7

"The fire that we call loving is too strong for human minds. But just right for human souls."

- Aberjhani

-Early Morning-

"Izzy!" Tai yelled around the giant Christmas tree the boys had picked out that morning. The fake tree had finally had its last Christmas, "Left! Left!" Tai had insisted that he lead the trek to their apartment by holding the font of the tree, Izzy picking up the back.

"Taichi!" Izzy yelled back as he did his best to peer around the green needles, "I still don't know why you got the front! I can't see over this thing!" He groaned as he willed his legs to take another step, "And the outside stairs?! Taichi… This thing…" he took a deep breath, his arms shaky, "Would have fit in the elevator!"

Tai shrugged, "We just have one more floor! C'mon!" The boys took a sharp left. A gust of wind caught under the tree, ripping it from their grips.

"NOOO! REACH, IZZY! REACH!" Tai dramatically yelled as he reached over the railing and watched the mound of green pines plummet to the ground below, three floors down. Izzy shook his head, his hands resting on his knees as he caught his breath.

"I told you we should've taken the elevator…" Izzy placed his hands on the back of his head, "And we were so cl-"

"AHH!" A scream sounded, followed by the sound of the tree smacking against the ground.

Izzy glanced at Tai, "Do you think it… You know…"

Tai shrugged as he mumbled back, "Hit someone like they were the wicked witch of the west?" Izzy nodded slowly. Taking deep breaths, the two men peaked over the cold railing.

A confused Sora stared at the tree, scratching her head as she looked around. She had just gotten back from her morning run. "What in the…" She looked up just in time to catch the two culprits. "Are you guys serious right now?!" She threw her hands up, motioning to the whole tree, "A whole, huge ass tree?! At 7:30 in the morning?! WITH the stairs?! In this weather?!" The icy morning air nipped at her ears, turning the tips a red brighter than her hair.

Tai replied, "Jeez, anything else Sora?" Sora rolled her eyes, "Yeah, maybe take the elevator?" Izzy chuckled, "I told you so…" Tai nudged past Izzy as he quickly took the stairs down, "Come on." Izzy followed.

Sora turned towards the two as they hurried down the stairs, "That could have really hurt somebody." She bent down, wrapping her arms around the tree's center, "And why did you get such…" She pulled the tree, propping it up, …"a big one? Is your apartment even this tall?"

Izzy nodded slowly, wondering if Sora had secret super strength, "Huh… I guess we didn't think about that…" He measured the tree next to Tai's height. "If my calculations are correct, the tree will just fit…"

Sora smirked, glancing between the top of the tree and the others, "Uh huh… I think your calculations are wrong this time, Iz."

"Nah," Tai said as he grabbed the trunk, motioning to Izzy to grab the other end, "You'll see, Sor. Our tree is the perfect size. Now, lead the way Izzy!" Izzy began to walk towards the elevator, Tai stopping next to Sora, "Are you gonna help decorate it? Us guys have never been able to place ornaments quite like you and Meems…"

She gave him a smile, nodding, "Yes, Taichi. I'll help. I'll come over after I shower and check on Mimi. We don't want a repeat of last year's tree decorating fiasco…" Long story short, the tree ended up cut in half, two pieces of one tree; The bottom decorated in blues and silvers to Matt's liking and the top decorated in reds and golds to Tai's liking.

Tai smiled back as he began to follow Izzy, "Thanks." He stopped again, giving her his best smirk and wink, "Should I hang more mistletoe?" He whispered.

Sora rolled her eyes playfully, "Be over soon… Good luck with the tree."

-Apartment 19-

Sora slowly entered the apartment and was met with a gloomy darkness. She squinted against the the lack of light, Mimi usually pulls the curtains open… "Still no sign of life…" She paused, listening, "And it's quiet… Too quiet." The usual morning bustle of Mimi seemed to be dormant. The kitchen tidy from the lack of her blending her morning smoothies, the tea kettle silent and the french press empty.

She must still be in bed… Sora took a right, her feet slowly and quietly pressing against the dark wood floor towards Mimi's room. Just as Sora reached for the brass doorknob, she caught sight of a slight movement from the corner of her eye. Sora's eyes swept over to the mound of moving blankets on the couch, her hand over her heart as she jumped. "What the!"

