I'm back!!! Well...actually, I think that I'm still me. But anyway, due to extreme laziness and lack of animation in creative literature writing, my story has been growing fungus for the past months. Or weeks. I forget. So to make it up, here's a chapter. Yay. I mean, YAY!!

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Tai and Aki looked up from their dangerous game of dice as Sora and Matt stepped back into the main area of the flower shop. (A/N: Let's just say that Mrs. Takenouchi renovated her flower shop with the money she had gained shining shoes as a little girl. Right.) Tai leapt up happily. "Matt! Ah, come on! Let's get moving! I, uh, have to get home! Right now! Not a minute to lose! Or even a second!"

"What?" Matt asked, puzzled by his squeaking friend. "Where's the fire?"

"You're wasting my seconds!" Tai screeched. "Seconds are too precious to waste! Come on!"

"HEY!" Aki yelled. "You told me that there was nothing you needed to do for today. You just want to leave because you're losing your money!"

As Tai spluttered excuses, Aki looked at Sora and Matt. "Are you two all right now?" She wrinkled her nose. "What happened to your clothes? Did you two fall into a compost heap or something? Sora, we are *not* walking together on the way home."

Sora grinned. "We've found a way to keep the peace while continuing the war."

Aki arched her eyebrow. "Y'know...I won't even bother asking. Details bore me."

"That's all right. I wouldn't, either."

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TK was glumly sprawled all over the bench. He and Davis had done nothing the entire day but argue about soccer and basketball. He had no real idea why he chose to hang out with his stubborn friend. The two of them were as different as day and night. Or a hamburger and a salad. Or maybe a bowl of sushi and some noodles.

He was hungry. (A/N: Obvious much?)

They were at the park. (A/N: The park again! Why is it that I always turn to the park for an ideal setting? ARGH!!) He learned that Kari and Yolei were spending the day together at the mall, thanks to Davis' endless badgering of Kari. They had absolutely nothing to do.

"Davis," TK stated.

"TS," Davis replied.

Letting out an explosive breath, TK asked him, "What exactly are we doing in the park?"

Davis shrugged. He was practicing with his soccer ball. "Well, we were just wandering around on the street and then somehow, we ended up in the park. I don't think that it's really important. That's what always seems to happen."

(A/N: That's because everywhere, instead of plotholes, there are...PARK HOLES!!! Step into them and WHOOSH!! You're in a park!)

They fell silent again and watched as people passed them, oblivious to their stares. Soft music drifted up to them. Davis stopped kicking around his soccer ball and paused. "Hey, TE. Do you hear that?"

TK rolled his eyes and nodded. "I think that it's pretty obvious that I could hear it, seeing that I know where it's coming from. Come on, let's check it out. Anything seems better than watching you kick that ball."

TK ignored his friend's protests as he stood up and made his way into the bushes. The music grew louder as they stumbled into a clearing.

"TK!" Someone exclaimed. "Davis! What are you guys doing here?"

"Kari?" TK and Davis yelped in unison. They looked to the girl next to her. "Yolei?"

Kari was sitting on the grass with Yolei and some other boy they never had met before. The music had stopped by now and they saw the source of it was a violin. TK smiled at the boy. "Hey. I'm TK."

The dark-haired youth nodded. "My name is Ken."

Davis shook himself out of his amazement and rounded on the poor boy. "Are you trying to make a move on my girl?"

Ken looked puzzled. "What?"

Davis repeated, "I said that—"

He shook his head. "No, no, I heard you. It's just that…um…what are you talking about?"

Kari's face was red. "Davis, I am not your girl!"

The two of them started to argue. TK and Ken tried to make sense of things and attempted to stop their bickering. Pretty soon, Yolei had enough of it and held up her hands, yelling, "Shut up!"

The four of them paused and turned to the lavender-haired girl.

Yolei glared at them and said, "You guys are acting like a bunch of five-year olds. Let me lay things clear here: Ken, Davis Motomiya the idiot and TK Takaishi. TK, Davis, Ken Ichijouji."

Davis yelped, "Why am I the idiot? What about TB? Why doesn't he get called something equally insulting? Like, how about: the guy who has absolutely no chance with Kari?" (A/N: TB as in Tuberculosis?)

TK cocked his head, puzzled. "Insulting?" He shrugged. "Maybe to you, Davis, but I don't see anything insulting in that."

Kari's angelic face suddenly darkened. Yolei took one look at her friend and blanched. Hurriedly, before any bones were broken, she gestured to the two newcomers for them to sit down and said to Kari softly, "Calm down."

