AN: Wow, 100 reviews!! *sniff* it's enough to make me tear up. Thank you all so much! Arigato gozaimasu! I love writing fanfics, it's really become a great hobby. This fic hasn't even passed my halfway mark (you know… cuz I kinda planned out my chapters when I was bored…) and it's become more successful than my wildest dreams.

            I know I haven't won an award or anything like that, but this is my first fic and I'm sure that even if this was my 25th fic, 100 reviews would be like an award just the same. Thank you all, your reviews are inspiring and always a pleasure to read. 

To animatedtears: thank you so much for your wonderful comment. I can't believe I didn't add their ages into the fic. It was always in my mind so I kinda assumed that through telepathic osmosis everyone else knew too… (Meaning, I forgot to add it in). It's been put into this chapter!

To ProtoBlues: lolz, I couldn't think of any other place that was predictable for someone to hide a spare key. Well, anyways, Yama has it now! ^-^

Disclaimer: Digimon = not mine.

Chapter IX – Love at first sight.

            Yamato woke up to the sun's rays shining annoyingly bright through the window. He opened his sapphire eyes only to immediately shield them with a hand to protect against the stinging light. The blonde shifted in bed and flipped over, resting his face in the soft pillow, stuffed with duck feathers. Just as he began to drift back into sleep, the loud ringing of the phone jolted Yamato out of his daze. He grumbled, "Not. Happening." The blonde ignored the ringing and refused to pick up the device that lay on his nightstand. "Stop, stop, stop, stop, hang up, hang up, hang up, hang up…" he chanted.

            When it was clear whoever it was desperately needed to talk to Yamato, he glowered at the phone and picked it up. "What do you want?" He growled into the receiver.

            The person on the other line laughed, and when he spoke, Yamato recognized the voice of his younger brother. "Man Matt, it's one in the afternoon and you're still sleeping?"

            Yamato yawned and sat up groggily in bed, "What is it, Takeru. I don't think you called to lecture me."

            "Actually I did."

            "What the-"

            "Mom got worried since you had a concert last night so she told me to call you and check up on you."

            Yamato raised an eyebrow that his brother could not see. "Are you serious?"

            Takeru laughed. "Completely. She knows you're probably alone at home today and since you got home late last night from your concert like you always do, Mom got kinda edgy, like most overprotective mothers get."

            Yamato sighed, "Tell her I'm fine."

            "That just won't do. In fact, she told me to personally go and check up on her baby boy." Takeru teased his older brother.

            The elder blonde sighed, there was no way getting out of these predicaments when his mother had her mind set. "Fine, when will you be here?"

            "Right… NOW!" Takeru yelled and the door to Yamato's bedroom practically exploded, revealing a smaller version of Yamato himself.

            The one in bed simply stared at the energetic boy who had burst through the door and was now laughing hysterically on the glossy hardwood floor. Yamato slowly returned the phone back to its cradle and then stepped over Takeru on the floor. "It's too early for this." He mumbled.

            By the time Yamato had stepped out of the bathroom, Takeru had made himself comfortable on the sofa and was watching TV. Walking closer, the blonde noticed that the boy seemed to be talking to someone and realized that Takeru held a phone in his right hand. Probably his girlfriend, Kari, Yamato thought. "You done being a sap, TK?" He said loudly. 

            Takeru turned around only to grin at his brother before hastily hanging up.

            Yamato sat on the sofa next to Takeru with his hair still wet from his shower. Takeru looked at Yamato and decided to question him. "So, who were you with last night?"

            The blonde looked up at his brother, "Just what are you talking about, TK?"

            "It's okay, Matt. When Mom got nosy last night, she made me call Jeff and ask if you guys were done. He said that they got stuck putting your stuff away 'cuz you left to take some girl home."

            "Her name is Sora. Not 'some girl.'" Yamato replied.

            "Okay, Sora. Well, how'd it go?"

            "How'd what go?"

            "Your date!"

            "What date?"

            "That date!"

            "What date?"

            Takeru grew frustrated, "The date you had last night with Sora."

            Yamato frowned, "I just took her home, that's all."

            "What time did you get home?"

            Yamato didn't lie, there was no need. "Five something."

            "Five?!" Takeru whistled, "she must be something to make Yamato Ishida get home at five just to take her home."

