10 Steps To Make You Mine
Part One Written & Edited by Hikari-sama
"Eew!" An auburn-haired girl, named Sora Takenouchi, screamed. "What is it?" Her friend asked. "Mimi! Look at that guy... can you say S-C-A-R-Y?"
Mimi Tachikawa looked around as she spotted a blond guy who had just gotten a tan. She laughed. "That's Atasuke, from my homeroom last year, he looks SO freaky with that tan of his."
"I know!"
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
At the end of the cafeteria, sat a bunch of guys. "Those are my pickles, you asshole."
"I'll show you who's the asshole!" a boy with puffy brown hair yelled at a blond. People were clapping about and yelling, "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!".
"FIGHT??? I'll show you people how to BEAT!!!" The puffy-haired boy shouted. "Bring it on, Yagami!" the blond-haired jock, Junnosuke Araki, yelled.
"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
Taichi Yagami formed a fist on his hand and punched his rival in the stomach. "NEED MORE FOR LUNCH?"
Junnosuke held his stomach with his left hand. He lurched towards Taichi and tried to kick his knee. "Nice try," Taichi mocked, "ass."
The Araki jock narrowed his eyes at his opponent as his hands turned into fists. Junnosuke punched Taichi's chin as hard as he could. The crowd stopped cheering.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Still at her table, Sora Takenouchi's eyes followed along the cluster of people in the cafeteria of their high school. Someone's head was upside down staring right up at her. Whoever he was, he looked so... well, dumb. "Uh... Mimi? Is that guy over there staring at you?" she asked her friend.
"No. He's staring at you."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"What's shakin', Yagami??" Junnosuke said sarcastically. "Is it my turn to show you how to BEAT?"
Taichi didn't answer. He was leaning against a table, his chin sore. His body was bent back like a croissant. If you were in front of him, you'd only be able to see his chest.
"Come on, you dumbass."
Taichi blinked his chocolate-brown eyes, but still didn't move. His eyes were focused on a beautiful girl laughing right in front of him, about thirty feet away. Except at the same time, he was thinking about something else. "Do you think she's cute?" Taichi whispered to Junnosuke, slightly pointing to Sora. "Nande? What the? Why are you asking me that?"
The people watching were curious about what they were saying, but also didn't move just in case they'd have to face any injuries. Junnosuke looked at the two girls giggling and talking to each other. A brunette and a redhead. "Who, Mimi?" Junnosuke asked.
"No! Look, come over here," Taichi urged. He told Junnosuke to try to put himself in the same position as Taichi was. "Oh... okay," Junnosuke listened. Everyone in the crowd tried to figure out what the hell was going on.
Taichi stood up straight and, as he looked at Junnosuke... "ITAI! OW!!! WHAT THE F*** WAS THAT FOR?!?!"
Now, Junnosuke had a smashed, red nose (Rudolph look-alike? Maybe so). He touched it, then squealed. "No... man! Now I'll never get to attract pretty cheerleaders!"
"Not my fault."
Junnosuke Araki sat down on a bench. "You bastard," he complained, "Don't you know that my nose is worth a million dollars?!"
"Too bad, man. Now mine's a million-dollar worth."
"Although your chin needs some fixing."
"Shut the hell up, Araki."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Who exactly is that guy?" Sora wondered. "Oh, he was also from my homeroom last year," Mimi answered, "His name's Tai... Taichi Yagami. I have to say, though... he's a jerk." Sora chuckled. Mimi and Sora headed to their lockers by themselves. "Ja ne (see you later), Mimi-chan!"
Sora reached her locker and pulled out a blue-green binder with huge, bold, black letters that marked her name. She noticed a black binder laying around there. Must be my locker partner's, Sora decided. At Odaiba High, you had to share lockers because of the multitude of students that attended the school. Somehow, Sora just couldn't wait to meet her locker partner. We might as well have a lot of fun together, she thought. As she closed the navy blue locker door, she felt someone behind stare at her.
Sora looked back and noticed that guy... what was his name? Right. Taichi Yagami. "Hey, Tai," Sora greeted and smiled at him. "You... you know my name?" Taichi stammered.
"Hai (Yes), Mimi-chan told me." For a moment, Taichi seemed speechless. Sora looked confused. "So... what are you doing here?" she asked him curiously. Taichi smiled at Sora. "I think we're locker partners."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Matt!" Mimi called her old friend. "How are you?"
"I'm fine, thank you. How about you? It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Yamato Ishida answered. They met each other at mathematics, which was their only class together. They were, luckily, a few minutes early to class. "Yeah."
"Say, Meems, who were you talking to at lunch period?" he asked. Somehow, he was really curious about that reddish-brown haired girl Taichi had been--possibly--staring at.
"Oh! You mean Sora? She's a new student here and she's really nice. I think you should meet her," Mimi remarked. "By the way, what happened at lunch? I heard some fighting over there."
"Yeah. Poor Tai, he got a bruise on his chin."
"Poor Tai? Come on, we all know he's a jerk. The only thing he does is beat people up!"
"I guess he won't be doing that for a while anymore."
"What do you mean?"
Yamato was scratching his head. "No, nothing... hey, Meems," he said, "How's that friend of yours--Mina--or something..."
"It's Sora."
"Whatever."
"Well, actually, we're meeting each other at the ice cream parlor today after school. You want to come?"
"Oh! You mean that mini store across the street?"
"Yeah."
"Count me in!"
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Tai and Sora both smiled at each other. "Well, I gotta get to class now," Taichi said, "What's your next class?"
