Kitty: I felt so out of it writing the last chapter…I wasn't connected. So I waited a while before I wrote this one. I revised the last chapter a bit and added some review responses at the bottom, if you wanna look back and see ya name, you can. I'm going to go slowly with this chapter, to make I put in everything I want. I'm sorry if the wait is really long.

To SepherZmon: I've always been a Takari fan, you wouldn't believe how many times I've tried to make a story something else, and yet they still end up together. I think once I managed to make it not Takari, but I had to totally force it. I don't know if it'll be a Takari for this story, though. We'll see what happens.

To IronReaver: Your review was really long this time, lol. And again, it makes me soar with joy! I feel like I'm getting better all the time. Usually I edit my chapter right after I post them, but I got a couple chapters behind. I went back I edited all but chapter six last night, instead of trying to force this chapter out. I hope it comes out the way I want it to. I hate restarting chapter all over again. I'm a little lazy…lol.

To Cool-Hanyou: Once again, your review just seems to be a really, really long and fast sentence. I'm glad you're all excited about it though. I hope it lives up to your expectations.

To SageoWind: I hope everything turns out okay for Daisuke, too! I know it's going to take while though.

To Rokutagrl: I'm glad you're still finding it hard to figure what's what! I thought I was being so obvious! I want to confuse and piss off everybody before giving them a finale that, I hope, will make everybody sigh with relief. I hope it turns out the way I want it! I also hope you guys enjoy it!

To Mystical: Hee hee, your questions may be answered shortly.

Btw, I messed up in an earlier chapter. I said I hated 'happy endings' when I really meant I hate 'unhappy endings'.

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, but if I did, it would be so much more entertaining, lol. Taishirou, yay!

Chocolate Covered

Chapter Eight

Chocolate Covered Tears

Koushirou ate his flavored ice slowly, wincing a bit at the coldness that seemed to head straight to his brain. The cherry flavor filled up his mouth and covered his lips with bright red juice. He swallowed a mouthful, let out a loud sigh, and turned to his companions, both a good deal younger than himself, and both slurping their flavored ices, though they were different flavors than his own.

"You two grew up together? I should have connected 'Inoue-chan' to Inoue, Miyako." Koushirou smiled bemusedly.

"Well, even geniuses have their blonde moments." Miyako-san replied smartly. Koushirou chuckled. "So, how are you and Tai-san?" She scooped up some Cola flavored ice and swallowed it with a happy hum.

"Tai-san? The one the bear was named after?" Hida-kun asked with confusion. His lips were dark purple from his grape snow cone.

"What bear? You have a bear? I didn't know you could have bears for pets…" Koushirou couldn't help but laugh again.

"I guess I have a few stories to tell." Koushirou conceded, taking another small slurp of ice.

&&&&&&&&

Tai knocked on Izzy's apartment door. Jyou-sempai answered it with a bemused smile.

"Konnichi wa, Tai-san." His dark grey eyes looked down at the bouquet of roses in Tai's hand. "Koushirou-kohai went out already."

Tai's eyes became dark, and he felt his fingers tightened around the rose stems.

"Is he still dating Mimi-chan?"

"Technically, yes…" Jyou-sempai trailed off and eyed Tai's angry visage. "But he mentioned last night he was going to break up with her."

Tai barely suppressed a grin, not knowing how much lighter his eyes became. Jyou-sempai studied Tai carefully.

"Honto? Maybe…did he say anything…like why he was going to?"

"He said…ano… 'I can't feel the same way about her as she does about me," or something like that." Jyou-sempai answered with a thoughtful frown. "He went out with Hida-kun and Inoue-chan an hour ago, however. I don't think he met up with Mimi-san."

"Hida-kun? Inoue-chan?"

"A young man we all met yesterday-"

"The kid that showed Izzy the bear!" Tai exclaimed as it hit him.

"Er…yes…and Inoue-chan is a young woman with purple hair. I've never seen her before."

"Purple hair…and glasses?"

"Hai."

"That girl from the convenience store! That's so weird!" Tai muttered looking down to his full hands. "Right. Here." He thrust the bouquet in Jyou-sempai's face and shoved a large box of strawberry mochi into his chest.

"For me?"

"IIE! For Izzy! Just give them to him, okay? And tell him that roses aren't so cheap. I'm not gonna have much allowance left and it'll be awhile before he'll get more soon." Tai mumbled staring down at the ground and blushing. Jyou-sempai took the gifts and politely hid a smile.

