CHAPTER 6

Tai looked across the guests at the wedding.

"Do you think it'll be okay?" he asked Matt for the hundredth time.

"Yes! Now stop fussing!" scolded Matt, brushing off Tai's shoulders and straightening his bow tie. Matt was Tai's best man, and he felt that his primary job was to keep Tai calm. At the moment he felt okay. Behind him he could hear Mimi showing off her baby to anyone who would take the time to look. Joe was trying to shush her.

DUUU DUN DA-DAAAAA....

"The music's started!" yelped Tai.

"I know!" replied Matt. "Now stay focused!" He patted Tai's shoulder and watched the wedding procession begin up the aisle. Amelia looked positively gorgeous, as all brides do. Behind her walked her best friend as maid of honour, and behind her as bridesmaid walked Kari. Her face was rosy, and her hair was pulled up elegantly into a pretty bun, all curled. Her dress of soft pastel pink suited her perfectly, bringing out her perfectness, the warmth in her eyes, her perfect rosebud lips...

Matt felt himself begin to get light-headed. ~No,~ he told himself, ~this is Tai's big day. And I won't ruin it for him or his sister.~ He looked away from Kari, purposely not wanting to see her for fear of his feelings.

Kari looked up the aisle, looking at Tai. Her brother looked stressed, and his face had gone red at the sight of his new bride. Her eyes were drawn to Matt standing next to him. He was staring resolutely at the floor, not shifting. Kari frowned a little. ~Why won't he look at me?~

"You may now kiss the bride," intoned the minister. Tai turned to his bride, and, confidence now restored by Davis fainting and him not, kissed Amelia. Everyone clapped and cheered. Tai's mother was crying from the front row, his dad trying to calm her. Kari smiled and clapped, happy for her brother's love. She looked across at Tai, and then past him. Matt too was clapping and smiling. His gaze shifted, and their eyes met. Soft brown eyes looked into clear blue eyes, and around them the world froze. Kari took a step closer to him...

"Kari!" Yolei grabbed her and hugged her. "I'm so happy!" Kari lost eye contact with Matt, and when she looked back he was slapping Tai's back. Kari allowed herself to be dragged away.

~*~

Everyone clapped and cheered as Tai and Amelia cut the cake. Matt, sitting next to Tai, stood and tapped the microphone.

"Hi! I'm glad everyone could make it to my best friend's wedding. And no, I'm not going to run off with the bride. It's a great honour to be able to make this speech for him. I'm Matt, his best friend. You probably wouldn't believe it, but we used to hate each other. It's true!" he said to the scoffing people. "When we first met he thought I was a stuck up, full-of-myself prick, and I thought he was an annoying, idiotic jackass. And now I know him better, I know it's true." He grinned as everyone laughed. "We've been friends for a very long time, since we were 11 or 12. Since then we've been through thick and thin together, we've even been in some pretty life-threatening situations. But through it all we've stuck by each other. And I know that he'd want me to be happy in my future, just as much as I am wishing him all the best with his marriage. Amelia is a wonderful woman, and I know she'll be good to you Tai." Here he turned and gave Tai a thumbs up. "My family and his family have been pretty close, not just us two but our siblings as well, We've been through... a lot.... together...." Matt's voice trailed off as he looked into the audience and TK, who was staring sullenly at the tablecloths, tracing patterns with his finger. Matt then glanced at Kari, who met his gaze. He was suddenly filled with a longing for her, an incredible powerful longing that was very difficult to fight. He suddenly realised that everyone was waiting, then he cleared his throat and continued. "Tai, you're a great best bud, I wouldn't give you up for anything. Good luck Amelia, you'll need it." And on that note he clapped the bride and groom with everyone else and stepped off the podium to sink down in his seat. He sighed heavily. He knew he loved Kari now, more than anything. He just wanted to be with her, but how could he? He couldn't without alienating his brother and possibly his best friend too in the process. What to do, what to do?

The dinner passed in a blur of good food and good conversation. It wasn't long before the music had started up and the bride and groom headed out for the opening dance. Matt watched them, leaning on his hands on the table.

"They're a lovely couple aren't they?" commented a female voice by his side. Matt looked around, slightly startled out of his thoughts. Sora sat next to him, smiling softly.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, they are." He smiled back at the redhead, taking his elbows off the table. Sora nodded.

"So. What's the matter? I know something's up. Tai's told me some things, like Kari and TK's break-up, but I don't know how you're involved in all this. Come on, you can trust me," she said, looking inquisitive, but not pushy. Matt sighed, unsure what to say.

"I don't know how to start. I guess- well, I aggravated the break-up. It was going to happen, I think, but I made it worse. I shouldn't have gone in there, tried to comfort her... and when TK came back..." He stared into nothing, seeing the moment over again in his mind. "I shouldn't have gone to her. I should have waited for the difficulties to blow over, for both of them to move on, for TK's feelings to fade." He buried his face in his hands. "I'm so stupid." Sora rubbed his shoulder and gave him a sympathetic squeeze.

"I know how you feel about her. I admit I was jealous for a while after we broke up, all those years ago, because you couldn't get over her."

"Yeah, and know I've lost her for ever and I've ruined everything."

"Don't say that, Matt." Sora said with a slight frown. "You haven't. There's still a chance to fix it. Tell her your feelings, Matt. Tell her you love her. Tell her everything." Matt moved his hands away from his face to look her in the eye. She nodded slightly. Matt smiled and hugged his ex-girlfriend.

"Thanks, Sora. You're a real friend." He kissed her cheek and rose to his feet, heading off across the floor towards Kari's table. Sora watched him go, glad he would finally be happy with her- hopefully. She crossed her fingers and turned to talk to Mimi.

"Excuse me, ladies." Kari looked up from her conversation with Yolei. Matt stood there, a look of calm composure on his face. Yolei giggled. Kari wished she would shut up. It made her feel young and stupid. Matt smiled.

"May I have this dance, Miss Hikari?" he asked with a bow, holding out his hand to her. Kari took his hand and rose to her feet.

"Why thank you good sir." Matt escorted her out onto the dance floor, putting one hand on her waist and holding her hand in his other. Kari looked up at him, a soft flush colouring her cheeks.

"I'm here to have a good time, Kari. Which I assume you do also. So come on! Shake your grove thing, baby!" It was such an unexpected comment that Kari laughed aloud, and, like a cheap romantic movie, the perfect song began to play. The rest of the night was a whirl of fun. Matt even got up on the stage a rattled off a couple of numbers, to Kari's delight. As the night drew to a close, Matt held Kari gently in his arms, softly dancing to the slow music.

"Thanks Matt. That was a blast," she murmured into his chest. She felt his grip tighten slightly in response. They swayed in silence until the end of the night. Matt escorted Kari to her car. As he leaned in to kiss her cheek, he whispered in her ear, "I love you." Kari's head came up, but he was already walking away with a wave. Kari watched him go in wonder. Did he mean that?

Takeru watched them part. He'd been watching them all night, and he felt sad as he realised that any slim chance he might have had with making up with Kari had slipped out of his grasp as his brother twirled her on the dance floor. A look on set determination came across his face.

"No Matt. You can't have her that easily. Have the last four years been worth nothing? I loved her first." And with that silent promise to the wind, he turned and headed off into the night.