The Game of Life
By theladyknight
Disclaimer: Digimon—not mine!
Aino Yuy aka Usagi-Hater: Yep, you do gotta love the make out scenes…
Xymi Angel Ghost: The games return this chapter…
Hamano Michiyo: It's a Koumi but there'll be some Michi scenes in here every now and then
karone-sakura: Thanks!
sorato4eva: glad you like it!
Chiara: You think it's one of the best…awwww…thanks!
YamatoFangirl: I'll see what I can do, there's a little Michi in this chapter…
Princesstphanie: There's much more to come!
Deathraveness: More kissing in this chapter!
Crazyamzy: A pink mailbox is definitely odd…
Scorpion05: Taichi and Mimi get into some more fights in here…
Forest-Maiden: Thanks! I can't wait for that part either…I'd better start planning ahead so I know what's going to happen…
Chapter 5: Return of the Games
As soon as the movie wrapped up, I put my shoes on and said goodbye to the blond.
After once again, promising not to tell anyone about our kiss and agreeing on a time to work on the project, I left.
The whole way home, after running into a mailbox and nearly setting off some dude's car alarm, thoughts of Yamato filled my head. Like I said before, I have a bad habit of running into people or things when I'm deep in thought.
I have so much on my mind. When Yamato and I kissed, both for the first time in school and at his apartment, it was like a spark jolted between us, something I have never felt with anyone before. I mean, I've kissed other guys, and I'll use Taichi as an example. When we kissed, there was nothing too special and exciting other than the fact it was my first kiss. But with Yama…it just felt so right.
Can two best friends take things a step further and make it work?
This is all so confusing; I'm getting a headache just thinking about it. Maybe I should get some sleep…
Sunday passed quickly. Yama and I met at the park along with Taichi, Mimi, Takeru, Hikari, Koushiro, and Gwen. Yamato and I had agreed to call them up and work on everything together after seeing what some of the paper's called for.
We met at the park under the oak tree and attempted to sort everything out. First up, finances.
It appeared quite obvious Yama and I were the best off out of everyone. Our salaries were much higher than most of the others. We had also gotten that thousand dollar bonus as a prize.
"This is a load of crap!" Taichi shouted, disturbing the peace and causing two old ladies sitting on a bench to grab their canes and walk away.
Hikari nodded. "For once I agree with you big brother. How did Sora and Yama get everything?"
"Dude, it was the luck of the draw." Yamato answered. "It's not my fault or Sora's."
I folded my arms. "Yeah, don't blame us for that."
"I guess you're right. My salary surprisingly matches up with my career. Most teachers only make about $20,000." Hikari responded, rather glum.
Takeru sighed. "Even if my salary is lousy, I'm glad I got the job I did. Being a writer is something I've always considered."
"I know the feeling. A computer programmer is right up my alley. It was prodigious luck on my part that my salary about fits it too." Koushiro described. I had to agree with him. He was making around $60,000.
Mimi rolled her eyes. "At least you guys all got jobs that fit you and decent salaries. I have a shitty job and look who I'm married too."
"Taichi's really not a bad guy…" I stated.
"Yeah," Yama added. "Sure he eats a lot and is going to wipe out your food budget. And he'll probably make a bigger mess than any of the kids you have and…" I clamped a hand over the blonde's mouth.
"Yama, you're not helping." I removed my hand and he gave me his most charming smile.
"You're lucky to be married to Tai, Mimi." I gave Yama a look and could see him grinning at me.
Mimi put her hands on her hips. "Give me five good reasons!"
Taichi held up a hand and began holding out fingers with each point. "Number one, I'm incredibly good-looking. Number two, I can make anyone laugh. And numbers three through five: I'm lovable, huggable, and oh so cuddly."
Takeru laughed. "Don't forget modest. And you ripped those last three off Lilo and Stitch!" (Not mine!)
Koushiro sweat dropped. "You're quoting lines from an animated movie?"
"Well, that's the Taichi we all know…" Hikari began.
"…and love." Was my answer.
Taichi grinned. "I know. I'm irresistible. No autographs, please."
