What 'Love' Means to Me

By theladyknight

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, any of its characters, or the song "Bright Lights" by Matchbox Twenty.

A/N: Chapter 8, Sora's departure. I switched to Sora's POV near the end, but you'll be able to tell when. This chapter was so hard to write but go read on to find out what happens. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! You guys are so awesome! Anyways please R&R and enjoy!

Meimi-san: Thank you! I'm glad you were able to confess your feelings, hopefully Yama will be able to as well…

Yume-dream: Sounds like a good idea to me! Hope you like this chapter…

Yama-sama: I love the idea! But I didn't end up using it. Hope the one I used is ok.

Sorato4eva: I answered that in here somewhere…I think…

Chapter 8: Bright Lights

This is it. In exactly two hours, Sora will be heading for another country; Lord knows if I'll ever see her again. I rolled out of my bed to the sound of my persistent alarm signifying it was five o'clock.

I've spent the past three weeks dreading this day and now it is finally here. And I was definitely not ready for it. I halfheartedly got out of bed, yawning, making my way to the shower. I turned on the faucet letting the water flow down, not caring that it was ice cold. Who really cares about anything anymore?

My shower ended, and I climbed out, putting on a robe and just sitting on my bed. Slowly I walked over to my dresser and grabbed the cd and the long note I'd written her. I was planning on giving it to her today before she left. But that was back when I'd assumed I'd already told her I love her.

Everyone had to choose the wrong time to interrupt us. Every free time I got with her, I tried to confess my love for her, but someone always would appear. Between all the fast songs and the fact Sora had to mingle with the other guests, I ran out of chances. Ishida, you have to tell her today or you're never going to get over it.

I glanced at the clock, realizing I had better get ready. Because of the all the security measures and the large amount of things the Takenouchis were taking with them, we the Chosen had all agreed to meet as early as possible in order to get our goodbyes out of the way.

It was a sad day for all of us, not just me. Sora meant so much to each and every one of us, and this goodbye would be one of the hardest things we would ever have to face. To say we would shed a few tears would be an understatement. I have a feeling even I, someone who hardly ever lets their emotions show, will be crying by the time Sora takes her last steps in Japan.

There was a knock on my door. Knowing it was my father and that it was time to go, I grabbed the cd and letter and made my way out the door. Traffic wasn't too bad but considering what was going to be happening in a few hours, made the trip seem like an eternity.

Finally we approached the airport. My father drove around searching for a parking spot though he didn't have much trouble finding one at this time in the morning. I walked slowly behind him, feeling as though I was walking to my doom. "Yamato, let's go." Dad said, turning around and looking at me, eyes full of sympathy. My father, though our relationship hadn't always been the greatest, truly cared about me right now. He could sense the inner turmoil I was facing and just seemed to understand the dilemma in my life.

We walked in an unnerving silence, looking around the terminal for familiar faces. Directly in front of us sitting in a chair was Taichi along with Hikari and his parents. His parents were good friends of the Takenouchis, and they were nearly in the same boat as the rest of us. Taichi, well words don't even begin to describe the way Taichi is acting. I've really never seen him like this before. Hikari had already begun to shed tears, though I saw no sign or Sora and her family.

I looked around the corner and saw both Mimi and Koushiro with their families. Mimi was nearly beside herself so Koushiro took her hand and led her over to us. Jyou and Takeru came over to the group from opposite sides of the terminal.

We all looked at each other able to see the suffering we all were facing as a whole, yet the individual sufferings as well. My eyes traveled to each chosen, greeted by the miserable expressions on every face. Everyone had their own memories of Sora that were special and important to them. Yet again, the eight of us were facing another challenging situation and just like always, we were in it together.

Jyou finally broke the silence in a labored voice. "It's 6:15. Where do you think they are?"

"I'm…" Taichi managed to say, "I'm sure they're coming. Maybe they…got hung up."

"They'll be here." Hikari answered quietly, wrapping her brother up in a hug, which would be the first of many today. Our normally loud happy group waited in silence. No one wanted to say anything. The minutes passed and there was no sign of the Takenouchis.

I had taken to pacing around the chairs. My little brother put a hand on my shoulder trying to calm me down, but I shrugged him off. Mimi's perfect nails and manicure were going to waste as she sat in between Koushiro and Hikari biting them nervously. Taichi kept glancing at the west entrance while Jyou was watching the east entrance. 6:30, 6:35, where are they?

