~THE GOOD LIFE: MIMI'S STORY, PART 4~
Finally! It's the last part of Mimi's story!
'Kay, let me ask you something: What song do you think describes Matt and Mimi's relationship in this story the best? T.K. and Kari? Tai and Sora? Send your answers to crescent87@hotmail.com
I'll include the results in "The Good Life: T.K.'s Story"...that is, if I get enough good reviews and requests...
Alternate reality fic: Matt's parents are together, T.K. and Kari are in middle school. All the others are in high school.
I don't own Digimon, only the plot, blah blah blah. I'm sure you get the point.
Well, let's get on to the last part of Mimi's story!
~THE GOOD LIFE: MIMI'S STORY, PART 4~
BY VENUS163
Mimi walked home slowly, her thoughts on Matt. Lately, she had been thinking more and more about him.
Suddenly, T.K. barreled into her. "Mimi, we need to talk..."
"Why, T.K.! What's the matter?" Mimi asked worridly.
"It's about Kari."
"What happened?"
T.K. had tears in his eyes. "She-she..."
"Come on, T.K. Let's talk at my house." Mimi soothingly told him. She took his arm and dragged him to her home.
Kathy stepped into the hall as soon as she heard the door open. "Ms. Mimi...and this is?" she asked stiffly.
"Oh Kathy, this is Takeru Ishida. He came to me for some advice." Mimi quickly pushed him towards the stairs.
"Oh, Takeru Ishida...well, I'll tell the maids to stay away..." Kathy said, flustered. "And your father on business and your mother at tea..."
Mimi hurriedly led him up to her room. Closing the door, she locked it and closed her windows. "There, I don't think anyone could eavesdrop in here...wait..." She ducked underneath her desk and thoroughly plugged up the small holes the servants had made underneath it with bits of paper. "Okay. What is it?"
T.K. was near tears. "Kari...she said-she said she never wanted to see me again!"
"What happened?" Mimi asked, immediately sitting him in a chair and seating herself across from him.
"Well, she was seeing this other guy...and well, I got jealous..."
"Oh, T.K...When? What did you do?" Mimi said, frowning.
"Yesterday! And I kinda sorta punched him..."
"Oh my..." Mimi knew that T.K. wasn't telling her everything, but decided not to push him. Taking his hand, she asked, "Tell me, T.K., what kind of guy was he?"
"That's the problem!" he burst out unhappily. "If he was a decent fellow, I wouldn't have minded at all...well, not much, but I knew that he'd only hurt her..."
"Then, you did the right thing."
"What?" T.K. gasped. "Are you serious?"
"If you honestly, truly believe that he wasn't good for her, that he'd hurt her...then yes, you did the right thing."
"But-but Kari..."
"Kari's sensible. But she acted on a quick temper. It may take some time, but she'll come to see that you cared about her, and did it to protect you." Mimi ruffled his hair affectionately. "She'll forgive you."
"You really think so?" He asked her hopefully, looking more like a little lost boy than a lovelorn young man.
"I do."
T.K. gave her a hug. "Thanks, Mimi. You understand..." He glanced at his watch and jumped. "Oh great, I need to be home!"
Mimi got up too. "I'll drive you home."
"But..."
"I insist."
Five minutes later, both were in Mimi's car.
"T.K.," Mimi said suddenly, "would you tell Matt that I need to talk to him sometime soon?"
"Sure." T.K. gestured for her to stop. "Here. If you come any farther, my mother will insist you stay."
"Okay. Well, don't lose hope." After making sure that T.K. made it inside, she backed out of the driveway and drove back home.
"Ms. Mimi!" Kathy cried, as soon as she came in.
"What is it, Kathy?" Mimi asked.
"Ms. Kamiya is here, insisting on seeing you..."
"Kari?" Mimi hurriedly walked into the sitting room. "Kari, what are you doing here?"
"Um, I need to talk to you..."
"Alright. Come with me." For the second time that day, Mimi lead someone to her room and locked the door.
"Oh Mimi!" burst out Kari, "Has T.K. been here?"
"Um..." Mimi was torn between honesty and T.K.'s secret.
"He was, wasn't he?" Kari said, looking very relieved. "I'm glad. He let it slip that you were his confidant, and after what happened yesterday, I was sure that he'd come to you..."
She stopped and looked straight at her. "He told you everything?"
Mimi shook her head. "No..."
"It's just that, I think I've found the one," Kari said happily. "Jare is just everything I ever wanted, and I think it was very rude of T.K. to punch him..."
"He just cares about you, Kari," Mimi said softly.
"I know he does, and he does WAY more than just a friend should do..."
"A friend?" Mimi asked gently.
"Friend? Of course. T.K. IS one of my best friends..."
Mimi, remembering the love in T.K.'s eyes as he talked about Kari, winced.
"Are you alright?" Kari asked worridly.
