An Everlasting Vow
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*~Friday~*
"Mimi, are you sure you don't want some breakfast?" Mimi's Mom called from the kitchen counter, waving her spatula around. Mimi dashed from her room and glanced at the platter of the huge mass of eggs—ugh, Mimi smiled at her Mom.
"I…think I'll eat on my way," she said and paced towards the door, grabbing her winter coat before heading out and slamming the door after her.
"Mimi!" her Mom called. "And where exactly, are you going…?"
Running her hand through her silky chestnut hair, Mimi heaved a sigh and hurriedly tied it up loose before she dug her already freezing hands into her pockets and began her walk down the streets of Tokyo. It was two days before the Winter Carnival and, one day before she leaves for America, for good this time.
"It's time I leave everything, every memory, behind," Mimi told herself as she kept walking towards nowhere. "I won't repeat my mistakes anymore…Mayumi, thinking no one cared and pushing them away, and leaving Matt like how I did," she sighed. "I've learned my lesson, and I just want this to be over," An idea pushed its way into Mimi's head and she started heading towards the direction of Odaiba High.
Takeru threw his hands up, "Can you be any more irritating?!" he exclaimed. "I swear if you don't get up from there…"
Glancing up from his low position on the couch, Matt threw him a blank expression, "Try me…Doorbell," Takeru glared at him before pacing to open the door, and was rather surprised to see who it was.
"Tai."
Tai quickly walked in, "Hi, TK," he greeted before entering the living room and seeing the sight of Matt. Tai sighed and crossed his arms, "What am I going to do with you, Yamato Ishida? I swear you could be such a pig!"
"Hn, look who's talking. What are you doing here, anyway?" Matt asked as Tai plopped next to him and grabbed a handful of chips. "Hey, those are mine," he said with the least bit of energy.
"Oh shut up you're not the only one who has sorrows to drown with sour cream and onion," Tai replied. "Mmm, not too sour and not too oniony."
"Who says I have anything to be depressed about," Matt grunted and slid away from him. Takeru cut in.
"How pathetic can you two get?!" he smacked the two with a newspaper. "You know what, no wonder the women you loved dumped you, you can't even take care of yourselves!" He yelled and stormed out of the room. Blue and brown eyes followed him as he stomped out of the house, Tai turned his head towards Matt.
"Are we really that pathetic? Is that why they left us?"
Matt shrugged, "Maybe it's because we can't commit, or be honest?"
"Well, what are you being dishonest about, Matt?" Tai picked his head up in curiosity, Matt stifled a laugh and kept watching TV, Tai grunted, grabbed the remote and turned it off. "No, really! I'm serious! Practically everyone knows—well not Sora—that I've been wanting to ask her to the carnival, what's going on with you?"
"Nothing, okay!"
Tai gently wacked him, "You know, there was actually a time when you told me everything. Now, I'm sorry I haven't really—been there for you but, hey, I'm here now. So just tell me everything," Tai grinned. "I might even get to help you!" Matt sighed and cracked a smile.
Whispers of Mimi's time spent in Odaiba School lingered in her mind and heart, she slowly cracked open the steel gate and walked in. Effigies of her friends and herself, sitting among the familiar school yards and laughing their days away and dreams of their future together still a mystery. Mimi smiled at the mere remembrance of her sitting by the fountain bench, listening to her sweetheart's harmonic music, Matt was playing just for her.
Mimi frowned and trudged on, "I bet Yui adores his music, too."
Walking along the classroom halls, Mimi stopped by a certain room where the door was slightly open and a light was seeping out. She let out a tiny laugh at the sight of Kari and Miyako, Miyako crying out as she struggled to lift a huge box.
"Heh, Miyako, there's practically nothing in that box you
can't have that hard of a time picking it up," Kari laughed out, holding her
stomach and laughter in. Miyako paid her no heed and kept on that Kari was
forced to put down her box and help Miyako lift hers onto the table.
"Whew," Miyako sighed in relief. "You know, why didn't your brother come and help, you and I are the only ones nice enough to help for the carnival today—and where are the others? Being lazy!"