Our parents were looking just as frustrated and worried as we were. My father and the Yagamis were making very sparse conversation, attempting to pass the time. The other parents just sat on the chairs, feeling how down and depressed their children were.

I watched the other people around the terminal, still keep up my pacing. There was an elderly man and woman, both sipping coffee and getting ready to board their flight. I saw a young family with three kids, all of whom had to be under five. A couple, most likely in their early twenties was saying their goodbyes. The guy held his girlfriend in his arms and was kissing her passionately. If I had been able to tell Sora I loved her last night, would that be the way we would have looked this morning?

"This is hopeless!" Taichi finally reached his breaking point. "I'm outta here. She's not coming!" Everyone stared at him. He and Sora had known each other longer than any of the rest of us, and he was giving up on her.

"Taichi," I began only to be interrupted.

"You are giving up on me, Yagami? Boy, I thought we were friends!" We all looked to see the speaker with her eyebrows raised. Sora stood in front of us with a mountain of bags behind her along with her parents. Sora's mom and dad walked over to say their goodbyes to the Yagamis while Sora wrapped Taichi in a hug.

" Nah, I knew you were coming."

"I'm gonna miss you, oh fearless leader." Sora answered in response. Suddenly Taichi lost it. He buried her head in her shoulder and started to cry. "Sora, it's not going to be the same without you. Who's going to laugh at all my jokes? Who's going to translate all the big words Koushiro uses? Who's going to remind me when Hikari's birthday is? Who's going to break up all the arguments Yama and I get into about who has the better hair? Who.." Sora cut him off, giggling at first then laughing.

Taichi stopped crying. "Taichi calm down! Somebody will laugh at your jokes, and well just about everyone could translate for you."

"Not Yamato!" Taichi exclaimed. "He didn't understand what Koushiro was going off about the other day."

I rolled my eyes. Leave it to Taichi to come up with something like that at a time like this. "Baka." I murmured catching Jyou's eye.

"Taichi, would you please listen!" Sora exclaimed. "There is a little device, I'm not sure if you've heard of it, it's kind of a technological wonder, you know, a computer with e-mail. And every now and then if it's really important I'll waste my money building up a phone bill just to listen to your troubles. I'll be able to remind you when your sister's birthday is along with everyone else's. And you and Yama hardly fight anymore. If you do it should be nothing Mimi couldn't handle." Taichi looked at me, and we both gulped. He didn't want to be on Mimi's bad side again. "And besides, Yama's got the better hair; there's no argument."

I gave Taichi a look of triumph. Wait a minute, she likes my hair best! Yay! He folded his arms. "He does not have the best hair. But I guess you're right. I'm going to miss you a lot. You're like another little sister to me." Sora rolled her eyes as the rest of us laughed. "What?"

"I may have to remind you when my birthday is too, Tai. I'm older than you." Taichi flushed crimson.

"I knew that." He gave Sora one last hug and a kiss on her cheek, causing Sora to let a few tears fall down her face. This made me burn with rage.

"Calm down, Yama. Didn't you just hear what he said?" Keru whispered.

"Huh," I replied pretty confused.

"He thinks of her as a sister, not a love interest." I looked at Taichi and Sora and then back to Keru. A smile lit up my face.

"I can work with that!" I responded, knowing I had to have the goofiest smile on my face.

Sora then moved onto Hikari. "Sora, I'm going to miss you so much. You've always been an older sister to me and you've been my role model, especially considering Taichi is my brother." Her response earned a smile from Sora and a vehement muffled exclamation from her brother.

"Take care, Hikari. Look out for everyone, mainly the troublemakers," she said causing both the girls to laugh. "I'm going to miss you so much and miss seeing you grow up." The waterworks had started. I could tell by 7:00 each of us would shed their own fair share of tears. Sora gave the younger girl one last hug and whispered something in Hikari's ear that made the bearer of light blush.

The Takenouchis made their way to Taichi and Hikari saying their own goodbyes. I looked at our group of digidestined and realized my luck. I was last again. Glancing at my watch, I realized Sora would have to make her goodbyes even shorter. They had fifteen minutes until their flight began boarding. Sora gave Jyou, then Koushiro each a hug, tears coming through the laughter they all shared.

I could hear my watch ticking away. Hurry Sora, I need to tell you. She made her way to Mimi, and I knew the tears would really flow here. None of us could hear any of the exchange between the two, but it nearly brought tears to all of our eyes. Mimi gave Sora the large photo album, which Sora placed in her carry-on bag and promised to look at during the long flight.