"Hey! That's my line!" Yama exclaimed.
"Great, just what we need, another Yamato." I muttered sarcastically.
The blond wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Now why exactly would that be bad?"
"Yeah, but it would be better if you decided to look like me instead, Yama." Taichi insisted, also draping an arm around me. "I'm the good-looking one chick's dig."
"That would be me again, loser." Yama countered.
Taichi laughed. "Dude, I'm the good-looking one here."
"No you're not."
"Yes I am!"
"No you're not!"
"Yes I am!"
Gwen finally decided to speak up, though she had a hard time doing so through her laughter. "As touching as this is, can we please get back to work?"
Yamato and Taichi both stopped arguing. "Well, there's only one way to solve this." Yamato said.
"I agree."
"SORA!"
Mimi, Hikari, Takeru, and Koushiro all cracked up. "Is that how they solve their arguments?" an astonished Gwen asked.
Koushiro nodded. "Yep. Sora breaks up all their fights. It's been like this forever. I feel pretty sorry for her because between Taichi and Yamato, there are some really stupid fights."
"I'm afraid to ask what they're about." Gwen replied.
"Let's see, there was the one about who uses the most hair gel. The one about who's smarter. The one about who's stronger. The one about the best dancer; the list goes on and on." Hikari answered.
Mimi rolled her eyes again and looked at her watch. "This is getting ridiculous! We're never going to get our work done! Sora, who's hotter, Yama or Tai?"
"Even though we already know who she's going to choose because she chooses him every time." Takeru whispered to Hikari. I glared at the two.
"Yamato." came my answer.
Taichi's mouth dropped. "Now Sora, it's illogical and inconceivable you'd choose Yamato as the hotter of the two of us. Not to mention it's even a bit unconstitutional! Where do you justify choosing Yamato? You always choose Yamato. Whatever happened to liberty and justice for all? Aren't you for once going say, 'I choose Taichi'! It's just not fair! What happened to equality?"
"Where is he getting this? He sounds like our government teacher." I whispered to Yama.
"Who knows? Maybe there is a politician in him…who would have thought Taichi would pay attention in school. Though I think he's mixing up the constitution with the American Pledge of Allegiance."
"Guys can we PLEASE get to work?" Gwen begged.
Hikari nodded. "I think we've had our share of fun. Let's get back to the work. Taichi calm down!"
Taichi shut up, but I could still here him mumbling things about bribery from Yamato and perjury on my part. He's either paid attention in class or watched too many episodes of Judge Judy. (Not mine!)
The others and I spent the rest of the afternoon trying to figure out how to meet all our needs and get everything sorted out. Yama and I, both having the dream of a large house, had to settle for an apartment for now, waiting and setting aside some money. Our plan, which we were instructed to write in our notebooks, was to keep some money saved up so we could one day build a large house.
The apartment we chose from the classified ads was really quite nice. It had two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a living room, kitchen, and a few other expected qualities. The pricing wasn't that bad either, meaning we could put more money aside for the other house and start a savings bond for our children. Ms. Greene hadn't informed us when she would throw children into the game, but I had a feeling it would be soon. Yama and I both agreed we may as well keep some money in reserve for them as well.
Everything seemed so perfect. It was great that everything was working out, but it made me wonder. How is it that everything seems so great? There's gotta be a catch somewhere. I have a feeling if it doesn't show up now, it will soon.
Planning everything out took a lot of work and cooperation on our part. Koushiro had already broken up a couple of fights between Taichi and Mimi regarding coloring of certain objects, take a wild guess at what Mimi was suggesting, and where they would live, what they would buy; basically most of the things on the list.
The rest of us weren't having the greatest luck either. Yamato and I had to go over calculations repetitively because something didn't add up or we were short money in certain places.
All in all, I think we got everything to work out. The two of us were the first ones done and had somehow accomplished everything the paper's asked of us with money to spare. We had gotten into a few little debates over some necessities, but at the end managed to compromise on them. I guess that's what marriage is about, compromise. Try telling that to Tai and Mimi.
