Thank you to all who reviewed. It is very much appreciated. A special thanks must go to Mr. Savoan Locc. In my opinion, a mimato fan-fiction cannot be classified as great until the author has been verbally assaulted by the aforementioned man/boy. The story is simply worthless until Mr. Locc has reviewed with his typical attempt to be hardcore attitude. Of course, here a paradox arises. What kind of hard guy spends his free time reading romance fan-fiction? Mystery of life.

Anyway, in this chapter I have sneakily inserted a little section from Final Fantasy Nine. Can you pick it? Of course you can, but humour me for a second.

Disclaimer: I do not own Final Fantasy Nine, or Sheryl Crow, or her songs. Don't sue. If you do, all you'll get is fifty cents, a mascara wand, some dental floss, and a paper clip. (And that paper clip was a birthday present!)

Chapter 8 - The Lion Sleeps Tonight


They had left the town of Capelin almost four hours ago. At least, that's what Mimi figured from reading the sky. Although there were trees all around her, she could still see the sun. At the palace there had been numerous sundials, and Mimi had learned from them where the sun was in the sky at what time. Now it was about three.

The walk wasn't easy. It crossed rocky, mountainous and swampy territory. After about an hour everybody had fallen into a silence. Judging by their faces, they were all feeling very tired. Sora was dragging her feet, Kari and TK were slumped against each other as they walked, and Izzy seemed to be muttering affirmations to himself. Which was even odder than usual, because Izzy never talked. Matt and Tai were the only two who looked happy. Suddenly, Matt stopped and looked around.

"Okay. I'd say we're almost at the base of the mountain. Just a little bit further."

TK rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand. "Matt! You said that about three kilometres back!"

Matt grinned. "Did I? Oh well, I mean it this time. The slope of the ground is rising significantly."

Mimi looked down at her feet. He was right. The slope was increasing. It meant they were close, but it also meant that walking would be even harder.

"Anyway," continued Matt. "When we get to the base of Mount Theisa, we'll set up camp. We can finish the journey in the morning."

The group brightened significantly at the promise of a rest. They set off again with enthusiasm. TK and Kari began talking about what the Guardians would be like. Mimi noticed Sora looking extremely torn. And Mimi thought she knew what about. Should she talk to Tai or leave him alone? Eventually her decision was made for her, when Tai came to her side and began a conversation. Mimi smiled. Those two were so in love. They just needed to get it together. As she watched the two, she felt something bump into her arm.

"Hello Matt."

Matt's eyes were soft. "Hey Mimi."

Mimi didn't know what to say. Neither did Matt. Maybe there wasn't anything that could be said. Maybe just being together was enough. They were so connected that words alone could not express what was inside. In fact, words may shatter the world that was built around them. That world of comfortable silence where feelings just flowed without the deception of speech. In that world, they could forget everything, and just enjoy being with each other. There, it didn't matter that they barely knew each other. It didn't matter that she was a princess and he was as good as an orphan. Because in this place, they knew everything about each other, and it was all right.

Matt's hand brushed past her own. Her stomach leaped down to her feet, then slowly floated back up again into her throat. Her head was light, and she felt as if her feet could just leave the ground and she would fly up with the clouds. She didn't know how one person could make her so happy. At the same time, Matt was confused. He had always been a loner. The only person he had ever brought himself to really care about was TK. But this girl. Mimi. She just fell into his life and threw it into a whirlwind. He didn't even know he could have feelings this deep. Nothing was certain any more, but somehow, it all made sense that way. He just had no idea what to do next.

Fortunately, he didn't have to do anything. The trees had suddenly thinned out, and in front of them was a battered wooden sign. Though it was broken and the lettering was worn, the words were still readable. 'Mount Theisa Trail. To Palace, 7km.'

Matt turned to his group. "Well gang, looks like we found the trail. Let's set up camp."

Night fell quickly, and almost everybody had gone to bed. The camp had been set up in record time, and Matt looked over at it proudly. Their one huge ten-sleeper tent was set up firmly about two metres away from the blazing fire. Close enough to get the heat, not so close that it would catch fire. The tent, though worn, still worked fairly well at keeping out the wind and cold, so that was where everybody but Matt and Mimi were snuggled up, trying to get to sleep.

The two awake group members were sitting on a log near the crackling fire. Again they were wrapped in that silent world where everything was beautiful, and just as it should be. But Mimi had to crack it.

"When you said that you did not want to hear what the Guardians had to say to you… what exactly did you mean by that?"

Because it was dark, and Mimi wasn't looking at him, Matt felt he could actually say what he was feeling. "I just… have so many questions about everything. I mean, do they really know all? And if they do, what would they tell me? Just enough to send me on my path, or absolutely everything? And if they tell me everything, how much will I be able to hear before I crack? How much can one person know about their future?"

Mimi used a nearby stick to poke at the flames. "Those are fair enough questions. You have obviously thought long and hard about this matter. But how will you know the answers you seek until you try?"

Matt didn't want to have to answer that question. So he changed the subject. "Why all the questions? Not nervous, are we Miss Mimi?"

"Nervous? Surely you do not mean I!" But the expectant silence that followed her statement, and the feeling of his clear-cut sapphire stare upon her, unlocked the truth. "Well, perhaps a little." She whispered.

"Don't be. I won't let anything happen to you." Matt's reply was heartfelt and sincere.

Mimi smiled slightly, still staring into the flickering red and orange of the flames. There was something she had to know. "Matt… why did you come with me?"

Matt looked at the girl beside him. The fire was creating a dancing light that got caught in her hair and shimmered across her face. She was so beautiful. "Only because I wanted to go with you."

