Taking Back Love ch2

Taking Back Love

by Kari

A/N: Aren't you lucky? You get to read the whole story in one day b/c I was nice and posted up all the chapters in one day! (Actually, I did that mostly b/c I wasn't sure if I'd be able to post one chapter a day consecutively b/c I get in trouble a lot... and internet is always the FIRST thing taken away. -_-') *Sigh* Well, disclaimer's still the same, dedications are still the same, and I'm running out of day here to type, so on with it! ^_^

Kari :)

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Previously, in Taking Back Love... (lol, makes it sound like some TV show or somethin... ^_^)

"Tai?"
"Yeah Sora?"
"You never gave my my present." Tai tensed a bit and Sora noticed. She raised her head to look Tai in the eye. "Tai, you've been nervous and distant every time I mention your gift to me," Sora stated firmly, frowning at him. "What is it about your gift that makes you so nervous?" Tai swallowed audibly and smiled nervously at Sora.
"N-nothing," he stammered. Sora put her hands on her hips and stood before Tai.
"Then give it to me."
"W-what!?"
"Give me my gift that you've saved up so long for." Tai remained stationary for a moment, then sighed and got up from the bench. He stuck his hands in his pockets and grabbed the ring with one of them.
"Sora... Ai-chan..." he began softly. Sora looked at him strangely.
"What?"
"Sora, you have been my best friend in the entire world for longer than I can remember. Ever since I can remember, you've been there, no more than a foot away. We both know we have something that's greater than anything else we've ever come across. I know the depth of our relationship can allow us to..."

BANG!!!!!!!

~o.O~

Chapter 2:
Stolen Away

~o.O~

Suddenly, Tai felt something hard and cold strike him in the back of the head. "Wh..." he managed, and then fell to the ground. Sora looked at him in horror and fell to the ground next to him.

"Tai! Tai, wake up... Tai!" She cradled his head in her lap and gently smacked his face, trying to bring him back to consciousness. Out of the top of her vision, she saw two large feet appear. Terrified, she slowly lifted her gaze to look at Tai's assassin. A pair of legs wearing khaki pants first appeared in her view, followed by a torso wearing a green shirt and brown jacket, and finally the man's face. It was grinning evilly at her... Sora's eyes widened in absolute shock and horror as the smell of alcohol suddenly stung her nostrils... it was the man from the restaurant.

"Y... you.. you..." she spat out in anger and fear. The man chuckled.

"Told him he'd get it later," he laughed, he speech a bit less slurred than before, but still strung together.

"...BASTARD!" Sora held tighter to Tai and curled up in fear. She tried as hard as she could to pull Tai away from the man, but he lunged forward, grabbed her arm, and roughly pulled her up from the ground. "Let go of me NOW!" Sora screamed as she tried to wriggle out of the man's grip. The man grew angry and tightened his grip on Sora's arm. She grew desperate as she realized she wasn't going to beat this guy by strenght... so she sharply brought up her leg and kneed the guy where she knew it would cripple him, at least temporarily. The man shouted in pain and dropped to his knees. He didn't let go of Sora as she had hoped, however. She finally managed to at least twist out of Tai's jacket, ran to his side, and tried to help him up. Tai groaned a bit as he came out of his state of unconsciousness.

"Sora..." he croaked. Sora looked down at him with a fearful and worried expression. "...Run..." Tai again slipped in unconsciousness as she screamed his name.

"Tai, wake up! Come on, we have to get out of here!" The man started to get up again, and Sora saw him. She threw off here heels and broke into a sprint. It was a bit hard to run with the long skirt, so she pulled it up to her knees to free her legs up. As she ran through the park, listening to the man gaining on her, she looked back periodically to see how close he was. Sora had ran track recently... specifically, hurdles because of her long legs. Sora leaped gracefully over park benches and fire hydrants, trying to slow the man down so she could at least get to a public place. She panted for breath as she ran... suddenly, she stumbled as she stepped on a rather sharp rock.

