I Will Always Find You
«Taiora»

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Chapter 5
"The Master of Loopholes"

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"What?" Confused from Sora's quizzed stare, Tai stuffed more broken bits of cookie in his already full mouth. Crumbs trickled from the side of his lips as he protectively held the baggie close to his chest.

"How can you still be hungry? Didn't you eat dinner?" she shoved another shot glass full to the rim in his direction.

"Have you tried Chef Mimi's cookies?" Tai waved a piece of cookie in her direction and then stuffed it in his now-brimming mouth. Grabbing hold of the shot glass, the next sentence was muffled as he accidentally sprayed crumbs her way. "Don't think you have, or you'd understand why."

"Taichi!" Sora scolded trying her best to block the assault of crumbs flying her way. "Gross! Dude, really, how old are you?"

He paused realizing what happened. After swallowing his snack and nervously holding the back of his neck with a small laugh, Tai held the shot glass up as if giving a toast, and downed it. "Sorry! Bottoms up!"

Were it not for noticing her eyeing what was left of his cookies, Tai would've filled his shot glass again. He smirked and handed the baggie to her waving it in the air in a teasing manner. "You have tried them before, haven't you?"

Sora eyed the cookies, but didn't take them.

Tai bit his bottom lip to keep from laughing. She wanted them but was too shy to ask. He could feel it. His Sora was still shining through, regardless of the reset. "Take it…Come on!" He waved it again. "Take them! Finish it off."

"Are you sure?" She raised a few fingers, but hesitated, her mouth beginning to water.

"Yep!" She took the baggie and fished out a broken piece as Tai continued. "Tomorrow I'll raid Koushiro's fridge, or ask Mimi for more cookies," a small mischievous smile formed as he shrugged his shoulders.

Sora's eyes widened almost choking on her cookie. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Aw, he's not as tough as he looks. If he's the one that answers the door I'll say I wanted to ask Chef Mimi something. Loopholes, my friend. Loopholes," Tai rested his back against the oak tree with a satisfied tummy, closed eyes, and a wide smile to show for it.

"You're brave," she chuckled glancing to Koushiro's house. "He's that neighbor that you say 'hi' to just to be polite, but never expect a respectful response back."

"And a gentleman," Tai opened one eye looking her way with a smirk. "Don't forget that I'm always a gentleman."

Sora clamped her lips shut. It was tempting to sit here with her neighbor and entertain the idea about gentlemen and fairy tales, but she was treading on dangerous ground. If she continued this path, it may bring about the false memories and another panic attack. Or, it could help her remember whatever tragedy she experienced and see the actual face of her attacker, instead of her memory always inserting Taichi's.

Yes, dangerous ground.

"Why all of the sudden tense? Here," Tai offered another drink, "Have another one."

She downed her drink. "You look just like him, and…" If she stood at the edge of the path looking in, she could get away without harm. "Any time we've interacted, the memories flood back and it's just…let's just say it's not good."

Tai frowned. "Of the guy that looks like me? What do you remember? Maybe I can help sort out what your brain is trying to say." Sora scoffed at his attempt to help while he raised a hand trying again. "Hold on, now. Memories aren't always reliable. Sometimes our brain twists what it remembers into clues to represent what you really saw. Sometimes you need someone else from the outside to look in with fresh eyes."

"Because you're better than Dr. Kido?" she rejected the idea, eating the last bit of cookie.

He turned towards her careful to keep his balance. Both of the tree branches they individually sat on were wide and close enough to make sitting on them comfortable. "Because I'm a friend that wants to help. We are friends, aren't we?"

There was something almost vulnerable the way he asked his question that made Sora's heart melt. Just earlier this morning she was frightened at even hearing his name. And now, sitting next to him observing his personality, he didn't seem like the person her brain was saying he could be. This served as more proof that her gut feeling earlier in the bedroom was correct - Sora's neighbor had no idea the tragedy she experienced and really wasn't trying to cause her more psychological harm.

Perhaps tip-toeing over the edge for a few minutes wouldn't be so bad?

"I'm not sure yet," She smirked placing a finger on her chin looking up towards the sky. "I've yet to see the gentleman side of you and this fairy tale game is boring. Why would I want to be friends with someone who can't keep his word?"

