To the Highest Bidder

By theladyknight

Disclaimer: Digimon—not mine!

A/N: Not too much humor in this chapter; it's more or less drama. Only 2 more chapters after this! Hope you guys all like it and don't forget to review! I love hearing what you all think!

Sakura Arielle: Sorry about Mizuki's name being the same as yours. It seems every name a writer picks always ends up being someone else's name, or someone a reader knows…

SylverKa: That's by far one of my favorite lines too…actually I think I would like to study creative writing in college…

Brat-always-day-and-night: I know what I want to write, I usually don't stick to it…

HiEi JaGaNsHis FlAmE: This is the third to last chapter…

Witchy: Actually, I think I really do want to pursue fiction writing in college and would like to be an author. But we'll just see…

Anxious: -smiles- Thanks! I love your fic that's out too…

Jodi Crystal: Sora does have a lot of Yama on her mind. She doesn't in this chapter though…

BrnttsDoItBest: I put the recording contract thing in for a twist…but things get even twistier (is that a word?) in here…

Mrs. Ishida-to-you: I couldn't resist putting that in. I wanted the guys to tease them about being gone, and that seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Princessstephanie: Keep reading and you'll see…

Trio Wing: -dances around- this is the LAST chapter Mizuki's in! Yay! Lol!

Ann Mari123: 2 after this one…

Violet eyes rika: -stares- I can't say I knew that. That is rather funny…that guy was obviously the perfect choice to voice Tai then…

Placid Snowflake: I've wondered the exact same thing…

Inconnu: Taichi's singing is not one of his better qualities..

Direwolf1427: Tracey came for 2 weeks to visit over spring break. Now 2 weeksare up, and she has to go home…

Curtis Zidane Ziraa: -hands cookie- Nice guess! Read to see what happens…

Crazyamzy: I didn't have much sugar today… -frowns- I gave up candy for Lent. But I did have like 3 pops last night and about five cups of orange juice today, so hopefully that qualifies. Lol! Didn't you say you were going to update soon? Sorry, I'm not trying 2 be pushy…I'm just wondering!

Scorpion05: I'm glad you caught the thing Yutaka said. –Hands cookie- It'll show up in here…

Val Noel Lopez/Dream-rose/fanfictionist: Tai's mother thing was based on something my brother-in-law had to do when he got hypnotized. Glad you liked it! Yes, the truth will be revealed before the last chapter!

And thanks to everyone else who reviewed…Yume-dream, nanners, crazed-gal, indigowolf, SoraKoi the Water Goddess, Cheryblossom Sky, Kuroi Black Nightingale, sorato-takari, Kay, Mimi, Sorato Fan, money makes me smile, and Only Secret…now onto the chapter…

Chapter 13: Yamato's Choice

"Tracey, I can't believe you have to leave already."

She sadly smiled at me while Mom and Dad put her luggage on the train car behind us. "I know, Sor. I don't want to leave. I've had such a great time with you guys down here. It won't be the same without you."

"Don't leave then." Yamato suggested, coming over to where we were standing. "You can stay another week or two."

Tracey laughed and gave us both a hug. "I'm going to miss you two! Yamato, it was great getting to know you. Sora really has snagged quite a guy." The blond surprised us both by blushing a bit. "It'll be good to have you in the family some day."

Mom and Dad finished loading her stuff, and both chuckled at the comment. "Now Tracey, don't get ahead of yourself…"

My cousin rolled her eyes and hugged us once more. "Good luck in the future, and think with your heart." She whispered in my ear. I gave her a quizzical look. Could she possibly know a little more than we told her? What if Taichi told her Yamato and I really aren't going out? Uh oh, looks like I need to talk to Tai…

I saw Yamato shake his head at the thing Tracey told him before she headed over to where Taichi stood, calm and reserved for once in his life. "What'd she tell you?" I asked.

He grinned. "Something that was very typical of Tracey." I raised an eyebrow, and he leaned down to my ear. "Make sure we use protection…"

My face heated up, and I looked at him sympathetically. "That's Tracey for you."

He nodded. "Boy am I going to miss her."

"It look's like Taichi's going to too."

