Author: Truth be told, I wasn't expecting to finish this chapter so fast, considering how long it is. Though, I guess the whole Mimi thing was out of nowhere, out of place and out of character.
21
A Fun and Run filled day Off
Tai woke up to the rising sun. Checking his clock sleepily, he had about two hours before the promised meeting time. He quickly gets himself up and fully awakens, or tries to fully awaken. Something had bugged him all night, Alice can sense this. Tai went about as quietly as he could, so that he won't disturb Agumon.
"Hey Alice," Tai began to speak. "I need you to do a favor for me."
"What is it?"
"I want you to keep an eye on my sister today."
"Huh?" the ghost was completely confused.
"There was something wrong with her last night, I could sense it." Tai recalls when Kari nervously rubbed her neck, as did Sora.
"Are you sure?"
"I'm certain," Tai turns to her. "I'd do it myself, but it will only bring up Kari's guard. Besides, I have plans today."
"Plans?"
"I'll see you later," Tai dashes away. "Don't forget to tell me what you find."
"Wha-Hey!" Alice couldn't catch up to him in time. Though he gave her a mission, she'll see it through.
Tai arrived at the spot a few minutes early. Mimi was nowhere to be found. Hopefully she gets here fast before the fangirls do, he could almost smell them. Still, now's probably the best time to do some stretching while waiting.
"Oh wow, you're actually here." Mimi voice reached him from behind.
Tai stood up and dusted himself off a bit. "Yeah, I've got nothing else to do anyway." He turns around to see the usual Mimi, except the morning seemed to make her hair shine a bit more. She was also carrying a small purse. "Where's Palmon?"
"Still sleeping like a log," Mimi smiled. "What about Agumon?"
"The same."
"Well then, shall we get started?" Mimi rushes to his side.
"Ladies first," Tai motioned her to lead the way.
They walked together down the streets towards various stores and into a mall.
"So Tai, do you have any idea of what you'd like to look like?"
"Huh?" Tai looks at her with confusion. "I thought you told me to leave it to you."
"Really?" Mimi thinks for a second. "I don't recall that. All I said was that I had a couple ideas. Surely you must've your own thoughts about what you should look like."
"Not really," Tai told her. "At least nothing specific."
"Oh really?" Mimi puts her head close to his.
"Y-yeah."
"Can you at least tell me what kind of look you want to have?"
"Well," Tai thinks for a bit. "Something, heroic. Yet something that gives off a leadership aura. The kind of look that people can respect, look up to, or even be encouraged by."
"I see…" Mimi takes this information into account. "That's not a lot to work with, but you can count on me!" Mimi takes his hand and drags him around.
"Whoa-Hey! Do you even know where you're going?"
"It's no problem!" Mimi looked back and winked at him. "I managed to memorize where all the best clothing stores are by the fourth day while you were still unconscious."
"I can't tell if I should be impressed or find that weird."
"TK, Kari! Hey!" Matt called out to the two across the street.
"Matt, Sora!" TK, Kari, Gatomon and Patamon quickly went around to find a way across the street.
Matt, Sora, Biyomon and Gabumon waited for them to cross over.
"What are you guys doing here?" Matt asks his little brother.
"We thought we'd spend some time before the soccer tournament. What about you two?"
"Matt asked me to help him get some new shoes for soccer," Sora told them.
"Mine are pretty worn out right now," Matt looks at his feet. "There's no way they'll survive the first round."
"That reminds me," Kari thought out loud. "I better get me some new clothes too. I don't want to ruin this shirt."
"Well, why don't you come with us?" Sora asks them.
"Sure!" Kari smiles.
"Oh boy," TK lands his hand on his head. "This is gonna be trouble."
"I'm not complaining as long as we get food," Gabumon spoke out.
"You're always thinking about food," Biyomon talked back.
"At least he isn't Agumon," Gatomon added.
"Or Guilmon," Patamon joked.
"Alright you guys," Sora giggled. "Let's just get going."
The girls and their digimon led the way as the brothers followed behind them.
