The Price of Friendship
Part 2
Disclaimer: Blah, blah, I don't own digimon. The usual. I just love digimon, blah, blah, blah.
It was the day of Matt's concert and Sora sat in the very front row. Tai was there too and he sat on the right hand side, next to Kari. I should have warned him, Kari thought, looking at her brother.
Mimi was there too, in disguise. She was sitting in the back row with a baseball cap with her hair pulled in a ponytail through the back of the baseball cap, jeans, a green T-shirt, a leather jacket and sunglasses. No one would suspect it was her.. I'll show Matt to cheat on me! I don't care if I live ten thousand miles away, it doesn't give him any right! And I don't care if we weren't even going out to begin with, we both really like each other.
TK sat on the other side of the auditorium, next to Davis, Yolei and the others. "Why aren't you sitting next to Kari?" Davis asked.
Because her brother won't let me, TK almost said. "I wish I knew."
"Oh, does that mean I can---"
"Shh! Davis, it's about to start!" Yolei snapped.
"Hi, thanks for coming everybody," Matt said into the microphone, "we have a good show planned tonight. I'd like to start out with a song and it's dedicated to someone very special to me. She knows who she is, so I'm not saying her name!."
"Gee," Tai said, "Mimi should be watching this. He's singing about her!"
I wouldn't be so sure, big brother. Kari thought drearily.
The song started out with the drummer lightly tapping the base drum and cymbals. Sora smiled, she heard this song before and Matt was looking right at her.
"Don't be ashamed of who you are," he sang quietly, "don't be afraid to trust yourself. " He strummed a few more chords, getting stronger and louder, "I think you're special just the way you aa-aa-rr--eee! I'll be there for you. I don't care what others say, I don't care what they do, I'm gonna be there for you!" He started the solo and his eyes were still locked on Sora's. Matt tried to push away the thought that their relationship might be wrong. He didn't' want to think of Tai or of Mimi or TK. He only wanted to think of Sora.
"You're the best friend I ever had. You believed in me. You trusted me. I'll never let you go!" he sang more about his feelings for Sora but he didn't say her name. "Your eyes burn through my soul…."
"Oh, that's so sweet! Mimi's so lucky!" Yolei sniffed.
Yeah, lucky, TK thought.
Then the song was over and Tai clapped. "I got to hand it to him, he's a good musician!"
Matt sang another song, one about friendship. It was more upbeat. A few more songs and then the concert was over. Sora jumped up while clapping and cheering and ran to wait for Matt in the dressing room.
"He did good, I'm going to go congratulate him," Tai said to Kari, standing up.
"No, Tai, don't!" Kari pleaded, grabbing his arm and standing up. "You don't want to do that, trust me!"
"What's wrong with telling my best friend he did a good job?" Tai asked. " Don't you think he did a good job?" He started to walk away.
"Sure he did good, but you might want to wait a while!" Kari pushed him back. "Let's get some popcorn or something."
"Kari, what's this about?" Tai demanded.
Kari sighed, "Tai, I saw Matt with Sora yesterday at the movies. They're seeing each other secretly."
"W-what!?"
"She's right, Tai," TK chided, "Matt told me he was going to tell you all about it today after the concert."
"I don't believe this!" Tai groaned and stormed to Matt's dressing room.
"Tai, don't!" Kari went after him, but TK stopped her, "let him go, Kari. We have to talk anyway."
Meanwhile, when Kari and TK told Tai the truth, Matt and Sora…
"I think you did a great job," Sora commited, sitting on the vanity dresser.
"Yeah," Matt mumbled. "I have to tell Tai the truth. Kari and TK saw us at the movies yesterday."
"They did?" Sora sputtered, "I didn't see them!"
"You probably call or email Mimi and let her know," Matt told her, "before she learns from someone else."
"Okay," Sora pecked his cheek and went to the door, "call me later?"
"You know it.
Sora closed the door behind her and headed home. But a girl stopped her in her tracks just outside the building. A girl with pink hair pulled through a baseball cap, green shirt, blue jeans, sneakers and sunglasses. No other but the holder of the crest of sincerity, Mimi Tachichiwa, Sora's best friend. But Sora didn't notice her right away.
"Oh, excuse me," Sora said, brushing past her.
"Not so fast, Sora Tachenouchi!" Mimi turned around and grabbed Sora's shoulder. She spun Sora around.
