Hello to all! This one is called Kenshin Himura...however I'm sure that some of you unfortunately know me as "Hitokiri Battosai", the "man-slayer." For now, I'll be filling in for the author called Whose Liner and his assistant Mr. Disclaimer. They're both much too busy writing up more of this fanfic, that they are. This one has never attempted narrating a disclaimer before, but I shall do my best...ahem...I do not own Digimon, that I don't. Oro! Hmm...that seemed quite easy, that it did...
PREVIOUSLY...
Life for the Digidestined has certainly been anything but boring. But they would soon realize that their newest situation would definitely take the cake. The "main brain" of the group, Izzy Izumi, tracked an enigmatic source of energy in the Digital World. Him and the other Digidestined found that it originated from another digivice, which in turn, belonged to a double of Sora Takenouchi, one of their own. It wasn't easy reintroducing her into the real world, but she soon thereafter managed to really make something of herself. She was reunited with her old Digidestined buddies, she struck up a long-awaited (and "delayed") blossoming romantic relationship with her best friend Tai Kamiya, things started to patch up between her parents, and if that weren't enough, she joined Tai's soccer team, whom she helped to win their semi-final round. But things aren't over. Another rouge energy source has been spotted, and Izzy is hot on its trail...
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Second Chances For Sora - Chapter 12
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The segment of the apartment building that belonged to Sora Takenouchi and her parents was almost as empty as a dry well. Except for one person.
"Sora?" yelled another voice that entered the rooms.
(Actually, make that two.)
Matt Ishida ran his hand through his blonde hair and sighed at the disappointment of finding no one. But his ears picked up some sniffling sounds coming from one of the bedrooms.
Cautiously opening the door, he peaked in and saw his girlfriend sitting at her desk, sniffling and making additional (and rather unpleasant) sounds. Matt sighed again as he saw her burying her face in her hands.
Sora didn't even jump when Matt put his hand on her shoulder.
"Hey..."
"M-Matt?" she said, sniffing again.
"What's going on? How come you weren't watching the soccer game yesterday?"
"I just couldn't...not with THEM there..."
"Who?"
"Tai and...her."
"Oh," Matt said in his softest voice, nodding.
"Matt, I'm losing Tai."
"Huh?"
"Ever since my 'twin' appeared, she been everything that I haven't been..."
"And what's that?"
"A good...BEST friend...to Tai...and everyone else."
"What?!"
"When you and I hooked up...I was really happy. But I was so...blinded...by my newfound feelings for you, that I pushed almost everyone away...even Tai. And now...now I MISS him! I really miss having my best friend around!"
"I'm sure he felt the same way when you and I started dating."
"Then I'm also sure that I'm experiencing what he felt."
"And how does it feel?"
"It feels terrible," she said, almost whispering. "What should I do?"
"Sora...the best thing to do right now, would be to apologize to him. That would definitely be the first step towards feeling better."
"I don't know...he's already got a NEW best friend..."
"You don't believe that any more than I do," Matt said confidently. "You're the most important thing to him. Tai would never forget about you."
"I'm so confused. Matt...just...please...hold me for now."
Sora got out of her chair and slumped to her knees near her bed, ready to cry a little bit more. Matt kneeled beside her and held her in his arms.
He then apologized for not making more time for them to spend together. Kissing the top of her head, he assured her that everything would work out.
"Sunny, this'll NEVER work out! HOW am I gonna explain all of this to Eggman??? Now put my eyes back onto my face before I get REALLY mad!"
Tai and T.K. laughed hysterically at the television until they thought their heads would burst into flames. Kari walked in through the door just in time to hear them.
The Kamiya daughter had been out running some errands, and set her small bag of groceries down. Although the laughing of the two boys was growing increasingly annoying, she was still glad that Tai was really starting and now continuing to feel better. It had seemed like lifetimes since she heard her brother laugh so hard and loud. She smiled lovingly at both males whom she loved a lot.
T.K. saw Kari, however, and greeted her first.
"Hey, Kari!" he said giving her a small kiss on the cheek.
Kari giggled and gave T.K. and her brother a big hug. Then she switched her attention to the television. She quickly grabbed the remote and pressed the "MUTE" button.
"HEY!" the two boys yelled.
"Tai, are you still into that weirdo show!?!" Kari asked.
"Hey, 'Tokyo Pig' is nothing to sneeze at!" Tai argued.
"Yeah, that show really knows how to bring on the unexpected!" T.K. added.
"Whatever," Kari said, rolling her eyes. "Anyway, bro...I need to talk with T.K."
"Talk about what, Kari?" T.K. asked.
"Our plans for tonight, remember?"
"OH! Right!"
Tai chuckled as Kari dragged T.K. over to the dinner table so they could talk privately about their upcoming date.
