Finally, the reason that the Elite are gathered! Plus, there are still problems between Tai/Matt/Sora. Also more of the story from other character's POV like Izzy and TK. I hope that you like it. Please read and review!
The Elite
Chapter 6
Tai looked at Sora, as did Matt, who motioned them both to sit down. Then Gennai began his long awaited tale, "It all began forty-five years ago. I was on one of the many adventures of my youth. I was about the same age of all of you. With me were my closest friends in all the world, and adventure seekers much the same as me. We were a rash, brazen young group who thought nothing could stop us. Our motto came from a Sonnet written by Jonne Donne back in the 1630s. You see, we had all met in tutoring when we were kids, and once we were all older, we had to study Donne's works. One day, after we had all decided to start exploring we came across this Sonnet:
"Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou thin'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than they stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die."
You see, that was our motto, and we feared nothing. Not even death. But we were so young."
Tai interrupted, "That's nice and all, but does this have a point."
Gennai started, "Yes, impatient one. You remind me of myself at your age. But what I am about to tell you changed me for good. Our journey had brought us to Egypt. There were eight of us in all. We were in Cairo when we were kidnapped, one by one, much as I have taken you. We found ourselves, when we were reunited in a place in the desert. You see, a man - I never knew his name - told us that he believed us to be the 'Chosen Ones'. He presented us with a challenge. I, of course, was rash and overbearing and accepted his challenge on the groups behalf before we had even heard it. We were then told that we had to enter a temple of the oldest sect in Egypt. It was just another adventure to us, you have to understand. That was at first. But, soon it became our own living hell. We slowly found out that we weren't these so called 'Chosen Ones' as the man had thought. Slowly, one by one, my friends died. My best friend, and lastly - my love, until I was the only one left. I was offered a choice, I could stay and die with the rest of my friends or I could search the world over to find the real chosen. I have spent the last forty-five years looking the world over, only to find that you eight were under my nose. You see, your other friends are upstairs, asleep. They have already agreed to what I have to told you."
Tai asked, "So, what you are saying is that you believe, just like he did, that we are the chosen eight? What makes you certain that we are these 'Chosen Ones'?"
Sora, who had heard this story so many times by this time decided to speak up. "Apparently we all have certain character traits that separate us from others in the world."
Matt stood up, "But haven't you learned anything from your adventures? I would think that loosing your friends would make you never want to have anything to do with that temple. What is so important at the end of it that we should risk our lives for? What made you?"
Gennai said in hushed tones, "The man told us that at the end of the temple we would find something that was more precious than gold. He, of course wanted it due to his greed. He didn't care what happened to us." Gennai sighed and looked down at the floor, "We were curious as to see what it could possible be and we were adventure seekers. Remember our motto - we weren't scared of death at the time. It was something far off. But, we learned that death is not something to be taken lightly. We weren't strong enough. But you are! If we had known then what was going to happen we would have never gone in there. But, we did, and I live each day with that guilt and horror of going there. I owe it to them, to their memories to send you back, to not let their deaths be in vain."
Tai marched up to him, "So you have watched us, hoping for us to agree to risk our lives for this treasure - just because you and your friends were too stupid not to accept. Well, guess what. We're not going!" Then he turned to Sora and said, "Sora, where are the others. We are leaving, now!" He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him as he started to walk out the door. Matt was following Tai into the hallway. They were stopped by a voice.
"You have no choice!" Gennai yelled.
Tai turned with a look of fury on his face, "Of course we have a choice in the matter! This is our lives we are talking about, not some silly adventure!"
Gennai started again, "This is your destiny. If you turn your back on this now, it will never let you go. Why do you think that you eight are so well suited for each other? You can't go, or you will suffer a fate worse than death!"
Matt was the one to ask, "What could possibly be worse than death?"
Gennai spoke only to Tai as he said, "Have you ever had to watch someone you love die? Knowing that there is nothing you can do, only be with them that final moment as the world fades around them? If you walk away from this then I have no choice but to destroy you one by one. I don't want to do that - but I can not allow you to leave. Think of your loved ones, your sister, your friends. Are you willing to live with that on your conscience? I believe that you all can do this, I know you are the chosen ones."
Tai was still hesitant until Sora, who knew what it was like to lose someone she loved, turned to Tai and said, "Tai - we have no choice. The others have all made up their minds to cooperate. Please don't leave. We can't do this without you, the both of you. Besides, if anything happened to you I couldn't go on. You don't understand what it is like you loose someone you care about. We have to do this, for his sake."
Tai saw the tears in her eyes. He knew that ever since her father had died she had carried the guilt, even though it wasn't her fault. He had seen her go through the pain and suffering and he knew that if anything were to happen to her, he would go crazy. "Oh Sora," he said as he wiped a tear from her cheek. "Well, I guess we have no choice." Tai turned to Matt then. "Matt, you have your own way to decide. But I am in."
