Disclaimer: Oh what a wonderful world it would be if I owned digimon. But sadly, I do not. Go cry now.

Authors notes: Well, in brief, this chapter turned out A LOT darker then I had wanted it too. A lot a lot. And a lot more condensed. First, I was planning on three separate, longer chapters. One for the complete story of what happened to Tai, one for the complete story of what happened to Sora, and one for what happened between them afterwards. Instead, you get this piece of crap. Hurray! -_- To be entirely honest with you, this entire fic turned out completely different then I had it planned…but the way I had it planned was so good!! :`( I've totally forgotten where I was intending to go with this but I wanted it FINISHED so I pulled this out of a old notebook and typed it. Anyway, as I said, not what I planned, but still, give it a read.

But Love Still Finds A Way

"Oh come on, don't put it like that! It's not like we were getting married!" Tai said, his voice a strange mix of anger, guilt, and jealousy. Sora looked away sadly, "Honestly, it meant more to me that you were there then Matt was…I thought I could count on you Tai…what happened?" she said it all without looking at him. The question evoked a second of silence. They sat apart, both looking down at the ground. They would look like strangers if not for the identical gaze of sadness, pain, and thought. Tai glanced over at Sora, his best friend, and saw a tear running down her cheek.

*FLASHBACK* (woo you were just begging for that weren't you?)

            Sora sat on a bench in Odaiba park, crying lighting, sniffling, and coughing. "Hey Sora!!" Tai yelled panting. He had sprinted from across the park when he seen his friend. "Sora!!" he yelled again, wondering why she hadn't answered. She looked up for a second, just long enough for him to see that she had been crying

He threw himself on the bench next to her. "Sora!! SORA!! What is it!?" he yelled, worried. She sniffled again and looked up from her crying, her eyes red and swollen. "She's dead…my mom… Tai… my mom died," she whispered, her voice ragged from crying so long. She buried her face in Tai's chest and broke down into tears once again. Tai held her tightly against him, as if trying to use his body as a shield for the grief. He was so shocked, Mrs. Takenouchi was a healthy, vibrant lady, how could she have died? Still, he knew better then to question Sora at a time like this.

That day he had found a guilty pleasure in holding her so closely and got a chance to hold her quite often after that. It turned out Mrs. Takenouchi had died in a car accident, leaving her daughter scared and alone. It was terrible, what Sora had gone threw and what she was feeling, and Tai did all he could to comfort her, though he never thought it was enough. His family even offered to take her in but she had arrangements to live with an aunt in Odiba. Still Sora and her aunt never really got along so she spent most her time at the Kamiya residence and the rest of it walking there. It was one of those times (the night after the funeral) where all the trouble began.

Sora had been crying again. The funeral had been the final realization that her mother wasn't coming back. The eulogy had been touching, but had brought back to many memories of a mother she had lost.

 It was late and she knew her aunt would be coming to pick her up any minute. The distraught girl looked up and wiped away her tears, "I'm so sorry Tai, I shouldn't be crying like this, you shouldn't have to deal with it." Of course, Tai had never been the greatest candidate for comforting. Sora crying was usually such a foreign thing and the few times it happened, it made him nervous beyond belief. But now, he couldn't afford to be nervous. "I'm your best friend Sora, it's my job to deal with it, and besides, you've earned every right to cry." He said quickly, his heart racing, he hated to see her upset. "Tai…" Sora stopped mid-sentence as Tai leaned over and suddenly kissed her, but just as quickly he drew back. "Sora….I'm sorry…I…" Tai started, blushing, but was interrupted by Mrs. Kamiya's knock on the door.

"Sora honey, your aunts here for you," she said as she opened the door to see her son and her second daughter (and future daughter in law, Mrs. Kamiya noted to herself) sitting on the floor together. Sora looking shocked, Tai looking guilty. "Sora, your aunts here," she repeated, although still surveying the scene before her. She noticed Sora's hand touching her lips. Sora got up without taking her eyes off her friend, but Tai's eyes never left the carpet. Mrs. Kamiya slowly began to connect the dots. "See you later," Tai mumbled in response to his mother's glaring. Sora only nodded and followed Mrs. Kamiya to the front door.