While the two of them chatted, Tai turned the television's volume back on, and continued to watch his program.
"So, how about it, T.K.? Does a date at the 'Mega-Mania Arcade' sound good to you?" Kari asked after a few minutes of debating where to go for the evening.
"Hey, you don't see me complaining!" T.K. cheerfully replied. But his attention switched when he saw Tai laugh at the television.
"Umm, Kari...? I think I missed a REALLY funny part..." T.K. said in an unmistakable begging voice.
Kari sighed, and then immediately giggled in the cutest fashion.
"You really wanna watch that show, doncha?" she asked with a half-smile.
T.K. clasped his hands together, grinned and nodded like an idiot.
Kari continued to smile and nodded, too. "Okay, man-o'-mine...go ahead."
"Yes!" T.K. happily hissed and lightly (but firmly) cupped Kari's face and passionately kissed her soft, pink lips. Then he raced over to where Tai was and jumped over the back of the couch to land next to him.
Kari looked at the clock, and saw that the television show was only half over, so she knew then and there that she would have to find someway to amuse herself for the next fifteen minutes or so.
But before she could get down to "business", the doorbell rang. Eager for something to do, (as trivial as answering the door is) she nearly raced to their apartment entrance, since it was clear that T.K. and/or Tai weren't about to do it themselves.
Kari unlocked the door and opened it to be greeted with the sight of-
"Sora! Hey, what are you doing here?" Kari exclaimed, semi-cheerfully.
"What else?! I came to do only the most important thing on this planet! Hug and hold that hunk of a brother of yours!" Sora said, readily rubbing her hands together.
"Gotcha...come on in!" Kari laughed, further opening the door to let Sora in.
"Sooo...where are you hiding that brave, buff boyfriend of mine?!" she asked impatiently.
Kari said nothing, but smiled as she pointed towards the couch.
Both girls walked over to the couch, and gently wrapped their arms around their boyfriends' necks. Kari continued to be silent, but dragged T.K. off the couch and into her room, to let Sora and her brother be alone for a few minutes.
Tai was glad to see that Sora was present, but protested when she grabbed the remote control and the television's sound went out again.
"Hey! What didja do THAT for?!"
Sora laughed as she leaned against the back of the couch and briefly stared at the TV screen.
"I think it would be more appropriate to ask about what the heck you're watching?"
"Oh...it's a kiddy cartoon called 'Tokyo Pig'...about this little kid named Spencer and his pet pig, Sunny..."
"Uh, huh...and?"
"Well, the real kicker is that Sunny had all these cool powers and he usually uses them to get Spencer into trouble without even trying!"
Tai grabbed the remote from Sora's hand and turned the sound back on.
"-the last time, Lizzie...GIVE ME MY HOMEWORK BACK!!!"
"Yah, right! I'm much more educational than your dumb 'ol homework!"
Tai laughed, and Sora just rolled her eyes.
"Who's that annoying little brat?!" Sora asked, pointing at the screen.
"That's Dizzie Lizzie, Spencer's little sister," Tai answered. "She's a handful, but really funny."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Mm-hm...and she's sorta cute in her own way."
"More cute than moi?"
"Well...I wouldn't go THAT far..." Tai nervously answered.
"Good boy!" Sora mockingly said, putting her hand on Tai's head and messing up his hair (if that's possible).
Once again, Sora took the remote from Tai, but THIS time she used it to turn the TV off.
"SORA?" Tai asked, raising his voice and turning to face his girlfriend.
But the only response he got was a swift helping of lips pressed against his. As Sora pulled away Tai hastily asked her why she turned the TV off.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Tai..." Sora said, getting onto the couch and pinning her boyfriend down, "...did you want to kiss the TV instead?"
"No, but I really wanted to finish watching it!" Tai insisted.
"In that case, whaddya say to a little wager, buddy?"
"What kinda wager?"
"If you can wrestle this here remote control outta my hands, I'll let you finish watching your show."
"Uh...I don't think so! No way!"
"Hey, I don't see what the big deal is! Besides, we used to wrestle all the time when we were kids."
"Yeah, when we were kids..."
"Look, it's your choice, pal. Do you wanna finish watching or not?"
Tai groaned and rubbed his forehead before responding.
"Forget it, Sora...I'm not gonna wrestle my girlfriend-" Tai said, partially at a loss for words.
"Aw, whassa matter?" Sora said, in a teasing voice. "Too afraid to take on your girl for a teeny-weenie TV remote control?"
Tai was fully aware that Sora wasn't trying to be mean...she was just acting like herself. She was being playful, in her own way. But he also knew that she was dead serious about the wrestling thing.
And Tai did want to see how his show would conclude.
He immediately acted without thinking as he hungrily lunged for the remote in Sora's hand.
"Well...that sounds fun, too!" T.K. said.
