AN: Eep. Sorry about the late update! Wow, this weekend, I went to an anime convention (if you don't know what that is, I'm afraid you're not very anime-ishly) and there was so much stuff there! Wow, I spent so much money and took so many pictures (that is, how many the disposable camera I bought would let me). The cosplay was so cool, and the stuff they had o.o sugoi, honto ni sugoi desu (amazing, very amazing). But anyway, enough about me, I'm sure you'd all love to read about Taichi and Sora more, so here it goes! Chapter Ten of…

Oops, gonna interrupt a bit here, hehe. Sorry, just wanted to say there's a new summary up, so if you don't find my story… uh that's the reason. But the title is the same and everything else. Ok, continue!

TUTORING AND ROLLERBLADE LESSONS

Author: (Princess) Strawberry'd

Genre: Romance, Drama, Humour

Anime: Digimon

Summary: Poor Taichi had fallen fast and hard. So, when he swindles his love, Sora, into tutoring him, will he fall deeper into love, and will she fall in love with him? Won't know till you read!

Chapter Ten: Of Phases and Understandings

Sora woke up to a bright and sunny day. Scowled darkly she threw her pillow across the room to hit the window, where the offensive light was coming from.

Sadly, however, her pillow fell short about half way and Sora was made to get up and walk to the window the shut the curtains. Stupid window, stupid sun, stupid birds twitling happily… she thought, the day outside violently contrasting her mood.

Aggressively putting on her clothes, Sora stormed outside. Miyako raised her hand in greeting but was interrupted by Sora, slamming the door and starting the chain of reactions that would change everything.

Sora couldn't get a decent night's sleep due to the tossing and turning she had to endure. She had to choose… to go to Italy, or not to? Even in her foul mood, Sora didn't want to upset her mother or her friends.

On her way to her favourite tree, Sora thought gratefully to whoever created the weekend. Just as she reached the tree, a twig snapped behind her and Sora whirled around.

She slammed into something distinctively solid, distinctively human, and distinctively male.

She shut her eyes tightly and stiffened when the male's arms went around her.

"I thought we were over this phase when you learned to rollerblade." He said. Sora knew it. It was always him.

Heaving a sigh, Sora struggled out of his embrace. As soon as Taichi realized what she was doing (he's a little slow) he only tightened his hold on her.

Sora sagged suddenly. Taichi, his grip a little loose, had to clutch tighter to the girl. Not that he minded, of course. "I didn't decide yet," She said, quietly, conveniently forgetting the fact that Taichi didn't know what she was talking about.

Taichi looked a little confused but didn't comment. "When are you going to?" he asked, playing along.

"I don't know."

Taichi suddenly let go of her. Sora, not expecting that, almost fell.

She walked up to her tree, once she gained her balance, and deftly climbed it, her mind whirling.

Does… Taichi want me to stay? N-Not that it would matter or anything… She thought, sitting on one of the branches. Sora felt a thump on the branch and looked beside her. She giggled a bit. There sat Taichi, with a half-frown on his face, plunging his hands through his hair, looking for twigs and leaves.

It wasn't too hard to find any. As soon as Taichi was sure that the majority was gone, he turned to Sora. "Can I stay up here?"

As much as Sora wanted to tell him to, well, you know, but she didn't. Mutely, Sora nodded and pulled a smaller branch down so she could rest her arms on it.

Taichi didn't say a word; he just sat there, fiddling with his thumbs in his lap.

The silence was awkward between them and if there was anything Taichi hated more, it was awkward silences.

"Uh, so, what are you going to do?" He asked, breaking the silence.

"I don't know… I don't want to go to Italy and leave all my friends behind… but I don't want to disappoint my mom."

Taichi took in this new information. "I don't want you to go!" He blurted. Sora looked at him.

Taichi blushed. "I mean," He chewed on his lip, trying to figure out what to say. "It would totally suck if you went to Italy," He ended lamely.

Sora was about to say something when Taichi interrupted her. "I would miss you. We would miss you. I mean, your friends." He blushed.

Sora didn't know whether to laugh, or cry, or hug him. She settled for the last one. Throwing her arms around Taichi, she sobbed, "I don't want to go!"

Taichi's eyes were wide. Hesitating, he put his own arms around her. It was one thing to catch her when she was falling and tease her about it, and quite another when you had to hug someone who was crying.

"Then don't go," He said softly. Sora pulled back abruptly, just as Taichi was getting used to the feeling of her in his arms and he pouted inwardly.

"I'm… not sure what to do. I don't want to hurt my mom's feelings… but I'll miss you guys too…" Sora said, wrapping her arms around herself.

Taichi nodded, staring off into space. "Well, you can't go just yet." He said, smiling.

Frowning, Sora looked at him. "Why not?"

"Because you still haven't tutored me," He said, sticking his tongue at her.