"We were playing a 'game'?" Tai smirked with curiosity growing.

"Were we playing one? Because if so, yours was bad," she laughed. "I don't think a gentleman stuffs his face with cookies and sprays her with it too."

"What?" Tai feigned a hurt look with a grin.

This was the opening he was waiting for to help jog her memory!

He placed a hand to his chest, his fingers pushing against it arching the back of his hand as he proclaimed, "Nooooo. I haven't started yet. But since you're begging to experience it," Tai scooted right next to her and laid an arm around her shoulders whispering into her ear, "get ready for a whirlwind."

Sora's cheeks reddened, slightly recoiling from Tai touching her and their proximity to each other. "Taichi, maybe this isn't a good -"

"Sshh," Tai cut in. "Think of this as a science experiment. You want to prove me wrong that fairy tales and gentlemen don't exist? Okay, let's prove me wrong. We're going to pretend we're on a date. The minute your feelings sway to any fleeting thought of romance: That's a possible start to a fairy tale." He flashed a grin. "And don't worry, as a gentleman, I won't do anything you're not comfortable with."

She scanned the starry night debating to step back into the safety zone from the edge. "I don't know -"

"Let's make a pact," Tai held up his pinky as urgency flashed in his expression hidden behind a joyful countenance. "No more alcohol. We need to remember tonight under this grand, majestic tree. If you win, we won't speak of this again." He lowered his voice to above a whisper leaning in close. "But if I win, you have to open yourself up to the possibility that love and romance is very much real and alive."

She eyed Tai's pinky. There was something familiar about this gesture. Oh, what the hell. Instead of tip-toeing, she jumped full passed the edge. Sora wrapped her pinky around his. "You're going down, Yagami."

Tai had to catch himself before saying her real last name. He couldn't afford a slip up after coming this close. "It's you that's gonna fall hard for me."

Tai internally moaned and looked away nervous on deciding his next move. It wasn't easy making it up in his head than it was going by a plan. He was sure sitting on this tree, that was similar to the one at home where they spent time together, would help jog something, especially with their pinky promise, but nothing was biting. What could he do next and still make it look like he had it all planned out?

He did promise her a whirlwind...

Tai's confidence returned and a wistful smile was shown. "Once upon a time -"

"What is this? Story time?" Sora sighed resting her head against the tree rolling her eyes. Not even a minute passed by and nothing magical by her standards happened.

Tai's arm was still draped over Sora's shoulders, but at this comment he slightly pulled away. "Are you that scared to give this a shot?"

"No -"

"Good!" he cleared his throat loudly and drawn out to lighten the mood. "Once upon a time -"

Tai instantly turned to Sora again to make sure she was listening. A nervous smile showed from her. Tai laughed and leaned next to her again resting his arm around her shoulders once more and continued the story.

"There was this boy. He had a good friend, a girl, that he always hung with. He didn't care what others were saying that it was weird a girl wanted to do boy stuff, like play sports and climb trees and wear boyish clothing. This was what made her happy, and he admired that she felt comfortable in her own skin. It wasn't long before they became best friends.

"What she didn't realize was that she changed the boy. Before, he always charged into things without thinking, and sometimes spoke without thinking. Growing up together, he learned from her to watch other's body language; to be slow to speak and with making decisions."

"How did he change her?" Sora earnestly asked.

There it was. Curiosity. It spilled from her expression as she pursed her lips awaiting his response. It was one of her habits when she eagerly awaited an answer. His Sora was still there deep down inside.

He chuckled. "I'm not sure if he changed her in anyway. She always kept her thoughts to herself. At least for him, she was his world, and he'd do anything to protect her. He made her a pinky promise under a tree, much similar to this tree that witnessed many secrets and promises as they grew, that he'd always protect her."

"Pffht! Pinky promises," she mocked. "That's so lame. You used that before with me earlier. What is it with you and pinky promises?"

"Romance isn't always about words," he raised a brow with a playful grin. "Sure, to you, it's a kiddy thing, but romance is also about the littlest gestures." He held up his pinky from his left hand. "The pinky is one of the weakest finger on the hand. Unless it has help from his other buddies, it can't do much. But when it links with another pinky," he scooped her pinky from her left hand, "it creates the strongest bond than the other fingers could never achieve. That's how love grows; it learns taking risks are worth it and leaning on each other for support is craved."