"Wait a minute, I got a great idea!" Kari said, raising her index finger. "Why don't we invite Sora and my brother to tag along?"
"Hey, yeah! Sorta like a double date!"
"Sounds good, right?"
"Of course! Let's invite them right now!"
T.K. chuckled as he grabbed Kari's face and kissed her. The two of them held hands as they walked out of her bedroom. Entering the living room, they couldn't see their two friends, but heard strange sounds coming from the living room couch.
"Uh...Tai?" Kari said, raising her voice a little.
For a moment, she heard nothing but groans, soon followed by a burst of exhaled breaths.
"K...K...Kari?" Tai said out of breath, peeking his head over the couch.
T.K. looked a little worried for a moment as Tai's face was covered in sweat and he was breathing quite heavily.
"Hiiii..." said a female voice, which sounded equally fatigued.
T.K.'s eyes widened as he saw Sora rise up behind Tai, holding him firmly in a headlock and lightly punching him in the side.
Kari was very confused until she saw the TV remote in one of Sora's hands.
"T.K.! K-Kari! Good...good to see ya!" Tai exclaimed, trying in vain, to free himself of his girlfriend's grasp.
"Should, uh...should we come back...later?" T.K. hesitantly asked.
"No...no! Not at all!" Tai said, in a still-out-of-breath voice.
"Yeah...he...he needed a br...breather, anyway!" Sora added between puffs and wheezes.
"Tai...please tell me that you weren't trying to wrestle Sora for control over the remote," Kari said, as she crossed her arms with a half-smile. "You know she kicks your butt everytime."
Sora and Tai stared at each other before realizing how foolish they were being. Sora was the first to respond to that little revelation.
"Truce?"
"Truce."
Tai was finally released from his tight headlock, and his sister heard a loud "thump" as he hit the floor, inhaling large quantities of much needed oxygen.
The two younger kids laughed, and informed the two older teens of their invitation to join them on their date. Naturally, Sora and Tai could hardly pass up the chance to have some fun (in one way or another).
"But what about money?" Tai asked.
"Oh, no worries there," T.K. promptly answered. "Kari and I convinced our parents to pay for everything. And I'm sure they'll throw in a little extra for you two, as well."
"Yeah, and I still have some leftover money that Mimi lent me," Sora added.
"Cool, sounds great!" Tai said happily.
Kari still couldn't get used to how cheerful her big brother was now, not that she was complaining. It had been too long since she had seen his brother like this, happy AND content. Maybe it was Sora. Maybe Tai's friend was the key to keeping him happy. After all, Tai and Sora had known each other all their lives. And maybe Sora would also remain happy as long as she was with Tai, no matter what the circumstances.
The four kids continued their conversation at the kitchen table, while Kari got some drinks for everyone.
"So when do we head out?" Tai asked.
"Uh...we were thinking about seven or so?" T.K. suggested, then turning the girl sitting next to him, "Does that fit with your schedule, Sora?"
"WHAT schedule? I'm not going to school right now," Sora said, rolling her eyes.
Tai and T.K. chuckled a little.
"Right, right..." T.K. said. "Sorry, I forgot."
It would roughly be about three hours before the four friends headed out, so they spent their time chatting, and playing games both of the video and board variety. Though three hours could be considered by some as an eternity, time flew for all of them and Mrs. Kamiya was home in time to drive them all to the Mega-Mania Arcade.
But unfortunately, Kari forgot a couple things to pick up when she went to the nearby grocery store, and Mrs. Kamiya simply HAD to point it out. However, Tai volunteered to do it. Sora offered (and nearly insisted) to come with him, but Tai said he could do it alone and quickly.
Tai ran a little down the block from his apartment building, enjoying the nice, cool, late afternoon air, while his thoughts ran around almost as fast as he was.
Not that I'm getting sick of Sora...but if she came along, she'd NEVER keep her hands off me...and after that recent ugly session with the remote control, I NEED some air.
The teenager laughed a little to himself, but then he stopped to think again. Something in his head clicked, and it presented itself in a partially identifiable form, like someone walking through a cloud of mist. Though Tai wasn't always the best at catching on quickly sometimes, this one moment would be an exception.
Sora Takenouchi.
Not the tomboyish, funny, headstrong, wacky, soccer-playing, childhood (and BEST) friend of his that he had opened his heart to. His mind was referring to the feminine, serious, disciplined, realistic, tennis-playing friend who broke his big heart in two.
Now that he thought about it, he really hadn't seen her in a while since that nasty little episode when his sister slapped her. But now it seemed that-
GASP!
Tai stop moving when he saw the person in front of him, who had gasped.
"S...Sora?" he said.
Speak of the devil.
"Tai?'
