A/N: SITSL (Sorry it took so long)!!!!!!! But I've had school and THREE soccer games in one week, plus we're going to finals since we're undefeated! So I've been busy.

There were A LOT of good reviews in the last part, and some of the ones I took into consideration are quoted below:

Kit-Kat wrote: ".....I'LL HURRY UP WITH MINE IF YOU HURRY UP WITH YOURS!!!!! Deal?

That wasn't the ENTIRE review, but Kit-Kat, I'd like to say, " Deal."

Ace_Maverick_007 wrote: "well, you work is very good, but what I'd like to see is longer fics, and most likely some more of the other digidestined interaction. If you could spare me a review,(I like reviews) No-one ever reviews
anymore...*mutters* cheap bastards.. Keep up the good work -AceMaverick007 "Don't knock on death's door. Ring the bell and run, he hates that."-me A."

Yes, Ace, we'd all like to see longer fics. I'm glad you think my work is good. And you're right; NO ONE REVIEWS ANYMORE!!!! On STILL, I had 19 reviews with 109 hits. NOW, it's 3 hundred something and still only 19 reviews!!! What the heck??? So PLEASE review my fics, and I will surely return the favor.

Toast wrote: " poor poor matt. what'll sora think when she finds out matt has a peice of metal in his shoulder?"

Guess what happens in this part??? Sora finds out about the "piece of metal" in Matt's shoulder!!!! Thanky for reviewing, Toast. Nice review^_^.

Garurumon wrote: " Wow, matt sure could you some of Sora's hapyloving support. But tehn again I wonder what she'll think about all of this. You know, the not being ready and all. Pretty good fic but you did have to keep
us in suspense didn't you?"

Yes, Garurumon, I did. SORRY!!!!!! But suspense is GOOD, mind you! Yeah, I agree about " Matt sure could use some of Sora's happy loving support." It's here, thanks to you!^_^

Melissa, aka NovemberRain19 wrote: "Thanks for getting the next part out and for not leaving me and the other readers hanging for so long:) Don't worry, I will protect you from anyone who wishes you harm:) ::glares at the people with
the knives and pitchforks:: That way you can finish writing this fantastic story. Until next time."

THANKY MELISSA!!!!!! Sorry to keep you hanging so long with this part, but life moved in and.....well, thanx anyways!!!!!^_^

And last but not least, Cali-Chan wrote: "Awwwww, look at this, you dedicated this part to me! ^_^! Heh, I feel so cool! Thank you!! And yes, Matt defending himself was just too cool for words... Oh, gosh, this makes me suffer. Poor guy!
Oh, I just love this fic! And I wanna hear from Sora, since she hasn't appeared in these last parts... Please, write more!!! -cali-chan."

Sorry I've been leaving Sora out, but Matt's my fave character. DON'T WORRY!!!! SORA IS IN THIS PART QUITE A BIT!!!!!!!!! Am I making you suffer too much, cali?? I hope not, since I like your reviews!!^_^

DEDICATIONS: this fic is dedicated to all the peeps quoted above. Thanky sooooo much you guys and gals!!!!!!! ^_^ ^_^ ^_^


STONE SPIRIT/ Part Five


TAI'S POV
~~~~~~~~~

I quickly put my hand on Matt's shoulder, the one not bleeding, and rubbed it gently. Poor, poor Matt.

He was crying sour tears but I couldn't think of anything to do. Here Matt Ishida was crying, bawling, realizing a truth no one else saw in his future. And it hurt me. Sure, we have our arguments, but whenever I see the work Richard Ishida has done to this poor boy, I cannot imagine how I could've nearly done the same thing.

That's exactly what I felt like now.


OMNISCIENT
~~~~~~~~~~~

Tai slowly rubbed Matt's shoulder as the blonde cried. It was nearly five minutes before Matt let up and wiped his tears slowly. The tears still ran, but he wasn't wretching out choked sobs anymore.

He slowly stood up and sniffed. Tai dug in his pocket and retrieved a small wad of Kleenexes, which he gave to Matt. Matt wiped his nose, then shoved the wad in his pocket.

" So, do you want to come to my place?" Tai asked, after a few moments of silence and the occasional after crying hiccup from Matt.

Matt didn't answer. He just looked Tai in the eye, but not in a cruel way. Tai brought his arm around the Ishida's shoulders and embraced the 19 year old, careful to avoid getting blood on his soccer jersey. Matt didn't return the hug, but he let himself fall into it, glad someone cared.

