Picture Perfect:

T.K. and Kari- Before Christmas, making snow angels.

Matt and Mimi- at the Ichimente Winter Festival, Mimi waving a hand while cuddling the panda Matt beside her smiles.

Chapter 09: New Year Without New York

"It's been a long time, you know." Mimi started to think the days were she was still living in Japan. Sure she knows she was only staying here until June.

"Yeah." He answered, looking at her. "It's getting late." She said, standing up and Matt followed her. They exited the fair grounds and sat on the bench near the park.

Mimi closed her eyes. Half around the world, her parents at New York, having a Christmas Dinner now. She opened her eyes and spotted Michael. Michael saw her and went nearer to her, he noticed Matt was with her, he frowned, and Matt frowned back.

"Hey Mimi! So, you two came from the Ichimente Winter Festival, right?" he asked stupidly, Matt nodded. "Mimi, I think we should go now." Matt assured, trying to avoid Michael's flirting before he could punch him.

Mimi smiled and hooked her arm on his. "Bye Michael! Merry Christmas!" she greeted and waved her hand to him, Matt rolled his eyes.

"I really hate that guy." He mumbled, Mimi turned to him and giggled.

"Why so? You jealous?" she taunted again. Matt shook his head hysterically.

"He's really handsome." She dreamed, Matt rolled his eyes again and laughed.

"Yeah, but cute doesn't expire on Yamato Ishida." He said sarcastically.

"If you really are jealous, I think you're cuter and more handsome than him." She said confidentially. Matt arched a brow. Mimi blushed when she said that.

The streetlights were switched off suddenly. "It's 25th December, should it be to early to close the lights?" he asked himself. Then, five minutes of walking, Matt felt that he had lost Mimi. "Mimi, you still there?" he asked, no response but her heard a mumble. Then he rushed back and a flash of green light appeared and saw Mimi, circled by boys with black outfits with masks.

"Mimi!" he ran to her, one of the boys pulled out a gun, tapping the trigger, aiming it at Mimi.

"Stop right there." He said. "Or the girl gets it." He threatened, he nodded his head. One of the boys pulled his arm and led the way, inside a van, dragging Mimi.

She shivered in fright, not knowing what will happen next, clutching the panda tightly. "Mimi, don't worry." He said, trying to calm her, she turned to him and said, "Matt if we or I'll die, please tell T.K. I'm sorry for making his old bunny lost when we he's five back then." She confessed, Matt's eyes widened.

"You lost it!" he exclaimed, Mimi nodded between sobs.

The man opened the door and said, "We'll let you go hurt if you go give us what you have." He threatened, Mimi sobbed more.

"Okay, I have 2300 yen here." He said, handing the money to the guy.

"I don't have any, just this panda." Mimi said, wiping a tear.

"Give it." Matt assured, Mimi shook her head. "You want to die here Mimi?" he said sarcastically. She sobbed again and handed her stuff toy. (A/N: The man's such a doof! Stealing a stuff toy?)

"Hmmm…" the man decided and nodded and let them go. "Go! Before we could kill you!" he said, Matt held her hand tightly and ran as fast as they could to the house.

Lost of sight, Mimi was still sobbing and guess what…Michael was here. "Oh, hey Mimi! Why are you crying?" he flirted as he lifted her chin. Matt rolled his eyes again and noticed that Michael's face was near Mimi's. Matt's temper rose, without even thinking, he blocked Michael from Mimi…again.

"Okay, man! You're too early! If you really know the rule, wait 'til she's 17!" he said loudly, Mimi giggled and Michael shrugged.

"You're really waiting for Feb. 14, huh?" he said playfully. Matt nodded; good thing is Mimi's mind was full of fantasies.

"Whatever. Bye Mimi an Merry Christmas again." He greeted, Mimi waved her hand and turned to Matt.

"You still like that guy?" he asked hoping a 'no'.

"Okay." He got the point, Mimi was smiling widely.

The two walked peacefully, she rubbed her hands for warmth.

"Really Mimi, since you have the crest of Sincerity, please tell me sincerely if you're happy with him…when you two end up." He began talking.

"Shame on you, Matt. You really think I'll end up with him? I already have someone and I'll wait 'til he says he feels the same." She dreamed again. What a lucky guy. Matt's hope enlightened.