Matt, who had been watching the two interact said with a sad expression in his eyes, "If you can take it, then so can I."
Gennai smiled, what could be considered a Gennai smile and said, "Good, then we set out tomorrow morning after breakfast. Your chambers await you. You must get what rest you can. We have a long journey ahead."
They turned and he was gone. Sora sighed, " I hate when he does that!" Then she stepped towards the stairs and told the two, "Come on, I will tell you who else is here and show you to your rooms."
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A knock came from the door to the room that Matt was in. He had not been able to sleep at all, so far, after all that had transpired. They were all about to rush head long into danger. But, what really troubled him was the look that had passed between his two best friends earlier. The knock sounded again as he struggled out of bed and opened the door. Not looking to see who is was he said, "What do you want?" As he said this he looked up to see Sora.
"I'm sorry to wake you, Matt. I couldn't' sleep and I had to talk to you." Sora said
Matt regretted his tone with her and said, "No, it's all right, Sora. I wasn't asleep either. What do you need to talk to me about?" He knew what it was but needed to hear it from her lips.
She took a breath and went on, "Matt, the other night you asked me for my permission to court me and you kissed me." She sighed and went on, "Well, ever since that kiss I have had a lot to think about and I have come to realize that we can never be more than friends. I am sorry if this hurts you, but I could not lead you on, and I certainly couldn't go on this journey knowing what I know and not telling you."
Matt sighed. He had seen the look between the two and had seen that there was something really there. Something that he couldn't ever compete with. It hurt him that there was this bond between his best friends but he realized that somewhere else there was someone for him. He looked up to see Sora on the verge of tears and said to her, "I won't pretend that I am not hurt, but I came to the same conclusion myself, tonight. You love him, don't you?"
Sora looked at him, suprised, then nodded, "Yes I have just realized that, but he doesn't love me in return. I will just have to live my life out alone. There can be no other for me."
Matt started to cut her off, "Sora, I think that he..."
She put her finger to his lips and smiled, "Matt, you don't understand how it is between us. He doesn't return my feelings." The smile started to fade and the tears threatened again as she thought of the way that Tai had left after the kiss that they had shared in the carriage the other night.
Matt just sighed in defeat, "Well, if you ever grow tired of waiting for him, then you know that I am here for you."
She smiled, "Yes, I know. Thanks." She turned towards the door and then hesitated. Turning back towards him, "Matt, I am sorry that it didn't work out, I wish it could have. It would have saved both of us a lot of pain." She walked up to him and kissed his cheek Then turning again, she left the room.
Matt whispered to the door after she had left, "Yeah, if only. But don't be so sure he doesn't love you, Sora." From the darkened hallway a figure saw Sora leave Matt's room and seethed in anger.
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The next morning found all but one of the group at the breakfast table. They were all chatting to try and keep the nervousness that they felt at bay. Sora was glancing at the door ever few seconds, hoping to see the one that had given up everything for, but he was still not showing. She hadn't slept now for almost two days, so upset was she from the previous night. Finally, Sora glanced at Matt and he nodded. As he started to rise from his seat, in walked the last of the Elite.
"Tai," his sister said, "we were beginning to get worried about you."
He looked at her and then at the others at the table before saying, "Guess I just needed some extra time to sleep." In reality though he hadn't slept at all. He had ventured out of his room the previous night, unable to sleep due to the daunting ordeal that lay ahead of them. He was hoping that Sora was still awake and knowing her, she probably was. As he had gone to her room he had heard another door open down the hall. Curious as to who it was he looked only to see Sora coming out of Matt's room. He fell back into the shadows as he watched her walk down the hall, glance at his room, and then go to her own. He was enraged. How could they continue this behind his back? He had stayed in the hallway for a time trying to decide what to do. Then, deciding to give up he had retired to his bed only to lay awake all night. Then this morning he had not had the courage to face them, knowing he had to come down sooner or later. He thought he could face them. But, now seeing them sitting there beside each other made him sick. He had to get over this. It was her decision. he just didn't know if their friendship would ever be the same.
His sister was saying something to him, "Tai, are you there?"
Shaking himself from his trance he replied, "Sorry, just thinking." He looked again at the table and the faces around it. Then he noticed that the only seat vacant was beside Sora. Thinking it was a test of his will, he sighed and took the seat. As he sat, she turned to him with a smile that took his breath away.
Sora put her hand on his and said, "I know your worried, but I am confident that together we are unstoppable. We can all do this, together."
So she thought this was all due to the task at hand. He shook her hand off and said to her, "This group? How will this group get anything done? How could Kido or Mimi possibly contribute?"
