Again, this chapter might and very well is a bit choppy. I'm really getting nervous with it. Lol Wondering if this is actually making any sense. Erm . . . well I hope it is . . .

Uh . . . sorry if the relationship between the Dad and Matt is stupid . . . Matt' s Dad's name is Malcolm right?

center}---Chapter 8: Bump in with Tai

(Still two weeks earlier)

The clock chimed signifying that it was now seven o' clock. Sora sighed. Matt had never called her back. She wanted to speak with him so badly. She needed to tell him how she felt.

But ever since that night with Tai . . . there had been little talking between her and Matt. Tai eventually regained Matt's friendship, and of that Sora was infinitely jealous. It had been almost a year since that night. After high school had ended, she hadn't seen him much, and then when he had gone off to college, she hardly heard from him at all.

She let out a slight sigh. She just wanted to make things better between them. She understood that after all that had happened, they could never be girlfriend and boyfriend again, but perhaps, they could be friends. That's why she had called, to make things better. But apparently Matt didn't want to 'make things better.' If he had, then he would have called.

She shook her head again and decided maybe she should just go out for a walk. Her mom wouldn't be back from visiting friends until tomorrow, and Sora was not too thrilled at the idea of having to cook her own diner, so perhaps taking a walk wasn't a bad idea. At least then she could get a decent meal from that sushi restaurant down the street.

As she walked down the block, a crisp summer breeze swept up her hair. She took it in greedily. The weather was not going to be like this for much longer. In just a few short days the full power of the summer swelter would set in and God Awful Heat would reign until fall.

As she walked into the sushi restaurant she smiled. She had not been here for a long time. Not since she had left for college at least. This used to be a favorite lunch spot for the former digidestined. A lot of fond memories were made here. Lost in her thoughts, she wasn't looking where she was going, and unceremoniously collided into the shoulder of a very tall man.

Apologizing profusely, and extremely flustered, Sora looked up to see the face of the man, and was stunned when she recognized it.

"Tai?"

"Sora, I—hello, how are you?"

Their eyes met, and suddenly feelings from long ago came rushing back. They wouldn't leave each others side until morning . . .

(hehe)

}---

(still still two weeks earlier)

Matt woke up slowly. He was so tired. His head throbbed in pain. What the hell had happened?

"So you're awake," a familiar voice said from beside him.

Matt slowly turned to look into the face of his father, "what happened?" Matt asked. He could honestly not remember. He had come home after the fight and then . . . the fight.

Matt's heart fell, and an overwhelming sadness descended upon him. His fault. His fault. He had betrayed TK.

Matt shook his head, no he had to stop thinking that way. But still the ache in his heart continued. It was so hard to resist . . .

"You tell me," his father's voice responded.

Matt shook his head softly, "I don't remember."

A frown crossed his fathers face, "Maybe you hit your head then."

"What? Dad what are you talking about—why are you here? Weren't you leaving to go to Israel?"

Matt's fathers face grew troubled, "I was, but then remembered that I had forgotten to leave the grocery money on the table for you. I delayed my flight to come back and give it to you but when I got here you were passed out on the floor."

"I—"Matt was stunned, he could honestly not remember going unconscious, "I—how did I?"

"I don't know," His father shook his head, "but the floor is always a bit slippery in the kitchen. And when I came in the shower was running. You probably just slipped. Does your head hurt?"

Matt grimaced, "Hell yeah."

Matt's father laughed, "Well take this then," he said handing Matt two Advil's, "That's probably what you did, just slipped. I don't see any bumps, but then again under all that hair of yours . . ."

"Hey, don't diss the hair," Matt retorted defensively.

His father smiled, satisfied that his son was back to his old, hair loving self. "Alright then, you go back to sleep."

"Wait, what about your flight."

His father shook his head, "I'm not going any where, not after I come home and find my son lying on the floor unconscious!"

Matt frowned, "Dad, I'm fine. You said it yourself. I probably just slipped. Go to Israel. I'll call you if anything else happens."

Matt's father reached out to hold Matt's hand, "Israel can wait. I'm not leaving until I know that you're ok."

Matt smiled up at his father, 'maybe I should fall down more often,' he thought, marveling at the change in his father's demeanor.

Finally, for once in his life, the news, waited.

}---

The black cloud scowled at the father from the shadows of the house. He had been so close to consuming the boy, so close! And then the father came and ruined it! And now, Friendship was actually gaining strength from his father.

The darkness scowled. No matter, he had twisted memories before, this would be no different.

He longed to corrupt the father's thoughts, but in order for the boy to serve his purpose, the darkness would need all the strength it could muster. A digidestined, especially the digidestined of Friendship, should never be underestimated.

For now he would wait. But as soon as the father left, he would make his move . . .

}---

If you don't like Taiora disregard the first half of the next chapter, its not terribly important. I don't even know why I put it in there. ::shrugs:: Although, for all you die hard 'I - have -to- read -every- -single- reference -to- yama -even -if- it's -a- minuet - detail' fans –like myself—there is a slight, and I mean slight, reference you might be interested in. Just wanted to give you guys a heads up. It's really nothing special though.

Reion

June 26, 2003

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