"Hey Matt," TK whispered to his brother. "Has Sora been acting strange around you?"
"Why are you asking that?"
"Well, Kari's been acting weird around me lately and I don't know why." TK looks forward to see Kari and Sora talking and giggling. "I think she's hiding something from me."
"I really haven't been paying attention to Sora personally," Matt told him. "Something happened last night between her, Tai and Mimi."
"Last night? Mimi?"
"I don't what happened exactly," Matt looked at Sora's smiling face. "But right now she's masking her pain."
"Wow Matt," TK awed. "That's deep."
"Huh?"
"You really care for her, don't you?" TK smiled.
"I could say the same for you and Kari," Matt replied smiling.
"That's true," TK giggled a little.
"But," Matt got all serious. "You know who is really in her heart right?"
"You're going to end up hurting yourself."
"Nah," Matt looks at him. "I'm only a second shoulder for Sora, even she knows that. I do what I can for her and to try and get that idiot back with her but I know my limits. There's no way I'll be able to replace him. Besides-"
"Eeek!" Matt and TK hear a loud high pitched scream right behind them. "It's Yamato and Takeru!"
The brothers turn around and see a huge crowd of fangirls emerge from a corner.
"Nothing like a little morning exercise right?" TK turned tail and bolted with Matt right behind him.
"SORA! KARI! RUN!"
The girls and their digimon turn to see TK and Matt rush past. They both see the crazy fangirls stampeding towards them.
"H-HEY! Wait for us!" Sora and Kari dashed as fast as they can to catch up with the boys.
"Well, what do you think?" Mimi held up a shirt in front of Tai.
"I am NOT wearing that," Tai pointed in disgust.
"Why? What's wrong with it?"
"It's PINK!" Tai screamed. "I can't wear pink into battle!"
"Well you do want to be seen in the frontlines don't you?"
"Not in that!"
"Just giving you some options," Mimi puts the shirt back onto the rack.
Tai puts his hand to his face, "Options for what? Embarrassing me?"
Tai and Mimi hear a stampede just outside, they turn to see a lot of fangirls running past the store.
"Looks like one of the others has been found," Tai mumbled.
"Should we help them?" Mimi asked.
"Nah," Tai turned back to the clothes. "I want to get this over and done with as quickly as possible."
"Well," Mimi put her finger to her cheek. "Why don't you tell me what kind of colors do you like?"
"Hmm…" Tai thought for a little bit. "Perhaps blue."
"Blue…" Mimi sighed. "Why was I expecting that?"
"What's wrong with blue?"
"You're always wearing blue!"
"Am not!"
"Really?" Mimi inched closer to Tai's face. "Tell me then, when did you not wear blue?"
"Uhh… err…" Tai stumbled to find an answer quickly. "At school, yeah. I don't wear blue to school."
"That's because you didn't have a choice. You would've worn blue if you were given the chance right?"
"Err… y-yeah…"
"I thought so," Mimi sighed again. "Oh well, if that's how you want it…" She started to look around the store for something that matches both her view and Tai's wants. "Let's go to another store then."
Mimi goes out first to see if the coast is clear, then she signals Tai and they both bolt out of the store.
Meanwhile, most of the others were setting up or getting ready for the big soccer tournament later in the day. Takato and the rest of the Tamers were having a small practice match with themselves. Mostly they were trying to remember some of the stuff Tai had taught them before. Of course they're still going to leaving out some of the more difficult stunts such as the bicycle kick.
The names for the four teams were,
Wild Wolf, Matt, TK and Sora's team.
Dragoons, Ryo, Rika and Henry's team.
Grand Knights, Davis, Ken and Barbara's team.
Crimson Flare, Tai, Kari and Takato's team.
The first round will be Wild Wolf vs. Dragoons and Grand Knights vs. Crimson Flare.
"So," Takato started a conversation while practicing his dribbling. "Which team do you think has the best chance of winning?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Ryo asked rhetorically. "Either Tai's team or Sora's team. They're the best soccer players in the tournament."
