Sorry for the cliffhanger~! I'm having a huge writer's block again x.o So just bare with me at the time for all my stories…Now, WARNING: this chapter is going to have a lot of sadness and anger in it so just go ahead and grab that Kleenex box beside you o_o; This is mostly going to be flashbacks…about what happened a long time ago…
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Sora walked along the streets, she weaved through the crowds of people that hurriedly walked out of the tall buildings to get home to their families, pets, or whatever kind of life that they have. She had on an expressionless face and she was digging her hands into her pockets so hard because of her anger that she was almost wearing a hole into them.
"I just can't shake the feeling that Mimi-or Matt-won't be okay…" she whispered to herself.
"Sora! Sora, wait up!"
Sora turned her head to see Tai running across from the other side of the streets and stopped when he reached her side. He grinned and they began walking together. Sora could see Tai stealing a few glances at her but whenever she looks back he always swiftly turns his head pretending nothing happened.
Tai scowled himself, C'mon Kamiya! Izzy helped you get the courage to go this far to Sora, now do us all a favor and ask her to the dance!
"Will you shut up?!" Tai yelled causing a few people to stare.
"I didn't say anything," Sora replied and looked at him in confusion.
Tai chuckled nervously, "Oh! No, it's not you who I'm talking to! It was uhh-So, how was Mimi's first day here?"
Sora lowered her gaze, "Not very well, I guess. I'm worried though I don't know why, something about Matt being with Yui just doesn't seem to fit right."
"Well, I don't really think we should step in-this is their problem, not ours. We shouldn't do anything unless we really need to."
Even though the cold winter nights' breeze cut against her whole body like a thousand piercing knives making it go more numb that it already was being out in the snow all day, what Mimi forced herself to say seemed to even cut through her more deeply.
"Yui seems like a very nice girl…I-I'm happy for you-both of you." Mimi tried all she could to hold her tears and emotions back.
Matt nodded with ease, not even being bothered by the coldness, "Yeah, she is…I wouldn't even ask for anything more."
"So…how'd you guys meet?"
Matt opened his eyes, "A year after you left, I met her at the park before the carnival, she comforted me and we ended up going to the carnival together and had fun-and we've been friends ever since. It took me up to a few weeks ago to get the courage to ask her out."
"B-but, it only took you a week to ask me after we got back from the Digiworld." Mimi muttered.
"Yui's different-I wanted to wait for the perfect time to ask her." Mimi frowned at hearing this and her eyes widened more.
Her face fell like a ton of bricks yet she forced herself to look at his face. His wonderful, charming and loving face-something she hasn't seen since she left Japan. His icy blue eyes matched the weather, she noted-cold and distant. They were the same eyes that first attracted her to him, those eyes that comforted her and made her feel safe, the pure blue eyes that used to stare at her longingly with so much care-though now they were just filled with such hatred and anger that she knew was because of her. Matt was still leaning against the tree and was staring out in front of him and onto space. Mimi scooted a bit closer and raised her hand in front of her holding it out so he can look at the bracelet she wore to his face. She thought that she almost saw a hint of light and utter shock in his eyes that second, though it quickly faded away.
"You, still have that?" Matt asked, uncrossing his arms.
Mimi nodded and smiled weakly, "I told you, I'd never take it off-and I never did, all this time. You gave this to me, Matt, remember when you gave it to me? That winter evening right before the carniv-"
"Stop it, just stop it right now!" he snapped, "Stop trying to bring back the past, I've forgotten all about it-and I've forgotten all about you!"
Mimi stepped back, her already wide eyes were even wider, "W-what?"
Matt looked at her with such anger in his eyes, face, and voice, "Why are you here?! I don't get it! I finally forget all the pain you've caused me back then and moved on when suddenly you come popping back in, pretending that day never happened and thinking everything between us will be okay again! I'm finally relieved from all of it and am happy with my life when you just have to come and start ruining it again! Why did you even come here?!" He shouted.
Mimi almost fell on the ground at hearing this, she was too choked up at what he said that she didn't notice the tears streaming down her face, "Matt, I…I didn't mean to cause you this much pain, all these years…When I found out I could visit here, I quickly packed my stuff and hopped on the plane just to get here to you. Matt-I'm sorry."
