A/N: Ah I guess if I want reviews, I need to piss people off with cliffhangers...I will take that into consideration. You'll have to see if I leave you hanging at a critical moment again... enjoy!

"Bug attack, everyone to their emergency shelters immediately." Came Matt's voice over the intercoms. "All military personnel to the North sector of the city. I repeat get to the emergency shelters, all military personnel to the north sector. This is not a drill."

Just as Tai was about to start swearing, another explosion rocked the temple again, this time causing part of the ceiling to cave in.

Tai grabbed Sora and pushed her out of the way as a large block came tumbling down in their direction.

"Tai, we're on the edge of the north sector, we need to get out of here." Tk yelled as grabbed Kari and Gennai and started to move towards the door.

"Right, first Sora and Gennai need to get to the shelter. Do you know where that is?" Tai asked Sora as he helped her stand up.

"No way. I am not hiding in some bunker while the bugs are attacking my home." Sora said giving him a face that told he she not about to back down.

"Tai, we don't have time. We need to get there now." Tk yelled as the noise from outside increased.

"Fine, but you're staying near me at all times." Tai replied as he took her hand and made for the door. "Gennai, are you going to be alright?"

"Don't worry about this old woman. I can get to the shelter. You just take care of each other and we'll finish after things quiet down."

"Right." Tai said nearly forgetting they were in the middle of a wedding ceremony. He turned around and saw Sora taking off the white dress. Quickly she pulled on a shirt and pants, and from somewhere, she pulled out a couple of guns.

"Where... how did you... never mind." He nodded as she threw him a gun. 'She sure is something.' He thought to himself.

The group of four soon found themselves running through a city in panic. People were running through the streets on their way to the shelters, others were calling for help. But the group had no time to stop and help.

"We need to find the front lines and see what the situation is." Sora said switching back into military mode. Tai was concerned that she would re-injure herself again... or worse... maybe her good luck streak would end...

"Over there." Tk yelled pointing to a group of soldiers gathering.

"I think we found the front line." Kari added as she saw the rest of the group there.

"Status!" Sora shouted like she had never missed a single day of work.

"Commander Sora? I thought you were..."

"I said Status!" She demanded.

"Yes, sir! The bugs have somehow broken past the first through third lines of detection. We assume they followed the last group of outside clans members into the barrier zone and from there... well they were just so many that they were able to keep coming even after they took heavy losses."

"Is my team assembled and ready to move?" She asked as another soldier handed her a larger gun.

"Yes ma'am. We're ready to follow you to hell if needed."

"Good. We're going to use the new lasers that Izzy and Tai worked on. We need to get close, so get everyone armed and geared up."

"Sora, you can't be serious!" Tai yelled standing in front of her. "You're still injured."

"Not now." She growled looking at Tai. For a moment, he felt as if she didn't even recognize him. Her eyes were cold and in soldier mode. "I will not sit back and let those bastard bugs enter my city!"

"Then let me go with you." Tai said as he accepted the fact she was not going to back down.

"I don't think that is a good idea ma'am. Commander Matt has been looking for him all morning. We have orders to take Mr. Kamiya to see him."

"Understood." Sora nodded. "I'm sorry. Maybe next suicide mission." She smiled lightly to him.

"But Sora..."

"I'll come back. Don't worry. I'm definitely not going to die." She said as she fingered the necklace he gave her. "I'll see you for supper? I expect the same service as breakfast." She said with a wink.

"Tai, I'll go with her. Don't worry. I'll protect her with my life. Kari, you take him to Matt." Tk stood up.

"Right." Kari nodded and took Tai's hand. "Let's go!"

He could only watch as Tk helped Sora suit up in some body armor and prepare herself for battle.

"She'll be fine." Kari said as she and Tai followed a soldier.

"Will someone get over there and patch that com break! I need to talk to my field staff! Damn it! What is the status on the Northern defenders?" Matt asked as he tried to organize the defense forces from a make shift center.