"Shoot!" she hissed, pausing to shake it off her foot. That brief pause was what cost her the lead she had over the man. She looked behind her just in time to see the man jump on her and she screamed.

"Gotcha!" he laughed triumphantly. Sora tried to knee the man again, but he pinned both of her legs down with his. He lowered himself down onto Sora and she struggled to get out from under his weight. He grinned, yellowed teeth showing, and opened his mouth a bit. "Don't worry babe, this won't hurt a bit," he said softly. Sora's eyes widened and her heart stopped when the sick realization hit her...

He's going to rape me... she thought in fear. She closed her eyes and felt tears gather in them... she could feel the man's breath on her face... the stench of booze gagged her and she felt her dinner stir disturbingly in her stomach...

As if a beacon in the night, a car's headlights headed towards them from the road that went through the park. Sora sighed in relief and smiled a bit in spite of her situation. The man bolted up and looked to the headlights. "Sh*t!" he cursed, and stood up. He grabbed Sora and pulled her up, grabbing her around the waist and hoisting her over his shoulder.

"Let me go! God... let go!" Sora cried, now close to hysteria. The man reached up and banged something hard over the back of Sora's head. She let out a short gasp before blacking out.

"She'll get it too," the man whispered before breaking into a run. He rushed to an old-looking van and opened the door. He hurriedly threw Sora's limp form in the back and slammed the doors. He then ran to the driver's side and jumped in, started the car, and sped off.

~o.O~

Tai awoke from his temporary coma and rubbed his head. "Ow..." he mumbled, his voice cracking a bit. He looked around, his eyes searching for Sora. "Ai-chan?" he called. He didn't remember where she had gone... where was she? "Sora?" he called a bit louder. He was starting to worry now.

"SORA!" he shouted, standing up too fast. He swayed a bit and grabbed his head, feeling dizzy. Suddenly, the memories flowed back into his conscious mind... Sora at dinner... dancing... him about to propose... getting hit on the back of the head... Sora looking at him in horror... he telling her to run...

Tai grabbed his jacket and heels, which were lying nearby, and sprinted back to his car. He glanced at his watch... 3 AM. "Crap..." he muttered. He quickly dialed Sora's number on his car phone. A very worried-sounding Mr. Takenouchi answered.

"Sora?" he asked hopefully.

"No, it's Tai."

"Tai, where the hell are you two? It's 3 in the morning!" Tai tried to hold back the tears that were threatening to fall as he answered.

"Somebody took her..."

"WHAT!?!"

"The guy knocked me out when I was about to ask Sora to..." Tai trailed off and tried to swallow his tears.

"Who was it, Tai?"

"This guy that hit on Sora at the restaurant... he came back and took her!" Tai was growing angry now... someone had taken his Sora from him... his Ai-chan... his love... his best friend... when Tai got his hands on that guy, it would definitely not be a good day...

"Tai, call your parents and then the police... meet us at the police station in Tokyo," Mr. Takenouchi told him firmly. Tai nodded.

"Okay Mr. Takenouchi, see you in a bit." Tai heard Sora's mother in the background asking Mr. Takenouchi what was going on. Tai winced when she heard her reaction to his answer. Tai hung up the phone and dialed his number next.

"Hello?" Kari answered groggily.

"Kari? Get mom and dad and get down to the police station in Tokyo now!"

A brief silence.

"Tai?"

"Yeah, go get them and tell them to meet me and the Takenouchis at the police station!"

"Tai, what happened?" Kari sounded very awake and very worried now.

"Sora was kidnapped..."

"WHAT!?!"

"Kari, please... I'll explain it to you all and Sora's parents when you get to the police station... just get there now!"

"Okay Tai, we're on our way."

Tai hung up the phone with his sister and next called the police station. "Here goes..." he mumbled as the phone rang. He started the car and sped off towards the station as he spoke to the police.

~o.O~

"Tai, we all got here as fast as we could," Mrs. Kamiya cried, rushing up to her son and embracing him as soon as he had entered the station. "Are you okay?"