Sora checked her class schedule in her hands. "Let me see...," she scanned through the paper, "History."
Taichi cleared his throat. "Sorry, did you say history?" he asked. Sora nodded and added shyly, "I think I'm gonna need help getting to that class."
"Don't worry. I'll get you there."
"Arigatou, Taichi-san."
Tai blushed. "My pleasure."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Dude, Yamato, I think I'm in love."
Yamato laughed. "Like I never knew that!"
Taichi pressed his lips together. "Huh? Whatever... you know that girl... Sora Takenouchi?" Yamato stopped laughing. "That girl whom you were staring at in the cafeteria? Mimi's new friend?" he asked.
"Yeah... and... well... she's also my locker partner."
"Your locker partner??" Yamato's eyes widened. "Dude, you got 100% chance with her now!"
Taichi scratched his head and could feel his cheeks getting a little warm. "I walked her to history class today... and she even let me carry her books," he added, his cheeks getting even warmer now.
"But there's a problem," Taichi said, biting his lip, "Now that I know I have... you know, feelings for her... I... umm...." Obviously, Yamato noticed Taichi's legs were shaking like crazy. "Don't worry, Taichi."
Taichi looked up at his friend. "Huh?"
"I'll help you out," Yamato decided. Taichi still looked confused. Yamato smiled. "Today, my friend, we'll be officially starting the ten steps to make her yours."
"How do I do that?" Taichi asked, looking around nervously to see if anyone was overhearing their conversation.
"Simple. I'll guide you. Step number one... flirting," Yamato briefly explained, with a mischievous smirk on his face.
"Huh?"
"Flirting," Yamato repeated.
"What?"
"To flirt, Taichi!! Gee, you don't know anything, do you?" Yamato repeated once more.
"Sorry, Yamato, it's just that..."
"Just that what?"
"Well... this may sound a little embarrassing, but..."
"But what?"
"What's flirt?"
Yamato loses his balance and falls at the sound of Taichi's question.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"I invited my friend Yamato to come to the ice cream parlor with us," Mimi told Sora later that afternoon, "He's a very good friend. I'm sure you'll get along quite well."
"Is he your locker partner?" Sora asked.
Mimi laughed. "No, just an old buddy."
Sora smiled, remembering his locker partner. How he was so kind, gentle, and loveable. Oh, the urge that made her want to see him again! She didn't mind about his big bruise on his chin. He was still very cute any way.
All that made her wonder... why would Mimi think he was a jerk?
"Sorry we're late!"
Sora turned around and spotted a blond guy with blue eyes. "Hi," she greeted him, "I'm Sora."
He smiled at her. "Hey, my name's Yamato. But you can call me Matt, or Yama."
"Hi Yamato!" Mimi called, "We saved a spot for you."
"Thanks, Meems," Yamato said. He brought a chair from the table beside. "Why are you bringing another chair?" Mimi asked.
"Oh, someone else is going to be here," Matt answered.
"Who?" Mimi inquired again, getting annoyed. Sora could tell Mimi hadn't really invited anyone else.
"Yo, peepz!"
Sora turned around. "Taichi?" she whispered. Taichi was dressed... differently. The green-colored uniform he was wearing at school earlier was replaced by a black tank top, a pair of dark green baggy pants with holes just about everywhere, spiked-up-pointy hair (like Davis'), and irregularly-shaped sunglasses.
"Yo, Sora!" Tai whispered with a flirty voice. He winked at her and sat down next to Yamato.
"Taichi... what are you wearing?" Sora asked, confused. "Don't worry, babe, I know you love me," Taichi replied, winking at her. Sora quietly groaned. This isn't the Taichi I met this morning, she thought.
"Wait a minute... you guys--you guys know each other?" Mimi asked.
"Duh. Me and foxy are locker partners. Huh, Fox?"
That was it for Sora Takenouchi. She'd had enough. Sora stood up and started yelling, "One; I am NOT a fox. Two; I don't know you AT ALL. Three; What's up with your dumbass attitude?! And four; Don't you dare speak to me EVER AGAIN."
With that, she stormed out of the place. Mimi punched the table. "I KNEW IT! YOU STUPID FREAKIN' BASTARD! YOU SHOULD HAVE NEVER CAME IN HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!!! WHO THE HELL INVITED YOU, ANYWAY??"
She ran out to get Sora. "Well, I guess it's just you and me left," Yamato sighed.
"No way. You know what? Just forget it. You and your stupid plans have already made my day. Now Sora hates me," Taichi yelled. He left, leaving Yamato behind. Well, I can't say I'm not the guilty one here... but I'm sure what I have in mind now will have to work, he decided.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
I guess I was wrong about Taichi all along, Sora thought the next day as she walked out of Homeroom. She checked her schedule. "Technology."
She stood in the hallway, staring up front. She couldn't believe how big the school was. Sora sighed, thinking about a way to get to her locker without letting Taichi notice her.
She walked towards the hallway and spotted her--and Taichi's--locker close by. She looked left and right, but found no trace of puffy brown hair. She proceeded towards her locker, but there was a problem. She had forgotten to look front.
Therefore, it caused her to bump into someone as she fell down, dropping her books everywhere. She looked up and realized she'd bumped into Tai.
"Sora! Gomen ne (Sorry)!!! I am so sorry!" Taichi apologized. Sora stood up, as Taichi grabbed her books and gave them to her. "Thank you," she said and just headed to her locker.