Mimi lifted her head from the flames to look him in the eye. That cerulean blue burned, and Mimi felt like she was being pulled into their depths by some magnetic force. She couldn't fight it. He was close. Too close. She could have counted his eyelashes. She knew she should pull away, but she couldn't. Deep down, she didn't even think she wanted to.

Then it happened. His lips brushed hers. It was only for a split second, but to Mimi it felt like an eternity. Time froze, and jolts of electricity seemed to fly off the connection. They were in a different place altogether, where everything seemed to slip away, and the only thing left was that other person. Suddenly Mimi pulled back, so uncertain of what should happen. That sparkling world shattered around them like falling stars.

Matt looked away. "I'm… so sorry. I don't know what that was. I didn't mean it, it just happened. I'm truly sorry."

While he continued to stammer apologies, Mimi was thinking. What would her etiquette teacher say about this? She would tell Mimi to slap his face, and any man this forward was only looking for one thing. When a prince was courting a princess, he must always show respect, courtesy and self-control. Any prince that has the audacity to actually kiss the princess, was to immediately be deemed unworthy.

But he wasn't a prince. And she was no longer a princess. So what happens now? She touched her lips, where she still felt the echo of the kiss resounding. His lips had been so soft, yet so sure of what they wanted.

She looked up at Matt, who was still trying to apologise. "Matt?"

He turned to look at her, quietening for just a moment. Fast as lightning, Mimi pressed her lips onto his. Matt was paralysed with shock. He wasn't sure of what to do. His head was telling him to break away, that this wasn't right. But his heart and soul were telling him to kiss her back, let her know how you feel. Shutting his eyes, he blocked out the protests from his head and returned Mimi's kiss.

After a time that seemed like both nothing and forever, they split. Mimi moved closer to Matt, snuggling up under his arm. And for both of them, it just felt so perfect, sitting together under the veil of stars.

While outside Mimi and Matt were enclosed in their wonderful world, inside the tent were Tai and Sora. Lying next to each other, both were pretending to be asleep, but both were fully aware that the other was still awake. After biting his lip for about ten minutes, Tai finally gathered the courage to say what he needed to say.

"Sora? Um… what exactly did I do? I mean… whatever it is, I'm sorry. I know it must be my fault…"

Here Sora had to cut in. "It wasn't your fault, Tai. It never was."

Tai was growing even more confused. He sat up, and looked own on Sora's still figure. She was on her side, facing away from him. "Then what happened? We used to be such good friends… and now you barely want to talk to me."

To herself and the ground beneath her, Sora whispered, "We were good friends before I fell in love with you."

Tai leant over her, trying to see her face. "What did you say?"

Sora clenched her eyes shut. She'd really done it now. "Nothing."

Tai sat back. There was no point trying to talk to her about this. He tried to tell himself that it didn't matter, that he was okay with it. But he knew he was lying. Deep down he was crushed. His heart snapped in two. He really cared about Sora. To himself more than anybody else, he said quietly, "I just… I just wanted to know what's going on with you, Sora. I want to help. I… miss you. I miss you so much more than anybody could ever hope to know."

Sora felt the tears rising from her throat. That burning lump that would not be swallowed. She turned onto her back silently, looking up at him. He was staring out into the night, and Sora could see the unshed tears shining in his eyes. "Tai… I'm so sorry."

Seeming surprised at hearing her speak, he looked at her. His eyes were full of hope. Sora couldn't let him down. Not again. She'd have to tell him. Sitting up, she tried not to look at him. "Tai… it's all my fault. And I'll understand if you hate me now, after all that I've done to you, but please let me try to explain myself first. You know that before I met you guys I was on my own for a few months. But what you don't know is that while I was out there, I met Grant and his Dragons. He seemed… so sweet at the time, ready to take me in and protect me from all the bad guys in the world. I didn't know that he was the bad guy, and he only wanted one thing from me. When I refused, he… he… took me in an alley and… and he tried to rape me, Tai!" her voice cracked at the end, and two tears spilled down her cheeks.

Tai's eyes were wide with shock. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "I'm so sorry… I had no idea."

The tears Sora had kept inside for so long now flowed freely. "No one knows… no one except Mimi. It's just that… I trusted him, and he betrayed me. He betrayed me in the worst way possible. I was so afraid that would happen again. It was fine when we were just friends, but…" She took a deep breath. She had to say it. "But when I started feeling… more, I got scared. I thought if I cared about you too much, and trusted you too deeply, I'd just get hurt again."

Tai was quiet. "I'd never hurt you. And I'd never push you into anything."

Sora tried to explain herself. "I know, I do know that. I'm just afraid…"

Tai cut her off. She didn't need to explain anything to him. "I understand. And I love you. And I'll do whatever you want me to."

Sora clasped his hand between hers. "Be there for me. Love me the way I love you. Be patient if I can't show how I feel, and don't get frustrated if I can't be exactly who you want me to be. It's try and love me if you can. Be strong enough to be my man. I know it seems like so much to ask, and I'm probably not worth it, but…"

Tai smiled, and gently turned her face to meet his. "That's where you're wrong. I love you Sora, and I will do anything for you."

Sora smiled back. "Thank you, Tai."


Well, there you go. Another chapter down. Hopefully it was better than the last two. Sorry it took so long, but things have been rather busy. Last year of high school, you know. I have to do a good job of my assignments and tests and stuff or the rest of my life is screwed. Isn't that nice?

Emma's useless facts about nothing in particular

According to the Toy Company Mattel, Barbie's full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts.