- Have you... Noticed? -

Hello everybody! Sorry for the late update, I've been sorta busy...

(Yeah, busy watching Chobits and Inuyasha!)

Er... Who said thaat?

Anyways, I haven't been all lazy though! I've written a chapter by chapter plan, with summaries and ideas for all chapters. So I practically know how this story will end now.

But I'm not all too happy with how it worked out, it isn't original enough. (imo)

Demo, if you want something original go read my other fic in progress Imaginary World!

No Michi there yet, but I'll try to fix that small error...

Thanks to all the rewievers! Enjoy the new chapter!

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"N-n-n-n-nanii?" Taichi stared at her with eyes large as melons. "You've got to be kidding me!" Mimi blushed but kept her gaze steadily locked with his.

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Taichi swallowed and shook his head. "Yes or no, Taichi-kun... Can you help me?"

"It's not a question about if I'm able to help you or not", Taichi blurted but quickly regretted it. "Of course I can", he admitted reluctantly. "But why? It's not like you have any problems fixing a date or anything..." Mimi rolled her eyes and clasped her hands on the table.

"But this is different. I don't know him! I haven't even talked to him in like... Three months!"

"Really? And you two talked for three months ago?"

"Hai."

"About what?" Mimi cleared her throat and got the same expression as when she talked about shopping.

"'Can I borrow your pencil?'", she said with a voice that, assumingly, was supposed to sound like Shinbo's. Taichi facefaulted.

"Is that all?" Mimi shook her head.

"Of course not."

"Not?"

"Noo! Then I said 'Hai, of course', and borrowed him a pencil. And after the lesson he returned it to me and said 'arigatou'."

"Oh... I see... Well, I can't see how I can help you then."

"Huh?"

"Well, you're practically dating already!" This statement was followed by a loud Boink-sound, which in its turn was followed by a loud Cry-out-of-pain-sound.

"You can be such an idiot sometimes", Mimi muttered and raised herself from the seat. "Now come on, lets get going. We're missing out on all the good sunlight!"

At the Tachikawa resident.

Mimi had a look of determination as she jammed the key into the keyhole and turned it around until she was awarded with a 'click'.

"Ano... You okay Mimi", Taichi asked quietly, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. She sighed and nodded before she slowly opened the door.

"Hai, I don't think they're home anyways", she said, but kept her voice low as if there was a beast sleeping in the building. Taichi followed her into the large house and shut the wooden door behind him with such carelessness that a loud sound was produced that echoed through the whole house until it died out a few seconds later. Mimi glared at him over her shoulder.

"Eheh, it was the wind", he said sheepishly. Before she had the chance to retort to his stupid excuse Mimi was brought into a violent hug.

"Ooh, honey! I've been so worried! Where have you been?" Mimi gasped for air.

"Mum, please. Mum. I can't breathe." Mrs Tachikawa quickly let go of her daughter and giggled.

"Oops, sorry honey."

"Whatever", Mimi muttered and avoided eye contact with her mother. "Is daddy home?" Mimi's mum got a look of irritation in her always so bright and cheery face.

"No, he's at work", she answered and crossed her arms. "Don't ask me why he's working on a Saturday cause I don't want to know." Suddenly she noticed that she and her daughter wasn't alone. "Tai-kun", she squealed and threw out her arms. "Why didn't you say anything? Oh, it was such a long time since you came here!" Mimi swetdropped. Yeah, like, five days? "Can I get you anything? Pie perhaps?" Taichi had been wincing all the time because of Mrs Tachikawa's high-pitched voice, but when he heard the word pie he started to drool.

"No thanks mum, we've just eaten." Taichi glared at Mimi's back but didn't say anything. "I've spent the night at Taichi's place if you wonder mum. And now we're heading to the beach, so if you'll excuse us." With that Mimi grabbed Taichi's arm and pulled him up the stairs and into her room. She closed the door with a loud Bang that made Taichi's earlier Bang sound like a farting ant. It was a very loud Bang. Without saying anything to Taichi she started rummaging through her closet, searching for her bikini.

"Uhm... You still okay Mimi", Taichi asked after a while, looking at his friend with a worried expression. She gave him a grunt as an answer and dove deeper into her closet. Finally she came out and gasped for air.

