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-Seven

She was beautiful, exactly like he remembered. He stood, transfixed on the sidewalk, unbelieving, and she was in the same boat as she had been sure that after the argument at Ken's home they would never see each other again.

There were many important things to say in that moment.

Yet neither of them could form coherent statements.

Finally, painfully, he managed to stutter out, "I thought you were in Ireland."

She blinked wide cinnamon eyes at him and the action made her look very innocent. "No…no I'm not." She smiled teasingly and said, "So sorry to disappoint you. Should I get back on the plane and come back in a day or two? Just so you can be prepared?"

He laughed more out of surprise than genuine good humor at how…nice she was being to him. The Mimi he had remembered would have been utterly furious with him for his rejection and would have passed by him as though he wasn't there at all. He hadn't counted on this…

But he had to admit he liked it.

"No…that's okay." He fidgeted nervously and gestured towards the house behind him. "Wanna go inside?" He cringed; inviting her into her own home didn't sound stupid at all.

She surprised him again by linking her arm with his and smiling brightly, which forcibly reminded him of the child Mimi he had seen in her old photo album. "C'mon, Rosie'll probably have something baking…God I need to eat something other than airplane food!"

"My friends are in there," he warned her. "They had to deliver something to you from your publisher in Japan."

"The more the merrier."

He was able to stop his jaw from dropping over as she half-lead, half-dragged him up the three or four stairs leading to the door. "What made her change so damn much? It couldn't be me…so what?"

She giggled before opening the door widely and dragging him over the threshold. The three in the room, especially the housekeeper, all glanced up in surprise startled by her appearance; however, he did notice that Rosie's eyes slid to her arm around his before quickly averting her gaze when she became aware of his observation.

Mimi, oblivious to the shocked air or just ignoring it, beamed at Koushirou and Miyako as they stood from their chairs at the kitchen counter. Koushirou stammered out, "We're sorry, Tachikawa-san, for intruding like this but-,"

She waved him away. "It's fine…no harm done. You're Taichi's friends so you're okay in my book." Koushirou stared at him questionably when he thought Mimi wasn't looking and he smiled sheepishly. "Would you all like to stay for dinner?"

Miyako returned the smile and accepted the invitation for the three of them. Rosie promptly rushed back into the kitchen with Mimi following close behind to aide her. The three guests moved to the living room and Taichi closed his eyes as he readied himself for the onslaught of questions he was about to receive.

The woman, reclining on the couch, exclaimed just loudly enough for her two companions to hear. "That was…wow. I didn't think she'd be so…nice. After all the stories I've heard about her…this is just…" She shook her head. "Guess you really can't believe everything you hear…"

"She was arrogant," he responded without opening his eyes and the other two faced him curiously. "I thought she was arrogant. I was so sure she was…." He sighed. "Well she acted like it anyway back in Japan. Now she's all different and I don't get…"

Miyako blinked, recalling the way Mimi had held onto Taichi and the expression on the other woman's face that her friend had been too blind to see. She shook her head, imperceptively, too amazed that he could be so slow-witted about other people.

She was going to say something to that effect but a look from Koushirou stifled the admonishment.

It was just as well anyway.

Taichi probably wouldn't have believed her.

It was just so damned unfair, mused Taichi as he slowly chewed the pasta that had been served. As he observed Mimi from his seat across from her as she conversed easily with his friends, he realized the irony of it all.

He wanted her so badly now when a few months ago he would have given everything he owned to never have to see her again. What made it worse was the fact that she had probably moved on from his rejection and was living her life without any major problems?

It wasn't fair. He wanted, needed, her to look at him with the emotion she would have had if he had only heeded her confession.

Soon his suffering came to a close and he gladly retreated from the dining room. Miyako and Koushirou walked behind him, hand in hand, exchanging pleasant words with their host as they went. They surpassed Taichi as he retrieved his coat and he jumped when he felt a gentle hand fall on his shoulder.

Mimi smiled softly at his reaction, amused. "Hey since your two friends seem kind of busy would you want to hang out with me? I could show you around New York if you wanted…"

"Sure…I'd like that."

"I just wish you'd offer out of more than friendship."

"I wish you hadn't just accepted because you think you'd hurt my feelings."

They both mentally sighed as they wallowed in their respective thoughts.

Anyone observing from an unbiased viewpoint would wonder why they couldn't just get over themselves and admit to each other how they feel.

That is the question…

Author's Notes: I'm sorry this was so short. The next one will be longer. Please read and review.