AN: Happy New Year!!! 2005!! (Ten years later, I'll be reading that and thinking 'Wow, what a loser'). If you share the same mindset as me, then the future is nothing but a huge swirling vortex of doom! (Been watching too much Fairly Oddparents.) J of course hopefully none of you guys think that way.
Musashibf – lol, I don't think I'll be adding Taiora violence, this story is too short for me to do that, haha, but thanks for the tidbit! I'm terribly sorry to hear that your girlfriend broke up with you, but hey, you're young and there's plenty of other fish in the sea… or ocean. Guys are evil too! (though I must say, girls might be… slightly more malicious.)
Sweetyakane – Okay, I'm hoping you get to this chapter before you leave for vacation! Enjoy the chapter and your vacation. ;)
Disclaimer: Digimon is not mine.--------------------
Chapter VIII – Day SevenSora awoke to a mass of brown hair. After calming down from making irrational assumptions of a wild bear climbing into her bed in the middle of the night, she realized it was none other than Taichi. How long had it been since she last woke up in his arms? As a couple they had shared a bed many times, nothing more—well other than that one night.
As much as her heart enjoyed the intimacy, Sora's conscience was telling her it was time to get up. While trying to pry off Taichi's arms, she gave a startled gasp as they wrapped even firmer around her form.
"Where do you think you're going?" came a husky voice.
Sora turned to narrow her eyes at him playfully, "I don't know about you, Tai, but I don't intend to stay in bed and waste another day." She paused before adding, "I have to pack today."
His hands clung to her even tighter (if possible), taking fistfuls of her soft cotton sleepwear. "But I'll be cold."
"You idiot, it's what they made blankets for. But you keep insisting on kicking them off in your sleep and using me as a source of heat."
"It's much more pleasant," Taichi reasoned, burying his face in her silky auburn locks, breathing in their irresistible scent. "I like waking up to you," he said quietly.
Sora smiled and allowed him to pull her back to the bed. "Well, I don't like waking up to you. It's like waking up to a carpet," she teased. "One day, I really will shave your head."
"It's a small price to pay."
Now that surprised her. After all those years Sora had spent with Tai, his hair was his pride and joy. She half expected him to start bawling like a child when she suggested shaving his head. Lucky for Tai though, Sora loved the bush he wore as hair. It was surprisingly soft to the touch, and… it was adorable. Absentmindedly, Sora had started to play with his hair.
Taichi grinned. "I thought you said you were going to shave it."
"Shut up Tai."
"I thought you said you were going to go pack," he said softly.
"I should."
"…but I don't want you to leave."
Sora gave a small smile and looked into his dark chocolate eyes, which were staring intently at her. "I don't want to go either."
"Then stay!" Taichi was beginning to sound like a little kindergartener.
"I… can't. This isn't my house. I have a home Tai… and I have to go back. I can't just throw it away because I want to stay with you."
"What are you talking about, of course you can stay. You can stay forever. When Kari gets married, she's not going to stay here. She and Takeru bought a house in the same neighborhood. If… I'm staying by myself, chances are I'll sell this place."
Sora smiled, something that she had been doing a lot since she awoke. "That sounds nice Tai."
"I want to be with you Sora. Don't you want to be with me? What happened to what you said last night?"
Leaning towards his ear she let out a whisper, her hot breath tickling his skin. "I want to be with you."
He turned to look at her with astonishment in his eyes, only to be quickly replaced by the purest of… love. Sora stared into his eyes, unable to turn away. This had to be what Mimi saw in his eyes that night. 'all that love was for you, and only you Sora.'
Taichi gave her a smirk, and when he spoke, his voice was low beckoning her to lean closer. "And I never want you to leave."
Not knowing what to do, Sora did the only thing she could do, the only thing she could think about. She kissed him.
Apparently she had fallen asleep on the roof last night. How Tai managed to get her into the house safely was beyond her. Sora cupped the man's face with her hand, "I still want to be with you Tai. Just because we're not living together doesn't mean you can't see me. The phone is a wonderful little invention, so is the car, the train, the bicycle even. You know what they call it when two people who don't live together meet and go out together? I do believe it's called dating."
"You'll still be there?"
"What?"
"You'll be home? Where I can find you?"
Sora laughed softly, "Taichi Yagami, I promise you'll always be able to find me."
"Good. Then stay for five minutes, I want to go back to sleep." He closed his eyes and instantly the woman closer to him.
It was getting hard to breathe with Taichi's arms wrapped firmly around her waist. God, with the close proximity, Sora was forgetting how to breathe.
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When Taichi woke up he was thoroughly disappointed at the emptiness of the bed. How exactly did she manage to slip away when he had a death grip around her? Looking around he couldn't help but frown. Her things were neatly packed and the duffel bag lay nearby. For a moment, he considered taking the evil thing and hiding it—but that wouldn't do much. Sora would still leave, (not to mention probably not talk to him for a good couple of days).
Finally sitting up and getting a terrible head rush, Taichi made his way to the bathroom.
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Sora stood in the kitchen, cutting the potatoes halfheartedly. It was past noon and the stupid pig was still sleeping. As much as she wanted to, Sora couldn't stay. She admitted to being stubborn, but she wasn't just about to let go of everything—she just wanted to go home. But she couldn't let go of everything here either.
