WHOOOO! GO MATT!

Okay, sorry, I think I just had too much Sora, that's all.

BEEP.

BEEP.

BEEP.

BEEP.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

Yamato hit the alarm clock next to him, then proceeded to curl himself up deeper in the cocoon he'd make for himself out of his sheets and pillows.

HEY YAMATO! Spat his conscience, I don't mean to ruin your beauty sleep, but do you even know where you are?

No.

Ah. Well, why don't you get up and find out, hm?

Okay.

Yamato peeled the blankets off of himself and then began to scrutinize the room he now lay in.

It was dingy, smelled lightly of cigarettes, and had several bad paintings adorning the walls.

Judging by the wallpaper, I'm in a motel 6, and I'm paying 60-a-nite for this pathetic room, Heguessed. He'd stayed in hotel 'round the entire world… he could tell just by looking at a room how much it cost. A pretty much useless hidden talent.

"I wonder if this place has a continental breakfast!" Thought Yamato out loud, and he showered and dressed in record time, with the promise of a free breakfast.

He packed all of his things in his small messenger bag, and ran down the spiral staircase that led to the reception desk.

"HEY!HEY!" Yamato hollered at the mustachioed receptionist, "You guys got a continental breakfast-brunch thinger, right? RIGHT?"

The receptionist stared at Matt blankly for several seconds, unmoved by his excitement.

"HELLO! I need Breakfast! Wazzup with you?" Questioned Yamato.

"AH, AN AMERIACAN! JULES!" Cried the receptionist, twisting his mustache in delight that he'd figured it out. Another man ran up to him, apparently 'Jules', and the two talked for several seconds. The receptionist looked relieved as they finished their conversation, and took off towards the room behind the desk.

"I apologize for Jacques. He was confused. See, he does not speak English. I do not think we would have hired him, was he not the manager's son. Is there a reason you are yelling at our newest employee?" Asked Jules, with an obvious forced sincere-ness.

"Oh. No, not really. I just wanted to know if you guys had a free breakfast brunch thing!" He smiled.

"Oh, yes, a Continental Breakfast. We do have one sir. It's… right behind you on the other side of the room…"

"OH AWESOME. You guys rule. Thanks!" Said Yamato as he made a beeline for the table covered with French delights.

Yamato stared at the table, wondering what exotic delight to consume first.

NO WAY! They've got BISCUITS and GRAVY. AWESOME. His mind exclaimed.

Soon, Yamato had a plate filled with his favorite American breakfast. After 30 seconds of devouring his favorite food, Yamato removed his face of any crumbs by rubbing his arm against his face, then proceeded to wipe his hands on his pants.

There. Clean.

"Did you enjoy your breakfast, SIR?" Spat Jules as Yamato checked out.

"Yeah, but gravy tastes better in L.A," Contemplated Yamato.

"Perhaps. I do not think that dipping a croissant into butter cream is very tasty either."

"OH."

Yamato was then hit with a slight pang of guilt. He HAD been rather rude to Jules, Jacques, Carmella… really the entire French population. This was bad.

"I'm sorry, Jules. I'm just…"

"—A stupid American man." Interrupted Jules, "Have a safe trip home. I think your people will welcome you back warmly."

They'd better. This whole trip was useless. I should've picked my layover as London, Thought Yamato weakly, as he walked around some cozy little streets around the hotel, loosely taking pictures, look at yourself, Yamato. You're acting like a spaz. Spaz is bad.

None of Yamato's pictures turned out well and since it was almost 2:00, he decided it was time head back to the airport, so he found a cab, and headed there.

T I M E L A P S E

"Ma'am, what would you like to drink?"

"Wha? Oh, yes, I'd like a ginger ale, please."

Yamato reached into the cart in front of him and pulled out a can of Ginger ale. He handed it to the woman in front of him with a small plastic cup of ice, and she smiled.

Sometimes, work was rewarding. It was best thing that had happened to him all day.

Sadly the rest of the passengers, were, at best, smelly and p.o.'ed. Yamato was thoroughly tired as he came up to the last passenger, way in the very back of the back of the plane. He wondered why someone would sit way back in the plane, where it was extremely noisy and nobody else sat, but maybe some people like it.

He must REALLY be an introvert, huh? Thought Yamato to himself.

"SIR!" Matt yelled to be heard over the plane and the passenger's headphones, "WOULD YOU LIKE A DRINK?"

"Eh?" The young man inquired, brushing his hand though his thick brown hair, and then clicked off his headphones. The thumping buzz that had been ringing in Yamato's ears stopped; he then realized it had not been the humming of the plane, but of the man's headphones.

"A drink? Hmmmm… you guys got any alcohol in those lil' push-carts of yours?" He asked.

"Yes, since this is an international flight. What would you like? We have several types of beer, champagne—"

"Yamato Ishida?"

"Yes, that is my name, I'm glad you can read my nametag. Now, what would you like—"

"Yamato Ishida?"

He sighed. Not another one of these guys "Yes, I know it's not all that common. It's Japanese, if you'd really like to know. If you prefer, I sometimes go by—"

"MATT? Dude. No way. DUDE! MATT! Since when did you come out of the closet? Oh MAN, you never did check me out, did you?" Laughed the skinny young man, brown eyes rolled back in amusement.

"What the heck? What are you talking about? I've only just met you? I'm not gay either… why… how the heck do you know my nickname?" Asked Yamato, seriously freaked out.

"No way! You really don't remember, do you Ishida? That hurts man," Said the man, smirking in an eerily familiar way, "Its ME. TAI KAMIYA? HELLLO? Don't tell me you don't remember!"

Yamato's face froze as though he'd seen a ghost. TAI? No, it just couldn't be Tai, he knew it. Why did people always have to freak him out like this?

"NO. That's impossible. You're… not… you can't be. YOU DIED!" Cried Yamato, pointing violently.

"What are you talking about, Matt?" Asked Tai, eyes panged with hurt.

"The last time… well… you were in a coma. They said you were going to die! What… well… uh, I'm glad you're alive Tai… This is creepy…" Muttered Yamato.

"What? DIE? Man, you have no idea what worrywarts those doctors are. I was only in a coma for 6 months, GOSH. AND THEN they tell me not to do motocross anymore! I tell you Ishida, its only a matter of time until they realize what boring stiffs they are… What's up with you, eh? Why are you stuck in a boring place like this?" Asked Tai bluntly.

"What's THAT supposed to mean? I'm a photographer! I need to travel!" Cried Yamato, and after seeing Jaci's angry look, added, "And I also love serving the patrons here on METRO AIR!"

"What the hell? WHY? What's the matter with you? I thought you'd become a singer! Holy crap, what the fu—"

"TAI!" Cried a young female voice next to him. Yamato leaned over slightly to see a young girl, about 18, sitting next to Tai, giving him a "Don't you dare swear" look.

Another of his freaky girl friends? Thought Yamato, No, no, wait, Tai had a sister… he HAS a sister… dang it, what's her name?

"Stop being such a drag, Kari, I'm fine now. It's just that Mr. Flight Hostess here is wasting all of his musical talent by sticking himself in such a retarded position," Spat Tai.

Yamato sighed. It was true. He was a good singer… and not a bad guitar player either. But those where such improbable dreams… the odds against becoming a big star were too slim for Yamato. There were just so many people who were just as talented who never got anywhere…

"Hello? Matt? Earth to Matt!" Kari giggled, her brown bob bouncing slightly as she laughed, and then pointed behind Yamato, "That lady wants to speak to you!"

Yamato turned around, and found Jaci staring him right in the face, "I know you're enjoying you're little chat here, but can you cut it short? We have other people to attend to!" She ordered, and pushed Matt's cart into the back of the plane angrily.

"Whoa. I hope she's not checking you out man, that chick is SCA-RY…" Tai observed.

"Well then, I guess I'd better get going…" Yamato said, trying to escape.

"No, Matt, just one more thing!" Cried Kari, clasping her hands together in desperation, "Can we stay at your place tonight?"

"I'm so tired of hotels man, you have NO IDEA how repetitive those 5-star places get!" Exclaimed Tai.

"Uh, sure…" Mumbled Yamato, and lazily walked to the back of the plane, muttering incoherently.

T I M E L A P S E

Yamato finally found the right key after spending two minutes fondling through his keychain. Tai and Kari had stood impatiently behind him, tapping their feet and sighing with irritation.

"You don't know the key to your own apartment? That's low man," Spat Tai.

"I can't help it. I'm never here practically…"Pieced together Yamato as he pushed the door open with a slight flick of his hand.

Kari and Tai stared, mouths wide open, at the hideous mess Matt called 'home'. Papers seemed to line the floors as a carpet does, and plies of badly taken pictures filled up any other space in the small apartment.