After one last hug, the two girls separated, each bearing tears running down their face. Sora's parents caught her attention and told her to wrap it up. They needed to make their plane. Takeru and I both stepped over to Sora. Frankly, I want to tell Sora I love her when we are alone, but considering Takeru already knows and time is running out, I'll work with it.

Sora wrapped Takeru in a hug, both of them alternating between laughing and crying at some memories. She knocked off Takeru's fisherman hat and ruffled his hair in a loving gesture. I saw my younger brother trying to keep it together but fail. Sora, just as she had done to Hikari, whispered something in my little bro's ear that made him blush.

Tears began forming in my eyes as Sora made her way to me. "Yama…" she started.

"Sora! We have to go. Make it quick." Sora and I looked at each other, tears falling from both our eyes.

"Stay strong." I whispered, brushing the tears from her eyes. "Sora, I lov…"

"Flight 88 to New York City…" I drowned out the rest. That was my last chance to tell Sora…

"Here," she whispered brushing a slip of paper into my hand as her parents yelled at her once more. I squeezed her hand and pulled out the cd and note, putting it in her bag though I don't think she noticed. There was no time to explain and no chance to say three little words. The rest of the chosen encircled us. I kissed her cheek as her parents frantically began picking up their bags. Sora slowly released herself from my grasp, letting her hands travel to my face and repeat the gesture I had done moments before, clearing the tears from my eyes.

She picked up her bags and the eight chosen joined in a group hug. We all parted, allowing Sora to follow her family to board the plane. Tears began from all our faces. My shoulders began to shake as Sora turned around once more; tears again built up in her eyes as she gave one final wave goodbye.

I gave my brother a pat on the shoulders as he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Yama."

"It's not your fault, Keru." I whispered back, looking around at the other digidestined. Hikari and Jyou were attempting to comfort Taichi while Koushiro was hugging Mimi tightly. "Fate just has a weird way of bringing two people together and then slapping them in the face at the last moment."

"You two will be together someday," Takeru said, looking up at me, his blue eyes full of hope.

"Yeah," I answered wistfully. "That is if I can ever get a minute alone with her to get the last two words out…"

Takeru continued his talk. "Love and friendship belong together, Yamato, and I know they will be."

One by one we managed to get up and get ready to leave. "Big brother, what was that thing Sora gave you before she had to leave?" Keru questioned.

"I don't know." I answered. "I'll open it on the ride back." Then I got an idea. It was just past seven and I didn't want to spend the whole day wallowing in self-pity and despair. "Come back with us, Keru. We can hang out together today. I would much rather have someone with me today than be alone."

"Me too, Yama." He answered. "I'll go check. Tell Dad not to leave without me though." Takeru ran over to our mother and began talking quickly. I caught her glance but looked away. Takeru ran back over and nodded. "She said I can go."

Dan walked over and after learning Takeru would be coming with us, led us out to the van. Keru and I both stopped when we heard the sound of a plane taking off. We looked above us at the sight of Sora's plane flying overhead, off on its way to New York. Goodbye, Sora.

Keru and I climbed into the van and dad took off. I pulled the piece of paper out of my pocket and read:

Yama,

By the time you're reading this, I'm probably off on my way to NY. I just wanted to tell you how much I'm going to miss you and be thinking of you when we're out there. Mom and Dad bought me a cell phone before we left so I wouldn't have to use our phone, wracking up a phone bill. Believe me, I would have too. My number's at the bottom, and I hope I'll talk to you, and the others, of course, when I land. Please pass it on to the others from me. I've gotta go, Mom and Dad and yelling at me telling me we'll be late if I don't get my butt moving out the door. People just seem to have a way of interrupting the two of us when we're attempting to communicate, don't they? See you there—Sora

I cracked a smile. Even in the worst times, Sora can still keep her sense of humor. I showed the note to Takeru who muttered something along the lines of meant for each other, but I really didn't catch it. Looking at the phone number I knew that just between the two of us we'd have a very large phone bill. If only there was a way we could talk face to face. As we pulled up back at the apartment I wondered how much money I would have to save up to buy a plane ticket to New York…

-Sora's POV-

I brushed the tears out of my eyes as I looked out the window of the plane. My mom quickly offered me the window seat though I just shrugged my shoulders.

"Sora, honey, it's not as bad as it seems. Everything will get better, you'll see." Yeah everything would be better if you all would stop interrupting Yama when he had something important to tell me! He was so close each time, I could hear the words in my mind, but then again, I may have been imagining things.