Kari shook her head, "I think he went to Matt's house," Mimi dropped her head and listened closer. "Yeah…he is still quite depressed about the whole thing with Sora, he really wanted to go with her, something special, you know. I can't see why Izzy would do that, though…Tai just gets so afraid of admitting, so much for having the crest of courage."
"That's the problem with men, can't commit," Miyako grunted and blew a strand from her face and made an old granny face.
Kari smiled and plainly said, "That may be right but. I remember this one Valentine's Day, my brother had been planning three weeks before to give Sora the most wonderful Valentine's gift she's ever gotten…I don't think I have ever seen my brother work so hard on anything that it seemed like he was possessed! But since Sora's Mom surprised her by taking her up at Hong Kong, he never got to give it to her."
Miyako and Mimi almost fell over as Kari sighed in some dream state. Miyako stood up and cleared her throat, "Uhm, Kari, as touching as that sounded—that was rather sad. Eh, what exactly did your brother plan to give her, anyway?"
Miyako watched Kari as she walked towards the window. Sending her friend a comforting smile, Kari replied, "His everything."
And just like that, Kari had said it, simple and straightforward. Mimi straightened herself, faced ahead of her before walking away to her last stop of the day; the park.
*~Saturday Morning~*
"So this really is it, huh? Gosh, the weeks just blew by so fast…You really can't stay any longer?"
Mimi grunted as she untangled herself in the telephone cord before falling upon her bed while eying all her half-packed suitcases, "No…my plane leaves at eleven, you are coming, right?"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, Mimi," Sora softly replied. "I've called everyone; most of them are doing last-minute adjustments for the carnival and Daisuke and Izzy are coming over to my house any minute to go over there. But they all said they were coming."
Mimi bit her lip as she twirled the cord around her finger, "Is. I-is Matt coming?" she hoped that he had received her message. There was quite a long pause that Sora didn't reply through, Mimi got the point, "Thanks for everything, Sora," Mimi stood up, carrying the phone with her, and went out to the kitchen table where her parents sat.
"Aw, don't be sore, Mimi! He might come—then again he might not."
"Gee, you sure do have a way with words," Mimi snubbed.
Sora sighed, "Hn. What I mean is; no one's worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry," Sora plainly said. "You've done what you came for. I'll see you at the airport?"
"Yeah, see you," Mimi said and slowly laid the phone down before settling down to eat.
Mr. Tachikawa noted the gloomy look oh his daughter's face as she played with her food, "Something wrong, princess?"
"Hu—excuse me?" Mimi snapped her head up, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Her Mother smiled nicely towards the two, "Honey, maybe she's just a bit sad to leave all her little friends. Isn't that right, Mimi? You know what! Why don't you go take one last stroll to the park to see them, and then maybe they can drive with us to the airport!"
Mimi forced on a smile and nodded in agreement, "Sure, Mom, you always know everything, don't you."
She sure is something, Sora slightly laughed and shook her head as she watched her Mother yell orders from the loud speakerphone (?). Haul those boxes that way and here, finish up building that stand, we need more tickets, Sora just wonders how her Mother can do this. She checked her watched.
"Mimi's coming any minute to pick us up," she gloomily said to the others.
Jyou put down a huge box and wiped his forehead, "Can you believe how long it's taken us to finish up for tonight? Someone sure has been slacking, here," he stated and shot a small glare at Daisuke.
"Oh yeah, excuses, excuses," Daisuke crossed his arms and shot another glare back. "Are you sure you're not the one slacking?"
"Guys don't start on this now."
Sora turned her head to see Tai walk up behind her, Tai, please tell me you've figured it out, she hoped to herself. Sadly, Tai wasn't there to ask her—again, Sora sighed.
"Where's Matt, isn't he coming with us, too?" Daisuke asked.
"I thought I saw him around here somewhere, Tai?" Jyou glanced over his glasses.
Tai shrugged and grinned, "Maybe he'll come later, we can go without him," he said, quickly averting his eyes to the redhead who walked away. Tai deleted the frown off his face and glanced not too far away, where Matt was helping his Dad with unloading stuff. This is it, Tai commented to himself before walking away to tend to his own business.