Kari looked startled. She glanced curiously at Yolei, who winked back to the younger girl. For some reason, she blushed.

TK watched this exchange as he settled down unto the grass and shrugged. He never understood girls, anyway. They were always so giggly and garrulous. Sure, Kari was his best friend, aside from Davis (who wasn't exactly a best friend all the time), but he never really understood her anyway. He decided to take his brother's advice and not bother to even try to understand them.

Davis began, "So, Kenny—"

"It's Ken," the other boy replied.

"What difference does it make?" Yolei laughed. "Davis doesn't even get TK's name right half the time."

"Yolei." Davis gave her a pained look. "It's not just half the time I get his name wrong. I get his name wrong eight days a week!" (A/N: Eight days a week…I lo-o-o-o-ove you. Beatles. Hehe.)

"Excuse me, then," the lavender-haired girl said in mock apology. "Davis is too dumb to get two letters imprinted on his brain. I'm sorry, I used to think you had the IQ of at least a dust mote."

"I will not stand here and be insulted!" Davis declared. "That's why I'll sit here and be insulted." He grinned and plopped himself unto the ground. "You know, eventually my brain will pop up somewhere and all of you will be very surprised to see how smart I am."

"It already has popped up, Davis, and we aren't fainting from shock, as far as I can see," Kari remarked.

"Kari!" Davis exclaimed, looking excited. "You said that I had a brain! You heard that TI? You don't know how long anyone's ever told me that I had a brain."

"How long ago was that?" Ken asked curiously, although with a cynical smile on his lips.

"Approximately eight years ago." He paused. "No…wait. The word wasn't brain. It was pain. Jun told me I was a pain." His eyes came up teary. "No one's ever told me that I had a brain before until you, Kari."

"We're very proud of you, Davis," Yolei said dryly.

"And as my first official words as a person with a brain," Davis announced, "I must declare my love for Kari."

Without really knowing why he did it, TK let out a laugh. He had no idea why he laughed at Davis' words, but they seemed to sound rather funny to him. He shrugged mentally and smiled good-naturedly.

Kari scowled at him. (A/N: Wrong move, bucko!) Hurriedly, Yolei headed this off, asking, "Davis. What were you about to say to Ken before the issue of your brain came up?" She paused. "That's not something you hear everyday."

"Well," Davis started. "I was just asking whether he is any good at playing the violin."

"I'm pretty good," Ken said, but Yolei cut in, exclaiming, "Any good? Ken's the best violin player I've ever heard!"

Ken's cheeks were slightly pink as he stammered out: "N-not really. I've got a long way to go."

"So modest," the lavender-haired girl murmured fondly.

Ken sighed.

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The moon was beautiful tonight. The sky was empty of the clouds that usually obscured the moon and stars were glittering so brightly. The moon was full tonight, its face like a pale dish.

Chloris gave it one last wistful glance before crossing the street. She wouldn't see the moon on the other side. After all, it would be hidden behind the soaring skyscrapers of Odaiba. She had been requested by her mother to go and buy some groceries. That was why she was up at this ungodly hour.

As she stepped up onto the curb, she collided with someone running up from behind her. It was a little boy, all braces and acne, though.

"Sorry, lady!" he called, not bothering to slow down. As he disappeared around the corner, Chloris muttered an oath under her breath and shook her head to clear it from the taunting feathered birds. "Little barbarian."

"People nowadays, huh?" a voice spoke out. She detected a hint of amusement in that remark and rolled her eyes. Glancing up, she saw someone familiar in front of her, holding out his hand. Her cheeks burned with humiliation. Ignoring his hand, she stood up and brushed herself off.

"And you are?" she questioned him.

"Chloris, I know we just met yesterday, but is it that hard for you to forget a face?"

His voice sounded familiar and she took a good long look at him. He had sleek brown hair and green eyes that were sparkling with suppressed mirth. 'The only people I met yesterday were that old fat grumpy lady and…'

"Ah!" she exclaimed. "Eden, right? From Scotland?" (A/N: Cheese!)

"Um, begging your pardon but it's Aidan, Aidan Feoras from Ireland."

She shrugged. "All right. So, what brings you here? Eager to laugh at the untouchable Chloris Erato?" she stated bitterly. As Aidan started to answer quickly, she cut in and said, "Of course. Why else would you be here?"

"Chloris." He looked at her and she felt herself flush.

"I'm sorry. I was just…I don't know. I didn't mean that." She looked sheepishly at him. "I tend to mouth off whenever I'm embarrassed. Sorry."