"Mimi?"
Mimi removed her glasses to show her brown eyes. (She has brown eyes, right??) "Surprised, aren't' you? How's your wrist?"
"Better now that the cast is gone."
"Good, because I'm going to give you good reason to wear a cast, Sora. A body cast!" Mimi pushed Sora back as they began to argue.
********
Sighing, Matt went to the door, "I guess I might as well do it now," Matt moaned and opened it just in time for his mouth to meet Tai's fist. He fell back and rubbed his lip, "I was just going to tell you."
"Oh, just?" Tai snapped.
"I understand that you're angry. I guess I probably deserve this too." He rubbed his lip again. It stung more than any punch from Tai. Matt, although he had many times before, wouldn't punch Tai back. He had already hurt the guy enough.
"I can't believe you have the gawl to go behind my back with Sora!" Tai roared. "You know damn well how I feel about her!"
"I'm sorry, Tai," Matt apologized, "it just happened. You and Sora weren't spending much time together and I visited her while her wrist was still in the cast."
"Just happened? Well, you just happen to be my best friend, Ishida!"
"I know, I'm sorry. I'm very, very sorry."
"Sorry? You're sorry?!" Tai grunted, pushing Matt back, "Sorry doesn't change anything! Not only have you made me mad, think of what you've done to Mimi! And to TK and Kari! Your foolish decision has effected everyone around you! But you don't' care, do you Matt?"
"Hey, I messed up, but I didn't mean to…"
"Shut up!" he shoved him again and held him against the wall, "you had trouble with your crest of friendship before, but this is just ridiculous! But that doesn't matter to you, doesn't it? No, you think you can do whatever you want just because you're a rock star. Isn't that right?"
"No."
"I don't think I can let my little see your little brother because of the poor example you are too him!"
"Now that's enough!" Matt snapped, "you leave TK out of this! Don't make him pay for my mistake, he cares a lot about Kari!"
"Sure he does, just like you used to care for Mimi!"
"She lives in New York," Matt said, "how can I keep a long distance relationship going, huh? Listen, Tai, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to get this far, but I've fallen for Sora."
Tai rolled his eyes, "oh please…"
"She told me she quit the soccer team because she couldn't be around you anymore."
"She did what?" Tai gasped, "but she's….no, I can't believe it!"
**************************
"I guess you found about me and Matt," Sora gasped as Mimi shoved her back.
"Why else would I travel ten thousand miles over here?!" Mimi demanded, "plane tickets from New York to Tokyo doesn't come cheap, y'know!"
"I'm sorry, Mimi," Sora said.
"Oh, please, sorry?" Mimi asked bitterly, "that's all you have to say is sorry? How could you!?"
"It just happened." Sora told her. "I didn't mean to…"
"Just happened?" Mimi raised an eyebrow and cocked her head, "Just happened? Things just don't happen Sora. Things happen for a reason. Did we just happen to fall from the sky and meet our digimon? No, we were there for a reason. We had to save their world. Did I just happen to move away to New York? No, my parents got new jobs. Did you and Matt just happen to be sneaking around behind my back, no, you're just a real jerk for a friend!"
"You can't mean that, Mimi," Sora whispered.
"Hey, don't I sound sincere?" Mimi demanded. I did own the crest of sincerity, didn't I? I'm pretty damn sincere, Sora!"
"I'm sorry, Mimi," Sora repeated.
"What you've done has done more than just hurt me, Sora. You've hurt Tai, TK, Kari and everyone else."
"What?"
"Kari was the one to tell me about what happened. She's worried that TK might do the same thing to her since TK looks up to Matt so much."
"TK wouldn't do that…"
"That's what I used to think about Matt until this happened. Sora, don't you realize how much you mean to Tai?"
"Oh come on, Tai doesn't care about me." Sora groaned.
"Sure he does! When you were kidnapped, Tai was very upset."
Sora rolled her eyes, "yeah, whatever, sure…"
"I'm serious, you weren't there. I was there and Tai was so upset that he cried, Sora. And he kept blaming himself."
"Tai…cried…for….me?"
"Those were real tears, Sora," Mimi muttered. "And I knew he wouldn't cry just for anybody, I knew then that he cared a lot about you."