" Would a cup of cocoa and a soft bed and some doctoring make this all better?" Tai asked.

Matt again didn't answer. Tai took his silence as a yes and he released his hold on the blonde and began to lead him towards his apartment.


MATT'S POV
~~~~~~~~~~~

There was no way in the world I had been expecting that sort of friendship from Tai. He had never been the type of guy to do that, or so I thought. I couldn't imagine that the same exact guy who tried to whip my butt many times but ended up getting whipped himself was showing me care and that friendly affection good friends have towards each other. It made me feel like suddenly I was the little brother and Tai was the big brother. Just being held and cared for by someone was enough to throw me off.

It's not that Sora had never done that for me. She had, and that's one reason I love her so. But she's not like a big brother; she's like a girlfriend, a good friend, someone I can count on in almost any crisis. Someone I can trust to hold me, to cure me, to make me happy. I wanted Sora with everything I had, but I also wanted a big brother. I was tired of being the older one, and once, just once, I wanted an older male to treat me the same way I treated TK. Like a younger brother.


OMNISCIENT
~~~~~~~~~~~

Tai and Matt walked along slowly. A small cramp had formed in Matt's side, preventing him from walking too fast. Tai went at his speed comfortably.

" Matt!"

Tai turned his head to see Sora running up to them. She ignored Tai as she grabbed Matt's elbows in her hands and looked him in the eye.

" Matt? What happened?" she asked.

" What do you mean?" he asked. She hadn't spotted the blood on his shoulder yet.

" I saw your father. I went to your apartment and the door was open, and when I walked in, I saw your father. Matt, what happened? Did he hurt you? Are you okay?" She touched his face tenderly. He flinched.

Matt was about to answer when Tai said, " No, Sora, he's not."

Matt threw an angry look at Tai, who shrugged.

Sora looked from Matt to Tai, then back to Matt again. " Not okay? God, Matt! What did he do to you?"

Matt just bowed his head, feeling Sora's warm hand slipping off his face.


SORA'S POV
~~~~~~~~~~~

Something in me wrenched when he bowed his head. I looked to Tai again, quizically. He pointed in the direction of his apartment and I nodded. I turned back to Matt and gently put my arm around him.


OMNISCIENT
~~~~~~~~~~~

" It's okay, Matt," Sora whispered in Matt's ear. She tenderly brushed a few strands of hair from his face. " Everything's going to be fine."

Matt just took a deep, shuddering breath, which Sora felt as well as heard. She only squeezed him tighter.


MATT'S POV
~~~~~~~~~~~

I leaned into Sora's awaiting arms. She loved me, I knew that, but really knowing love, really knowing the power it has, is enough to bring even a guy like me down.

But I knew no matter how much I fell, she'd always be there to pick me up.


OMNISCIENT
~~~~~~~~~~~~


The trio arrived at Tai's apartment a half hour later.

" Take Matt into my room," Tai told Sora. " He can lay on my bed. I'm gonna call Joe."

" What will your parents say?" Sora asked.

" They're not home; they don't have to know."

" What about Kari?"

" She already knows, sort of," Matt grunted.

Sora looked at him quizically. " What?"

" She was the one who warned me," Matt answered. " She won't be suprised."



SORA'S POV
~~~~~~~~~~~


I felt my eyes water. I didn't cry, I needed to be strong. Matt had always been strong for me and I couldn't cry, couldn't be weak, when he was. I'd be letting him down. I'd never hurt him, never make him cry, never torture him like his father had done. Never break his heart or make him regret loving me.

Never.


OMNISCIENT
~~~~~~~~~~~

Sora laid Matt on Tai's bed slowly. She sat next to him, stroking his blonde hair delicately and lovingly. He closed his eyes and felt small tears fall from the corners of his eyes and drip silently on the bedspread.

" Matt?" Sora asked softly.

" Hmm?"

" You're crying."

Matt didn't answer. Instead, he felt around for Sora's hand and held it tight. " I'm okay."

Sora rubbed his fingers one by one. She began to hum a soft lullaby when Tai entered.

" Joe's on his way over, Matt," he said, sitting on the other side of the bed. " He told us not to do anything with your shoulder until he gets here, so just hang in there, okay?"

Sora stopped humming. " His shoulder???? What are you talking about?" she demanded.