When she got out her needy stationery for technology class, she realized she didn't know how to get there. She looked at Tai, who was heading towards his next class. His clothes were back to normal. She glanced around, but there was no one else in sight. Should I ask him? she thought, no, I can't do it, not after what happened yesterday.
But then again... she missed talking to him. And besides, she didn't want to ruin her permanent record for college for being late, or maybe even skipping class. Sora sighed. "Taichi."
Even though she had whispered, Taichi had heard her clearly. He didn't really want to talk to her, and he hadn't expected too. All because of what happened yesterday. And when she avoided him today, it made him feel even more stressed out. But at the same time... he had his chance to talk to her once again now. He turned around, immediately, to face her.
"Not to bother you, but... do you know where the technology class is?" Sora asked.
Taichi smiled to himself. "Yeah. Follow me."
~~**~~
"Thanks, Taichi."
"No problem."
As Taichi left for his own class, Sora wondered... he was so different from yesterday after school. Maybe he just acts this way at school, she thought, with a worried expression on her face.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"You wanna know what I think?" Yamato asked Taichi later that day. Taichi shrugged. "Okay."
"I think that Sora admires your sense of humor."
"...So?"
"So you gotta show it off to her. You're a humor kid, Taichi."
"Humor kid?!"
"Humor kid," Yamato made clear.
Taichi's lips formed into a wiggly zig-zag line, expressing confusion.
"Wow! How'd you do that, man?" Yamato asked.
"Do what?" Taichi was even more confused now. What the heck was 'humor kid', anyway?
"That goofy smile of yours!" Yamato said, "That's so cool!"
"Really?"
"Definitely!"
Taichi headed to the boys' room and looked at himself in the mirror. He tried the wiggly thing again. He jumped. "Whoa! What was that?"
As he headed back to Yamato, Taichi shrugged. "What?" Matt asked.
"No... no, I don't think so."
"Come on, Tai! Even I love it. Look, maybe Sora didn't like the flirting, because... well, she might have thought you were too serious," Yamato told Taichi the other day.
Taichi thought for a moment. "If it doesn't work, it'll be all your fault."
Taichi left towards his locker.
"Don't fail him today," Yamato wished, crossing his fingers. He had the biggest smile on his face, thinking about Taichi's strange confused expression.
He ended cracking up.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Taichi was standing by his locker, whistling. "Sora!" he called as he spotted the auburn-haired girl. Sora smiled at him and left to her next class.
"...God! I was just about to!" Taichi yelled, talking about his funky mouth.
"About to what, Yagami?"
Taichi turned around and gasped. "Please, not right now!"
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Yamato wandered throughout the hall after his last class. He thought out loud, "Maybe I should tell Sora--"
"Tell me what?" Sora appeared out of nowhere. Yamato smiled, hiding his thoughts. "Hey Sora," he greeted. Sora nodded, "Hi."
"So... is everything going OK with you and, you know, Tai?" he asked her.
Sora, confused, responded, "I don't really know what's with him lately."
"Oh, don't worry, you don't know him that well yet. I'm telling you, he's so funny."
Sora smiled. "Thanks, but that doesn't interest me."
Yamato's eyes grew wide. "Okay... then, what kind of guys do you like?"
Sora eyed Yamato suspiciously. "What kind of question is this?"
"Oh, no kind, just a question."
"Did Taichi tell you to ask me this or something?" Sora asked.
"No, no... Tai has nothing to do with this."
"Then why are you asking me this?"
"Uh, no reason."
"Oh, well then, I won't tell you. If you'll excuse me, I'll leave now," Sora started to leave.
"Aw, crap," Matt whispered behind Sora's back.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Taichi's back was sore and his nose was bleeding. "Araki...," Taichi managed to say.
"That's for the bad nose you gave me," Junnosuke Araki stated. Tai brought his hand to his nose. What would Sora say? he thought. As Tai's rival left with his laughing friends behind him, he sighed and wished this never happened. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see someone watching him. He turned around and saw the brunette Mimi Tachikawa.
"Mimi?"
The girl approached him. "What the hell happened to your nose?"
Taichi's face dropped, thinking about what Mimi thought of him. Of course, it'd be worse for him to think of what Sora would think. "It's a long story," Taichi answered.
"I've got time."
Taichi looked at her, wide-eyed. "Time? I thought you hated me."
"Well, it makes me curious to find out about the tough guy who actually gets beaten up."
Taichi gave Mimi a lopsided grin. "Well... it's actually... none of your business."
Mimi rolled her eyes. "Fine. But at least tell me why you're always bugging Sora around."
Bugging?, Taichi thought. "Does Sora think I'm bugging her?"
"Of course you're bugging her!" Mimi lied. "She deserves so much better than you."
Taichi's heart broke into half, and his smile suddenly faded. "Thanks, Mimi."
He walked toward his next class.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Oh, come on Tai, you know Mimi said that because she hates you," Yamato told his friend between classes. Taichi wasn't convinced. He shook his head. "But she knows Sora more than anyone else, so how could I not believe her?"
"Because she might not be telling the truth," Matt tried cheering him up.
Tai shook his head.
"Come on, man, chill," Matt said.
Taichi shook his head again. "I can't."
"Then... how about trying the goofy grin thing?"
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Sora saw Taichi lurching towards their locker. "Tai!"
Taichi turned around. "Sora.."
Sora smiled. "What's with your back?" she asked. "Are you okay?"
The brunette nodded. "Yeah, I guess."
"Oh, by the way," Taichi added, "why did the chicken cross the road?" he said, according to Matt's plans. Sora giggled. "What are you trying to say?" she asked.