We looked over to where our best friend was handing Tracey a bouquet of flowers, and they were both talking lightly. "I say we did good, hooking them up."

I smiled up at him, and we heard the conductor call for everyone to board. "Bye guys!" Tracey called after kissing Taichi—mom and dad probably had their eyes widened from the kiss she gave him—and waving to us. She picked up the flowers and climbed onto the train.

Slowly, the engine blew its whistle, and the train took off into the countryside. I looked over at Taichi, who watched the train until it was out of sight. "I miss her already."

"Awe," I sighed and gave him a hug. "Don't worry; I'm sure we'll be hearing from her quite soon."

Taichi couldn't hold back a grin. "I asked her to be my girlfriend."

Yamato and I both smiled at his comment. "Way to go, bud. But if I didn't know any better, I'd say you're going a bit soft."

Taichi glared at him. "I'd be careful what you say, Yama. I've got some blackmail on you I'm sure Sora would love to hear."

The blond immediately quieted down, and I looked between the two. Taichi knows something I don't. And I'm going to make it my mission to find out…


The week passed by way too quickly. Before I knew it, it was Friday night, the night of the signing party. I stood in front of my mirror, once again putting my prom dress on, waiting for Mimi to do my hair.

I bet your wondering how exactly Mimi knew. Well, let's just say, of the three guests Yamato chose to invite, one of them has an incredibly big mouth. One guess at who it is.

So, as Taichi let it slip that The Teen-Age Wolves officially had gotten a record deal, the week seemed to be mayhem. Yama and the guys couldn't walk through the halls without anyone stopping to congratulate them, laud them, worship them, the works. Even the faculty and adults stopped them, usually asking for autographs that they swore were for a family member. I bet their story will change when someone asks why the autograph of each member of The Teen-Age Wolves is hanging up in their classroom.

Yamato had invited Taichi, his brother Takeru, and me as his guests. Taichi and I were obvious choices, as we were the two people outside his family he was closest to. I also had a feeling Takeru would be invited.

Here's the thing about Yamato's family. His parents split up when he was around six. Yamato went with his father while Takeru went with his mother. The older blond still has a fairly decent relationship with his mother, and he and Takeru are very close. The younger blond—oddly enough they're both blond while their parents are both brunettes—is in grade nine. He attends a school across town, but as I said before, he and Yama both talk a lot.

I've known Takeru since the time I met Yamato, back before their parents split up. He's such a great kid. Takeru's fifteen and just like his brother, is best friends with a Yagami and a girl. Hikari Yagami, Taichi's little sister, goes to a different school than Takeru, the same one as her brother and I, but she and the younger blond have remained friends. They've been best friends since the time they met, just around the age I met Taichi and Yamato, and their brothers and I have tried to play matchmaker quite a few times.

In front of people, they'll both deny they like each other. They stick to the whole "friends" case with everyone around. But when Hikari and I hang out by ourselves, like if we go shopping or something, it's a whole different boat. The younger girl has actually admitted to me she's got a crush on Takeru but won't do anything about it. Why does it sound familiar…oh yeah.

Sounds kind oflike Yamato and me.

But at the same time it's different because I know both Hikari and Takeru like each other. With the older blond and me…I'm just not too sure. I have a feeling, though, some sort of confrontation will come up in the near distant future. I'm getting this strange feeling, almost like the one I got regarding Mizuki.

Yes, Mizuki…I was very right when I predicted an argument between the two of us would happen soon. It occured on Tuesday, as issues of the city's hottest magazines were spread around the school bearing the words "One of the Wolves Taken?" and other ridiculous titles. There were pictures from prom adorning the whole magazine. Taichi, Yamato, and I had a laughing fit at a few of them. While the pictures had captured the rock star and me, they also bore the people in the background. Our classmates stood behind us, waving frantically and making funny gestures with their hands. It really was quite comical.

Our psychology teacher, once again deciding to be unique, had us study all the magazines and newspapers Yamato and I were in, trying to decipher the way the media portrayed us and how each article affected a person's mind. I'm really glad school's almost out.

Some of the articles were rather kind while others were downright cruel. Some made me want to laugh while others caused me to bite my lip to keep from crying. I hated some with passion, and Mizuki was doing her best to infuriate my mood.

