He Screamed Your Name II
A/N: This side of the story takes place several months after the first one, which I've reposted so many could reread the first one to refresh their memories ^_^ The first one really needs to be read to understand this one too. So please enjoy, and don't flame ok? Thanks mina-san. I hope you likes. Long live Taiora! heh heh
+†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+
Matt had gone into depression after what happened. He barely went to school anymore, but fortunately his intelligence made up for it. When he did go to school, he avoided everyone, all of his friends, his band members, and especially Tai and Sora. He had only gotten a glimpse of each of them, and each time he had hurried away before they had spotted him. He had no idea how their relationship was progressing, if they had fought or broken up, or forgot about it and continued on happily. He just didn't know.
In the months that followed that tragic Halloween night, Matt had withdrawn from society, speaking only to his father, brother, and occasionally to his mother. He all but dropped out of his band, and he avoided and barely exchanged a word with his friends. He just didn't want to go on with this vacancy in his heart, this mistake not justified and brought to completion.
He felt as though something were missing since it happened, as if something else needed to occur for him to be able to return to his normal life, to finally get it back on track...
Matt slowly plodded along the shore, his hands deep in the pockets of the dark blue jeans he wore, and his black button-up shirt wavering slightly in the wind. His face was turned toward the setting sun, the sky orange and everything around him tinted the orange-coral color. Sighing thoughtfully, he stooped down quickly to sweep up a stone and threw it into the waves, watching it solemnly as it scraped the bottom of the earth and the sand rise in cloudy drifts to the surface.
Sighing, he put his hand back in his pocket and turned back towards his car. It was time to go home, and he decided that tomorrow was day to finally confront Tai. This void in Matt's chest needed to be filled somehow, and it was already nearing March. It had been almost four months, and it was time he figured out what to do about his life, how he would fix his advancing depression. The only thing he could possibly think of doing right now was finally approaching Tai and risk his hatred and rage, even after so long. Hell, it would be a relief for him to finally let it out and for Matt to finally get what he deserved. Maybe that was the first step...
+†+
"Sora! Sora, where are you going?" Sora turned at the sound of her best friend's voice, then turned back around and kept walking, though more slowly. The late February sky was gloomy and grey, the cold mist hanging around the people of Odaiba, chilling them yet holding promises of warm spring showers. Sora was among the few to appreciate the weather, and she tightened the soft jacket around her as Tai pulled up next to her.
Tai swung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, delighting in her slight blush. Even after all the time they'd been together, she was still shy when he was intimately near. "So where are we headed?" Tai smiled his cute, boyish smile into her cheek before softly brushing his lips against it.
Sora's cheeks flushed brighter, especially in the white-grey color of the daylight. Briefly, she looked around her at all the people, waiting to see if one of them would be watching. But they were all busy with their own business.
Her breath escaped her in a delicate puff of steam as she spoke. "I don't know, how about the park? You know, the deserted one near our school. I hate going to the one where there's always people there."
Tai nodded. "Alright." Tightening his grip on her, he sighed and looked up into the sky, feeling somewhat exasperated. "This weather is crazy. Last night it was so nice out, all warm with a gorgeous sunset to top it off. I just don't get it. How could some days be so good and some so filled with the memory of winter, of the bad hardships we had to go through to get here..."
Sora looked up curiously at Tai as he stared ahead, walking grimly towards their destination. Already, they were steering away from the crowded streets and heading to the park. She felt there were more to Tai's words than what he just said out loud. Sora knew what he was thinking.
"What you mean is, how can some days we can forget what happened between me and Matt, and then somedays all the memories come flooding back so they don't leave us to enjoy the promise of starting over, of spring rebirthing itself?" Tai sighed and looked at the ground, his arm still around Sora as he took in her words.
"Come on, Sora. You know I don't think like that of you, and I'm not hurt..."
"I know that, Tai. But you're still sad, and deep down, I know you are still hurting. I am too. I miss Matt. I can't think of him as a friend anymore, not until he himself can forget about it and come back to us."