Now is the time, Tai thought. His lips formed a squiggly line, that confused goofy expression of his. "You mean you don't know that the chicken wanted to get to the other side?"
Sora stared wide-eyed at Taichi's funky mouth. "Huh?" she blurted out, amazed.
"HAHAAHAHAAAHAHAA!!" Taichi laughed--a fake laugh.
Sora was confused by all this. "Tai... what's wrong?"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" he continued laughing, relying on Yamato's plans.
"You--You're scaring me, Tai."
Taichi stopped laughing. "I... I am?"
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"What do you mean she was scared and just walked away?" Yamato asked once again, frustrated that his second plan didn't work either.
"I mean that she was scared and just walked away."
"That's impossible. Are you sure you did what I told you to do?"
"YES!" Taichi answered. He sighed, "Mimi was right, Sora deserves much better."
"Whatever you did, you're the one who deserves much better, Tai."
"But I really like her."
"And that's why I've come up with a new plan."
"And that is...?"
"And that is... help. Girls love guys helping them."
Taichi sighed. "It better work."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Oh, for the love of God, Taichi! What happened to you?" Mrs. Yagami screamed when Tai got back home.
"Nothing," Taichi lied and lurched to his room that he shared with his little sister, Hikari. Tai sighed and sat down on the edge of his bed. "I wish Sora knew how I felt about her."
"Who's Sora?"
Tai turned around. "Kari!!"
Hikari smiled. "Tai's got a girlfriend! Tai's got a girlfriend!" she repeated over and over again. Mrs. Yagami rushed in the room. "TAICHI! What did I tell you about no dating until you graduate from college?!" she yelled.
"But mom--"
"Are you just dating this 'Sora' so you want to look cool? That is just NOT acceptable, Taichi!"
"But--"
"Is this how you got your bruises and sore back? For dating someone else's girlfriend?"
"MOM! LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE! I'm not dating anyone nor do I have a girlfriend!" Taichi practically shouted at his own mother. "Gomen (Sorry)."
Tai's mother sighed. "OK, honey. I believe you. But there's something I have to know as a mother. Who is this person who keeps beating you up?"
Tai shook his head. "No one."
Mrs. Yagami gave up. He wasn't going to tell her anything, anyway. He wasn't even going to tell her who this 'Sora' was. "If you get more bruises or injuries by tomorrow, I'm going to have to go to school with you."
Taichi was wide-eyed. "But mom--"
"No exceptions," Mrs. Yagami ended the conversation, and left.
Taichi thought about how embarrassing it would be with her mother having to follow him around every second at his school. He groaned. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Kari watching him. "Go away," he instructed his little sister.
"Hai, oniisan-chan (Yes, brother)," Hikari left, feeling sorry for his older brother.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"He's a jerk, don't worry. I already told him that you could care less about him, so he'll back off now," Mimi told her friend after school.
Somehow, Sora disagreed with Mimi's point of view. "But... Mimi-chan, just because he likes to laugh doesn't mean he's a jerk."
Mimi glared at her. "Are you saying you like Taichi?" she asked.
Sora blushed, then shook her head. "No!"
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
The phone rang at Yamato's house. "Moshi moshi? (Hello?)" Matt said through the phone.
"Hey, Matt."
"Yo, Tai! What's going on?"
"Ugh... I'm busted. If I get beaten up by Araki tomorrow..."
"Uh-huh...?"
"My mom's gonna..."
"Talk to Araki's parents?"
"Even worse."
"What is it?"
Taichi sighed. "Okaa-san (Mom) is gonna follow me EVERY SINGLE SECOND the next day at school."
"...And that's bad?"
"YES. Matt, your dad's cool and all, but my mom... you know... if Sora sees me with her..."
"Oh, I see, I see. How about hiring some body guards instead?"
Taichi rolled his eyes. "You're crazy."
"Ne, what are you gonna do?"
"Avoid getting beaten up, I guess..."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
The next day at school, Sora tried to stuff her binder in the locker that she shared with Taichi. "Arrrgh," she protested, "Get in there already!"
Tai spotted Sora by their locker. "Here, let me help you," he offered.
Taichi took out everything from the locker and began to put everything back in an organized way. He looked up at Sora and smiled. The ruby-eyed girl blushed at this. "Th--th...thanks."
"Anytime," Taichi answered as he began walking to his next class, until...
"You're not going anywhere until you get a piece of me, Yagami."
Junnosuke. Uh-oh. Double uh-oh! If he got beaten up again... he'd have to be embarrassed for the rest of his life. And then again, if Sora saw him fight Junnosuke, she'd think he was a jerk. Sure, he was a jerk back then, when all he did was fight. But that was a long time ago. After he'd met Sora, everything had changed.
"Araki... PLEASE! Stop this for once!"
Junnosuke laughed. "After what you did to my nose?" he responded, "No way."
Taichi sighed.
"You know what, Yagami? That girl over there," Junnosuke pointed at a girl by her locker, "her name's Nyoko. That's my ex. She dumped me because of my nose."
Sora watched and overheard all of this.
"Well then, she wasn't worthy enough," Taichi responded.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE WASN'T WORTHY ENOUGH???" Junnosuke complained. "Of course she was worthy enough!!! We're practically MADE for each other!!"
Not as much as Sora and I are, Taichi thought. He blushed.
"What the hell are you blushing at?" Junnosuke demanded to know.
Taichi stepped backwards. He saw me blush? "Uh... nothing, nothing," he answered.
"You deserve some crap, Yagami!" Junnosuke yelled for the whole school to hear.