"Commander!"

"What?" Matt responded without looking away from his computers. "Where the hell is Izzy?"

"Sir, I found Mr. Kamiya, like you ordered."

"Good."

"Sir, the northern defenders are ready to move with the new lasers." Another soldier who just approached said.

"Finally. Who is in command over there?" Matt wanted to know.

"It's Commander Sora, sir."

"What?" This got Matt's attention and he finally looked up from the computers. "What the hell is she doing out of bed?"

"She wouldn't take no for an answer." Kari said as she shrugged. "Tk is with her. As well as Davis and her men. She's not going to get hurt again."

"She better not. I don't like it that she's there... but we really need her now. As for you Mr. Kamiya, I have no time to inquire as to where in the hell you were and what you think you're doing, but don't go to far."

"I'm going to go and see if Joe need help with the wounded." Kari said as she excused herself from the scene.

"I want you to help me organize the attack." Matt said gritting his teeth. Tai could tell he wanted no part of asking for help, but time was critical.

"Sure. Where are they massing?"

It took some time, and the wounded and dead mounted, but the bug threat was neutralized before dusk fell. The city itself was not invaded, but it was very close. The outside defense sectors were littered with death: bug and human alike.

Tai had finished helping Matt in the command center on the field. Matt said he was returning to the main head quarters and going to advise the clean up and rebuilding crews from there. Tai was left to wander the streets. He knew he wouldn't go back to the command center even if Matt asked.

He had to find Sora.

The soldiers in the heaviest hit sectors had fought the hardest, he knew Sora was the reason for the success of the mission. She had a knack for doing her job well. As he continued walking he caught sight of Joe, Kari and Tk.

"You really are an idiot." Tai heard Kari say as she bandaged Tk's shoulder.

"Ouch... Kari, can you scold me later... I'm bleeding." Tk said not looking trilled to be getting scolded.

"Oh, you're not going to die from this... you are such a big baby." She smiled as she continued to work.

"Tk!" Tai said as he neared the boy. "Where's Sora?"

"Don't worry. She's fine." Tk said as Kari finished bandaging him up. "Thanks." The younger boy smiled up at Kari. "She fought like a mad woman... I've never seen her like this."

"I guess it is different if you are fighting to save a special place. You realize her house is in the southern part of the north sector. Sora wasn't about to let her family's house be destroyed."

"Yeah, I guess. She's probably helping the wounded." Tk said motioning for the hardest hit areas with his head.

"Thanks," Tai added before he ran off in that direction.

The price was high for the defense of the city. Everywhere Tai looked there were more wounded and dead. Many had suffered a fate Sora nearly did, being painfully impaled by the bug's claw like arms. For a moment her face flashed on the face of a dead female soldier. Tai nearly vomited.

'No, Tk said she was fine.' He told himself as he continued on.

Soon he heard her voice- it was gruff and sounded like she was tired, but it was hers. He turned and then he saw her. She was climbing out of some rubble supporting another soldier... she was covered in blood.

"Sora!" Tai yelled as he ran to her.

"Tai, can you give me a hand?" She asked looking more tired than words could tell. "Take Ryo to Joe, will you?"

"Sora?" Tai hesitated but then he wasn't too surprised that she wasn't thinking of herself at the moment. Moving to take the injured outside clans member, he was glad to see that she didn't look to bad.

"I don't want your help." Came the injured man's voice that Tai was now supporting.

"Well, where have I heard that one before." Tai smiled and looked up at Sora. "But you, my annoying friend are getting it whether you like it or not."

"Thanks Tai. I am going to go back in and look for more survivors. I'll wait here for you." She said as she turned and went back into the wreckage.

"She has a strong heart and a will to match." Ryo said as he allowed Tai to help him. "This doesn't mean I like you anymore than I already do."

"Don't worry. I'm not going to marry your princess, so you don't have to worry. I have someone."

