Chapter 5

Practically skipping through the hallway, Mimi ended up in front of the Kamiya's residence. She reached out to ring the bell, but didn't get the chance as a suddenly very red Tai opened the door. A bright smile appeared on the girls face as she looked at him, "Hey Tai." She tilted her head at his red face and questioned, "Something wrong?"

The boy blinked and relaxed at her question, slowly shaking his head with a grin on his face, "Nope, nothing wrong. You look…" He ran his eyes over her body and rested them on certain parts of her form. Mimi couldn't help blushing, wondering what on earth he was doing. Eventually he rested his eyes back on her face and whispered, "…amazing." They remained staring at each other for a while, both feeling a mixture of comfort and awkwardness, which was a surprisingly nice feeling.

Eventually, Mimi pointed into the room and asked timidly, "Um…can I come in?" Tai blinked and immediately stepped out of the way, "Of course, sorry. Kari's in her room." The pink haired girl nodded, shot him a cute smile and then skipped towards her friends room, yelling, "Kari-chan!"

As he closed the door, Tai shook his head lightly. He'd prepared himself of seeing her in one of those maddingly tight dresses that caressed every one of her curves. Instead, seeing her in a less sexy outfit had made his hormones go on a field trip. What the hell was wrong with him?! He swiftly ran a hand through his already messy hair before plopping down in the couch. Turning the TV on, he hoped it would help getting his mind of off his friend, considering the fact that he had to spend a whole evening with her. He idly reflected on the past, on the times that he'd yelled at her in the Digiworld, accusing her from not caring or from being too much of a spoiled brat to care. How wrong he had been.

'Did I ever apologise for all the things I said then…? Does she know I care?' He shook his head at his own thoughts, concentrating back on the program for a single second. 'Of course she does! But then again…I never told her...' Shaking his head again, he turned the TV off in annoyance and walked over to the kitchen, pouring a glass of coke for himself.

His recent train of thought was annoying him. It bugged the hell out of him to know what she was doing to him; and that what she did to him had never happened before. Not even with Sora! Grumbling as he, once again, headed back to the living room, this time with a glass of coke in his hand, Tai said, "The pain, the agony of it all…"

And now, to make things worse, he was going to end up alone with her! Well, he couldn't exactly call it worse…After all, it was always a lot of fun to hang out with Mimi, but still. Every time he was near her, it seemed like he had to keep his hormones in line as to not just grab her and kiss her to death. A happy grin spread over Tai's face and the thought of kissing Mimi, and he remained staring into his glass until he was startled by the sounds of the doorbell ringing.

With a glance at the clock, he concluded that he truly was a hopeless case (as Tai had been picturing that lovely scene for more then a half hour) and that his friends and Miyako were probably there.

Tai's hand was only three inches away from the door when he got pushed away roughly by the blur of something dressed in pink. When his mind registered that it had been Kari, he simply stared for a moment. Her hair was still the same, brown colour as always, although now it had a pretty gleam to it. A small purple hairclip made it all the cuter. She had then put on a pinkish-lilac dress, which was the cause of Tai's staring. His little sister in a very feminine yet slightly teasing dress was just too much. It made him wanting to throw a blanket over her to cover up her bare back and long, bare legs.

Instead, he just stood there looking at her like a fish, his mouth opening and closing a couple of times until he saw his sister animatedly talking to TK, who was a bit stunned himself (to say the least).

After a short while he felt the comforting presence of Mimi Tachikawa, who'd placed a gentle hand on his shoulder as both watched the blushing and bumbling couple in the doorway. The shorter girl stood on tip-toe and leaned in lightly to whisper to him, her soft hair softly brushing against his neck, causing goosebumbs to appear all over his body. "Aren't they cute? I hope you don't mind, Kari-chan asked my help…" As Tai looked into her big, brown eyes, he saw the slight worry and immediately reassured her with one of his toothy grins, "Nah, don't worry. I know she likes him." The worry was immediately replaced with happiness and Tai let out a sigh of joy; was it possible that a simple smile could make your heart do flip-flops? Possible, yeah, healthy; not sure.

After another five minutes of awkwardness, TK and Kari finally decided to head inside and talk to the two older people who were talking softly to each other, both looking lively and happy. The door was barely closed when the bell rang again, announcing the arrival of Miyako or Ken. Though when the door opened again, it revealed to be the two of them, shyly standing next to one another.

Tai let out a soft groan; this was –so- going to be a couples evening. The annoyed and slightly miffed feeling got stronger when Mimi suggested making something to snack on while the rest of the group chose a movie to watch. Tagging along the pink-haired girl, Tai slightly wondered what she was planning.