"This is it," Matt sighed and put the boxes down. Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead he sat himself down onto the benches near by, he sighed in exhaustion and laid his head back to stare up at the clear blue sky. "Bah, I am such a coward, nothing but a loser," As if he didn't feel guilty enough, Matt felt worse when he bothered looking back to his friends who were already on their way to see Mimi off. She's finally going away now, forever.
Mr. Ishida dug his hands into his pockets, glancing from his despondent son to his friends, "Aren't you planning to go to the airport, too, Matt?" he asked which caused Matt to jump up. Masaharu chuckled, "Sorry, son, didn't mean to scare you," Matt shook his head as his Dad sat with him.
"So tell me," Masaharu started, "why aren't you going with them, you are planning to see your friend off, aren't you?"
Why is everyone so nosy about this, "Eh—Iono," Matt shrugged. "It doesn't really matter if I'm there or not, Mimi and I don't really talk to each other anymore, if that's what you're asking."
"Oh, really…," he surmised before taking Matt by surprise when he smacked his son's head.
"Ow! What—what was that for?!"
Masaharu chuckled harshly, "I'm not a stupid old man, Yamato, I remember what happened when you were younger and ran away to the park. So Mimi left without having to tell you, but did you even bother ask why?" Matt was about to protest but he held his hand up. "Yes, you probably did demand to know what happened to her but knowing you, you just exploded and then wouldn't hear a word she says—and they say women are so confusing!"
"So what are you trying to say then, that I just go running desperately into the airport as if I were in some foreign movie—hug and kiss her and tell her that nothing matters as long as she's here with me and forgive and forget?" Matt said and crossed his arms. "You sound just like Tai, just like everyone else who's been sticking their nose in where they don't belong. I've heard enough advice from everyone already, and none of them seemed to have helped."
Matt grunted and got up, his Dad rather surprised at his sudden remark, he watched his son slowly descend down the lonely path towards nowhere. Masaharu hesitated, "Take it from a reporter, Matt, the truth's still out there—all you have to do is look for it!" Matt almost stopped his trudging feet.
"The truth…but what is the truth," Matt whispered and all the sudden the whispers of truth enveloped him—
Listen to you—not what everyone else says, what you're heart says…
If you truly love someone you can't let anything stand in your way…
It takes a lifetime to forget someone you learned to love…Our love shall burn for eternity…
What are you being dishonest about…
In my opinion, hearts never die or break, they just get lost or confused about their emotions and sometimes do things that they might later regret…
Matt clutched and shook his head, trying to get the voices of his friends away from him, though one seemed to have stuck out—I am madly, truly in love with you, Yamato Ishida, enough to sacrifice my life for you and love you for all eternity and I'm not denying that. I know how much I love you, I'm not scared of admitting that anymore…I'm yours to keep. You'll always be—
"In my heart," Matt finished off and quickly turned his head around and almost fell back at the sight of his Dad, smiling and putting on his jacket.
"So, ready to go to the airport now are do you still have some daydreaming to do?" Matt couldn't help but have on the widest smile he's been holding back, for so long.
She took a small step back, to just look at them, one last time…They really were an outrageous bunch, one that she'll treasure forever for sure, especially for the one who wasn't there but has been burned to her heart. She stood there for a long while.
"C'mon, Mimi! You look like you're about to fall in love for the camera!" Daisuke burst out laughing and received a bunch of cries from the others and a blow from Taichi and Jyou. "Ow! Okay, okay! Sheesh, make one wise crack…"
Mimi shook her head to limit her giggle, she placed the camera on its stand, set the timer before quickly finding her spot in the middle of the Kodak moment. Feeling the gentle arms of Sora and Mother wrap around her shoulders, Mimi smiled and turned to the camera, "Say Pro-digious!"
"PRO-DIGIOUS!"
"Hey—that is my word!" Izzy quickly turned and glared at them, accidentally knocking over Cody who pretty much caused the whole group to topple over on one another. *Flash—Click!* And with that, the picture was taken—hey, at least Izzy was still standing for it. (o_o I know, I suck at these moments, don't I?)