"Who's the lucky guy?" he asked persistently.

"I-I can't tell." She said, blushing.

"Okay. I'll find out anyway." He said with a grin.

Mimi remembered something; Mom and dad didn't call today, it's Christmas Eve. She began to sob and lost tracks.

"Mimi?" he looked at her.

"Sorry. My parents (sniff) America (sniff) New York." She said.

"Oh, you NYC." He said, thrusting a handkerchief in her hands.

The two continued to walk. And finally reached the house.

"Really?" T.K. asked happily.

"Yup!" Kari said.

"Oh-Matt and Mimi are here now." T.K. said

"Whoa! They had a date?" Kari said persistently.

"Kinda, Bye Kari!" T.K. said and hung the phone.

"How's your date?" T.K. asked sarcastically, hiding the telephone.
"It's not a date, and don't hide the telephone, I already know that you and Kari are having a Christmas Romance talk." Matt said sarcastically. Mimi lied on the couch and looked over at the table; a package from America and some gifts from the Digidestineds and Michael.

"T.K., when did this came?" she asked.

"So-so." He answered. "The package is for you, and some of them are Matt's from his fans."

Mimi opened one, from Tai. She almost screamed when she saw a gooey thingy inside. Tai! She opened a green box from Sora; a scarf with her name sewed.

Thanks Sora! From Izzy; a book about something she doesn't know From Joe; another book about Pharmacology. And From Kari; a pink tee with beaded letter M.

Lastly, the package from America. There was a letter slipped on it.

Our Mimi,

I know it's the first time Christmas without you, but I hope you will enjoy your stay there. We know that you're coming back in June, so no need to worry. Merry Christmas honey! Your friend Michael visited there, so you won't be lonely. We know you came back because of your friends, right? The Ishida guy? We miss you a lot honey, so we decided to give you a ticket to come back as a present.

P.S. Money for tuition fee inside the envelope.

Love, Mom and Dad

She sobbed more and wiped it away. Go? Back in America, New York? Leave Matt again? Is this her Christmas present? Leave Matt again? She wrote back.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thanks for the offer, but I think I should stay, Matt means a lot to me, don't want him to leave again. I love you!

Love, Mimi

She put it in the envelope.

Even without America, she was 100 sure she was going to be happy as long as her friends are here.

Oh, I forgot Michael's. She opened his gift and received a picture of him. She sweatdropped. What a proud guy! Ugh! She tore it into pieces and put it away.

Matt went downstairs and saw pieces of Michael's picture. He ignored it and saw some gifts filling the table.

"For who all of these?" he asked nervously.

"You." T.K. and Mimi replied. Matt sighed and opened it one-by-one. From Sora; a heart-shaped box inside a silver harmonica with the symbol of Friendship engraved. He smiled. Thanks Sora, but Mimi's gift is more valuable to me. Jun's gift was totally cooler than Mimi; it was a shirt with "MATT ISHIDA ROX!" written. He smiled nervously. Everyone's gift for him was more precious than hers. She sobbed again.

"Matt, I'm sorry if I don't have an expensive gift to give to you." She said, Matt turned around.

"Tsk, yes, their gifts may be expensive but it didn't came by heart. I really appreciate your gift, and I think it's really cute, I bet there's no other thing you can find the same." He said as he held her shoulder.

"It's a lame gift I tell you." She said. She continued to cry.

"I think you already gave me the most precious gift." He mumbled.

"What?" she snapped.

"A girl who is crying right now, because of her gift, a girl who fancies a guy named Michael, a girl named Mimi Tachikawa and a girl who has a best friend named Yamato Ishida." He said, Mimi was stunned.

"You meant me?" she pointed at herself nervously, Matt nodded.

"I'm a bad best friend!" she said, pulling her hair.

"You're not, even if I don't possess the Crest of Sincerity, you're not bad friend, you're the best I'll ever have." He said by heart.

"I don't understand." She said a little bit calmed.

"You'll find out, in Feb. 14." He said with a grin.

"I feel like I'm not special." She said between sobs.

"Don't say that." He said, putting an arm to comfort.

"I feel like I'm weak, I can't stand without someone to help, I can't walk without someone curing me, it feels like every time I need someone! I always bother people!" she exclaimed, Matt let her cry.

"Well, it's kinda fun for me." He mumbled, hardly heard.