Matt's face didn't change, he just turned around and laid his left arm against the tree, "Well, you're about six years late for an apology. Six years ago, I waited for you that day, I could still remember every painful detail-I was so happy and excited of seeing you…"
~*~
Yamato skipped around the trees on his way to an area of the park where he would meet Mimi like they always do. He looked at his right, not far away was the winter carnival, he could see the bright lights through the trees, they were starting soon. He finally reached the bench where he would wait for Mimi, he glanced around and looked down at his watch.
"Hmm, ten more minutes," he said and ran happily to a tree close to the bench.
Yamato slowly took out a small box that he was carrying in his jean pocket. He grinned proudly to himself, thinking how much ecstatic Mimi would be when she receives the present he got her. Not long after they got back from the Digiworld, Yamato had given Mimi a silver chain bracelet to wear, and exactly a year ago at this same place, he had given her a charm that took the shape of his crest, the crest of Friendship, which he thought symbolized how good friends they were and will always be. He gently opened the box and it revealed the crest of Love, he specifically got this charm after Friendship to show how much he loved her-even more than a friend.
"For longer than forever, Mimi…" he whispered as he ran his thumb against the charm and then carefully put it down a hollowed part of the tree.
"Mimi," Yamato said to himself and smiled, "I don't care how different everyone thinks we are, I don't care how young we are…I love you with all my heart and would do anything for you, and nothing or no one can ever stand between that."
He paced around the spot waiting for her. After a while, he glanced back down at his watch, 6:00, Mimi was suppose to be here already.
"Where could she be?" Yamato asked himself, "Maybe she's just running late, I mean-it's Mimi." He chuckled and waited.
Yamato waited, and waited, when his feet finally got tired of pacing around he sat on the bench and huddled his coat closer. The coldness was finally kicking in. Ten minutes passed though he didn't give up, he kept saying to himself that she was probably running late or something, she wouldn't stand him up-she knew how special this was to both of them.
~*~
"-do you know how lonely and cold it was that day? But I didn't care, I waited and waited for you knowing that you'll show up. Minutes passed, then hours but I still waited…
~*~
Yamato glanced back at his watch again, 7:05.
"Mimi, where are you? Hurry up…I'm still waiting…" his attention was cut off when he heard loud banging sounds above him. He spun his head around and gazed up at the sky-lights and sparks of all colors blew up against the night sky and its tiny clusters of dust fell down upon the people that enjoyed the company of the carnival. Yamato shook his head.
"It's okay, we could always catch next years'" Yamato encouragingly told himself though deep down he was crushed that they missed it.
He turned when he heard soft laughter behind him, maybe it was Mimi! His blue eyes wondered around until he found the source of the voice. What he saw only made him more forlorn-it was a very nice and happy couple, about seventeen years old and were talking about their time spent at the carnival. The girl had her arms wrapped around his waist and her head on his chest while the boy smiled down at her and had his arm around her shoulders and the other in his pocket. They were both laughing blissfully as they walked pass him and left…Not long before that, Yamato started seeing a few other couples leaving the place with their arms around each other and having a great time with each other's company. The carnival had closed down.
"Mimi…where are you?" Yamato sat back down on the bench and huddled closer to his coat trying to get rid of the sharp pain of winter that ran against him.
"Please come…I'm waiting."
~*~
"-then midnight came, the carnival had shut down but I was still at that same spot, waiting for you to come. I was even going to stay there but my dad brought me home when he finally found me sleeping on the park bench, my dad said that I slept the whole day after, and the moment I woke up the next day he told me…that you moved away-I couldn't take it and ran back to the park again saying to myself that you'll keep your promise and be there…"
~*~
"Matt! Come back, where are you going?!" Mr. Ishida called after his son.
Yamato heard his voice but he didn't care, all he wanted right now was just to be at the park-at the same spot, by the same tree, with Mimi. He was still wearing his pajamas and the numbness was kicking in through the thin blue fabric and bare feet, but Yamato didn't care as he streaked through the streets, bumping and forcing people out of the way not caring that they called out to the young blonde boy running like mad. A police officer called out to him when he ran across the road, making all the cars skid to stop, he heard him although he didn't seem to understand what he was saying since he was already far away and making his way towards the bridge and onto the park.