Joe, who was sitting next to Mimi, thankfully didn't hear this comment. Sora was angry as she said to Tai, "Joe has his good points, as does Mimi. They are great people who are always there for you, if you would give them a chance."
Tai sneered, "For that matter, what good are you to us?" Sora's jaw dropped as did Matt's who haf overheard the whole conversation. "And if Kido is such a great guy then why did you decide to be with Matt instead of him? Guess he found out what a strumpet you really are!" Sora looked at him stunned. There were tears threatening in her eyes. He took a look at her face then and immediately regretted what had come out of his mouth. "Sora, I'm..."
But Sora didn't let him finish, replying angrily but so as not to let the others hear she said, "No, Tai. You have expressed your feelings about me, time and time again. Well, let me tell you something. After all of this is over I want to make something clear to you - our friendship is over! I can't have someone who thinks of me like that as my friend. If after all this time you don't understand me or know me better than that then it's not worth it. Our friendship has just....been....this sham! Tai, I..." But she couldn't go on and turned away as Gennai came into the room. Tai felt like he had been punched in the gut - so badly had what he done to Sora affected him.
Matt glared at him as if he could kill him as Gennai began, "Well, I see you are all together, finally. Two carriages are at the front of the house, ready to take you to the ship."
Sora, after wiping away the tears said, "Gennai, are you going with us?"
Gennai smiled, "Yes, Sora my dear. But I will be meeting you at the boat later. I can accompany you only a certain distance. You will know when you have to go alone."
Izzy, always the curious one said, "Gennai, didn't you say that once we were all together that you would tell us what our certain character traits were?"
Gennai said, "Yes I did."
"Well?"
Gennai continued, " I have decided if you don't already know then you will find out on your own. Search your hearts. Take this time to get to know each other better. You will need each other to get through this time." He grimaced then and said, "Now, go! Don't worry about clothing, I have provided it for you." He left the room out of the side door and the group all headed out the main entrance into the hallway and outside. Kari, TK, and Mimi all got into one carriage and Joe and Izzy into the other. That left Sora, Matt, and Tai to decide where they were going to ride. Sora looked at Matt, he nodded and then Sora climbed inside the carriage with Mimi, TK, and Kari. Then the carriage started off.
"Sora, are you okay?" Kari asked her friend.
Mimi put in, "Its pretty obvious, you know. You and Tai are fighting over the fact that Matt loves you and Tai loves you. But you aren't in love with Matt, but Tai still thinks that you are and he is jelous." Sora, Kari, and TK all stared at the usually oblivious Mimi. Mimi just looked at them all like they were stupid.
Sora regained her composure, "That's not it at all. Tai could care less about me and he made it quite evident this morning."
Kari chimed in, "Oh, but Sora - He loves you. Can't you see?"
"He pretty much told me that I was a heartless whore this morning at the breakfast table." Sora said to the shocked group. "I don't know what I did to provoke him! At least Matt was straightforward with me and respected me."
"Tai was just confused, and probably hurt about something." Kari said in defense of her brother.
TK turned on Kari, "That is no excuse for his behavior, Kari! Honestly, sometimes that brother of yours is so stupid and I wonder if he has a brain at all."
Sora intervened, "TK, there..."
She was cut off by Kari, "Oh yeah, well at least my brother doesn't try to ruin other people's relationships."
"My brother liked her first, and you heard her - at least he was honest and a gentleman! You didn't hear him calling her anything, now did you?"
"TK, are you saying my brother isn't a gentleman?"
"You said it, not me!" By this time they were shouting at each other, both red faced.
"Well then TK - if you don't like my family so much then maybe you shouldn't be engaged to me."
"Yeah, maybe so!" TK yelled at Kari.
Just then they heard someone start laughing. They, along with Mimi looked to see Sora laughing hysterically. Mimi cried, "Sora, this is no laughing matter. TK and Kari are going to end their engagement over a fight that you and Tai and Matt are having."
Sora, who by now was laughing until she was crying said, "I am sorry guys, but you should have seen your faces while you were arguing. You have no idea how much that helped me. I love you two so much, you too Mimi. Gennai is right, our group is a family and if one part is affected then so is the rest. I am just going to have to get over Tai, and start over. But first things first, the mission."
TK looked at her concerned, "Are you sure that you will be okay?" TK had always looked up to Sora like an older sister, as had Kari. But, now that they were older, TK saw her as a best friend. Whenever he and Kari had a fight, if Matt wasn't around or wasn't helping he always went to Sora.
Sora smiled at the younger boy that had grown into a man recently, "Yes TK. I will be fine. Aren't I always? Besides, now I can laugh again. Now, you two kiss and make up."
TK turned to Kari, "Kari..."