"Still," Henry adds in. "They're both only one person, just be glad they're not in the same team. They can't win an entire tournament by themselves."
"That's right!" Terriermon joined in. "Sora and Tai are the best soccer players around but it takes more then that to win!"
"That's the spirit!" Ryo cheered.
"We'll still need to come up with something against them though," Rika began to think.
"If you can't compete against Sora head on," Renamon started. "How about you don't compete with her at all?"
"Huh?" Guilmon sounded confused. "What are you talking about?"
"What she's saying is," Cyberdramon explained. "If they enemy is stronger they you, it's best that you don't fight it. But that's not something I would do."
"So just keep the ball away from Sora and we have a good chance of winning," Ryo exclaimed.
"A better chance of winning," Henry corrected. "Matt and TK may not be soccer players but they're still good enough for amateurs like us."
"Amateurs?" Rika sounded annoyed. "Please."
"At least you guys only have Sora to worry about in the first round," Takato spoke out. "I've got Davis, Ken and Barbara to go against."
"Davis and Ken are pretty good players," Ryo told him. "Barbara's just athletic, not a real player but still trouble."
"I don't even know how good Kari is at soccer," Takato groaned.
"Isn't Kari a ballerina?" Guilmon asked.
"What's that got to do with soccer?"
"I dunno."
Henry started to think, "She's probably about as good as us. May be even slightly better, just because she's Tai's sister."
"There's really no point in worrying about all this until the actual game starts anyway," Rika told them all. "Whatever happens, happens."
"Let's all just do our best!" Ryo yelled.
"YEAH!"
"Phew," Kari panted hard, out of breath from running.
"Did we… lose them…?" Sora tried to catch her breath too.
"We did," Kari told her. "But Matt and TK didn't. It looks like we lost Gatomon and Biyomon too."
"Don't worry," Sora put out a calm voice. "I'm sure they'll all be fine. We better get out shopping done while we can though."
"I'm with you!" Kari joined her and they both walked towards various stores.
"So," Sora's tone began to sound serious. "Has anything happened yet?"
"Nothing," Kari's tone matched Sora's. "I'm a little worried."
"So am I," Sora starts to rub her neck. "I just hope we're both wrong though."
Kari rubs her neck also, "With NightmareMyotismon, nothing's for sure."
Alice takes a closer look at both of their necks, she finds band-aids on both of them. Alice doesn't know what to make of it just yet, so she continues to follow the two girls around until more information arises.
"Man," Matt breathed hard after their morning 'exercise'.
"There were a lot more girls then I remember," TK told him.
"It looks like we lost Kari," Gatomon quickly looked around.
"Sora too," Biyomon panicked.
"I don't think there's anything to worry about," Matt calmly told them. "They can handle themselves.
"Plus," Gabumon began. "They're not the ones those crazy fangirls are after."
"Well, what are we going to do now?" Patamon asked.
"We should probably look for them," TK suggested.
"You're right," Matt turned to Biyomon and Gatomon. "Can you guys keep a look out for those fangirls? Here, use my digivice." Matt tosses his digivice to Gatomon.
"You can count on us," Gatomon saluted and she and Biyomon climbed above the buildings.
"TK, use your digivices to track down Sora and Kari."
"On it," TK uses his digivice and find two pairs of lights in the immediate area. "That's strange."
"What is?" Gabumon asked.
"There's another digidestined around here, I wonder who it is?"
"Just focus on Sora and Kari for now TK," Matt looked over the corner and signaled TK to go ahead.
Elsewhere, Davis and Ken were by themselves while Yolei and Cody watched.
"I don't know if I can do commentary," Yolei started. "I don't know as much about soccer as you two."
"Don't worry you'll do fine," Ken comforted her. "I don't think Izzy knows anymore then you do."
"Just do what you always do," Hawkmon added.
"With the teams as they are," Cody started. "I'm sure there's going to be a lot to talk about."
"Yeah," Veemon sounded enthusiastic. "Especially when Davis's team wins the whole tournament."
"Aren't you getting ahead of yourself?" Armadillomon asked him.