The teacher let us choose our seats and work with a partner, analyzing each of the articles. Yamato and I naturally would work together, and Tuesday was no different. But Mizuki and her partner decided to sit right behind us. That brought along our little skirmish.

It started with the smell of their perfumes. I don't know how much Mizuki sprays on herself every morning, but it was enough to make anyone's stomach turn. I turned around immediately. "Would you please back up? We'd like a little bit of fresh air."

Yamato snickered and winked at me. "Yeah, Mizuki, that stuff's gotta be toxic or something."

She smiled at him and ran her hand down his back. "Aww, Yama-kun, I wore it especially for you. Do you like it?"

He chuckled again. "Where'd you get it? The landfill?"

Mizuki put on a fake laugh. "Yama-kun, you're so funny."

"And you're funny looking." I mumbled under my breath. Yama faked a coughing fit to keep from laughing at my comment.

The girl faced me. "Why don't you bugger off Sora so Yama-kun and I can be partners?"

"As tempting as that offer is, I think I'll pass. I'm perfectly happy with Yamato as my partner."

"You would be," she snapped, "I bet it makes you feel loved that he's being nice enough to sit with you, the freak."

Wow, she has the intelligence of a five year old when it comes to comebacks. "That hurt, Mizuki." I answered dryly. "But would you just leave us alone?"

"Please," the blond stepped in. "I'm sick and tired of you trying to hit on me. Sora's my girlfriend. I love her, Mizuki, I would never love you."

The girl ignored the comment. "I could show you what a night of love is like, Yama-kun."

Yamato opened his mouth to reply, but I beat him to it. "You're such a slut."

Everyone around the room, who all had silently been listening to our conversation, gasped. No one said anything, not even the teacher. They were letting us battle it out with Mizuki. Her partner silently got up and left, not wanting to be part of this. "You're one to talk, So-ra." She answered flippantly. "You're the one who steals people's boyfriends."

"Whose boyfriend did she steal?" Yamato demanded.

"Mine…you and I were meant to be together. You're the hot lead singer of the band. I'm popular, gorgeous, and second-in-command of the We Love Yama-kun Club. It's only natural we should be together."

I smirked at her comment. "Did Yama ever show interest in you at all through our four years in high school?"

My reply left her tongue-tied. "All the time. You don't see the looks he gives me behind your back, Takenouchi."

The blond did start to laugh. "What, the looks of pity and disgust because of the way you act?"

She placed her hands on his back and began massaging it. "I know you want me, Yama-kun."

"Mizuki get it through your thick head," It was time to let her have it, "Yamato doesn't like you nor will he ever like you! If you think he's going to magically fall in love with you just because you're popular, then you've got one sad, sad fantasy. It's true you may be one of the prettier, more popular girls in the whole school, but underneath it all you're a bitch."

"Excuse me?" she demanded.

"You heard me." I challenged. "You walk around the school like you own it, Mizuki. You automatically assume people like you and worship you just because you're "Mizuki Lee." But face it, that's definitely not the case. People see the way you act, and they aren't jealous of you. People laugh at you, Mizuki. They talk about you and the way you act. Nobody worships you or wants to be you. Everyone's afraid of acting like you. Beauty is only skin deep, and it's what's inside that really matters. And sadly, in your case what's inside is ugly."

She clawed the side of my arm. "Go to hell, Takenouchi. You're just jealous."

I winced slightly at the mark it left. "Believe me, Mizuki; I've never been jealous of you. I'm sorry for you, if anything else. You've built up this false perception of yourself and can't see the real, ugly you. Yama will never be with you. He sees through your act, and he doesn't love you."

"But he and I should be together. Not the two of you. What does he see in you?"

"What don't I see in her?" he finally interrupted us, making his presence known. "I love Sora because of the person she is. We've been friends since we were like four years old. She's always been there for me. She watched my cry when my parent's split up, let me call her when I had a bad day, and stood by me when I acted like a complete idiot. Sora cares about me for who I am, not because I'm some soon-to-be famous rock star. She knows the real me, and that's someone you'll never know."