The blankets moved and groaned, Sora's eyes widened as a face poked from the soft fabric.

"Morning…" The words were scratchy and low.

"Mimi?" Sora stared in disbelief. The mound of blankets nodded, sniffling softly. "What're you doing on the couch like this? You look terrible…" Sora briskly moved across the room, "And why is it so dark?" She gripped the sheer, white curtains and pulled them open, sighing as the morning sun hit her skin.

"No!" Mimi hissed, the palm of her hand covering her eyes, "Please no light! My life has been so cruel and dark for the past eight hours!" Sora shook her head as she moved to the kitchen to boil some water for tea.

"Quit being so dramatic it's not like you don't feel the same…" Sora stopped, not wanting to hint that her and Tai overheard everything. Mimi was buried under too many blankets to notice. Sora grabbed Mimi's favorite cup and added a green tea bag. She tapped her fingers along the counter, the drumming noise quick. The kettle squealed and Sora poured the hot water into the empty cup.

"So…" Sora walked to Mimi, urging the brunette to take the tea. Mimi's hand slowly shot out from the blanket, her fingers wrapping around the cup. Sora eyed her, "Uh… What happened, Meems? Are we gonna talk about it or… Should I grab more blankets?"

Mimi sighed dramatically, her breath dancing with the steam from her cup. "He loves me…" She muttered as she sipped the hot tea. Sora nodded slowly, "Okay… You're gonna have to speak up."

Mimi glared, "He LOVES me, Sora! LOVE. The L-word! Ugh," she placed her cup down and fell to her back, "Why do I have to be so… So lovable to the men."

Sora shrugged, "Must be a curse…" She gave Mimi a small smile, frowning as Mimi gazed at the ceiling, "You don't love him? C'mon… You can't tell me you don't."

Mimi sat up, pulling her hair into a messy bun. "See? That's the problem. I just… I don't know… He said it and I was happy, but…" She bit her lip, "Remember Anthony?" Sora nodded, boy did she remember Ant. That man loved Mimi Tachikawa… And she loved him.

"Last time I let myself love someone they broke up with me…" She rolled her eyes, "Well, cheated on me with Bethany Smith and THEN broke up with me!"

"Bethany fucking Smith…" Sora muttered, nodding her head as Mimi continued.

Mimi huffed, "See? I just can't go through that a second time… And I'm not even sure if I can say it back yet."

Sora watched the emotions cross Mimi's face, "That's okay, Mimi. Everyone loves at their own pace." Mimi nodded, "You're telling me… Yamato loved quick."

"Mimi," Sora said, "It's been eight months."

Mimi groaned, "I knoooow and I can't say it…" Her face buried itself back into the blankets, muffling her words, " Am I a bad person?"

Sora shook her head, "No, Mimi… In fact, why not smooth things over by helping me decorate the boys tree this morning? I'm sure Izzy would love you…" Sora cleared her throat, "Like you for the help…?"

Mimi nibbled on her bottom lip before blowing softly on her tea. The steam curled up Sora's face, the woman scrunching her nose. Mimi sighed, shaking her head, "I can't… I need some time to just," she pursed her lips, "marinate this 'Yamato loves me' thing."

Sora nodded as she pulled her friend into a hug, "It'll be okay…" Mimi nodded against Sora's shoulder, "Sora?" Sora nodded as she waited for Mimi to reply, "You smell sweaty…" Sora pulled away, giving Mimi a stiff smile.

"To keep things nice," Sora said tightly, "You smell like you've been sleeping on a couch for a few days even though it's only been a few hours." Mimi glared at Sora, the two breaking into a few chuckles as Sora stood, "And yes, I'm on my way to the shower."

Mimi smiled, "Thanks… We ALL appreciate it."

-Apartment 20-

"Tight fit," Jou said as he stood back and watched Tai and Izzy stand the tree up between the two windows.