He leaned closer to her ear and whispered. "Follow me."

"Where?" she whispered back, her heart fluttering from his close proximity and earlier speech.

His lopsided grin showed while he tugged on her pinky with persistence. She grinned biting her bottom lip and followed.

Tai climbed down the tree with ease, Sora following behind. When they were both on the ground, he took his shoes and socks off and motioned to her, "Take yours off too."

"But-"

"Nuh-uh. This is an experiment, remember?"

She did what she was told, her curiosity peaked.

Barefoot, Tai walked to her and held her in his arms as if they were going to dance. "Close your eyes. Allow your senses to take over." He took a deep breath in and asked in a gentle tone, "Smell that?"

He could feel her limbs stiffen, as if fighting with her thoughts, but he continued by resting his cheek on top of her head, his eyes remaining closed. "Smells of honey suckles nearby."

He could hear her take a long sniff.

"Hear that?" He waited for her to respond.

"Crickets," she smiled after closing her eyes to allow her senses to heighten giving in to his suggestion. Her guarded walls were coming down.

"Yes. Do you feel that?" He whispered again.

"No," she followed suit whispering as a blush crept up her neck in the moonlight.

"The grass between your toes. The cool, moist dirt on the soles of your feet," he mentioned as he wiggled his toes burying them into the dirt. "The warm starlight above. The chill in the air." Tai held her tight and paused. "A man holding you in his warm arms wanting to dance with you." He rested his forehead on hers taking in a deep breath and led her in a slow dance.

If anyone from the sidelines were told what they were witnessing was a science experiment, they would disagree wholeheartedly. Here Tai held his girlfriend in his arms slow dancing and humming in her ear, secretly begging she'd wake up, but still nothing indicated she remembered anything. Only traces of her personality showed. He did count it a win though that he managed to gain some trust after today's fiasco - Especially since her subconscious, or Chicanemon planting false memories in her head with her last reset (he wasn't sure which), placed him as a possible bad guy in her head.

"Want to hear the rest of the story?" He grinned, the tip of his nose touching hers still leading her in their dance. His last Hail Mary were the figurines in his pocket. If this didn't work, he wasn't sure what else he could do for now.

"Sure," her soft answer was barely a whisper with a shy smile.

Tai lifted his head to the sky thinking of the best way to crypticly speak of the past to jog a memory. Any memory. If this didn't work, he'd have to switch tactics and join his sister in jogging his other friend's minds, even find Agumon and the others. It wasn't hard to jog her memory the other times before, but then again he was always loud and direct too. What changed to make it harder?

It had to be the so-called anxiety medication that was repressing her memories. And if that was the case, why target solely Sora and not all of them? Because this sick Digimon was sadistic, that's why. She was the bearer of the Crest of Love. What better way to have fun than to keep her away from Tai, make her go to therapy to push abusive thoughts that love wasn't real (who knows what else), and make her believe that he looked similar to whatever guy caused her harm in the past.

So far, this 'science experiment' was a success by the alcohol being a factor in loosening Sora to letting her be more open-minded. Tai fished out both figurines of Biyomon and Agumon from his pocket. Holding one in each hand, he tried to think of how to tie these into the fairy tale story.

"One day, the boy wanted to help the girl see that her low self-esteem, which she believed to have kept well-hidden, blinded her from seeing how loved she was by her friends, and own mother, but even more by him. He knew she always enjoyed birds and that she secretly like the color pink. So he made this little bird for her." Tai lowered his head handing her the Biyomon figurine as his other hand was used to close her fingers tightly around it. "He met her under their usual tree the next day and gave her the present trying to tell her how he felt. He managed to convey to her everything she craved and needed to hear, except he didn't have the courage to say how much he loved her.

"As he was walking away afraid to say how he felt inside, she stopped him and gave him a dinosaur. She asked a friend to make it for her, since the only thing she was good at making from scratch was food," he let out a side chuckle.

He could swear he thought he noticed Sora discreetly wiping her eyes as she giggled as well, but didn't let that distract him from finishing his story. Was this working?

"She told him that this dinosaur was to help him be brave with the decisions he made in the future and that anytime he had doubts that this little guy," he wiggled the Agumon figurine with two fingers, "would always help him make the right decisions."

