Chapter 8: He's Not Actually…

Tai's POV

I wanted this kiss to last forever. Unfortunately, the need for oxygen overcame both Mimi and I, and we had to cut it short.

When it was over, I just gave her a sheepish grin. And she returned it with the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.

"OH MY GOD! HE'S NOT GAY! YOU GUYS, HE'S NOT GAY!" Koromon shouts to everyone, bouncing up and down.

Everyone started laughing.

"Yeah, but he could still use a few tips." I hear a voice, which sounded like Matt's.

I turn to see him limping his way over towards me.

"Matt? What are you doing here?" I ask incredulously.

"You didn't think I'd actually miss my best friend's game did you?"

"But you're supposed to be in the hospital!"

"Yeah, but I wasn't going to let Sora stay there with me."

"What do you mean?" I ask confused.

"It would kill her to not be here, you know?"

And suddenly it all clicked into place.

"Sora." I whisper remembering that it was her fault that I played like shit in the first half. She hadn't been there.

"Yeah, sorry we were a bit late! But she had to help me sneak out of the hospital. My coming was her idea."

Through it all, she did care. She actually still cared. Enough so that she brought Matt, knowing that it would cheer me up.

"Sora!" I say aloud breaking out into a huge grin, turning around looking for her.

But she was nowhere to be found.

"Where is she?" I ask.

Everyone started turning around, looking.

"That's weird. She was here just a second ago." T.K. says.

"Yeah she must have run to the bathroom or something." Yolei suggests.

I turned to Mimi and said:

"Can you give me a minute?" I ask taking her hand.

"Of course." She replies again with that lovely smile.

I run knowing the one place, Sora would always go when something was bothering her.

Sure enough, I found her underneath the stands. After every tough loss, this would be her hiding place. In fact, I was pretty sure I was the only one who knew about this.

"Sora." I say gently reaching to pat her shoulder.

"Tai!" She jumps, quickly wiping her eyes.

"Sora, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Tai, congratulations! You did it!" She says with a smile.

There was something off about her smile though. It just seemed forced somehow.

"Sora, what's wrong?" I repeat.

"Nothing's wrong Tai." She answers with a hint of annoyance.

"Sora, you know better than to lie to me of all people."

"Tai nothing's wrong, why don't you go celebrate with everyone else?" She retorts, her face turning red in anger.

"Sora, if this about me not saying anything to you right after the game, I'm sorry!"

"It has nothing to do with that, so why don't you just get lost?" She spat scathingly, turning her back on me.

"Sora! What did I do wrong?" I respond angrily.

"Nothing Tai. You did nothing wrong."

Sora, come on. Just tell me." I tell her, putting my hand on her shoulder and turning her towards me.

"Mimi," She whispers. "How could you Tai?" She asks before breaking down into tears.

"This is about Mimi?" I ask confused.

"You kissed her!"

"Yeah, so?"

"Tai, you are so stupid!" She cries.

"Are you jealous?" I ask incredulously.

"Figure that out on your own Sherlock?"

"You have no right to be jealous! You've been with Matt this whole time!"

"Mimi is my best friend!"

"Matt's my best friend!"

At this point, she bit her lip.

"I know. But I really like him."

"And I really like her."

"Tai, we-"

"Had our chance-"

"But we blew it," Sora finishes. "I'm sorry. It's just seeing you kiss her, I wasn't expecting. I wasn't ready for it, I guess. "

"It's ok. And Sora, I'm sorry."

"No Tai, don't be. I'm the one who was being stupid."

"No you weren't. You did exactly what I would have done, if I saw you and Matt kiss."

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she nodded.

"We should probably go back and celebrate now huh?" She says with a small laugh.

"Now we're talking!"

"Oh and Tai, I lied."

"Me too."

"You're my best friend." We both say at the same time, before embracing.

Oddly, when I let her go I didn't feel any sort of regret or sadness. I felt as if a weight was lifted. We had both finally gotten our closure. And who knew? Maybe someday things would be different and we could be more than friends?

But for right now, she had Matt. And I had Mimi I thought with a grin.

And speaking of the angel, she came and welcomed me back to the party personally.

With a kiss… And a bit more!

Ok I hoped you guys enjoyed this! And got the closure to the story, like you all wanted! I'm sorry this was so focused on Tai and Sora in the last chapter, but honestly every Michi fic is built around a fallen Taiora, and Sorato. I want to thank all my readers, and more importantly my reviewers! You guys are amazing, and were my true inspiration for writing this story! If I can just ask all of you to one more time, please leave me a review! It would be much appreciated! Also, be sure to check out some of my other fics, and one-shots while I figure out what exactly I'm going to make my next project!