"I'm fine," Mimi said, trying to perk up. "So, what's this Jare like?"
"Oh, Jare?" Kari said, eyes lighting up. "Well, he..."
As Kari talked, Mimi found with a slight pang of guilt that she wasn't paying attention at all. Instead, her thoughts centered on a blonde boy in a platinum car, one that had won her a pink bunny...
"...and if I didn't know better, I would have thought that T.K. was jealous," Kari finished.
"What?" Mimi asked guiltily.
Kari repeated what she had said.
"Maybe he was jealous," Mimi hinted subtly.
"T.K.? Jealous? Well, maybe, 'cause he was the only boy I hung around with. But probably not. Whatever possessed him to punch Jare?"
T.K.'s letter came up in Mimi's mind. 'Dear Kari, have you heard the saying, 'A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet'? If you had been named anything else, you would still be as kind and caring as ever...'
Glancing at Kari, and even though she knew better, it was getting difficult to believe that this heartless girl was a kind, caring angel.
T.K.'s voice popped up. "I need your advice. I don't know what to do. See, I love her, I really do. I fell in love with her ten years ago. But if I tell her, I think I'll scare her away. But I keep hoping that she DOES care, and then...I'd wait for as long as it takes..."
Mimi remembered her own answer. "...It seems like you're not ready to tell her. Then, wait until you're ready, and SHE'S ready...And if she feels the same way...I'm sure she'll wait for you, too..."
She closed her eyes. 'I'm sorry, T.K.,' she thought sadly, 'for giving you false hope.'
"Mimi?"
Mimi looked up at Kari, who was staring at her quizzically. "Yes Kari?"
"T.K. told you that I said that I never wanted to see him again, right?"
"Yes, Kari."
"Please tell me...did he take it to heart?"
Mimi's heart cracked as she remembered his heartbroken form. "Yes, Kari...he took it deeply to heart."
"Oh." Kari looked uncomfortable. "Um, I'll go now."
"Do you want me to drive you?"
"No. Tai promised to pick me up."
"Okay."
Mimi watched Kari leave out of her window. Feeling that this was too much to bear, she took the phone and dialed a familiar number.
"This is Sora," came the cheerful voice.
"Oh Sora, why, why did I ever give T.K. advice?" Mimi groaned.
"Why Mimi! What's the matter?" Sora asked worridly.
"I got mixed up in his love life..." With that and a cry of frustration, she began telling Sora of all her problems. "...and she doesn't seem to care for him at all!" she finished. "I gave him bad advice!"
"Calm down, Mimi. I think it was good advice, and maybe she DOES care, deep down inside. Maybe she just doesn't know..." Abruptly, she asked, "What's today's date?"
"Um, April 25."
"Well, give her a month or so, and see if something changes. And if not...Sorry Mimi, gotta go. My mother's calling."
"Well, thanks."
"You're welcome." Sora hung up.
Mimi miserably stared at the ceiling. "What have I done?"
"Mimi dear," came Mrs. Tachikawa's voice, "we need to talk to you."
Curious, Mimi walked into the kitchen, dropping her pink bookbag in a nearby chair. "What's up, Mom?" Seeing her father, she added, "Dad?"
Mr. and Mrs. Tachikawa grinned at each other like Cheshire cats.
Mimi began to get very scared. "Um, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Mimi," Mr. Tachikawa finally said, "have you heard of Mr. Jared Sugamora?"
"Sugamora...nope," Mimi said, opening the refrigerator and taking out a carton of orange juice.
"Well, you're going to meet him, today," Mrs. Tachikawa said proudly.
Mimi grunted, reaching for a glass in the cupboard.
"Mimi dear, why don't you ask Kathy to do that for you?"
"Oh, I can get it," Mimi said cheerfully. Finally getting the elusive glass, she poured orange juice into it. "Oh, Mom, Dad...did you say that I was going to meet Mr. Sugamora today?"
"Yes, dear."
"How come?" Mimi asked, putting the glass away. "I mean, is it business, or a party..." She leaned against the counter, holding her glass up.
"He's your fiance, Mimi."
At those words, Mimi dropped the cup. The glass shattered into many pieces on the hard floor, and spilt orange juice. "What?" she asked slowly.
"He's your fiance!" Her father announced. "You are now engaged to him!"
"Engaged!" Mimi sputtered. "But...I don't even know him!"
"You'll meet him soon enough," Mrs. Tachikawa said smilingly.
"I-I..."
"Oh, you'll just LOVE him, I'm sure!"
Suddenly, the haze around her feelings for Matt disappeared, and she read them clearly. She loved Matt, had always loved him. And now...it was too late. For her folly, she would pay by marrying another man, one she had never even met.
"Of course the wedding will be put off until you finish college," Mr. Tachikawa was saying. "But as soon as you graduate..."
"I-I can't marry him..." Mimi said hoarsely.
"You will," he said, turning cold.
