/Author's Note: I just realized that up until now, all the one-shots have been through Sora. So for a change, here's a one-shot with Sora bothering Taichi instead of the usual way around. This one contains a flashback.
Oh and thanks to KHLostEmpress and Still Not King. You guys have reviewed every chapter so far and I thank you dearly for it. I'll need to find a way to repay you both somehow.
Horse
Taichi Yagami gazed lazily around his best friend's room, waiting until she came back up with the box of VHS's the Takenouchi family had hidden in their office.
After an entire day filled dreadfully with test after test, both Sora and Taichi had decided to wind down by watching some of their favorite childhood movies and shows that were now only accessible through a VHS and its respectable player. Nostalgia was such a wonderful, warm thing.
Suddenly bored, he sprung up from his rather uncomfortable spot on the floor and decided to peruse around the room, the concept of "personal property" not entering his mind frame at all. He nonchalantly sauntered around the room, shuffling through a few desk drawers, books, and notebooks. He stifled a chuckle when he spotted a note between Sora and Mimi not so carefully hidden between the pages of a large math book. Peeking shiftily over his shoulder at the door, he then not-so-gracefully undid the note and read the contents.
But he scoffed, folding it back up and placing back in the book, once he read the first few sentences. It was just the two of them gossiping about their favorite actors and how stunningly handsome they were (Or in Mimi's words, "abso-freakin' scrumptious", whatever that meant). He continued to amble around the room until he happened upon a stuffed horse-a stuffed, sparkly, orange, My Little Pony to be exact. Taichi reached out, grasping it gingerly, and brought it to him. The corners of his lips began to tug upward in remembrance.
~Flashback~
"Look, Tai! Over here!"
"What now, Sora?" An impatient 10 year old Taichi wailed as he trudged behind his best friend.
"Look! They have the prize I want! The blue and white soccer ball! Oh, but I'm no good that this game." Sora's face fell into a depressed look as she gazed at the soccer ball with wanting eyes.
"That's too bad." Taichi commented simply, not even paying attention but focusing his efforts on finding a suitable snack bar somewhere close by.
"Taichi!" A scolding voice suddenly yelled out from behind him. He winced as he recognized the reprimanding tone he received from his mother on a daily basis. "Be a good boy. Why don't you get Sora the prize instead of stuffing your mouth?" She looked at him with rebuke as he just laughed sheepishly.
"Oh alright, move over Sora! I'm gonna get you that soccer ball!" He gently pushed her aside, paid the rather bored looking carnie, and then clutched the basketball in his hands with determination.
The first throw was made! And… it pitifully grazed the side of the hoop and landed with a loud noise on the wooden platform below. Taichi's face scrunched together in frustration.
"Here, you've got two more shots." Yawned the operation man as he handed the now furiously determined goggle-head another basketball.
Giving it a squeeze, he once again threw the ball into the air where it spun with wild freedom. Gravity pulled on it and it landed with a thud on the ring of the hoop. Taichi, Sora, and Taichi's mother watched it spin round and round with glee before it decided to just fall on its side and land yet again on the wooden floor with the world's most defeating sound.
Taichi let out an aggravated growl and stomped the ground with resentment.
"It's okay. Try again, last shot." The man said in a monotone voice before handing Taichi another ball.
He snatched from the man, who gave him a surprised look, and held it so tight between his hands that it seemed the ball was going to pop at any second.
After one…two…three seconds went by, Taichi finally flung the ball out of his hands. Once again, the ball sliced through the air and, much to everyone's surprise, it went through the net with a purposeful swish!
Everyone erupted into a chorus of cheers and Sora gave Taichi a huge squeeze in joy. Once the celebration died down a little, Taichi strode up to the man and said proudly, "I believe you owe me a prize."
"Huh? Oh right…" He turned around to scavenge for the prize before handing Taichi a large, plump, orange My Little Pony doll.