"Found it", she muttered and tossed it at the bed and then left to get a towel. One single look at the bikini was enough to give any guy a nosebleed. Taichi decided not to look at it. He also decided that maybe it was best that he wore a blindfold at the beach if Mimi was going to wear that. She soon returned and started to pack everything necessary into a bag.

"Mimi", he spoke softly and put a hand on her arm. She stopped her violent motions and stared at the floor biting her bottom lip. "It's not your mum's fault that she and your dad is fighting", he said calmly. "Holding a grudge against her wont make anything better." Mimi glanced at him and nodded.

"Hai, I know", she sighed and closed the bag and swung it over her shoulder. "Lets go." She left through the door with Taichi staring at her retreating back. Two minutes later she came back, grumbling. "Can't go to the beach in a pair of stupid pants." She started to unbutton her jeans and was about to pull them down when she suddenly realized... "Taichi you hentai, get out of here!" He dodged her fist and quickly made it out through the door. "And take the darn popcorn with you", she continued and threw the bucket of popcorn after him. "Tch, acting like this is some darn peep show... Hah!"

She slowly started to wiggle out of her tight jeans when she suddenly heard a squeaking sound by the door.

"Ne, Taichi-kun, if you're peeping through the keyhole you'll get much more than a nosebleed." She relaxed when she heard thumping from Taichi's retreating feet and finally got out of her clothes. She slipped into a thin, pink summer dress with a flower pattern. With a final glance at her mirror reflection she took her bag again and left her room.

She found Taichi in the kitchen, sitting by the table. Her mum was sitting right across from him, watching him with delight.

"Really, if Mimi would have half of your appetite Tai-kun", she squealed with stars in her eyes as Taichi gulped down a large pie slice covered in vanilla sauce.

"If I had half his appetite I wouldn't be walking, I would be rolling", Mimi said bitterly and dipped her finger in Taichi's vanilla sauce. "Lets go hungry-boy."

"You don't want some pie", her mum tried and made a gesture to the large newly baked apple pie. She always bakes when she and dad has an argument. I don't know if it's to make dad happy, or if it is to make me happy, Mimi thought but then shook her head.

"We don't have any time for that. All the good spots are probably already taken on the beach so we can't afford to be any later. You finished anytime soon, Taichi-kun?" Taichi just swallowed the last piece with some difficulty.

"Hai, whenever you are Mimi-chan!" Mimi only grunted for a reply and exited the kitchen. She could hear Taichi thank her mum for the pie behind her. Always the polite one, ne Taichi-kun? She put on her shoes and waited patiently for Taichi.

"What's the hurry", he wondered as he came out from the kitchen. She sighed.

"I've already told you. We can't waste all day here, we've got to get to the beach!" He looked at her for a while and then he smiled.

"Of course. Then it doesn't have anything to do with that you're still a bit mad at your mum?" Mimi stiffened but shrugged.

"Maybe", she said and tried to smile. "Lets go you lazy bum." Taichi straightened his back and saluted her.

"Ay ay, captain." With that he walked out through the door in an imitation of a soldier. A very bad imitation at that. Mimi shook her head while chuckling at her friend.

"It's hard for him to stay serious", she told herself. She took a step towards the door but then stopped again. She glanced at the kitchen door over her shoulder, her conscience giving in. She ran into the kitchen and flung her arms around her mother who was baking another pie.

"Bai bai mum", she said in a high-pitched voice that would even beat the living shit out of her mother's high notes. With that she ran out of the kitchen just as quickly as she had entered it.

"Ooh, that girl", her mother said with a happy sigh. Then she suddenly noticed something on the floor. "Mimi no baka, what have I said about shoes in the house??"

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"What took you so long", Taichi wondered as Mimi finally came out of the house.

"I, er... Forgot the sun lotion", she said and gave him a big grin to cover her lie.

"Uhuh, sure... Train or bus?"

"Hard one... They are both unbearably hot and filled with unbearably sweaty people. Lets take the-"

"Hi kids!"

"Dad", Mimi mumbled under her breath with a not so pleased voice. "Daddy", she then squealed with a large smile and clasped her hands together while making herself ready to fire off some of those puppy-eyed looks she was so famous for. "Could you give us a ride?"

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"You're such a daddy's princess", Taichi muttered as Taichi's dad drove off, leaving them standing at the path leading straight down to the beach.