"I can't forgive him, not until he at least forgives himself. I know that much." Tai's face darkened as he thought of seeing Matt again. He could wait forever before Matt decided to show himself, when he finally braved Tai's fists. But even so, Sora was right. Deep down, he missed Matt as well. Matt was his best friend, and he always will be. Most of it was because of all the fights they had gotten into as children. They had both come out on the other side better friends than ever. And he knew that he and Matt can still have that back, they can still reclaim it, as long as he stopped acting like a baby and gave up on avoiding them. That was what angered him most. For four months now, Matt had managed to stay out of sight. Tai had glimpsed him a few times, but never got to him before he disappeared once again, certain to be avoiding getting the bloody hell beaten out of him.
Tai was still very steamed when he thought about what Matt had done to Sora that night. Yes, it had been partly Sora's fault as well, and yes, Matt was completely plastered when it happened, but it was the fact of the matter. Sora was Tai's one true love, and not only that, she was his best friend. He felt he could trust her with anything, about anything, and that she was his forever. But then Matt had to step in and almost spoil all of his dreams. He took from Tai what he thought would be his only, and he soiled Sora's innocence. Yes, Tai and Sora had made love before that night, so he didn't exactly take her virginity, but what happened between Sora and Matt was not lovemaking - it was sex. Just plain sex, and that was it. Something that should not have happened that way, for that act was sacred, and now Tai felt as if what he and Sora had wasn't special anymore. He would do anything just to have that back, and he knew she would too...
He choked up whenever he caught her smiling, she was so beautiful she took his breath away. Her deep crimson-colored eyes were like jewels, glittering like rubies that were still part of the brown-red earth. Her strawberry-scented hair was the shade of amber in the bright sun, and the reddish-brown color of auburn on darker days. Her skin was creamy, yet naturally tanned with her olive complexion, suiting her sport-like nature and her boundless energy. And she was always so mature about everything, taking charge like a mother to children, like a mother to anyone and everyone...
"Tai. Tai, stop," Sora tugged sharply on Tai's sleeve as they both reached the deserted playground behind their schoolbuilding. She had spoken in a harsh whisper through her teeth, and Tai glanced down at her curiously. Then he looked in front of him, and his dark brown eyes widened and darkened even more in immense anger.
Matt stood before them, just a few yards away, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, his face pale and dark circles under his clear, azure eyes. His golden hair looked limp hanging around his shoulders, and he stared ahead, observing Tai and Sora, mostly Tai, as if expecting them there. Tai's hands squeezed into tight fists as he slowly, ominously approached Matt, much to Sora's dismay, so quietly, conjolingly, she did her best to hold him back, because she knew what Tai was capable of. He was a jock, of course, and that meant he was quick to get in a fight. Especially with a rebel like Matt.
"Oh no..." Sora breathed as Tai pulled away from her and headed straight towards Matt. She watched the two boys from afar, knowing there was nothing she could do to prevent this. And it was all because of her, she knew, because Tai loved her so much. She was the one he wanted to protect and to love, he was her chosen one, as she was his. She knew this in her heart, but she still didn't want to see him duke it out with another friend of hers, and of his, because of a stupid mistake she had made.
"Please Tai! You don't need to do this!" She called out in a last attempt. Both Tai and Matt looked back at her, hearing her words, but deciding they needed to settle this their own way. Tai turned back around to face Matt, fire in his gaze and steel in his heart. Matt straightened up from his position against the tree, and looked up determinedly into Tai's icy eyes.
"Listen, Tai," he started, putting a hand out to rest on Tai's shoulder. Tai took no time in knocking it violently away, and Matt's eyes turned to fury as well. He deserved a chance, at the very least.
Tai jabbed a finger into Matt's chest, shoving him back a little. "No, YOU listen, Ishida. Don't think for one minute you're off the hook. I don't ever want to see you come near Sora again..."