He and I said our goodbyes and began walking to our apartments. As I walked I thought of everything we had done. The blond and I had made some smart decisions regarding our money and things to buy with it. We had chosen a back-up apartment, just as good as the original, in case Ms. Greene checked everyone's apartments and houses. Obviously, two families can't live in the same place. Food budgets, tax issues, savings bonds, and stocks had also been decided.
"I think we did good, Sor. I have a strong feeling we'll be getting a passing grade in this class." He said, as we reached my apartment.
"Me too." I nodded. "That was a lot of work though, figuring everything out."
"Yeah, but I think it brought each of us closer together. By the time we left, Taichi and Mimi weren't even making Koushiro sit between them."
I smiled. "Poor Gwen."
"It seems she gets a kick out of the whole thing. But I bet she's hoping this won't happen in real life."
"But you're right about the whole togetherness thing. Takeru and Hikari looked quite at home working on all this together."
The blond snickered. "That's because they know in the future they will be married. Well, once Takeru gets the guts up to ask her out."
"It'll happen one of these days." I answered. "We're all waiting for it."
He smiled. "Yeah. But most of all, I think its brought…" he glanced at his watch, "Shit! I was supposed to be at band practice fifteen minutes ago. Gotta run! I'll talk to you tomorrow, Sor."
"Bye Yama." I responded as he sprinted off to his place. I couldn't forget what he was about to say before he checked the watch...was he going to say it brought the two of us together? It really has, once I think about it. I feel like I know so much more about him now that we've done this. Maybe he's seeing me as more than a friend, just like I see him. Oh well, I'll think about that later. I'd better go put all this stuff away before I lose it or something…
I walked into the Child Development room trying to control my curiosity. Ms. Greene had said we would be playing some more games, and I was trying to figure out what she would throw in next.
"Hello again, class." She said as the bell rang. "I bet you are wondering where your seats are."
We were all standing up and had noticed the seats were arranged in groups of two but were in lines facing each other. Ms. Greene began naming off names and pointing to desks. Yamato and I ended up in between Koushiro and Gwen, Takeru and Hikari and were across from Taichi and Mimi. "Welcome to your neighborhoods." She explained. "Tomorrow we will be thinking of a town name and be brainstorming ideas to decorate your desks, which are serving as your homes, and naming your streets. If you could all please hand in your assignments, we will get today's lesson underway."
"What exactly is today's lesson?" Gwen asked, as she handed Ms. Greene a bulk of papers.
"We're going to be playing another game, but we're going to need as much time as possible to get it done. Do I have all of the assignments?" she asked.
"Yes." We answered, all anxious to get to get started.
"Well then follow me."
"What?" Yamato asked. "We're not playing the game in here?"
Ms. Greene smiled. "No, we need a lot more space and things are going to get a bit messy."
"Messy?" Mimi shrieked. "But this is a designer blouse! I can't get it dirty!"
Taichi rolled his eyes. "You'll live with it, Meems."
"I unlike you, Taichi, do not like wearing dirt or mud or…food on my shirt. By the way, I think you spilled some of your breakfast on your shirt."
Taichi looked down and gave us all a goofy grin. "Waffles…yum!"
Yama and I walked up ahead so we wouldn't have to listen to their argument. "What do you think she has up her sleeve this time?" He asked me.
"I don't know. It sounds like fun though."
"Yeah, unless you're Mimi!" We both laughed as the class followed Ms. Greene out of the school, past the parking lot, and ended up on the football practice field.
"Here we are class. How many of you are familiar with the TV show Big Brother?" (Not mine!)
A good deal of us raised our hands showing how popular reality TV is. Suddenly I got an odd feeling about what she had planned for us.
"That's good to hear. Well, here's our scenario. You were all just married and it's time for the in-laws to sit down with each other and yourselves and visit again. However, you all are in need of some food. That is what our game for today is. Each pair of twelve is going to compete for some food, and no one will walk away without any. But, like any other game, there will be one overall winner who will get an extra prize."
"I'm a little confused." Danielle said.