He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the kitchen table while she was looking through the fridge, trying to make something a bit healthier then the chips Tai had gotten them. After a moment of silence, in which they could hear the cheerful laughter of the two girls in the living room, he tilted his head and asked, "Mimi-chan? What're you up to?"

She turned around, having a bunch of his mother's weird ingredients in her arms, as she made an innocent face, "Me? I'm up to nothing. Except trying to make something, which I can't do without a knife. Where are the knifes, Tai-kun?" He snickered, pushing his hips off against the table and walking over to the drawer that held the knifes. He didn't buy her act, but considered that whatever she was up to had to be something like what he did with Fei and Kay, so he couldn't exactly keep pushing her about it.

Handing her the knife with a gentle grin, he simply shook his hand and sat down at the kitchen table, pondering lightly about some things with the sound of chopping in the back of his head.

After about five minutes of utter silence, Mimi couldn't take it anymore. He'd already been acting weird before, and now it was just worse. She sighed and pushed the knife into a piece of carrot, turning around too look at her friend. "Okay Tai, what's up?"

He looked up startled and regarded her as if he hardly knew who she was anymore. Mimi rolled her eyes and poked his side lightly, "Seriously, Tai, what's up with you lately? I've never seen you be so distant before." She hesitated and continued, "Kari-chan thinks you're in love with someone. Is that true?"

When he nodded yes, Mimi couldn't help feel the pain shoot through her heart. How had she grown to love him in such a short period of time? Well, short period of time….'I can't exactly call it that.' A sigh escaped her, which caused Tai to look at her oddly, "And what's wrong with you, lately? Also in love or something?" Without really thinking about it, Mimi nodded too, causing Tai's eyes to widen. "Really…? 'cause…you know, I was only kidding." He then realized something and hit himself on the head, "Oy, I'm such an idiot. Matt, of course."

With a gentle smile, Mimi decided it was time to fess up. Maybe she was the one he cared for, maybe not. 'I'll never know until I take the risk. I told Kari-chan about why Sora and I are 'rivals' now, so that's cleared up. This is probably the best time to do this.'

Picking the knife up again, she started with a soft voice, warning Tai that it was something serious. "Actually, you know, it's really funny but…I don't love Matt. I was in love with the boy he used to be, not the one he is now." When she heard his surprised gasp, she immediately added, "Not that I don't like him or something, I mean, he's a great guy and all…It's just that I think I've been holding onto that so-called love just 'cause I was scared or something."

Not used at his friend being so self-reflecting, Tai timidly asked, "Scared of what?" As a reply he received a short shrug, "I don't know. I think…afraid of change. I think that's why I've had my hair painted pink all this time." She firmly trusted the knife into the carrots, chuckling dryly, "Lame, don't you think?"

Mimi was surprised to feel a warm hand on her arm, urging her to look at her side, only to be lost in the eyes of the once oh-so courageous leader of their gang. "I don't think it's lame. I think it's normal, although I'm not sure why you wouldn't want things to change." His soft but serious reply made her think for a while, avoiding the gaze from his warm brown eyes into her own. "Afraid of losing you guys…of losing our adventures in the Digi-world. I still don't quite understand why we haven't been able to go back there ever since….you know…"

Tai nodded in reply as Mimi avoided his warm gaze. He felt his heart fluttering in his chest for unknown reasons. His closest girlfriend was baring her soul to him and all he could think of was how pretty she was, how moist and lush her lips seemed while her eyes shone like the brightest stars in the dark blue sky. 'Dseesh…some friend I am…'

Suddenly both noticed that his hand was still resting on her arm, and Tai quickly removed it with a blush. When seeing this, Mimi had no doubt in her mind anymore. 'It –is- me who he likes…. What luck!' She smiled brightly at him, causing Tai's eyes to widen and his mouth to form a surprised 'o', before really making him look like a huge round tomato as she hugged him tightly around the waist.

With an even softer voice, though now a bit teasing, Mimi continued, "But you know, Tai-kun, these last couple of days made me realize something else too. I may not love Matt, but I did find out who it was that I really loved." She heard his heartbeat quicken and felt his chest rise and fall underneath her head. When he whispered, "Oh…who?", she had almost missed it if it wasn't for his arms tightening around her.

Mimi looked up, a pair of brown eyes looking back into her own, and she stood on tip-toe to kiss him on the lips. Fireworks exploded in Tai's head, while butterflies were taking over in Mimi's stomach as both lost their selves in the sweet, loving caress of a first kiss.

