Note: I really really don't like the fact how real life problems always get in the way. I planned on updating this chapter earlier this week or late last week but the usual, time hasn't been good to me. Anyway, this story needs an update so here is chapter nine for ya. And please! No hate for the pairings I use in this story (or my stories in general) because I'm fine with any pairings (including Sorato), just that Mimato is my OTP. Aye?

- Chapter Ten -

"Why did you help me, Yagami?" Yamato asked Taichi as he laid on Taichi's couch and watched the other boy cleaned up the blonde's wounds. "I thought you hated me. You could've just left me there to die or something."

Taichi muttered nothing. He continued to clean Yamato's wounds around his pretty face. After about a solid minute of silence, he decided to answer Yamato's question.

The brunette sighed, "As much as I hate you, I can't leave you there to die. I'm not a completely evil person, you know." Taichi turned around to grab a cream medication, and then turned back to stare at Yamato in the eyes. "I'm pretty sure Mimi has told you that you and her aren't allowed to see each other anymore—"

"Yes, she has." Yamato interrupted and hissed when he felt a sting from one of the wounds on his face as Taichi applied the cream on it. "I told her I respected her father's wishes... But she won't listen to me."

"Not that I blame you, anyway," Taichi said, smirking. Instantly, the smirk faded. "I know you'd rather be safe than sorry. Mimi has this... Character of hers whereby she wants to make sure she gets what she wants. She can be really bull-headed sometimes. She doesn't give a care about the consequences thereafter and let's be honest; Mimi isn't much of a smooth criminal."

The blonde scoffed, nodding his head lightly. "I have to agree with you on that."

After Taichi was done with attending to Yamato's wounds, Yamato sat up.

The blonde patted Taichi's side of the arm. "Thanks for helping me. Next time just leave me there to bleed."

"Hey, I'm not that kind of person. Like I told you earlier, I'm not a completely evil person."

"But you have an evil streak somewhere in there anyway."

Taichi chuckled. "Well, yeah, I do. But when I see someone injured, I can't just leave that person there as if he was invisible. And, you're welcome." Taichi cleared his throat. "Oh, and one more thing." The brunette pointed an index finger at the blonde. "You're a rock star in Japan. You're one of those young, famous rock stars and if I left you there to bleed and if somebody sees you, it'll be a feeding frenzy for the media. They'll tarnish your reputation and jeopardize your life all because of money."

Yamato was impressed with Taichi. "Hm. Good thinking there, Yagami."

A feminine voice was heard from one corner of the living room, "Oh, I wasn't aware we had a guest."

Taichi looked over his shoulder, only to see his sister standing there. "Hey, Hikari."

"Why is Yamato here?" Hikari asked out of curiousity.

Yamato found himself lost in a daze when he stared right at Hikari. The last time he saw her, she was only ten years of age. Now, she had grown so much taller, measuring up to a hundred and seventy five centre metres and just like Mimi; Hikari had a body of an hour glass. Hikari's short hair had also grown longer, touching her shoulders. And thicker, too. She had her hair darkened to a darker shade of brown with a few blonde locks. She had indeed grown into a mature, young woman with curves.

And there she stood in her tank top and shorts, staring back at Yamato as she noticed Yamato's eyes were on her.

Taichi answered Hikari's question. "Oh, Yamato is here because—"

"Oh dear God..." Hikari fronted towards Yamato and cupped one side of the blonde's face. "Yamato, whatever happened to you?"

"Hikari, I was about to tell you what happened—"

"I'm sorry but his bruises caught my attention." The girl said to her brother, then turned to Yamato. "Yamato, what happened to you?" She asked.

"I— Uh..." Yamato's gaze shifted from Taichi, who gave him a shrug and then back at the girl. "I got beaten up."

"What?!" Hikari couldn't believe her ears. "Who beat you up?!"

Yamato paused but answered Hikari's question anyway. "Tachikawa Keisuke..."

"Tachikawa...?" Hikari's eyes widened in shock. "Mimi's father beat you up..? No way!"

Taichi hushed Hikari. "Hikari, keep your voice down! Mom and Dad will hear you."

"They're not home." Hikari simply responded, half ignoring her brother.

"Huh? Why aren't they home? Where are they? It's already late!" Taichi shouted, since he knew his parents weren't home.

"All I know is that they went to visit Nana."

"Oh... Okay. Why wasn't I told?"

"Because you weren't—"

Yamato interrupted. "Am I supposed to be a part of this conversation?"

The Yagami siblings shot Yamato a death glare and the blonde then raised his hands in air, literally surrendering.

Hikari sighed, "You know what, Yamato, I think it's best you just stay here for the night."