"'Tis all right, I assure you." He grinned brilliantly at her. "I say a mouthful whenever that happens, too. It seems we both tend to go on and on, eh?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Yeah. So what do you want?"

He shrugged and shoved a hand through his hair. "Actually, I just saw you trip and thought that you might need some help."

Chloris' irritation and embarrassment faded away and she smiled back at him. "Oh. I guess one meeting isn't enough for me to judge a person nowadays. I thought that you were like your friends."

"They DO go out of their way to make you suffer, don't you think?" His eyes were thoughtful and his tone wasn't with malice. "I'm sorry about that. They don't consider others too much."

They fell silent. Chloris glanced at him and asked, "Why are you up so late? According to my watch, it's nearly ten."

He looked mildly surprised and glanced at his watch. "Why, it's that late already? I was just making my way home from the park. Lovely place, it is. We have one like it at home, only it's not as beautiful. I tell you, though, I miss the lush green hills like I miss Aunt Aggie's pie." He gave a little chuckle. "Which reminds me, I haven't had me dinner yet. Hmm. Curious."

Chloris laughed. "Why do you say that?"

He replied, "It's steak night. I rarely miss that."

She shrugged. "The night is beautiful. Not too dark but just dim enough to enjoy the stars." She murmured, "Darkness is not dark for you. The night is as the day..."

"Ah! And darkness and light are one!" Aidan exclaimed delightedly. "Psalm 139. I never really understood the significance of that line with the rest of the verse."

They continued to chat idly as they walked down the sidewalk. It turned out that their apartment buildings were in the same general direction, so they could keep each other company while they walked. Chloris certainly appreciated the extra help with her groceries.

They were crossing into another street when they came upon two figures arguing. Chloris thought that they both looked familiar. As they drew closer, she saw that they were Aki and Tai. A larger smile covered her face and she called out, "Aki! Tai! What are you guys doing up so late?"

They glanced up. "Chloris?" they exclaimed, their words in unison with their surprised expressions. They both simultaneously glanced to who was walking towards them beside her. "Aidan?"

"Top o' the…um…night?" Aidan looked puzzled. "That just doesn't sound right, I'm sorry."

Aki shrugged. "It's all right. So…what are you two doing out in the night?" Her eyelashes fluttered. "Alone?"

Chloris fought to keep the smile on her face and her feet from kicking out at her admittedly flighty friend. "Oh, Aidan and I just ran across each other across the grocery store and we live in the same street. What are YOU two doing out here?" Curiosity took much of the bite out of her question.

Her black-haired friend grinned. "Nothing. We just ran across each other, too."

Chloris and Aidan exchanged an exasperated glance. Aki and Tai sniggered. "So…" Tai glanced at the two foreigners. "What brings you two here? Did some strange little old man with no eyes at all mail you through your high-tech-looking beeper email computer thing to get you guys to come here?"

Aki rolled her eyes at this. "Gennai does NOT exist in the real world, Kamiya."

Tai shrugged. Then, it seemed as though it was his first as he took a look around him. "Hey…it's nighttime! What time is it?" Aki, too, looked startled as she took in her surroundings. She added, "And what ARE we doing here? Last I saw it, we were at Sora's mother's flower shop!"

"Well," Aidan's mild tone cut into their confused ramblings, "It's a good quarter past ten."

The other two blinked at him owlishly. Then Aki let out a laugh. "I guess time flies when you're biting someone's head off. Hmph. Wouldn't you know it? The old saying's right!" She looked amused.

Tai arched his eyebrow. "Doesn't it say, 'Time flies when you're having fun'?"

Aki shook her head sadly. "I can't see the difference."

"Figures you wouldn't," Chloris muttered. (A/N: Heehee. Neither would I. Especially if it's little sister head.)

"So what were you two arguing about in the middle 'o the night?" Aidan grinned.

Aki shrugged. "You know Sora and Matt hate each other's guts, right?" Chloris and Aidan nodded. "Well," Aki continued, "Just a few hours ago, I think their war settled into something like that of a truce. I'm not certain on what the details are, but I'm positive that it won't last."

"I think it would!" Tai protested. "You can see that they're very smart people."

"Smart, but unstable."

"It will last."

"No it won't."

"Wanna bet?"

"It's a deal."