The question seemed to confuse Tai... of course he wasn't okay! His only love had been stolen from him! But then... why was he so numb inside? Tai looked emotionless at his mother, remaining completely silent. Mrs. Kamiya backed away a bit from her son and looked at him questioningly. "Honey?" she said hesitantly... Tai could hear the fear and worry in her voice. He broke away from her confused and hurt gaze and looked to the others in the room... Mr. and Mrs. Takenouchi were seated next to each other, looking worn with worry. Mr. Kamiya was seated next to them, and next to him was an empty seat, which Tai supposed his mother had previously been occupying. Kari had apparently told Takeru what had happened, because he was sitting next to her, comforting the softly crying girl in his arms as best he could.

A uniformed female police officer, looking in her late thirties, walked up to Tai. "Can I get you anything before you go in for questioning?"

"Questioning...?" Tai repeated, sounding almost ghostly.

"Yes. We need all the information on what happened - description of the culprit, events of the crime, things like that, in order to begin a legitimate investigation," the officer explained. Tai suddenly became aware of a dull pounding in his head... probably from being whacked with a metal bar or something.

"Asprin, please," he asked quietly. The officer nodded and rushed off to get Tai a couple Tylenol and a small cup of water. Mrs. Kamiya led Tai to a chair next to Mrs. Takenouchi and helped him sit in it. Tai sat in a rigid upright position and stared straight ahead. The others looked at him, worried, empathetic, and even a bit afraid... this had to be one of the most upsetting things in his life, Sora being taken from him, and he was sitting there like some emotionless statue! Finally the officer returned, the painkiller and one of those cone-shaped paper cups of water in her hands. She offered them to Taichi and he took them, uttering a soft "thank you" to the middle aged woman. The woman nodded in recognition and, casting one last sympathetic glance to the young man, returned to her work.

~o.O~

Half an hour later, Tai hadn't moved an inch. Kari, from her position next to T.K., had been staring at him the whole time. T.K. held Kari's hand and squeezed it supportively. Kari smiled weakly, but didn't tear her gaze away from her brother. "Tai?" she said uncertainly. Tai didn't even flinch. Kari felt her heart break... her brother was either so hurt that he didn't feel anything but, or he was ignoring her. Either one hurt Kari badly. She felt tears rise to her eyes, and she tried to swallow them, but it was in vain. Bitter tears began to roll down her cheeks once again. T.K. took Kari into his arms and whispered soothing words to her.

"Shh... it's okay, it'll be alright," he said softly in her ear, rocking her back and forth and gently rubbing her back in a comforting manner. Kari went into a small coughing fit from crying and T.K. became worried. She hadn't had anything to drink for awhile, no doubt, since it was only 5 in the morning. "Come on Kari, let's go get you something to drink," T.K. coaxed, helping her to her feet. Kari nodded, but before going, turned to Tai and whispered,

"I love you, big brother."

Tai looked up at her... he actually moved... the same emotionless expression on his face. He stared into his sister's tear-filled eyes... his heart ached at her worried, selfless expression.

I've hurt them, Tai thought bitterly. They're worried about Sora and me and all I've done is shut them out! I'm being such a selfish jerk! Tai suddenly got up, walked over to his sister, and wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm so sorry Kari," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. Kari let out a sob of relief and hugged Tai tightly.

"Oh God Tai, don't ever stay quiet for more than five minutes again! You never have been, and now's not the time to start!" Kari cried, trying for a bit of humor. Tai chuckled a bit in spite of his mood. He quickly sobered as his mind went to her...

"Sora... God Kari, I'm so scared... what if that guy is..." Tai broke off and squeezed his eyes shut, tears threatening to fall. He didn't want to say the man was hurting her, or raping her, or worse, killing her... he'd break down just when Sora needed him the most... right now... he needed to help the police. He needed to tell them everything he knew. Suddenly Tai felt an extra hand on his shoulder. He opened his eyes and saw T.K. smiling warmly at him, one hand on his shoulder and the other on Kari's.