            Yamato didn't know what to say, but just sat there in a daze and smiled while staring out the window.

            Takeru's tone grew serious. "Does dad know?"     

            "I got home too late, he was in bed, and I woke up too late, since dad had already left."

            "That's good."

            Yamato nodded before turning back to Takeru to ask, "Yo TK, what do you have planned for today? Meeting up with Kari?"

            The younger of the two nodded and grinned boyishly, "You bet," he paused to look down at his wristwatch, "In fact, I should be leavin' now," he announced and got up from the cushioned seat. "What are you gonna do today, Matt? Anything planned? Oh, I bet you're gonna go on a date with that Sora girl."

            Yamato flung a cushion that hit Takeru right in the middle of his face. "Get out." He said, but the grin on his face made it clear that it was only to be taken lightly.

            Takeru laughed, "Later, Matt." Takeru exited the penthouse, closing the door behind him.

            Yamato sighed and turned back to the television. It was a nice day, too good to be wasted by sitting at home by yourself. Yamato's lips formed into a small smile, maybe he would spend the day with Sora. His mind filled with thoughts of the fiery teenage girl. She was probably home alone too right now. Yamato sighed and looked down at the hardwood floor of the living room. At least he had someone to come and check up on him, as annoying as it may be. The blonde smiled wider, "I did say that I would have to go keep her company a lot more…" he thought.

            Sora was sitting in front of her computer when her phone rang. Reaching over the desk, she picked up the black cordless phone and answered with a "hello."

            "Hey Sora, what's up?" the voice on the other end asked.

            Sora recognized the smooth baritone voice and smiled out of reflex, "Hi Yama."

            "Glad you could recognize my voice. Then again there aren't many that can't, seeing how I'm a popular singer and all."

            The girl laughed and tossed her auburn strands back, "I'm going to hang up, Yama."

            "Waitwaitwait!" Yamato hastily yelled into his cellular phone. When a giggle came from Sora he sighed, reassured that she had no intentions of hanging up on him. "You doing anything today?"

            "I wish. God, I'm so bored."

            "Great, I'll be right over."

            "Wait, what-?"

            "I said, I'm coming over."

            "Excuse me, Yamato, but since when were you allowed to just invite yourself over to my home?"

            "Since I got the key."

            "…what?"

            Silence was the only response Sora got and she repeated her question. She frowned when Yama didn't answer and was about to press the 'off' button when the door to her room burst open.

            Yamato stood there, laughing at Sora's expression, much like what his brother did when the same joke was played on Yamato.

            The girl narrowed her ruby eyes, "You have ten seconds to explain before I call the cops." She said, and pressed the flash button on the phone, breaking off the connection with Yamato and preparing to dial the quick sequence consisting of three numbers.

            "Okay, okay! Wait!" Yamato stood up, how exactly was she able to make him so nervous and hasty? "When you fell asleep last night, I left; but, when I stood outside the door, I realized that I couldn't just leave the door unlocked, seeing as how that would leave a pretty girl such as yourself all unprotected."

            Sora threw a pillow at Yamato, "Get to the point, Romeo."

            "Romeo? I'm Romeo now?" Yamato hurriedly continued on with his story when Sora pressed the '9' on the number pad of the phone. "Right, so then I thought maybe you hid an extra key or something and the only place I could think of was under the mat. So there was the key and I locked the door like the responsible guy I am."

            "Did the responsible guy leave with the key?"

            Yamato grinned widely, "Safekeeping purposes."

            Sora smirked, "I'm sure." She looked down and sighed, "I put a key there not only as a spare but also because my mother and I had this agreement. I was kinda hoping that she would just come back one day, so I left a key under the mat for her just in case I wasn't home."

            Yamato looked away sheepishly, "I should give it back…" he said, holding out the key in the palm of his outstretched arm.

            Looking up at the blonde, Sora giggled, "You're so cute." She shook her head, "I'm sure it was just wishful thinking. You keep the key, Yamato. I'm trusting you, okay?"

             Yamato stared at the girl with newly found dignity, "Serious?"

            Sora nodded.

            "Alright! I promise, you can trust me." Yamato stopped for a second and froze. "Hey, did you just call me cute back there?"

            "No." Sora said, looking away so he couldn't tell she was lying.

            "You did!" Yamato laughed, "I knew you'd fall for the charm."