His words struck her, but she refused to give up. "But Yama…"

"Don't Yama me." He growled. "I love Sora, and I always will. Nothing you can do will split us up. She loves me for me, not for some false reasons like you do or claim to do. Don't bother us again, Mizuki."

He glared at her until her eyes looked away. Mizuki let out a scream and chucked the newspapers to the floor before storming out of the room. Our teacher watched her throw a tantrum as she slammed the door and went screaming into the hallway. "It's about time someone stood up to her."She simply said, giving us each a smile.

One by one the members of our class began to applaud. "She was always so rude to me."

"She stole my sister's boyfriend." Another replied.

Our teacher held up a hand. "I'm going to call the counselor and let him know about Mizuki. Maybe he can get her some help..."

From the minute we set foot out the door, the rumors started spreading. It was like the day people found out Yama and I were "going out". By lunch the whole school knew the story, though there were many various versions. People we didn't know came over and congratulated us on telling her off. It seemed like everyone had some sort of resentment against her but couldn't muster up the strength to do it. "I hope she stops acting like that. She's pissing everyone off, even those who used to be her friends." Jun told us at lunch before smiling. "I'm glad you guys could do it…"


"Sora!" Mom cried out, "Yamato's here!"

Mimi smiled at me and gave me a hug. "You look beautiful, once again. Have fun tonight and be careful, you never know when…" I covered her mouth as Mom and Dad both walked into the room.

Dad raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?"

"Nothing," my face flushed red. "Remember, I'll most likely be back sometime late tomorrow morning. The party could go quite some time."

"Of course. Have fun tonight, dear." Dad smiled at me.

I hugged Mimi once more and walked out to the hall where Yamato was awaiting me. He gave me a lopsided grin and kissed me lightly. "You look beautiful like always."

I smiled at him. "So do you, handsome."

Yamato waved to my parents before he led us outside to the awaiting car the record company had ensured him each band member would get. "The others are inside waiting."

Opening the door, I stepped in and was greeted by the faces of Yamato's family and, of course, Taichi. "Hi everyone."

"Sora!" I sat down next to Takeru, and he wrapped an arm around me in a friendly one-armed hug. "I haven't seen you forever!"

"I know," I grinned at him and looked around the car. There was some driver, and the front passenger seat was open. Yamato was sitting in-between his parents in the middle section, and the back consisted of Taichi, Takeru, and me.

The ride there was, for the most part, quiet. No one talked too much, all of us were eagerly anticipating the upcoming event. It was a long fifteen-minute ride. The only noise that was heard came from Takeru and me catching up and Taichi occasionally making jokes. The driver finally pulled up into the studio parking lot, and had he not already had a space reserved, would have found the nearest parking spot to be three blocks away.

We departed the car, all getting out and standing around. Cameras were flashing and shouts screaming out. Apparently the others were arriving as well. Yamato grabbed my arm, and I looked up at his shockingly nervous face. "You'll be fine, Yama. I know it."

He squeezed my hand but still bore an apprehensive look. "I hope so. Let's go in…"

The walk down the "red-carpet" was a bit scary. Cameras and reporters gathered all around and people were packed in as tight as a can of sardines. The crowd was made up of the paparazzi, adults, teenagers, and young kids. Every now and then Yamato would stop us to pose for a picture or sign an autograph for a little girl. He refused to listen to any of the reporters' questions, and I just kept my mouth shut when they addressed me.

Taichi and Takeru were behind me, followed closely by Yama's parents. He advised us all to remain quiet, and I knew Tai was having a very hard time fulfilling the blonde's request.

We stepped into the studio, and I gasped at the amount of people inside. Men and women were swarming all over the place, many of them different newspaper and magazine reporters. Television reporters and cameramen were busy setting up their equipment, ready for the big event.

Takashi called us over, and while Mr. Ishida and Ms. Takaishi left to mingle, the others and I headed over to the rest of The Teen-Age Wolves. They were sitting down at a table, trying to stay out of the reporters ways. "So, you ready for this, Ishida?"

"You better believe it." Yamato hit his knuckles against Yutaka's. "This is what we've been waiting for."

Akira grinned. "I can't believe it's happening."

Yutaka nodded. "You're telling me. It's going great so far…oh great, here comes little Mr. Sunshine."

