A/n:

So, again I kind of missed the Monday mark, kind of… I have a good reason. I could not get to this computer where I have the files saved. Anyway, it really should not matter- you know why? Because I am once again going to buy your love and forgiveness (and reviews) with TAIORA FLUFF!

So much fluff… I can't help it.

Enjoy!

At the banquet, after all the speeches were finished and the couples were actually allowed to eat, drink and dance as they pleased, Sora decided that she could get use to the life of a soccer star.

The posh treatment was something that she had never experienced before, and although she didn't want to live like this everyday, she was having a great time.

Now that Tai didn't have to talk about Matt all the time, the funny and utterly charming side of him was able to come out. Sora didn't think she could laugh so hard. Her sides hurt after about two hours talking with Tai. And from the look of his smile, he was having a good time as well.

Watching a few couples out on the large ballroom style dance floor, Sora couldn't help but sigh a little. She wished she could dance so elegantly.

"You want to try it?" Tai said reading the sigh as a desire to go dance.

"What?"

"Dancing. Can I have this dance?" He said as he stood and offered her his hand.

"But… I've never danced anything other than at clubs… and even then I wasn't good." She said the nervous tone of her voice clear to Tai and yet he took her hand and helped her up.

"Don't worry." He smiled as he led her to the floor and pulled her closer, assuming the position of a ballroom waltz.

"Have you done this before?" She asked rather impressed that he knew what he was doing.

"Nope. But that is what makes it so much more fun!" He said as he began. After a few minutes, the couple got the hang of the dance and even got in with the rhythm of the song.

They stayed out there as the song changed from a waltz to a slow song. Not letting her go, and even pulling her more closely, Tai made no move to stop dancing.

"See, I told you. You were great." He whispered in her ear as he dropped her hand and wrapped his arms around her waist. Sora in part put her hands on his strong shoulders and continued to follow his lead.

She hated to admit it, but it felt like prom all over again… well, if she would have gone to prom that is… this was actually her first really big formal. All the ones in college paled in comparison.

"I wanted to thank you for taking me to this thing. I don't think I would have had this much fun otherwise." She said as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"I'm glad you are enjoying it. And I need to thank you as well. These are always boring and too stuffy for my tastes. But this one has been bearable."

"Just bearable?" She asked not knowing if she should take that as a compliment, or what. She lifted her head up off of its momentary resting place and looked at him.

"Well, a lot more than that…" He smiled as he moved in and kissed her.

Sora's first reaction was to freeze, but as his warm lips continued to move against hers, something inside softened. Her eyes closed slowly and she returned the kiss.

The gentle contact ended too soon for Tai's liking, but he knew that he needed to breathe, and she probably did as well.

Licking his lips he looked at the woman who had put a spell on him. Her eyes were still closed and her lips were slightly puffy from the contact with his. A faint flush painted her cheeks when she slowly opened her eyes and noticed him gazing deeply into her.

Her breath caught in her throat as she felt him gazing deeply into not just her eyes, but what felt like her soul. There was something about this man who bewitched her and her senses. Feeling the heat growing in her, Sora quickly rested her head on his chest as they continued to sway back and forth with the last few bars of the song.

Even when it was over, the two did not stop. They stayed on the dance floor in a warn embrace.

"What are you doing to me?" She whispered just enough for him to hear her.

"The same thing you are doing to me." He said kissing the top of her head. Pushing her away a bit as to once again see her face, Tai smiled widely.

"Want to take a break?" He asked as he led her off the floor.

"So you two are getting serious?" Mimi smiled as she and Sora walked to the bathroom. The brown haired princess needed to reapply the many layers of makeup for the third time that evening. Sora blushed as Mimi mentioned something about a lip lock on the dance floor that apparently no one missed.

"I don't know… it is our first date after all."

"And your very first real date ever!" Mimi piped in.

"Thanks for reminding me." Sora said in a rather depressed voice. She never was really interested in boys other than as people to play soccer with when she was a kid. Things didn't get any better in college either. Sure guys asked her out, but nothing like this…

"Oh, come on. You knew that your ice cold wall was going to be melted by someone, sometime. Why not let Taichi be the one to do that? He seems nice, and Joe says he is a good guy and that he is crazy about you. Just let yourself have some fun."

"Easy for you to say. You've had experience with this kind of stuff."

"I've also had my fair share of heart break too, but that doesn't keep me from letting myself enjoy life." Mimi pointed out with a serious tone that came through from time to time.

"I just don't want to move too fast… I have a career to think about."