"TK..." and they kissed. Their fights were always rough, but making up was always the best. When the two finally came up for air they saw a smiling Sora and Mimi looking at them.
Mimi chirped, "Well, now that that's settled, I suggest a change of subject."
Sora, with an evil grin on her face said, "Yes, I agree. Mimi, what is going on between you and Joe? Hmm?"
Kari joined in, "Yeah, yesterday when we got to the house you and he seemed to be comforting each other quite well."
Mimi's face turned red, "Oh, no. I didn't mean for us to move on to my love life."
TK added, "So, you love him now? Is that it?"
Sora laughed and said, "Mims, you are the one who got yourself into this - now talk!" And as Mimi confessed her feelings for Joe, Sora was overcome by happiness for her friend. Things were working out finally for her, now what to do about her own love life.
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The silence was killing him. If it got any quieter in here he was going to scream. So, Izzy decided to strike up a conversation with the only other suitable candidate in the coach. "So, Joe. You don't mind if I call you Joe do you? You are a physician?"
Joe nodded, "Yes, my father was one, as was his father, so it was only natural to carry on in the family name. Since my brother Jim decided he was going to explore the world, the task naturally fell to me, and I inherited the hospital when my father passed. Mainly all I do now is handle the affairs of the hospital. I understand that you yourself are a scientist as well, Izzy is it?"
Izzy looked down and said, "Yes, well I am getting my degree at Cambridge and I can't decide whether to continue as a botanist or an ancient linguist scholar."
"Yes," Joe said, "Sora was telling me that, also that you know four different languages, quite an achievement I must say."
Izzy could tell that both of the other occupants of the carriage had winced at the name of Sora. "Yes, I have always been a lover of the ancient languages and the written word."
Joe agreed, "As am I, I must say that I enjoy Virgil's works the most. Matt, what is it that you do again?" Izzy could tell that Joe, not understanding why the two were so silent, was trying to draw them into conversation. It was a noble effort on his part - but Izzy knew it was to no avail to coerce these two into anything when they were in moods like this.
It was Tai who finally broke the silence, "Well, you see, Joe. Matt finds out who people are in love with and then goes in and takes them away from the one they are truly supposed to be with. That is what he does. Haven't you heard all of the rumors around town?"
Matt snapped his head up and glared at Tai, "Tai, you are such a moron. If I had known how you really felt I would never have gone after her!"
Tai snapped back, "Oh, you knew all right!"
"No, you idiot, I didn't. You hide your feelings so well that no one knows how you feel about anything. No one knew you loved her, and if you hadn't just admitted it then we still wouldn't know. Sora broke it all off with me last night because she is so in love with you that she feels it is wrong to be with anyone else. But, after what you said to her this morning, how you hurt her- I would be suprised if she ever looks at you again - let alone love you."
Tai just stared at his best friend, "She was there last night to break everything off with you - for me?"
Matt sniffed, "Yeah, and you know what she said to me? Do you? 'He doesn't love me', she thinks that you hate her. And you finally confirmed that in her mind this morning."
Tai was stricken, "Oh my god, what have I done?"
Matt looked his friend in the eye, "You hurt her, Tai. And knowing how good Sora is she will act like nothing is wrong so as not to affect the group while she is hurting inside. I have never hated you for anything in my life. But this morning when I saw that beautiful face light up when you walked into the room, and then how it fell when you called her that name, I hated you. You have the most wonderful girl in the world and you treat her like dirt. You don't deserve her. But, for some reason she loves you, and not me. I have to live with that, but you have her and you might as well have physically hit her this morning. She offered you her heart and you trampled it."
Tai was looking at the ground, "Will she ever forgive me? I was jelous, I saw her leaving your room last night and thought the worst of her."
"Yeah, well shows how smart you are. I will always be one of Sora's best friends and we will always be there for one another. You will not break up our friendship too, just because you are an idiot." Matt said
Tai looked at Matt, "I understand. What... what should I do?"
It was then that Joe spoke up, "I have tried to make Sora love me for three years, but I never could. Her heart always belonged to someone else. It seems to me that the first step is to tell her you love her."
Tai and Matt turned to Joe as if realizing for the first time that they weren't along. Tai just patted Joe on the back. "Listen you guys, I am sorry about the way I have been behaving today, especially towards you Matt. Forgive me?"
Matt nodded, 'But if you screw it up - I am going after her - you idiot."
Tai smirked, "I am going to do everything in my power to get her back. You won't get your chance." The two passed a glance that said it all.
Izzy sighed, "I am glad that's all settled. Our group doesn't function with the three leaders of the Elite fighting."
Matt commented, "Yeah, well he hasn't won her back yet."
Izzy sunk down into his seat, Matt was right, there was a long road ahead - for all of them.