Suddenly, the tears came, and Mimi burst out the door. The scenery blurred by, but she didn't care. All she knew was that she was doomed to a life with a Jared Sugamora, whoever he was.
Collapsing onto a bench, she started to cry, sobs racking her body. How she wished that Matt knew how she felt...that he felt the same way. She knew very well that it was impossible, but yet...
She understood now how T.K. felt. Kari was beyond his reach, just as Matt was to her. And for her hesitation...
She was a fool, a huge one. A desperate thought caused her to hold out her arm and look at her scar. Maybe, just maybe, it would work this time...
"Are you alright, Mimi?"
She looked up into the face of the one person that half of her wanted to see, the other half dreading to look at him. She meant to tell Matt to go away, but only the word "No," escaped her lips as she began to cry again.
Matt didn't get her point. Instead, he sat next to her and took her face into his hands. Gently, he brushed away her tears with his thumbs. "Please, Mimi, don't cry. I can't stand seeing you cry!"
A surge of hope ran through her, but she knew that Matt didn't care for her in that way. She tried to smile, for him, but the tears came again. "Matt..."
Matt put his arms around her. His cologne overwhelmed her, something in her snapped, so she found herself clutching his shirt and sobbing.
Soon, her sobs quieted. She realized very consciously where she was...in Matt's arms...
He was stroking her hair, it was very comforting. And it felt so nice, so safe...so loved...
She looked up at him. Seeing him gazing at her, she couldn't help giving him a smile.
Matt pulled her closer. For one, wild moment, Mimi allowed herself to believe that Matt cared, really cared, truly loved her. But as sudden as the moment had come, it disappeared, and Mimi knew that it wasn't fair to him. "Matt?" she whispered.
"Yes?" He was breathing quickly.
Mr. Sugamora came back to her mind and she said in despair, "Oh Matt, what am I going to do?"
Matt pulled away and looked at her. "What is it?"
Trying to stop the tears, she choked, "It's my parents, Matt. They've gone and gotten me engaged."
"ENGAGED??" Matt asked, eyes widening.
"Yes, Matt," she whispered. "An arranged marriage. It's some rich guy in Tokyo that I don't even know. I want to marry for love, though, not for money, my parents, or duty..."
"Then don't marry him," Matt said simply.
"How?" Mimi asked despairingly. "There's no way out of it."
"Do you love him?"
"What?" Mimi gasped, shocked at the sudden question.
"Do you love him?" Matt asked, more insistently.
"No..."
"Are you in love, though?"
Mimi felt her heart beat faster. "In love? Yes..."
"Then marry the guy you're in love with."
Mimi bit back the urge to laugh cynically. "But...but I don't think he knows how I feel."
"Do I know him?"
'That you do,' she thought unhappily. Aloud, she said, "Yes."
"Tell me who he is," Matt demanded. "I'll go and hammer some sense into his head. He'd be crazy not to be in love with you. I'll..."
"Matt..."
"...you're so beautiful and perfect, who would not love you..."
Mimi struggled for control. If Matt kept talking to her like this...she shuddered to think what might slip out. "Matt..." she pleaded, on the verge of losing control.
"...I know guys who would kill just to get you to smile at them..."
"Matt, it's you!!" Mimi burst out.
Matt froze. "What?"
Mimi knew that he'd hate her now. "Matt, I love you!" she said one last time before burying her face in her hands and crying in shame.
After a few moments, two strong hands gripped her arms. "Mimi, do you really mean it?" came Matt's eager voice. "Are you in earnest, or are you torturing me?"
"I mean it, Matt," Mimi sobbed, "I love you!"
The tears wouldn't stop. She tried and tried...and then, a finger was pushing her chin up. Two warm hands cupped her chin and started to kiss her tears away...kiss?
Slowly, not daring to breathe...or to hope, Mimi slowly opened her eyes. "Matt..."
Matt caressed her cheek. "Oh Mimi, you don't know how much what you've said means to me! I thought that you could never love me, you were too good for me, and now that I know that you do, I'm just so happy...Mimi, I love you."
Mimi was confused. Did Matt really love her? Or was he trying to make her feel better? She gazed into his eyes, trying to see the truth.
Suddenly Matt leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.
Only one wild, blissful thought was in her mind: Matt loved her. He truly loved her. Abandoning all caution, she started to kiss back. Putting her arms around his neck, she let her fingers drown in his hair. She felt Matt's arms circle her waist and his hands stroke her back.
Out of air, they pulled away. Wheezing, they stared at each other.
Mimi sat silently, letting the enormity of what had just happened sink in. She saw the loving and hopeful, yet frightened look in Matt's eyes. And with that, she smiled brightly. "Oh Matt, you really do care! I thought you didn't..."
He silenced her with a kiss. "I love you, Mimi," he assured her adoringly. "I'd...'rather die having loved you than live a thousand years without having met you.' "
"Oh, how sweet! Did you make it up?"