"What?" Yamato and Taichi asked in sync.

"Yeah, I mean, why not? I don't see why you can't. Mom and Dad won't be home until the end of the week and just in case anything happens, either one of us can babysit you." Hikari smiled at Yamato and Yamato couldn't help but to return the same smile.

"Okay then, Ishida. You can take the couch." Taichi told Yamato as he made it to his feet to put the first aid kit back in the kitchen.

"Taichi! That's not very nice." Hikari followed her brother into the kitchen.

"And why isn't that nice, Hikari?" Taichi quickly placed the first aid kit back to where it was. "I don't see why he needs to sleep in my room."

"Don't worry about it. He can sleep in my room—"

"What?!" Taichi shouted in disbelief. "I am not going to allow an Ishida to sleep with you in your room, on your bed!"

"Taichi! I was just kidding!" Hikari rolled her eyes on her brother and crossed her arms.

"Well, you didn't have scare me like that!" Taichi then started yawning. "I think I'm going to go to bed. I'm so sleepy. Goodnight, Hikari." He planted a kiss on Hikari's forehead before leaving for his room, then shutting the door behind him.

Yamato stepped into the kitchen. "Hikari, I really don't mind sleeping on the couch, actually."

Hikari groaned. "But Yamato, it's not very nice—"

"It's fine, really. As long as there are cushions, I'm fine."

The girl sighed, giving up. "Fine, fine. You'll sleep on the couch then but don't you need to take a shower?"

"Um..." Yamato spent some time considering. "Perhaps, it's fine. I can always go back home in the morning and take a shower once I'm home."

"Okay then..." Hikari wrapped her arms around the blonde's torso and rested her head on his chest. "Goodnight, Yamato..." she lifted her head from his chest then looked up into his eyes as she whispered to him.

"Goodnight," he whispered back at her as she pulled herself away from him.

Just as Hikari took a few steps forward after she spun on her heel, Yamato stopped her.

"Hey, Hikari?"

The girl turned around. "Hm?"

"Maybe you and I can hang out some time. You know, maybe like a coffee date or something."

Yamato meant that on a sincere note. Since he wasn't able to see Mimi anymore and Yamato was no longer interested in his high school crush, Takenouchi Sora, he probably had found himself a new love interest – Hikari. Yamato hoped he wasn't in the current situation he and Mimi were in because if he wasn't, he and Mimi would definitely be dating then.

As the boy waited for Hikari's response, Yamato thought to himself; what if Hikari wasn't interested in him the way he was interested to get to know her? What if she rejected him? What if this time, Yamato was forbidden to date or even see Hikari because her older brother was his enemy and Taichi's the protective sort? Would he get beaten up for the second time? Or would Taichi give them his blessings? Could Taichi trust Yamato to hold Hikari's heart; to care for her, to protect her, to love her like no other boy can? What if halfway through his relationship with Hikari became rocky, all because Yamato could not replace Mimi?

Hikari flashed a small smile. "I'd like that."

The blonde chuckled and ran a hand through his thick mane. "Then a date it is. When would be the best time for you?"

"Probably tomorrow but I have dance class at about noon time until four in the afternoon."

Yamato shrugged. "I can always fetch you from your dance class."

"You sure that's alright for you?" Hikari asked Yamato. "You know, it's fine if you can't—"

"No, no, it'll be fine. I'll text you if I can't make it or if there will be any impromptu changes."

Hikari smiled sweetly. "Alright, then. Maybe you should go to bed. It's already late. Do you need a blanket?"

Yamato shook his head. "I'll be alright."

Hikari then walked over to Yamato and took him by the hand, leading him towards the living room. She released her grip on his hand and blushed. "Goodnight, Yamato."

"Goodnight, Hikari..."

Hikari and Yamato were both staring deep into each other's eyes. Yamato observed as Hikari bit her lower lip and fluttered her eyelashes. Hikari could feel both their bodies get closer and she felt Yamato cupped one side of her face. The boy caressed her cheek with his thumb and wanted to lean in for a kiss but Hikari pulled away.

Her actions confused him.

"You still love Mimi, don't you?" Hikari asked.

Yamato looked away from the girl. "Yes." He admitted, muttering.

Wordlessly, Hikari paced towards her room but stopped before turning to a corner. She looked over her shoulder only to see Yamato upset.

"Yamato, I know you still love Mimi. It is obvious. If you love her, go get her."

"But I can't..." Yamato turned around. "I can't. I am forbidden to see her."

