I do not own digimon.

Chapter 3

I observe my reflection; with my hands I move my face, do funny expressions and change my hairstyle.

-You know that you are not made of Play-Doh, right?- Says a mocking voice.

After three strides I´m in front of him, I want to hug him, but this illusion has happened before so I stay still. I smile pulling slightly my head back so I can look at him in the eye. He smiles too, his dimples make appearance.

-How´s my little sis? – He asks as a formality, we both know he can tell the answer.

Tai knows everything about me. Well, almost. There are some details big brothers shouldn´t know about their sisters. Trust me on this.

-I missed you.

His smile gets bigger. He moves closer and mess my hair up. I complain, but secretly enjoy the feeling of secureness that follows his actions.

-I know, I just too important to be forgotten. - He states with superiority.

I roll my eyes. Then, I try to smooth my messy hair while he smiles sideways. That smile is his fans´ favorite, the reason why they "love" him.

I wished things were as easy for me as they are for you.

-You hungry?

No, actually. I´m nauseous. What I really want is stay in bed all day covered with sheets dressed in sweats even if outside is burning.

-Where are you taking me?

He poses as he pretend to think, but I already know that he has somewhere in his mind.

-I was thinking… there is a new place, near the park where we used to play when we were younger.

Memories of little kids running and laughing come to me. In my case, the past is not something I look with nostalgia. I´m better now.

-Do you remember?

Anyway, that is what I think.

-No,- I mumble, moving my head from side to side.

-Well,- he begins resting his arm over my shoulders and guiding me to the exit- it doesn´t matter. You have your personal guide- he continues pointing himself and winking.

I laugh until I remember a small detail.

A very important one.

-Umm… Tai…

-Trust me on this, you´ll love it.

I frown.

-Tai…

-For real! Some guys have told me about how good it is.

I growl almost quietly.

-Tai…- I try again.

-And the pastries! Let me tell you that with just hearing those names my stomach growls.

Patience, please.

-Tai!- I scream when his hand is on the door.

-What?

-I´m still in my pjs.

He looks at me; it seems it´s the first time since he came here today. He scans me from my oversized T-shirt- which used to be his, by the way,- to my cat slippers.

Tai was right. Most times I hate it, but he usually is. The café is breathtaking, the kind of vintage that takes you back in time. The smell, let me tell you that the mix of the scent of café and pastries just taken of the oven is heavenly. I turn in order to take in all the details, my brother puts an arm over my shoulder and guides me to a table for two.

- Order whatever you want, I´ll pay.- He declares just when the waitress is in front of us.

She smiles and offers him the menu in a flirty way. Poor girl, she probably doesn´t imagine that he has a girlfriend which of whom he is very fond of. He will definitely won´t leave his lovely girl for a stranger. I roll my eyes. I just hope she doesn´t plan to stay too much around here, otherwise me and my brother won´t be able to talk properly.

I peek the list of pastries.

-Have you decided yet? I know I have.

Before I can even open my mouth, the flirty waitress is in front of us. She dashes us with another of her charming smiles (please, notice my sarcasm). The girl takes out a pen and paper.

-So, what will you have?- she asks my brother.

Tai orders five different types of pastries and sandwiches, for a moment she looks at him as to check if he is serious or if he is just messing with her. I giggle, she is so new to this. When she reluctantly turns to me, I order too. After we are finished, she plays a little with her hair, smiles and leaves.

I was about to talk when Tai shouts:

-Matt!?

Instantly, I turn to see, yeah, that was Matt, well, actually, Yamato Ishida. The guy is the same age as my brother, but he is blonde, of blue eyes and has a vibe of lone wolf. I guess you could say he is just as appealing to the female populations as my brother is. In his high school years he had his own fan club; it has grown since then, obviously, because he is part of a band.

My brother stands up and goes to meet his friend. The waitress, who was bringing our food, almost drop her tray: too much idols for her sanity. The poor girl was about to suffer a heart attack. I would have laugh if I wasn´t having a similar problem.

Behind Matt is someone, a blonde guy, just like his brother. The only detail that Tai doesn´t know completely. My body goes rigid, but my smile is still in my face. Lucky me. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I recite like a mantra because the mask is still working. I has to stay that way, there is no chance for me to scape this: the food is on the table and my brother has already invited Matt to sit with us, sadly, the other idol is a two for one deal.

-I seems like we had the same idea.- Says the older blonde, trying to break the ice.

I seriously doubt that the cold atmosphere would go away. I guess he could try.

-Tell me, TK- starts my brother sitting beside me, in front of his friend and leaving me with no choice but to endure the other one in front of me.- Does Matt still treat you like a child?

In order to be honest, I might admit that I not interested in this conversation at all. Many minutes pass while I concentrate in my delicious cake. I take in its flavor with all my senses.

-Kari…

It is so sweet that its taste trigger memories of two kids laughing. I don´t know how they are, I don´t want to discover it. It is a bittersweet trace the one that the memory leaves behind.