"No, it's from T.K."
"I didn't know he was so eloquent."
"Neither did I," he said, shrugging. They looked at each other, and laughed.
Then Matt did something totally unexpected: sliding off the bench, he knelt in front of her and grasped her hand. "Mimi Tachikawa, I'll have to ask you to wait a couple years, but...will you marry me?"
The tears of happiness stung her eyes and laughter bubbled out of her, but she answered, "Yes, Matt! Oh yes!"
Matt's face lit up with happiness as he stood up and pulled her up with him. Bringing her into his arms, he kissed her.
They stood that way, arms around each other, for a long time.
Mimi could have stayed there for the rest of her life, but she remembered her parents. Relunctantly, she pulled away and said, "We better get home, you know."
Matt looked very disappointed, but said, "I know. I'll walk you home." Sweetly, he took out his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Protectively, he put an arm around her.
He suddenly stiffened. "What about your parents?"
"I don't know," she said honestly, snuggling closer to him. "I'll just have to tell them about you and hope that they like it."
"And if they don't?"
Mimi smiled at his worry. "Too bad."
Matt smiled back, but still looked unconvinced.
When they arrived at her house, there was a strange car parked outside.
"I wonder what Mom and Dad are doing here," Matt said.
"Probably on business. Come on in," Mimi said playfully, dragging him inside.
The butler showed both of them into the living room.
Mrs. Ishida and Mrs. Tachikawa both got up. "Yamato! Mimi!"
Mr. Tachikawa stormed towards Mimi. "Mimi! Do you have any idea of what you've done? Mr. Sugamora was here, and he left quite vexed. What do I tell him, huh? His fiance isn't there to meet him. I'll be quite lucky if he wants to keep the engagement..."
"Dad," Mimi said defiantly but softly, "I'm not marrying Mr. Sugamora."
In satisfaction she watched him freeze. "What?"
"I'm breaking our engagement," she said loudly.
"What?" Her mother demanded, looking aghast. "Why?"
Mimi hid smile. She said strongly, "Because I don't love him."
"What does love have to do with this?" her mother shrieked, near hysterics.
"Mom, I'm not marrying Mr. Sugamora because I'm in love with Yamato." Mimi, suddenly feeling her strength leave her, put an arm around Matt's waist. Matt smiled at her supportively. He put an arm around her shoulders and drew her closer.
Mimi, strength renewed, smiled at her parents. "We're engaged."
It was Matt's parents that broke the silence.
"Yamato, is this true? You proposed to Mimi and she accepted?" Mr. Ishida asked. Mrs. Ishida nodded furiously besides him.
"Yes, Dad," Matt answered calmly. "I love her." He gazed down at her and smiled. Mimi felt herself smiling back.
Suddenly, Mrs. Tachikawa rushed towards them. "This is great! Just marvelous! That Mr. Sugamora wouldn't have done at all," she said, shaking Matt's hand and kissing her daughter's cheek.
"Just imagine," her father said so proudly, Mimi was embarrassed, "the Ishidas and the Tachikawas uniting! Perfect! I'm all for it!"
Mrs. Ishida kissed Matt on the cheek. "Yamato, I'm very proud of you."
Mr. Ishida said nothing but looked very pleased.
Mimi hid a smile as her father rubbed his hands together. "We must celebrate! First, I must call Mr. Sugamora and tell him that the engagement is off. Of course, this needs to remain a secret until you graduate from college. Then..."
His voice faded from her ears as Mimi looked up at Matt, who was looking lovingly at her.
She sighed happily. Finally, she was loved and wanted. Finally, she belonged. Finally...she was home.
Matt stiffened by her side. Following his gaze, she looked at T.K., who had stood silently in the corner the whole time. T.K. had made it clear that he was jealous by the look in his eyes.
"T.K.," Matt whispered besides her, "I hope you and Kari work out as well as Mimi and I did."
Mimi found an image in her mind, an image of a blonde boy carrying a box dedicated to the girl he loved...
~END OF THE GOOD LIFE: MIMI'S STORY, PART 4...END OF MIMI'S STORY, PERIOD!~
~TO BE CONTINUED...IN THE GOOD LIFE: T.K.'S STORY~
So, did you like it? I hope you did, it took me a while to twist the plot like that.
T.K.'s Story will be a total new story, and entirely in T.K.'s POV (Point of View). This will be after both Matt and Mimi's Stories. Kari's Story (If I ever get that far) will be the same as T.K.'s story, just in HER POV.
Again, which song do you think best describes Matt and Mimi's relationship in this story? T.K. and Kari's? Tai and Sora's? (Read Part 3 for help on Taiora...) Send your answers to crescent87@hotmail.com
I'll include the answers in "The Good Life: T.K.'s Story"...as long as I get enough good reviews, criticism, and answers to the questions. So...PLEASE REVIEW!!
Thanks, Ja!!