"Whatever. Goodnight and Merry Christmas Matt." She greeted and left the room.

December 31- Joe's House

Fireworks and other noisemakers hit Odaiba, outside, T.K. and Kari firing fireworks, Sora-as usual, stalking and thinking about Matt, Tai was beside Sora, supporting her. Joe was doing his holiday essays; Izzy was doing something in his computer and finally Matt trying to catch Mimi's attention, who was making a New Year call in America.

"Matt, I'm talking. Anyway, bye mom! I love you!" she said and hung the phone; she turned to Matt and raised a brow.

"It's your turn for your New Year resolution!" he said, Mimi nodded and went back to the group.

"Tell us your resolution, Mimi." Joe assured.

"Well, this year I want to have a boyfriend, whom I know and knows me well." She started, almost everyone looked at Matt.

"I also want to receive a pink fuzzy pillow. I want to successfully achieve this." She said, as she took something out of her bag- a magazine.

"Uh- Mimi, that's a magazine." Izzy said.

"I know, I want to be a teen magazine model, even once." She said.

"That's all." Matt inhaled and said, "Okay, my turn."

"This year, I want to get rid off Jun." He started, Mimi giggled, Tai burst out laughing.

"Yeah, like that'll happen!" Tai said, trying not to laugh.

"Shut up. Anyway, I also want to-" he was cut off by T.K.

"Hey Mimi! Come over here!" T.K. yelled, Kari waved, Mimi smiled and said "I'll be back, please continue!" Matt nodded.

"I also want to be (gave a deep breath) Mimi's boyfriend." He confessed.

Tai, Izzy and Joe's eyes were widened and their mouths dropped. Sora was deeply hurt.

"You mean, Mimi Tachikawa? The girl who owns Palmon, the princess of the Ditz, the girl who's addicted to pink?" Tai asked persistently. Matt nodded.

"So what's wrong about that?" he asked defensively. Sora hid her face and wiped a couple of tears, she pretended to yawn.

"Nothing, it's just that, she's your best friend." Izzy said, half curious. Matt glanced at Mimi, T.K. and Kari.

"What if she doesn't like you like 'that'?" Tai asked, Matt grinned.

"I don't care, all I know is I like her like 'that'. Even if she would hate me." He said sincerely. Tai shrugged as Sora cried quietly.

Joe gave him a warm smile and said, "Good luck!"

Matt gave him thumbs up. Then, the guys heard muffles from the corner.

"Sora?" Tai said. "Why are you crying?" Matt asked. Sora looked at him for a moment. Why? Do you care? Mimi this and Mimi that, it sucks, she sucks, you suck! She stood up and gave a fake smile. "I like you as in that 'like' Yamato." She said and left Joe's house. Matt's face was dropped. Sora? Sora likes me! His mind was driving confusedly. Then Mimi came back.

"Hey guys! Wait, where's Sora?" she asked, looking around.

"She left." Matt answered, Mimi shrugged.

"So, where are we? Oh, your resolution, Matt." She reminded.

"Matt says that he wants to have a girlfriend who's name is Mmmmph!" Tai said incompletely when Matt stuffed paper on Tai's mouth.

"Eat." He said to Tai, Mimi giggled.

"So, your resolution Matt." She urged.

"I want to-uh-" just then, the grandfather clock rang, the pendulum swung.

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" Mimi yelled. Kari and T.K. went back to the group.

"Too bad Sora's not here." Mimi said sadly.

"Why?" T.K. and Kari asked, Mimi shrugged.

"Mimi," Matt called, she looked back and raised a brow.

"I need some advice. You see my friend has loved his best friend, too bad she doesn't know, then his best friend's friend says that she likes him, what will he do?" he asked. Mimi pondered for a moment and gave a smile.

"Your friend should confront his feelings towards his best friend right away. You'll never know what will happen. She might go and leave, die- I didn't meant that. Or somewhat she may be gone. If I were you, I'll say it right away." She said.

Matt has now two choices- Tell her and leave happily ever after or never tell and keep it.

I'm sorry if this is short, I'll try to make the other long. So, Matt knew Sora loves him, but he loves Mimi, and Mimi's completely clueless! God, Michael really likes to barge in! This is A MIMATO!

There! See you later! Bye now….UPDATING SOON