"Have you forgotten that Tai and Sora are also in the tournament?" Wormmon puts in.
"I don't think we'll have anything to worry about from them," Ken started. "They're in separate teams, and most of the other players are amateurs anyway."
"Yeah!" Davis yells. "We're definitely going to win all the way."
"Still," Yolei started to think. "I wouldn't underestimate the others if I were you."
"How do you mean?" Hawkmon was curious.
"Well," Yolei sorted her thoughts. "TK's a basketball player and Kari's pretty graceful."
"While you do have a point," Ken interrupted. "TK and Kari can't possibly be that good at soccer."
"TK might not be," Cody joined in. "But Kari is harder to judge, being Tai's sister and all."
"Like Yolei said," Ken started. "Kari's graceful. But she can't be anymore then that."
"By the way," Davis looked around. "Where's Barbara?"
"Oh," Yolei just remembered. "She's with Izzy and HYPNOS, trying to get as much data as possible on NightmareMyotismon's castle."
"Aw, I was hoping to see how good she is."
"From what I heard," Yolei started. "She's been trained to be an Olympic athlete. So she should be pretty good for an amateur."
"Even if she isn't," Ken smiles. "I'm sure Davis and me will be more then enough to handle things on our own. Right Davis?"
"Oh yeah!"
Mimi quickly takes out a shiny blue T-shirt with some silver lining on the shoulders and the sides.
"Well? How does this look?"
"That's actually…" Tai was trying to find a way to describe it. "Very nice." Tai takes the shirt from her and examines it more closely. "But… I think there's still something missing."
"Oh come on," Mimi sighed. "You can't be that picky!"
"I'm not!" Tai replied. "It's just… I don't know."
"Hmm…" Mimi began to think. "I know!" Mimi grabs the shirt again and looks at the back. She quickly runs to the counter of the store. "Say, do you do any special sewing?"
"It all depends on what you want," the attendant answered. "As long as you're willing to wait for it and it isn't too complicated."
"Actually it's very simple," Mimi smiled.
"Mimi," Tai walks up to her. "What are you doing?"
"Oh relax and let me handle this," Mimi reassured him. She took out a pen and a piece of paper from her purse. Tai can't she what's she was drawing. "There!" Mimi held up the sheet of paper to the attendant. "Could you put that on the back of this shirt please? Preferably in gold color."
"It'll be my pleasure," the attendant took the paper and the shirt to the back room. Just as quickly the attendant returned. "It should be ready in a few minutes. Come back later."
"Thank you!" Mimi thanked the attendant and paid for the shirt and the extra costs for the added feature.
"What was that about?" Tai asks her.
"You said there was something missing," Mimi started. "I just filled it in."
"Huh?" Tai just got confused.
"Well, we've gotten you a new shirt," Mimi danced around him. "Is there anything else?"
"Nothing comes to mind, I think I still have enough shorts laying around for me to use anyway."
"Oh we still have time," Mimi drags Tai out of the store. "Let's go!"
"Tai? Mimi?"
Tai and Mimi turn to where the voice came from. They saw two of their digidestined friends staring back at them. TK and Matt.
"What are you two doing here?" one of them asked.
"I was about to ask you the very same thing," Mimi replied.
"Guys!" Biyomon called from above. "You better hurry out of there! Those fangirls are coming this way!"
"Fangirls?" Tai looks at Matt and TK. "You let some crazy fangirls follow you?"
"It's not like we wanted to," Matt yelled back.
"Guys!" TK tried to take the lead. "Now's not the time, we gotta get out of here!"
Tai, Mimi, Matt, TK, Patamon and Gabumon all dashed away as fast as possible with Biyomon and Gatomon followed above them.
"It's no good," Tai started. "We need to split up."
"This way Tai!" Mimi grabs his arm again and drag him into an alley.
"Hey!" Matt stopped only to find the two of them gone. "We're not finished yet Tai."
"Matt!" TK yelled back to him just as the fangirls came around the corner.
