Chapter 8

A/N: Ok- since I kind of left you in a bind- I thought I'd give you the next chapter so soon. Keep the reviews coming! Kate's feeling better so she's back to typing!

Anyway- here's the next chapter of the story!

-

Tai, Izzy and TK went cautiously through the residence. Recognizing Matt's stuff around the house, Tai knew he was responsible for taking her. Which meant she, more than likely, would be dead now or severely traumatized.

Finding the stairs leading down to a dark basement, Tai motioned for the two others to follow him down.

Turning on a lantern they looked around to find musty cold and wet rooms. Hearing the rustling of sheets behind a still door, they came closer.

Tai slowly walked up and opened the door in a sudden jerk. Quickly scanning the room his eyes went wide at the sights he encountered. In one corner there were dark and ominous looking chains and other devices that looked painful.

That was when his eyes saw her. She was huddled next to a bed bound, blindfolded and gagged.

"Sora!" He cried and ran to her side.

'That voice… could it be? Taichi?' She thought. His touch was gentle as he caressed her cold face before he took off the cloth that covered her eyes. Her tired and bloodshot eyes met warm chocolate orbs. Tears streamed down both faces as relief washed over them both. Tai worked at releasing her arms and un-gagging her. The instant she had her arms free, she threw them around his neck and cried into his shirt.

"You came… you came for… Me… I had prayed you'd come." She wept as his arms went protectively around her back. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry…"

"Sh, hush now. It's alright." Tai tried to calm her. "I would always come for you… because I love you Sora. I love you."

It was then that Tai and the rest realized her condition. Blood was all over her body and the sheets she clung to for warmth.

"Tai, we need to get her to a doctor." Izzy said as he placed his hand on Tai's shoulder. He had never seen such brutality to anyone before.

Taking off his cape, Tai wrapped it around Sora's cold frame.

"Take her back to your palace and see she gets the best care." Tai said to TK.

"But what about you?" Izzy inquired.

"I'm going to put a stop to who ever did this." He said trying to hold in his anger. Nearly having to pry himself out of Sora's grasp, as he helped her to stand. She was still shuttering violently in his arms.

"Sora," he said as he kissed her forehead. "I need you to go back with these men, ok?" Looking into her eyes he tried to find some recognition in hers. But they were almost void of everything. As soon as he started to release her from his arms she pulled back to him and buried her head in his shirt.

"Don't… don't leave me." She whimpered.

"I'm not - but I need to take care of things first." He whispered into her ear.

Sora's head quickly jerked up when footsteps could be heard from above. Her stomach felt ill and her knees shook. It was Matt.

"No… he's coming." She cried and tried to run, but Tai merely pushed her behind him.

"Izzy, Takeru, get her out of here, now!" Tai demanded.

"Come along Miss." Izzy said as he helped Sora and TK escape out a small window. Tai waited for Sora's capturer to show himself- knowing more than likely it would be his so called best friend Matt, who had done this to this girl.

Tai didn't let the person get too far into the room before he pounced. His assumptions proved true as Tai jumped on top of Matt and began to unleash his anger on the blonde.

When he finished Matt only chuckled as Tai struggled with ragged breath. Wiping the blood from his lips, Matt smiled.

"I took her Tai…" Matt grinned as he spat more blood up. "I claimed her first."

"You may have claimed her body, but I will win her heart… and that's something you will NEVER have!" Tai said before he knocked the blonde out with one strong blow.

After tying Matt up with his own restraints Tai dragged him upstairs.

"We'll have some one come and arrest him." Izzy said. "We need to get the girl to the palace for treatment." Izzy said as he handed the reins of the horse that Sora timidly sat on, to Tai. She was sitting sidesaddle and clinging to the horse's mane for warmth.

Tai mounted so that Sora was behind him. She wrapped her arms around his body both for leverage and security. The entire ride she sat silently clinging to him.

After spending a few days with TK and his sister, Tai and company made their way back to the Kamiya kingdom. Saying goodbye to his sister and her husband, and securing a highly guarded prisoner they made it back in record time. They had gotten Sora checked out by the best healers in the two kingdoms. And soon she was comfortably back in her room at the Kamiya palace. Mimi and Joe fussed over her- doing everything to make her totally comfortable. Tai himself never left her side. Sitting in a chair at her bedside, he held her hand while she slept. Just staring at her he was contented to a point.

-

Sora awoke in a warm bed with clean sheets. A cool breeze flowed around the room and she noticed a caring hand holding on to hers. She turned her head and couldn't help but smile. There was a full head of brown fuzzy hair lying on the bed. He had fallen asleep holding her hand.

Brushing some strands of hair off his face she laughed at the way his nose twitched. 'He looks so cute when he sleeps…' She mused as she leaned forward and kissed his forehead.

The movement in the bed awoke him from his sleep. Still with his eyes closed he felt her lips place a simple kiss to his skin. Smiling slightly he nose twitched again, this time as her hair tickled it.

His eyes opened and met her tired and weak crimson orbs.

"Hey," he smiled after yawning.

Sora smiled at him as he sat up. She placed her slender hand on his cheek, as a tear ran from her eye.

"What's wrong?" He asked seeing the tears start to pool in her eyes.

"You… you came even after all I did… you came…" She said in a trembling voice.

"I had to come…" Tai smiled wiping the tears away.

"And you… you love me?" She said still with some disbelief.

"I will always love you… Sora, please…"

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry." She cried into his shirt. He wrapped his arms around her frame that was covered in a long nightgown.

"Sh… it's alright." He said rocking her slowly.

"I'll do anything you want… I won't fight back anymore… this is all my fault… I'm sorry."

"This is NOT your fault… it's mine. I'm the one who needs to be sorry. I'm so sorry Sora."

"You're fault? What are you apologizing for?" She asked.

"I did something I never have done before. I struck you… I'll never do that again as long as I live… let me make it up to you. I'll do anything to make you happy." He implored.

"I'm the one that needs forgiveness… what can I do to thank you?"

"Nothing… well you can do something." He corrected himself.

"Name it Taichi."

"You can get back your previous fire and get well. Can you do that?" He asked. She nodded. "And if you could give me another chance- let me win your heart- at least let me try… and if you're truly not in love with me, as I am with you, I'll… I'll find a way to call off this wedding…does that sound fair?" "Extremely." She replied, there was a silence that followed, but it was not an uncomfortable one. They just sat there holding hands.

"Well since you'll be in bed for a while, I took the liberty to get us some food. We can just sit and get to know each other better." He smiled as he stood and brought her over a tray of fresh fruits, vegetables and meat.

"Thank you." She whispered to him.

"Oh don't thank me yet. I have a surprise… I think you might have lost this." He smiled as he took her mother's jewel out of his pocket. "The chain broke, so I had the artisans fix it for you." Taking her hand he set the red-jeweled necklace in her palm.

"Taichi…" She couldn't form words to tell him how happy she was to have this back, so she simply threw her arms around his neck, and kissed his cheek.

For the first time since she left her father, she was truly happy. Tai would do anything for her. During the next few weeks Tai would carry her out to the large gardens where Mimi, Joe and Izzy would join them in picnics. They would go on horse back to little creeks and ponds- there was not exact reason, but Sora enjoyed being out in nature.

Then the day came that Tai and Sora had both been waiting, but not exactly dreading.

The king was getting long in years and had taken sick. Before he died Tai would have to be crowned king, and married. That day had finally come. Tai was extremely worried…

Sora had truly let him become closer with her, but he did not want to seem like he was rushing their relationship…