The resonant sound of the clicking that her heels made indicated she was alone. Not that Mimi minded. Staying after recording for the day was over made it all too easy for her to slip into her "Just-Another-Girl" mode. It was that much easier to fool herself. Tachikawa Mimi- age: 38; personal status: single, no children; occupation: idol; Chosen Child of Junshin.

Culture shock. That's what most 13-year-olds would call after having their life interrupted when their parents decide to up and emigrate to America.

But not Mimi. She loved the bright neon lights and Broadway thrills of Times Square. Fashionable boutiques on 5th Avenue, her brand new private school on the Upper East Side, how her uniform didn't clash- cream cloured blazer and a charcoal pleated skirt. She could finally wear her favourite pair of white platform boots on a daily basis. But most of all, the enormous brownstone her parents bought with a perfect picturesque view of Central Park. Mimi made the 'necesarry' trips back to Odaiba on behalf of the new set of Chosen, whom she genuinely liked, she'll admit also to show off her new hairstyle and beau. Naturally, Sora stood mouth agape at her best friend's cherry-highlighted, star-studded pink mane with Michael Fitzwalter (A/N: I chose names for Mikey and his Dad), son of international action superstar Mick Fitzwalter. It only got better when they found out he was one of the American Chosen. But Mimi would also admit that their relationship was more of friendship and cameraderie, than romance.

And that was fine. She had come back to Japan and began frequenting Digi World to see Yamato. Mimi had only begun her freshman year at Oxdale Academy when she found herself thinking more and more about the budding teen idol. She wondered why he often came to mind when she thought of home. Her new found popularity among her American peers skyrocketed during the battle with Belial Vamdemon as the Holidays were fast approaching when they discovered she was a Chosen, her little pink book was growing thicker with many a young man's cell phone number and e-mail address. But she rejected them all. Too short, too young, no style, no manners, immaturity, etc. Mimi caught herself picking for flaws in each prospective conquest. Why? She knew now. She was waiting for Yamato. And she knew they rarely spoke or interacted with one another, sure they shared the same social circles and similar cliques what with them trying to get into show business, they personally didn't mix. And Mimi knew that during their first trials in Digi World, the 11-year-old Yamato was less than impressed with her prissy and snobbish nature. Hell, he was downright irritated by her. And sensing his discomfort around her when they did meet up during that picnic it didn't change. The initial attraction? Ten to one: physical. He was around Taichi's height, 6'0", the longish unkempt-style hair, a somewhat athletic build from his activities on the high school basketball and Ju-jitsu teams, the ever-present bass guitar strapped to his back, and leather bomber jacket. Yamato was a walking enigma. He was moody, somewhat paranoid, and his ice blue eyes were always slitted, as if always in suspicion. Yamato never felt the need to open up and discuss his problems, thoughts, or whatever he was feeling at that precise moment. Mimi had no qualms with that. Some things are best kept unsaid. And it made very little sense to him to bring up the past or reminisce. Look to the future, Mimi always said. Why waste time on old memories when you can be creating new ones.

And they both hated the Holiday Season. Well, she began hating it when Daisuke accompanied Micheal and herself when they set out to search for the international Chosen and Digiportals. Amidst the chaos they finally were able to relax and catch up on some well deserved sleep whilst flying in Mr. Fitzwalter's private jet. Michael was in the cockpit navigating, as his father piloted. Betamon, Palmon, and V-mon were up in the luggage compartments nestled in quilts dead to the world. Mimi had just put her latest issue of Seventeen in the rack built into the fuselage's wall beside her. Mimi looked over to Daisuke staring out the window in an attempt to distract himself.

'Dai-kun?'

The sixth-grader looked over to the once again brunette teenager.

'Doushite no, Mimi-chan?'

'Daijoubu? You've been looking... well, flighty all night.'

'Well we are in a jet at the moment, Mimi-chan.'

She folded her arms over her Anne Taylorbuttery-textured wintergreen suede coat. 'That's not what I meant and you know it.' Defeatedly, Daisuke turned his attention back to the window. He laid his gloved hands on the plexiglass.

'Taichi....'

Mimi dropped her arrogant posture and leaned forward, gripping the armrests. 'What about Taichi-kun?'

'He's going through a rough patch now.'

'Meaning?' She prodded.

'Romance issues.'

Mimi cut her eyes away defensively. 'What's Sora-san's problem now?' Daisuke paused for a long moment.