"Okay, I'll go slowly then. This game is going to be a food contest. Your objective is to get as much food to share with your in-laws. When I say go, you and your partner are going to start the obstacle course."
I looked about two hundred meters in front of me and saw a huge wall decorated with balloons hanging from it. It reminded me of an arcade game.
"Here's the first stop. I'm going to assign each pair a different color. Your job is to find the ten darts with that color and hit as many balloons as you can. For example, if your color is green, you will have to find the green darts and then have ten tries, one for each dart obviously, to hit some balloons. And the balloons don't have to be the same color as your darts. Inside each balloon is a slip of paper with some type of food written on it. This part of the obstacle course is not only about precision and accuracy but also needs to be done quickly."
"What next?" Koushiro asked.
Ms. Greene pointed a little way down the field. There was nothing there until the end of the field. There a long table with different colored buckets was placed and then the finish line with colored bandanas lying on the ground was behind it. "The second part of the course entails you run from the balloons to the table. But that part of the field is covered in mud and there are all sorts of food items hidden in the mud. You and your partner must find some way to make it across, picking up these plastic food items and following the rules…"
"What rules?" I asked.
"Only one partner's feet can touch the ground. You'll have to find someway to make it work." She smiled evilly. Yama and I caught each other's eyes.
"It sounded easy up until that point." He muttered.
"You're telling me. But I bet it doesn't get any easier."
Ms. Greene smiled. "If you loved that part I'm sure you'll love what's next."
Mimi groaned. "Not more!"
"The end of the mud field part is the table sitting in front of you. When you get there, both partner's feet can touch the ground again. There you will find two buckets with your teams color. In the empty bucket, place all the plastic food you found. Inside the other bucket are some crushed up chocolate cookies and ten gummy worms. Your objective here is to transport only the gummy worms one hundred meters to your color of bandana underneath the finish line sign WITHOUT using your hands."
Shouts of protest erupted from the class. This is going to be even harder than getting across the mud pit! Ms. Greene walked around, handing each girl a paper with a different color on it. "We're blue." I told Yamato.
"The team that gets all ten gummy worms into their bandana first is the winner! However every team, regardless if they win or lose, must complete the game. At the end, if you are successful in getting all of your gummy worms onto the bandana and don't quit, you will receive a five hundred dollar bonus."
Everyone's attitudes soon changed. Her little promise suddenly sounded like a good motivator!
"Line up with your partner underneath the start sign and when I say go, well, good luck!"
Yama and I took our place with the other eleven teams waiting for our teacher to give the okay. "Think we can do it?" I asked him.
"I know we can do it!" he replied airily making me laugh.
"On your mark, get set…..GO!" Ms. Greene shouted. Yama and I sprinted up to the balloon stand followed closely by our classmates.
"You look on the left, I'll look on the right!" he yelled and we walked around the barrier, Ms. Greene had set up, so we couldn't just walk up to the wall and hit a balloon.
I raced around the left side and spotted a shade of blue. One down, nine to go. I spotted two setting on the barrier and the last two down on the grass. I met Yamato back in the middle and noticed he had the other five already. Unfortunately for us, teams were already throwing their darts.
Yama picked up his darts and one by one threw them, popping two of the balloons. I had to stop and stare at him. "What? So I'm not a good dart player! Just throw yours so we don't fall behind!"
I rolled my eyes and carefully yet quickly threw each of the darts, popping five balloons. Yamato's mouth dropped as we dashed over to the start of the mud field.
"How are we going to get across this place?" I asked.
Yama's face lit up. "The old wheelbarrow walk." My face scrunched up in confusion, but suddenly I caught on. I put my hands on the ground and Yama grabbed my feet directing me.
"How the hell did I end up as the wheelbarrow?" I asked.
He chuckled. "You're just special." I rolled my eyes.
"Hey! Here's something!" I reached down and picked up a plastic orange. Yama kept one arm around my feet and grabbed me around the waste, pulling me up to him. "Here." I handed it to him before he dipped me back to the ground.