A/N - Well, this took a lot of time to write. I hope that you liked it. I will get the next chapter out when I can. Please read and review!
The Elite
Chapter 6
Tai looked at Sora, as did Matt, who motioned them both to sit down. Then Gennai began his long awaited tale, "It all began forty-five years ago. I was on one of the many adventures of my youth. I was about the same age of all of you. With me were my closest friends in all the world, and adventure seekers much the same as me. We were a rash, brazen young group who thought nothing could stop us. Our motto came from a Sonnet written by Jonne Donne back in the 1630s. You see, we had all met in tutoring when we were kids, and once we were all older, we had to study Donne's works. One day, after we had all decided to start exploring we came across this Sonnet:
"Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou thin'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than they stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die."
You see, that was our motto, and we feared nothing. Not even death. But we were so young."
Tai interrupted, "That's nice and all, but does this have a point."
Gennai started, "Yes, impatient one. You remind me of myself at your age. But what I am about to tell you changed me for good. Our journey had brought us to Egypt. There were eight of us in all. We were in Cairo when we were kidnapped, one by one, much as I have taken you. We found ourselves, when we were reunited in a place in the desert. You see, a man - I never knew his name - told us that he believed us to be the 'Chosen Ones'. He presented us with a challenge. I, of course, was rash and overbearing and accepted his challenge on the groups behalf before we had even heard it. We were then told that we had to enter a temple of the oldest sect in Egypt. It was just another adventure to us, you have to understand. That was at first. But, soon it became our own living hell. We slowly found out that we weren't these so called 'Chosen Ones' as the man had thought. Slowly, one by one, my friends died. My best friend, and lastly - my love, until I was the only one left. I was offered a choice, I could stay and die with the rest of my friends or I could search the world over to find the real chosen. I have spent the last forty-five years looking the world over, only to find that you eight were under my nose. You see, your other friends are upstairs, asleep. They have already agreed to what I have to told you."
Tai asked, "So, what you are saying is that you believe, just like he did, that we are the chosen eight? What makes you certain that we are these 'Chosen Ones'?"
Sora, who had heard this story so many times by this time decided to speak up. "Apparently we all have certain character traits that separate us from others in the world."
Matt stood up, "But haven't you learned anything from your adventures? I would think that loosing your friends would make you never want to have anything to do with that temple. What is so important at the end of it that we should risk our lives for? What made you?"
Gennai said in hushed tones, "The man told us that at the end of the temple we would find something that was more precious than gold. He, of course wanted it due to his greed. He didn't care what happened to us." Gennai sighed and looked down at the floor, "We were curious as to see what it could possible be and we were adventure seekers. Remember our motto - we weren't scared of death at the time. It was something far off. But, we learned that death is not something to be taken lightly. We weren't strong enough. But you are! If we had known then what was going to happen we would have never gone in there. But, we did, and I live each day with that guilt and horror of going there. I owe it to them, to their memories to send you back, to not let their deaths be in vain."
Tai marched up to him, "So you have watched us, hoping for us to agree to risk our lives for this treasure - just because you and your friends were too stupid not to accept. Well, guess what. We're not going!" Then he turned to Sora and said, "Sora, where are the others. We are leaving, now!" He grabbed her arm and pulled her to him as he started to walk out the door. Matt was following Tai into the hallway. They were stopped by a voice.
"You have no choice!" Gennai yelled.
Tai turned with a look of fury on his face, "Of course we have a choice in the matter! This is our lives we are talking about, not some silly adventure!"
Gennai started again, "This is your destiny. If you turn your back on this now, it will never let you go. Why do you think that you eight are so well suited for each other? You can't go, or you will suffer a fate worse than death!"
Matt was the one to ask, "What could possibly be worse than death?"
Gennai spoke only to Tai as he said, "Have you ever had to watch someone you love die? Knowing that there is nothing you can do, only be with them that final moment as the world fades around them? If you walk away from this then I have no choice but to destroy you one by one. I don't want to do that - but I can not allow you to leave. Think of your loved ones, your sister, your friends. Are you willing to live with that on your conscience? I believe that you all can do this, I know you are the chosen ones."
Tai was still hesitant until Sora, who knew what it was like to lose someone she loved, turned to Tai and said, "Tai - we have no choice. The others have all made up their minds to cooperate. Please don't leave. We can't do this without you, the both of you. Besides, if anything happened to you I couldn't go on. You don't understand what it is like you loose someone you care about. We have to do this, for his sake."
Tai saw the tears in her eyes. He knew that ever since her father had died she had carried the guilt, even though it wasn't her fault. He had seen her go through the pain and suffering and he knew that if anything were to happen to her, he would go crazy. "Oh Sora," he said as he wiped a tear from her cheek. "Well, I guess we have no choice." Tai turned to Matt then. "Matt, you have your own way to decide. But I am in."