'Yamato....'

'Yamato?!' Daisuke immediately picked up on the slight catch in her voice. His eyes narrowed a bit when he angled his head in her direction. It was not his place to ask.

'She's seeing Yamato now.' And he proceeded to tell her about the incident before Yamato's first televised concert at the mall. The bombshell of all bombshells. It was an old tale, really. Such friendships that could only be broken by the love of one woman. People were really cruel. And the world was changing right before her eyes. But the funny thing was, Mimi wasn't going to give up on loving him. 'He may need it somewhere down the road.' Until then Mimi made a hasty return to The States with Palmon after Imperialdramon blasted Belial Vamdemon into oblivion once and for all in order to plan out her idol career. Mimi had gotten modeling jobs for Macy's, Spiegel, and Popular Club catalogues, but being a Chosen now had its perks aside from risking her life for the sake of two worlds. The job offers from YM, Cosmopolitian Girl, Seventeen, FHM, and the like were pouring in! She promptly signed on with the prestgious Fabiani Agency, owned by the legendary Ariella Fabiani. Fabiani was born in Naples and emigrated to The States after WW II when she was a toddler. In 1963 she was coronated Miss New York State and was 1st runner up for Miss America. One of the agents from YM sent Mimi with her composite to the Fabiani Agency. Knees knocking Mimi was ushered into the office of Her Greatness after Ariella had commented to one of the executives that she had 'a feeling' about their new girl. And her feeling could never been more right.

Cover Girl, Maybelline, Max Factor and Revlon put a bid in each and by the end of the week Mimi had 18 bookings for the top four American cosmetics distributors. Her native Shiseido had her scheduled for a commercial, there were two to be taped- one in Enlglish, the other in Japanese. The perfumeries were not too far behind. She was in advertisements and commercials for Bvlgari Blv, and Mimi's personal favourite White Shoulders. Then she was shipped to L.A. for a mock early 80's glam rock music video commercial for Exclamation! The director had Mimi prance about in a club on Rodeo Drive to a medley of The B52's, Blondie, Cyndi Lauper, and The Knack tunes. She was garbed in a teal strapless, satin and frill dress, white patent leather stilettos, and black lace fingerless opera gloves. Her tangerine corkscrew curly hair drawn up in a ponytail atop her head, held by a mylar silver bow. Exaggerated glitter make up was painted on her face. Mimi found herself in Paris, now a dusky blonde and the only female in an all-male cabaret kicking their heels to 'An American in Paris' for an Exclamation! Blush commercial taped on Champs-Elysees. Mimi dressed in the latest French spring fashion, with an appropriate pink flavouring. A white bustier pink polka dotted dress, a white wide brimmed hat, and a pink parasol trimmed in white lace. Tiny pink bows on the back of the heels of the pumps and kid gloves.

Mimi was settling into her freshman year at NYU where she was majoring in Theatre Arts. She was now 19 and confident enough to put her modeling on the backburner for a couple of semesters. Mimi had just walked into her walk-up on East 18th street from a hellish day at D' Agostino's, when the phone rang.

*RING! RING! RING!*

'COULD YOU GET THAT PALMON?!' Mimi shouted in the direction of her bedroom.

'HAI!' A few moments of blissful silence later Palmon called her to pick up the extention in the living room.

'Hello?'

'Mimi! Sweetie! I'm glad I caught you at home!' A familiar male voice said over the line.

'Jack, this better be important!' Jack Alderman was Mimi's acting agent.

'Well that all depends.'

'Would you call Peter Engel Productions important?' Mimi braced herself on her polished end table.

'What're you saying?'

'I'm saying the role of "Suzuko 'Suzie' Tanaka" is yours if you want it.' The neighbours downstairs threatened to call the police if Mimi wouldn't stop screaming. Peter Engel was one of the leading producers for many teen TV serials, one of them was 'All About Us' a popular new NBC teen series starring singing teen sensation Alecia. The writers wanted to give Alecia a healthy competitor and decided to import teen J-Pop idol 'Suzuko "Suzie" Tanaka', modeling her character after Co Co Lee and Amuro Namie who began hittng the Western scene a few years back. Mimi debuted her character singing the first song she ever wrote 'Super Girl'. After making regular appearances on the show for two-and-a-half seasons she bowed out, much to her American fandom's disappointment. Desperate for a life and scenery change, Mimi put herself and Palmon on the first available JAL flight back to Tokyo. She promptly moved into a spacious flat in the Roppongi district and resumed her college career at Tokyo University, where not only theatrical arts kept her busy, but ever since she hosted that PBS special 'In The Kitchen at Sardi's' upon graduation she was accepted into the elite Tokyo Culinary Arts Institute.

