting out a long sigh as he saw her disappearing into the distance. He quietly wiped a single tear out of the corner of his eye. Countdown till he would see her again started now.

I know I told all of you it would take long to update, but I got it up faster than I thought I could. Partially thanks to all the beautiful reviews! I feel loved and hope I'm not disappointing right now.

Outline for this story is already written down and there are (only) three chapters left. So I really want to have all of you know these are just their highlights as pointed out in the summary! But, like I said in my A/N from the previous chapter, I'm thinking about opening a new story with all the little things (drabbles and snapshots) that happen in between these chapters. Because I do have a lot more to tell and write about!

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate each and everyone of you :)