-Venus163
Finally! It's the last part of Mimi's story!
'Kay, let me ask you something: What song do you think describes Matt and Mimi's relationship in this story the best? T.K. and Kari? Tai and Sora? Send your answers to crescent87@hotmail.com
I'll include the results in "The Good Life: T.K.'s Story"...that is, if I get enough good reviews and requests...
Alternate reality fic: Matt's parents are together, T.K. and Kari are in middle school. All the others are in high school.
I don't own Digimon, only the plot, blah blah blah. I'm sure you get the point.
Well, let's get on to the last part of Mimi's story!
~THE GOOD LIFE: MIMI'S STORY, PART 4~
BY VENUS163
Mimi walked home slowly, her thoughts on Matt. Lately, she had been thinking more and more about him.
Suddenly, T.K. barreled into her. "Mimi, we need to talk..."
"Why, T.K.! What's the matter?" Mimi asked worridly.
"It's about Kari."
"What happened?"
T.K. had tears in his eyes. "She-she..."
"Come on, T.K. Let's talk at my house." Mimi soothingly told him. She took his arm and dragged him to her home.
Kathy stepped into the hall as soon as she heard the door open. "Ms. Mimi...and this is?" she asked stiffly.
"Oh Kathy, this is Takeru Ishida. He came to me for some advice." Mimi quickly pushed him towards the stairs.
"Oh, Takeru Ishida...well, I'll tell the maids to stay away..." Kathy said, flustered. "And your father on business and your mother at tea..."
Mimi hurriedly led him up to her room. Closing the door, she locked it and closed her windows. "There, I don't think anyone could eavesdrop in here...wait..." She ducked underneath her desk and thoroughly plugged up the small holes the servants had made underneath it with bits of paper. "Okay. What is it?"
T.K. was near tears. "Kari...she said-she said she never wanted to see me again!"
"What happened?" Mimi asked, immediately sitting him in a chair and seating herself across from him.
"Well, she was seeing this other guy...and well, I got jealous..."
"Oh, T.K...When? What did you do?" Mimi said, frowning.
"Yesterday! And I kinda sorta punched him..."
"Oh my..." Mimi knew that T.K. wasn't telling her everything, but decided not to push him. Taking his hand, she asked, "Tell me, T.K., what kind of guy was he?"
"That's the problem!" he burst out unhappily. "If he was a decent fellow, I wouldn't have minded at all...well, not much, but I knew that he'd only hurt her..."
"Then, you did the right thing."
"What?" T.K. gasped. "Are you serious?"
"If you honestly, truly believe that he wasn't good for her, that he'd hurt her...then yes, you did the right thing."
"But-but Kari..."
"Kari's sensible. But she acted on a quick temper. It may take some time, but she'll come to see that you cared about her, and did it to protect you." Mimi ruffled his hair affectionately. "She'll forgive you."
"You really think so?" He asked her hopefully, looking more like a little lost boy than a lovelorn young man.
"I do."
T.K. gave her a hug. "Thanks, Mimi. You understand..." He glanced at his watch and jumped. "Oh great, I need to be home!"
Mimi got up too. "I'll drive you home."
"But..."
"I insist."
Five minutes later, both were in Mimi's car.
"T.K.," Mimi said suddenly, "would you tell Matt that I need to talk to him sometime soon?"
"Sure." T.K. gestured for her to stop. "Here. If you come any farther, my mother will insist you stay."
"Okay. Well, don't lose hope." After making sure that T.K. made it inside, she backed out of the driveway and drove back home.
"Ms. Mimi!" Kathy cried, as soon as she came in.
"What is it, Kathy?" Mimi asked.
"Ms. Kamiya is here, insisting on seeing you..."
"Kari?" Mimi hurriedly walked into the sitting room. "Kari, what are you doing here?"
"Um, I need to talk to you..."
"Alright. Come with me." For the second time that day, Mimi lead someone to her room and locked the door.
"Oh Mimi!" burst out Kari, "Has T.K. been here?"
"Um..." Mimi was torn between honesty and T.K.'s secret.
"He was, wasn't he?" Kari said, looking very relieved. "I'm glad. He let it slip that you were his confidant, and after what happened yesterday, I was sure that he'd come to you..."
She stopped and looked straight at her. "He told you everything?"
Mimi shook her head. "No..."
"It's just that, I think I've found the one," Kari said happily. "Jare is just everything I ever wanted, and I think it was very rude of T.K. to punch him..."
"He just cares about you, Kari," Mimi said softly.
"I know he does, and he does WAY more than just a friend should do..."
"A friend?" Mimi asked gently.
"Friend? Of course. T.K. IS one of my best friends..."
Mimi, remembering the love in T.K.'s eyes as he talked about Kari, winced.
"Are you alright?" Kari asked worridly.
"I'm fine," Mimi said, trying to perk up. "So, what's this Jare like?"