But Toei wouldn't allow her to shake the acting bug. Mimi found herself in a ludicrous futuristic studio somewhere in Yokohama portraying the the role of 'Cadet Sonoda Natsuki' a.k.a.'Star Pink' of the latest sentai series 'Galaxy Corps Task Force Starranger' (A/N: Once again, as a lover of sentai shows [NOT "Power Rangers", there's a difference!] would someone like to translate this? I'm begging you!). And upon the 52-episode completion of the series, Sigma Seven****** had their attorneys prepare a contract for Mimi to provide the voice talent for 'Elara', the ditsy female android from the best-selling manga 'Twin Signal'. Back in 1999 the three-part OAV of 'Twin Signal' was a success, but producers were reluctant to do an actual serial of it. Now with a 24-episode deal with TV Tokyo******* 'Twin Signal' fans were going to get a taste of heaven. Then TV Tokyo had her going back to her signature pink 'do for the live-action internationally theatrical release of 'Shoujo Kakkumei Utena: Adolescence no Mokushiroku', with Mimi as the feminist prince 'Tenjou Utena', and the freshly dyed violet-haired Amuro Namie as 'Bara no Hanayome, Himemiya Anthy'. It earned Mimi her Academy Award for Best Actress In A Foreign Film.

Finally after all of the hype wound down, Mimi was finally able to attend and graduate The Institute and TV Tokyo gave her a contract for her own cooking show. 'In The Kitchen with Tachikawa Mimi & Palmon' was yet another screaming success. But wearing the same frilly pink apron and not being allowed to do anything with her hair eventually ate at her. She had recently closed the book on her seven season long culinary series, took the perm out of her hair, streaked her wild chianti mane with rose, and returned to her J-Pop idol and acting roots. She had signed a 5-year contract with 81 Produce** in order to revive her once active seiyuu career, which was proving to pay off. Toei*** was on a current high from their newest hit shoujo anime series 'Love Is On The Air' (A/N: If anyone would like to help me on a Japanese translation for the title, drop me a line! I gurantee you'll get full credit!). A romantic comedy about Maeda Ai****, relationship therapist and radio talk show host and Kazama Yuuto*****, a champion motorcycle racer whom she aides and unwittingly breaks up his engagement. So enraged is Kazama, that he confronts her and over the course of carefully plotted embarrassing situations and meetings that a mutual attraction is birthed. The plot was pure cliche and so preposterous that it just had success written all over the script that was first handed to her. Naturally, Mimi was selected to perform the lead role of the good doctor. She hungrily accepted the part. Mimi wanted to work- NEEDED to work for the sake of her sanity. She loved getting up at the crack of dawn, racing out of her custom built town house by 7:30, be at the studio by 9:00 for the arduous rehearsals and mind-numbing rants from the directors. This job would be heavenly, save for one thing....

Mimi went for the door handle to the rehearsal hall only to her shock it abruptly was thrown open and a body crashed into hers. Sheet music, next week's script, and a novel spilled to the yellowing linoleium.

"Itai...." The blonde male hissed, left hand rushing to cradle his forehead. Mimi took a tentative step backward and sized up her 'assailant'. Ishida 'Matt' Yamato- age: 39; personal status: divorced (Takenouchi Sora), 2 children (Ishida Akira, 13 and Ishida Reina, 9); occupation: former teen idol and retired astronaut for the JSDF; Chosen Child of Yuujou. At the tender age of 10 Ishida Yamato received his first acoustic guitar for his birthday. Clumsily strumming the chords at first, his distinct signature melancholy melodies were already forming. By the time he was 15 he was called a bassist virtuoso and his high school band The Teen-Age Wolves had clawed their way up the J-Rock charts to overnight stardom. Adopting the nickname 'Matt', he attempted to target the foreign teen audiences- mainly American- and his first all-English track 'Turn Around' made its debut on the soundtrack of the Americanized version of 'Digimon Adventure' TV series. Yamato, along with the rest of The Chosen were not happy with the American cut of the anime, but for the most part were horrified at the way they were portrayed as being petty and overtly immature. All of The Chosen sued Fox Kids and Saban for defimation of character. They settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