Matt cut him off, raising his voice. "Tai, stop acting like some kind of over-protective bulldog! She's my friend too."
"You're friend?! Or your slut?! Don't think I'm an idiot, Matt!"
Matt put his arms out and shoved Tai backwards, almost knocking him completely over, but sent him reeling back into a tree instead. "You asshole, Tai! How can you speak of your own girlfriend like that?!" Tai took this time to spring back from the tree and grab Matt's shoulders. With a growl, he swung Matt around and threw him into the same tree. "Urgh..." Matt grumbled in pain.
"I'M the asshole? How dare you! And you can't even call Sora your friend anymore, so don't talk to me about what I can and can't say about her!"
Sora's worried eyes widened as the two boys started shoving one another back and forth, and tears leaked out, blurring her vision so she could only make out two well-built figures about to rip each other apart. Sobbing, she put her face in her hands and slumped down to her knees against a tree, wishing everything would just go away...
"Ow, Tai, you punk! Let go!" Matt yelled as he grabbed ahold of Tai's jacket with his fists and lifted him into the air to throw him backwards. But as he was doing so, Tai had managed to yank a fistful of Matt's long hair, and they both went sprawling across the ground. Icy pricks of water began to rain down and sting the boys' backs, but neither noticed as they were both filled with a burning rage aching to be released.
On the ground, Matt now straddling Tai, both boys' fists began thrashing towards the other's face. Tai was knocked twice in the jaw by Matt's hard fists before he finally lifted his back and flipped over on top of Matt. Then all the saved up rage and frustration and anger and sorrow and hurt just began to pour out all at once.
Tai screeched out everything his voice held, all that his lungs could hold and release as he pounded Matt in his face, feeling the blood splatter and mixing with the stinging rain and soggy earth. His fists began to ache and Matt started to lose conciousness, but not before he shoved one of his own fists deeply into Tai's gut.
Tai groaned and glared back down at him as tears welled in his sorrowful eyes, similar to the eyes of his best friend below him. "Aaagh!!" he yelled once again, bringing both of his fists down onto Matt's chest, glad for the painful moan tearing from Matt's lips. Tai then grabbed his shirt tightly into his hands, and brought Matt up, then down again as roughly as he could, for all he was worth, beating him again and again into the ground, the mud splashing up onto both of them.
Just as Tai was losing his steam, his eyes overflowing with water other than the rain, Matt took the advantage, as weak and bloody as he was, to viciously throw Tai off of him, and then bring an elbow down onto his back. But he was already too weak to fight more with Tai, and Tai was still hurt with emotional pain beyond words. The pain blinded him and brought him to new heights, his strength much more than what it usually was. But even so, he couldn't go on forever. With one last effort, he crawled over to Matt, stood up and lifted Matt up to his feet, and threw him against a tree.
It was there when he finally gave up, all of his emotions and frustrations let out into the open, and he found himself staring into the brilliant yet watery blue eyes of Matt, both of them panting with exhaustion. Still clutching Matt's soaked shirt tightly in his fists, he observed the boy in front of him, slumped against a tree and barely standing on his own, save for Tai still holding onto him. Matt's nose was bleeding down and around his chin, though the rain played a part in washing it away. He had a potential black eye and for certain a fat lip, which was draining a trickle of blood as well. Tai was barely marked up at all, except for a few bruises on his cheek.
Then Tai saw the tears streaming down Matt's face as he stared into it, a sad and pained expression overwhelming the both of them. Then he heard Sora's sobbing and her soft whimpers as she balled into a fetal position next to a tree near by. Still catching their breaths, both Tai and Matt just stared at each other, both of them somehow reading the other's thoughts, knowing that this was exactly what needed to happen, and both relieved that it was over. They'd finally be ready, after four months , to talk through things and straighten them out that way, only waiting a few more days to calm down after the fight. They'd finally be ready to confront and share their feelings.