"Rules are meant to be broken, Yamato, and if Mr. Tachikawa doesn't allow you to see his daughter, that's where he's wrong. I believe Mimi is already eighteen years of age. Even though she's not twenty one, that does not mean she cannot decide for herself. Sometimes, in love, you have to take risks. Just because you can't see her anymore, you start seeing someone else. If that's what you're planning to do, please don't forget it's going to be more than just your own heart you're going to break."

With that, Hikari went into her room, while Yamato stood there, thinking about everything that left Hikari's lips. Was what she said true? Did her words make any sense?

Mimi locked herself in her room as she kept recalling whatever happened in the past hour or so. Tears kept streaming down her face, her eyes were swollen from all the crying and she was thankful that the following day was a Saturday. She didn't need to wake up early.

Flashing before her eyes was the memory of her father bashing the life out of Yamato. She remembered crystal clearly how much Yamato was bleeding; she was sure Yamato could almost lose his life right then and there.

Then came the memory of when Keisuke pulled her back home.

"Dad!"

Keisuke pushed Mimi, causing the poor girl to land on the couch face first. Mimi immediately sat up and she watched as her mother tried her best to pull Keisuke away from Mimi.

"Keisuke! I need you to stop this instant!" Satoe shouted at the top of her lungs.

Eventually, Keisuke calmed down. He grabbed a handful of his own hair and let out a grunt.

"Why, Mimi? Why did you have to disobey me?!" Keisuke asked Mimi angrily. "You're willing to see that boy behind my back instead of listening to me!"

Mimi sat there in silence as her father scolded her.

"Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to discipline you?! Since you were young, you never listened to your mother and I every single time you never get what you want!" Keisuke paced forth and back and placed both his hands on his hips. The man exhaled. "You are such a disappointment..."

The girl shut her eyes and felt the sting at the back of her eyes.

"Mimi, I am your father. I am doing this because I love you—"

"If you loved me, you would've let me go!" Mimi shouted.

"You don't know what it's like to be a parent, young lady!"

Mimi decided to shut up.

"You don't know what it's like to discipline your child. You don't know what it's like to protect your child who decides to rebel at a young age!" Keisuke took a deep breath before exhaling. "You are my only child, Mimi... And if you're a boy, it would be slightly easier for me to let you go but you're a girl; you're my baby girl... You're my princess." The man knelt in front of his daughter.

"But Dad... I love Yamato. He and I grew up together..."

"I know that."

"And you used to love him so much. You loved him like he was a part of our family. What happened?"

"I— I didn't like the way he left you. I didn't like how he left you without waiting for you to graduate. I approved of you leaving with him because who knows, you might start your own career while he builds one for himself. Instead, he left you, you spent about a month crying your eye balls out and you almost dropped out of school."

"But Dad, you don't have to hate him..."

"I don't hate him, sweetheart. I hate what he did."

"Then you didn't have to beat him up like that."

"I know. It was my fault. I was angry that you sneaked out of the house in the middle of the night and when I caught the both of you, I just lost it."

"I'm sorry, Dad..." Mimi buried her face at her father's neck.

Keisuke patted the back of Mimi's head. "I'm sorry too, sweetheart..."

A small smile crept on Satoe's face. She was grateful that, at least, both Keisuke and Mimi decided to talk things out instead of turning violent. Keisuke had already caused more than enough damage to Yamato earlier.

"I think I should apologize to Yamato personally," Keisuke told Mimi.

Mimi pulled away from her father. "I think, yes, you should."

"Why don't you call him? Or leave him a message. Tell him I want to meet him."

The girl nodded.

Mimi remained seated cross-legged on her bed, staring at her phone. She had Yamato on speed dial but she was afraid to give him a call after what happened. She wanted to hear his voice; she wanted him to tell her he was okay but she decided to leave him a text message instead because she was afraid at the same time.

The girl then started texting: Hey, Mato. I don't know if this is the right time but my dad wants to see you. I hope you'll reply. I need to know if you're okay. Please...

Sent.

Now, she could only hope Yamato would agree to meet her father.

Yamato laid on the couch in the Yagami residence and stared at the ceiling. He had tried to close his eyes to sleep but his eyes just refused to close. The moment he was about to finally doze off, his phone vibrated, startling him.

The boy picked his phone up which was lying on the coffee table and was confused when he received a text message from Mimi. He read the text and by the end of it, he decided to shut his phone and continued to sleep. He didn't know how to respond to the message just yet.

Mimi woke up earlier in the morning and immediately checked her phone. She was utterly upset that she hadn't gotten a reply from Yamato and because she had errands to run on that day, she decided that this whole Yamato issue could wait.

It was almost four in the afternoon and Mimi was out down town. While she walked, she was reading the list of whatever her mother needed from the grocery store. Satoe was already at the grocery store; on the other hand, Mimi was just on the way from her baking class to meet her. The girl was happily walking down the streets when she spotted two familiar faces across the road: Hikari and Yamato.