The Teen-Age Wolves continued to fly high with their international number one single 'Tobira ~Door~' , and released several CDs over the course of four years. But fame caught up to them and Yutaka, Takahashi, Akira, and Yamato began to squabble over creative and financial aspects. It eventually escalated to physical violence and the band members were only commiunicating through their solicitors. A break up was anticipated and most welcome. Shirking all responsibilities and so disillusioned with the entertainment business Yamato reluctantly attended Odiaba University in search of a new reality. To paraphrase his first four years at school, he was a star obsessed with the stars. Now armed with a Ph. D in astrophysics and a Master's in engineering, he was ready and joined the JSDF purposely for its space program. He married his high school sweetheart, budding fashion designer Takenouchi Sora and two children followed. At 32 he was the youngest and first astronaut to step on Mars' surface, Gabumon his steadfast partner became the first Digimon. He was content. Yamato had done everything he wanted and had everything and everyone he wanted.

Then why was the silence killing him?

Reina was 7 and Akira was 11. Reina was proving to be her mother's daughter already, so fiercely independent and a soccer goalie powerhouse at Odaiba Shougakuen (A/N: I BELIEVE that is the proper Japanese term for "elementary school"). Akira had inherited his father's musical talents as well as Yamato's blues harp. So confident was the boy, that he secretly began to take his father's old acoustic and teach himself the chords. Frustrated at first, Akira eventually got the hang of the fingerboard and his first melodies emerged. Only Reina and Ichijouchi Kaori, Ichijouchi Ken and Miyako's eldest child who was also 11 knew about the Akira's secret, and would sometimes be allowed to look on in order to judge his progress. But in the end they would always cheer him on. What they did not know was that Yamato would plant himself on the staircase of the second landing listening in, grinning impishly eyes misting over. The kids weren't spending as much time at home as they once did. Soccer practice, dance class, martial arts, school band, sleepovers, and play dates (A/N: I DESPISE this term, but I don't know what else to use!) soon took over. Sora and Biyomon spent hours upon hours scribbling designs and various brainstoms, choosing materials or colour patterns in their little private office or call in overtime at the studio. Yamato would be at the base all of the time save for his lunch hour, but now that he had obtained a the rank of Lieutenant Commander, his lunch hour was as long as he wanted. Hopping on his Fireblade******** he would fly back to the house, go up to the attic and sit and stare at a dust-coated canvas guitar case in the far corner for hours at a time.

'You're just stalling, bastard.'

Sora was calling him for dinner. Another night to the two of them. Akira spending the night at Something-or-other Soujiro's. At least he knew the kid was nice and his drumming skills weren't too shabby. Reina was with her grandmother helping her out at an ikebana convention somewhere in Nerima for the weekend. Friends rarely came over since the incident at Mimi's place occurred. Mimi was hosting a dinner party for The Chosen a few of years back, and naturally Sora and Yamato were absent. Taichi fed up with his supposed 'best friends' brazen attitudes that he phoned them and tried to get them to come over. A screaming match between him and Yamato ensued. And it ended with Yamato getting the last word. 'Taichi! What the fuck is your problem?! If we didn't show up tonight, then maybe that's telling you Sora and I are not up to some damned dinner party! Maybe it's also telling you that I want to spend some time with my wife!!!'

They were no longer invited face to face to any gathering for fear of another explosion. If they heard about it, were e-mailed, or a voice message was left for them it was their choice. Yamato pushed his food around the plate with his chopsticks. Sora barely picked at hers. Beef pot stir fry, their favourite. 'A- anou... Yamato....'

'Ah, Sora?'

She fiddled with her napkin nervously. 'Do you... I mean, have you....'

'Nani yo?' Yamato swallowed his last bit of carrot.

'I think we should divorce.' There. It was finally said. 'I'm lonely and so are you.'

'Hai.' Yamato cleared his plate and left the table. Sora breathed a sigh and swiped at her forehead. It was over. The silence stopped. The house was sold, she rented a loft, he bought a beach house. The kids stayed with her during the school week and he got them on weekends. Sora became a constant presence at the fashion shows, now producing them no longer feeling guilty about calling in overtime. She lost 15 pounds and began to like wearing a swimsuit again.