One thing was true about THIS Sora...she definitely looked more feminine, compared to the girl who was hanging out back at his place. Tai eyed Sora closely. She was wearing black shoes, a short maroon skirt, pale purple shirt, and a short, light blue coat over it. Not to mention she had also applied a little makeup on her already pretty face. Tai then just barely noticed the small white spherical-shaped earrings in her pierced ears.
Funny...I recall Sora saying something about her hating makeup and jewelry when we were younger...so much for that.
"Hey, Tai..." she started to say. One of Tai's eyebrows raised when he saw her cheeks turn a little red.
"Something wrong, Sor?" he plainly asked.
"Umm...listen, can we go somewhere to talk?"
"Ooh! Sorry...bad timing. I came to the store to make a quick stop for some stuff that Kari forgot to pick up. And afterwards, I'm heading home, 'cause I'm going out again with So...uh, some friends."
Though Sor didn't figure out that Tai was talking about her twin, she was still disappointed. Sor herself was actually going to out for the evening with some of her female friends from school but a part her desperately wanted to be with Tai. She needed to talk with him and reassert their relationship to see where they stood, and more importantly...whether or not she was still his friend.
Granted, after all the things the two had endured, there's was little need to even THINK about being replaced (as Tai would never have it that way), but previous circumstances had proved to be emotionally disastrous lately, and Sor had started to slowly lose hope.
"Well, then again...I got a few seconds to chat now. Why don't you talk while I shop?" Tai asked, pointing to the convenient store with his thumb.
Sor nodded, and the two of them entered together. As she looked at Tai, she noticed that he looked healthier, emotionally speaking. If his nightmares and inner depression still existed anywhere inside his heart, it was slowly dying. That made Sor a little happier, now that she knew that his pain was HER fault.
Tai picked up a small plastic basket and began walking up and down various aisles, searching for the condiments that his mother instructed him to buy.
"So what's on your mind?" Tai asked.
His friend hesitated, not sure of what to say. Sor knew how she felt inside, but she just couldn't put it into words at this moment. Still, she had to try.
"Um, how are things going?"
"Huh?"
"You know, between you and…m-my sister?"
"Heh, you need to ask?! COULDN'T be better," he said with a big smile. "And what about you and Matt?"
"Oh, uh...things are a little shaky right now, but...that's my fault. He promised to take me out tomorrow night, I think."
"Cool," he said, shrugging.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" Sora asked, almost timidly.
"Of course," Tai said, with a voice chock full of positively charged energy.
"Um...how, uh...how do you feel about her?"
"Who's her?"
"You know who...my twin."
Had Tai been paying a little more attention to the situation, he would've heard the full amount of emotion in her voice. Instead, he said-
"Whaddya mean?"
"Well, it's just that I heard from the others that you two got together...any truth to that?"
Tai shrugged again cheerfully and kept that smile plastered to his face so hard that almost hurt. But to him, that seemed to be a small price to pay...as long as he was genuinely happy.
"I suppose there's no point in denying it anymore..." he said, pretending to be embarrassed, then raising his hand. "...guilty as charged."
Sor couldn't help but laugh at Tai now. His sense of humor had been missed...not just by Kari, but by a whole lot of people who knew what kind of person he was.
"Good to see you're feeling better," she said, closing her eyes, but still smiling.
"Hey, what else can I say? She and I are best friends...and...I love her," he replied, in his sincere voice.
That one quote immediately lodged itself into her head. Sor was still quite aware that she still had a great boyfriend, who had little flaws. Matt certainly was far from being abusive or neglecting her, nor did he ever have any desire to cheat on her with one of his fan girl floozies. So why was it that she felt so confused, torn, and conflicted inside? Why was it that she couldn't feel content?
"Ooh, almost forgot the sauce. I still can't believe mom wants to try making that raisin-covered, decaffeinated coffee-flavored ice cream cake...covered in tomato sauce."
Tai rushed past Sor to grab a couple of jars (of sauce), and at that moment Sor opened her eyes. Her vision had become blurred.
"Huh?" she almost whispered, as something wet crept down her cheek. "I'm...?"
"Got it!" Tai nearly yelled, pulling a list out of his pocket and quickly checking it. Sor hastily wiped her face with her coat sleeve.
"Got what?" Sor asked.
"That's everything on Mom's list! I'm gone!"
Tai paid for the food and the two of them left the store, with Sor desperately trying (as hard as she could) to keep a straight face. She also realized that the circumstances were flipped now. Now Sor was the one plastering smiles and posting semi-fake gestures of happiness for people to fall for.
"Tai?"
"Yeah?" asked Tai, as happy as Sor was a week or so ago.
In a second the conversation would turn. Tai wouldn't see both sides of Sor's predicament, but instead would see both sides of...HER. (So to speak.)
"Um...I-"
"HEY, lover boy!"