"Shut up, it got us here faster didn't it? I knew dad would agree, just so that he could avoid mum for a little while longer", she said bitterly but then flipped her frown upside down. "Lets get down there and tan, tan, tan!" Taichi swetdropped but followed the overly excited Mimi who was already skipping down the path. After a few minutes of walking they reached their destination. A long stretch of sand beach covered in... People. Mimi's right eye twitched. She spun around and grabbed Taichi's collar.

"We'll never get a spot here! We're doomed!" He raised an eyebrow and then surveyed their surroundings.

"Hm... The situation is critical, but I think if we move ourselves west we should be able to found ourselves a good spot."

"By the water?"

"By the water"

"In the sun?"

"In the sun."

"So what are we waiting for?!" Taichi swetdropped.

"You", he retorted and then started his way down the beach. Mimi followed closely in his tracks, grimacing as the hot sand made its way into her sandals. Eventually they found a spot, pretty close to the water too. Taichi ripped off his clothes (luckily he had his bathing shorts on already) without thinking and then sped away out into the water. Mimi stared at the spot where he had been standing with a twitching left eye as his clothes slowly landed on the ground.

"He's unbelievable", she mumbled and smacked her face. Mimi wasn't there to swim or play in the water. She was there for some serious tanning. But everyone knows that you the tan works better with saltwater, so Mimi slowly changed into her bikini, having trouble doing it with a towel wrapped around her. Before she knew it, it was about to slip. She opened her mouth ready to let out a loud screech but someone caught the towel in the last second.

"Need a hand?" That voice.

"Eh..." She knew that voice.

"You okay?" That masculine voice filled with... With... Masculinity.

"H-hai", Mimi stuttered and finally collected enough courage to look up. Her eyes met with his. S-Shinbo! Her heart fluttered, and she felt how her cheeks grew hot.

"I noticed that you had some trouble with changing", he said, totally unembarrassed by the fact that he had just told her that he had watched her changing. Mimi shot down her gaze and nodded.

"Y-yeah... But I'm okay now! Thanks to-"

"Oi!" She stopped in her sentence and looked up. A dripping wet Taichi was standing behind Shinbo. His arms were crossed over his chest and his hair was hanging flat down on his head, making him look very different from the usual poofy Taichi.

"Hey there Yagami", Shinbo said, greeting his teammate over the shoulder. "How you doing?"

"I'm doing great. And I can see that you are as well." Mimi frowned, wondering what Taichi was talking about. She glanced down and suddenly realized that Shinbo was still holding onto the towel, the only thing that stopped her from showing her naked upper body to the whole world.

"Anoo", she said hesitantly and slowly grabbed the towel at the place were Shinbo had his hand. Their hands touched for a few seconds before he let go. "Thanks", Mimi said, and felt as if she could melt. Shinbo shot her a dazzling smile.

"No problem Mimi", he said. "See ya around." With that he left in all his glory. Mimi couldn't stop staring at him. He was so... So... Perfect! He had dark shiny hair, warm brown eyes and a slight tan that looked good on his well build body. He also had the best smile ever. Mimi didn't notice it, but her eyes were formed like little stars. Little, golden, animated stars.

"What was that all about", Taichi asked with a pout and sat down on his towel. "Was he trying to do anything perverted to you? Cause I swear, if he was, he won't live long enough to-"

"No, no! It's nothing like that! He... Helped me." Mimi blushed and started over at putting on her top. Taichi snorted and uncrossed his arms only to cross them again.

"Yeah, he looked like a real help to me. Saving a damsel in distress. Helping you to rip of your towel, stuff like that..."

"Oh, cut it out Taichi! I was just about to drop my towel and he caught it. I really owe him one. Like... A date!" Taichi laid down on the towel with his eyes closed.

"Why don't you go over to him then? He's playing volleyball not so far away from here. Maybe you can join in", he said absentmindedly, starting to relax as the sun started to dry him off.

"Good idea Taichi", Mimi squealed and tossed away her towel, finally exposing her bikini. "And you're going with me!" Taichi opened one eye just in time to see Mimi lean over and grab his arm. He yelped and closed his eyes as he let her drag him with her.

"What do you think you're doing", he whined and tried to get out of her grasp.

"I'm taking you to Shinbo, silly", she said, with a sudden determination in her voice.