"Good."

"Tell me, does your clan really believe in that prophecy?"

"Why else would we be here? We risked a lot to come here... but I don't think that a forced marriage will solve the problem."

"I couldn't agree more." Tai smiled. "So let's get you to the good doc, and maybe we can start a new?"

"That might be fine- you know Sora talks pretty highly of you. You should take good care of her."

"I will, don't you worry about that."

"I still can't shake the feeling I know her from somewhere... maybe it's just a feeling. After seeing her today, I want to get to know her more. The Takenouchi clan has always been a legendary family to us... I can see in her why they are held in such esteem."

Tai dropped Ryo off with Joe and returned to where Sora said she would be waiting. When he arrived he found several dead bodies neatly lined up outside of the debris. Sora was resting against a slab of up turned concrete. It was in a nice angle where it looked like a nice reclining chair.

Moving to sit next to her, Tai looked her over. Lifting her body armor and checking for new wounds he couldn't find anything serious.

"I'm fine you know. Just really, really, really tired." She smiled with her eyes still closed.

"I'm glad. But I still think you should get checked out with Joe."

"I will, I just don't want to move right now." She sighed resting her head on his shoulder. "It is quiet here now... it was so bad before. I thought I wasn't going to make it for a time. But you once again kept me from doing anything too stupid."

"Well, I'm glad." Tai said with a sigh. "So you up to getting married, round two?"

"I would love to... but I think I'm going to pass out soon. Rain check?" She asked as she slumped over and passed out.

Tai was concerned at first, but when he heard a light snoring he could only smile. Out on a battle field, she was taking a nap. Shaking his head, Tai decided to get her to the doc, and then on home to rest.

"You really are a strange woman. But I love you none the less." He said taking her into his arms and walking away from the dead.

"She's fine. Looks like she pulled a few of the old wounds to the point they bled a little, but nothing serious." Joe said as he stopped looking at another patient when Tai brought Sora in.

"Should I bring her to the hospital?" Tai asked.

"No, she's not in any serious danger. And the hospital is going to be noisy and full. Her house would be the best place for her to actually get good sleep. But you can tell her that I will be there first thing in the morning to do a better check on all her wounds."

"No problem. Thanks Joe."

Without a second thought Tai picked her up and carried her back towards her family home. Putting her back in her bed in the garden, Tai took a moment to collect his thoughts.

The sun had set on their way back to the house, and the day that had looked so promising. It was going to be his wedding day.

'Such a strange day. But we survived.' Pushing back a lock of hair he laughed.

The next day wasn't going any better. First thing in the morning Joe was there with a bunch of doctors ready to run test after test.

While all the medical fun was going on, Tk had stopped by telling Tai that Matt needed him at headquarters. At headquarters holy hell broke loose.

The outer clans members were fighting with Matt due to the deaths of three of their guards who had helped in the city's defense. They also had complaints about the way Tai had brushed off their princess to only name a few things.

Tai sat there while both sides tried to discuss things logically. What he had thought would be a defining moment for the two people turned out to have the opposite effect. On top of the political bull shit, a huge headache was pounding him in the back of his head.

And then he cracked.

"What is wrong with you people?" He shouted as he stood up suddenly. "Can't you see what is important at a time like this?"

No one replied. Everyone was looking at Tai with blank and surprised faces.

"What's important is not the little details about things like you're fighting about. You have a common enemy! Work together and think about how you can defeat it! The battle went better than expected using those new weapons and going in close range. Don't you see that you have a step up from where you were before, added on top of that you will have more fighters and resources once you get your heads out of your asses and work together. Use your heads and your time for fighting the real enemy!"

With that Tai stormed out of the room.

'Great Tai, you just pissed off a lot of people.' He muttered to himself as he headed for the exit. 'I have to get out of here.'