Yamato was honourably discharged, grew his hair out, and returned to the gym 3 days a week. Takahashi, Yutaka, and Akira were frequent guests at the beach house. The neighbours complained that the music was too loud, but a producer from Sony didn't agree. Thrown into the public eye once more and now loving it, The Teen-Age Wolves who had been long dead, YAMATO was born. A play on his name, and after all it was the ancient name for Japan. But Yamato preferred 'Matt' to stifle confusion. Fangirls old and new flocked to the concerts. The old anthems of 'Walk On The Edge' and 'Negai Kanaeru Kagi' resurfaced on bootleg CDs, tapes, and MP3's on Napster 3000 before they were re-released. But now older and wiser, their new songs like'Truth' were written based on experience instead of hormones. 81 Produce contacted Yamato about performing a 'small' part for the upcoming 'Gundam X' theatrical release film. He agreed to an audition, considering he was in the middle of filming the 'YAMATO: Behind The Scenes' commemerative DVD. 81 Produce submitted Yamato's tape to TV Tokyo, and they were so enthralled that he was given the leading male role and he and his band were commissioned to be on the soundtrack. Ishida Yamato was now a veteran and one of the marquee names of 81 Produce. His latest project, 'Love Is On The Air' performing leading male role, 'Kazama Yuuto'.

Twin glares met and Mimi attempted to walk past him, right through Yamato if need be. He shifted using his martial artist's grace and blocked her entrance.

"Buai sou da ne."*********

Mimi flinched a little. "You would be the expert. Doi deku re yo."*********

"You dropped your stuff," Yamato pointed out, indicating the mess on the floor. Mimi dropped to one knee and gathered her papers.

"So what were you doing in the rehearsal hall?" She pretended not to notice that his black dress shirt was partially hanging open as he rearranged himself. He did every button save for the first two, tucked his shirt into his tight, stonewashed Levis and combed his near shoulder-length hair with his fingers.

"None of your business." He casually took the hardcover book from Mimi's arm, as she placed her sheet music in the cover of her script. She huffed as Yamato studied the title printed on the pink jacket. "'The Princess Diaries'." His English was as crisp and near perfect as hers. He flipped his eyes at her with the 'you can't be serious' look. It was juvenile, she knew, but it was fun read and quite nostalgic. Those bygone Digital days when she wished she was a princess.

"You wouldn't undertstand," Mimi took back her book and tucked it under her arm.

"I really wouldn't give a shit." Yamato drew out a cigarette from his pack of Dunne Hills with his lips. Mimi shook her head. 'Like father, like son.' He lit the cancer stick with a silver plated Zippo which its engravement read:

"Who's Roxie?" Yamato blew a cloud of carcinogen over her shoulder.

"That's also none of your business." He proceeded to walk to the exit. "Don't worry Mimi-chan," Yamato said without looking back, "you'll have plenty of time to pick yet another fight with me on Monday. Have a nice weekend. Ja."

"You fucking bastard!" Mimi had made sure he was well out of hearing range when she made that little pleasant comment. Sighing the sigh of the downtrodden, she entered the rehearsal room only to find she was not alone. She felt a catch in her chest when she saw a familiar auburn-haired intern by the name of Kyoko re-applying some make up.

"Gomen nasai!" She dropped her mirror and began stuffing things into her leather shoulder bag. Her cotton lavender dress was wrinkled. She hastily put her white headwrap back around her mussed hair. "Suimasen, Tachikawa-san! Suimasen...." She bowed lower than usual and scampered out like rabbit would from a glen, upon picking up the scent of incoming poachers. Kyoko was a student at Tokyo University, so she would be 21, 22 at most? Mimi pulled out her slim, metallic pink Nokia cell phone from her skirt pocket and punched the memory button, for a number she knew by heart.

Comfortably ensconced in a booth at a Friendly's in Downtown Odaiba, Mimi sipped her ice water and looked pensively at her companion across the glass top table. Digital World Ambassador Yagami Taichi studied the faux leather laminated menu.

Yagami Taichi- age: 39; personal status: divorced (Makino Ruki [A/N: Yes, THAT Makino Ruki! Call me crazy, but I think they would have made a great team butting heads and all.]), 1 child (Yagami Taichi Jr., 13); occupation: former J-Leaguer and World Cup title holder, retired JSDF Naval fleet captain and Japanese liason to the United States J.A.G. Corps; Chosen Child of Yuuki.

"So, how it goes?"

"Huh?" Taichi looked up in suprise.