Letting go of his shirt, Tai was the first to break contact and move away, jogging over to Sora and kneeling beside her to comfort her as she sobbed quietly, her face buried in her hands. He calmly rested his hands on her shoulders before she jerked away with disgust.
"Don't touch me! Just don't touch me at all..."
"Sora, please, I'm sorry - "
"No! Just don't, just stop there. Leave me alone. Please. I need to be left alone." Tai decided to back up a little, and he sat on the ground next to her, watching her with woeful, chocolate eyes. He knew that inside, she already knew how he felt and how sorry he was, she just needed this time to herself...
That's when Matt materialized himself in front of her, and she slowly looked up at his battered appearance, his hands in his pockets and his eyes downcast and sore. The rain slowed and finally grew to a light mist as Matt tried to find the words to express what he wanted to say to her after so long, and after what had happened between them. Tai glared suspiciously, but then remembered that, in his heart, he knew that Matt and Sora had absolutely no feelings of that nature towards each other at all. And he felt that if things were to ever go back to normal, Matt and Sora needed to be alone.
Silently, Tai rose to his feet and stalked away. "Tai! No, don't leave me, don't go! Where are you going?" Sora called after him, springing to her feet and choking on a sob. Tai turned half-way around, putting his hands in his pockets and looking back at her.
"Come and get me when you're done. I'll be by the swings." Then, shooting a knowing glance at Matt, he turned back and walked away into the cold mist.
Matt sighed and observed Sora. "So, kid, how are you? Haven't seen you around, what have you been up to?" Sora stared back at him, his bruised face and mud-soaked clothes. How he could act as if nothing had happened at all, as though they had only been separated for this long of a time because of a family trip or something?
But, she realized there had to be a starting point somewhere in regaining their friendship, and it did relieve her knowing that he'd still treat her the same as before, like a sister...
Sora shrugged. "Oh, you know, this and that. School and stuff. Tai and I..." She trailed off from there, hoping it was good enough to start.
Matt nodded. "Cool. I guess I'll see you tomorrow at school then. Glad you and Tai are together. It's nice for you to be so close, you know, it gives the old feeling of being digidestined again."
"Right." Sora smiled softly up at her friend, and he genuinely smiled back.
"See ya."
"Mm-hm." Matt turned away and began to walk away, then at the last minute, swung back around to embrace Sora in a tight hug.
Sora, surprised, found herself hugging him back, tears once again forming. Finally, she could call him a friend again and find restitution in her heart. They squeezed each other in a bear hug, Matt quickly and friendly kissing her on the forehead before letting go and going his own way.
+†+
Sora approached Tai, her face brighter and happier than it had looked in a while. She felt more pure than she had in months, and she felt that things were rightfully back on track. Tai caught sight of Matt as he was leaving, and lifted a hand to briefly wave goodbye. Matt nodded once and disappeared.
+†+
The first holder of the crest of courage and the first of the crest of love joined hands, leaning against each other for support, drawing it from the other. The bond between them was so strong, it contained within it true love and true friendship, and it could never be broken by anything, not even a mistake made once.
Some say that one mistake could bring everything crashing down, but not in this case. Not in friendship.
Friendship was the one to bring courage and love closer together...
+†+
(-Matt...-)
(-Don't say it, Sora. It's okay. I got what I deserved, and believe me, I needed it.-)
(-If you're sure... Are you and Tai friends again?-)
(-I'm sure of it. He even acts more relaxed and funny around me than before.-)
(-Heh heh, well, that's partly my doing...-)
(-......................Sora, PLEASE don't tell me you told him what name I screamed...-)
;)
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Arigatou, everyone, for reading. Please review if you'd like, I'd appreciate it, but no flaming please, k? Thanks ^_^ This was kind of rushed, so I know it's a bit quick and not that good. But I hope you enjoy anyway. And hopefully, I will get a little epilogue out, just a short little thing with Matt and Tai talking things out, and expressing their friendship. Well, got to go now. Sayonara! ^_^
A/N: This side of the story takes place several months after the first one, which I've reposted so many could reread the first one to refresh their memories ^_^ The first one really needs to be read to understand this one too. So please enjoy, and don't flame ok? Thanks mina-san. I hope you likes. Long live Taiora! heh heh
+†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+ +†+
Matt had gone into depression after what happened. He barely went to school anymore, but fortunately his intelligence made up for it. When he did go to school, he avoided everyone, all of his friends, his band members, and especially Tai and Sora. He had only gotten a glimpse of each of them, and each time he had hurried away before they had spotted him. He had no idea how their relationship was progressing, if they had fought or broken up, or forgot about it and continued on happily. He just didn't know.