He paused staring at the faux Agumon. She wasn't saying anything and he was out of ideas without being straightforward. This wasn't fair. This wasn't freaking fair!

"Then what?" Sora asked sincerely wanting Tai to finish the story.

When she asked, it seemed as if she was trying to recall something, shaking her head as if to make sense of what she was recalling, while studying the faux Biyomon. It was working! There was one more idea he had and it was worth it. He had to believe it would work!

He stuffed the Agumon figurine in his pocket, cupped her chin and whispered, praying he was making the right choice. "Then without saying a word he kissed her."

And that's just what he did.

What in holy Sam was this man doing! How dare he steal a kiss! This fairy tale game has gone on long enough. This is what happens when fire is played with. False hope of life, love and laughter are planted in your head -

A sudden sharp pain felt as if something was stabbing her mind. Sora pushed him away holding her head as she winced in pain. The memories were flooding back. The horrible memories of being chased by the monster and all of her friends dying. Of the mystery man that looked like Taichi that grabbed her in the cave and kissed her -

Her heartbeat quickened.

My mind is playing tricks again. We've never met before. I'm remembering the 'kiss' because he kissed me just now. And as crazy as it is, I've seen this bird before, but she was bigger. Much bigger and alive! What's the Crest of Love? Why is my heart beating like crazy? My body is tingling like everything I'm seeing in my head really happened. Wait...

Sora looked up to Taichi, her eyes widened in confusion dropping the faux Biyomon to the ground. She took a step back from Taichi as, out of concern, he tried to reach out to her.

I think it all really did happen! I think Taichi was there, but he was trying to save me! He had a crystal and we somehow both hurt the monster and...Were we in a relationship in the past? That would explain his erratic behavior from before, why this kiss felt familiar, and this flood of memories! Hold on. Taichi isn't his real name. And why does Takenouchi sound familiar?

With a shaky breath, she asked daring not to go above a whisper, touching her lips with a few fingertips, as the sensation of when their lips touched lingered. "Do I have a last name?"

He was held his breath, and nodded his head.

In the same mannerism, she continued. "Taichi Yagami isn't you're real name, is it?"

He glanced to the side and then locked eyes to hers shaking head.

"Who are you to me?" Sora hesitantly came close to Taichi searching his eyes.

He held the sides of her cheeks in his hands resting his forehead on hers with a sigh of relief, matching her whisper. "Baby, you're Sora Takenouchi. I'm you're boyfriend, Tai Kamiya, and there's a high chance I'm going to be reset because your 'god' may be listening. I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner, but...I found you. I said I will always find you."

He hooked her pinky in the air. "Tell me this feels familiar? Because I'm feeling he's about to reset me and I'm counting on you to find that loophole I gave you to bring me back after it happens and we can end this stupid war. If you can't bring me back, go find Kari and help her bring Izzy back."

"Wait. What? Boyfriend? Loophole?"

This couldn't be true, could it? Tai Kamiya, not Taichi Yagami, was her boyfriend? Everything else she knew, Dr. Kido, this street, her life here, was all a lie and she wasn't crazy? Tai couldn't be her boyfriend. There was no way. It was decided by Dr. Kido that she was supposed to reproduce with Yamato Ishida. Their genes were the strongest matched together of all the males that lived on this street to produce the healthiest offspring to multiply the planet. That was why Yamato was visiting her today, besides to guard her from Taichi showing up again, but to let her know and that whenever she was ready they could begin.

She held off on giving an answer, because she hoped deep down inside the book "The Forbidden Red String of Fate" was wrong and love did exist. That romance was alive and well and flourished.

Memories came of she and Tai climbing an oak tree in a little town called...was it called Odaiba? Yes! Odaiba! They would climb the tree and spill their secrets to each other! They would tell the other how their day went and at times stay silent watching the clouds! Tai! Tai Kamiya!

Crying, she kissed Tai hugging him tight, begging with all her might that his flickering body was coming from her imagination.

She whispered into his ear with urgency before he disappeared, "I remember! Don't go too far away, Tai Kamiya! This is your fairy tale story and I'm going to be the independent heroine that saves the prince tonight."