            The girl sighed in feigned annoyance, "What exactly did you want, when you invited yourself over?"

            "Oh, right, I forgot about that. Well, I was kinda bored too, so I came to keep you company."

            "Did I say I needed company?"

            "Aw, come on, Sora!"

            She laughed, "Alright, alright, what did you have in mind?"

            "How about a movie?"

            Sora thought about the invitation momentarily before answering, "Sounds good."

            At three in the afternoon, on a Saturday, the movie theater was packed. Yamato grabbed Sora's hand, to prevent being separated and continued into auditorium ten. They sat down along the seventh row and Yamato soon left to brave the crowd once more for popcorn and soda. He returned right when the auditorium began to dim, triumphant with the goods.

            Handing Sora her iced tea, he leaned in close and whispered into her ear, "Miss me?"

            Sora shoved him away, accidentally spilling some of the large popcorn onto his lap. She giggled, and whispered, "Oops, sorry bout that, Yama."

            Yamato pouted and brushed the popcorn off of his pants and took a sip of his soda. He turned back to Sora and planted the bag of popcorn on her lap. "You can hold it." He winked.

            Sora frowned, "Fine then, you just won't be getting any." She smiled innocently and returned her attention to the screen.

            The blonde smiled at the girl before rotating in his seat to enjoy the movie.

            A cute blonde and a pretty brunette walked out of the theater, hand in hand. The brunette turned to the boy. "Thanks for taking me to the movies, TK."

            Takeru grinned widely, he was becoming more and more like his brother. "Anything for you, Kari."

            Kari smiled and kissed Takeru lightly on the cheek before someone bumped into her. The young man who had collided into her turned around immediately. "Oh, sorry, didn't mean to- Kari? Takeru?" His apology was cut short when he recognized the brunette and the blonde boy.

            "Yamato, what are you doing here?" Takeru asked, but when he noticed the beautiful auburn headed girl next to Yamato he smiled slyly at his older brother. "Oh, I see."

            The girl quickly defended herself, "This isn't a date I assure you."

            "Aw, you don't have to be ashamed of it, Sora." Yamato said, hooking an arm around her shoulders.

            Wiggling herself out of his arm, Sora turned around to mouth 'flirt' in his direction.

            Takeru laughed. "Right. Not a date." He said, grinning. Getting to his senses, he pulled Kari over and introduced her.

            Sora finally noticed the brunette girl since the younger girl's back had been turned previously. Her crimson eyes widened in realization, "Kari?!"

            The young brunette looked up at the older girl and immediately hugged the girl with delight. "Sora!!"

            Yamato and Takeru watched the girls' reunion. "Wow."

            Kari pulled away and spoke quickly with excitement. "Sora, oh wow, Sora! I haven't seen you in the longest! Tai told me you were here, but I didn't get the chance to see you. I've missed you so much!"

            Sora laughed as she listened to the girl. Tai and Kari had moved away from Odaiba when they were merely children. Being Tai's best friend, Sora had been like an older sister to Kari and the distance was hard on them all. Sora smiled genuinely at the girl, "It's great to see you." She turned to look at Takeru. "Boyfriend?"

            Kari laughed, "Yeah, he's great."

            Yamato and Takeru stood nearby, talking, while the girls laughed, involved in their own conversation.

            "So that's Sora?" Takeru asked, motioning towards the red haired girl.

            Yamato nodded. "That's her."

            "Nice catch, man."

            Yamato turned to look at his brother. "We're not on a date, remember?"

            Takeru laughed, "Just keep sayin' that." At that moment, the two girls walked over to the guys.

            "Sora, this is my brother, Takeru or TK. And TK, this is Sora." Yamato introduced the two. After a few more exchanged greetings and a long goodbye from the girls, the group parted their separate ways. The younger couple headed for a nearby mall while Yamato and Sora headed for the pizza shop.

            Yamato sat across from Sora at their normal booth by the window after they had already ordered. Most girls that they passed by that day had turned around for a better look at the handsome blonde. They now stared at the two by the window.

            Sora sighed, "It's so hard to go outside with you, Yamato."

            Yamato frowned, a flash of panic appeared in his sapphire eyes. "Why?"

            Giggling, she answered, "I think you pick up three new fan girls every minute."