"I asked how have you been?"

He nodded non-committedly. "Heki, heki. Up to my eyeballs in paperwork though." Mimi laughed the image of the state of his office at the United Nations.

"You that bored?"

"Not really. Agumon provides the necesarry relief."

"I bet." Taichi nodded.

"Won three games in a row last week."

Mimi blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"T.J.'s soccer team won three games last week."

"Oh! Oh, Taichi-chan!" Mimi tapped her forehead with the pads of her fingers. "It totally slipped my mind that you were coaching."

"Ah."

"Thought Ted Turner suckered you into doing a celebrity game again!" Taichi burst out laughing at the memory of a celebrity soccer game he did for D.A.R.E.five years back. After Ben Afleck decided to go for a more agressive play, tackling Taichi throwing his back out of alignment, thus having to stretcher him off the field.

"Nope, no. I'll play the occasional game in the park, but all that's for the young now. For T.J."

"I take it that he's with his mother for the week."

Taichi turned to face out the window. He nodded matter-of-factly. No he didn't hate Ruki, on the contrary he was still very much in love with her. But the constant separation added to their very demanding schedules didn't leave them enough time for eachother. They broke under the strain. Neither of them were entirely sure who shared their bed any more. But lifes goes on. Taichi kept the house in Odaiba, both had joint custody of T.J. but he was living with his father. Ruki moved back to West Shinjuku with her Renamon when a shrine took her on, but for the most part for her to be closer to her old artist friend Matsuda Takato and his Guilmon (A/N: YES, I like RUKATO!).

"Sora came to see me a few nights ago."

"She did?" Mimi asked flatly. They paused their conversation briefly when the waitress came by with their orders. A juice-drenched T-bone steak with a side of wild rice for Taichi and a can of Yebisu. Mimi was served a French onion dip sandwich on a croissant, a cup of tangy warm dipping sauce, and lightly salted and peppered fries. A tall, thick mocha latte shake topped off with whipped cream and hot strawberry syrup.

"You haven't really... talked in years." She commented taking up the glass bottle of Heinz and beating the bottom of it until a glop of ketchup sloughed out.

"I know," he said inbetween bites. A gulp of beer and another long pause. "She, um...."

"Yes?" Mimi said before sinking her teeth into her dinner.

"She uh, asked me... to umm, make love to her." The contents of Mimi's sandwich splattered onto her plate. She put the bread down and wiped her fingers on the cloth napkin.

"Say what?"

"Sora begged me for sex. I'm not exaggerating."

"I never said you were," Mimi sighed. "Aahh... isn't it always like that?"

Taichi lowered his eyes at the irony....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'So, you're not... angry with me?' Sora asked. Her cheeks flared by the relief, or the Christmas chill. Taichi shook his head gravely and placed his hands softly on her shoulders.

'Iie. So why don't you go in there and wish Yamato-kun a Merry Christmas for me.' Sora happily nodded and walked into the stadium's back entrance' vestibule. She turned back to look at Taichi, hugging Yamato's meticulously wrapped gift.

'Arigato gozaimsu, Taichi.' With that, she walked out of his life.

'And I'll be right here waiting....'

"One night can't erase 20-odd years of pain." He let himself fall back on the bench, arms hanging limp. "Naruhodo, I got tired of waiting. Mimi-chan... I'm so tired I can't even see straight."

"Anou, Taichi..."

"Mmm?"

"I think Ken and Miyako are... cheating on one another."

"So are we all meeting at Daisuke's place tonight, or what?"

Parking her white Mercedes in front of the Aoiya, Sora felt relaxed after putting in a good 13 or so hours at the studio. She checked her Movado white gold watch: 10:15 P.M. It was relatively late, but this little informal gathering was the only time during the week where she could truly kick back and be with her friends... and Taichi.

Takenouchi Sora- age: 39; personal status: divorced (Ishida Yamato), 2 children (Ishida Akira, 13 and Ishida Reina, 9); occupation: fashion designer; Chosen Child of Aijou. The mid-September breeze wafted through her shoulder-length copper tresses that was neatly parted and held back with a badly tarnished daisy hairclip. She looked at her sideview mirror once more and applied another light coating of Brassy lipstick. Sora hadn't bothered to change and she considered what she wore at the office all day was decent enough for her old crew. She wore black satin slacks, a low cut V-neck white crocheted sweater that fell to her hips, a rope of pearls knotted at her navel, and black Dior pumps. Her nails were lengthy and painted a silky red. She ignored the 'CLOSED' sign hanging from the other side of the glass door and let herself in. "Koban wa, minna."