In the months that followed that tragic Halloween night, Matt had withdrawn from society, speaking only to his father, brother, and occasionally to his mother. He all but dropped out of his band, and he avoided and barely exchanged a word with his friends. He just didn't want to go on with this vacancy in his heart, this mistake not justified and brought to completion.
He felt as though something were missing since it happened, as if something else needed to occur for him to be able to return to his normal life, to finally get it back on track...
Matt slowly plodded along the shore, his hands deep in the pockets of the dark blue jeans he wore, and his black button-up shirt wavering slightly in the wind. His face was turned toward the setting sun, the sky orange and everything around him tinted the orange-coral color. Sighing thoughtfully, he stooped down quickly to sweep up a stone and threw it into the waves, watching it solemnly as it scraped the bottom of the earth and the sand rise in cloudy drifts to the surface.
Sighing, he put his hand back in his pocket and turned back towards his car. It was time to go home, and he decided that tomorrow was day to finally confront Tai. This void in Matt's chest needed to be filled somehow, and it was already nearing March. It had been almost four months, and it was time he figured out what to do about his life, how he would fix his advancing depression. The only thing he could possibly think of doing right now was finally approaching Tai and risk his hatred and rage, even after so long. Hell, it would be a relief for him to finally let it out and for Matt to finally get what he deserved. Maybe that was the first step...
+†+
"Sora! Sora, where are you going?" Sora turned at the sound of her best friend's voice, then turned back around and kept walking, though more slowly. The late February sky was gloomy and grey, the cold mist hanging around the people of Odaiba, chilling them yet holding promises of warm spring showers. Sora was among the few to appreciate the weather, and she tightened the soft jacket around her as Tai pulled up next to her.
Tai swung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, delighting in her slight blush. Even after all the time they'd been together, she was still shy when he was intimately near. "So where are we headed?" Tai smiled his cute, boyish smile into her cheek before softly brushing his lips against it.
Sora's cheeks flushed brighter, especially in the white-grey color of the daylight. Briefly, she looked around her at all the people, waiting to see if one of them would be watching. But they were all busy with their own business.
Her breath escaped her in a delicate puff of steam as she spoke. "I don't know, how about the park? You know, the deserted one near our school. I hate going to the one where there's always people there."
Tai nodded. "Alright." Tightening his grip on her, he sighed and looked up into the sky, feeling somewhat exasperated. "This weather is crazy. Last night it was so nice out, all warm with a gorgeous sunset to top it off. I just don't get it. How could some days be so good and some so filled with the memory of winter, of the bad hardships we had to go through to get here..."
Sora looked up curiously at Tai as he stared ahead, walking grimly towards their destination. Already, they were steering away from the crowded streets and heading to the park. She felt there were more to Tai's words than what he just said out loud. Sora knew what he was thinking.
"What you mean is, how can some days we can forget what happened between me and Matt, and then somedays all the memories come flooding back so they don't leave us to enjoy the promise of starting over, of spring rebirthing itself?" Tai sighed and looked at the ground, his arm still around Sora as he took in her words.
"Come on, Sora. You know I don't think like that of you, and I'm not hurt..."
"I know that, Tai. But you're still sad, and deep down, I know you are still hurting. I am too. I miss Matt. I can't think of him as a friend anymore, not until he himself can forget about it and come back to us."
