Chapter 6: Matt's Fault
Sora woke up to the sound of a heart monitor as she laid on her bed in Odaiba Hospital. As her eyes scanned the room she found Matt, fully awake, looking out the window.
"Ah. Sora! your finally awake!" greeted the concerned Matt as he turned around and found the brown eyes of Sora opened.
"Hey Matt..... What happened?" Sora asked weakly.
"......You.... You've been out the past couple of days." he paused as he approached her bed side trying to hide the fear and pain he's had during those days. "..... you... the doctors have found.... they've discovered.. a.. tumor...... its... its pretty large...... they don't.... they aren't sure if... if you'd....."
He broke off, he couldn't continue giving the news that was a burden to him as well. He held back his tears, not to let Sora see his anguish.
Sora kept silent for a while. This was an extreme shock to take in.
"Ummm...... Your family, they're in the waiting room. We've all been here since it happened." Matt said to brake the painful silence.
"Matt...... If.. if I don't..... I mean" Sora paused to get the words right in her head first as she sighed to continue, "Matt, I want to tell you something, because I don't think I'll have another chance-"
"Don't say that Sora.... Please, always hope for the best." Matt broke in.
"No Matt. I wanted you to know this before its too late to tell you." she confronted him, " Matt, I love-"
They were once again interrupted as the door opened and Tai with Mimi walked in.
"Sora! We are so glad to see you alright." Tai greeted her, "We took the first plane back to Odaiba when we heard the news."
Tai ranted on, but Sora couldn't listen as she watched Matt. He backed off from her side when Tai entered and the look in his eyes, of sorrow, iced down her spine as he watched 'her ex' return to restore the pieces. Then he left.
"Sora?" came the petite voice of her pink loving friend, " Tai and I..... we... wanted you to be the first to know..... that, we're in love."
This came as another shock to Sora, and once again fell silent.
"Sora... I wanted to know..." Mimi continued, "if you were okay with this?..... you and Tai have been through a lot together, and well I wanted to be sure there would be no regrets or resentment..... You know you're my best friend. And no matter what, you always will be...."
"Of course Mimi. I'm just too happy for you to talk!..." Sora reassured her best friend. "I'm really happy for you and Taichi."
~*~*~*~
Matt came back later that night to the hospital, for his good bye. It was around midnight, so he found Sora already asleep and mostly everyone gone. He didn't want to disturb her, so he was very quiet as he sat in the chair next to her and just watch her breathing in and out.
"Sora?" he finally spoke, but in the low voice so she wouldn't wake, "Sora, I just came by to say good-bye... We both knew that I had to leave soon. And.. well the plane leaves early tomorrow morning. I just.... I mean, I wish I could stay here for you... But Tai's here for you now... and, well, I know he'll take good care of you for me.... I'm sorry" and he gave her a kiss on her forehead as he got up.
He was almost out the hospital when Tai approached him from behind.
"Hey Matt. You can't leave man."
"Since when are you giving me orders again, Kamiya?"
"Look dude, I heard what you said to Sora-"
"Its none of your business man."
"It becomes my business when you are about to hurt someone I care a lot about."
"I don't want to hurt her, can't you see that?"
"No. I just see that you don't want to get hurt yourself."
"Look man, I don't need a lecture from you."
"Then don't do this."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"You wouldn't understand...."
"Don't tell me because you have an obligation to work...... Com'on man, your only obligation is right there, in that room. Now what's more important?"
"Don't make me choose, man...... you have no idea what I'm going through"
"Then let me..."
"You want the truth Tai?...... Truth is... I'm scared. Okay Tai? I'm scared." Matt then turned his back to Tai so that he wouldn't see the tears. "Listen, I'm not like you man.... I wasn't chosen to be the guardian of courage... I have fears, and this is one that I can't confront."
"You're right..... You're right Ishida.... You didn't deserve the crest of courage, and you want to know why?.... because you're a coward Matt..... even if you can't confront your fears, you could at least be here for her. Don't turn your back on her, she needs you right now man. But you're still blowing her off!..... And because of that, I don't think you deserve the crest of friendship either!"
"You're right Tai..." Matt sullenly said as he turned his head around so that Tai might see that it hurts him more on that comment, "You're right." then he started walking towards the exit again.
"You're making a mistake Ishida!" Tai yelled through the hall so that Matt might here him at the door, "You're making a mistake........"