Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

When they say you're
not that strong
Well you're not that weak
It's not your fault
When you climb up to your hill
Up to your place
I hope you're well
There's nothing left to prove
Nothing I won't do
Nothing like the pain
I feel for you
Nothing left to hide
Nothing left to fear
I am always here
-"Not Enough," Our Lady Peace

Not Enough
Chapter Twenty

Mimi was more disgusted with him than usual. He was sure of it.

But as before the disgust of everything he was and did was not shown in the more blatantly obvious ways, but instead was subtle and almost nonexistent if one had not known the woman previously. It was little things she did. She had a comment for every single little thing he did, in response to most of his teasing of her she flushed (probably out of anger in his opinion), and they argued…a lot.

"I don't get why she hates me so damn much," he growled to Catherine over the phone one evening. He paced the guest room, cell phone in hand, and ran the hand not holding the phone through his hair in frustration.

"It's Mimi," came the tactful reply. "She doesn't need a reason. Just vague whims, actually."

He chuckled. "Nothing like you."

The only response was a laugh. "Believe me, Taichi, the world couldn't handle two of me. I have to…Takeru and I are going to a movie."

"You…and Takeru…?"

"Yes," there was a pause followed closely by a sigh. "He's so sweet Taichi and he's been visiting me since you've been gone. So a few days ago he asked me out-,"

"And you accepted," he concluded in a low tone.

"Yeah…are you okay? Should I have said no?"

"No, no, it's all good. Takeru's my friend and so are you, so just be happy. But if you break his heart I'll have to break out my mad ninja skills," he attempted humor, though his voice sounded a little strained. She giggled appreciatively at his effort and he hurriedly muttered, "I have to go."

"Bye…"

"Bye."

He placed his cell phone back in his pocket and strode out of the house.

He wanted to be alone.

Taichi loved to take walks by himself as it gave him time to think matters over and it wasn't exactly bad exercise either. A sigh escaped his lips as he thought about his conversation with Catherine. He hadn't been lying to her, he was happy for both of them, but did they have to be happy…together?

Well it was out of his hands now. He should have done something earlier.

Too bad…

"Taichi!"

He groaned as Ken trotted up behind him and fell into step with him. The younger man smiled and asked, "How's it going?"

His friend had made a move on the woman he had been interested in while he was away. How was he, really?

"Fine. Everything's fine."

"That's good. Oh and before I forget Mimi wants to talk to you."

This day was just getting better and better.

Ken cringed at the expression that must have showed on Taichi's face and quickly said, "You don't have to look like you're going to the chair. Mimi's not that bad…"

He snorted and the other man continued on this train. "It's true! She took time to visit me every year since Osamu died and she helped one of her friends out of getting into a bad relationship."

He blinked. "What? Who?"

Ken nearly stepped back at the urgency the other was displaying. "I think it was Sora. From what I heard she was interested in some guy who kept leading her on. Mimi never told me the guy's name though."

"Okay…but what if whoever this man was really did like Sora but wasn't good at showing her." He noticed that Ken was eyeing him strangely and he forced a smile. "But I guess I can't really say anything since I don't know the whole story."

"Yeah…Well speak of the devil! Mimi over here!"

Taichi fought the strong urge to stalk off from the approaching woman dramatically, like in one of those shows Takeru liked to watch, but Ken pushed him forward before he left them and he nearly fell right into Mimi. Her normally pale face turned a light red and he cursed mentally.

"You wanted to see me?" he managed to choke out in a tone of forced calm.

She nodded but instead of speaking watched Ken as he departed from them. When he was out of sight she opened her mouth to say something, shook her head, and bit her lower lip in concentration. He witnessed all of this bemusedly, not knowing what to expect.

Than the last thing he had ever guessed came from her mouth.

"I love you!"

"W-what?"

Her cheeks were tinged pink and she twirled a lock of honey around her finger. He had never seen her look so flustered before. It was a little flattering that he could have such an effect on a woman like her.

"I love you," she repeated forcefully. "I don't know how it happened but I am." She narrowed her cinnamon orbs and lowered her hands when she realized she was playing with a piece of her hair. "Normally I don't usually go for guys like you…"

"Guys like me?"

"You're not usually someone I'm attracted to. Loud, impolite, and we're from two very different circles." Taichi bit down hard on his lip to keep from speaking and she continued, "Ever since we met I've tried to stop this from happening. But every time I try…it hurts so much. I can't sleep, I barely eat, and you make me so angry!"

She took a deep breath and he took this as a sign to interject. "While this is flattering, I can't return your feelings. And I probably never will."

Her face which had been alight with hope darkened and he was almost positive that tears glimmered in her eyes. But when she turned her head to him again a mask of arrogance had slid over her lovely features.

"Is that so? May I ask why?"

"Why? Did you hear yourself right now! If you really love me so fucking much why did you insult me!"

Her eyes flashed dangerously. "I get it…if I had thrown myself at you and lied about my struggle...your ego would've been inflated and maybe you would have accepted me."

"What? You self-centered little…argh! If you must know you could've written my poetry pledging your eternal love and I still would've rejected you! Because of you Yamato and Sora are miserable when they could've been together!"

"…I've been much nicer to Sora than I've been to myself. I watched them since the beginning and I saw everytime she tried getting close to him he'd push her away. She was just like every other girl to him!"

"Yamato keeps to himself! He hardly ever tells me anything and I'm his best friend! Besides…there's what you did to Catherine."

Her face darkened. "You seem really friendly with her." She smirked and asked, "What exactly did she tell you?"

"You stole her fortune!"

Her smirk widened. "And I would've done it again if I could've! I loved keeping that money from her." She clenched her fists tightly at her sides and the color drained from his face. "So this is why you won't be with me?"

"Yes. But let me apologize for causing you so much pain!"

The two were now standing closer to each other than necessary. If he leaned down a few inches he would've been able to press his lips against hers. Instead the couple stood glaring at each other, both too infuriated with the other to say anything.

"Fine," she exclaimed storming off.

"Fine," he shouted as he went off in the other direction.

An hour later he returned to the guest room, thankfully not meeting Mimi or anyone else on the way back. He closed the door softly and was about to collapse on the bed when he noticed an envelope resting on the center of his mattress.

He opened the envelope to find a two page letter written in Mimi's elegant flowing script…

Author's Notes: Well that was interesting. Don't you think so? Please read and review.