Tai and Sor whirled their heads in the direction of the enthusiastic voice. It was Sora!
"Hey yourself," Tai said as he swiftly took Sora in his arms and exchanged a fierce hug with her.
"And hello to you too, gorgeous..." Sora half-mockingly said to her counterpart, smiling as much as Tai was.
"Well, uh...listen I gotta meet with some friends, Tai..." Sor stammered, still keeping that pseudo-smile glued to her face. "...so I'll catch you later!"
"What was THAT all about?" Sora asked, still holding onto her boyfriend.
"Who knows? She wanted to talk to me, and timidly asked me about how I feel about you...and...ah, I dunno...things between me and her have been kinda...weird lately..."
"Well, we better get back...you're mom's gonna drive us to the arcade, remember?"
Tai nodded, and as the two walked hand in hand back to Tai's apartment, Sora took one last look at her twin who was now running in the opposite direction.
"Hmm..." she said with a VERY suspicious eye.
"So, um...where have you been hiding yourself, Sora?" Mrs. Kamiya asked as she drove the four kids to the arcade.
"Meaning what, exactly?" Sora asked back from the back seat of the car.
"Well, it's just that I haven't seen you in quite some time, that's all."
"Mom doesn't know about the 'two of you' yet," Tai whispered. Sora nodded, understanding completely.
Sora had always been a tremendous part of Tai's life. So much so that Mrs. Kamiya had always treated Sora her as one of her own children, so Sora didn't feel too well about lying to her...so she would have to bluff her way through this encounter as smoothly as she could.
"Oh, um, well...I wouldn't say I've been 'hiding', really...I've just been tremendously busy," Sora said with a little sweat trickling down her forehead.
"Busy with what?" Mrs. Kamiya said good-naturedly, with a smile.
"Well...y'know...STUFF."
Tai's mother shrugged and continued to smile, being pleased to think that Sora was taking time off from being with Matt to hang out with Tai. She may not have been fully cognizant of her son's past melancholy behavior, but she definitely saw that Tai was looking more up and about.
Soon thereafter, the four friends were dropped off at the "Mega-Mania Arcade." After being given some money to spend, they all agreed to a reasonable hour for pickup.
"This place is intense!" Sora exclaimed happily as she watched Mrs. Kamya drive off. "Is it new?"
"Not exactly, Sora," Kari noted.
"I think the place opened up about two years ago," T.K. said.
"Well, I've never been here before, guys! This should-"
"-be fun!" Sor said walking into the Mega-Mania Arcade with her female friends. "I haven't been here in a while!"
"For sure!" said one of the girls.
Thankfully, both groups of kids had gotten in rather early, and within the hour the place was packed. But, unfortunately...even in a place as big as this, it can still be pretty easy to run into people that you don't wish to meet up with...
"Ha! Beat ya again!" Sora proclaimed at one of the arcades.
"Yeah, right! I was just going easy on you!" Tai protested.
"Gee, where have I heard THAT one before?!" Kari said, rolling her eyes after watching Sora beat Tai at the game five times in a row.
Sora glanced at her watch, surprised to find that they'd already been here for half an hour. It seemed like only five minutes.
I guess time really DOES fly when you're having fun, she thought.
"Hey, guys!" yelled T.K. from far away, "I checked out the miniature golf course outside! They JUST updated it with new obstacles and stuff! Wanna try it out?"
"YEAH!" the other three yelled.
"All right! Hole in one!" Kari hollered, at her successful putt.
The four kids were a little less than halfway through the miniature golf course, with Sora and Kari beating the boys little by little.
"Yeah, yeah..." Tai grumbled.
"You two may have gotten in some lucky shots here and there for the first half, but Tai and I are gonna sending you girls home cryin'!" T.K. joked.
Sora was "first up to the plate" on the next hole. Unfortunately, she was feeling a little too cocky, given her good fortune so far at this game and hit her ball way off into the bushes.
"So...whaddya call THAT shot?!" asked T.K.
Sora wasn't mad, but playfully shot back...
"I call it 'Sora's gonna stuff that ball up your nose if you don't stop with the wisecracks!'...now, where did it go?"
"You need some help finding it, Sora?" asked Tai.
"No, it's all right...I'll handle it," Sora answered, starting to look through the bushes. "You three go on ahead, I'll catch up."
Tai nodded and signaled for Kari and T.K. to move on.
"Ah! There it is!" she said as she got down on her knees to pluck the red golf ball out from behind the bushes. But that's when her head collided with something just as hard.
"Ow!"
"Ow!"
Sora grumbled and rubbed the top of her head, and looked forward...into her own eyes! Of all the places to go why did both of them have to show up at the same location simultaneously?!
"What are YOU doing here?!?" they nearly yelled at each other.
"I'm here with my friends!" Sor hissed.