The smile on her face immediately vanished.

"Yamato, you didn't have to fetch me from my dance class, you know," Hikari told Yamato, feeling guilty.

"It's fine, really," Yamato responded, as the pair walked over to his car parked nearby.

Hikari lifted her chin and giggled. The girl then wrapped both her arms around his torso. "I wonder what'll happen if Taichi sees us together alone like this," she joked.

"I think I'm going to get my ass kicked, for sure 'cause you're his baby sister and he fucking hates me."

Hikari laughed and pulled herself away from the blonde. "Come on, he won't hate you forever."

"Trust me, he will. He just probably won't hate me as much as he did back then."

Meanwhile, Mimi decided to cross the road to try to get a little closer to them without being seen. She wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Hikari pulled the car's passenger door open and placed her backpack inside. "Hey, Yamato?"

"Hm?" Yamato gave Hikari his full attention.

"About the text message you received from Mimi last night?"

"What about that?"

Mimi was then listening to their every word as she hid behind a corner.

"Aren't you going to respond to her text or are you just going to ignore her like that?" Hikari asked Yamato.

The blonde shrugged. "I'll probably ignore it for now."

"You know that's not very nice, right?"

"Yes, I'm aware of that but I don't know if I should—"

"Meet her father?"

Mimi started to get angry. Hikari knew about her issues with Yamato, which was enough to infuriate her. Who was Hikari to pry into Yamato's affairs?

"You know, Yamato, I think you should. I know I'm not a part of this but... You'll never know if Mr. Tachikawa actually wants to apologize for what he did. If he hits you again, call the police. It's as simple as that."

Mimi stepped out of the corner and with an angry look on her face, she approached Yamato and Hikari.

Hikari looked over Yamato's shoulder with a blank facial expression. Yamato was wondering what Hikari was looking at, until he turned around, only to find Mimi standing behind him.

"Meems." Yamato knew the look on her face.

"What's going on, Mato?" Mimi asked the boy. "Why didn't you reply my text?"

"I—"

"Because you don't know if you should meet my father, am I right?"

Yamato's mouth was shut. He glanced away from the girl and looked elsewhere.

"I can't believe you, Mato!" Mimi raised her voice.

Yamato hushed Mimi. "Meems! Could you please not scream? We're in public."

"I waited the whole night for your text message but you simply ignored it because you don't know if you should meet my father. Hey, guess what? That's completely fine by me!" Then her attention was on Hikari. "So you've replaced me. So soon, eh, Mato?"

"Meems, I did not replace you."

"Then you and Hikari looked like lovebirds from across the street!"

"Tachikawa Mimi, what the fuck is your problem?!"

Hikari looked around as she started to notice the passers-by were watching this ungrateful scene.

"The only problem I have is that you can't even be honest with me!"

"I don't understand you anymore, Mimi! Honestly! You want the truth from me? I'll give you the truth. First of all, I had a hard time keeping a professional relationship with you at work because of what we had. Until I saw you with Taichi on the first day we met in almost a year, I thought we were fine. I thought we still had that friendship we once had but you gave me a cold shoulder just because I left you? What makes you think I wanted to leave you like that in first place?! I was forced to! I told you beforehand my sponsor couldn't wait, but did you actually hear me? No. You expected me to let this opportunity go just so that I could wait for you. You know there is such thing as me coming back to Odaiba just to see you again? All you needed to do was to wait! And after last night..." Yamato calmed down when he felt Hikari place a hand on his back. "I don't think I can continue this friendship anymore. I have limits, Mimi."

Mimi shook her head slightly. They were in public; as much as she needed to let her tears go, she still needed to hold them back because people were watching them.

And Yamato mentioning about him not being able to continue their friendship anymore shattered her fragile heart.

Mimi and Yamato ended up staring into each other's eyes. The boy's blue eyes made the girl feel blue.

Yamato decided to utter one last thing to Mimi before leaving. "I'm sorry..."

The people that were watching them started to disperse and go their own way whilst Mimi watched as Yamato and Hikari got into the car. She kept her eyes on the blonde's car until they were out of sight. She shut her eyes tightly and was startled when her phone went off.

It was Satoe calling.

"Yes, Mom?" Mimi answered, her voice calm.

"Sweetheart, where are you? Are you nearby? I'm almost done here," Satoe responded on the other side of the line.

"Yeah, I'm coming. See you in ten minutes, Mom." Mimi hung up and sighed. She had no other choice but to keep walking and not turn back.

- End of Chapter Ten -