The flight attendant stepped in the middle of the aisle and began going over the safety precautions. I completely drowned her out, not really caring what she was saying. Finally the plane took off, separating me from Japan and taking us to our new life in America, something I was really not looking forward to.

My reunion with my friends had been way to short. I guess that was partly my fault. I had been putting off writing a note to Yama until the last minute and just couldn't seem to get the words I wanted to say all on paper. I was going to miss them all so much. Each of them meant something a little different to me, and they were the best friends I ever had.

Thinking of that, I remembered the scrapbook Mimi had given me. She had begged me to look at it on the flight, and seeing as though I had nothing better to do or nothing I wanted to do more, I dug through my carry-on bag in search of the large, pink, go figure, book. But it wasn't the heavy book that caught my eye. It was something else. There was a cd case bearing a shiny new cd and a long letter attached to it. My curiosity got the better of me. I opened up the letter recognizing the handwriting right away.

Sora,

I can't believe you really are leaving for New York. I assumed the eight of us would always be close by each other, growing up and old together. Can't you just see us sitting around a tree in the park with our canes and walkers wondering if Taichi's ever going to cut his hair! J/K, though I do wonder about that sometimes…but moving on, the real reason I'm writing this is well, damn I'm bad at this. Sor, you've meant so much to me, and I'm lucky as hell to have you as a friend. When I first met you I never assumed we would end up as friends. You were the friendly tomboy that everyone loved, and I was the cold distant loner. Guess we proved them all wrong! We've been through so much together. I remember that time when Myotismon caught Hikari and you went and slapped me. I can still feel the sting on my cheek. Remind me never to be on your bad side. I've spent the past three weeks running old memories through my head so much I've worn them out. You were probably the main reason I changed from such a heartless jerk into the person I am today. If I had never met you, I'd be very afraid to see the guy I am today. Thanks to you so many of my wishes and dreams have come true with more to come, hopefully. I bet by now you're wondering about the cd in front of you. The fact you have it is thanks to you as well, if that makes any sense at all. You were the one who encouraged me to talk to the television executive and she ended up agreeing to everything I asked her. She also told me if me and the guys ever wanted to try out the recording studio a friend of hers owns she'd be more than happy to let us use it, especially if she could sit in. Well I took her up on the offer wanting to make the cd for you. Sora, you're one hard person to shop for. Mimi and Hikari would be happy with perfume or something along those lines, but I wanted to give that actually held a lot of meaning. And then bam! this gift was born. These nine songs, though quite honestly I had a lot more chosen, have all been thoughts running through my head for the past few weeks. Every time I thought or heard the song, the first and only thing on my mind was you. Wow, I just realized how corny that sounds. But back to the cd, I went in the studio the other day and recorded these songs just for you. I spent a good deal of time preparing them and hope you like them and realize how much meaning I put into them especially after what I'm planning to tell you tonight. Your party starts in an hour so I'd better go get ready. I guess the point of this long-winded, corny letter is that I'm really gonna miss you Sor. Things aren't going to be the same without you, and I'm gonna be thinking about you an awful lot. And you'd better know I'm expecting a phone call the minute you get to your new place in New York. I don't care what time of the day it is here. I'll get it trouble more than once if I have to in order to talk to you. Love you forever, Yama

I finished reading the letter and felt the tears come back into my eyes. Then the realization hit me. Oh my Lord, that really was what he was trying to tell me the whole time. But then again maybe it wasn't. I reread the letter. I think it is! Oh my Lord! My face immediately lit up and a large smile appeared.

The people in front of me were giving me strange looks so I gave them a smaller, forced smile. Soon they returned to their business. I pulled out a cd player looking at the tracks Yama had recorded for me. Feel, She Will Be Loved, Walk On (A/N: starting to sound familiar…you know the rest…I own none of them!) and six others. I put the note away and pulled out the large pink book. Suddenly my day was looking a little brighter. I flipped through the pages looking at the pictures and recalling all the memories. I knew the people in front of my were probably thinking I'd flipped my lid or something but I didn't care. I looked at a picture of Yama and me in the swimming pool and had to stop and think. I wonder if there's a way I can meet the others, particularly a certain blond face to face. The sooner the better…

A/N: So what'd you all think? The fic is almost done. Next chapter is full of surprises and will be up soon. Hope you guys enjoyed it and I'm off to work on Artistic Differences. Please Review!