"I'll tell him, don't worry about it. I think he likes strawberries, too. His mom bought him some before she left."

"They reminded me of his hair." Tai mumbled lower as his blush deepened. Jyou-sempai couldn't keep the smile back, thankfully Tai refused to meet his gaze.

"Should I tell him that too?"

"No! I mean, you don't have to, or anything!" Tai looked up, caught the teasing smile, and gulped. "Ja ne."

Tai ran for it, his breath coming in gasps and his eyes closed tight.

&&&&&&&

Sora wrapped the stems of the flowers in metallic green foil and a big pink ribbon. The flowers bloomed in a riot of color above the large bow. The overall effect with rather pretty, she decided. She turned with a large smile and handed the anxious-looking young man the bouquet.

"I'm sorry that took a while. The flowers you suggested aren't a usual grouping and it took awhile to arrange them aesthetically. I think it looks okay, though, just a bit over the top, maybe." Sora explained with calm, easy voice. He looked like he was about to run for it. She told him the price, a little cheaper than it really should've been, and took his money.

"You have a good afternoon, young man!" Sora called out. The boy took off running. She giggled behind her hand. "I love customers like that. How kawaii!"

"Sora?" Sora looked towards the store's rear door as her mother entered.

"Hai?"

"Are all the customers gone?"

"Hai. Should I lock up then?"

"Hai. Go on ahead. I'll pull the blinds."

Sora pulled the key out from under the register and glanced at the clock. The last customer, the young boy, had spent a lot of time just wandering around and building up the nerve to buy the flowers, then he had to choose them, and then it took her a good ten minutes to arrange them right. The next thing she knew, it was five minutes until closing and her mother was asking her to lock the door. It was a normal occurrence to lock up just a tad earlier than four thirty, especially in the summer when the heat made the flowers wilt. Somehow, however, Sora had the feeling they weren't closing early because of wilting flowers.

"What did you want to talk about?" Sora asked as she walked towards the door, key in hand. As the mister began its afternoon cycle, Sora smiled and blushed remembering yesterday morning when Yamato-san had called her 'Birdie'. He had stood near the flowers, closed his eyes and… understood.

"I was wondering if…if Tai-kun and you broke up because of a girl?"

"Sumimasen?" Sora blurted out in surprise. "Wh-What are you talking about?"

"He… He's been coming here and buying bouquets during your break. He asked me not to tell you because he didn't want to hurt your feelings, but he couldn't go anywhere else because he knew this place." Her mother slowly explained.

Sora felt her heart give a little lurch. He never bought me flowers before… he really wants Izzy back… She clutched her chest in pain.

"No, Kaasan. He didn't dump me for someone else. He broke up with me because he wasn't happy and I was forcing him to try."

"Oh…I had no idea. Gomen nasai." Her mother apologized.

"It's all right. I wouldn't have told you if you had asked. I didn't want anyone to know, not even myself, that I couldn't make the boy I've been in love with for years feel the same about me." Sora closed her eyes as tears welled up on her eyelashes. "I should've just broken up with him and kept all these horrible things from happening." She whispered. "Kaasan, I've messed up really bad. Because of me…I don't think Tai-kun is going to happy for a really long time. I've hurt the person he truly loves really badly, and now they aren't together."

"Does Tai-kun know about this?" Sora shook her head, a tear falling down her cheek slowly. "Maybe…maybe the only way to help him now is to tell him the truth, the whole truth." Her mother walked over and pulled her into a soft embrace. "Sometimes…sometimes doing the right thing is going to hurt you the worst, but you have to do it, or you'll never be happy, and neither will your friends."

"All right…I'll…I'll try my best, Kaasan, but I don't know if I'm strong enough."

"You will be, Birdie Biyo, you will be." Her mother whispered into her hair as Sora bit down on her lip to keep from crying.

&&&&&&

Hikari frowned a little.

"Are you sure this is a good idea? I would really just like to tell him…"

"You can't!" Takeru-kun gasped turning around the meet her gaze with wild eyes. "Hikari-chan, I don't want anybody to know just yet…" Takeru-kun bit his lip and looked away. "Do you think I'm a bad person for wanting to keep it secret?"

"Oh, Takeru-kun!" Hikari rushed forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, her nose pressed against his chest. He looked down at her with surprise barely keeping his footing. "I don't think any such thing! I know exactly why. I've seen it so close to me…the pain, and the lies, and the…the poison people can cause. I know why…it's just hurting my heart so much, Takeru-kun, keeping it silent from him."