"I'm sorry I'm late, Mimi…Please-just wait for me," he said to himself as he forced his legs to run faster.
He finally halted when he got to the spot where he was waiting the night before, he frantically swirled his head around to see if there was any sign that Mimi was there. Nothing.
"Mimi…she should've been here," he asked himself, "What if she came when I left and waited out here for me? What if she came back and-"
Yamato dug his tearful face in his hands, he couldn't even feel the touch of his hands on his face.
"Mimi, where'd you go? I waited, but you never came…you promised to meet me here, you promised," he rubbed his blue eyes and stood up, he limped across from the bench and onto the half-dead, snow-filled tree. He ran his hand against the tree and down to the small hole where he hid the charm he was going to give Mimi when-if she came, he slowly dug his arm inside and felt around till he found the object he was searching for and took it out.
He stared hard at the little charm for a while and cared it gently in his palm before putting it back in.
"You promised you wouldn't leave my side," he cried softly like a child does when a bully picks on them and takes away their lunch money, "It's not fair…I waited, you promised back in the Digiworld, you said I could keep you as long as I want…"
~*~
"Stop it!" Mimi cried and covered her ears, "Matt, if you'd just listen to me I didn't want to leave you!"
"Then how come you never even bothered telling me you were leaving?!" Matt raised his voice and turned to Mimi. She slumped back knowing that she had no answer for that he spoke again, "You know how long I waited for you, even after finding out that you moved away-I still wouldn't believe it and came back everyday and kept waiting since I knew you wouldn't break your promise to me…After a few days, I decided to just give up waiting at the park, but I didn't give up all hopes. I know my friends and family thought I lost it…I even waited by the phone hoping that you'll call and tell me that you were just running late or something," Matt let out a muffled yet bitter laugh, "How pathetic was I?"
Mimi frowned and tried to reach for him but pulled her hand back, "Oh, Matt…"
Matt gazed up to the darkening skies, "A year passed, Tai and the others did everything they could to cheer me up-it almost worked, till the Winter Carnival came around. I didn't want to relive it but, I just had to go back to that park and wait…hoping that you'd come back and make up for the loss time…"
~*~
"Matt, aren't you coming?" Tai asked.
The whole gang were on their way to the carnival, they were all waiting at the carnival gates for Yamato. Yamato was a few yards behind and was about to run towards them but-
"Well?" Tai asked waving his arm, "C'mon, it's starting already!"
Yamato stopped in his tracks and turned his head around, not far away he could see the narrow path that would lead to that part of the park where he had waited for Mimi, one year ago, though to him it seemed like ages. He turned his head back around and faced his friends happy faces, he slightly waved his hand.
"You guys go, I-I have to do something, okay? I'll probably catch up later!" he said and ran back, leaving his confused yet concerned friends and Tai who was calling out after him.
"Hey!" Tai called, "Where are you going? Matt!!"
Yamato jogged back to the same spot that seemed to pull him over with great force, he slowly stopped and shuffled his feet through the snow and over to the tree that seemed to stick out in his sight. He looked down at his watch, 5:55.
"Okay, Mimi," he said, "Five minutes, like I promised we'll spend the carnival together…Please, make it. You know I'll wait forever for you."
He played around, kicking snow and tossing snowballs to a certain tree to pass time. He heard loud laughter from the carnival, the fireworks were about to start. Even though a year had passed without hearing from Mimi, Yamato still didn't give up all hopes and waited for her to come back.
He glanced back down to his watch, "Hmm, 6:01…One minute, that's okay…I'm still waiting, Mimi."
Minutes passed, the fireworks again-were over…Though Yamato didn't stop, he knew at the back of his mind that he was reliving exactly what happened last year, but he loved Mimi too much that he couldn't give up that she'll come to him. 6:50…7:05…Yamato sighed and stood up.