We continued this process across the field, pausing and stopping every now and then so he wouldn't drop me. Along the way we laughed when we heard Mimi cry out, "Taichi! These are a hundred and twenty dollar shoes! I am not getting them muddy!"
"Look, Meems, climb on my back and your shoes won't get muddy!"
"But you'll drop me so my shoes do end up muddy!"
"I won't drop you!"
"How can you be sure, Taichi Yagami?"
"Does the Lord hate me or something!" The brunette yelled. "You complain more than anyone I know!" He reached down and picked up some mud, hitting Mimi in the face with it.
She let out a shriek and tackled Taichi to the ground. Everyone stopped to watch them and laugh. Even Koushiro didn't try to break them up.
"Don't you have a problem watching the two of them flirt like that?" Takeru yelled to the boy genius.
He surprisingly shook his head. "I think it's kind of funny. I know Mimi and Tai just like getting the better of each other; it doesn't bother me too much. Mimi and I have been going out way to long for us break up over something like this." He explained.
Yama grinned at me as we reached the table and set me down on my own two feet. "Whatever happened to Mimi not getting muddy?" He pointed at the scene and I giggled.
Mimi had picked up some mud and was hitting Taichi with it. Yet Taichi had the upper hand and threw some in her hair. "You gotta love those two." I stated as we ran to the table to a head start on the next part. Besides the blond and me, Danielle and Tony, Koushiro and Gwen, and two other pairs were also there.
Yama threw the collection of food we had found into the empty bucket at looked over at me. "How are we going to do this?" he asked.
I looked around at the others and noticed they were considering the same thing. Damn, no one to get ideas from. "Well, the only thing I can think of is to transport them…mouth to mouth." I said the last part slowly, feeling my cheeks heat up.
He smirked. "Sounds like a good plan to me." He dug his face into the bowl and pulled it out, motioning for me to open my mouth. I closed my eyes and felt our mouths meet and the two gummy worms transferred into my mouth. I pulled away and opened my eyes, running over to the bandana and spitting them out on there. Ms. Greene laughed at our idea but gave me a big smile.
"That's resourcefulness." I heard her mutter.
Yama repeated the process, though this time in addition to moving the gummy worms from his mouth to mine, he kissed me. We broke away, and I looked upat his smiling face before running over to drop the next two gummy worms into the bandana. This happened two more times, until we only had two gummy worms left. As he was about to put his face back into the bowl, we heard cheering and looked over to the finish line where Tony and Danielle were both very happy. Danielle was dumping the gummy worms out of her shirt and Tony was wiping the chocolate crumbs from his mouth. Guess they sort of the same idea we did.
"You've still got to finish." Ms. Greene reminded us and the other groups that had stopped to watch the two winners. I faced Yamato who had just pulled his head out of the bowl. He brought his mouth down to mine and kissed me, entering his tongue into my mouth. It was obvious he had no gummy worms in there, but yet I kissed him back hungrily. I would have wrapped my arms around him had my hands not been covered with mud. Slowly I pulled away, so we wouldn't draw any attention.
He grinned at me. "Whoops, guess I forgot to grab a gummy worm."
I blushed and wiped one of my muddy hands on his face. "Smooth cover-up, Ishida. Let's finish this, shall we?"
He picked up the last two and transported them to my mouth. I walked over to the bandana and spit them out. "Good job you two. You got second place. Head back into the school and wait for your classmates in the room." She said, as Yamato joined us.
He and I laughed as we headed inside, watching our classmates attempt to finish. Taichi and Mimi still hadn't made it through the mud field. "I'd say that went pretty well." Yama said, wrapping an arm around me.
"Yeah, though I was kind of scared at beginning. You're not the greatest dart thrower."
He smiled. "But you are. Hmm, maybe my loving wife would like to give me," he leaned down to my ear and whispered, "private lessons."
I slapped his arm but felt my face heat up. "I don't think even lessons will help you."
As we walked into the front door, I couldn't help but smile. That game didn't turn out too bad, especially the whole added kisses. I wonder why Yama did that…
A/N: Please review…sorry if it's a stupid chapter, I kind of threw it together today since I had no school. Let me know what you think!