A teardrop fell down Tai's left cheek as they kissed while he faded away. "A woman after my own heart."

Sora Takenouchi acted quickly picking up her Biyomon figurine. Where did he find this? When this was all over she was sure Biyomon would love to have it. She scanned her area to see if anyone was still up before she acted.

Crap.

That looked like Matt - No, wait - Yamato. That was Yamato spying on her peeking through his living room blinds. How much did he see? This wasn't good. Yamato was waiting on Sora to give her consent to create offspring and replenish the planet. It wasn't like they were in a relationship. In Dr. Kido and Yamato's mindset, it was purely for population purposes, but at the same time they were counting on Sora to not become 'crazy'. She was determined to bring Tai back tonight, come hell or high water, and if it took sneaking out of her house and into Tai's to make it happen, then so be it.

She gave a small wave, dropping the Biyomon figurine to the ground, and walked towards her front door attempting to act cool and collect. Pretending to search for her keys in her pocket she casually looked back seeing Yamato's houselights off. That was a good sign. Hopefully.

In a mad dash, she raced towards Tai's house, swooping the Biyomon figurine from the ground.

Run, run, run! Don't breathe so loud! Run quietly! Stay on the grass to mask your sounds! Hide in the shadows! Hurry, hurry!

She bit her lower lip, and quietly knocked on Taichi's front door. Did he hear it? Was it too soft that he didn't hear it? Was it too loud that others heard her? She softly knocked again. Every second waiting was one second too long. He mentioned to go to Kari if she couldn't reach him. That must mean that Kari was free too. This was a mistake. She should go to her instead.

The front door opened!

There stood Taichi Yagami with his swollen right eye confused with seeing her on his front porch at this time of night. Ah, that's right. To him, this would be the first time he'd meet her. With a high possibility of being caught by Yamato heading to her house to make sure she was fine, there was no time to gently break the news to him like it was done to her. Quick and easy was her plan.

"Hi!" she greeted keeping her voice low. "I realize this is an odd time of the night to greet my neighbors, but blame it on insomnia. I'm Sora." She took it upon herself to shake his hand as he appeared weirded out. "Do me a favor? Tomorrow when you vlog your soccer tips, talk about something else other than buying soccer shoes? I mean, how many times do you need to re-tape your video?"

"What do you mean re-tape? How did you know what -"

"Listen, guy, I used to play soccer all the time when I was young," she stated pushing her way into his house and closing the door behind her while ignoring his protests. "Let me star on the vlog with you tomorrow. Two people brainstorming ideas have got to be better than one, am I right?"

"Lady," he pushed his way to the front door, "Get out of my house. I swear, what is it with having weird neighbors?"

"Wait!" She insisted reaching into his pocket and taking out his Agumon figurine. Loopholes. "You have something of mine."

"Whoa!" he quickly backed away. That was too close for comfort. Invading his personal space wasn't appreciated. "Why was that in my pocket?"

Sora grinned. "Cute little dinosaur, isn't it?" She held her Biyomon figurine up next to Agumon. "I wonder where I've seen them before?"

Taichi's brows furrowed struggling with his thoughts. "Have I seen you before?"

"Well," she placed both figurines on his coffee table, "time for me to hit the hay. I'm gonna," she awkwardly pointed to the front door, "head home now. So...that's it."

There was an awkward stance between the two: Sora waiting at the closed front door expecting Taichi to remember, while Taichi lost in his thoughts fighting an on coming headache. This was taking too long and the back and forth "when will they remember" was wearing thin on Sora's nerves.

She let out a curt sigh, marched over to the tv stand where she noticed a scrap piece of paper and pen and wrote a question. They were only going to win this if she played it smart.

"Why aren't you leaving?" The annoyance in Taichi's voice grew as he grabbed the paper she handed him. It read:

"What's my last name?"

The confusion in his facial expression grew as he eyed the question, then to Sora. She took the paper back and wrote another question:

"What's the dinosaur's name?"

Taichi studied the figurines. Helping Taichi would be easier than it was for him helping her because he wasn't the one taking medication to repress her memories disguised as anti-anxiety medication.

What a sick, sadistic monster.

Taichi raised a hand to cover his right eye, like he was discovering for the first time that it was swollen. The other eye that wasn't swollen met her's as he struggled on what to say next. Sora grinned and before he realized what was happening she softly kissed him.