"I can't forgive him, not until he at least forgives himself. I know that much." Tai's face darkened as he thought of seeing Matt again. He could wait forever before Matt decided to show himself, when he finally braved Tai's fists. But even so, Sora was right. Deep down, he missed Matt as well. Matt was his best friend, and he always will be. Most of it was because of all the fights they had gotten into as children. They had both come out on the other side better friends than ever. And he knew that he and Matt can still have that back, they can still reclaim it, as long as he stopped acting like a baby and gave up on avoiding them. That was what angered him most. For four months now, Matt had managed to stay out of sight. Tai had glimpsed him a few times, but never got to him before he disappeared once again, certain to be avoiding getting the bloody hell beaten out of him.
Tai was still very steamed when he thought about what Matt had done to Sora that night. Yes, it had been partly Sora's fault as well, and yes, Matt was completely plastered when it happened, but it was the fact of the matter. Sora was Tai's one true love, and not only that, she was his best friend. He felt he could trust her with anything, about anything, and that she was his forever. But then Matt had to step in and almost spoil all of his dreams. He took from Tai what he thought would be his only, and he soiled Sora's innocence. Yes, Tai and Sora had made love before that night, so he didn't exactly take her virginity, but what happened between Sora and Matt was not lovemaking - it was sex. Just plain sex, and that was it. Something that should not have happened that way, for that act was sacred, and now Tai felt as if what he and Sora had wasn't special anymore. He would do anything just to have that back, and he knew she would too...
He choked up whenever he caught her smiling, she was so beautiful she took his breath away. Her deep crimson-colored eyes were like jewels, glittering like rubies that were still part of the brown-red earth. Her strawberry-scented hair was the shade of amber in the bright sun, and the reddish-brown color of auburn on darker days. Her skin was creamy, yet naturally tanned with her olive complexion, suiting her sport-like nature and her boundless energy. And she was always so mature about everything, taking charge like a mother to children, like a mother to anyone and everyone...
"Tai. Tai, stop," Sora tugged sharply on Tai's sleeve as they both reached the deserted playground behind their schoolbuilding. She had spoken in a harsh whisper through her teeth, and Tai glanced down at her curiously. Then he looked in front of him, and his dark brown eyes widened and darkened even more in immense anger.
Matt stood before them, just a few yards away, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed, his face pale and dark circles under his clear, azure eyes. His golden hair looked limp hanging around his shoulders, and he stared ahead, observing Tai and Sora, mostly Tai, as if expecting them there. Tai's hands squeezed into tight fists as he slowly, ominously approached Matt, much to Sora's dismay, so quietly, conjolingly, she did her best to hold him back, because she knew what Tai was capable of. He was a jock, of course, and that meant he was quick to get in a fight. Especially with a rebel like Matt.
"Oh no..." Sora breathed as Tai pulled away from her and headed straight towards Matt. She watched the two boys from afar, knowing there was nothing she could do to prevent this. And it was all because of her, she knew, because Tai loved her so much. She was the one he wanted to protect and to love, he was her chosen one, as she was his. She knew this in her heart, but she still didn't want to see him duke it out with another friend of hers, and of his, because of a stupid mistake she had made.
"Please Tai! You don't need to do this!" She called out in a last attempt. Both Tai and Matt looked back at her, hearing her words, but deciding they needed to settle this their own way. Tai turned back around to face Matt, fire in his gaze and steel in his heart. Matt straightened up from his position against the tree, and looked up determinedly into Tai's icy eyes.
"Listen, Tai," he started, putting a hand out to rest on Tai's shoulder. Tai took no time in knocking it violently away, and Matt's eyes turned to fury as well. He deserved a chance, at the very least.
Tai jabbed a finger into Matt's chest, shoving him back a little. "No, YOU listen, Ishida. Don't think for one minute you're off the hook. I don't ever want to see you come near Sora again..."