I looked over and almost groaned along with the band members. It was Mr. Sunshine himself, Makoto. "So you finally got here, Ishida?"

"I was here by 7:45, just as the Takuya told us all to be here by."

The man rolled his eyes. "You should have been here earlier. You all would have known that if you'd been at practice on Tuesday night…" he glared at me and then walked off.

When he was out of hearing distance, I faced the group. "Let me guess, he's blaming me for you guys skipping practice on Tuesday?"

"Ignore him." Takashi stated. "He's full of crap. We all skipped for our own reasons, mostly because we're sick of him."

After our little episode with Mizuki on Tuesday, Yama told me he was skipping band practice to stay with me. He didn't want her doing something like attacking me. He told the others he was skipping, and with a smile, they each revealed they were going to, too. Each of them has other activities they're involved in that they don't get to participate in too often because of Makoto's stupid schedules.

Yama and I went to my apartment after school—Coach had cancelled practice as she was sick—and hung out there the rest of the night. After we finished our homework, we popped in a movie and fell asleep halfway through. Both of us were overwhelmed by our respective events, especially after confronting Mizuki. Mom and Dad found us there around midnight, asleep in each others arms, and let us stay there. They called the Ishidas to let Yama's dad know he was here. When we woke up Wednesday morning, I was still in his arms, and Mom and Dad were smiling at us. That extra sleep really felt good…

Yama beamed at me and wrapped his arm around my waist. "Don't worry about it." He was about to add more when Takuya stood up on the platform set up for the signing, announcing food would be served for the next twenty minutes, and the official signing would begin at 8:30 sharp.

Taichi immediately headed off toward the table the caterers were setting food on. Takeru followed him just to make sure Taichi wouldn't do anything stupid. Akira, Takashi, and Yutaka all headed toward the table as well, but Yamato pulled me aside before we could head that way.

He led me toward the side, behind a cluster of plants so the paparazzi wouldn't see us. "What's up?"

"I've got another surprise for you." He whispered in my ear. "Close your eyes…"

I reluctantly shut them and awaited his surprise. I wonder what it could be. "Are you done yet?"

I felt his hands slip something around my neck and start tickling me intentionally. "Now I am. Go ahead and look."

I glanced down at my neck and found a beautiful red and silver heart pendant dangling from it. "Yama," I gasped, "it's beautiful! You…you got this for me?"

"It reminded me of you." He grinned down at me.

"But we're not…"

"Yeah, I know. But I couldn't keep myself from getting it for you."

"Thanks." I smiled at him, and after making sure no one was watching, we slipped back into the food line…

"May I have everyone's attention please?" Takuya's voice resounded through the large room. The food had been put away, and he was standing up on the platform along with Yamato, the others, and of course Mr. Sunshine, Makoto. "The signing will now get underway."

He continued on, discussing some of the aspects of the contracts, but my attention drifted. Yama had already told Taichi and me what the contracts offered. "So lover boy's going to be leaving now? What's going to happen between the two of you?" Taichi whispered in my ear.

"I don't know." I replied. "We'll just have to wait and see." Pausing to make sure no one was paying attention to us—obviously they weren't with the main event taking place—I turned back to the brunette. "Taichi, you keep mentioning you have some blackmail on Yamato. I know it concerns me. What is it?"

He gave me a lopsided grin. "As much as I'd love to tell you, I think it should rest in Yamato's hands. He needs to be the one to tell you. But don't worry; from the way he's been acting the past few days, I have a feeling it'll be soon. He'll get the balls to do it soon."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

"Have you noticed the way he's been acting? Yamato's been very un-Yamatolike. He's so jumpy and nervous."

I pondered that statement. Yamato had been acting like that recently. I think it had something to do with all the pressure he'd been facing, but the more I think about it, the more it seems like it.

Our conversation came to a close as cheering and clapping echoed all around us. Taichi let out a whoop as Yama leaned down and scrawled his name onto the recording contract. One by one the others joined him, first Takashi, then Akira, and finally with a large grin, Yutaka.

"The Teen-Age Wolves are now the newest members of the Elemental Records family!" a reporter cried into her microphone.