Uh-oh. "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"
Still by her locker, Sora gasped. Taichi... is he being bullied?, she asked herself.
Taichi evaded the punch Junnosuke was about to give him. "PLEASE ARAKI!! I BEG OF YOU TO STOP!"
Junnosuke ignored him. "THIS IS FOR MY NOSE!" he punched Taichi in the guts. Tai groaned in pain as he fell on the floor. He held his stomach with his hand.
Sora gasped at the punch Junnosuke had given Taichi. She didn't know what to do! Where's Yamato!?!?!?
"AND THIS IS FOR YOU, NYOKO!!!" This time, Junnosuke formed a very hard fist and was ready to punch Taichi, when...
"STOP THIS!"
Taichi managed to look at the person who had stopped Junnosuke from punching him. "Sora...," he whispered.
Junnosuke glanced at whoever stopped him. He dropped his hand, speechless.
Sora reached over to Taichi. "Are you okay?" she asked, trying to hold him up. Tai had his eyes closed. Poor thing, he was almost breathless. She put his arm around her own shoulders and started walking him to the clinic.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Whoa, Junno, you sure got busted," one of Junnosuke's pals remarked, "by a girl!!!"
Junnosuke glared at his pal, which made him shut up. Hmm..., he thought, as he was lost in deep contemplation.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
Taichi woke up and found himself in the clinic. Ms. Akimoto, the nurse, walked in the pale white room. "Mr. Yagami, I see you're awake."
Tai nodded. Ms. Akimoto smiled. She was kind of chubby and had cherry-red hair. "We called your mother to see you," she informed, "Who did this to you?"
Oh, great. They had called his mom. His mom! Taichi was too hurt to speak. He smiled and motioned that he was okay. "Did Ms. Takenouchi do anything to you?" Ms. Akimoto asked. Taichi blushed and shook his head. "She brought you in here," the nurse explained, "so I thought that she might have been the one who had hurt you."
Taichi shook his head again. "Well then, that's very nice of Ms. Takenouchi to bring you here. Don't you agree?" Ms. Akimoto said. Taichi blushed a deeper shade of red. He looked down and nodded.
There was a knock on the door. "Oh, that must be your mother," Ms. Akimoto told Taichi.
Tai pressed his lips together and gulped. Now he had to spend the rest of the school day with his mother following him around!
"Taichi!" Mrs. Yagami came rushing in, "Daijoubu ka? (Are you all right?)"
"I'm okay...," Tai managed to whisper. "Who did this to you?!" she demanded to know, "Tell me, Taichi! Was it that 'Sora' girl?"
Taichi moaned as the pain in his stomach stroke him again. He shook his head. "Then who was it?" Mrs. Yagami anxiously asked.
Yamato rushed in. "Tai! I heard about what happened!" he exclaimed. "Are you okay?"
Tai nodded. Mrs. Yagami asked, "What happened, Yamato?"
Yamato started to explain, when someone else walked in.
"Taichi!"
Tai smiled at the shadowy figure appearing at the door. "Sora..."
Sora walked over to him. "I'm so sorry Tai... I should have stopped him sooner."
Taichi shook his head, "It's okay..."
Mrs. Yagami looked over at the ruby-eyed girl. "You're Sora?"
Sora looked at Taichi's mother. "Yes," she answered.
"What did you do to my son?"
Sora didn't know what to say. "What do you mean?"
"What did you do to him?"
"I..."
Yamato stared in amusement back and forth, from Sora to Mrs. Yagami.
"Answer me!"
"Mom!" Taichi shouted lightly. "Sora... stopped... the guy who h-hit me from... from... punching me twice."
Mrs. Yagami looked at Sora in astonishment. It was embarrassing. Here she was, yelling at the girl who had saved her own son's life. Tears stung her eyes. "Thank you so much for saving my son," she told her Tai's crush. "Are you Taichi's girlfriend?" she asked.
Taichi turned around and blushed in discomfiture. Gosh... why did she have to ask her that?!
Sora giggled. "No, we're locker partners."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
An hour had passed, and Mrs. Yagami was convinced that Taichi would be okay with Sora by his side. She had left twenty minutes earlier. When Taichi felt better, Sora accompanied him to their locker.
"Sora," Taichi began. Sora smiled, "Yeah?"
"Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you very much)."
Sora blushed, but didn't realize it was bizarre of her, because Taichi was blushing as well. But the tender emotions ended when Junnosuke, once again, appeared out of nowhere. "Welcome back, Yagami."
Sora stood between the two. "What do you want from him?" she asked.
Junnosuke grinned at the girl. "Well, I used to want him dead...," he told Sora, "But when I found out you were as powerful as to control me--which no one else can--I figured, I want you instead."
Sora laughed. "That's funny."
Junnosuke laughed along. "Yeah, it is, you know. I never thought I'd end up falling for someone like you."
Sora stopped laughing. "What?"
"You're coming with me," he ordered, "or Yagami gets it."
Sora took a step back. "No," she said. Junnosuke walked towards her. Sora was too frightened to move. He lifted her chin up. "Such a precious girl," he whispered.
This made Taichi mad. He rushed to Junnosuke and kicked him as hard as he could. The bully glared at Taichi as he was about to punch him. "Don't!" Sora begged.
Junnosuke stopped, but did not drop his fist. He looked back at Sora. "Go out with me."
Sora squeezed her eyes shut. "Okay!!!! But don't hurt Tai!!"