"Who am I kidding?" he finally said and took out a small object from his pocket and twirled it around his hand. He began to walk towards the tree, "You broke your promise to me, you said I can hold you as long as I want and yet you leave without telling me…how can you not even call where you are?" he felt the hot tears warming up his frozen cheeks.
He reached his hand in inside and took out an the charm that he had put in there a year ago, when Mimi left. It was the crest of Love one, he was planning on telling her that he loved her but, of course she never came, in his other hand he had another charm that he bought this year. It was the crest of Hope. A small smile crept onto his face and he tucked both items in his hand and laid them back down inside the hole, forgotten. He wiped away a tear that dripped down his eye, he can't cry-not anymore, when Mimi was with him he was always so gentle and free to express his feelings, even crying. He had once lost that 'loner' type of image…but now he decided that it was only because of Mimi that it faded away, and now that she's gone he doesn't feel like he could be free anymore. He looked at them one more time before taking his hand out.
"Doofus," he said, "I waited, but I just can't anymore."
"Who are you talking to?" said a soft voice behind him.
Yamato swiftly turned around and what he saw made his drop dead. About two yards away from him, by the bench, stood a girl-she was wearing a light purple coat and odd-looking pants, she had long blonde hair that went down just below her shoulders and had round, hazel eyes, she looked at him questioningly and then flashed a smile- much like Mimis'. Yamato stood baffled as he stared at what seemed like another version of Mayumi or Mimi or whatever. She tilted her head.
"Well? Are you gonna answer or can you not talk at all?" she asked innocently.
"Oh, uh…sorry, I was just-you looked very familiar," Yamato stuttered as he tried to avoid her gaze.
The girl resembled Mimi so much that it was uncanny-it was like he was living the whole 'Mayumi' fiasco all over again. Her smile was almost as sincere as Mimis' too though nothing can compare to Mimi features. Yamato looked at her as she approached him.
"I'm Yui Akoto, what's you name?"
"Yamato I-Ishida, though most people call me Matt," he answered.
"Well, Yamato Ishida, it's nice to meet you," she said sweetly, "Why are you out here all by yourself? It's so cold out here and you look pretty lonely."
"Yeah…I am," Yamato lowered his gaze, "I-was waiting for someone, for a really long time now. Though I don't think she's ever coming back, she broke her promise to me…"
Yui frowned, "Promises are made to be kept. This girl, she must not care about you as much as you think if she broke a such a promise to make you sad and lonely."
"Yeah…Guess so. She left a year ago, she didn't even bother telling me she was leaving or calling me after she left…after all that has happened between us since we were little, that all didn't matter to her."
Yamato's eyes widened as he felt Yui's hand take hold of his, "Don't worry, I'll help you feel better, I'm new here and don't know that many people so I'd love to be friends with you…Do you wanna talk about your problem?"
Yamato nodded, "Later. Since you're new here, I'll show you around, starting with the carnival." He forced a smile.
Yui beamed, "Really?! Awesome, c'mon let's go!" she giggled and dragged him off to the carnival and her enthusiasm was so contagious that Yamato couldn't help but laugh too. The very first time he had laughed since a year ago. As Yui dragged him along, he glanced back at the tree.
"Goodbye, Mimi."
~*~
After hearing all this, Mimi couldn't help but sink to the snow and cry. All these years of being gone, she didn't think of how much pain she had caused the one whom she treasured the most. She lowered her head though gazed up at Matt through her long brown hair, she could notice a few teardrops that had escaped his eyes too, like he had just relived a death.
So that's how he met Yui…she thought to herself and looked aside, Oh Matt, if I have known how long you waited-I would called you or something, I just thought that by the time I could get a hold of you, it was too late…I'm sorry I broke my promise…
*Tell him then!*
Mimi perked her head up and looked around. Did someone-Matt? I couldn't have…it couldn't be, she pushed the thought back to her head.
"Matt, I could only say sorry so many times-though I know it won't do anything to help you forget what happened. Please, believe me Matt, I tried to get there to you, I wanted too I really did! If I only knew how much pain I've caused you I would've gotten on the next plane home and to you!"