-Kari…

I wonder if it would seem very rude if I sand up, leave them to their chat and go take pictures of this café. They would look so perfect in my collection. Besides, I have taken out many pictures out of one of my albums, leaving plenty of space for new memories.

Although, I´m not sure if I want to remember this day.

-Hikari!

I reconnect with reality. A pair of brown eyes and another of blue ones stare at me, like almost all the people inside the place.

Great Kari, way to go.

-I´m sorry,- I apologize with the college guys and appreciate that the other one is paying more attention to his phone than to anything else right now- this is so delicious I can´t concentrate in anything other than it.

I don´t want them to know I spaced out on purpose. It would be me breaking character, and that I couldn´t do, not in front of so many people.

-I knew you would love it.

We both smile.

-I know, I know- I say as a matter of fact:- you are the best brother in the whole world.

-Damn right- he sentences with delusions of grandeur.

Matt laughs at him and his brother looks at him a fraction of a second, then he returns his attention to his mobile. I feel satisfied, he is so absorbed in himself like I was a moment ago, that shows that I´m not the only one uncomfortable with this unexpected meeting. My lips form a playful smirk.

I want to smash his phone, I know who is texting him, I just do. The thought might have passed through my eyes, because his blue ones know I´m up to something. He puts it aside. I sit up straighter.

Meanwhile, our brothers have been updating each other.

-… and the next moth we will be playing in a bar, in this area.

-Really? That´s great! Remember me that and I´ll go.

-Can I tag along?

Three pair of eyes stared at me. The brown ones tell me that there is no way I will go to a bar. The blue ones are very surprised by my comment, so not see it coming. The other ones… well I didn´t stop too much on them, but I saw a little "you finally lost it" look on them. Men! They make such a drama of these things.

I pretend I don´t really care by shrugging. I feel a blush trying to creep up to my cheeks, they still watching me closely without saying a word. I put a strand of my hair behind my ear and entertain myself with the cold drink I have in front of me (that should calm me).

-So, Kari… is there some guy in your life?- Matt asks in a tone like he is conspiring.

Ok, now I definitely can´t control the blush. He had to use those words. He had to ask! I feel like a tomato.

-No- Tai says as to close the topic.

My eyes wonder all over the café trying not to cross with the ones of the guys in the same table as me.

-Come on Tai, Kari has grown and that looks good on her.

That doesn´t make me feel better. Not at all.

Whatever my brother was about to tell him was interrupted by a strong laugh. I know perfectly that melody, but then again, it is not welcome.

-I am sorry- you are not sincere- it´s just that- don´t try to make it better- the situation- it won´t work- is hilarious.

-May we know why?- I ask smoothly, with no intentions whatsoever to let them know my irritation.

-Well,- he starts with a hand gesture- we all know that, even if you manage to get someone…- he pretends to look out for a word:- interested guy, no one will get close enough to you.

-My sister is perfectly fine.

At least someone thinks so.

-Thant not what I was referring to- he continues showing his palms as a "sincerity" gesture, ha right.- I was just saying that she is… intimidating.

Matt laughs, Tai looks at him not believing what he just heard, I dare to look at him and smile knowingly. We both can figure out who has the support of the older ones in this discussion and it isn´t him.

I was expecting more form you, I kind of disappointed.

- Intimidating? Kari? Are we really talking about the same girl?

His brother stares back at him but doesn´t respond.

-Come on Matt- Tai says with a serious tone- she is intimidating,- Matt almost loose it- just as intimidating as a bunny- my brother finishes with a laugh which is seconded by his friend.

This is my territory, I won´t lose. You should know by now.

The older ones are trying to catch their breaths when a phone rings. All of us check if it is ours.

-Mine.

He stands up and goes away. His brother follows him with his eyes. After some more minutes I decide it is enough.

-Tai, if you don´t mind, I should get going.- I say taking my purse.

-So soon?- He complains.

-We have been here about three hours.- I smile.- Besides, if the waitress hadn´t found you guys good-looking, I´m sure she would have kicked us out long ago.

-You are right, your brother is smoking hot.

-Yeah, Tai, whatever you say.- Tells him the blonde.

-Bye guys.

The door opens.

-Cath…- utters a tired voice- why would you say that?- he makes a pause.- Yeah…see you.- He finishes without much energy.

I try not to encounter him again. Nonetheless, things never go my way: a couple stands in front of me, which makes me move to get out of the café and that leaves me in front of the boy I was trying to avoid. He looks at me in a weird way while his knuckles turn white because his hand is holding too tight his cellphone.

-You are leaving.- He says, not an ounce of surprise in his voice.

-"I have to"- I poorly imitate a memory.

He squints. I cross the door without waiting for a reply.

Finally free.

A/N: Thanks for reading :)

I am very very sorry for the long wait, exams and so much to read for university. I´ll try to post more chapters soon, but I have work to do, so please be paitient. Have happy holidays :)