"Yeah, sorry for the mess. I never have any time to clean it… But second bedroom is clean, so one of you can sleep there, and I can clear off and vacuum the couch… the other person can sleep there…" He explained.

All Tai did was gawk at the clutter, but Kari just pushed it aside and flopped onto the couch, flipping on the television.

"You want some coffee?" Matt asked wearily.

"Yeah, man, that would be awesome… those plane flights must take everything outta you… they just tear me apart," Tai smirked, hoping to cheer Matt up.

"Eh. You never get over them. Just used to them," He sighed.

Matt's dingy kitchen also failed to impress his guest. The linoleum was dark and grimy, the sink was filled with crusty dishes, and the refrigerator was an outdated olive green.

"Is anything in this edible?" Tai asked tenderly as he opened up the refrigerator rudely.

Yamato was too exhausted to spit some sort of comeback at his friend, so he tenderly sat himself down at the pathetic plastic contraption he called a table, and answered, "No. There is nothing in there. I turned it off. I never use it and it costs money. Coffee is the only thing I keep in this place… all that needs is a coffeemaker and a packet of coffee grounds."

"So you live off of coffee? Man, you know, you're life is… depressing… and I never get depressed. What the hey ho is wrong with you?" Tai questioned kindly, wondering what had happened to what had been his very best of friends.

Yamato stretched quietly and sauntered sluggishly over to the coffeemaker, pulling out the necessary ingredients.

"There is nothing wrong with me Tai. I'm just in a rocky, gray-ish sort of area of my life," He replied, watching the brown liquid drip slowly into the pot below, "I finished college. I've started a job. Hey, I might not have the best hours or the best schedule, but I'm getting somewhere."

"More like nowhere. Fast," Tai countered, seeping into one of the cheap plastic chairs adjacent to the shameful plastic table, sifting though some of Matt's pictures, "You do realize you're an awful photographer, right?"

Yamato mumbled something like a weak insult, and shoved a mug of coffee at Tai, then proceeded to sit down and bury his head into the tabletop.

Tai was about to say something else, but Yamato cut him off.

"I know what you're going to say," He mumbled into the table, "That I should become a musician. Well, I'm not. First, its not practical, and second, do you even realize what's against me? You know how many times people have rejected me? Said I had no talent? Just because you say I'm good doesn't mean I am."

"Hey, I'm not the only one that thinks so. Kari thinks too," Tai encouraged, then raised his voice slightly, "Right, Kari? Hello? Kari?"

Tai walked swiftly over to the couch where Kari laid, fast asleep.

"Heh, I guess she fell asleep…" Tai said.

"We should too," Yamato suggested, "Its late… it's almost 2:00am. Here, let me get you and Kari some blankets…"

Matt trudged over to the closet, and stripped some blankets out of the mess that fell out of it as he opened it, and threw them on Tai, who let out a small "oof".

After making sure Kari was covered with enough blankets, Tai took one and headed towards the spare room, the stopped.

"You know Matt," He began, "A lot of people told me I shouldn't do motocross, especially after the coma. But you know why I do it? Because it's what I'm good at. And without it, life wouldn't seem worth it."

Matt stared blankly. "I'm not getting what you're going at."

"If you sang music, you could be rich like me!" Offered Tai.

M O R N I N G

Matt shook his head and peeled his face off the kitchen table.

You've done it again, Yamato. Congratulations. You've fallen asleep… while drinking coffee. And you wonder why chicks think you're weird.

They don't think I'm weird.

They do too.

How would we know anyways? I don't have TIME for girls…

Every man has time for girls. Unless you wanna have "GAY" branded on your forehead.

It wouldn't be all that bad. Gay people are nice…

Matt fought off his internal conflict and shifted his glance to the clock on the coffeemaker.

10:00am.

He decided it was time to get ready for the day and to inspect any messes his guests may have created.

Kari was still peacefully asleep upon the couch. The television was blaring something about a hot new band, 'Parker', and their love of éclairs. Yamato shuddered at the mention of French pastries, and wondered if he'd be doing that for the rest of his life.

He then decided it was time to check on Tai, when a knock came to the door, causing Kari to stir, but she did not wake. Matt walked over to the door with an obvious annoyance. He pushed it open swiftly, and found a young man on the other side, golden hair similar to his.

"T.K." Muttered Yamato almost incoherently.

It's your brother, dumbass. TAKERU? How could you forget? Lame wad.

"Oh, uh, hey, wussup?" Matt asked groggily.