Sora rubbed her temples. "I have so much going on, and you want me to tutor you?" She asked, a little more harshly then she intended.

Taichi didn't seem to notice. "Yeah, basically."

Sora groaned, burying her face in her hands.

Taichi smiled gently, not looking at the girl beside him. "But I guess you can do whatever you want, right?"

He hopped down from the tree and looked up at a surprised Sora. "I'll be going now. I hope that whatever you decide to do, you're doing what you want."

With that, he nodded at her and began to walk away.

Sora gaped in his direction. Was it was her… or was Taichi becoming more mature?

Sora trudged home, her back aching. I don't know if anyone ever told you, but don't sit in a tree all day. It'll make your back hurt. A LOT.

Grumbling under her breath, Sora made her way to her door, only to find a figure sitting there. Sora sighed. She didn't need this now.

"Taichi, what do you want now?" Sora said, exasperated.

He lifted his head, looking startled. "Oh, sorry, Sora… I think I might have fallen asleep."

Sora sighed again. "That's not the point, Taichi. Why are you here?"

Taichi looked around a bit. "Hm, why did I come here…?" Taichi asked himself, seeming a little lost.

Sora almost screamed. "You- You little!"

But Inoue-san opened the door at that very moment. "Ah, I thought I heard you out here, Sora! Oh, this is your friend? Would you like to come in, young man?"

Miyako appeared beside her mother. "Uh, mom, I don't know if Sora would…"

"Nonsense, Miyako! Come in, come in!" She waved Taichi in enthusiastically. Taichi couldn't do much but come in.

Sora covered her eyes wit her hands, knowing a disaster when she saw one. "Uhm," Taichi said, confused.

"Sora, take him up to your room! I'll prepare a snack for the two of you! But remember, keep the door open!" Miyako's mom said, with an exaggerated wink. Sora blushed. Taichi just grinned helplessly.

While Miyako's mom scurried off to the kitchen, with Miyako close at her heels, Sora climbed the stairs to her room, dreading every step.

Sora paused before opening her door. She didn't like how she was hesitating and wondered what Taichi was thinking.

Taking a deep breath, Sora opened the door to her room, and heard a gasp from her guest.

"This," He took a moment to point, "Is your room?" He asked, incredulously.

Sora nodded.

Taichi took a few steps in. "It's so… pink." He commented.

Sora suddenly was defensive. "Do you have a problem with that?"

Taichi held up his hands. "No, no, it's just that you don't seem like that kind of girl," He offered her a grin.

She didn't accept. "Inoue-san designed it."

He looked curious at the mention of Miyako's mom. "Why are you living here, anyways? Mimi told me something before, but I don't really trust it now,"

Sora sat on the edge of her bed and watched as Taichi settle into her desk chair.

"Well, my mom wanted to open a chain of flower stores around Europe, and she finally got her dream. The only thing was, was that she had to actually go there. I didn't want to leave my friends and home so I told her that I could stay with a friend until she got back." Sora said.

Taichi nodded, telling her to continue. "She said that I shouldn't stay with one of my friends and that she would arrange for one of her friends to take me in. And just the other day, I got a phone call from my mom, asking me to go to Italy."

Taichi nodded along, finally understanding the whole situation. He was going to say something but Sora cut him off.

"Oh, don't mind my problems. I'll probably stay for another week or two, so we could get in one or two tutoring sessions, alright?" Sora said.

Taichi suddenly grinned. "That's what I was going to ask about. See, if you weren't going to go to Italy, and we would have continuous tutoring things, then when the report cards come around, I was thinking…"

"Yes?" Sora said, not liking where this was going.

He grinned. "If my average is over 85, you have to go out with me."

Review Responses:

Caracalgirl: Hehe, well, I can only update once a week… because I have school and lots of other pressing matters to attend to, but while I can, I will make more Taiora fluff. You don't really have to make it… it's like, there. Lol thanks for reviewing ;)

Sarika Kamiya01: Thanks for the tips! I've already read most of those… but I did find a C2 community for Taiora and I'm reading all of those stories… thanks again!

Pinkdigi: Haha thanks so much! Well, I don't want to give anything away but… (whispers) of course she stays! I mean, she's got Taichi here, and over there? I mean, I bet there'll be some really hot Italian guys (drool) but Taichi's better than everyone:) Thanks for reviewing!

Musashibf: Aw, it's ok, also as you're reading, and liking it. Omgosh, did I just say that? Of course you need to review too:P Thanks for the review, btw :D

DarkMetalAngel of Destruction: Hehe thanks! Angst is fun in small doses… I don't really like making people die… o.o But I will if the story calls for it. :D Thanks for reviewing!