"Oh, Jare?" Kari said, eyes lighting up. "Well, he..."
As Kari talked, Mimi found with a slight pang of guilt that she wasn't paying attention at all. Instead, her thoughts centered on a blonde boy in a platinum car, one that had won her a pink bunny...
"...and if I didn't know better, I would have thought that T.K. was jealous," Kari finished.
"What?" Mimi asked guiltily.
Kari repeated what she had said.
"Maybe he was jealous," Mimi hinted subtly.
"T.K.? Jealous? Well, maybe, 'cause he was the only boy I hung around with. But probably not. Whatever possessed him to punch Jare?"
T.K.'s letter came up in Mimi's mind. 'Dear Kari, have you heard the saying, 'A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet'? If you had been named anything else, you would still be as kind and caring as ever...'
Glancing at Kari, and even though she knew better, it was getting difficult to believe that this heartless girl was a kind, caring angel.
T.K.'s voice popped up. "I need your advice. I don't know what to do. See, I love her, I really do. I fell in love with her ten years ago. But if I tell her, I think I'll scare her away. But I keep hoping that she DOES care, and then...I'd wait for as long as it takes..."
Mimi remembered her own answer. "...It seems like you're not ready to tell her. Then, wait until you're ready, and SHE'S ready...And if she feels the same way...I'm sure she'll wait for you, too..."
She closed her eyes. 'I'm sorry, T.K.,' she thought sadly, 'for giving you false hope.'
"Mimi?"
Mimi looked up at Kari, who was staring at her quizzically. "Yes Kari?"
"T.K. told you that I said that I never wanted to see him again, right?"
"Yes, Kari."
"Please tell me...did he take it to heart?"
Mimi's heart cracked as she remembered his heartbroken form. "Yes, Kari...he took it deeply to heart."
"Oh." Kari looked uncomfortable. "Um, I'll go now."
"Do you want me to drive you?"
"No. Tai promised to pick me up."
"Okay."
Mimi watched Kari leave out of her window. Feeling that this was too much to bear, she took the phone and dialed a familiar number.
"This is Sora," came the cheerful voice.
"Oh Sora, why, why did I ever give T.K. advice?" Mimi groaned.
"Why Mimi! What's the matter?" Sora asked worridly.
"I got mixed up in his love life..." With that and a cry of frustration, she began telling Sora of all her problems. "...and she doesn't seem to care for him at all!" she finished. "I gave him bad advice!"
"Calm down, Mimi. I think it was good advice, and maybe she DOES care, deep down inside. Maybe she just doesn't know..." Abruptly, she asked, "What's today's date?"
"Um, April 25."
"Well, give her a month or so, and see if something changes. And if not...Sorry Mimi, gotta go. My mother's calling."
"Well, thanks."
"You're welcome." Sora hung up.
Mimi miserably stared at the ceiling. "What have I done?"
"Mimi dear," came Mrs. Tachikawa's voice, "we need to talk to you."
Curious, Mimi walked into the kitchen, dropping her pink bookbag in a nearby chair. "What's up, Mom?" Seeing her father, she added, "Dad?"
Mr. and Mrs. Tachikawa grinned at each other like Cheshire cats.
Mimi began to get very scared. "Um, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Mimi," Mr. Tachikawa finally said, "have you heard of Mr. Jared Sugamora?"
"Sugamora...nope," Mimi said, opening the refrigerator and taking out a carton of orange juice.
"Well, you're going to meet him, today," Mrs. Tachikawa said proudly.
Mimi grunted, reaching for a glass in the cupboard.
"Mimi dear, why don't you ask Kathy to do that for you?"
"Oh, I can get it," Mimi said cheerfully. Finally getting the elusive glass, she poured orange juice into it. "Oh, Mom, Dad...did you say that I was going to meet Mr. Sugamora today?"
"Yes, dear."
"How come?" Mimi asked, putting the glass away. "I mean, is it business, or a party..." She leaned against the counter, holding her glass up.
"He's your fiance, Mimi."
At those words, Mimi dropped the cup. The glass shattered into many pieces on the hard floor, and spilt orange juice. "What?" she asked slowly.
"He's your fiance!" Her father announced. "You are now engaged to him!"
"Engaged!" Mimi sputtered. "But...I don't even know him!"
"You'll meet him soon enough," Mrs. Tachikawa said smilingly.
"I-I..."
"Oh, you'll just LOVE him, I'm sure!"
Suddenly, the haze around her feelings for Matt disappeared, and she read them clearly. She loved Matt, had always loved him. And now...it was too late. For her folly, she would pay by marrying another man, one she had never even met.
"Of course the wedding will be put off until you finish college," Mr. Tachikawa was saying. "But as soon as you graduate..."
"I-I can't marry him..." Mimi said hoarsely.
"You will," he said, turning cold.
Suddenly, the tears came, and Mimi burst out the door. The scenery blurred by, but she didn't care. All she knew was that she was doomed to a life with a Jared Sugamora, whoever he was.