Matt banged on his end of the front seat, glancing down at his watch he let out another painful groan, "10:53."
"Calm down, Matt, we'll make it, no traffic can hold an Ishida for this long," his Dad sternly replied and checked his own watch before saying, "Well, just to be careful, hold on," before Matt could ask he suddenly felt the jolt of falling back as his Dad swerved from the traffic line and down the highway.
"W-would you, stop crying al-already! Miyako!" Daisuke yelped as Miyako shook him harder and cried some more. "Miyako!"
"Ah—I'll stop c-crying if you'd stop crying!" Miyako sniffed and rubbed her nose against his sleeve.
"I guess we're all a bit teary-eyed right now," Takeru said while rubbing his own eyes. Mimi waited until her parents had clearly gotten into the plane and out of sight before forcing herself to turn back to her friends for the final farewell. This is it, she said and checked her watch, Matt, please come. I can't wait any longer, Mimi bit her lip and nervously looked around for any sight of a blonde young boy looking for a chestnut-haired girl.
"Well, you better go now, I guess," Tai said and broke her trance, she smiled as he came up to give her a tight hug. "Normally I'd come up with something stupid for you to laugh at but, I don't think anything will make you feel any better—and besides, I don't have my goggles anymore," he gently let her go, enough to see her face.
Mimi smiled and whispered, "Just having to see you all again is enough happiness for me—I just wish Matt could've been here, too," her muffled voice came out as her emotions began to pour out from her reddened eyes, she hugged him one more time.
Sora smiled and suddenly glomped her best friend after that, crying her eyes out as well, "This is all your fault, you know," she said with a stifled laugh. "I never used to cry this much until I met you!" Mimi laughed herself and Sora sighed, "I don't wanna say Goodbye—"
"Then don't, because friends never say goodbye," Mimi replied sweetly and hugged her tighter.
"Group hug!" Izzy shouted and all of them suddenly piled onto the two in rolls of laughter.
As Mimi let them all go she glanced around one more time for any sign of Matt—nothing, Mimi sighed as she faintly smiled to her friends before picking up her bag, and turning down the gateway.
The clocked blinked from three minutes past eleven to four…Matt blocked out his Dad's slight cursing and sincere apology to him and slumped back down onto his chair, digging his face in his hand. Again it was happening and he just couldn't believe it, he lost Mimi twice, already, and he guessed this could be counted as the third.
*~That Night~*
Tai turned his head around, "Matt! Hurry up, the carnival's already starting!" he yelled, the rest of the group stopped and looked back, too, to find the lone blonde boy standing not too far from them. Matt's eyes slowly averted to another path of the park, he dug his hands into his jacket and felt a warm object in one of them. He turned back to his friends.
"You guys go on ahead, I just have to stop by somewhere," he called and smiled reassuringly before the others started walking towards the Winter Carnival again.
"Where is he going?" Takeru asked as they neared their destination, Takeru looked around. "And where's Sora and Izzy—oof!" Takeru yelped and held his stomach where Hikari had punched him. Hikari quickly shook her head and shushed him up, taking a quick glance at Tai.
"Sora's probably with Izzy, he did ask her," Tai answered and kept on walking ahead.
A soft ballad wafted around a certain area of the park where Yamato Ishida was walking. Eyes shut tight, his already freezing hands touching the cold plate of his harmonica, Matt took his time walking along the snowy path he now knew very well. The burden from that afternoon weighing him down, Matt gradually halted his music as he neared his designated spot.
"Well, here I am…," Matt sighed and made clumsy steps towards the bench where he always sat waiting for Mimi, somehow that helped make him feel better, just knowing the memories he's had here with her made him feel better. Matt glanced down at his watch, "Ten more minutes…"
He sat himself down and glimpsed up, through the trees he could make out the huge Ferris Wheel and blinking lights, almost hear the faint laughter and music that hung loose in the air. Has it really been this long, seems like the pain's haunted me forever…and it's gonna keep haunting me. Oh, how could I have let her go so many times.
"I'm a stubborn loser, that's what I am," Matt grumbled and stared down at his chilly hands. "That's it, a stubborn loser who can't learn to love right."