Matt, who had been watching the two interact said with a sad expression in his eyes, "If you can take it, then so can I."
Gennai smiled, what could be considered a Gennai smile and said, "Good, then we set out tomorrow morning after breakfast. Your chambers await you. You must get what rest you can. We have a long journey ahead."
They turned and he was gone. Sora sighed, " I hate when he does that!" Then she stepped towards the stairs and told the two, "Come on, I will tell you who else is here and show you to your rooms."
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A knock came from the door to the room that Matt was in. He had not been able to sleep at all, so far, after all that had transpired. They were all about to rush head long into danger. But, what really troubled him was the look that had passed between his two best friends earlier. The knock sounded again as he struggled out of bed and opened the door. Not looking to see who is was he said, "What do you want?" As he said this he looked up to see Sora.
"I'm sorry to wake you, Matt. I couldn't' sleep and I had to talk to you." Sora said
Matt regretted his tone with her and said, "No, it's all right, Sora. I wasn't asleep either. What do you need to talk to me about?" He knew what it was but needed to hear it from her lips.
She took a breath and went on, "Matt, the other night you asked me for my permission to court me and you kissed me." She sighed and went on, "Well, ever since that kiss I have had a lot to think about and I have come to realize that we can never be more than friends. I am sorry if this hurts you, but I could not lead you on, and I certainly couldn't go on this journey knowing what I know and not telling you."
Matt sighed. He had seen the look between the two and had seen that there was something really there. Something that he couldn't ever compete with. It hurt him that there was this bond between his best friends but he realized that somewhere else there was someone for him. He looked up to see Sora on the verge of tears and said to her, "I won't pretend that I am not hurt, but I came to the same conclusion myself, tonight. You love him, don't you?"
Sora looked at him, suprised, then nodded, "Yes I have just realized that, but he doesn't love me in return. I will just have to live my life out alone. There can be no other for me."
Matt started to cut her off, "Sora, I think that he..."
She put her finger to his lips and smiled, "Matt, you don't understand how it is between us. He doesn't return my feelings." The smile started to fade and the tears threatened again as she thought of the way that Tai had left after the kiss that they had shared in the carriage the other night.
Matt just sighed in defeat, "Well, if you ever grow tired of waiting for him, then you know that I am here for you."
She smiled, "Yes, I know. Thanks." She turned towards the door and then hesitated. Turning back towards him, "Matt, I am sorry that it didn't work out, I wish it could have. It would have saved both of us a lot of pain." She walked up to him and kissed his cheek Then turning again, she left the room.
Matt whispered to the door after she had left, "Yeah, if only. But don't be so sure he doesn't love you, Sora." From the darkened hallway a figure saw Sora leave Matt's room and seethed in anger.
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The next morning found all but one of the group at the breakfast table. They were all chatting to try and keep the nervousness that they felt at bay. Sora was glancing at the door ever few seconds, hoping to see the one that had given up everything for, but he was still not showing. She hadn't slept now for almost two days, so upset was she from the previous night. Finally, Sora glanced at Matt and he nodded. As he started to rise from his seat, in walked the last of the Elite.
"Tai," his sister said, "we were beginning to get worried about you."
He looked at her and then at the others at the table before saying, "Guess I just needed some extra time to sleep." In reality though he hadn't slept at all. He had ventured out of his room the previous night, unable to sleep due to the daunting ordeal that lay ahead of them. He was hoping that Sora was still awake and knowing her, she probably was. As he had gone to her room he had heard another door open down the hall. Curious as to who it was he looked only to see Sora coming out of Matt's room. He fell back into the shadows as he watched her walk down the hall, glance at his room, and then go to her own. He was enraged. How could they continue this behind his back? He had stayed in the hallway for a time trying to decide what to do. Then, deciding to give up he had retired to his bed only to lay awake all night. Then this morning he had not had the courage to face them, knowing he had to come down sooner or later. He thought he could face them. But, now seeing them sitting there beside each other made him sick. He had to get over this. It was her decision. he just didn't know if their friendship would ever be the same.
His sister was saying something to him, "Tai, are you there?"
Shaking himself from his trance he replied, "Sorry, just thinking." He looked again at the table and the faces around it. Then he noticed that the only seat vacant was beside Sora. Thinking it was a test of his will, he sighed and took the seat. As he sat, she turned to him with a smile that took his breath away.
Sora put her hand on his and said, "I know your worried, but I am confident that together we are unstoppable. We can all do this, together."
So she thought this was all due to the task at hand. He shook her hand off and said to her, "This group? How will this group get anything done? How could Kido or Mimi possibly contribute?"