Tai slowly pulled back Matt's coat and revealed the wound. Sora gasped. The tears she had refused to cry earlier on began to fall.

" Did-did he do it to you?" she asked Matt between small sobs.

Matt nodded gravely,

Sora choked back more tears. She tried to wipe them away but they kept on falling.

" Sora, it's nothing," Matt said.

Sora shook her head. " It's everything, Matt. Every bit of pain you feel, I feel."

" It doesn't have to-" Matt began.

" Shut up, Matt. I love you and love binds us. We're going to share many happy times but also many painful times, and we're going to share them together," Sora snapped angrily, but she managed to put a lot of affection into the outburst.

Matt squeezed her hand tighter. " Thank you, Sora."


TAI'S POV
~~~~~~~~~

It was a sweet moment. I knew I shouldn't have been there, watching it, because they needed their privacy. But they didn't seem to mind.

Someday, I wish I can love someone the way these two Digidestined love each other.



JOE'S POV
~~~~~~~~~

I had been eating when Tai called me, telling me about Matt's condition. I suggested he call an ambulance, but Tai being Tai and Matt being Matt, they wouldn't have anyone else.

I forgot about my lunch, grabbed my little doctor's bag, and hustled out to my car. It was an old, beat up volkswagon, but it was better than nothing.

It was Kari that answered the door when I arrived.


OMNISCIENT
~~~~~~~~~~~~

" Joe? What are you doing here?" Kari asked. She took a sip of her Diet Coke.

" Don't you ever stop drinking that stuff? It's bad for your teeth," Joe said.

" You're a doctor, Joe. Not a dentist."

" Still-"

" Why are you here?" Kari repeated and took another sip.

" To see Matt," Joe answered.

" You must have the wrong house. Matt doesn't live here; Tai and I do."

" Tai said he was over here-" Joe began.

" Why don't you try Matt's apartment? Because Matt is not here." Kari began to shut the door.

" Kari, let me in!" Joe suddenly raged.

Kari stopped closing the door and her eyes widened in suprise. " Okay, sure. Whatever you say, Joe." She opened the door again.

Joe stepped inside as Kari took another sip. She slurped loudly in his ear.

" Kari, stop that," Joe hissed.

Kari giggled.

" Kari, I mean it."

" Okay, okay, I'll stop." Kari took another sip. " So, what up?"

" Tai called me and told me about Matt and he yelled at me until I agreed to come here and look at him." He turned to Kari. " Where are they?"

Kari shrugged. " Dunno. Check Tai's bedroom. I don't think he's home, though. Didn't see him come in."

" Thanks." Joe hurried towards Tai's bedroom. Or where he THOUGHT Tai's bedroom was.

" Uh, Joe? It's that way." Kari pointed to her left.

" Thanks," Joe said again.

" And Joe?"

Joe stopped to face Kari. " What?"

" Try to save Matt and Sora, okay?" Kari took another sip of her Coke. " Make sure they make it through this."

Joe smiled. " I will Kari."

" Thanks, Joe." Kair turned and walked into the living room.


TK'S POV
~~~~~~~~~

I kept begging my mom to let me go see Matt, to let me take her car and drive over to his apartment and visit him. After many hours of begging and pleading, she gave in.

I drove to Matt's house at lightspeed. I was pulled over once and got a ticket, which I shoved into my back pocket. No time for tickets now. I had a brother to see.

When I arrived, I parked a little crooked, but I didn't take the time to correct it. I took the steps two at a time and ran down the balcany hallway until I reached his apartment.

His door was open, and I saw my father, Richard Ishida, groaning on the floor.




A/N: Soooo, how's that for a longer fic AND a cliffhanger?? ^_^ I am sooooo cruel!!! Hehehe! PLEASE REVIEW THIS ONE!!!!!!!! Oh, and I'm sorry it took so long to get it up!! I've had writer's block, PLUS a log-in problem, PLUS soccer finals and Grad Standards and.........I'll shut up now. Soooooo, PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE!!!!! This has nothing to do with the story, but we need visitors!!!! http://www.yourdigipet.homestead.com/index.html and adopt a baby Digimon!!!!!!!!! We've got two evil Digimon attacking the site that you can battle AND a contest for brand new Digimon!!!! So PLEASE visit the site!!!!!! Thanky!!!! LOVE, PEACE, and DIGIMON FOREVER!!!!!!!!