Taichi gave the doll disgustingly confused look. "Hey! This isn't the prize! I'm supposed to get the soccer ball!"
"Yea! Give my son the prize he deserves!" Mrs. Yagami joined her son in his protest while shooting the carnie such a malevolent look; it was a surprise he didn't just drop dead.
However, not even registering the fact that the two family members looked as if they were about to run in over, he just sighed pitifully and threw his thumb over his shoulder. "Read the board."
Both Taichi and his mother's harsh looks suddenly began to shrink as they followed in a slow motion, from the worker's thumb to the large board behind him.
Take a Shot!
Take a basketball and try to make a hoop in three shots!
Prizes
One Shot Made … Small Stuffed Animal
Two Shots Made … Medium Stuffed Animal
Three Shots Made …. Big Prize
"And today's big prize happens to be the soccer ball so, sorry kid. No soccer ball for you." And with that he promptly ignored him and greeted mournfully the next family that approached the stand.
Taichi and his mother mouth's went agape as they read the board.
"It's okay Tai, you tried." Sora's sad voice cut through the air and knocked Taichi out of his humiliated stare.
"No Sora, it's not! I promised you that soccer ball, and I'm going to get it! Mom! Can I have another dollar?" The young boy turned to his mother with a fierce but unwavering look that was all his own.
Taichi's mother smiled at him sadly while she said, "Sorry Tai, I'm out. We'll have to come back and try some other time."
"Aww…" Taichi's head drooped to the ground and he shuffled his feet back in Sora's direction.
"Sorry, Sor. This is all I could get." With that, he presented to her the overly decorated doll which smiled at her giddily.
She studied the doll for second, from the loud rainbow-shaped path on its face to its glittery tail before taking it and squeezing it hard to herself.
"It's okay Tai, I still love it."
"You do?" Taichi's voice drawled in confusion. Sora nodded adamantly and gave the boy a small hug to show how much she appreciated his efforts.
When she let go, a big grin was plastered to his face. He was happy to know his failed efforts had still managed to make his best friend happy, that was all that mattered.
Yuuko Yagami gave a small, fond smile at the two kids. "Come on you two; let's get away from this money-sucking carnival."
The two gave dual responses in agreement and together the three of them walked proudly out of said money vacuum.
~End Flashback~
"Oh hey, do you remember when you got me that?" Sora's voice filled the room. Taichi turned around to see the auburn carry a large box filled with VHS tapes.
"Sure do, I can't believe you kept it."
Sora stared at him blankly for a second before giving out a joyfully ringing laugh. "Of course I did! You tried so hard to get me that soccer ball. I'll never forget your face when that carnie handed you that doll instead. Both you and your mom were so mad."
Taichi's chest huffed with anger as he said, "Well of course I was upset! We were supposed to get that cool soccer ball and instead we got this crappy doll!"
"Well, I like it." Sora chuckled, putting the box in her hands down.
"Really? You still do?"
"Of course! You got it for me, that's more than enough reason for me to like it."
The two teens grinned at each other, mirroring the moment when Taichi had first gotten Sora the stuffed doll. Some things never changed.
"What do you say we pop in one of those bad boys and watch a movie?" Taichi asked, breaking the moment.
Sora gave a shrug. "Sure, do you want to watch the first Pokémon movie or the Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie?"
The two of the stared at one another, silent, before simultaneously answering, "The Power Rangers", and Sora then proceeded to place the movie into the player.
It was a sure face that these two would never lose hold of their childhood.
/Author's Note: I've always loved Taichi's mother. She seemed like an incredibly fun character, especially in the Our War Game! movie. This place needs more fics with her, she's just too awesome.
I hope you guys enjoyed this one; it's the longest one by far. I think it was rather cute. I may do another one-shot with them being even younger. I love chibi fics.
Please review!
Oh and random fact: Did you guys know that Pokémon is in the Microsoft Word dictionary? Apparently it's had that much of an effect on society XD