Joe, who was sitting next to Mimi, thankfully didn't hear this comment. Sora was angry as she said to Tai, "Joe has his good points, as does Mimi. They are great people who are always there for you, if you would give them a chance."
Tai sneered, "For that matter, what good are you to us?" Sora's jaw dropped as did Matt's who haf overheard the whole conversation. "And if Kido is such a great guy then why did you decide to be with Matt instead of him? Guess he found out what a strumpet you really are!" Sora looked at him stunned. There were tears threatening in her eyes. He took a look at her face then and immediately regretted what had come out of his mouth. "Sora, I'm..."
But Sora didn't let him finish, replying angrily but so as not to let the others hear she said, "No, Tai. You have expressed your feelings about me, time and time again. Well, let me tell you something. After all of this is over I want to make something clear to you - our friendship is over! I can't have someone who thinks of me like that as my friend. If after all this time you don't understand me or know me better than that then it's not worth it. Our friendship has just....been....this sham! Tai, I..." But she couldn't go on and turned away as Gennai came into the room. Tai felt like he had been punched in the gut - so badly had what he done to Sora affected him.
Matt glared at him as if he could kill him as Gennai began, "Well, I see you are all together, finally. Two carriages are at the front of the house, ready to take you to the ship."
Sora, after wiping away the tears said, "Gennai, are you going with us?"
Gennai smiled, "Yes, Sora my dear. But I will be meeting you at the boat later. I can accompany you only a certain distance. You will know when you have to go alone."
Izzy, always the curious one said, "Gennai, didn't you say that once we were all together that you would tell us what our certain character traits were?"
Gennai said, "Yes I did."
"Well?"
Gennai continued, " I have decided if you don't already know then you will find out on your own. Search your hearts. Take this time to get to know each other better. You will need each other to get through this time." He grimaced then and said, "Now, go! Don't worry about clothing, I have provided it for you." He left the room out of the side door and the group all headed out the main entrance into the hallway and outside. Kari, TK, and Mimi all got into one carriage and Joe and Izzy into the other. That left Sora, Matt, and Tai to decide where they were going to ride. Sora looked at Matt, he nodded and then Sora climbed inside the carriage with Mimi, TK, and Kari. Then the carriage started off.
"Sora, are you okay?" Kari asked her friend.
Mimi put in, "Its pretty obvious, you know. You and Tai are fighting over the fact that Matt loves you and Tai loves you. But you aren't in love with Matt, but Tai still thinks that you are and he is jelous." Sora, Kari, and TK all stared at the usually oblivious Mimi. Mimi just looked at them all like they were stupid.
Sora regained her composure, "That's not it at all. Tai could care less about me and he made it quite evident this morning."
Kari chimed in, "Oh, but Sora - He loves you. Can't you see?"
"He pretty much told me that I was a heartless whore this morning at the breakfast table." Sora said to the shocked group. "I don't know what I did to provoke him! At least Matt was straightforward with me and respected me."
"Tai was just confused, and probably hurt about something." Kari said in defense of her brother.
TK turned on Kari, "That is no excuse for his behavior, Kari! Honestly, sometimes that brother of yours is so stupid and I wonder if he has a brain at all."
Sora intervened, "TK, there..."
She was cut off by Kari, "Oh yeah, well at least my brother doesn't try to ruin other people's relationships."
"My brother liked her first, and you heard her - at least he was honest and a gentleman! You didn't hear him calling her anything, now did you?"
"TK, are you saying my brother isn't a gentleman?"
"You said it, not me!" By this time they were shouting at each other, both red faced.
"Well then TK - if you don't like my family so much then maybe you shouldn't be engaged to me."
"Yeah, maybe so!" TK yelled at Kari.
Just then they heard someone start laughing. They, along with Mimi looked to see Sora laughing hysterically. Mimi cried, "Sora, this is no laughing matter. TK and Kari are going to end their engagement over a fight that you and Tai and Matt are having."
Sora, who by now was laughing until she was crying said, "I am sorry guys, but you should have seen your faces while you were arguing. You have no idea how much that helped me. I love you two so much, you too Mimi. Gennai is right, our group is a family and if one part is affected then so is the rest. I am just going to have to get over Tai, and start over. But first things first, the mission."
TK looked at her concerned, "Are you sure that you will be okay?" TK had always looked up to Sora like an older sister, as had Kari. But, now that they were older, TK saw her as a best friend. Whenever he and Kari had a fight, if Matt wasn't around or wasn't helping he always went to Sora.
Sora smiled at the younger boy that had grown into a man recently, "Yes TK. I will be fine. Aren't I always? Besides, now I can laugh again. Now, you two kiss and make up."
TK turned to Kari, "Kari..."
"TK..." and they kissed. Their fights were always rough, but making up was always the best. When the two finally came up for air they saw a smiling Sora and Mimi looking at them.