"Oy, Sora!" Daisuke said waving a spatula from the other side of the kitchen counter.

"Hi!" Miyako said jumping to hug her friend. Ken, looking exhausted just waved. Like Sora, neither of them bothered to change out of their work clothes. Ken wore his grey suit, blazer hanging on the back of his chair, maroon tie loosened, and his gun holster still dutifully strapped around his torso. Miyako wore a long white pin striped, deep navy skirt and a billowy cream coloured silk blouse. The end of her mauve hair was tied off with a black scarf. They were both seated at the table drinking white wine.

"Where are the kids?" Sora queried.

"My sister's," Miyako replied. Miyako took one of the stem glasses arranged in a circle in the center of the large table and filled it for Sora.

"Domo. I'm suprised your mother didn't volunteer, Ken."

He grinned wryly. "She would have if she and Tou-san didn't have tickets to see 'The Sting' tonight."

"Is that here already? Which cast- American or British?" Miyako raised an incredulous brow, whilst taking a sip.

"Mouchiron, American. After all they did perform at the Tony's."

"Hey people." Taichi said walking in. He abandoned his three-piece for more comfortable attire, dressed in black jeans, his favourite soccer jersey, and a peppermint blue and white Columbia windbreaker he sat beside Ken.

"DUDE!!!"

"Yo Daisuke."

Steam rose from the grill and Daisuke tossed more brown rice into the gigantic cooking wok. "Where the hell have you been Mr. Big Shot Motherfucker?"

"That's Ambassador Big Shot Motherfucker to you, little shit! And F.Y.I., just in case you have yet to see that I'm not all sunshine I just came back from three days in hell."

Ken bummed a smoke off his wife. "Where did the consulate send you this time?" Taichi leaned backward in his seat.

"GITMO."

"CUBA?!" Sora shouted.

"What the fuck's going on down there Taichi?" Miyako said leaping from her chair.

"What's up Castro Jr.'s ass this time?" Daisuke asked.

Taichi raked his fingers roughly through his hair, mussing it up into a shorter version of his trademark mop. "It's not that- not yet."

"Then would you mind filling us in before we hear it on the news?" Sora piped up.

"An inquiry. A bullshit inquiry!"

"What's bullshit?" A slam of the glass door and Mimi made her way to the group. "What I miss?"

"Tom Cruise over here," Miyako said jutting her thumb in Taichi's direction, "may need 'A Few Good Men' if things don't swing right because of this Cuba incident."

"Oh!" The beauty queen said digging through her shoulderbag. "You mean the Mammothmon fenceline accident at Guantanimo Bay! Taichi told me all about it."

"'Mammothmon fenceline incident'?" Ken said, arching an eyebrow.

"Ugh," Mimi said collapsing into her chair. "It was a HUGE misunderstanding. And if it hadn't been for Jyou-kun-"

"-Then we would have had a major international catastrophe on our hands," Kido Jyou walked in and on his heels was Izumi Koushiro.

"But it was embarrassing nonetheless." Koushiro added as an afterthought. Daisuke and Mimi began setting the table and Taichi emerged from the kitchen wheeling out a cart with a large wok sitting atop it. Daisuke's patented chili ramen was quickly dished out, and from the grill- his restauraunt's centrepiece- was yakitori dripping with soy sauce. Miyako was making her way from the bar with a six-pack of Asahi beers when Takeru walked in. She quickly turned away from his entrance and handed a beer to her husband before cracking one open for herself. Seemingly no one took notice as the Chosen were occupied with chattering and eating, but from the corner of his eye Taichi quickly took note. The novelist was greeted by everyone with bear hugs and Mimi and Sora took turns bussing him, still reguarding him as that 8-year-old who whined about having to walk in Digi World. Miyako tepidly hugged Takeru, his mannerisms oddly matching hers. He took one of the four empty seats sitting himself next to Sora, across the table safely from Miyako and Ken.

"Define 'embarrassing' Koushiro." Ken said carefully picking at his kebab.