"Don't worry Tai, we'll get her back... alive and well," he told Tai. Tai smiled. It was just like T.K. to have that unfailing hope that everything would be alright in the end.

"You live up to that crest of yours... no wonder Kari likes you so much," Tai whispered so that his and Sora's parents wouldn't hear. T.K. blushed a bit, as did Kari, and smiled.

"She lives up to hers... that's why she's the light of my life," T.K. replied, blushing further and squeezing Kari's shoulder. Just then, a man in a pair of khaki slacks and a white dress shirt, sleeves rolled up to the elbows, walked into the room.

"Taichi Kamiya?" Tai looked to the man gravely.

"Yes, that's me," he replied.

"Come with me please, I'd like to ask you a few questions."

Tai nodded and looked down at his sister. "I'll be back soon, I promise," he told her with a smile. Kari wiped away her tears and nodded, letting him go. T.K. took Kari's hand in his and together with Tai and Sora's parents watched Tai follow the man into a private room. Before entering, Tai turned back and looked at T.K. "T.K., take Kari to get something to drink, she sounds a bit hoarse."

T.K. laughed, as did Kari, and nodded. Tai then entered the room and the door was shut. "Come on Kari, there's gotta be a soda machine around here somewhere..." T.K. said, taking Kari towards the front of the station.

~o.O~

Tai sat in a hard chair across from the man who had called him in. He looked around the room... the surroundings were gray and dismal, very bland. "Hm... a little color would spruce this room right up," Tai joked.

"Sir, this is no time for joking around. We need you to tell us all you can about the abduction of Ms. Takenouchi," the detective told him firmly. Tai grinned, but it was a sad, grave smile.

"Ask away."

"Okay... the first thing, I suppose, would be the description of the man who took the young lady." Tai furrowed his brow as he tried to recall the man in his mind. He spoke slowly...

"He was tall, around 5'10"... he had cold eyes... light blue, I think, or maybe gray... the guy had short brown hair that was kinda spiked, but not really... he was wearing a brown leather jacket, khaki slacks, and a green shirt... Caucasian... I'm sorry, that's all I can remember right now." The detective nodded.

"That's fine Mr. Kamiya, a very good description of him. We'll send out a wire over the network and get people to look for her." Tai nodded wearily. After being awake for almost 24 hours, he was dead tired.

"Thank you... and if you find anything out, anything at all, let me know... I want to be there when you catch the bastard... and I want Sora back," he told the detective. The middle-aged man flashed a small smile.

"We'll find your girlfriend, don't worry." Tai blushed a bit.

"She's my best friend, but..."

"But what?"

"Nevermind. Can I go home now? I need some sleep, and I have church in the morning... wait, scratch that... in 3 1/2 hours." The man laughed.

"Sure, go ahead Mr. Kamiya, get some rest." Tai stood to leave to room, but before going, turned back to the man.

"And one more thing..."

"Sir?"

"Call me Tai."

The man smiled and nodded. "I'm Atsushi Miura." Tai smiled and exited the room.

~o.O~

Drip......

drip.....

drip......

Where am I? What is this place? Where's Tai? Who is that man? It's dark... and if that water drips on my nose one more time, I swear... Let's take a look around here. This looks like some kind of warehouse or something. It's cold too... I wish I hadn't taken Tai's jacket off... Wait! I remember what happened now! Tai took me to dinner *sigh*, that's got to be one of the sweetest things he's ever done for me... we were at the park, and he was about to give me my present... I wonder where he was going with that, anyway... then that jerk knocked him out and took me and knocked me out too... agh, I need some Tylenol. Why can't I move? Am I tied up? I am... that jerk tied me up! Oh God... he's coming over here... and he's drunk... AGAIN.

"Hey, Sexy."

Oh gross... he's definitely NOT my type.

"Guess what?"

I don't even want to know. I don't want to be here. I don't want you. I want Tai. I want to be with my best friend, not some drunk-off-his-ass moron.

"We're gonna play a little game."