KoumiLoccness: OK, one thing dude. Please use punctuation, because frankly, you're review is practically gibberish without it. I have no idea when you're going onto another sentence, if this thought is finished or whatever! And spelling would be nice too. Grammar is also very desirable… I don't think you should talk about a person without knowing them. I don't go on Taiora, Takari or Mimato sites. I don't think they are the best couples (well, Taiora and Takari but not Mimato) I have nothing against Sorato, or Jyoumi, or Koumi. I just don't read it as regularly. Wow your review made like, no sense. You just keep saying one thing… and then another… and then repeating… x.x I like how you like your own thing, how you don't "jump on the bandwagon" but people who like Taiora (or any of those other pairings) truly, are not bandwagon jumpers. If you 'jump on the bandwagon' you are doing things for other people, to have an image, to look good. You don't really like those pairings, or are being true to yourself. I like Taiora, I like Takari, with Mimi or the other characters, I don't really have a preference; I don't generally read those pairings. I like your idea of being true to yourself, but I am being true to myself. I like Taiora because I like it. Not because it's the popular pairing. Don't say I do things when you don't know me. What I don't like is how you flame people because they aren't doing a Koumi pairing, or whatever you like. Dude, you are so a hypocrite. If you really think about it, you're telling me that you like things because you like them, and you're not a bandwagon jumper and you're 'repping' or whatever. Ok, I'm not really sure about your flames, about what you write in them, because I don't really look for them, but if you're telling people to change their pairing, then you're being a hypocrite. You shouldn't be telling people to go against what they like, to change it to yours, and then be telling me that all you want is to be true to yourself. But you might not write that in your reviews/flames, so I can't be going around and ordering you to do things, because I'm not 100 percent sure. And I'm sorry, I don't know what loc means, I'm not into that kinda music, that kind of way of speaking, using slang and weird ways of spelling words. Believe me, I used to be like that. I used to use slang (probably not as much as you do). I used to write like that but I've grown up. You can do whatever the hell you want to do, but I like seeming sophisticated. And if you seem sophisticated, that's one step closer to being sophisticated. What I'm trying to say is: Don't hate. And use grammar.

AxFaTaLxiLLuSioN: Lol, yay! Taiora rules! ;)

Ping ping: Aw, is it really? Of course they are gonna have a happy ending! Who do you take me for:P

INUYASHAREDSTAR: Hehe, well, the only thing wrong with that is that Mimi isn't really her friend right now… unless they make up and whatever, but I don't think that's gonna happen anytime soon. Yamato already made somewhat of an appearance, but I'll put him in. I don't really like how a lot of Taiora's use Yamato to get Taichi jealous… kinda cliché, don't you think? But anyways, I hope you liked the update and keep reviewing!

Kyoyama Kita: o.o I wouldn't mind being kissed by Taichi. I'm sure he's a very good kisser :P Aren't they just the cutest thing:3

Shiva-dragon:3 thanks so much! I hope you liked the update!

Star: Lol, well, I was going to do something like that… there's a lot of ideas I can use. Ah, so many things to choose from! Thanks for the review:D

Digimon-Taiora: Whee! Thanks so much for the review! Lol, wow 2000 words? Ehhh, I dunno… That's a lot o.o Lol but I'll try! Hm, yeah I've heard of 'logan'… I read a couple of their stories, and to be honest, they didn't really shout out to me. But I'll check them out again. :)

KageSakura: x.x nothing I do seems to be good enough for you guys… sigh… lol just joking! Wow happy birthday! O.o 18… wow… I'm only like… 14… -.-; lol 4 more years to go! Wow, thanks for the review:)

Judy the great: Hmph, I have no idea what you just said, but I'm guessing it means: you were really late. I'm sorry! x.x Thanks for the review!

Marie Darkholme: Haha, I know! Taichi… mature… they just don't go together! Thanks so much for the review! I hope you liked the update :P

Angelady: Aw thanks! I hope you liked the update and keep reviewing:D

Hahahahaha left you guys with a sort of cliffy! Whee

Well, I'm really sorry about the lateness… I was really busy on the weekend, and I had writer's block, and I have a BIG English project due Friday, and I've been doing a little everyday… and I have a piano recital to practice for… And then there's exams coming up, so if you see infrequent updates, sorry!

Uhm, yeah. So what's Sora gonna say to Taichi's proposal? How's Taichi gonna react to whatever Sora says? When is Strawberry gonna update next?

These questions answered and more in the next exciting installment of Tutoring and Rollerblade Lessons!

This chapter was a bit on the short side, sorry about that. I'll try and write a longer chapter for next time. And thanks so much for the 100 plus reviews! I was sooo happy!

Hope about getting to 150? And maybe even 200? Ee!

:) Review!

And, extra note: sorry about how this was late. Ff totally like shut down x.x and I wasn't able to log in and post this.

To make up for the lateness, I'm going to post the next chapter earlier! Maybe even Thursday, but probably Friday. :)