"I came with Tai, Kari and T.K.!" Sora declared.
"Yeah? Well buzz off, and go have fun somewhere else! I was here first!"
"Not even!"
For a few more seconds, the "twins" argued, but fortunately, their debate was interrupted prematurely.
"Hey, Sor!" a girl yelled from the golf course's second hole, "C'mon, you found your ball yet?"
"Uh, yeah! Be right there!" she yelled before turning her head to Sora. "We'll discuss this later. In the meantime...stay outta my way!"
"THHBPPPT!!!" was the only response Sora gave before she left...
And "Hnnnnnnggg!!!" was the only sound Sor made as she closed her eyes tightly and clenched her fists.
For the rest of the mini golf course, however, Sora did her best to stay out of her sister's way, for she had no real desire to explain to anyone why there were two girls hanging at the arcade who looked EXACTLY the same.
After golf, Tai and the others were ready to eat, and they sat down at the small food court to get some pizza for dinner. Tai went to get their food while Sora went to the bathroom to wash her hands. But as she left...
"Hey, girl!"
"Huh?!?" Sora went, as she saw someone calling for her. The brain in Sora's head panicked as she saw that the person calling for her wasn't Kari, Tai or T.K. It was one of her sister's female friends.
"C'mon, Sor! We were gonna try out those new videos games over there!" the girl said, pointing to a location far away in the wide building.
"Oh, but...I was gonna eat...!"
"Forget it! You're just gonna get fat! Now c'mon!" the girl said, grabbing Sora's arm, dragging her away.
What really surprised her was that obviously these "friends" of Sora badly needed to grab half a brain, seeing as how they totally didn't notice that Sora was dressed much differently from her sister.
I don't believe this, she thought bitterly.
Sor exited from a different bathroom (that wasn't too far away from the restroom that her sister came out of) and was surprised to see that her friends were nowhere to be seen. Those girls were a little ditzy, but they weren't the types to ditch anyone. But it didn't take Sor long to figure out what probably happened. Those girls had found Sora by mistake and followed her around instead. At the same time, she didn't feel like looking for her double all by herself so she would need some help.
Then that meant the only people who could help her were...
"Well...eat up, you two!" Tai happily said as he laid down some pizza for Kari and T.K.
The two younger kids began to cheerfully munch through their helpings of cooked sauce, dough and cheese, but Tai began to worry about Sora who hadn't shown up.
"Hey, I wonder where Sora is?" he asked himself.
"I was beginning to wonder the same thing!" said a very familiar voice.
Kari's eyes narrowed when she saw who was talking.
"Sor!" Tai said in a very surprised voice. What are YOU doing here?"
"I came here with some of my friends. But that's kinda beside the point. Would I be correct if I guessed that my sister is missing?"
"Yeah. She, uh...just vanished before we started eating," T.K. stated. "How did you know?"
"Because I went looking for my friends after I came out of the bathroom, and they were gone. I've known them for a while...and they're groupies of some sort. They wouldn't go anywhere without me."
"I'm sure Mimi would be SO proud of your popularity increase," Kari said, with a nasty scowl.
Sor did her best to ignore her. The thought of trading barbs with Kari was tempting, but now was not the time.
"Well, let's find her first," Tai said. "Then we'll figure out how to pull the old 'switcheroo' on them!"
That shouldn't be too hard, Sor thought. As much as I hate to admit it, those girls really aren't that smart to begin with...
"Wow, Sor! I never knew you were THIS good at video games!" said the girls, clapping a little too loudly.
Sora felt slightly embarrassed.
"Ha, ha...well, it's just, uh...I practiced a lot!" she nervously replied, sweating a bit and letting go of the arcade console.
"Let me try!" chirped one of Sor's "groupies."
"By all means, knock yourself out!"
Sora's thought were running in circles. She didn't know ANY of these girls, despite the fact that they seemed virtually harmless. Where were Tai and the others?
"SO!" yelped one of the other girls. "How are things between you and that HOTTIE of a boyfriend?"
"Run that by me again?"
"Matt Ishida!" she squealed. "That hunk with the golden singing voice and even cooler golden hair!"
"Um...don't you think you're exaggerating a bit?"
"NO!" yelled the three girls.
"Well, uh...he's okay..."
Ooh, GOOD choice of words. I don't know any better way to say it, though...
"JUST OKAY!?!"
"It's just...I, uh, haven't seen him in a while, that's it!" Sora said, knowing that she wasn't exactly lying.
"Don't lie to us! We need details!"
"We've, uh...just been real busy, so we haven't dated in a long time! Honestly!" Sora protested.
The three girls were still crowded around Sora, even if she wasn't playing the arcade game. Without a doubt, Sora was pretty frustrated, wondering HOW her sister ever had the patience to handle these brainless cheerleader types.
"Psst!"