Walking down the hall he wasn't really watching where he was going; if he had, he would have seen his intended approaching. The long haired girl was not concerned in anyone else in the hallway, so naturally the two ran right into each other.

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's... oh it's you." She said with a hurt look on her face.

"Here." Tai said getting up and helping her to her feet as well. He was a little stunned when she didn't let go of his hand. Pulling herself closer to him she embraced him strongly.

"Look, Princess... I..." Tai tried to push her away nicely.

"Don't... I don't want to hear anything right now... I just need someone to hold me." She said sounding like she was going to cry.

"Things will be ok. You don't need to marry me. You can find someone who you love and be happy with them. You are not letting down your people or the prophecy... I just can't marry someone when I love someone else."

"You... love someone else?" She asked. Tai wanted to kick himself. 'Good going Taichi, just tell her you've been sleeping with this someone else on top of it... or that you nearly got married to her yesterday!'

"But... but... I love you!"

"You what?" Tai said taking a step back away from her.

"I love you. I'll love you forever... I'll... I'll even let you keep her as well. Only marry me and fulfill the duty that my clan has put on my family."

'Oh shit.' Tai sighed as he finally got out of the head quarters building and out on the street. People still looked shook up about the whole incident. Many gave him extra glances, on top of the fact that they knew who he was and what he was suppose to do... and he hadn't yet.

Wandering the streets he finally made his way back to Sora's house. He knew he had to tell her what had slipped. Things might get a little more complicated now... not like they already were.

When he got to the garden, he found her sleeping. To his surprise there was a medical machine set up next to the bed. It slowly dripped a fluid into a tube that was connected to her arm.

"She said you would be here sometime." Came a voice from behind him. Turning Tai found the man from the outside clan sitting near the fountain. Ryo had a bandage around his head and his arm in a sling.

"What happened?" Tai asked looking back at the machine.

"The blue haired doc said that she pulled a few things. The reason he put her on those meds... they didn't tell me. Probably to keep infection from becoming a problem."

"That's good to hear she's fine."

"She fights like a monster on the battle field and just seeing her fight with that doctor... well I'm going to try and stay on her good side."

"Can I ask why you are so interested in her?" Tai asked. "I understand that the Takenouchi family is famous to your people... but you seem to be especially interested in Sora."

"I could say the same about you..." Ryo smiled knowing that there was something going on between the two. "Well, after talking with her for some time, I think its because she reminds me of my mother... not just the hair color- which you have to admit is rare for city people- but her temperament is similar. I feel happy when I am with her."

"I know- she has that effect on people I guess." Tai replied and sat on the garden floor next to the fountain.

"I heard you had an interesting day. Something happened during a meeting perhaps?"

Tai sighed. "I guess news of the chosen one yelling at people goes around fast, huh?"

"I think they needed it." Ryo said naturally, without thought. "We forget what's really important at times. If you wouldn't have yelled at them, I would have soon."

"Well, it's good to have a friend on the side of sanity." Tai smiled. "So..."

"So... you are in love with her, aren't you?"

"What?"

"You don't have to deny it. I can tell. Well, not so much with you, but when she talks of you, her eyes sparkle a little more than normal. If you don't love her, then the poor thing has a one sided love."

"That's... it's... I..."

"No, I don't need to know really..."

"Are you in love with Princess Mimi?" Tai asked looking at the man next to him. They had both since passed through the change into adulthood by the things both had experienced in such a short time.

"I don't know... it's complicated. I always knew she was 'off limits' or at least till she was well in her thirtys... I was willing to wait. But then you came along and well... I guess I lost hope and blamed you. Sorry if I was rude in the beginning."

"It's ok. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to not take her away from you. It's not only because I want to marry So... someone else... I also want her to be happy. She said she loved me earlier... but it wasn't true."

"Thank you. Know that I will help as well. If we can work together and create a strong bond, we don't really have to have marriage connect the clans, right?"

"Right."

A/N: Thanks for the reviews!