The magical, sugary (not to mention fluffy) moment was loudly interrupted by two pairs of teenagers loudly applauding. The couple flew apart in the blink of an eye and looked positively embarrassed at their hooting friends. TK, who had leisurely rested an arm on Kari's shoulder, chuckled, "We were wondering how long it would take for you two to realize your feelings for each other." The girl clad in pink clothing, with a blush on her cheeks to match her outfit, nodded in return and added, "Yeah, your two friends told us that they thought something more was going on between you. That's when we started paying attention to it ourselves and figured that it'd be best to leave you two alone for a while. But we couldn't miss the kiss, of course."

After the initial shock had wore off, Mimi openly started teasing Kari on her 'blooming relationship' with TK, leaving the poor boy open for the inquiries of his lady's brother. A bit to the side stood the only couple that…wasn't a couple. Miyako couldn't say that it wasn't from lack of effort, she had just rested with the fact that her beloved Ken didn't seem to like her in that way. Well, she hadn't really accepted it… It wasn't really an Inoue thing to do, after all. Because Inoue's weren't quitters! That's for sure.

Stealing a glance at the object of her affection since she had met him, she found him awkwardly looking away from their friends. It was pretty weird, though, she had to admit. Kari and TK, and now Tai and Mimi. Was she going to be the only girl of the gang without a boyfriend? It seemed like it. Although…. "Mimi-chan, Kari-chan, I was wondering if we could talk for a moment." The two girls blinked and nodded, Mimi ordering the boys to finish cutting the vegetables she had washed and cleaned. Seeing the surprised look in Ken's eyes as she didn't even make the slightest attempt on touching him (as in his arm or something), the purple-haired girl raised her head high and trotted into the living room.

Her two girlfriends followed Miyako into the living room, Kari immediately asking, "What's wrong, Miyako-chan?" Mimi, who as the older one being a tad bit more perceptive then her younger friend, smiled gently and nodded, "Rather akward, I must admit. I was afraid that this was going to happen today, or at least I thought it was going to happen to me." She sighed starry-eyed, "But who could imagine that this thing between Tai-kun and me could me solved so easily?" Kari followed the starry-eyed stare not much later, both lost in the mental image of their love, while leaving the poor Miyako standing there to simple sweatdrop. She shook her head, 'It's best just to be happy for them now. Let it go, Miya.'

Balling her hands into fists, she put up a warm smile and congratulated her two friends, saying how happy she was for them and such. They ended up walking back to the kitchen while giggling madly, both Kari and Mimi being too lost in their happiness to worry about their friend, at least for the time being.

Busy with making some coleslaw, Ken glanced at the three girls as they re-entered, noting the fake smile on Miyako's face. He frowned, knowing that she wasn't one to pretend feelings, not like him. Being more sly and closed then her, he had yet to be caught returning the glances that she always threw him. The glomps he had received from her had been annoying at first, yet the more he got to know this intriguing young girl, the less he seemed to care.

And today, while choosing a movie to watch while TK and Kari were busy kissing in the corner of the room, she had been cheerfully talking about things, stunning him with the radiance of her smile over and over again. When she had finally stopped talking, he was even more stunned by the tender curve of her lips as she apologized for talking about trivial matters and when she inquired how he was. Could there be a girl more intriguing yet simple then Miyako Inoue? 'I dare to say there isn't.'

Receiving the 'OK' from Mimi regarding his coleslaw, Ken withdrew back to the living room, sitting in quiet contemplation until the object of his thoughts walked in with a heavy sigh. He felt the weight of her troubles crushing his heart and felt himself be obliged to inquiry about her problems. "Daijobu ka, Miyako-san?"

The purple-haired girl's eyes widened at the sound of his voice. She turned slightly and smiled reassuringly, "Hai hai, daijobu, Ken-kun." Miyako walked over to him and sat down on the couch, a fake smile playing on her lips. "Quite an interesting day, don't you think?" Ken frowned, causing her to look slightly confused, then flustered as he explained, "A genuine smile suits you much better, Miyako-san." She giggled lightly and hope flared in her heart, "Oh…um…thank you, Ken-kun." He nodded and smiled, reaching out for her hand and gently taking it into his own. "You're welcome."

From the open door between the kitchen and the living room, a pink-haired girl rested her head against the shoulder of her love. He gently held her in his arms, a warm smile playing on his lips as they looked at the blushing pair sitting on his couch. "You know, Tai-kun," she whispered, "Maybe there's still hope for them." He smiled and brushed his lips against her cheek, "There's hope for all of us, Mimi-chan."

The End

Author's notes Whoo…finally done. I felt like I couldn't leave it with Miyako and Ken not being at least a bit together. I'm a sucker for stories with more then one couple. - I'm surprised I finally got a story done, that's quite a first time. I hope everyone likes it. Reviews are greatly appreciated, and thank you for reading my story.