Collapsing onto a bench, she started to cry, sobs racking her body. How she wished that Matt knew how she felt...that he felt the same way. She knew very well that it was impossible, but yet...
She understood now how T.K. felt. Kari was beyond his reach, just as Matt was to her. And for her hesitation...
She was a fool, a huge one. A desperate thought caused her to hold out her arm and look at her scar. Maybe, just maybe, it would work this time...
"Are you alright, Mimi?"
She looked up into the face of the one person that half of her wanted to see, the other half dreading to look at him. She meant to tell Matt to go away, but only the word "No," escaped her lips as she began to cry again.
Matt didn't get her point. Instead, he sat next to her and took her face into his hands. Gently, he brushed away her tears with his thumbs. "Please, Mimi, don't cry. I can't stand seeing you cry!"
A surge of hope ran through her, but she knew that Matt didn't care for her in that way. She tried to smile, for him, but the tears came again. "Matt..."
Matt put his arms around her. His cologne overwhelmed her, something in her snapped, so she found herself clutching his shirt and sobbing.
Soon, her sobs quieted. She realized very consciously where she was...in Matt's arms...
He was stroking her hair, it was very comforting. And it felt so nice, so safe...so loved...
She looked up at him. Seeing him gazing at her, she couldn't help giving him a smile.
Matt pulled her closer. For one, wild moment, Mimi allowed herself to believe that Matt cared, really cared, truly loved her. But as sudden as the moment had come, it disappeared, and Mimi knew that it wasn't fair to him. "Matt?" she whispered.
"Yes?" He was breathing quickly.
Mr. Sugamora came back to her mind and she said in despair, "Oh Matt, what am I going to do?"
Matt pulled away and looked at her. "What is it?"
Trying to stop the tears, she choked, "It's my parents, Matt. They've gone and gotten me engaged."
"ENGAGED??" Matt asked, eyes widening.
"Yes, Matt," she whispered. "An arranged marriage. It's some rich guy in Tokyo that I don't even know. I want to marry for love, though, not for money, my parents, or duty..."
"Then don't marry him," Matt said simply.
"How?" Mimi asked despairingly. "There's no way out of it."
"Do you love him?"
"What?" Mimi gasped, shocked at the sudden question.
"Do you love him?" Matt asked, more insistently.
"No..."
"Are you in love, though?"
Mimi felt her heart beat faster. "In love? Yes..."
"Then marry the guy you're in love with."
Mimi bit back the urge to laugh cynically. "But...but I don't think he knows how I feel."
"Do I know him?"
'That you do,' she thought unhappily. Aloud, she said, "Yes."
"Tell me who he is," Matt demanded. "I'll go and hammer some sense into his head. He'd be crazy not to be in love with you. I'll..."
"Matt..."
"...you're so beautiful and perfect, who would not love you..."
Mimi struggled for control. If Matt kept talking to her like this...she shuddered to think what might slip out. "Matt..." she pleaded, on the verge of losing control.
"...I know guys who would kill just to get you to smile at them..."
"Matt, it's you!!" Mimi burst out.
Matt froze. "What?"
Mimi knew that he'd hate her now. "Matt, I love you!" she said one last time before burying her face in her hands and crying in shame.
After a few moments, two strong hands gripped her arms. "Mimi, do you really mean it?" came Matt's eager voice. "Are you in earnest, or are you torturing me?"
"I mean it, Matt," Mimi sobbed, "I love you!"
The tears wouldn't stop. She tried and tried...and then, a finger was pushing her chin up. Two warm hands cupped her chin and started to kiss her tears away...kiss?
Slowly, not daring to breathe...or to hope, Mimi slowly opened her eyes. "Matt..."
Matt caressed her cheek. "Oh Mimi, you don't know how much what you've said means to me! I thought that you could never love me, you were too good for me, and now that I know that you do, I'm just so happy...Mimi, I love you."
Mimi was confused. Did Matt really love her? Or was he trying to make her feel better? She gazed into his eyes, trying to see the truth.
Suddenly Matt leaned down and pressed his lips against hers.
Only one wild, blissful thought was in her mind: Matt loved her. He truly loved her. Abandoning all caution, she started to kiss back. Putting her arms around his neck, she let her fingers drown in his hair. She felt Matt's arms circle her waist and his hands stroke her back.
Out of air, they pulled away. Wheezing, they stared at each other.
Mimi sat silently, letting the enormity of what had just happened sink in. She saw the loving and hopeful, yet frightened look in Matt's eyes. And with that, she smiled brightly. "Oh Matt, you really do care! I thought you didn't..."
He silenced her with a kiss. "I love you, Mimi," he assured her adoringly. "I'd...'rather die having loved you than live a thousand years without having met you.' "
"Oh, how sweet! Did you make it up?"
"No, it's from T.K."