"Yeah, I've already figured that out... But why do I have to go too?!" Mimi giggled and patted Taichi's arm with her free hand.

"Because I can't play volleyball, but you can!" Taichi's eyes shot open.

"Nani?!" He didn't have much more time to object. They had reached the volleyball plan. There were several nets spread over the area, but Shinbo and his friends had got one of the best ones. They were in the middle of a match when he and Mimi got there. "I won't play with those guys, you've got to be out of your mind", Taichi growled and finally got free from Mimi. He opened his mouth to let her know exactly what he thought about Shinbo but just then he realized that it was the first time he actually got a good look at Mimi in her new bikini.

Black, with baby pink details, the little thing didn't cover more than necessary. Wonder what Mr. Tachikawa thought about that thing. More importantly - that thing on his daughter. Taichi slapped his hand over his nose and quickly turned his gaze elsewhere. It landed on Shinbo, the same thing that had caught Mimi's gaze. Surprisingly.

"Isn't he great", Mimi beamed and clasped her hands together. "Look at him play! He's the best!" Taichi grunted and lowered his gaze to the ground. The hot sand that burned his feet was much more interesting that some stupid volleyball game.

"Hey Mimi!" Mimi squealed silently and nudged Taichi in the side.

"Noticed that he knows my name", she whispered and smiled at Shinbo who was making his way towards them.

"Wanna join us", he asked and spun the volleyball on his index finger. Mimi blushed and shot down her gaze.

"Oh no, I'm sorry. I-I don't think I will... I'm not that good, you see and-"

"Pity", he said with a charming grin but then turned to Taichi. "How about you Yagami, my man? You never say no to a fair game, no?" Taichi glared at Shinbo and huffed.

"Sure why not", he answered through grinding teeth and then shot Mimi a small glare too before he got out on the plan. The game started again and Mimi sat down to watch it. She didn't really know any of the rules for volleyball; she just guessed that when one of the teams groaned, the other team had done something good. Taichi was in the opposite team of Shinbo. If Mimi had counted the groans and cheers right, it was pretty equal. But suddenly Taichi got some kind of super burst and started doing impossible shots.

In the end no one had to count. Taichi's team won easily. Shinbo wasn't all too happy.

"Humpf. Could've beaten him easily. He just got better teammates than I did", he muttered and glared at Taichi as the brunette got up to Mimi and helped her up.

"Hey, waddya mean", one of the guys that had been on his team protested. Shinbo didn't answer, he just studied the boy and girl that was standing a few meters away, apparently having some kind of argument.

"That Yagami", Shinbo muttered and looked away. "He thinks he's so cool, being the leader of the football team and all... He even has the hottest girlfriend you can find." Shinbo's words were dripping of jealousy. "Tch."

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"Did you see his look, Taichi", Mimi asked him angrily and pointed at Shinbo. "He was furious! Do you call that helping me get a date?!" Taichi's chin dropped into the sand.

"NANI?!" His breathing started to pace up. "I won fair and square! I can't help that he's a sore looser! And I never really agreed to help you anyways!" Mimi crossed her arms and stared at him with flaming eyes.

"I thought we were friends! I though we helped each other with everything!"

"But there are certain lines, Mimi! I can't do everything for you! I'm not your dad!" Taichi regretted the last part, but it was too late to take it back now. Mimi's eyes widened at first but then shrunk into slits.

"Are you saying that I'm spoiled? You know what, forget it. I don't even want to know what you think. I just thought I could trust you with everything Tai..." She stopped talking and suddenly got a more hurt look on her face. But before he could say anything she spun around and walked off.

"O-oi! Mimi! Hey!" He quickly followed her, crisscrossing between the tanning people that took up all walking space. "Aw come on Mimi, don't be like that", he breathed as he finally caught up with her.

"I'm not talking to you", she retorted and sat down on her towel and wrapped her arms around her legs. Taichi sat down beside her in the sand, hesitantly glancing at her once in a while. He didn't say anything though. He knew that when Mimi acted like that it was best to stay low for a while until she had cooled down a bit. Suddenly she sighed and straightened out her legs.

"I guess I'll have to do the best out of the situation." Taichi perked his ears.

"Yeah? What?"

"I'll just have to take a quick dip, work on my tan and then call dad to pick me up." Taichi turned to look at her fully.