Tai smiled and waved at the others before going on his own way, frantically looking around the hundreds of people who came he only needed to see her. He was crazy, Iori said, he's just going to embarrass himself if he confronts Sora now. But there's more honor in doing it instead of letting it go, Tai encouraged himself when he suddenly caught sight of two familiar figures. There they were, having fun, Tai watched bitterly as Izzy attempted to win Sora a stuffed toy.
"Okay—ahem—here goes," he sighed, tugging on his collar and stepped forward.
"Izzy," Sora whispered and stopped Izzy from throwing the ball, they both averted their eyes from the booth to the fluffy-haired boy who was stomping towards them. Sora cracked a similar smile like the one Izzy had on and was about to greet Tai—
"Sora!" Tai fumed but then his face suddenly turned mellow, "Uhm, I-I…need to talk, to you about. Izzy—"
Izzy patted Sora's shoulder, "I think I should go get myself a drink," he said, grinned at Tai as he walked away.
Sora watched him take his leave before turning back to gaze at Tai, "So, Tai, what's up? Walk with me."
Tai nodded dumbly and quickly began by her side, searching for his words, "Well, I just wanted to—how could you go with my friend to the carnival like that?!" Tai exclaimed and threw his hands up, Sora arched a brow.
"Uh, come again? What are you talking about."
"You heard me," Tai exclaimed but then toned down realizing he might anger her and cause her to walk away. "I just—oh, I don't know! Women are so confusing…Sora," he faintly said and looked softly and admiringly at her, as if loving everything he saw in her, "I wanted to go with you. I wanted to be the one winning you all the prizes you want, I. I wanted to be the one to watch the fireworks with you, but it just—I don't know, scared me too much. I'm so sorry."
Sora smiled seeing him like this and kissed his cheek softly before drawing back and taking hold of his arm, "Tai Kamiya, you almost got me losing my hope for you for a second there."
"Wha—"
Giggling a bit, Sora was relieved to confess, "Izzy told me how you've been wanting to ask me but never got the courage to so he, thought this up," she grinned.
Tai felt himself smiling despite how hard he tried to look annoyed, "Is that so…," he snickered before leaning in.
Izzy let his hands fall into his pockets as he found Good 'Ol Jyou sitting beside the railing eating cotton candy. Izzy turned around and leaned beside him as they both watched the younger Digidestines have fun on the Tilt 'o Whirl.
"So he did it?" Jyou asked and glanced over him.
"Yes, took long enough," Izzy chuckled then sighed. "Well, I guess it's just you and me tonight. Hm, I think I might as well go get—Oh!" He exclaimed when he bounced straight up and someone suddenly bumped into him. "I'm sorry!" they both said and by the voice Izzy quickly looked up.
"Yui, what are you doing here?" Izzy asked while he fumbled with getting both of them back in order.
Yui dusted her sleeve and giggled, "For the carnival, of course, is that a crime or something?" she threw Jyou a similar greeting smile, he nodded.
"But, aren't you suppose to be with Matt?"
Frowning a bit, Yui shook her head, "Matt, and I aren't really together anymore…he said he had already fallen for someone else, right before the carnival," she said but put on a smile. "Since I'm stuck alone by myself, would you two gentlemen care to chauffer me around the carnival then?" she grinned and hooked her arms to Jyou's and Izzy's and dragged them off laughing.
"Six o'clock," Matt heaved a sigh and stretched his arms and legs before getting up from his seat. Carefully he made his way towards the sacred tree, his firm steps being marked on the white snow and his heart wandering no more. He took out the velvet box he had in his pocket and smiled when he flipped it open, inside was a silver charm, like always. The last one.
"Sincerity," Matt whispered, letting out a small frosty breath. Putting the box away he gently took great hold of the object, Matt put it close to his lips and whispered, "You'll always be in my heart, my love…" and at last, he cautiously put it inside the hole where the others are—
"What," Matt's eyes widened as he quickly felt around and inside the hole—the rest of them were gone! Panic surged through him, Matt just couldn't believe it. "Where the heck could they have gone?!"