Junnosuke let go of the brown-haired Taichi and smiled. "I'll pick you up at seven... Sora."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Junnosuke and Sora?!?!?! That's crazy, man!" Yamato yelled at the school library after Sora was asked out by Taichi's bully.
"Shhh!" the librarian hushed Yamato. She hit his head with a book. "Be quiet!"
Yamato yelped in pain as he brought his hand to his head. He watched the annoying old librarian as she walked back to where she had come from. "Geez... stupid librarian," he muttered under his breath.
"I know it's crazy," Taichi told his friend, "But... she did it for me, didn't she?"
Matt walked over to his friend and patted his back, "She did it for you, man. You lucky bum."
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Sora-chan, cheer up."
Sora looked up at Mimi and bit her lip. "How am I supposed to cheer up? By going out on a date with someone who was about to kill a friend?" she snapped.
Mimi glared at Sora. "How can you consider that Taichi a... friend?!?!"
"Well, he was hurting someone else," the auburn-haired affirmed.
"Don't worry. It's just a date, and it won't take too long," her friend assured her.
"I hope so. Taichi was yelling at me when I accepted to go out with that Junnosuke."
"What for? It's not like he's going out with you, anyway," Mimi said.
"I know. That's what scares me. He's worrying too much about me."
"Damn him. You're a girl, not a baby. He should know that by now!"
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Konnichiwa, Sora-chan," Junnosuke greeted his date, smirking.
"Hi. Uh... how are you?"
"I'm both, handsome and fine. How about you, my beautiful?"
"I'm okay."
"You're supposed to say you're beautiful."
"Oh."
Sora sat down in front of Junnosuke at the fancy restaurant they were attending. It was fancy alright, very elegant. "The food is all on me, so eat anything you want," Junno explained.
"You don't have to pay it all... you know... if you don't want to," Sora replied sweetly.
"Oh, well, then, the food's all on you."
The ruby-eyed girl sweatdropped.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"That psychotic Araki!" Taichi punched the couch angrily. He sat down and sighed. "Did he have to choose Sora among the other girls at Odaiba High, though?"
Tai sat there, eating popcorn and chocolate for six whole hours, watching the same horror/romance motion picture for the third time.
"Damn the Queen of the Dead, HALT THE LUNACY THIS INSTANT!"
Taichi turned around, as he saw a man--or illusion? Unable to tell--standing on his ceiling. Impossible, right?
No, not impossible. After all, it was the stranger's latest experiment.
"What the?" Taichi wondered in astonishment.
"I have been, after all these years, watching you. Now, I just cannot bear to see you wandering about in popcorn-and-chocolate land!" The stranger was wearing a dark cape around him. His dark bangs covered his identity.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"I am your guardian angel, Mr. Yagami, your all, your messenger from God and destiny. What did you expect?"
"I don't know. More chocolate, I guess."
The supposedly guardian angel shook his head, bored of this teenager's insanity. "Call me by the name of Sander, my young. I will guide you to the meaning of life. Now, what you are sitting on, is called a couch. It makes your bottom more comfortable and relaxed as you sit. In front of you, is a tele--"
"Okay, okay! I know the basics!"
The guardian angel was annoyed. "Whatsoever."
"Look, if you're my guardian angel, how come you don't have wings?"
Sander was even more annoyed now. "Nonsense, Mr. Yagami! Wings, black magic, and all those other ideas you've heard from religious diffusion, they're only superstition. Now, in the name of God, you will have the need to hear what I tell you and obey."
"No way. I mean, how am I even supposed to know if you're my guardian angel? Not to mention if there's really such a thing as guardian angels."
"Halt there. Your younger sister, Hikari, just ran out of film from her photo camera," Sander challenged.
"Right," Taichi replied sarcastically, "If so, she'd be here right n--"
"Oniisan! I need more film for my camera! Takeru-kun and I are taking pictures together for junior high school prom!" Hikari yelled as she raced towards her older brother.
Tai sighed in annoyance. He went towards the pantry and got out a roll of film. "Here you go," he muttered as he handed it to his younger sister. "Arigatou," Hikari said and ran back to Takeru.
"Fine, Sander. I'll put it your way," Taichi gave up.
"Oh, you better."
With that, the guardian angel vanished.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Really? ...and I thought it was just me!" Sora laughed.
Hard to believe, but she was actually having a great time. "You know, Junnosuke-san, I actually thought I was going to have a nightmare spending this time with you, but I guess I was wrong!"
"Well, you were!" Junnosuke responded.
Sora smiled. Junnosuke wasn't as bad as she thought. I think I'm getting attracted to him, she thought. It felt like being in another dimension of Earth. Was she feeling okay? Last time she checked, she was feeling horrified. What now?
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
I wonder how Sora's doing, Taichi thought. He decided to give up chocolate and popcorn for stress and listen to his guardian angel. When is he coming back?
He walked down the hallway of Odaiba High the next day at school. But something had caught his attention... the, unfortunately, wrong way.
Junnosuke was flirting with Sora.
And she didn't seem to mind at all.
"Oh, Tai! There you are!" Sora called. Taichi stared at her, blankness in his eyes. "Junnosuke-kun promises he won't beat you up ever again."
Junnosuke-kun?
"Oh... great news," Taichi faked a smile. He headed towards his locker in a disappointed manner, but not wanting to make it visible to anyone. "Sander, what am I gonna do?" he muttered, "This is starting to become one of the worst days of my life."
He looked back at Sora and Junnosuke, approximately forty-five people surrounding them. They're officially an item now, Taichi thought angrily. He could picture the news in his mind; the school newspaper would post an article saying, "HOT ITEM: Jock dating a non-cheerleader girlfriend."