Izzy grunted as the top of the tree scratched against the ceiling, bending at an angle, "I think…" he pushed the tree harder, the pine needs scraping in protest, "Sora was right." He stood back, glancing up at the tree.

The tree stood tall. The pine needles were a dark green and bristled out perfectly. But the top… The top foot of tree bent against the ceiling. Tai dropped the last box of ornaments, leaving the blue and silver in storage. "Damnit," Tai muttered as he stood back by Jou, "She's good. How could she tell?"

Jou shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe she has… Oh what's it called… Common sense? That's it," he chuckled as he walked to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. Tai shrugged, nodding in agreement as he made his way to Matt's bedroom door.

"Hey Matt?" He knocked the door lightly. Silence. Tai furrowed his brows as he slowly turned the doorknob, "Yamat… Whoa…"

Taichi squinted against the darkness. He looked around the room, "Weird… Matt?" There was still no response. The room was empty, the only signs of life were the crumpled sheets and empty bottles of iced tea, "Alright… Well, we're going to decorate the tree…" Tai turned to leave, his body turning towards the corner as he almost made it out of the room. A dark shadow stood in the corner, appearing next to him faster than Tai could clear a buffet meal. "Oh jeez," Tai jumped back in surprise as a shadow joined him in the darkness.

"You didn't bring out the blue and silver ornaments…" The voice was scratchy and low, the shadow's breath reaching for Tai's neck.

Tai rubbed his eyes, squinting as he took in the blonde hair in the darkness, "Dude… You look terrible? For a lack of better words?"

Matt shrugged as he stepped out into the living room. He rubbed his eyes as the light hit his face, Jou offering him a cup of coffee. "He's alive!" Izzy said happily from behind the tree. Matt gave him a weak smile, "Hardly…"

Matt's eyes followed the tree to the bent top. He frowned slightly, tilting his head, "… Why?"

"You know how Taichi likes to live," Jou said as he scanned the tree again with Matt, "Go big or go home." Matt smirked, shrugging as he began to pull out ornaments. He grimaced at them, "Red and gold? Really?"

Jou joined Matt at the box, sighing, "Better than the green and purple… That's what Lis has decided on for this year." Lis is Jou's new girlfriend. The two had met in a class a few years back and reconnected a few months ago.

"I like the green and purple," Matt smiled, "It reminds me of Mimi's color choices when she… Decorates…" He quieted as he grabbed a red bulb and looped a hook through it, "She's great at decorating the tree." He sighed dramatically.

Taichi stared at the blonde from the kitchen, his face frozen in a weird look of confusion. Matt never got caught up on his and Mimi's fights. Sure, he heard the whole thing, but he took it as bickering… Not an Earth shattering argument.

"Hey boys," Sora walked through the door, flashing Jou and Izzy a smile. Tai beckoned her to the kitchen, whispering to her, "Sora. Sora. Sora."

Sora shook her head, "What?" She whispered back as she slipped into the kitchen. Tai gripped her shoulders, turning her to face Matt's direction. Sora squinted at the brooding Matt. Tai quietly spoke, "He's been staring at that ornament for five minutes…"

Sora took a deep breath, "Mimi is bad, too…" She shook her head, "I never took Matt as the dramatic type."

Tai rolled his eyes, "C'mon, Sor he's a musician. They love dramatics. In fact," the two looked back at the blonde, "I bet he already has his new hit single written and ready to go."

"Taichi," Sora whispered, "He's sad… And Mimi isn't looking too hot either."

"What're you two whispering about?" The two jumped as Izzy whispered from behind Sora. He was sneaky, silent, "Whispering about your secret whereabouts? Hm?"

Sora furrowed her brows, "What're you talking about? Tai and I don't have any secrets…"

Tai jumped in, "Nothing, Izzy. It's not important. We're just watching Matt examine… Every single ornament…" Tai let out a long sigh as he watched Matt clench two ornaments to his chest, Jou blinking slowly next to him. "That's my cue…" He muttered as he walked out of the small kitchen to his friend.

"Jeez," Izzy whispered to Sora, "It really is bad, isn't it…" His words tapered off as he realized the woman's strong stare was aimed at him.