"W-what about me", he asked meekly. Mimi didn't even answer. She just stood up plainly and walked down the beach and into the ocean. He watched her closely and decided to follow her. He knew that Mimi wasn't a good swimmer, and he kind of felt responsible for her. But he knew better than to get too close to her. He kept his distance. This is stupid, he thought, as he followed her slowly out into the water. One, she isn't running into the water. You always have to run into the water! And two, I feel stupid staying here, ten meters behind her, like some kind of a bodyguard!

Mimi lowered herself into the water. It was pretty cold, and she breathed short and shallow breaths between clenched teeth. Ooh, that idiot Taichi. I thought he was supposed to help me, not sabotage me. She dipped herself all the way up to her chin. She surveyed the water in front of her. A few more meters out two friends were sporting some kind of boat. They seemed to have loads of fun.

She sighed and swam halfheartedly a few more meters. She wasn't a good swimmer, but she could the basics. It's just that when she panicked she lost all sense in staying alive and all her swimming knowledge was drained away. Luckily she could reach the bottom there. Mimi paused to put down her feet just to prove it to herself. There was no bottom. She almost kept sinking but then she quickly started to work with her arms again so that she could keep her head over the surface. She felt the panic starting to wash over her, and she could almost hear the theme song for Jaws inside her head.

"K-kuso", she hissed but regretted it as she let in water into her mouth. Why now? T-Taichi! But she knew that even if she tried she wouldn't be able to call for him, or for anyone else for that matter. She suddenly noticed how far out she had swam. She felt how her legs started to grow numb, and her lungs were hurting. Suddenly someone grasped her shoulders and started to pull her backwards. She let out a yelp and tried to see her savior in the corner of her eye. Taichi! His face was filled with concentration as he wrapped his arms around her waist instead to get a better hold of her. In any other situation Mimi would have called him a hentai, but right now she felt like she wanted to hug him to death.

"Taichi", she mumbled as they got closer to the shore. Here she could reach the bottom. She stood up on week legs and held onto her friend for support. "I'm so sorry", she said quietly, too embarrassed to look into his eyes. She couldn't believe the things she had told him today. Replaying them in her mind she felt as if she could die. Cause now she could see that Taichi was always there for her, even if she didn't always know it. "I shouldn't have been mad at you... I had no reasons at all."

"No. No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you." Mimi smiled and looked up at him.

"You know what, lets do it together! Lets say sorry to each other at the exact same time, and then forget about the whole stupid thing! The volleyball, Shinbo... Yeah, everything!" Taichi frowned. Was she saying that she didn't want his help anymore?

"But..."

"No buts! On three! One... Two... Three!"

"Gomen nasai", they told each other in a choir and then highfived.

"Now lets get up there and work on that tan, Google-boy", Mimi said and started to make her way out of the water.

"Wait, Mimi! I..."

"Yeah?" She turned around and looked at him with a wide smile. The way the sun hit her just then... Taichi could have sworn she had stepped out of a lingerie catalog. He closed his mouth before he started to drool and returned her smile. I have to be crazy, doing this for her.

"I've decided to help you win Shinbo after all." Mimi looked surprised at first but then her face was cracked in half by the largest smile ever.

"Oh, Taichi! That makes me so happy", she squealed and attacked him with one of her famous life-threatening hugs. The extra weight came too sudden and Taichi didn't have enough balance to support the both of them. With a loud splash they fell into the water, and Taichi had to take the fall. "Tihi! Gomen ne, Taichi-kun! Gomen!"

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Ahaha! Finally finished with another chapter! (Yeah, finally and finally...)

Took me quite some time. I feel a little guilty, since I know that I can whip up a new chapter in like two days... Sometimes even on a few hours in one evening.

I hope I haven't kept you waiting way too long! I'll try to update this more frequently, but it's hard... School is though... The homework's are plenty... And I'm a lazy ass... ;; Sad but true! I'll try to update this story every second week, and Imaginary world every second week.

Oh, and I know that Taichi can seem perverted at times in this story, but really... Have you read mangas / seen animes... Like... Love Hina? God, talk about perverted. Japanese people sure are fun!

Until next time, a few words of wisdom from the almighty Author:

"Don't walk in my footsteps... I walk into walls."

Good night people!