"What do you think of another date? I'll pick you up at midnight this time," Taichi heard Junnosuke ask Sora.
"Sounds pretty romantic. Sure," she answered.
Taichi looked up at the ceiling. Oh God, what to do? What to do? I can't just stand here, I cannot bear to look at them together anymore.
"Konnichiwa, Taichi."
Taichi turned around. No one was there.
"Up here!"
Taichi looked up, and jumped in surprise. "What are you doing up there?" he asked, half muttering. He looked around, hoping no one could see him talking to this 'guardian angel' of his.
"Do not fret, Mr. Yagami, for no one is capable of perceiving me, other than you. Every soul surrounding you is invisible to me as well."
Tai shrugged. Whatever Sander said, he had to believe.
"I believe you called me here for some specific motive," Taichi's guardian angel said.
"I thought you knew that I called you for some specific motive," Tai talked back.
"Whatsoever. How is the auburn-haired girl doing?"
"Who? Sora?"
"This is nonsensical. Whom else besides Sora could it be?"
Taichi shrugged, as if he didn't care at all. "How is she doing?" Sander inquired.
"I don't know. Ask her."
Sander narrowed his eyes at Taichi. "How did I end up being the guardian angel of someone as stubborn as you?"
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Whoa, whoa, whoa... Tai, calm down!! I can't make out a single word you just said!" Yamato told Taichi between classes. Tai sighed. "Well, see... Junnosuke asked Sora out and..."
Poof.
"Taichi! Taichi! It is very urgent what I must tell you!" Sander exclaimed, appearing out of nowhere. Matt looked at Taichi, confused. "So what happened next?"
"What?" Taichi asked, obviously crazed by all this commotion. Sander and Matt sighed at the same time.
"There is something very important that I must tell you!"
"What happened next, after Junnosuke asked Sora out?"
Both statements were said at the same time. Tai jumped back. "Whoa..."
"Whoa what?" Matt and Sander asked at the same time. Oh, great, Taichi thought, remembering that Sander and Yamato weren't able to see each other. "Ugh, nothing! Matt, I'll talk to you later, okay?" Taichi told his friend, as he left to his next class. Sander followed.
"What do you have to tell me?" Tai asked, walking steadily.
"The auburn-haired girl by the surname of Takenouchi is enrolled in a big conflict! Taichi, you are her last prospect. I learned about her and that sports player seeing each other. You mustn't allow her to encounter him on their next appointment!"
"Why not?"
"Unless you want her to get hurt, DO NOT permit her to go!"
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Sora! Hey! There you are!"
Sora turned around to meet Tai's chocolate brown eyes. "Oh, hey Tai, how's it going?"
"I'm doing great. You?"
"So am I."
"How was your date with Junnosuke?" Taichi asked, "I mean, you know, you never got to tell me about it, so I was..."
"Yeah, it was great. I never expected him to be such a good person. He showed me his secret nice side," Sora responded, trying to get a soda can out of the vending machine. "Great," she groaned, slightly kicking the mechanism.
"Oh, sounds great," Tai remarked--not really meaning it, "Hey, uh... mind if I help you with that?" Taichi inquired, noticing she was having some trouble with the vending machine. He pressed a few buttons, until a can of Coke fell out. Tai reached to grab it and handed it to Sora.
"Um, thanks," she told him. The brunette simply smiled. "I have to go now. If you need any, ANY help, just ask me." He waved a quick goodbye and left.
"He's so sweet," Sora muttered, grinning.
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"Yo, Sor. Need me to walk ya home?" Junnosuke asked flirtingly, giving Sora an innocent grin. "Actually, Junno-san... I'm riding the bus today, I have a big project assigned," Sora replied, "Gotta go. Take care!"
"Bye, Sora-chan! Pick you up at midnight, sharp!"
As the ginger-haired girl exited the school, Tai came running towards her, catching his breath. "Sora... do you..." he said, panting. "Tai? What's going on?" Sora asked.
"Do you... want me to h-help you with your... project..?"
Sora giggled. "That's okay, I have to go... my bus is waiting."
"Are you sure you don't need help? Cause, you know, I am one hundred percent free today."
"Oh really?"
"Hai. I'm up to anything," Taichi said.
"I guess I could use a little--"
"I'm there!"
~~**~~**~~**~~**~~**~~
"You know, Tai, you don't really have to do this..." Sora told her locker partner, a little embarrassed about what he was doing. She had wanted him to help her on a few things, but Taichi was doing the whole project for her. "Oh, I don't mind... I write for everyone. Writing is my hobby," Tai answered, faking a smile.
"Okay...," Sora said, not quite convinced with Taichi's words. "Hold on, I'll be right back," she advised, as she headed to her room at her apartment. Sora picked up her school directory and began to search for "I"... Ishida... Yamato... "Here it is," she muttered. She began to dial his phone number on her telephone. "Hi, is Yamato there?"
"Yeah, it's me. Who is this?" Matt asked.
"It's Sora. Remember? Sora Takenouchi."
"Oh, yeah, I remember you. What's up?"
"It's Tai... he's been acting all weird today."
Yamato laughed. "I know."
"You... know...?"
"Um, never mind..."
"Anyway, I just wanted to know... does he do your homework for you?"
Yamato laughed really hard now. "No way! He won't even pass me an eraser!"
"Oh..."
"...Wait a minute. You mean he offered to do your homework?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Oh.. oh! Then, don't worry. Actually, he does that all the time... you know, when he has free time," Yamato said quickly, remembering that Tai was taking his advice.