"I didn't know he was so eloquent."
"Neither did I," he said, shrugging. They looked at each other, and laughed.
Then Matt did something totally unexpected: sliding off the bench, he knelt in front of her and grasped her hand. "Mimi Tachikawa, I'll have to ask you to wait a couple years, but...will you marry me?"
The tears of happiness stung her eyes and laughter bubbled out of her, but she answered, "Yes, Matt! Oh yes!"
Matt's face lit up with happiness as he stood up and pulled her up with him. Bringing her into his arms, he kissed her.
They stood that way, arms around each other, for a long time.
Mimi could have stayed there for the rest of her life, but she remembered her parents. Relunctantly, she pulled away and said, "We better get home, you know."
Matt looked very disappointed, but said, "I know. I'll walk you home." Sweetly, he took out his coat and draped it over her shoulders. Protectively, he put an arm around her.
He suddenly stiffened. "What about your parents?"
"I don't know," she said honestly, snuggling closer to him. "I'll just have to tell them about you and hope that they like it."
"And if they don't?"
Mimi smiled at his worry. "Too bad."
Matt smiled back, but still looked unconvinced.
When they arrived at her house, there was a strange car parked outside.
"I wonder what Mom and Dad are doing here," Matt said.
"Probably on business. Come on in," Mimi said playfully, dragging him inside.
The butler showed both of them into the living room.
Mrs. Ishida and Mrs. Tachikawa both got up. "Yamato! Mimi!"
Mr. Tachikawa stormed towards Mimi. "Mimi! Do you have any idea of what you've done? Mr. Sugamora was here, and he left quite vexed. What do I tell him, huh? His fiance isn't there to meet him. I'll be quite lucky if he wants to keep the engagement..."
"Dad," Mimi said defiantly but softly, "I'm not marrying Mr. Sugamora."
In satisfaction she watched him freeze. "What?"
"I'm breaking our engagement," she said loudly.
"What?" Her mother demanded, looking aghast. "Why?"
Mimi hid smile. She said strongly, "Because I don't love him."
"What does love have to do with this?" her mother shrieked, near hysterics.
"Mom, I'm not marrying Mr. Sugamora because I'm in love with Yamato." Mimi, suddenly feeling her strength leave her, put an arm around Matt's waist. Matt smiled at her supportively. He put an arm around her shoulders and drew her closer.
Mimi, strength renewed, smiled at her parents. "We're engaged."
It was Matt's parents that broke the silence.
"Yamato, is this true? You proposed to Mimi and she accepted?" Mr. Ishida asked. Mrs. Ishida nodded furiously besides him.
"Yes, Dad," Matt answered calmly. "I love her." He gazed down at her and smiled. Mimi felt herself smiling back.
Suddenly, Mrs. Tachikawa rushed towards them. "This is great! Just marvelous! That Mr. Sugamora wouldn't have done at all," she said, shaking Matt's hand and kissing her daughter's cheek.
"Just imagine," her father said so proudly, Mimi was embarrassed, "the Ishidas and the Tachikawas uniting! Perfect! I'm all for it!"
Mrs. Ishida kissed Matt on the cheek. "Yamato, I'm very proud of you."
Mr. Ishida said nothing but looked very pleased.
Mimi hid a smile as her father rubbed his hands together. "We must celebrate! First, I must call Mr. Sugamora and tell him that the engagement is off. Of course, this needs to remain a secret until you graduate from college. Then..."
His voice faded from her ears as Mimi looked up at Matt, who was looking lovingly at her.
She sighed happily. Finally, she was loved and wanted. Finally, she belonged. Finally...she was home.
Matt stiffened by her side. Following his gaze, she looked at T.K., who had stood silently in the corner the whole time. T.K. had made it clear that he was jealous by the look in his eyes.
"T.K.," Matt whispered besides her, "I hope you and Kari work out as well as Mimi and I did."
Mimi found an image in her mind, an image of a blonde boy carrying a box dedicated to the girl he loved...
~END OF THE GOOD LIFE: MIMI'S STORY, PART 4...END OF MIMI'S STORY, PERIOD!~
~TO BE CONTINUED...IN THE GOOD LIFE: T.K.'S STORY~
So, did you like it? I hope you did, it took me a while to twist the plot like that.
T.K.'s Story will be a total new story, and entirely in T.K.'s POV (Point of View). This will be after both Matt and Mimi's Stories. Kari's Story (If I ever get that far) will be the same as T.K.'s story, just in HER POV.
Again, which song do you think best describes Matt and Mimi's relationship in this story? T.K. and Kari's? Tai and Sora's? (Read Part 3 for help on Taiora...) Send your answers to crescent87@hotmail.com
I'll include the answers in "The Good Life: T.K.'s Story"...as long as I get enough good reviews, criticism, and answers to the questions. So...PLEASE REVIEW!!
Thanks, Ja!!
-Venus163