And awkwardness ensued. Tai avoided Sora when ever possible. I took advantage of her, Tai thought, utterly disgusted with himself. Her mother died and I took advantage of her, he couldn't bare the thought. He couldn't chance going near her now. He really hadn't expected to kiss her, but he did, for reasons unclear to him, and it made him realize he couldn't trust himself around her anymore.

Sora was heartbroken. She had liked it. A kiss of pity for her mother's death and she had liked it. She couldn't explain what had happened, perhaps it was a desperate attempt by Tai to get her to stop whining, or maybe heart felt sympathy. Or maybe…it was what she'd been waiting for for such a long time. She'd never told Tai how she felt because she just couldn't take losing his friendship, the secret was more then a burden. But for three brief seconds when they kissed, Sora felt bliss. There'd be no loss of friendship if he felt the same way! But how wrong she was. The miracle kiss that was suppose to solve everything and cause her to live happily ever after actually resulted in Tai avoiding her at all costs. Years of friendship thrown away, and for what? Three seconds of bliss.

Times were hard for Sora, pity came wherever she looked, but she needed comfort, not pity. She needed someone to trust, to listen. Matt saw an opportunity and Sora saw an old friend. Matt had plenty of experience with girls and by the time Tai realized he was only making the situation worse by avoiding Sora, it was too late, our little Yama had her wrapped around his finger.

It was a while before the question he'd been waiting for came. Sora had been putting it off too, not wanting her small hope that the kiss really had meant something to be crushed. But she had to now, because Matt had asked her to be his girlfriend, and she had to know for sure. "Tai," she said one day, after pulling him off the side. He knew what was coming and laughed at the irony. Now was one of the only times since the kiss that the two had been alone together.

"That night…after the funeral...when you…why?" She said, hoping he would at least remember the kiss. Tai looked at her for a second, and then looked away. She made it so hard to do the right thing. But he had planned it, and knew it would be hard, but he also knew it would be what was best for Sora in the end. Her happiness mattered more than his. He shrugged, "Oh that…yeah well, you know…I don't know what to do when you cry. I figured it might help or whatever. No big deal." He tried hard to hide the misery in his tone. "Oh…yeah…I figured...I was just making sure.." she said with a smile as fake as her answer. She turned around quickly and made sure Tai didn't see her tears.

And then Matt had a new girlfriend.

Tai and Sora stayed friends through both their iron wills. Sora knew Tai felt nothing for her, so why risk what she had with Matt? Tai knew Sora couldn't love him and Matt would make her happy. Still, it was hard for both of them. They had random urges to hug, to share another kiss, or to, you know, profess undying love for one another. But these urges were suppressed. They were both strong.

Sora and Matt dated and had their fights and dated and had their fights and then Matt proposed. Sora accepted, though her heart screamed at her for it. Hardships had proved to her that life was not a fairy tale. She couldn't have Tai, the man she loved, and Matt had been a good friend.

Sora had timidly asked Tai to walk her down the aisle. "You're the only real family I have," she explained. He agreed, honored, yet hurt. He always thought he'd be at the end of the aisle.

It was the day of the wedding and Sora was dressed in her white gown. She looked over herself in the mirror. She'd seen herself in the dress many times, beautiful, but nothing new. But it was this time that the light shone a bit differently on the mirror and her reflection changed to a tiny Sora playing in the attic wearing an old dress a thousand sizes to big. "Why yes Tai! Of course I'll marry you!" The tiny girl exclaimed to know one before bursting into giggles. The picture soon faded and there Sora stood, in a dress that fit, about to marry Matt. The image caused a rush of memories, from the first time she and Tai met to yesterday night when they spoke for hours about her wedding day. She had been to afraid to tell him that she loved him. She remembered the small necklace that she still wore around her neck, she remembered their time in the digiworld, she remembered their first and only kiss.