Matt cut him off, raising his voice. "Tai, stop acting like some kind of over-protective bulldog! She's my friend too."
"You're friend?! Or your slut?! Don't think I'm an idiot, Matt!"
Matt put his arms out and shoved Tai backwards, almost knocking him completely over, but sent him reeling back into a tree instead. "You asshole, Tai! How can you speak of your own girlfriend like that?!" Tai took this time to spring back from the tree and grab Matt's shoulders. With a growl, he swung Matt around and threw him into the same tree. "Urgh..." Matt grumbled in pain.
"I'M the asshole? How dare you! And you can't even call Sora your friend anymore, so don't talk to me about what I can and can't say about her!"
Sora's worried eyes widened as the two boys started shoving one another back and forth, and tears leaked out, blurring her vision so she could only make out two well-built figures about to rip each other apart. Sobbing, she put her face in her hands and slumped down to her knees against a tree, wishing everything would just go away...
"Ow, Tai, you punk! Let go!" Matt yelled as he grabbed ahold of Tai's jacket with his fists and lifted him into the air to throw him backwards. But as he was doing so, Tai had managed to yank a fistful of Matt's long hair, and they both went sprawling across the ground. Icy pricks of water began to rain down and sting the boys' backs, but neither noticed as they were both filled with a burning rage aching to be released.
On the ground, Matt now straddling Tai, both boys' fists began thrashing towards the other's face. Tai was knocked twice in the jaw by Matt's hard fists before he finally lifted his back and flipped over on top of Matt. Then all the saved up rage and frustration and anger and sorrow and hurt just began to pour out all at once.
Tai screeched out everything his voice held, all that his lungs could hold and release as he pounded Matt in his face, feeling the blood splatter and mixing with the stinging rain and soggy earth. His fists began to ache and Matt started to lose conciousness, but not before he shoved one of his own fists deeply into Tai's gut.
Tai groaned and glared back down at him as tears welled in his sorrowful eyes, similar to the eyes of his best friend below him. "Aaagh!!" he yelled once again, bringing both of his fists down onto Matt's chest, glad for the painful moan tearing from Matt's lips. Tai then grabbed his shirt tightly into his hands, and brought Matt up, then down again as roughly as he could, for all he was worth, beating him again and again into the ground, the mud splashing up onto both of them.
Just as Tai was losing his steam, his eyes overflowing with water other than the rain, Matt took the advantage, as weak and bloody as he was, to viciously throw Tai off of him, and then bring an elbow down onto his back. But he was already too weak to fight more with Tai, and Tai was still hurt with emotional pain beyond words. The pain blinded him and brought him to new heights, his strength much more than what it usually was. But even so, he couldn't go on forever. With one last effort, he crawled over to Matt, stood up and lifted Matt up to his feet, and threw him against a tree.
It was there when he finally gave up, all of his emotions and frustrations let out into the open, and he found himself staring into the brilliant yet watery blue eyes of Matt, both of them panting with exhaustion. Still clutching Matt's soaked shirt tightly in his fists, he observed the boy in front of him, slumped against a tree and barely standing on his own, save for Tai still holding onto him. Matt's nose was bleeding down and around his chin, though the rain played a part in washing it away. He had a potential black eye and for certain a fat lip, which was draining a trickle of blood as well. Tai was barely marked up at all, except for a few bruises on his cheek.
Then Tai saw the tears streaming down Matt's face as he stared into it, a sad and pained expression overwhelming the both of them. Then he heard Sora's sobbing and her soft whimpers as she balled into a fetal position next to a tree near by. Still catching their breaths, both Tai and Matt just stared at each other, both of them somehow reading the other's thoughts, knowing that this was exactly what needed to happen, and both relieved that it was over. They'd finally be ready, after four months , to talk through things and straighten them out that way, only waiting a few more days to calm down after the fight. They'd finally be ready to confront and share their feelings.