"Phew," Mimi panted hard. "I'm not used to all this exercise. How can you stand being chased around like that?"
"I just run," Tai told her.
"You mean you don't fly away?"
"Only if I can't be seen," Tai looks up at the sky. "But I'm unable to use my powers right now."
"What!?" Mimi looked shocked. "Have you lost your power?"
I can't tell her, I can't tell anyone, about Alice. "No, I can still feel it. In order to activate my power, I need my digivice, and I left it behind so I won't get tracked."
"That's a relief," Mimi sighed.
"You've been doing that a lot recently Mimi."
"Doing what?"
"Sighing."
"You have that effect on me."
"Was that a compliment or a complaint?"
"Both."
"Come on, we better leave in case one of them decides to come back."
"No arguments there!"
Tai leads Mimi out of the alleys and into the nearest clothing store. Mimi was quick to spot a matching pair of shorts for Tai's new shirt. A bright white pair with silver sides. A simple enough purchase. Mimi quickly got and paid for it, much to Tai's dismay.
"Well?" Mimi smiled at him. "It looks like that's that."
But Tai was looking around for something, it seems he found it. "Wait for me outside, I'll be right there." Tai rushes over to a store's corner.
"Huh?" Mimi looks over to see where he was going, to a door with a picture of a man on it next to a door with a picture of a woman on it. She suddenly realizes why. "Oh."
Mimi decides to leave by herself and wait for him outside.
"Mimi!" A voice startled her. "What brings you out here?"
Mimi turns to see Sora and Kari, both of them holding some shopping bags. "Sora, Kari! You're shopping too?"
"Yep!" Kari smiled. "We just got ourselves a whole bunch of new clothes."
"I'll say," Sora giggled.
"Yeah," Mimi joined them. "There some fashions here that don't even exist in our world. It's great to see some new and different designs."
All three girls begin to walk away from the store, Mimi quickly takes a look back and finds that Tai isn't finished yet. Good. I don't want Sora to get the wrong idea. I'll need to get her away from here as fast as I can.
In the meantime, Tai just finished with his business.
"Well that was refreshing," Tai steps out of the store. "Where'd Mimi go?" He quickly scans the area and finds three girls leaving the vicinity. He can definitely recognize Mimi, "So that means the other two are Sora and Kari. Guess I better lay low for now."
"Eeeee! It's Tachi Yagami!"
All three girls turn around to see Tai and a whole lot of fangirls behind him.
Because of where Tai was standing Sora knew he just came out of the very same place Mimi came out from.
"Oh man you've got to be kidding me!" Tai began to dash away, right through the three girls who quickly followed.
"Tai!" Kari called to him. "What are you doing here?"
"Not now!" Tai called back. "We need to lose them first!"
"Good luck with that!" Sora looked back to see the fangirls somehow gaining on them.
"Don't worry!" Mimi takes something out from her purse. "I came prepared in case something like this happened. Now hold still Tai."
"What?" Tai feels a bit of his hair get tugged. Tai then hears a loud SNIP sound.
All the digidestined stop running Tai turns around to see Mimi with some clips of his hair in her hand and a pair of scissors in the other.
"CATCH!" Mimi throws the hair in her hand into the sky.
"MIMI!" Tai screams out.
"What are you waiting for? RUN!" Mimi lead the pack away as the crazed fangirls fight for Tai's hair.
"Mimi!" Tai caught up to her. "Why did you do that?"
"Would you rather have been swarmed?"
"No, but couldn't there be another way? One that doesn't involve my hair?"
"But you have so much Tai," Sora giggled.
"Nobody's going to notice if you lose a few," Kari laughed.
"This isn't funny!"
"Come on Tai," Mimi turned to him. "Lighten up. You've got a big tournament to play soon don't you?"
"Oh yeah…" Tai smirks. "Let's head over to the soccer field then!"
Tai runs ahead of everyone and imitates a soccer kick.
GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAL!!!
Author: Looks like I wrote myself into a corner, don't know much about describing soccer so most of it will be off screen and through Izzy and Yolei.