Mimi chirped, "Well, now that that's settled, I suggest a change of subject."
Sora, with an evil grin on her face said, "Yes, I agree. Mimi, what is going on between you and Joe? Hmm?"
Kari joined in, "Yeah, yesterday when we got to the house you and he seemed to be comforting each other quite well."
Mimi's face turned red, "Oh, no. I didn't mean for us to move on to my love life."
TK added, "So, you love him now? Is that it?"
Sora laughed and said, "Mims, you are the one who got yourself into this - now talk!" And as Mimi confessed her feelings for Joe, Sora was overcome by happiness for her friend. Things were working out finally for her, now what to do about her own love life.
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The silence was killing him. If it got any quieter in here he was going to scream. So, Izzy decided to strike up a conversation with the only other suitable candidate in the coach. "So, Joe. You don't mind if I call you Joe do you? You are a physician?"
Joe nodded, "Yes, my father was one, as was his father, so it was only natural to carry on in the family name. Since my brother Jim decided he was going to explore the world, the task naturally fell to me, and I inherited the hospital when my father passed. Mainly all I do now is handle the affairs of the hospital. I understand that you yourself are a scientist as well, Izzy is it?"
Izzy looked down and said, "Yes, well I am getting my degree at Cambridge and I can't decide whether to continue as a botanist or an ancient linguist scholar."
"Yes," Joe said, "Sora was telling me that, also that you know four different languages, quite an achievement I must say."
Izzy could tell that both of the other occupants of the carriage had winced at the name of Sora. "Yes, I have always been a lover of the ancient languages and the written word."
Joe agreed, "As am I, I must say that I enjoy Virgil's works the most. Matt, what is it that you do again?" Izzy could tell that Joe, not understanding why the two were so silent, was trying to draw them into conversation. It was a noble effort on his part - but Izzy knew it was to no avail to coerce these two into anything when they were in moods like this.
It was Tai who finally broke the silence, "Well, you see, Joe. Matt finds out who people are in love with and then goes in and takes them away from the one they are truly supposed to be with. That is what he does. Haven't you heard all of the rumors around town?"
Matt snapped his head up and glared at Tai, "Tai, you are such a moron. If I had known how you really felt I would never have gone after her!"
Tai snapped back, "Oh, you knew all right!"
"No, you idiot, I didn't. You hide your feelings so well that no one knows how you feel about anything. No one knew you loved her, and if you hadn't just admitted it then we still wouldn't know. Sora broke it all off with me last night because she is so in love with you that she feels it is wrong to be with anyone else. But, after what you said to her this morning, how you hurt her- I would be suprised if she ever looks at you again - let alone love you."
Tai just stared at his best friend, "She was there last night to break everything off with you - for me?"
Matt sniffed, "Yeah, and you know what she said to me? Do you? 'He doesn't love me', she thinks that you hate her. And you finally confirmed that in her mind this morning."
Tai was stricken, "Oh my god, what have I done?"
Matt looked his friend in the eye, "You hurt her, Tai. And knowing how good Sora is she will act like nothing is wrong so as not to affect the group while she is hurting inside. I have never hated you for anything in my life. But this morning when I saw that beautiful face light up when you walked into the room, and then how it fell when you called her that name, I hated you. You have the most wonderful girl in the world and you treat her like dirt. You don't deserve her. But, for some reason she loves you, and not me. I have to live with that, but you have her and you might as well have physically hit her this morning. She offered you her heart and you trampled it."
Tai was looking at the ground, "Will she ever forgive me? I was jelous, I saw her leaving your room last night and thought the worst of her."
"Yeah, well shows how smart you are. I will always be one of Sora's best friends and we will always be there for one another. You will not break up our friendship too, just because you are an idiot." Matt said
Tai looked at Matt, "I understand. What... what should I do?"
It was then that Joe spoke up, "I have tried to make Sora love me for three years, but I never could. Her heart always belonged to someone else. It seems to me that the first step is to tell her you love her."
Tai and Matt turned to Joe as if realizing for the first time that they weren't along. Tai just patted Joe on the back. "Listen you guys, I am sorry about the way I have been behaving today, especially towards you Matt. Forgive me?"
Matt nodded, 'But if you screw it up - I am going after her - you idiot."
Tai smirked, "I am going to do everything in my power to get her back. You won't get your chance." The two passed a glance that said it all.
Izzy sighed, "I am glad that's all settled. Our group doesn't function with the three leaders of the Elite fighting."
Matt commented, "Yeah, well he hasn't won her back yet."
Izzy sunk down into his seat, Matt was right, there was a long road ahead - for all of them.
A/N - Well, this took a lot of time to write. I hope that you liked it. I will get the next chapter out when I can. Please read and review!