Shocked, Taichi pulled back holding on to her shoulders studying her. His lips silently muttered his thoughts until he took hold of the pen and wrote:

"Takenouchi & Agumon."

"Atta girl," Tai Kamiya whispered with a smile and hugged her tightly.

She gave a gentle peck on his lips again speaking in a normal tone this time. "I'll see you tomorrow to vlog our soccer video after my session with Dr. Kido."

"But, wait, who do I live with again?" Takeru rested his teacup on the joining saucer at the coffee table as his brother, Yamato stood up from the couch in his grease covered overalls.

Answering this simple question was a daily battle with his little brother. With a weary, tender smile he took hold of both of their empty teacups and saucers and gave his usual answer. "With me, buddy. You live with me."

"I do?"

"Yep. It's you and me against the world. Always has been and always will be."

"Great!" Takeru released a sigh of relief accompanied with a joyful smile standing to his feet. "Thanks, big brother. Sometimes I forget our parents died...and where I live...and..." He looked to Yamato in confusion, trailing off from his statement.

When he wore this look, it reminded Yamato of the scared little three year old his brother was when it was just the two of them fending off the streets to survive. That was why Yamato needed to build this space rocket. If he could prove to the big wigs in the space program that he could use every day objects to build a space rocket with a successful launch he could sell his design and they would be set with money. If it wasn't for Dr. Kido's family taking them in and teaching him the ways of Lord Chicanemon they'd still be on the cold streets without a house. It was usually nighttime when Takeru's sudden onset of amnesia would appear. During the day, a passerby would have no clue of his nightly struggles.

"You live with me, buddy."

"I do?"

"Yep." Yamato nodded towards the upstairs bathroom. "Why don't you take a shower. It's late and we should go to bed. Tomorrow's another day to think of new ideas for your next book."

"Good idea! Night, big brother!" Takeru headed up the stairs.

Yamato smiled at his brother watching him head into the bathroom door. Even though some nights were tiring than this night, he wouldn't change it for the world. He turned to close the living room blinds until he noticed Taichi Yagami & Sora standing on her front lawn hugging.

What the hell was going on? Taichi got to her again. He swore under his breath. This man was getting worse every day. Wait a minute. Lord Chicanemon was resetting Taichi! Awesome! Sora wasn't reset, so whatever that idiot was trying to do, she wasn't affected.

Ah, she noticed him! He waved to her with a sheepish grin and observed her taking her time to reach her house. Normally, she would hurry home after an encounter with Taichi. That was odd. He should go to her now. He should go make sure she didn't need his help to calm down.

"Yamato?"

Without a second thought, Yamato spun around shutting the blinds shut. "Sup, man?"

Takeru rested his arms on the stairwell smirking. "Are you stalking Sora again?"

"What? Pfft!" He waved Takeru away turning the living room lamp off and heading up the stairs. "Get the hell out of here. I don't stalk. I protect. Aren't you supposed to be taking a shower?"

"Cool change of subject, bro."

"Protecting!" Yamato pushed his brother back into the bathroom as his brother laughed teasing him about sitting in a tree k-i-s-s-i-n-g.

"Relax, man," Takeru laughed it off. "Romance doesn't exist. I get you're protective over her because of the whole offspring deal, but you still can't watch her from the window."

"Something doesn't smell right, Takeru. We need to talk to Dr. Kido tomorrow. I'm worried about her."

Takeru groaned. "Aw, don't tell me you saw Taichi trying to work his magic on her again just now."

Yamato grunted in displeasure.

"Actually, you need the shower first, kid," Takeru slyly maneuvered his way out of the bathroom leaving his brother inside instead. "But before you do, I have a very important question to ask."

Yamato hesitated knowing what was coming. "What's that?"

"Who's Kari Kamiya?"

Yamato's weary smile returned and ruffled his brother's hair. "No one. A figment of your imagination." He cut his brother off before he could ask his next question. "No, you were never engaged to her, or anyone. You made her up when you were young, like an imaginary friend."

"I see," Takeru quieted. A confused and sudden scared expression appeared on his face.

Yamato hugged his brother comforting his thoughts. "With me, buddy. You live with me. You and me against the world."