"Well, since you never bother to keep food in your house, I thought I'd come over and share a breakfast of doughnuts with you," Takeru explained, holding up a paper bag filled with pastries.

"Oh cool. Yeah, c'mon in, I was just about to make coffee…"

Takeru walked gingerly into Matt's apartment, making sure not to step on his brother's precious photographs. Yamato made a beeline for the kitchen, and Takeru would have proceeded to follow him—if Kari hadn't of been sleeping on the couch.

Takeru was blown away. He was completely taken with her—her soft brown hair, sweet, smooth skin, her angelic expression as she slept—he leaned over the side of the couch to stare at her close-up.

How come Matt gets all the beautiful girls? T.K. asked himself.

Somebody cleared their throat from behind him.

Takeru turned his head around to find a thin, brown-haired man towering over him. A horrifying expression took over his face.

"MATT!" He cried, "Matt, who are these people?"

"Oh, yeah them, yeah, they're okay," Muttered Matt from the kitchen.

"Where you checking her out, man?" The man in front of him asked, a mischievous smile curling in his mouth.

"What… what happened? What did you do last night Matt? WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE?" T.K. howled in absolute fear.

Matt sat down several coffee cups on the table, and the brown-haired man reverted his attack from T.K. to the coffee.

"We was having this big orgy last night, weren't we Matt? That answer your question, Takeru?" The thin man answered, jabbing Yamato in the arm.

"No we weren't, T.K. Tai and Kari just needed a place to crash last night!" Matt clarified, shoving a mug of coffee into Takeru's arms.

"Wait…" Mutter T.K. "TAI? No way! You… DIED didn't you?"

"Yes T.K., I'm merely a ghost… OF COURSE DIDN'T DIE! I'm here right now, aren't I?" Spat Tai.

"Well, okay, you're not dead, but why are you here?" Takeru inquired.

Matt's mind stopped for a second to ponder this. Why had Tai and Kari spent the night inside his crappy little apartment?

"Why are you here Tai?" Asked Yamato, scratching his head, hoping to get an answer.

"Oh, yeah, I never told you, huh? Well, don't get all huffy about it, you never asked anyway. I'd normally crash at my flat down by the river so I'd be close to a place I could practice on my bike, but there is this HUGE high-school reunion party thing right here in L.A., and I so wanted to go," Tai illuminated, opening the bag of doughnuts tenderly as the threesome sat down.

"Oh… well, it's too late to say you can't stay here," Laughed Yamato.

"But, why is Kari here?" Takeru asked kindly.

"I'm here because I wanted to go to Tai's big race," Replied a female voice from behind T.K.

All of them looked up from their sugar-coated pastries to see Kari yawning, still clothed in yesterday's t-shirt and jeans.

"But… D-don't you miss school Kari?" T.K. asked, slightly nervous.

"No, not really, only a few days. 'Sides, I don't think I'll fall that behind… It'd so odd seeing you outside of school T.K." Kari said, smiling, then turned her attention to Tai, "Hey… Tai, lemme have a doughnut… PLEASE?"

Tai curled defensively around his sugary treats.

"H-here Kari. Have mine," T.K. said, giving up his last doughnut and handing it to her gently.

"Oh, awesome!" Cried Kari in excitement, devouring the little delight in three giant bites.

"What?" She asked in answer to everyone's stares, "I was hungry. Hey, Matt, can I use your bathroom?"

"Oh, yeah, go right ahead," He answered with a wave of his hand.

"I-I can show you where it is, Kari," Takeru said quickly, about to get up.

Kari raised a skeptic eyebrow. "I think I can find it by myself," She said warily, making a beeline for the bathroom.

T.K. turned around to Matt and Tai with amused smirks spreading across their faces.

"What?"

"I'm not sure if you saw that move Tai," Yamato said, donning an announcer-type voice, "But I could've sworn I saw sparks fly."

"Matt, I can assure you, that was some of the worst plays I've seen, and I've been watching people ogle at my little sister for years."

Takeru looked at Matt and Tai, now laughing like hyenas, and decided it was worth being humiliated, so long as his older brother finally had a best friend again.

(Author note)

I'm really sorry about the wait. It's been tough. End of school year stuff. Summer will be different.

Next chapter is where Sora and Yamato finally see each other. YAY!

Oh, yea, there's a bit of a Kari-Takeru pairing going on. It's nothing big.

Have you read Romeo and Juliet? Have you? Not just seen it, I mean read the play? Remember Mercutio? I pulled some of him and stuck it into Tai.

feels accomplished