"You saw it here first; every one of The Teen-Age Wolves, signing their contracts. Stay tuned for more…"

I pulled out my camera, not able to contain my smile, as Yamato shook Takuya's hand. The four band members then stood together as countless people took pictures and all...

Fifteen minutes later, they managed to escape and join us down near the door. It was less crowded over there. Yama's parents both hugged him and went through the usual sentiments before heading away. His dad had to leave for some business trip while his mom went to talk to a reporter. Taichi and Takeru each slapped him on the back and demanded a share of some of the money he made. Then, now that the food was placed back on the tables, they headed back in that direction.

"Sora,"

"Yamato," I grinned at him and squealed as he picked me up, enveloping me in a huge hug. "You're choking me!"

Yutaka laughed. "He's just happy."

"Obviously," I stated, "but I'd rather have you happy than the nervous wreck you were before."

Takashi cracked up. "You're telling me. He almost tripped over one of the cameramen's cords. It was hilarious."

Yama's face tinted pink and to hide it, he lowered his lips to mine. "We did it," he murmured before kissing me strong and hard. I wrapped my arms around him so I wouldn't get knocked off my feet by the power of the kiss. But like always, someone loves to interrupt us when we begin to kiss.

One guess at who it is.

"Ishida, didn't you tell this…" the man thought for a minute, "uh…um…Sarah what we agreed to?"

"We didn't agree to anything, Makoto." Yama answered fiercely. "You agreed to it."

The large man glared at each one of the guys. "You all just signed contracts, and you're going to throw it away?"

Yutaka rolled his eyes. "We're not throwing anything away."

"Yeah, what's wrong with focusing our energy on other things besides the band?"

"EVERYTHING!" the man shouted. "In order to guarantee you guys are number one, you MUST remove all distractions." He pointed at me. "I'm sorry, Sarah, but your little "relationship" with Yamato is over. He's got better things to look forward to then you."

"Take that back." Yama growled at him.

"You understood the terms of the agreement."

Yamato pushed me behind him and walked up to Makoto's face. "We told you once, Makoto, it was your little agreement. Nothing in our contracts designated we'd have to quit the things we're involved in or get rid of any friends or girlfriends."

"Ishida, you're going to meet thousands of girls along the way. All of them would die to spend the night with you, and are probably much better on the eyes than this little girl."

Akira, Takashi, and Yutaka all began protesting but stopped at Yamato's voice. It was barely above a whisper but held so much venom and anger, Makoto took a step back. "You don't know anything about my life or me, Makoto. I love Sora…I don't want some one-night stand with a girl. I want someone in my life that actually cares about me, knows me, and loves me for me. I love Sora."

"It's puppy love, Ishida. A high-school crush. There are so many more fish in the sea."

Akira spit, very disgusted. "You don't get it, Makoto. You're asking us to stop doing things that we love and stop seeing people we love."

"Art won't get you anywhere." The manager stated as if it was an obvious fact.

That's when I remembered Akira's passion for art. He had been in quite a few of my art classes in school over the years and was incredibly talented. If there was anyone who could make it big as an artist, it was Akira.

"And why should I give up playing baseball? I've been playing it since I was four years old. The baseball diamond's like my second home. From what you're saying, I can't even play it for fun anymore!" Takashi demanded.

"It's a waste of time. You MUST focus all your energy on the band."

"What?" Yutaka cried out. "You're being beyond unreasonable. You want me to stop going to the hospitals and helping out after school. I don't just work there; I've gotten to know the people there. They look forward to seeing me each day, and I look forward to see them every day."

Makoto snickered. "For what reason do you need to hang around with a bunch of sick people or work a job, for that matter? You guys are going to be millionaires. You don't need to worry about others!"

"You make me sick, Makoto." Yama muttered.

"Like it or not, Ishida, this is what you signed onto. It's not like you're going to quit if I don't change my mind."

Yamato's blue eyes grew stony and a dark strong shade of blue.

Makoto understood immediately and let out a laugh. "You would actually quit the band to be with that thing?" he pointed into my direction. My hands balled up in fists, and I saw Yutaka grab Yamato's hand to keep him from hitting the pig. "Alright, take your choice Ishida. You can only have one, not both. Which one do you want: the band or your girlfriend?…"

A/N: Please review!