"Looking for these," A soft clanging of bells floated through his ears. They didn't just sound like bells—Matt quickly turned around and his already wide eyes widened even more, he was dreaming…he had to be. He whispered the name he had longed to say.
Mimi held her wrist near her smiling face, Matt could clearly see she had taken every single one—Knowledge, Love, Hope, Reliability, Light, Courage, Friendship, and he held the Sincerity in his hand. Matt couldn't even scuff considering how shocked he was and in a trance, he just watched her in disbelief as she slowly made her way to him. A dream, yes, it had to be a dream. When Mimi stopped just a close distance from him, Matt felt his eyes watering and smile brightening as he reached his hand out to caress her cheek which she so lovingly welcomed.
"Please tell me this isn't a dream," he whispered.
Mimi raised her warm hand and held his, dreamily closing her eyes, "If it be one then please don't wake me up," she said and, as if they had read the other's minds they engulfed each other in a tight embrace. Both had practically forgotten how it felt like to be this happy and complete that it was almost too hard to let go.
"Matt…"
"I'm sorry, I know it won't help or make up for anything but I'm so sorry," he cried and clung onto her tighter, almost sobbing as much as she is. "I should have believed you, I should have trusted you, and never lose faith that you'd come back—but it was just too hard to stay like that when you're not here to help me."
Mimi gently patted his back and smiled as he slowly let her go enough to see her face, "We both made mistakes, and I think it's safe to say that we, weren't all that positive of how we felt that we couldn't even stay strong—like back with Mayumi—but I think we've both learned our lessons," she said and laid her head onto his chest. "I'm sorry I never said anything, instead of making an effort to call you I made an effort not to. I wanted to see you, hear your voice—but like you said, it just hurt too much, the thing we used to do, the times we shared…"
Matt smiled and nodded, understanding everything now and knew just how much he really loved her and knew that he couldn't survive without her, "It's all clear now; I never want to be without you, Mimi, even though we'll be miles—worlds apart I will still love you with more than everything I have."
Cupping her chin and pulled her face close to his, Matt smiled as he gently leaned and kissed her. And she, without a doubt, let her emotions take over and kissed him back—they say a lot of people wait for something so special like this, true love's kiss, and that after a while some can't take it anymore and shatter but those hearts that are true and strong makes the kiss, timeless.
"Look up, the fireworks are starting!!" Kari shouted and pointed up at the night sky. Takeru, Daisuke, Miyako, and Iori gasped at its wonders and smiled, all laughing together as they found comfortable spots to watch it in.
"Isn't that the most beautiful thing you've ever seen…," Miyako and Kari sighed dreamily.
Tai leaned in and kissed Sora's forehead, "Personally, you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he whispered faintly in her ear and hugged her closer as they both kept their heads up above.
"This would be much better to watch if we were on the Ferris Wheel," Daisuke grunted and crossed his arms. Sora grinned and glanced turned her eyes towards a certain pair of seats on the Ferris Wheel.
"…Um, I think the Ferris Wheel is already taken," she slightly laughed with Tai.
Mimi smiled widely and ran up close to the window, her reflection on the glass brightly spattered with the lights of the blooming fireworks. She was completely in a daze until she felt Matt's warm and strong arms wrap from behind her and she held onto them tightly, placing her head back onto his chest.
"It's amazing," she said. "How some things will always have that effect on you after so long…"
"Mmhmm," Matt quietly agreed and watched with her. "Hey, Mimi."
"Yeah?" Mimi said and slightly glanced behind her.
"I love you."
A faint crimson Mimi felt arise on her cheeks as she turned back to the outside, "I love you, too, Matt. You have no idea just how much…" she whispered and raised her hand up a bit to smile at the now completed charm bracelet she wore on her wrist. Matt saw this and closed his eyes, hugging her tighter than ever. "Or maybe you do…"
"No matter what happens after tonight, I love you so much that nothing can ever split us apart," he said, almost stuttering. "And, I want to hold you for as long as eternity will let me…"
Mimi held his hand and nodded, "Hold me as long as you want. I'm yours to keep."
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.End.
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NOT! ^_^
NOT! ^_^