"But Tai said some stupid things to me. When I got my crest of love and he, he said some rude things."
"Tai was only joking around," Mimi said, "he always jokes around! Besides, he was scared. He never saw you cry."
"Yeah, that's the problem. I cant' tell when he's serious or joking." Sora sighed, "and you right, I've never cried in front of him before."
"He's a great guy if you'd just give him a chance!"
"It's too late," Sora said, "I'm confused. I think I'm in love with Matt."
"What?!"
"It just happened," Sora told her, "I didn't mean for it to get this far! Honest! Tai made me mad but Matt came to cheer me up a lot while my arm healed."
Mimi sighed, "I think we're finished here." She turned back to the auditorium.
"But Mimi, we're still friends, aren't we?" Sora asked with a shout. But Mimi didn't hear her, she was already in the building.
"But Tai, we're still friends, aren't we?" Matt asked with a frown.
Tai didn't listen to any more of Matt's excuses, he just turned around and left after socking him in the face again.
I think I'll give it a few more days until Tai cools off, Matt thought, looking at the black eye and the bruised lip he received from Tai in the mirror. He heard the door open and close, "Tai, I'm sorry. And I really don't want another punch in the face."
"It's not Tai," a girl's voice said, "and I think you do deserve another punch in the face!"
"Mimi?" Matt mumbled and turned to see Mimi take off her baseball cap.
"In the flesh," she said, "Mr. Big Rock Star."
"I guess you've found out," Matt groaned.
"Yeah, lucky guess! Matt, how could you!?"
"Mimi, you live in New York now. I thought you'd forget all about me and find someone better there."
"Oh, I see, the old 'long distance relationship excuse,'" Mimi fumed, putting her hands on her hips. "You really messed up big time, Matt."
"I'm sorry, Mimi," Matt said, taking her hand, "can't you find it in your heart to forgive me?"
She ripped her hand away, "forgive you? Not a chance! You, you, guitar playing Don Juan!" She stepped back, "I'm going back to New York, but it still wont' be far enough from you!"
"Mimi, wait, please!" but Mimi had already gone. "What have I done?" Matt moaned.
Tai didn't know why, but he found himself at Sora's home.
"Tai," Sora opened the door and gave a weak smile, "nice to see you. Please, come in."
"Thanks," he muttered codly and walked in.
"Want anything?" she asked.
"The truth would be nice," Tai said. "Did you quit the team because you didn't like me anymore? Is that it? You can't stand to be around me?"
"Tai, I'm…sorry," Sora apologized.
"I don't want your apology, Sora, I just want the truth!" he grabbed her arms, "is it true? You left the team because you hate my guts? If it's true then I'll walk away forever!"
"No, that's not it!" she cried.
"Then why? Tell me!"
Sora opened her mouth but couldn't speak. She never saw Tai's eyes this way. They looked like…they were about to fill up with, tears?
"Dammit, Sora, why? Why?"
"Because, I…I was falling in love with you!"
He immediately let go of her wrist, "you what?" he stepped back and made a surprised smile, "that's, that's why? You left because you were in falling in love with me? That's better than hating me, but, why Sora? If you don't hate me, why would you leave? I thought you left because you hated soccer and you hated me. I thought it was because you were mad because I didn't get to you when I saw what was happening at the pyramid. I know I should've done something, but I panicked. Do you realize how much I beat myself for that? Do you know how many nights I lay awake and wished I could relive that moment just so you wouldn't have to go through all that again? Sora, don't you know that I would do anything for you? Anything?"
"Tai," Sora mumbled, "you do care, don't you?"
"Of course I do!" he shouted, "if you had really cared for me you would came to me and told you felt instead of leaving the team. Did it ever occur to you that I would go through the worst pain imaginable just so you would be spared? Did you ever stop to think how much I really care? Why do you think I said that I thought the crest of love was perfect for you? For heaven's sake, Sora, I happen to care deeply for you! You mean the world to me!"
"Really?" she whispered.
Tai nodded, "Yes, Sora. Isn't that what I just said?"
"And all this time I thought you didn't care for me. Oh, Tai, I'm so sorry!" She shouted. "But that doesn't matter because now I know how you feel!" Without thinking, Sora ran into Tai's not-so-awaiting arms.