"You also have a life away from soccer as well. Besides, it sounds like you are the perfect couple. Tai seems to be a soccer-holic as well. So just go steady with the guy already!"

"But…"

"Just give him a chance, ok? No more slamming the proverbial door on them… you'll never get over the past and that mess during freshman year if you don't let yourself live a little. Now come on, we have two very cute and very sweet men waiting for us."

"I think I am in love." Tai said in barely a whisper. It was meant more for himself than for others to hear, but Joe did have perfect hearing.

"Its not so bad, now is it?" Joe smiled at the soccer player who looked like he was off in his own little dream world, that or cloud nine.

"I've never felt like this… even with… It is totally different with Sora." Tai looked over at Joe. "What do I do?"

"Do?" Joe asked fidgeting with his glasses a bit. He couldn't help but be a little nervous himself. He had decided that night to ask Mimi to come over to his apartment after the banquet… and he was rather nervous as to what her answer would be.

"Yeah… I mean…"

"Well, I… um…"

"Look at you two." Came a voice from behind where Tai and Joe were sitting. Looking over to the source of the voice, they saw Matt, Tk, Davis, Cody and Izzy approaching.

"Hey Matt." Tai said standing up and waving to his friend.

"I just wanted to come over and congratulate you on your very attractive date. You make a good looking couple, not the best looking. That would be me and Sora, of course, but I will let you have her." Matt smiled knowing Tai must be utterly nervous at the moment, joking around might loosen him up.

"You know, I never thought a soccer girl could look that damn fine." Davis added patting Tai on the back. "Does she have a sister?"

"Um, no. Sora is an only child." Tai smiled back appreciating his friends trying to help out.

"So, are you going to the after party?" TK asked not really feeling up for the drinking parties that the players always went to after the banquet.

"I won't be." Joe spoke up and received a few knowing smirks.

"That far along are we my friend?" Matt smiled. "Have fun."

Joe couldn't fight the blush that was creeping onto his face.

"What are you boys talking about?" Mimi chirped in from behind the group of men. Everyone's attention went from Joe to Mimi and then back to Joe, silently they were telling him to go for it.

"Um… nothing really." Joe laughed awkwardly. Then he stopped and changed into serious mode. "Actually, can I ask you something Mimi… in private?"

The rest of the group could only watch as the couple walked away.

Sora walked over towards Tai's side and looked puzzled.

"What was all that about?" She asked looking to the smiles on the guys faces and then to where the couple had relocated.

"He's going to ask her to take their relationship to the next level. Lucky dog." Davis grinned.

Sora looked from Davis to where Mimi was in shock.

"So, Sora, you look stunning tonight." Matt smiled as he took her hand and kissed it. Sora still didn't like the blond too much, but since he was a friend of Tai's she would have to learn to tolerate the man.

"Thanks." She smiled slightly and then looked over at Tai.

"Want to go and sit down for a bit?" Tai asked seeing she was a little uncomfortable around Matt.

"Sure," she responded. "It was nice meeting you all."

Tai took her hand and excused them from the group of guys.

"Looks like he's totally sprung over this girl." Tk smiled happy to see his friend happy.

"Yeah, and she is a hell of a looker. I think Tai might just be the luckiest guy on the face of the earth tonight." Davis added as the remaining guys headed over to the bar.

"So, I hear there is an after party. Want to go see what that entails?" Tai asked as he returned to the table with two drinks. Sora had gotten two desserts from a waiter as Tai sat down.

"Um, I have to tell you that I am not a real big party person. I mean… if you want to go, I guess I can too…"

"No, that's fine. I didn't really want to go either." Tai was a bit relieved. Matt always dragged him to those parties. "How about a walk in the park? I know a great spot where you can actually see the stars instead of the city and its lights."

"Does such a place exist anymore?" Sora asked. From her apartment she could only see city buildings and at night the artificial lights took away from the splendor of looking to the night's sky. "I haven't been able to actually find a good place to look up at the stars since I was back on Kyushu." She sighed remembering how she loved watching the stars.

"Then it is settled." Tai smiled excited to show her the two places you could actually see the night's sky in all of Tokyo.

"But first, dessert." He stopped her from getting up. "Can't let the chocolate cake go to waste, right?" Sora laughed as Tai began to eat the slice of cake she had given him.

A/n: Something happened to Sora during her freshman year? Joe and Mimi going home alone? Tai and Sora star gazing in a romantic spot?

OMG! What is going to happen next?

Review to find out!