Great. Watch me get excited. I hope you're not too drunk to hear the sarcasm dripping from my voice. Don't even think of touching me... get your filthy hand away from my face! Ugh... your hand is so rough... and cold... and clammy... nothing like Tai's... get it off my cheek!

"Have you ever played truth or dare?"

Hasn't everybody? Only with FRIENDS? Never with KIDNAPPERS? Back off, buddy.

"I guess you have... hasn't everybody?"

What a genius! Somebody give him a cookie, preferrably loaded with pesticides.

"Okay... ask me, you go first."

What a gentleman. You gagged me you moron! I couldn't talk to you or ask you anything even if I wanted to!

"Hm... what a choice... dare."

o.O... you must be crazy.... and hearing things... I didn't say a word to you, stupid.

"What's that? You want me to screw ya hard?"

WHAT?! NO, I DIDN'T SAY THAT!!!

"Well... if you insist."

GET AWAY FROM ME!!!!! DON'T you DARE touch me!

"Have you ever been screwed before?"

GET AWAY!!!

"It's a lot of fun..."

NO!!!

"Especially when you're all tied up like that... turns me on."

You sick bast... GOD! Please... please... don't do it...

"Don't cry, baby, this won't hurt a bit..."

DON'T!!!! No God, please! Tai and I promised each other we wouldn't until we got married... don't you DARE make me break a promise to him! I haven't yet, and I don't intend to start now! Why are you untying my legs?... Oh that's sick. (A/N: he's not doing anything, that would be bad... he's preparing to. Sickos! j/k... back to the fic!) Get off!!!! Wait... if I just kick up...

"AGH!!!! You... DAMN!"

Oh thank GOD he's off... haha, he looks pretty funny rolling around like that... and he's getting up, what a trooper.

"We'll... finish this game... later... ow..."

Yeah, I bet we will... YEAH RIGHT! Can't wait to rack ya again, especially if you even THINK of trying that again! Ugh... *sigh* Tai, please... find me soon... I need you...

~o.O~

Tai sat in history on Monday afternoon staring outside with a very worried and downcast expression on his face. It hadn't left since Saturday night. Sora... I'm coming to find you... as soon as Mr. Shiwamura finishes this lecture on the history of the Yukata. I don't even wear Yukatas, you do... why do we have to learn about this? Oh Sora... remember when we went to the cherry blossom festival together two years ago, and you wore that green Yukata with the pink flowers on it and a big pink obi? You looked so beautiful in that...

"Mr. Kamiya!"

Huh?

"Taichi... I know you're upset about Ms. Takenouchi, but you still need to pay attention in class."

I can't... Sora... Sora...

"I'm coming Sora!!!"

And with that, Tai ran out of the room. Mr. Shiwamura looked on, dazed at first, as Tai ran out without permission. He sadly shook his head. "Poor kid..."

~o.O~

Tai drove down the street towards the police station, his mind filled with thoughts of Sora.

It's been two days since she was taken from me... taken Saturday, and now it's Monday. I had finally gotten the courage to ask her to marry me and then that... that... MAN took her... if he hurts her at all, he won't live to see another day, I swear it!

Tai finally reached the police station. He jumped out of his car, rushed into the station, and asked for Mr. Miura. The officer at the desk directed him into Mr. Miura's office. When Tai walked in, Mr. Miura looked up from his work, surprised to see him. "Shouldn't you be at school?"

"I couldn't stay... everybody was asking me how I was doing and that they were sorry and that they understood how I felt... they don't understand! They're acting like Sora's dead or something!"

Mr. Miura shook his head sadly. "Well Tai, you know that's a poss..." Tai interrupted him with an angry outburst.

"NO! Sora's alive... I know she is." Mr. Miura said nothing, so Taichi continued. "Have you gotten any leads yet?" Mr. Miura shook his head.