"I'm so sorry, Hikari-chan." Takeru-kun wrapped his arms around her and laid his head on hers with a smile. "I'm sure it won't be long now. I…I'll try my best. Please, just a little more time. It hurts me, too, having this secret burn into me like this."

Hikari nodded against his shirt.

"I'm sure…I'm sure everything will work out fine." Hikari whispered. I just hope I don't hurt Dai-kun…

&&&&&&&

"So…you dumped him before it even started?" Miyako-san slowly summarized.

"Well…yes…" Koushirou stared down at the tiny puddle of red at the bottom f the paper cone he was holding. The cone was squashed a little and wet from melting ice and cherry syrup.

"You are an idiot." Miyako-san sighed. She tossed her crumpled up cone into the nearby wastebasket. She stretched out her long legs onto the jogging path in front of their bench and blithely ignored the glares of joggers who had to move out of her feet's way.

"I like to think I helped him." Koushirou muttered.

"But isn't he still giving you flowers? He even made you a teddy bear…however misshapen it is." Hida-kun pointed out.

"I think it's just fine." Koushirou defended staunchly. Even if it is a bit misshapen. He thought with a smile.

"Not the point, point is- he's still trying to convince you you're perfect for each other. And I think he's right." Miyako-san said with a sigh.

"You just want to see them make out, Miyako-chan." Hida-kun smiled. She smiled back.

"I do love yaoi."

"You used to hate it. When you were ten or so…" Hida-kun reminded her. She looked away.

"I was young and stupid. I'll be thirteen tomorrow."

"Just a few days before schools starts, ne?" Koushirou asked.

"Hai. You can come, but-" She looked him straight in the eye, "Only if you bring Tai-san, too."

"NANI?" Koushirou squawked and spilled the remaining cherry syrup on the thigh of his light khaki pants.

"Yup."

"I can't just-just ask him to go out with me!"

"You're right." Hida-kun agreed. Koushirou sighed with relief. "You have to break up with Tachikawa-san first."

"NANI?" Miyako laughed as Koushirou wrenched his neck around so fast he pulled some muscles.

"Maybe you should get on that. It's only five or so." Miyako-san clucked, checking her wristwatch.

"I can't just show up on her doorstep and say-sorry, we're broken up."

"You might have to, looks like rain." Hida-kun said as he looked up.

The other two looked up as well and saw clouds begin to form and block the sun's rays.

"Oh, no." Miyako-san moaned. "I'm stuck here until my little brother gets out of gymnastics."

"Which is?"

"Eight."

"What? When did it start?"

"It's a day camp, they do all kinds of stuff other than gymnastics, but he stays til the end for them. I guess I should run home and get an umbrella and come back. I'd hate to, though." She stood with an irritated sigh. "Wanna walk me home, Iori-chan?"

"I wish you would use –kun." He mumbled and rose.

"Nah, you're so cute you need –chan."

"Domo." Hida-kun rolled his eyes sarcastically and bowed to Koushirou. "Konbon wa, and good luck."

"Konbon wa." Koushirou answered and rose as well, dropping the empty cone into the trash. He watched his young friends walk out of sight and then, with a frown, began to walk in the opposite direction.

&&&&&&

Sora-chan and Mimi were sitting on Mimi's bed sipping hot cocoa and watching the clouds get thicker.

"What did you come here for, Sora-chan? You seem upset." Mimi rubbed Sora-chan's back soothingly.

"I messed up, Mimi-chan." She set her half-empty cup down on the nightstand. "I think it's going to hurt you a lot, what I did, even thought you've done nothing wrong."

"What…What are you talking about?"

"Izumi-san…"

"Koushirou-san? What about Koushirou-san?"

"He's…he's…He's Izzy."

Mimi blinked.

"Izzy? Who's Izzy?"

"The…the memory Tai-kun told us about a long time ago."

"Isn't…Isn't that the girl Tai-kun thought he was in love with?" Mimi whispered, her eyes widening.

"Yes and no." Sora-chan took a deep breath. Mimi had the mad urge to clap her hand over Sora-chan's mouth. She barely restrained herself and clutched her short pink skirt with trembling fingers. "Izzy isn't a girl, and Tai-kun is in love with him."

"S-Sora?"

"And I knew." Sora-chan's voice was so soft Mimi could barely hear it for the thunder that suddenly crashed outside.

"N-Nani?"

A knock at her bedroom door made the two girls jump.

"H-Hai?"

"Mimi, there's a boy at the front door for you. He says he has something important to say, but he can't stay long because of the storm."