"Oh, alright. Arigatou. Bai bai," said Sora, hanging up. Returning to the living room, where Tai was madly writing Sora's homework for her, she sat on the couch to watch him. "I just got off the phone with Matt," she said.
Tai stopped writing, dropped the pen, and turned to face her. "What? What did he tell you?" he asked, suddenly alerted. Sora shrugged. "He just said that you never pass him an eraser when you're not free," she stated.
Getting the wrong idea, Tai got a hold of Sora's hands. "Sora, you don't understand! I just wanted to help you," he begged, pouting his lips. "I never help him with his homework, because he, um, hates school!! Yeah, that's right. He doesn't even do his homework! He just needs an eraser so he can erase mine. I help you because.. uh... you need me."
Sora lifted an eyebrow at Tai's nervous grip on her hands. "Um... actually, he told me that you always help him in your free time."
Taichi let go of Sora's hands. "Oh... uh... well, yeah, I--no, I mean--HE'S LYING!"
Sora sweatdropped at Tai's response. "Really, Taichi... you're pretty freaky," she said. Heading to her room, she dialed Mimi's number on the telephone. "Moshi moshi?" Sora heard Mimi's voice.
"Hey Meems," Sora greeted weakly.
"Sora? What's going on?" Mimi asked.
"Tai's over... here."
"Need me to go there and kick his ass bye-bye?"
"Uh no, that's okay. I just think something's up with him."
"What is it?"
"He's doing my homework for me."
"Now something has to be up with him."
"That's just it. I wonder if he was born with it... you know, his craziness."
"Haha. Have you talked to him yet?"
"Yeah, I told him he didn't have to do it, but he's so stubborn."
"Yeah, but did you talk to him?" Mimi inquired.
"Yeah, I already told you. I told him he didn't have to do it, but he's--" Sora replied.
"No! I mean, did you ask him why he's doing your homework for you?"
"Well, not really, but he told me that he just wanted to help me... I just called Matt and he said that Tai did that all the time."
"Ha, he's lying. Covering up for his friend. I know him."
"So... what am I supposed to do?"
"Well, have you talked to Tai yet?"
"Yeah, I told him he didn't have to do it, but he's--"
"Ugh. Forget it, Sora. Just ask him why. Get him to shoot."
Mimi hung up. Sora did the same as she sighed and walked back to the living room. "Tai, let's talk," she declared.
"Sure, Sor," Taichi nodded as he let go of the pen. He was secretly glad that he could finally stop writing Sora's essay for a bit. Sora grabbed Tai's head, shook it, and knocked on it, as if it were a door. "Hello?! Anybody home?" she yelled.
"OW! Dang it, Sora! What the hell are you doing?" Tai rubbed his head, "And yes, I am home!"
"Taichi, you're up to something."
Still rubbing his head, Tai responded sarcastically, "So you finally found out."
Sora knitted her eyebrows. "What do you mean, 'so I finally found out'?"
Tai stopped rubbing and brought his hand to his mouth. "Did I say that out loud?"
"You did so," Sora answered angrily.
Tai sighed. "Is this the time to say sorry and leave?" he asked, rushing out the door. Tai got to Sora's front door, but was stopped by her firm grip on his arm. "No, this is the time to say sorry and explain."
Taichi groaned. "Okay... look, I'm sorry. I wanted to help you with your homework, because, uh, you looked so amazingly beautiful today at school," he faked a response and smile. Sora looked at the uniform she was wearing. "But I always wear this," she said.
"Um, but I meant... you know... the way you wear it. It's so stylish!" Tai tried to sound innocent.
Sora wrinkled her nose. "But everyone wears it this way."
"Uh," Tai tried to find something to say. "Talk about cheerleading! You should make the squad."
"Cheerleading?" Sora shook her head. "Not my thing. I play tennis."
"Well, the way you wear those clothes is fab! I mean, totally cool... you know, tennis-like. Now, if you'd excuse me, I'd like to go home. My parents are probably worried sick about me."
"But you said you were one hundred percent free."
"Uh... I was!"
"Spill it, Taichi."
Tai sighed. "Do you believe in guardian angels?"
Sora tightened her grip on Tai's arm. "Don't change the subject!"
"I'm not! Do you believe in guardian angels?"
"You could say so. Why?"
"My guardian angel told me to warn you about your date with Junnosuke. He says that you're going to end up hurt somehow."
Sora began to laugh. "Come on, Tai! That's bullshit! Admit it!"
"It's NOT!"
"Then prove it to me," Sora challenged.
"I can't! He can't see you, nor can you see him! He's my guardian angel, remember?"
"Fine. I can date Junnosuke if I want to, though."
Tai shrugged. "Do what you want. Regret as you want."
"So, is that all?"
"Yep."
"This for all that?"
"Yep."
"What's the biggie? I mean, you know I wouldn't believe such a thing."
"Yep--I mean, Sander told me, and I quote, 'Unless you want her to get hurt, DO NOT permit her to go.' What was I supposed to do? I didn't want you to get hurt or anything... but if you deny it, then... I can't do anything about that. Besides, it's not like I believe him either."
"Okay, fine. You can go now. Whatever," Sora said as she let go of Tai's arm. She slammed the door in his face. "HEY SORA! IF YOU GET HURT, YOU BETTER NOT BLAME ME!" she heard Tai's voice yell. "Stupid Tai," she muttered to herself.
Sora glanced at her watch and gasped. "It's eleven o'clock. Gotta go shower and get dressed!"