"It's only been two days, Tai. It's usually three or four days before we find anything important." Tai sighed in frustration and helplessness. He ran his hand through his now shorter brown hair and flopped down in a nearby chair. He suddenly felt extremely tired. "Tai, why don't you head on home? You look like hell. I'll call you the minute we hear anything," Mr. Miura suggested. Tai grinned painfully and pinched the bridge of his nose. He closed his eyes as he replied.

"I haven't slept well lately."

"You look it. Go on home and get some rest." Tai got up from the chair and Mr. Miura rose as well to show him to the door. He placed a hand on Tai's shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll find her." Tai looked up and smiled weakly.

"Thanks, Mr. Miura." The detective smiled.

"No problem. Now get outta here." Tai laughed a bit, nodded, and left the room. Mr. Miura returned to his desk and sat down with a tired-sounding sigh. "For your sake Tai, and hers... I hope we find her," he mumbled. He shook his head lightly and returned to his work with a new, stronger determination.

~o.O~

Tai slowly drove himself home, looking left and right for any sign of Sora or the man who took her. By the time he had reached his family's home, he had seen three red-haired girls, something that looked suspiciously like a drug deal, and his sister walking down the street with T.K., but there was no sign of Sora anywhere to his dismay. Sadly, he trudged up the stairs to his family's apartment. He slowly took out his key, opened the door, and walked inside.

"Hello?" he called into the seemingly deserted apartment. He knew Kari wasn't home and probably wouldn't be until later that night because she was with T.K., but he didn't remember his parents saying anything about going anywhere. Suddenly, Tai heard a low growl come from inside of him. He grinned a bit and gently patted his firm stomach. "Guess I haven't been eating well either..."

Tai went to the refrigerator and stuck his head in to look for anything edible. "Hm... tofu, soy..." Tai spotted an orange carton and picked it up... "Ugh, pulp," then set the carton back in its place. "Ooh, new stuff... no, knowing my mother it's probably not fit for human consumption." Tai looked around a bit more and finally gave up on the fridge, moving on to the freezer.

"Please, please, please, please, please, please... YES!" Tai thankfully spotted a box of frozen waffles. He grabbed four out of the package and stuffed them in the toaster. As Tai stood waiting for the waffles to toast, his mind again wandered to Sora.

Why did it have to be you, Ai-chan? This is all my fault... I should've watched over you better. I always could in the Digital World... and here, for the most part... but why not now? I miss you so much, Sora... you've never been away from me for this long! Well... except for that time in the Digiworld when you wanted some alone-time away from the rest of us... but that's it.

A blinking red light suddenly caught Tai's attention and tore him away from his thoughts. "A message? From who? I didn't miss Mr. Miura's call, did I!?" Tai rushed to the counter where the answering machine sat and hastily slammed his finger on the play button.

"You have -three- new messages," the automated voice stated. Tai waited anxiously as the first message started to play.

"Hi Tai and Kari, it's your mother," Mrs. Kamiya's voice rang out through the empty apartment. Tai let out a sigh of relief. "Your father and I went to go see your grandmother and pick up a few things at the health food store, so we should be home around 8! Tai honey, could you make dinner for you and your sister? See you two later! Love you!"

Then the message ended. "I won't need to make her dinner, I'm sure she's probably eating at T.K.'s," Tai grinned. The next message proved him right.

"Mom, Dad, Tai, it's Kari, T.K. invited me to dinner tonight, so I won't be home until around 7:30 or 8, okay?" T.K.'s voice joined Kari's on the message.

"My mom said it's fine and I get to drive her home since I got my permit yesterday!" Then Kari's voice took over again.

"Lord help us..." Tai heard T.K. say "Hey!" in a very mock angry tone. Kari giggled and gave T.K. what sounded like a kiss. Tai felt a twinge of anger arise in him... Kari and T.K. had been dating for years, but as her big brother, he always felt obligated to knock any guy's teeth out if they touched his sister. "Anyway, just letting you know so you don't wonder! See you guys later!"

Tai chuckled as he thought of his sister and T.K. Tai and Matt had been somewhat responsible for their current relationship, and now that T.K. and Kari were as close as they were, the two brothers often regretted ever pushing the issue. Tai was a bit more relaxed as the third message was about to play, after the two previous messages were somewhat unimportant.

