Thank you again for all the reviews. I hope this next part spices things up a bit. Enjoy.

And So It Begins

Taichi walked out of his front door, calling out his good-byes to Hikari and his parents as he did so. As soon as he left the apartment building, his face lit up with a huge evil grin as he thought about something he'd planned last night.

Matt is so in for it today. I know it probably seems a bit mean, but I just can't resist the opportunity.

Taichi's grin grew further as he recalled certain aspects of his plan. It was genius, plain and simple. There was a reason he'd become the leader, his plans were fool proof. He just hoped that Yamato wouldn't get too angry at him, some things he'd had planned wouldn't work if his friend was annoyed with him.

Whistling happily as he walked down the street on his way to school, Taichi continued planning and thought about what a wonderful day it would soon become.

* * *

What a miserable day. I can't believe this is happening to me.

Yamato groaned as his alarm went off and he reluctantly rolled off his bed and got up, not quite ready to meet the day.

I'm sure Tai's probably whistling nonchalantly, Yamato thought as he quickly packed his bag, nothing bothers him.

Despite the conversation he'd had with his friend last night, Yamato was still quite apprehensive about today, he just wasn't sure how the revelation that he and Taichi were now an 'item' would be taken among their peers. Not that he would ever show he cared, but inside Yamato had always been a bit unsure of how people would think of him.

Taichi was one of the only people who knew about this slight insecurity and Yamato knew that he would never use it against him. It was only a slightly reassuring thought.

Finished with his packing, Yamato washed and dressed and finally spent a bit of time doing his hair. He grabbed his house keys from the kitchen table went outside and locked the door behind him and stood on the threshold on his apartment for a moment.

"Today is going to be hell."

* * *

"Today is going to be so fun!" Mimi had spent the night over at Sora's and was walking with her friend to school. "I can't wait to see Tai and Matt today."

"That's great Mimi, but I'm sure they'll still be there when we arrive, so it's not totally necessary for us to walk this fast." Sora, the usually more energetic of the duo, was being dragged quickly along by the hand. When Mimi was excited about something, nothing could stop her enthusiasm, not even tired muscles and protesting aches in her feet.

However, Sora wasn't as immune to such physical discomforts, even when she was excited about something. Which was probably why she was panting and lagging behind, protesting against the fast pace the child of Sincerity kept.

"Oh, sorry Sors." Mimi slowed down. "You know what I'm like. Give me a chance to go shopping or play matchmaker and nothing can stand in my way."

"Yeah, I know." Sora stopped to catch her breath. She looked over at Mimi to say something else and spotted someone walking along a street nearby. "Hey, isn't that Matt?"

Mimi turned around and grinned. "It is. Hey, Matt!" Mimi called him over. Even from a distance, they could see that Yamato's smile was slightly apprehensive.

"Hey guys, what's up?" Yamato greeted them lightly and started walking with them.

"Nothing. How are you feeling about today?" Mimi smirked as she saw the slight twinge of fear in Yamato's eyes.

"Do you want the truth?"

"Yes."

"Pissed as hell!" Yamato suddenly glared at them. "What the hell is with that plan anyway? I never got a chance to ask you. Is this some sort of sick joke or something?" The questions were directed at both of them, but as Sora was the one to make the bet, she answered.

"No, it's not a joke. I want you and Tai to prove that you both can have a relationship that won't fall apart after a month. It's not that hard. Actually, I've made it easier for you both."

"Easier?" Yamato's eyebrow twitched threateningly. "I'm dating my best friend."

"Exactly. There will be no major trust issues as you both already know everything there is to know about the other." Yamato still wasn't convinced by her argument. Sora sighed. "Look, which one of us holds the crest of Love?"

"You do."

"So, which one of us is more capable and competent enough to be handing out advice on relationships?"

"Mimi." Yamato smirked and Sora glared at him.

"Fine, if you don't want my help with working out your relationship then you'll lose the bet and will have to suffer the consequences." Sora beamed inwardly as Yamato went pale.

"Wait … what consequences?"

"Oh nothing much. You'll just have to take Jun out for dinner as well as the rest of your fan club if you don't manage to prove you can hold a relationship together with Taichi."

"Does Taichi have to suffer also if we both fail?"

"Of course. The soccer team has as big a fan base as your band."

"So it's blackmail."

"No, it's a bet, you knew that when you agreed."

Yamato glared at the devious girl and folded his arms irritably. "Fine, you're competent enough to deal out advice to me. So, I'm dating my best friend. Explain to me why that's better than dating a complete stranger."

"You two have known each other for ages, you know everything about each other. The best kind of relationships are based on trust and friends have an advantage when they date as there is already a high degree of trust between them."

"I suppose that makes sense." There was something bugging Yamato about the way Sora was speaking about all this, it was almost as if … it's almost as if she wants this relationship between me and Tai to be a real one, and a permanent one at that!

Yamato's eyes widened at the realisation and looked over at Mimi. She had the same dreamy yet devious look in her eye as Sora. She was probably thinking the same thing.

Just what the hell is going on here? What are those two playing at? Is this just a bet, or is this really something a whole lot more?

* * *

Tai walked in to school felling bouncy and jubilant.

It was strange, he was really looking forward to today, he knew that most people in his position would be freaking, but he was completely the opposite.

Oh well, no one's ever accused me of being remotely normal.

Smiling and waving to people he met in the hallway, Tai almost missed seeing his friends congregating around Yamato. The stylish blond boy himself leaning against his locker, facing away from Taichi.

What a perfect opportunity to implement my plan! Taichi grinned and walked stealthily over to the group, the only person noticing him being Sora.

Recognising the look on his face as the one he had on just before pulling a prank, Sora wisely said nothing as Taichi crept over to situate himself behind Yamato. Sora smiled secretively, noticing that the blond boy was completely oblivious to Taichi's presence nearby.

That is, until …

"Good morning Yama," Taichi said in a cheerful voice near Yamato's ear, startling the poor boy. He wrapped his arms around Yamato from behind and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "It's wonderful to see you." Taichi couldn't help grinning at the priceless look of shock on Yamato's face.

Sora, Mimi and Koushiro couldn't help the snickers that came out, even as they held their hands clamped tightly to their mouths. A few people walking nearby caught sight of the scene and laughed out loud. Yamato felt absolutely mortified.

"Tai," he hissed warningly. "What are you doing?"

"Just play along Yama."

Yamato looked at him quizzically when he used that cute nickname again but shrugged it off. Since Tai's not taking this whole thing seriously, I suppose I was just being a bit paranoid earlier. I guess Sora just had me a little scared with the way she was talking as though me and Tai were 'meant to be'. Tai probably doesn't think that. Then he grinned in a way that rivaled Taichi. Well if Tai's not taking this seriously then I shouldn't either. That is what we agreed on last night after all.

"All right," Yamato warned him, "but you asked for it."

Taichi barely had any time to consider that remark before Yamato turned around in his arms and called out, "Tai-chan! Oh, I'm so happy to see you." He returned the peck on the cheek and smiled dazzlingly as he embraced his friend, bringing Taichi closer. A few more people looked over and laughed and pointed and whispered.

Now it was Taichi's turn to feel a bit embarrassed.

With his mouth pressed close to Tai's neck, Yamato whispered, "You so asked for it this morning Yagami. If you want to play, then I'll meet you hand for hand, or kiss for kiss if you'd prefer."

Trying to ignore the strange dizzying sensation he felt as Yamato's breath tickled his throat, Taichi grinned and whispered back, "I wouldn't have it any other way Ishida."