Mimi rose and looked over at Sora-chan with wide, frightened eyes.

She opened her door and thanked her mother automatically.

It seemed miles away, the door…where she knew with heart-breaking clarity Koushirou-san stood waiting for her. Waiting to tell her what he really meant when he told her 'maybe'. And then, the door was there, just barely ajar, with Koushirou-san standing inside the foyer with an uncomfortable look on his face.

"K-Koushirou-san?" Her voice trembled and her face was pale.

"Daijoubou desu ka?"

"Just…just tell me, Koushirou-san."

"What happened?" He darted forward with concern etched into his soft face. His face framed with bright red hair and filled with big black eyes. She barely held back a sob.

"You l-love him, too, don't you? You're here…you're here to tell me you love him." She whispered.

"H-how- What are you talking about?" Mimi heard the 'how', and knew what question he didn't finish.

"How did I know? How did I find out, right? That's what you want to know? It doesn't matter!" She was suddenly screaming and tears were flowing down her cheeks. "I-I thought it was going to be real love for me! I thought you'd love me, too! It was just a lie! You just don't want anyone to know you're gay!"

"No, no, I didn't say that! I didn't mean anything like that!" Koushirou-san cried out, reaching for her.

She pulled away and glared at him, brown eyes glowing with anger and something very, very close to hate.

"Don't you touch me, you phaggot!"

"M-mimi-san…" He backed away as if burnt. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"JUST GO AWAY! I HATE YOU!" Mimi turned and ran, pressing her hands to her eyes, and sobbing hysterically.

She reached her bedroom and pushed open the door. She fell back with a hiccup as Sora-chan stood up from the bed.

"Mimi-chan? Mimi-chan, what happened?"

"YOU, TOO! GET OUT!" Mimi screamed, recovering from her surprise as she had forgotten Sora-chan was there. "You knew too, so GET OUT! I HATE YOU ALL! ALL OF YOU KNEW AND NOBODY TOLD ME! GET OUT!" Mimi screamed, tears streaming from her face.

Sora-chan hurriedly left, tears filling her own eyes.

&&&&&&&

Sora ran out the front door and almost collided with the stunned, slow-moving Koushirou-san.

"T-Takenouchi-san?" He blinked and suddenly his eyes grew darker with anger. "You couldn't have kept it to yourself until I told her?" He whispered. Sora whimpered and shook her head.

"No, it wasn't supposed to happen like that! I'm so sorry."

"You should go home. It's going to rain soon." He turned away without another word, his voice clipped and strained. Sora choked on a sob and ran blindly away from the boy she had hurt again.

I just wanted to help! I wanted to tell the truth! Her mind screamed.

Her feet took her to where she needed to go, but the last place she wanted to go.

&&&&&&&

Daisuke waited until she was almost passing him before he stood.

"EEK! Oh, god, Daisuke-kun! You scared me!" Hikari gasped. She adjusted her book bag on her shoulder and then blushed, as if she just realized it was there.

"Where ya going?" Daisuke asked, trying for nonchalant and failing as his voice cracked.

"To…to a friend's…" her voice whispered.

"Who, Hikari?" His voice was low and almost brutal with its intensity.

"To Takeru-kun's. We're going to go to a late movie and I thought I should…um…bring some snacks…" Her voice trailed off.

"A backpack full of them? Wow, Tanaka-san must eat a lot because I know you don't."

"His name is Takeru."

"I don't care!"

His voice left in its wake a ringing silence in the park. Rain fell with a small, light thud.

"How did you know I'd be here?"

"You have to walk through here to get to the train station from your house. When your mom told me you were going over to Suoyu-chan's house, a girl you haven't spoken to since third grade, I knew you had lied and raced down here."

Hikari knew he lived right next to the park, and didn't doubt he had just gotten there without running out of breath. She also knew she was caught in another lie and it didn't look good.

"I…had to lie to my mom or I wouldn't be able to leave." Hikari explained.

"Where are you really going?" Daisuke's voice was so calm, so even, so suddenly.

Hikari took a deep breath.

"I'm going to Takeru-kun's to spend the night."

"That's nice." Daisuke crossed his arms over his chest. "Why?"

"I…I can't tell you."

Daisuke's eyes narrowed.

"You can't tell me again? I thought we were going to be honest from now on?"

"I told you I can't tell you-"

"Why were you two kissing yesterday?"

"N-nani?" Hikari's face paled.

"I saw you! What is going on?" Daisuke grabbed her upper arms and pulled her closer. "Tell me!"