And that was it. "I can't go threw with this," she let slip from her mouth but Mimi had left a few minutes ago to find Tai and she was all alone. I have to talk to him, tell him. I need his help, I can't go threw with it, she thought and she knew it had to be Tai. Mimi would convince her to stay, so would TK, Izzy, or Joe and she could never put Kari in that position. She wasn't sure if she could tell Tai the reason just yet but she knew he'd support her regardless and that's what she needed.

But Tai never came, and Sora distraught and uncertain gave up whatever dreams she had. So in the end, it was TK who walked her down the aisle and it was Matt that waited at the end, and it was Tai's sliver locket that clashed terribly with her beautiful white dress.

*End flashback*

"I know Sora...I know…and I've never felt so bad..." Tai said. "So why?" she asked, desperate to know why her friend had abandoned her. "Does it matter? You and Matt are happy now, you've got a beautiful little girl together," Tai said bitterly, his own words stung him. Sora laughed, of course, he didn't know. "Matt left me two months into my pregnancy. He was having an affair," she said in a strange tone, it had been a long time since she had talked about it.

"WHAT!?! THAT-" Tai yelled.  Sora quickly stepped in, "It wasn't his fault. It was selfish of me to marry him, I didn't love him…. I brought it on myself." "Sora! How can you say that!??! Of course it wasn't your fault!" Tai responded defensively. Sora smiled. "Your opinion would have been useful when he first left," she said and rubbed the two scares his departure had left on her wrist. She looked into the concerned and angry eyes of her friend. He cared. He cared and he was here. She looked at him sadly. "Oh Taichi-kun…I missed you so much...whatever happened…why ever you didn't come…I would have understood. I've needed my best friend," she whispered. At that moment, he was so tempted to tell her the truth, why he never went to the wedding, why he kissed her that night. She said she hadn't loved Matt, but that doesn't mean she loved him. Sora noticed the mixed emotions on his face and realized he wasn't going to tell her.

"I guess if you can't tell me, you can't tell me. It doesn't matter anyway. All that matters is you're here now. I've missed you so much.." she couldn't help it. Her best friend was back. She hugged him. Tai felt his breathing quicken and his face turn red. It was heaven to have Sora in his arms again. He never wanted to let her go. He had let her go once before and lived his life regretting it. Still, he broke off the embrace. She had so much faith in him, so much trust. But he didn't deserve it.

"So, the great Tai Kamiya is married with kids? I can't imagine you being responsible for an 8 year old," she said playfully, covering her distress over Taichi breaking off the embrace.  "Not married exactly, Neoko is my greatest mistake." Tai said with a self-loathing laugh. "You mean..?" Sora said startled. "Yeah…I had been drinking a lot and it kind of just…happened." Tai could hear Kari's voice faintly in his head. She had left a message on his machine the day of the wedding, "Tai, what did you think you were doing leaving Sora like that?!?! After all you two have been threw!?! I know you still love her Tai. We all do…Joe, Izzy, Mimi, T.K., even Matt knows it.  I was rooting for you Tai, but you messed up big time. I don't know what to tell Sora. Call me."

Tai packed up his small apartment and left that night. A few days later he found himself in a bar, grieving the loss of a love he never had. It was then that the alcohol convinced him that sleeping with Beth, the waitress, was a great idea. He broke it off with the girl the next morning when he had sobered up and settled into an apartment farther into the town. But when Beth ended up pregnant with his child, it was Tai who convinced her not to have the abortion and Tai that took Neoko.

 "Oh.." Sora said. She was more then a little surprised. Messing up (at least on that level) was very un-Tai-like. He'd always been so responsible. People do crazy things in grief, she reminded herself. Remember what you tried to do when you lost Tai and Matt.

"I've done some stupid things since I've been gone," Tai said, trying desperately to redeem himself in Sora's eyes. "We all do stupid things sometimes," "she said, dealing with guilt of her own. "Not like me," Tai responded remorsefully. "I've been pretty stupid myself," she said. Slowly she pulled up her sleeve to reveal the slashes on her wrist.

"Oh my god Sora!" Tai said, mouth opened in shock. She smiled weakly, "A moment of weakness." "Sora I should have been there for you…I should have been there.." he said in almost a whisper. His mind trying to process the kind of pain his friend must have been threw to attempt such a thing. His mind flashed to his brave, strong Sora, reduced to nothing, all alone, trying to take her own life. When he should have been there. He was too numb to cry. "Tai, it's okay, you couldn't have know…it was really stupid of me...I was upset and I had a few drinks myself…" she said, still ashamed at how foolish she had been.

Tai was still silent with rage towards Matt but more towards himself. Sora rolled her sleeve back down awkwardly. "What brings you back to Odaiba?" She asked, trying to steer the conversation into a different direction but also interested to hear why Tai had returned to their hometown. "I wanted Neoko to grow up in a place that I could trust. And maybe I missed it a little too," he admitted with a laugh. "I know what you mean…it's what brought me back," she said, looking out to the trees before her. "I missed us-all of us together…but I should have known a city wouldn't bring that back. It's weird to think how much we've grown since then…but then again, I almost think we were wiser back then. We knew the power of our friendship…A friendship we've all but lost now. At least here we can remember…." she finished.

 It was getting late and Tai noticed how the sunset matched her eyes. Like the always had. Then suddenly, Tai was Tai again. Little Tai, ego as big as his hair Tai. And Sora was really Sora, with unscarred wrists and eyes that matched the sunset. The two that had made the promise to be friends forever. They were best friends, that would never change. And the nerves and the guilt faded and Sora and he were just kids that matured before there time. They were 12 years old best friends, giddy with youth and young love, and finally, they could talk.

Tai took a deep breath, he had missed his chance once, he wouldn't miss it again. He looked at his companion and smiled. This was right. This is the way it was suppose to happen, long ago. " I ran away because I loved you. I ran away because I knew if I went to the wedding I wouldn't be able to keep myself from telling you that. And I knew- I thought Matt would make you happy, and I knew you deserved better then what I could give you. And I never called because I couldn't stand to hear is voice when I asked for you and know you were with him and I never sent you the letters I wrote because no matter how hard I tried they always ended up love letters. And I gave you that locket when we were 13 because I loved you and I kissed you when we where 17 because I loved you and right now, I'm kissing you because I still do,"

And then, they kissed.

*Flashback*

            The girl stood by the front of the school, lip trembling as all the other children were picked up. It was her first day and her dad had promised he would take her home. But there she stood, as the herd of children slowly dwindled down, and her father was nowhere in sight.

It wasn't long before she stood all but alone. Papa lied again, she thought and felt her eyes water up. Slowly, Sora picked up her plastic Sailor Moon backpack and started to walk away. "Hey! Where are you going?" she heard a voice call from behind her.

Sora turned around quickly, wiping the tears from her eyes. "H-home," she stuttered, wondering what this small boy with…rather large hair…cared about where she was going. The boy looked confused, "Isn't your mommy or daddy coming to pick you up?" She shook her head as tears began to well up in her eyes. "No, my daddy was spose to come…but I guess he forgot.." she and then suddenly burst into tears.

Little Taichi Kamiya saw the girl's tears and nearly moaned. The girl had made him curious, off in her own little world, that for some reason he desperately wanted to be a part of. But now she was crying, was it something he said? Did he make her cry? His stomach turned at this…what could he do to make it better?

"Uh well…my mommy's coming to get me after she picks up dinner…but you wanna play soccer till then?" he asked, trying to solve this girl's problem the only way he knew how. The girls face brightened and her sniffles ceased, "Sure!!" "Oh," she said, remembering her manners, "My name's Sora." "Well I'm Tai," the boy responded with a smile. And such were the makings of love.

God I miss taiora. L Burn Toei. Burn. Anyway, I hope you liked it, or didn't hate it beyond all believe. Sorry it was so…stupid… R&R, all flamers will be executed on spot in a fashion more horrible and humiliating then this fic.

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-Soragirl

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