"What do you know." She said flatly, her left eyebrow arching as she anticipated his answer. Sora crossed her arms, pinning Izzy to the kitchen floor with her gaze.

"Wh-What? I never know anything!" He held his hands up defensively as Sora began to close the space between them. She looked him over once, holding her silent demeanor.

"Hm…" She went to walk past him, stopping by his side as she poured herself a cup of coffee, "I'm watching you, Izzy. Always." She brushed past him as she joined the others by the tree. Izzy let out a long breath he hadn't known he'd been holding.

"She is scaaaaary," he shook his head, suddenly wishing he wasn't the first to know this time around.

Sora brought the mug to her lips, sighing as the hot coffee seemed to awaken her soul. Her eyes ran up the length of the tree, following the curved top's path as it bent along the ceiling, "Hm. How weird." She said sarcastically to herself as she moved to sit on the couch.

Jou joined her, "I've decided to give Taichi his time to shine." He nodded towards Matt, Tai's hand on his shoulder, "How's Mimi? I'm guessing she's worse."

Sora shook her head, "It's hard to tell, but I think Matt got the short end of the stick here. Mimi can't get past the Anthony fiasco." The woman rolled her eyes, "It's hard to watch. How can two people who are so right for each other not connect?"

Jou raised an eyebrow, his eyes moving from Sora to Tai and back to Sora, "Strange, isn't it?" His voice deadpanned, "Maybe one of them needs to make the first move and get the ball rolling."

Sora shook her head, "You mean apologize? Mimi isn't going to show her face across the hall for a few days…" She realized Jou was smirking, sipping from his own coffee. Sora rolled her eyes, picking up on what Jou was putting down. "Jou, it's not like that. We're just friends."

Jou shrugged, "Isn't that what they all say?" He eyed her, taking her silence as a response. "So you wouldn't mind if Amanda contacted him to go to the hospital's Christmas party tonight?"

Amanda is one of Jou's coworkers. She worked as a nurse. Earlier in the year Jou had set her and Tai up on a blind date, the two hitting it off and only ending things once Amanda's work schedule became too much to balance. She was gorgeous… Tall, long legs with a figure that would walk the runways of fashion week and grace the pages of lingerie magazines. Sora could've sworn her eye twitched at the thought of the woman being back on Tai's arm.

"Nope," she answered quickly, hoping her smile looked looser then it felt, "ask away. I'm sure he'll just… Love it. Eat her right up. With her long legs… And blonde hair that falls perfectly down her back…" Jou cleared his throat as Sora continued, "and her laugh that sounds like a beautiful choir singing Ava Maria at the freakin cha-"

Jou nudged her, "Jeez, want her to ask you?"

Sora felt her cheeks warm up, shaking her head quickly as she wished for Jou to tear his knowing gaze away from her embarrassed frame. "it's okay, Sora," he gave her a soft smile, "I'll tell her to find another date." Before Sora could reply, the familiar jingle of Tai's phone sounded through the room.

Tai took his comforting hand off of Matt's shoulder, a confused look crossing his face as he read the name on his screen, "Amanda?" He picked his phone up, swiping the screen to answer before heading into the small hallway to take the call. Jou sighed, mouthing a sorry to Sora. Sora shook her head, shrugging.

"Great!" Matt sighed loudly, "Now Taichi is going to find love as I continue to lose mine."

Sora and Jou shared a baffled glance, "He is dramatic, isn't he…" Jou muttered as the two watched Matt stand and walk slowly to lean against the window.

"Tonight?" Tai asked as he ran his fingers through his hair, "Ummm…" Sora and Jou leaned closer to the hallway, trying to catch pieces of the conversation, "Definitely! Formal, yeah? No… Yeah!"

"Sounds like he's in," Jou said as Sora stood to continue decorating the tree. She grabbed an ornament, trying to focus on the golden pattern that covered the red ball. She hung a few, letting Matt's sighs of sadness drown out the sound of Tai's amazing conversation.

Sora hung a few more ornaments, annoyed that she was able to decorate the tree this much before Tai ended his phone conversation. She glanced up as the sound of footsteps coming from the hall grew louder.