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Before anyone knew it, it was Thursday. People groaned and sighed as they went back to school from their prolonged 'weekend'. (A/N: *Sighs* And happiness comes to a close. There will be other times but this story has come to an end.) Things were much tamer during classes now that the fanatics realized that if they continued going over the top, they wouldn't be able to see their idols anymore. At least, if Principal Suzuki continued the trend of suspending classes whenever they rioted.

(A/N: Hmm...note to self: Find insane fanatics and enroll them in school.)

It was lunchtime. (A/N: AGAIN!)

Looking around, Sora found her friends seated at their usual table, along with several other new additions. There was Aki, Shina and Chloris, but Izzy was sitting there, too. Aidan was talking with Chloris.

The line to get food was much longer than usual, so Sora was glad that she had the foresight to bring her own lunch. She made her way past the tables to the one where her friends sat.

 "Hey, Sora," Aki greeted her as she opened her lunch bag. "You were smart to bring lunch. It's blue day. What kind of food is colored *blue*?" She paused. "Aside from blueberries, of course. And they're not even *that* blue."

Sora smiled as she unwrapped her sandwich. A brief thought lingered in her mind and she wondered where Mimi was.

"Hey, Aki, where's Mimi?" she asked her friend.

Aki's face grew still. "Mimi's not sitting with us today, Sora. She's sitting with *them*."

Wondering what Aki meant, she looked around. Her gaze swept the cafeteria and she saw Mimi, sitting down at the cheerleader's table and chattering animatedly with the head cheerleader. Her heart sank. Mimi was her friend. She would probably forget that they existed in a few weeks.

Trying to appear cheerful, Sora shrugged and said, "Well, that's the way the cookie crumbles, as the Americans say." She sighed. "We had some good times, though."

Aki nodded solemnly. "And now the evil snares of popularity have enslaved our friend. The next time she will talk to us, all we'll be seeing is her nose."

"What do you mean?" Chloris asked.

Aki replied, "She'll be looking down her nose at us and that involves a very large nose."

"That's not very nice," Sora murmured, glancing again to where Mimi conversed with the airheads. Taking a bite out of her sandwich, she thought gloomy thoughts and smiled a sad smile.

"Hey." Everyone looked up to see Matt sitting down with his tray next to Sora.

"Matt?" Shina said incredulously.

Matt nodded. "Who'd you expect? The Cat in the Hat?" (A/N: The cat in the hat in the hat in the hat in the hat!) He grinned at Sora. "Well?"

Sora gaped at him silently. Then she exploded, "It's not fair! Why are *you* still here? Mimi's gone off to enjoy the social life so why haven't *you*? I *like* Mimi!" she almost wailed.

"Why, Takenouchi, I'm touched, but you're not getting rid of me *that* easily. Besides, we still have our war to wage, my precious little pipsqueak." Matt laughed and glanced at his food. "Ew." He added, "By the way, Meems hasn't forgotten you guys, just in case you're worried. She had no choice but to talk to those airheads. Besides, you'll notice that she's sitting with them for a different reason." He indicated the table next to theirs with his fork.

It was the studious group's table. Most of them were done eating and delving into their books. Sora then noticed that Joe Kido was seated there, reading a textbook intently.

They looked back at Matt. "JOE?" they all chorused skeptically. Matt nodded, looking satisfied. "Yes. Joe."

After giving a moment's thought, Aidan shrugged. "Well, it's her life, right?" Everyone nodded and resumed eating.

Matt eyed Sora's sandwich enviously. Sora noticed this and stuck her tongue out at him. "It's mine, so don't you even think about trading my lunch for yours." She glared at him for extra emphasis and continued eating.

"MAAAATT!" A sweet voice drawled out. Sora was suddenly pushed aside and she fell onto the floor as some girl took her seat. "What are you sitting with *these* people for? They're totally *not*. Well, anyway. We're still on for tonight, aren't we?"

Sora blinked and tried to get her head back on straight. Chloris and Aki helped her up. Matt gave Sora a single glance and turned back to the pretty girl who replaced his seatmate, flashing her a thrilling smile. "Of course."

"Good," the girl giggled. "I'll be there…honey bun." (A/N: Snicker.) She got up and kissed Matt's cheek and sashayed away.

Sora goggled at Matt. "Honey bun?" Matt shrugged and Sora burst into laughter. "Honey bun!" She laughed some more. "That's a good one." She became serious again. "Jerk," she snapped and stomped away. She paused and threw her balled-up sandwich wrapper at him, hitting him square in the head.

Tai, who was just sitting down to talk with them, laughed and said, "Forget soccer. That girl could make it good at baseball."

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So...how was it? I like Tai's side comments. Dice rules.