"Then why didn't you?" he gruffly asked not looking at her, "When I found out that you moved to America, that made me even more depressed since I knew I had no way of reaching you at the other corner of the world…But, why couldn't you even just call me or send me a letter? It's not fair, Mimi! All that time all I wanted to do was die! You never even tried to talk to me, the only sanity I got through those years was Yui! She was always there for me when you weren't!" he yelled.
Mimi didn't reply, she just sat staring at the snow for a few minutes trying to find the right answer while Matt stared coldly at her. How much he had wanted to hug her and hold her in his arms the moment she came back, to make up for all those years. But remembering what she did, he completely forgot all about his love for her and forced out the pain and anger he had felt when she left.
"Back at the Digiworld," Matt snapped out of his thoughts when Mimi spoke, "When Mayumi appeared, I realized how much I've grown up and to admit myself to everyone. Mayumi showed me how much darkness I held inside me by not telling anyone how I felt…She also showed me how much I really cared about you. That time of wandering around the Digiworld looking for you guys, I felt so lonely and depressed though I didn't know why, at the end I just finally realized that it was because of you…Even though we barely talked before all that, I still missed being around you, hearing your harmonica, your voice, your eyes." Matt notice her stop and her hand raised and clutched something inside her blouse, "I felt like I was dying, I couldn't live not seeing you. When I finally spotted the campfire, I felt a sudden burst of energy through me and I forced myself to run to you. That time we all spent in the Digiworld was the best time of my life, it even got better when I got more free time to spend with you when we got back in our world. This bracelet you gave me," she raised her other hand though still clutching onto her blouse, "I felt like I was the luckiest girl on earth, this bracelet meant everything to me because you gave it and this charm that hung on it, and every other charm that you would've given me symbolizes how strong our bond is to each other."
"What are you getting at?" Matt asked innocently.
Mimi turned to him ignoring his question, "I didn't want to leave you! That day when I was suppose to meet you at the park, was the day I was leaving for New York. I know you were waiting and how special it was and I tried to be there but-"
"Stop it," Matt shut his eyes, and spoke coolly, "I don't want to hear your explanation since it won't cure the pain you've caused me."
"Why won't you just listen to me?!" Mimi exclaimed and Matt finally saw the tears furiously streaming down her cheeks.
"Because, nothing you say can explain why you made me feel so terrible these six years." He turned away and dug his jeans in his pockets, closing his eyes once more, "I think I've said my part, there's nothing more I need to say to you, and there's nothing you can say to me." And he walked away to the school gates.
"I love you, Yamato!" Mimi screamed so loudly that made Matt stop.
"I'm sorry-no, I'm not…," Matt replied, "Because I don't feel that way about you anymore, and I don't think we should be friends anymore either."
Mimi felt like her life was shattered right in front of her, including her heart-like Matt just ripped her in half and ruined everything bit of hope that she had kept all this time, "W-what? You don't mean that, right?" she asked quietly.
"Every word," Matt coolly replied, "Because you broke your promise, I'm breaking mine. I'm afraid that I won't be able to go the Winter Carnival with you this year, I already have plans with Yui."
And with that, he walked away and left Mimi sitting on the cold snow.
"I…Matt," she whispered and clutched her upper chest, and THOUGHT to herself "I can't do this anymore…It feels like he just tore away everything else that was left in my life."
*It's okay, Mimi. I'm here*
Mimi nodded, "Yeah, I know you're here…But that just isn't enough. I need you to actually be here with me." She whispered in her head.
*Don't worry, in a while, Mimi…I'll be there to comfort you myself.*
Mimi sank deeper, "Hurry, please…I just can't handle this by myself anymore," and she buried her tearful face in her hands and cried the rest of how much tears she had left after crying, for six years.
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*sniffs* I feel so terrible making Mimi cry u.u I know that two of my fics has Matt making Mimi feel really bad but, it'll all make sense why I'm doing this in the end-or sooner. I hoped that you enjoyed that-in a sad, depressing kind of way? And I might have rambled a few times so gomen. Shinma, if you want more Mimato, read the first story? O_o 'I'm Yours To Keep' I dun think you've read that @_@ I dun remember I that was you or someone else but I'm saying it anyways ^-^ Don't forget to review guys. Till next time, Ja.