Tai started to stroke her hair and hold her and then his hands began to shake. Sora looked up at him, hoping that he'd kiss her. He almost did, but he couldn't go through with it, not with all that has happened. It was just too late for them, no matter how much he cared for Sora. He pushed her back, his hands sliding down her arms and they lingered to her own hands. He gave him a weak squeeze and started for the door. "Goodbye, Sora."
"Tai, please don't leave me," Sora begged, running after him. She tugged on his arm, "don't go! I love you, Tai!"
"Oh, do you?" Tai questioned, "Sora, it's just too late for us now. You don't want me, you want my best friend."
"I don't want to be alone," Sora said with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Then call Matt," Tai opened the door and look past his shoulder, "he's who you really want anyway, right?"
"Tai, don't go!"
But Tai left before she could stop him. Sora banged on the door and sank to her knees, mumbling Tai's name. Dear god, what have I done? She thought to herself.
Mimi was walking through the rain on the bleak streets and she didn't see the person in front of her. They collided.
"Oh, sorry!" a familiar boy's voice mumbled. They locked eyes and then their mouths dropped, "Mimi?"
"Tai?"
"I guess I don't have to ask why you're here," Tai said.
"Kari emailed me and told me about it," Mimi said.
"You're soaking wet, come on, let's get out of the rain." He led her to a gazebo in the park. Mimi took her baseball cap and shook her wet pink hair. She sat on the picnic table.
"I asked Sora and Matt questions and I still don't have the answer I need most," Mimi admitted.
"And what's that?" Tai asked.
"What am I supposed to do now?" Mimi turned to him. "How can I go back to New York after all this?"
Tai squeezed Mimi's shoulder, "yeah. I don't know what to do either. Do I just pretend like nothing happened or do I act like Sora and Matt are our worst enemies now?"
"Even though they really messed up, Tai," Mimi said, "they're still our friends. They're part of the team."
"But Matt was my best friend. How can I ever trust him again?"
"Shoot, I dunno! I don't know how I'm going to trust him either!" they both shared a laugh.
"I know you're hurting, Mimi," Tai said, "is there anything I can do for you?"
Mimi shook her head, "there's nothing anyone can do. I'm just going to need time."
"Time, yeah." Tai nodded. "A lot of time."
Mimi reached her hand to Tai's, "but listen, we're partners in misery, so why not make the best of it?"
"Huh?"
Mimi smiled weakly, "We were both hurt by the people who are supposed to be our best friends. We're going to count on each other now. I want you to keep me posted, okay? And if there's anything I can do for you, let me know."
"And I'll do the same."
"Is it a deal?" Mimi put her fist out.
"Deal." He knocked his fist on hers and she did the same. They hugged each other briefly. She kissed his cheek, stood up and left, "bye Tai."
"Bye, Mimi."
*****************
"Kari, you need to believe me," TK told her. Kari's back was toward him and she was looking at the window. "I wouldn't hurt you."
"That doesn't change what your brother has done to mine. They were best friends."
"And someday they'll salvage their friendship. Matt did have the crest of friendship, you know."
Kari sighed pathetically, "but TK, I--"
TK walked up to her and turned her around, "listen, we're nothing like our brothers. You don't like soccer, do you?"
"Well, no. But I used to play with Tai--"
"I don't like to play the guitar very much. I can't sing very well either."
"Still." Her eyes were glued to the ground.
"Kari, stop it. Look at me, look at me, Kari!"
Kari reluctantly raised her eyes.
"When have I ever let you down? And when do you think I'll start that habit?"
"Oh, TK," Kari mumbled.
"Kari, come on. We're friends. You think a mistake my brother made should wreck our friendship? We're more than friends, Kari."
"But, TK." She looked at his puppy dog eyes and started laughing, "oh, how can I stay mad at you when you haven't done anything!"
"That's what I've been trying to say!"
"Oh, come here!" and they shared a great big hug.
********************
"You'd think they'd stay mad at us for long?" Sora asked Matt. She hunched over with her chin in her hands.
"Let them have time to get over their shock," Matt told her, "maybe they'll accept us and move on. If they really care about us, they'd learn to see past it and forgive us."
"I hope you're right," she groaned and laid her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her, "yeah, that's it, in a few more days, this will all blow over and we'll be friends again."
Just as Sora and Matt hoped, that is just what happened. Mimi and Tai accepted it and moved on…with each other.
The End