ooo
Puzzle Pieces
[Chapter 9]
home is where the heart is
*.*.*.*
All eyes were on the small, white, ball as it flew gracefully in the air and into the lone cup. Daisuke and Takeru shared a look of horror while Taichi jumped up and down gleefully.
"She barely made any cups all game!" Daisuke shouted over the cheers as his opponents hugged each other triumphantly. "It's not fair!"
"All's fair in love and beer pong, my young friends!" Taichi hollered, still mid-embrace. "Go ahead, start your rebuttal. Don't mind us while we celebrate!"
While the two boys went to make their final attempts at the remaining cups, Sora tightened her grip around Taichi's waist and looked up at him with a self-satisfied smirk. "You know you never would have won without me, right?"
Cocking his head to the side, Taichi chuckled, "I know you made the last cup and all, but I wouldn't be so smug if I were you. We have plenty more games to play and I'm gonna need you to start sinking more than two shots a game."
She pushed off of him, pretending to look insulted.
"At least one of them was the most important one! That has to count for like, 3 cups, at least."
Laughing heartily in response, Taichi turned to witness Takeru's last comeback throw. Catching the loose ping-pong ball, he punched his free fist into the air victoriously.
"Maybe next time, kiddos!"
Taichi sauntered over and clasped a hand onto Daisuke's shoulder. "Good game, guys," he said, patting his back warmly. "You kept us on our toes."
"We'll get you next time," Takeru smiled as he wrapped a congratulatory arm around Sora.
"What Takeru said! Just you guys wait, this was only a warm up."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, we'll see about that," Taichi mocked. "Who's next on the list?"
"Miyako and Chizuru!" a voice called.
"Alright then, bring up the next victims!"
One by one, the duo quickly knocked out their opponents and found themselves on their fourth-straight win. Taichi would never admit it to Sora, but the alcohol was starting to get to him and he had no idea how much longer he'd be able to keep it up. When did the lights get so bright?
As if she had read his mind, she leaned on him for support and murmured, "How are we still even here?" Drowsily she nuzzled her head in the crook of his neck and a wave of heat rose involuntarily to his face.
He fought the urge to rest his head on top of hers.
"We're just too good," was his simple reply.
They agreed to power through a fifth game, but Taichi's concentration was progressively wavering. Sounds around him amplified. Spots began to dance across his eyes from the glaring overhead lights. All of a sudden he was exceptionally aware of the perfume Sora was wearing and wasn't able to think straight.
Did we just win a fifth game?
Groaning, Sora hooked her arms around his neck and pleaded, "Taichi, I don't want to play anymore. My stomach is so full of beer I'm going to burst!"
"Our secret weapon is wimping out on me?" he teased, trying his best to keep his senses under control.
"More like averting impending dangers," she hiccuped, releasing her hold. Her lingering touch prickled down his spine.
"Alright, I guess we can resign with honor. I'll let the next two teams know they should play each other."
Taichi peeled his eyes away from her and headed toward the game list, mind buzzing.
I probably should slow down on the alcohol…
Shaking his mind clear, Taichi found the next two challengers and let them know that he and Sora would be bowing out of the next game. He turned to head back to the table, but was stopped in his tracks by a sudden outburst to his left.
What now?
He strained his neck over the crowd to find that someone had just walked through the front door.
You've got to be kidding me.
A swarm of bodies completely covered the newcomer. Indistinct, feminine squeals and shouts carried across the apartment making Taichi's blood run cold. There was no mistaking who had just entered his home and he hated himself for forgetting he'd have to deal with this sooner or later.
No, no, no, no, no.
Time slowed down and sped up, all at once. Taichi watched as blonde hair parted through the pressing crowd, inching its way to the center of the living room. His head was spinning as he tried to think of ways to avoid the inevitable. Maybe if he was quick enough, he could pull her into the kitchen undetected…
The new arrival found a clearing in the room and swiveled his head around, taking in the rest of the apartment. Taichi stood rooted to the ground, inwardly pleading that his old friend wouldn't notice them yet, but sapphire eyes swiftly transfixed just past his own chocolate ones and Taichi's heart sank. He wasn't prepared for this.
Instinctively, he glanced sideways at Sora, her eyes wide in recognition. Taichi looked back just in time to see a small smile grace Yamato's face.
He really wasn't prepared for this.
*.*.*.*