"I told you I can't! Just give me a little time!"

"Time to do what? Time for Taketo-san to dump his girlfriend, too, huh?"

"He doesn't have a girlfriend, and you'll take your hands off of me right now!"

Daisuke's hands let her go so violently she stumbled.

"Then, WHY ARE YOU LYING TO ME?" Daisuke roared. Hikari watched in horror as tears began to stream down his tanned face. "I've been trying to really good about this, but ever since you met that stupid blonde dude you've been ditching and lying to me." His hands fell to his sides and clenched into fists and he closed his eyes as tears fell. "You've never lied to me before."

"Daisuke…I just can't…Daisuke…"

"Can't what? Tell me the truth? Help me understand; help me believe you when you tell me you still want to be with me!" Daisuke sobbed. "Just tell me, Hikari!"

"I can't tell you!"

"WHY NOT?" He bellowed.

"It's not my secret."

"I don't care! Just fucking tell me!"

"You need to stay out of my business! I don't have to tell you anything if I don't want to! You should just trust me!" Hikari finally shouted back, her last thread breaking. There was only so much prying she could take, and for him to ask her to break a confidence because he was too insecure to trust her, then screw him.

"Oh, so now I can't know what you're doing when you make out with other guys?"

"KAMISAMA! I didn't make out with anyone-"

"Especially not me."

"It was a simple kiss between friends!"

"He lifted you off your feet, spun you around, and kissed you on the mouth!"

"Why didn't you talk to me right after it happened!?"

"I thought you would, Ms. I'll-never-lie-to-you-again! 'I'll just forget to mention when I kiss another guy'!"

"Would you just get over it! I shouldn't have to cater to your every whine because you have no self-confidence. I don't cheat on my boyfriends!"

"You've never had one! If you don't recall, you were an uppity little brat and ignored everybody who told you they loved you!"

"No, only you, because you were an annoying heel-licker!"

Once again…silence fell. Hikari's hand pressed against her lips as if to push her harsh words back in. The rain began to fall harder and her light brown hair got darker and heavier with water. Rain dripped off of Daisuke's nose, indistinguishable from his tears.

"Daisuke…I didn't mean it…please…"

"Just go to your little blondie's house and make out again." Daisuke's voice dripped with venom.

"No…Daisuke…please."

"You know…how many times have you told me you loved me?" Daisuke whispered. "Sometimes…I thought you really didn't and just felt sorry for me. Then, that pretty boy comes wandering up and…you haven't said it since…"

"Daisuke…"

"We're over! We're over, damn it! You just leave me the hell alone!" Daisuke screamed over the thunder that boomed through the sky.

"Dai-"

"GO AWAY!" Hikari turned and ran, her body framed with light as lightning flashed through the clouds.

Daisuke sobbed, his hands still clenched tightly at his sides. His feet shuffled through the puddles caused by the pouring rain. Finally, a bench loomed from the gloom and sheets of rain.

He sat down and buried his face in his hands, and sobbed, his shoulders shaking with his weeping. His hair was losing its gravity-defying effect and it fell into his eyes.

"H-how could I have dumped Hikari? Hikari! I dumped Hikari. What am I going to do?"

Suddenly, the rain stopped and he looked up. A pretty girl his age with large round glasses and long purple hair stood over him. She held a small, tired-looking boy with her purple hair by the hand, and in her other hand the umbrella that had stopped the rain.

"You're going to get pneumonia. Why don't we walk you home?"

"What? No…I'm fine."

"You aren't fine. You've obviously been crying and you're soaking wet. Get up and stop being stupid."

"SHUT UP AND LEAVE ME ALONE, YOU NOSY BRAT!" Daisuke shouted at the bossy, purplette.

She frowned angrily and her glasses slipped down her nose.

"FINE! C'mon, Kyoshi." She tugged the little boy, who was obviously her brother.

"We can't just leave him there, Miyako-neechan." The boy protested.

"He doesn't want help, so leave him."

&&&&&&

Tai watched the rain fall hard and fast onto the balcony. The sky was split as a jagged bolt of lightning streaked through the heavy, dark clouds. He jumped a bit as the thunder cracked right over head and startled him. It was great, watching the heavens just bellow and rage with all their fury. He had never been afraid of storms, instead, they helped him calm down, or sometimes even helped him sleep at night. He was looking forward to the deep slumber the raging storm never failed to invoke.

He rose and glanced at the clock with surprise. Only eight 'o' clock and he was yawning, ready to hit the hay.