"Guess who's getting a free ticket to a Holiday buffet tonight," Tai clapped his hands before pointing to himself, "Me. It's me."

Jou nodded as he stood from the couch, "Great. I'll see you tonight then!" He said his goodbyes as he headed out the door, "And Taichi? Don't forget your table manners at home, okay?" Tai gave him a thumbs up.

Matt finally pushed off the window, glancing at the now decorated tree, "It looks great, Sora."

Sora gave him a soft smile, "Would've been better if it was blue and silver though." He returned her smile, "You gonna be okay, Matt?" Matt let out yet another sigh, nodding. He walked to the door, grabbing his jacket from the hanger and slipping it over his shoulders.

"I think so… I'm gonna take a walk to clear my mind. Anyone want to go?" Matt asked, his hand hovering over the knob. Sora shook her head, Tai already waving a goodbye to his friend. Izzy shrugged, "I could use some fresh air." Izzy walked towards the door, stopping to eye Tai and Sora, "Behave."

Sora rolled her eyes, "Enjoy your walk." Matt and Izzy nodded, heading out.

Sora grabbed the last ornament, hanging it on one branch. She stepped back, crossing her arms as she took in her decorating skills.

"It looks great," Tai said as he joined her. She nodded, "Holiday buffet?"

Tai cleared his throat, "Mhm. Amanda called and I couldn't say no to free food…" He gave her a nervous smile. She nodded, "Free food. Yeah, can't turn that down." She bit her lip, "I… I'm going to go check on Mimi. You have fun tonight, Taichi."

Sora's tone made Tai's heart drop into his stomach. Oh no… He thought, realizing what this looked like to the woman he had been chasing for as long as he could remember. "Sora it's not… I'm not interested in her anymore… I just…"

Sora shook her head, "Tai, it's okay. Like you said. What happened between us was only physical attraction, right?" She gave him a tight smile that didn't reach her eyes, her hand nudging his shoulder. Sora turned on her heels to leave, "Have fun tonight."

Tai felt stupid for letting her leave and not going after her. He couldn't pick his feet up to go after her. Had he really lost her that fast? He shook his head, wondering if she was as hurt as she sounded "Did she think it was physical attraction this whole time? I thought last night was… Nice…" He knew he could be oblivious, that much was obvious.

He eyed his phone, "Fuck. You did it again," he groaned.

-Apartment 19-

Sora walked into the apartment, jolting Mimi out of the moment she was having with a pint of ice cream. "Oh! You're back soon. How was decorating?"

Sora rummaged in the kitchen drawers, pulling out her own spoon. She shimmied next to Mimi on the couch before plunging her spoon into the mix of chocolate and peanut butter. "Oh hi Taichi? Yeah. I have a Christmas dinner tonight and…" Sora's voice was high pitched, her signature mimic of the woman Tai dated earlier in the year.

Mimi's eyes widened, the woman gasping, "No! He didn't. That bitch… THOSE bicthes!"

Sora nodded, shoveling another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth, "I mean it's fine, right? Tai and I were… We weren't…" She took another scoop, "It was JUST physical attracting!"

Mimi shook her head, shoveling her own pile of ice cream into her mouth, "Men. I swear to our lord and savior Mariah Carey if he doesn't realize his mistake I'm burning this complex down." She caught her breath, "And that Amanda? Ha. Please. Everyone knows she's a fraud who only likes Tai because he's the only guy tall enough and dumb enough to date her."

Sora shook her head, "I mean she's nice… And smart…" Mimi rolled her eyes, nodding in agreement, "True…"

The two sat in silence, enjoying their tub of ice cream. Their eyes met, a smile pulling at the edges of bother of their lips as they spoke in unison, "We should go out tonight." They laughed.

Mimi wiped her eyes, "Sora, we only get into trouble when we go out… But… But maybe that's what we need!" Sora nodded, "That's exactly what we need."

-Author's Note-

Hello and long time no update! I am so sorry. Life has been crazy. School picked up and I wasn't sure how to pick this story back up. I'm a little rusty, so please give me a slight break.

Thank you so much for reading! :)