Letting go of his shirt, Tai was the first to break contact and move away, jogging over to Sora and kneeling beside her to comfort her as she sobbed quietly, her face buried in her hands. He calmly rested his hands on her shoulders before she jerked away with disgust.
"Don't touch me! Just don't touch me at all..."
"Sora, please, I'm sorry - "
"No! Just don't, just stop there. Leave me alone. Please. I need to be left alone." Tai decided to back up a little, and he sat on the ground next to her, watching her with woeful, chocolate eyes. He knew that inside, she already knew how he felt and how sorry he was, she just needed this time to herself...
That's when Matt materialized himself in front of her, and she slowly looked up at his battered appearance, his hands in his pockets and his eyes downcast and sore. The rain slowed and finally grew to a light mist as Matt tried to find the words to express what he wanted to say to her after so long, and after what had happened between them. Tai glared suspiciously, but then remembered that, in his heart, he knew that Matt and Sora had absolutely no feelings of that nature towards each other at all. And he felt that if things were to ever go back to normal, Matt and Sora needed to be alone.
Silently, Tai rose to his feet and stalked away. "Tai! No, don't leave me, don't go! Where are you going?" Sora called after him, springing to her feet and choking on a sob. Tai turned half-way around, putting his hands in his pockets and looking back at her.
"Come and get me when you're done. I'll be by the swings." Then, shooting a knowing glance at Matt, he turned back and walked away into the cold mist.
Matt sighed and observed Sora. "So, kid, how are you? Haven't seen you around, what have you been up to?" Sora stared back at him, his bruised face and mud-soaked clothes. How he could act as if nothing had happened at all, as though they had only been separated for this long of a time because of a family trip or something?
But, she realized there had to be a starting point somewhere in regaining their friendship, and it did relieve her knowing that he'd still treat her the same as before, like a sister...
Sora shrugged. "Oh, you know, this and that. School and stuff. Tai and I..." She trailed off from there, hoping it was good enough to start.
Matt nodded. "Cool. I guess I'll see you tomorrow at school then. Glad you and Tai are together. It's nice for you to be so close, you know, it gives the old feeling of being digidestined again."
"Right." Sora smiled softly up at her friend, and he genuinely smiled back.
"See ya."
"Mm-hm." Matt turned away and began to walk away, then at the last minute, swung back around to embrace Sora in a tight hug.
Sora, surprised, found herself hugging him back, tears once again forming. Finally, she could call him a friend again and find restitution in her heart. They squeezed each other in a bear hug, Matt quickly and friendly kissing her on the forehead before letting go and going his own way.
+†+
Sora approached Tai, her face brighter and happier than it had looked in a while. She felt more pure than she had in months, and she felt that things were rightfully back on track. Tai caught sight of Matt as he was leaving, and lifted a hand to briefly wave goodbye. Matt nodded once and disappeared.
+†+
The first holder of the crest of courage and the first of the crest of love joined hands, leaning against each other for support, drawing it from the other. The bond between them was so strong, it contained within it true love and true friendship, and it could never be broken by anything, not even a mistake made once.
Some say that one mistake could bring everything crashing down, but not in this case. Not in friendship.
Friendship was the one to bring courage and love closer together...
+†+
(-Matt...-)
(-Don't say it, Sora. It's okay. I got what I deserved, and believe me, I needed it.-)
(-If you're sure... Are you and Tai friends again?-)
(-I'm sure of it. He even acts more relaxed and funny around me than before.-)
(-Heh heh, well, that's partly my doing...-)
(-......................Sora, PLEASE don't tell me you told him what name I screamed...-)
;)
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Arigatou, everyone, for reading. Please review if you'd like, I'd appreciate it, but no flaming please, k? Thanks ^_^ This was kind of rushed, so I know it's a bit quick and not that good. But I hope you enjoy anyway. And hopefully, I will get a little epilogue out, just a short little thing with Matt and Tai talking things out, and expressing their friendship. Well, got to go now. Sayonara! ^_^