Loving Your Enemy

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Disclaimer: I do not own the characters from Digimon, but I do own my story
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Chapter 8: The Challenge

"What?" Mimi said. Her face was contorted in shock.
"Erm... Yeah, c-could you be my girlfriend? I-I really like you," Kiyoshi confessed blushing madly.
"W-Well..."
"You know, I really like you... Ever since I first met you at the championships..."
"Wait. Kiyoshi, I know you are a very nice guy... but don't you think you're rushing things?" Mimi asked.
"Oh, I guess so. Sorry Mimi,"
"You know what, let's just start all over again, okay? I'd like to be friends with you," she smiled.
"Sure!"
"Ewww..." Mimi spoke suddenly as she accidentally stepped on something.
"What happened Mimi?"
"Don't you think the food here sucks?"
"You can say that again!" Kiyoshi said jokingly, and they both laughed.

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The next day...
It was rise and shine. After everyone had their breakfast, all the groups assembled together to listen to their first activity. "Today, we are all going to stress on teamwork. Altogether around this whole place, we have set up various challenging tasks. Each group will have a try at each one. In one task, there would be 2 groups assigned to compete with each other. If there's no questions, you may begin now. Your facilitators will tell you what to do. May the best group win!"

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It was Mimi's group's 5th win. "One more to go, ne Kiyoshi?" Mimi said proudly. "Hai, Mimi. I wonder what would be our final task," he replied.

Just then, someone from behind interrupted... "Too bad you would be up against me, Mimi!" the voice spoke. Mimi gasped and turned around. Matt Ishida. "Ishida!" she said angrily. "Too happy to see me? Haha... such a pity I can't let you break my team's winning streak!" Matt said matter-of-factly. "Damn it, Ishida! Can't you just shut up?" Mimi said, throwing her hands up irritatingly. But before Matt could retaliate further, Kiyoshi spoke.

"May the best team win," he said coldly, while his eyes fixed sharply at Matt's.

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The final task came. The two groups stood at the start of a long, unsteady bridge supported by ropes, and it was hanging dangerously over a river 6m below. The challenge was clear in their minds. Each player is to run across the bridge one at a time with a player from the other team. The team to get across first wins.

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It was Mimi against Matt. "You've got no chance to win this, Mimi," Matt provoked. "Says who!" Mimi said. The two got into a starting position. Their eyes focused on the shaky bridge.

GO!

Mimi ran. She didn't care about how unsteady the bridge was. Her coach had told her that full concentration and focusing on the aim is what would give her advantage.

Matt knew that he was at a 50-50 win-lose situation. Mimi is a talented runner. But his advantage was that his legs were longer (he's quite tall since he's in basketball).

Passing the middle of the bridge, the competition was more intense. The bridge was wobbling excessively. Everyone could only hold their breaths.

[Slow motion]
At that split second, Matt's elbow hit hard into Mimi's abdomen unintentionally. Mimi could not take the impact and fell off the bridge. Fortunately, she had one hand grabbing onto the rope, while the other was clutching her stomach. An expression of pain was written clearly on her face as she tried to struggle with her hold...

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"Mimi!" her name came out from Matt's mouth in a barely audible tone. He knew he had knocked her by accident and all he could do was stare in shock. "Hurry Matt! Finish it!" shouted someone. Matt didn't know what to do. But at that instant, his legs had decided for him. His teammates cheered. However, Matt's ears could only pick up the distinct cry of anger and sadness-

"MIMI!" Kiyoshi cried as he sprinted towards her.

Mimi looked up. For a while, her face lit up, and then it changed back into her painful expression. "K-Kiyoshi," she said in a soft tone. "Hold on to my hand, Mimi! I'll get you up," he said anxiously. Mimi took his hand as he attempted to lift her up. The pain surged in Mimi's abdomen again, this time more hurting then before. Her hand, wet and slippery from her perspiration, slipped.

She fell.

"Mimi..." Matt heard himself calling out her name again to himself. A splash was heard, and his eyes grew wider. Kiyoshi hadn't a moment of hesitation. Immediately, he jumped into the river and swam to Mimi. Mimi, on the other hand, was coughing and choking on the water. She could swim, but just not in her ability at that moment. Soon, she felt someone grabbing her hand and hurling her upwards.

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The facilitator went for help, and came back to see Kiyoshi saving her. He got his rope tied firmly to a buoy and threw it in the river. Mimi was saved.

Once Mimi had got onto ground, she couldn't help but envelop her saviour (Kiyoshi) in a fierce hug. She wept onto his shoulder as Kiyoshi tried to calm her down. "It's okay, Mimi. You're alive. Everything will be fine- I promise," he said smoothly.

Matt stood at the side. He wasn't at all happy. He didn't care if they he had won this stupid game.

"Wow! This is so interesting! I can't wait to tell the others about this!" a girl said to her friend.
"Yeah. Look, don't Mimi and Kiyoshi look like a couple?" the friend asked.
"I know! So kawaii! How I envy them..." the girl replied dreamily. Then the giggles of she and her friend could be heard.

Matt heard their little dialogue session. He stared at the two clearer; taking in the little movements Kiyoshi made to comfort the poor Mimi in his arms. Matt shook his head. 'That isn't true!' he denied. After a while, he couldn't stand it. Matt simply turned and walked away.

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To be continued...

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A/N: hehe~* so, how do ya find this chapter? pls review, anything will do, dun have 2 be long if u feel lazy. ^_^ just dun hate me yet for pairing things up with Kiyoshi and Mimi.. u've not read the whole story yet, ne?