"Tai?"

Tai shot to an undivided attention when he heard the soft, frightened, familiar female voice on the message. "Sora..." he breathed.

"Tai, I know you're at school, but hopefully you'll get this message soon... the guy who took me is out cold on the floor from beer and I swiped his cell. Okay, I know we're in an abandoned building somewhere... I don't know exactly where though because he knocked me out when he threw me in the back of the van... it's an old warehouse, I think. Don't worry, I'm okay, but he... *sigh* the guy keeps trying to rape me. I've kneed him every time so he hasn't gotten far... but I haven't been able to eat or drink anything in two or three days or however long it's been and I haven't gotten sleep either... if I go to sleep he'll try and rape me again. I keep getting weaker and weaker, and I'm afraid that soon I won't be able to stop him... Please Tai, hurry and find me! I don't want to break my promise to you..." Tai knew exactly which promise she was referring to. "Oh, and the guy's name is Keisuke Kawamura, maybe that'll help y... AH!"

Tai shot up further in anger and horror when he heard Sora get slapped. "You can't have this whore back cheap, she's worth quite a bit, as good as she is," the man growled in the cell phone... and then it cut off. Tai sat there in horror for several moments, trying to take in what he had just heard.

She's alive... and she's okay... but he's trying to hurt her... I have to get to her now!!! Tai picked up the phone and dialed the number Mr. Miura had given him. Tai waited impatiently through several rings until finally Mr. Miura picked up.

"Miura," he said.

"Mr. Miura, Sora called me."

"Tai?"

"Yes, Sora left a message on my answering machine earlier."

Tai heard Mr. Miura switch him to a speakerphone. "Just a minute Tai, I'm going to get some people in here and then I want you to play that message for us."

"Sure." Tai was put on hold as Mr. Miura called some people that were working on Sora's case. He fidgeted in worry as he listened to the choking silence on the other end of the line. "Come on, come on, come on!" Tai whispered frantically to the phone. Finally Mr. Miura began to talk to Taichi again.

"Okay Tai, go ahead and play the message." Tai rubbed the back of his head sheepishly for a moment.

"Uh, Mr. Miura? My answering machine is stuck in the early '90's and has a tape in it... I'll have to play all the messages for you to hear the one from Sora," he explained. Tai heard Mr. Miura and the other officers in his office laugh a bit at this.

"Okay, then go ahead and get started."

"Alright." Tai started the messages and turned up the machine to maximum volume. He held the phone to his ear and leaned down close to the speaker so Mr. Miura and company could hear the messages. He heard a few laughs in response to his mother's and Kari's messages (especially Kari's) and smiled a bit in spite of himself. Then Sora's message began to play. Tai felt tears once again threatening to fall, except this time they were more from anger than anything. That Keisuke guy was hurting Sora... and trying to take from her what Tai wanted more than anything else in the world... and Tai was not about to let him have her. The message ended quickly and Tai stood upright again, waiting for Mr. Miura's response.

"Okay Tai, I need you to come to the station right away," he told him.

"I'm on my way."

"Did you get any sleep?"

"Do you think I could've? Or can, now that I have something to find Sora with?"

".......Good point. Get over here now."

"See you soon." Tai hung up the phone and scribbled a note to his parents explaining what had happened, telling them to listen to the message and get to the police station as soon as they could. He then grabbed his blue Adidas jacket and sprinted to his car, started it up, and raced to the police station.

~o.O~

A/N: End chapter 2! And now on to the third and final chapter with you b/c I have nothing clever to say right now... -_-' My brain is fried from trying to work, type, and talk on the phone at once. Thank God I'm a girl and can actually do more than one thing at once... hehe! eep... o.O Crap! Gotta run, I think the guys are mad at me! Go to the next chapter whilst I outrun these guys! I was just kidding, guys! Don't hate me because I speak the truth! I mean... uh... later!

Kari :)