Author Note: It's been a while since the last update, but the new chapter is up! Please comment, rate, review. I appreciate all the views and support this has gotten

-Falling

"Yo Tai!"

"Hey Matt, what's up bro?"

"So I hear someone's got the hots for Sora eh?"

"She's pretty special man."

"I say go for it"

"You think?"

"Absolutely! I'll be your wingman. I hear she's going to some club tonight with Mimi."

"You just want to hang out with Mimi ya dog! Yeah man, that would be awesome."

"Yeah dude! You and me against the world eh pal?"

"You bet! Ha! Now let's go impress some ladies"

Tai sat slumped in his chair looking pitifully at Sora crying. He reached out his hand to comfort her, but he quickly retreated his arm back to his coffee cup. He looked down at the cup and watched the steam rise slowly out of the cup and lick his face with its wisp. No words came to Tai; he just sat until Sora managed to compose herself after a short few moments. Managing to muster up some energy to speak, Tai looked toward Sora.

"It's okay Sora," Tai weakly reassured her, "there really isn't much we can do."

"Then why the fuck are you not with her?" Sora's eyes burned with rage. "Your fucking wife, my friend, is in the hospital! You rather drink yourself silly than be with the woman you promised to never leave! Yeah I know you've been drinking. Look at you; you're a mess! And I can smell the beer on you still. Disgusting"

"You don't know…" Tai started to whimper and argue with Sora. "It's more complicated than that."

"Well what the fuck could offer any explanation for your shitty actions toward Mimi?"

"I'm just…tired…"

"Tired?!" Sora quickly interrupted Tai. "You're tired of fighting for her? What a weak fuck. You never had guts"

"I'm tired of dealing with the pain!" Tai yelled. Sora rolled her hand into a fist; she was angered at Tai taking such a confrontational tone with her.

"Tai, you're such a fucking loser. The person you were while we were in the Digital World is not the person I see before me. Since when did you give up on the ones you love? Answer me!"

Tai's eyes watered. He slammed his hand down on top of the coffee cup and it shattered into tiny white fragments that danced along the table's surface. Blood started to drip from his hand. Tai, unaware of the pain, yelled at Sora.

"Mimi's only got a week left! And I'm tired of fighting a battle I'm losing! I've never…lost a battle. In the Digital World, when we came back and saved our home, and when we went back to save the Digital World I won every battle and tackled every obstacle that came my way. But I've been fighting this battle for so long. You don't know the pain of what it is like to realize you can't win even after all the heart and soul you have put into something. I can't deal with it."

Suddenly, the door to the apartment opened. A young man in skinny jeans and a loose v-neck stood in the entrance. His long wavy hair rolled backwards into slight upward curls. He clutched a large guitar case and the light from the outside poured in through the doorway. Tai squinted at the man while Sora ran over to him and gave him a hug and a kiss.

"Is everything alright here Sora?" the man asked. "I heard yelling."

"No, everything is fine, Matt. I was just catching up with Tai here. I think he's rested enough now. I think he can go home. And we need to talk afterwards too."

"Oh Tai should stay!" Matt said back and smiled; he was completely oblivious of the argument that had occurred. "I haven't seen Tai in years. I think it would be nice to catch up wouldn't you say?" Matt looked at Tai and gave him a wide smile; this was the same smile that Tai and Matt gave to each other all the time.

"Actually, I was telling Sora I best be going now." Tai walked over to the open door. "I'll see you around."

Tai turned around to leave but Matt rushed over and grabbed him by the shoulder. Matt looked visibly concerned, but tried to mask this with a smile. Matt flashed his palm to Tai to show to him to wait. Matt ran over to the kitchen and grabbed a napkin. He pulled a pen out of his pocket and scribbled a number carefully on the napkin to not tear it.

"Take this Tai. That's my number" Matt handed Tai the napkin with the contact information. "Give me a call. Let's catch up. It's been twelve years man."

"Thanks," Tai said weekly. Saying nothing else he exited and walked toward the elevator to take him downstairs. Tai never looked back as he went down to the lobby of the apartment building. Out in front he sat on a wall that was next to a bike rack waiting for the next bus. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He finally looked calm after smelling fresh air for the first time. He then looked around and stood up; skipping the bus, Tai started on his walk home.

"You see man, right there. That's Mimi."

"The blonde one?"

"Yeah you knew that girl was into changing her hair color and stuff."

"Well man, cheers. Lets hope this goes well."

"Let's go get them Tai."