Sora turned her head in the direction of the sound, and was please to see Tai, Kari, and T.K. (with Sor) signaling to her from behind a crane game. Sora got an idea and-
"OUCH!" said one of the girls. "Hey, who pinched me?!"
The other two girls looked at each other, and shrugged.
"Not us," they both replied.
The girl continued playing her game until she felt someone pinch her again.
"All right, now I know someone pinched me that time! Saati, that HAD to have been you! I know how playful you get!"
"What?!" said Saati with a screech. "How dare you, Mokona! I was only hyperactive when I was kid!"
"Yeah, and it looks like you're still acting like one!"
The two girls argued a little more seriously than Sora and her sister did, but nonetheless, the plan was working. All it took was a harmless looking spark to get the fire started. And apparently, the these girls had more than enough fuel to last a dozen more arguments.
The last girl, Rachael, started to giggle at her fighting friends until it evolved into a laugh. Mokona and Saati ceased their bickering and immediately accused Rachael of setting them up into arguing. That's when all three of the girls went at it. When the discussion turned to irrelevant topics, that's when Sora knew she'd done her job. Tai and the others collected Sora, and left Sor to break up the arguing.
"Okay, that's enough, girls!" she declared.
"HUH?!"
"Come ON! You three are supposed to be friends! We're in a public place and I really don't wanna get kicked outta here!"
Saati, Rachael and Mokona looked at teach other for exactly five seconds and without warning quickly embraced and fiercely hugged each other, wailing and sobbing. They cried so much that Sor was afraid that she might get sprayed with their joyful tears. But things were okay for now. The switch had been made, and both Takenouchi girls were back with the group they belonged with...so to speak.
"Thanks for the save," Sora said giving Tai a kiss on the cheek. "Those girlie-girls were smothering me!"
"Certainly looked like it!" Tai said. "Now, let's get back to business...having fun!"
For another hour or so, the four kids had lots of fun, playing more video arcades, pinball machines, and laser-tag games.
"Man, that was so much fun it ought to be illegal!" Sora shouted with glee, as they left.
Mrs. Kamiya was very punctual picking up the kids. T.K. was promptly dropped off on time, and Sora was dropped off at Mimi's apartment. Not surprisingly, Tai preferred to walk her to the entrance.
"Whew! What a crazy evening!" Sora exclaimed.
"I'll say! So...what's next?"
"Tai! I'm surprised that you haven't gotten sick of me yet!"
"That will NEVER happen!" Tai said confidently as he wrapped his arms around Sora's waist and gently pressed his lips to hers. Sora didn't mean to, but she actually kept her eyes open.
Sora tried to say something, but she couldn't. Tai loved the cute little sounds she made. It was, after all, difficult to talk and kiss at the same time.
"Well!" she said blushing a bit and feeling a little flustered after Tai let go, "That...that's good to know!"
"So...answer me! What's in store for us!?"
"Oh, I got a GREAT idea! How about a sleepover?"
Tai's ears perked up at the word "sleepover".
"Seriously, Sora?"
"Yeah! Why not? We haven't done that in ages!"
"Why not indeed! Let's do it! But I'll need to ask Mom if it's cool!"
"Aw, does widdle Tai need Mommy's permission?" Sora mockingly asked.
"Har, har, har. So when're you available?"
"When? How about tomorrow night?"
"Tomorrow? I was hoping tonight..." Tai said as he began to slowly and gently caress, nip, kiss and suck at her smooth neck.
"Ooh! I REEEALLY wish I could..." Sora moaned, "...but I can't! Sorry! I got stuff I need to do tonight."
"Stuff?! What kinda stuff?"
"Just...y'know...STUFF," Sora said in a suspiciously serious tone.
"Umm...okay, if you say so. But tomorrow night...you're MINE," Tai said, whispering at the end of his sentence, making Sora blush terribly again and nervously sweating.
"Hey...it's a date," she barely managed to say, giving a thumbs-up.
The two kissed once more and said their good-byes. Tai had unknowingly spent ten minutes outside the car, but Mrs. Kamiya decided not to complain, as long as her son was happy. She also knew full well that Matt Ishida was dating Sora. And although she didn't know what was going on, she was sure that there was a perfectly good reason as to why to two happy teens were freely kissing each other. Mrs. Kamiya didn't like to think that Sora was cheating on Matt, and genuinely hoped that wasn't the case. But there was no doubt Tai would tell her everything when he was ready.
Kari and her parents were still feeling awake when they got home, but Tai felt pretty wiped out, so he decided to hit the sack early. But for some unknown reason, he didn't feel...content.
Sure, he was ecstatic that a "new Sora" had waltzed into his complicated life and rearranged an emotional mess into a single, simple loving equation between him and her, but something was – and felt – wrong. He couldn't put his finger on it, but SOMETHING felt slightly amiss. He was definitely happy. But did he feel at all content? Satisfied? Complete?