            "Well, in case you haven't noticed, guys have turned around to check you out when you walk by."

            "Oh, really?" Sora said, smirking a little bit.

            "You bet."

            "You've kept track?"

            "It's my job."

            "How protective of you."

            "Like the responsible guy I am."

            Sora laughed and tossed her hair back with her right hand. She sighed and stopped to think about the day's events. "How cute. Your brother is dating Tai's sister."

            Yamato, slightly distressed that Sora stopped their little game when it got interesting, simply nodded in response.

            "How old is TK, anyway?"

            "Fourteen, three years younger than us. Why?"

            "Just like Kari. I was just wondering why he doesn't go to our school."

            Yamato grew unnaturally quiet. "Our parents are divorced, so Takeru had a choice if he wanted to go to Ishida high. After all, our father is the headmaster-"

            "What?!" Sora exclaimed. It never occurred to her that the headmaster of the school could be Yamato's father. Sure his last name was Ishida, but that had to be a popular last name, right?

            Yamato laughed, "The school is founded by my great grandfather and it's just kinda been in the family… my father is the headmaster now. He can be… strict, so TK chose not to go to Ishida High."

            "…strict?"

            "Very. But only to us though."

            "How so?"

            "Study first. Study only. No girls. No girlfriends. No hanging out. Etc…"

            Sora laughed, "he does realize it is a school that allows both genders right? Anyways, you seem pretty free though, you have your own band, you do hang out, and you get home super late with no problem."

            "Mom used to get in fights with him a lot. Many of them were over TK and my 'freedom'. The thing he's most strict about is the girl thing though. He has this firm belief that if I get a girlfriend, studies go down, and you know what happens."

            Sora pouted at Yamato, "Aw, no girlfriend for Yama?" she teased.

            Leaning closer, Yamato used a lower voice, "Nope, never had one."

            The red haired girl leaned back in the cushioned seat, distancing from Yamato. "But you're so popular, I find it hard to believe."

            Yamato smiled, "It just makes me more desirable."

            Sora broke down in laughter, receiving a smile from the waiter, Kyo, when he brought over their orders.

            Over their plates, they talked about random topics that came to mind, feeling comfortable with anything that was brought up. Yamato looked up at Sora, who was twirling her spaghetti around on her fork. He smiled, "I was thinking about the movie…"

            Looking into Yamato's eyes, Sora asked, "Yeah?"

            "Do you believe in love at first sight?"

            Taken aback at the question, Sora's answer was delayed, but firm. "No."

            "No? That's it? Just no?"

            "What? There's nothing wrong with that, do you?"

            Yamato sighed, "Not sure, I didn't use to. You know, most girls would say yes."

            "I'm not 'most girls'. Anyways, when you love someone, you love them for their personality, not their physical features. When looking at a person for the first time, all you could possibly know about them is how they look like. I believe there is lust at first sight, not love. Everything is just easily confused with love."

            "Whoa, nice speech, Sora." Yamato teased, finishing off the last of his pasta dish.

            "Shut up, Yamato."

            The ride home had been nice one with the two friends freely conversing. It was around eight thirty when Sora arrived home. After thanking Yamato for the fun day out, she went inside the building and waved to the blonde in the car. He smiled and waved back.

            Sora ran to get the phone when she had finished taking her shower. She was now donned in her black pajamas, with her hair still wet and hanging limply down to her back. Picking up the phone, she sat down on the sofa and drew her knees close to her chest. "Hello?"

            "Hey beautiful."

            Sora instantly blushed, "You flirt, what do you want?"

            Yamato laughed on the other end of the line. "Well, since tomorrow is Sunday and we're both going to be obviously bored, why not have the great Yamato Ishida keep you company?"

            The girl laughed and ran a comb through her auburn strands. "Don't you have fan girls to spend time with?"

            "That's just scary."

            Sora laughed again, the guy always made her laugh, "Alright, why not. Call me tomorrow. Goodnight."

            "Goodnight, beautiful."

            "Flirt."

AN: Okay, finally done. I didn't have a lot of time this week for anything, so I couldn't write. Man, this chapter was long… it's kinda one of my more boring chapters too… I guess I started to stray… -_-

By the way, the age for Tai, Yamato, and Sora is 17. I'm putting it in here for people just like me, too lazy to count up three from fourteen, hehe.