She could still meet Tai weekly, daily, but she wouldn't be able to wake up to him. She wouldn't be able to sit with him until four in the morning doing absolutely nothing. After living with the chestnut haired man who acted more like he was four… she had grown used to it. …maybe… she could ask him to move in with her.
It was insane, just moving in like that, but Taichi even said he'd probably sell the place. The more Sora thought about it, the more sense it made. Taichi would go through a lot less changes and hassle than Sora if she moved. Her condo had more than enough space. High ceilings, full length windows, a terrace, it was hard to not love.
…but it would be selfish of her. Sora didn't want to move… so she would ask Taichi to move? She couldn't.
"You left me."
The voice startled Sora and she let out a cry of pain as the knife grazed her skin.
Taichi was by her side in a second and held her hand carefully. "You okay?"
"It's fine, nothing big. Just startled me, that's all." She replied, running her finger in some cold water. "By the way, you said five minutes, not five hours."
"Slight miscalculation."
"Of course. Okay, now you're going to have to cook."
"What, why?!"
"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have cut myself. So chop chop, get moving."
He frowned, but obediently picked up the knife and began dicing the potatoes.
"I think you need this." Sora held the apron in her hand, offering it to Tai.
He scoffed, "I don't need an apron. I'm a man."
At that, the woman began to laugh uncontrollably, much to Taichi's dismay. As she walked out of the kitchen, her laughter could be heard echoing through the house.
"Women."
---
"Wow Tai, it's only a little burnt." The auburn haired woman commented as she poked around the food with her fork.
He glared at her and received a dazzling smile in return.
"It's really good if that helps."
"Better."
They ate in a comfortable silence, and when they finished, it was Tai who was stuck with dishwashing duties.
"What? Again?!"
"Oh, stop whining Tai. It's just a little scrubbing, nothing that a man can't handle, right?"
By the time Taichi finished up in the kitchen, Sora had made herself very comfortable in the living room, watching Alton Brown whip up dishes on the food network.
"What are you watching?"
"Good Eats, on the food network." She answered casually.
The brunette shook his head and took a set beside Sora. "Is this your idea of entertainment? Watching the food network?"
"Yes it is."
"Oh, okay." Taichi redirected his attention to the television screen, not knowing how to reply to Sora's answer. The show wasn't so bad, Tai had to admit as he watched the television host do various things with crepes that the man had never even heard of. After a short while, Taichi announced that he was hungry.
"What? You've got to be joking, we just ate! That was a late lunch Tai, dinner won't be for another four hours."
"Noooooo! It's all this guy's fault," he motioned angrily at the television. "He shouldn't be allowed to cook in the afternoon."
"Tai… you are odder than I expected."
"But you love me for it."
There was a silence that followed and for a second, Taichi was afraid he said the wrong thing. When Sora spoke, her tone was more serious, "Tai?"
"…yes?"
"I'm sorry I can't stay here with you."
It was unexpected to say the least, but it made him smile. "Don't worry, I'm a big boy. So Sora?"
"Yes?"
"You uh… free this Saturday?"
She quirked a brow and suppressed a laugh, "Depends who's asking."
"Well uh… you do want to uh… you know… see a movie or something."
"Taichi Yagami, are you asking me out on a date?"
"I prefer to think of it as a friendly outing amongst two people who happen to be more than friends."
"Right." Sora answered with a sly smile.
"Well is that a yes?"
"Depends who's asking."
"A very handsome man with great hair."
"Oh in that case, I'm not interested. Besides, I'm busy."
Tai frowned, "Oh, what are you gonna be doing?"
"I'll be going out with my roommate."
"WHAT?!"
Sora remained calm and winked at the baffled brunette. "He also happens to be a very handsome man with great hair."
Taichi stared at her, visibly confused. His head was starting to hurt.
"Are you playing dumb, or are you really this slow."
At her words it finally clicked in his head and he grinned widely. "Sora Takenouchi, are you asking me to live with you?"
"I prefer to think of it as filling empty space."
"That's not what I heard two seconds ago."
"Are you coming or not?" Sora asked impatiently. It was a hard question to ask him, and she wanted an answer dammit.
Tai shot up in a blur of chestnut. "Of course, ma'am!" he joked, but immediately stood up to go and pack his belongings. Before he made it to the stairs, he turned around and sprinted to where Sora stood, and surprised her with a chaste kiss on the lips before dashing off to the second floor, only turning to send her a dashing smile.
The auburn haired woman sat on the leather couch, staring at the top of the stairs where Tai last stood. A smile made it's way onto her lips, gracing her features. Tai might be a fool sometimes, but she loved him for it.
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AN: Made it in time for the New Year! I think I'll be adding an epilogue, so it's not the end just yet.
It's the last chapter (if you don't count the epilogue that I should be adding), don't make me beg for reviews, hehe.
On a side note, I'm very sorry to say that I doubt I'll be writing another Taiora anytime soon.
The show Good Eats is hosted by Alton Brown and aired on the Food Network (in case you missed out on all that in the chapter), which by the way, I do watch. ;)
May you all achieve your goals, and I wish everyone the best of the New Year.