No.
And that was what really worried him. and the worst part was that whatever he was feeling...it was in some way linked to Sora, one way or another. He wasn't sure, but there had been subtle clues laid out before him, and he was just starting to out the pieces together. Regrettably, the "answer" to these pieces would ultimately solve nothing...for now.
FFFSSSHHHRRRKKK!!!
Tai jerked his head up from the pillow he was lying on, and glanced at the computer screen in his room, which was what made the noise.
He slowly got up and walked towards it. A faint image of someone appeared on the screen. But there was so much static, that he could barely make it out. And through the speakers the image began to address him.
"...SQWWRRKXX...PL...ND...T...I...WNT...ND...HL...P...CRRR..."
"Hey! Who's there?" Tai yelled to the screen.
Thankfully, none of his family had heard him yelling.
"OUX...DR...N...MO...AL...TA...ENT...
"Do you need help?!"
In one split second, for a single moment in time, the image and sound cleared. But it was so fast that no one would have been able catch it...except Tai, considering the image that had appeared.
Sora.
"...HELP..."
Tai's eyes widened for ten solid seconds. It couldn't have been. He just saw Sora minutes ago.
Not even a pizza delivery boy on a rush job could have picked up the phone receiver and dialed as quickly as Tai did.
About a minute later, an annoying sound echoed through the Tachikawa apartment.
Mimi was in the bathroom brushing her hair when the ringing of her pink telephone went off.
RRRRRIIIIINNNNNGGGGG!!!
"Sora, could you get that?" Mimi hollered. "Sora?"
The longhaired girl could have sworn that Sora was in the next room over. So why couldn't she hear her, much less the phone?
Mimi grumbled as she answered the phone on the eighth ring.
"Tachikawa residence," she answered in the sweetest, most polite tone of voice she could muster.
"HELLO, Mimi?! I-is Sora there?!"
"Uh, yeah...but..."
"Is she okay???"
"Tai, what's going on?"
"IS SHE OKAY!?!"
"YES! I mean...yeah, she's just fine..."
"Good...I was trying to call earlier, but I couldn't get an answer-"
"Oh, that's because she was surfing the net and it was busying up the phone line."
"Could you PLEASE put her on?! I promise I'll explain later..."
"Sure, sure."
Mimi put her hand over the lower part of the phone receiver and called for Sora, who walked into the room and took the phone from Mimi.
"Tai, what's up? Mimi said you sounded like your head was gonna burst."
"SORA, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?"
"Whoa! Easy, Tai. Yeah, I'm cool. Why?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, absolutely! What's wrong?!"
"I...I...I don't know...I just...I thought I heard you call for help."
"Me...call for help? I, uh...I'm...I'm afraid I don't know what your talking about."
"Oh, um...wait...Sora...sorry, I was just asleep..." he partially lied. "I think I just had a horrible nightmare."
Sora nodded on the other side of the line, understanding that Tai had been under a lot of stress lately.
"I understand...but I'm fine, really."
"You sure?"
"Positive. But it was sweet of you to call me. Never hurts to have a boyfriend who cares too much."
"All...all right...anyway, I really should get some rest. I'm sure I'll be better in the morning."
"I hope so too, Tai," Sora said. "I'll see ya tomorrow. Kiss, kiss...I love you!"
"I love you, too. Later," Tai said with a smile and hung up.
But part of him was still inwardly frowning. He knew what he saw was real. It was no illusion.
"That leaves two possibilities," he said to himself. "Either my computer's really on the fritz...or Sora's NOT what she appears to be."
Now Tai knew for sure that something was up. During his original adventures in the Digital World, he may have been younger, less experienced, and headstrong, but whenever there was a crucial choice to be made, he always went with his gut. And with all the hardships he had endured over time, rarely had his gut ever steered him wrong.
That's what really bothered him...this time, gut was telling him one thing, in full color, clear as crystal...there was something important that Sora wasn't telling him.
It was also quite possible that Sora herself didn't know what was going on either, but she was definitely hiding something, whether she knew it or not.
"And I'm gonna find out what it is," Tai said in a low, determined, yet sad voice.
My, what a story! With all the dramatics here and there I forgot to mention one more disclaimer, that I did. Whose Liner does not own a character such as this one, the "Rurouni Kenshin." Anyway, the author hopes that you thoroughly enjoyed this chapter and there will be more to come, he promises. If I did a good job, and if you fans wish it, Mr. Liner may hire me back for next time! Oh, and please...I would appreciate it if none of you were to tell Ms. Kaoru that I am here, that I would. If she were to find me...well, let's just say I'm supposed to be helping her train today, that I am...
HITEN-MITSURUGI STYLE!!!