He almost missed the knock for the thunder. Doubting that he had really heard anything, he walked to the foyer and peered out of the peephole. Surprise made him pull back and blink.

"No way…"

He threw open the door and stared down.

"Kon-konbon wa." Sora-chan stuttered dripping wet and red-eyed.

"Whoa! What are you doing outside in this?" Tai exclaimed. He pulled her inside and rushed down the hall to get a fresh towel. He hurried back and began rubbing down her sopping wet hair.

"If you'd stop being so worrisome, I'd answer your question." Sora-chan joked.

"Just get a little more dry." Tai absently replied concentrating on her hair.

"You're making me feel worse…" Sora-chan whispered.

"Nani?"

"I…I need to tell you something important, Tai-kun. You're…you're not going to like it…or me." Sora-chan pushed the towel back into his hands. "Please, listen."

"All right." Tai looked at her with confusion.

"You…have to understand that I'm truly sorry. I…Everybody wants to be happy, Tai-kun…I just…tried to be happy the wrong way." Sora-chan backed towards the door again and closed her eyes. "Tai-kun…ever since you've remembered Izzy, I've remembered him, too. I knew all along he was a boy."

"Yeah, I knew, too. I just didn't want him to be."

"I know…and I didn't help, did I? I did worse than not…encouraging you and helping you realize it wasn't bad what you were feeling for him."

"What do you mean, you did worse?" A suspicion began to creep into Tai's mind.

"I-I went to Koushirou-san's house after…after the day we lost him when Mimi-chan and him were on their first date. You remember? They had just left a movie and he ran away?"

"Y-Yeah…of course I remember. What did you do, Sora-chan?"

"I… I told him that dating you would screw you up, Tai-kun. I told him you'd get hurt and hazed and your family might hate you. I told him Mimi-chan wanted to be with him and it would hurt her more than anything for him to break up with her before she got a real chance! I said so many things I thought were true! I didn't do it because of them! I was selfish and horrible, but it was too late, I had already said them and he felt so bad and he couldn't stop. I…I'm sorry, Tai-kun. It's my fault you aren't together. I lied…" Sora-chan twisted her fingers nervously and stared hard at the ground.

After a long moment of silence, Sora-chan looked up with apprehensive eyes.

Tai was staring, just staring with dark eyes getting darker and darker.

"Tai-kun?"

"Let me get the phone."

"W-what?"

"You need to get home, now, and you aren't walking in that." He left. Sora just barely heard him talking calmly to her mom.

And then he never came back. Sora ignored the tears flowing down her face for the second time that day and turned to the door and left to wait for her mom in the breezeway in front of the apartment complex.

&&&&&&

"Miyako-neechan, maybe you should go back?"

"Back where?" Miyako looked up from her magazine blinking rapidly as if she had been wholly submerged in it. She hadn't turned a page since she had gotten home.

"To the guy, in the park. Just to make sure he still isn't there."

"That guy was a prick and deserves pneumonia." Miyako turned a page with relish.

"Please, neechan. I'm sure he'll change his mind if he's still there!"

"FINE! JEEZ! I'll go and freeze my bum off for the inconsiderate jerk. You owe me a gumball."

"Okay!"

Miyako hurried through the park seconds later, hoping he wouldn't be there and hoping he would. Then, the bench came in sight and Miyako could just barely see a hunch-over figure. Her heart skipped a bit and her feet moved faster, jumping over deeper puddles and skirting more shallow ones.

"Oi! You ready to go home yet?"

The boy jerked awake and blinked owlishly up at her.

"Go away." He mumbled sleepily.

"YOU FELL ASLEEP! YOU IDIOT! GET UP RIGHT NOW! I'M TAKING YOU HOME!" She grasped his arm and pulled him to his feet.

"You can't just manhandle me!"

"Womanhandle, I'm womanhandling you, get it right." Miyako corrected arrogantly, pulling Daisuke along.

"I live that way, dork."

"Fine." She turned to her left and began marching that way. "You call me a dork again, and I'll start screaming your ear off."

"God, you mean like my bossy sister does?"

"I am a bossy sister. I'm very good at it."

"I hate you."

"Oh yes, I know. Now, stop whining you big baby and move it!"

"Ugh."

They began to bicker in earnest the rest of the way to his house.

&&&&&&

Kitty: Okay, cool. That went okay…if it wasn't five or six in the morning…I might have some emotion left to spare…or energy…hmmm. I hope you…well, enjoy, I guess, though it's a lot about crying…

Good night…