"Well it went like this...." Mimi effectively tuned out her company and focused on the swan-necked green bottle. She expertly untwisted the flimsy wire braid and Koushiro had to pause briefly from telling the story when the cork ejected into the air causing applause and cheers. Mimi laughed like a lunatic reminiscent of her Digital days of Mimi-Ohimesama. Giving her glittering pink nails the once-over for any polish chipping or breakage she poured the carbonated spirit into several flutes. "I'm feelin' good tonight!" Taichi exclaimed hoisting his glass before downing its contents in a single gulp. Mimi went to refill Taichi's glass when she stopped short upon seeing three more arrivals. "When we heard all the clapping we knew we missed something good," giggled Yagami Hikari Langley.

"And that must be it." Hida Iori pointed to the champagne bottle Mimi was holding. "Get me a glass will 'ya Daisuke-kun?" Ishida Yamato, leaning against the doorframe took one more drag off his cigarette, before flicking the butt into the street. Daisuke disappeared into the kitchen to hunt for more glassware, and placed two more champagne flutes on the counter.

"Ken," Daisuke called to him.

"Yeah?"

"Give those glasses out, please?" Ken swallowed hard.

"Sure." Iori happily swiped a glass from Ken's grip, Hikari averted her gaze and was in a hurry to return to her seat. Yamato roughly spun his chair around so the backrest faced his chest. He tossed a wayward blond lock from his eyes and lit up once more. Exhaling from his nostrils, Yamato became cognizant at the fact that Mimi had not decided to change for this evening. Her telltale pink boat-necked top left her right shoulder bare, and the black slim skirt rode down on her hips. Her vintage T-strap heels pummeled the marble flooring loudly, giving Yamato his much anticipated headache early. The fashion diva, subjugating herself to join the commonfolk? Unlikely. Yamato was then pleasantly interrupted by Daisuke, who shoved an icy Rolling Rock longneck into his chest. The Chosen of Yuuki and Yuujou knew full well that one of Japan's premiere rock idols would still, blatantly, brutally refuse any of the 'Frenchy shit'. Mimi was casting her co-star sidelong glances from the grill as she was helping herself, observing keenly as Yamato gnawed on his cigarette deciding on the best way to remove the bottlecap. He angled the bottle with the edge of the cap poised along the backrest. Simultaineously as Yamato slammed down his fist on the cap, he swiped the bottle from underneath it freeing the mouth. The tin cap landed on the floor with a clatter. Mimi saw the wisps of fabric making up the apholstery torn from Yamato's disdainful maneuvers. She rolled her eyes focusing on the yellowing stains in the corner of the ceiling. "An-im-al." She muttered under her breath intentionally drawing out each syllable.

"To your health, Ta-chi-ka-wa." Mimi whipped her head around to see Yamato smirk evilly, toast her, then took two deep draughts. Mimi wouldn't allow herself to take this, she strutted past him. Yamato cackled victoriously, and all life ceased in the restauraunt. "And there she goes! Run away, Tachikawa like you always- eh?!" Yamato's jaw hit the floor when he saw her finish off her glass of champagne, clutch bag in hand, and storm toward the front door. "C- chotto..."

"Kami-sama...." Miyako whispered in an alcohol induced haze.

"Don't you walk away from me, Tachikawa! Tachikawa!" He followed her.

"Kisamara...." Taichi growled and ready to leap into the frey, but was restrained by Daisuke and Jyou. Sora, wildly begging Taichi to let them be. Mimi ignored the scene as best as she could and continued her beeline for the door.

"CHOTTO MATTE YO!" Yamato bellowed, grasping her arm violently. Mimi gawped at his hands on her body, her lip curled in disgust, ranking it with a scorpion priming to sting her. Drawing her free arm back, she launched her hand to come down full-force across Yamato's face. Instinctively Ken reached round to his holster, and before Hikari could stop him he fired a round up into the ceiling from his .44 automatic.

"Chickshou!" Daisuke swore as he saw pieces of plaster crush the glasses and land on the food. Hikari fell to her knees after latching herself to Ken's arm in a desperate attempt for him to lower his weapon. "KEN-CHAN YAMETE!" Miyako was already in Takeru's arms, her hands clamped over her ears. A tear of blood trickled down Yamato's cheek from a papercut-deep wound made from Mimi's sculpted nails.

"Get your hands off me," she croaked. It was more mechanical than willing, but Yamato loosed her. His glare was so transfixed on Mimi, he seemed to stare right through her. "I swear," she began, "if you EVER lay a finger on me again I will have your ass thrown in jail, have you brought up on sexual assault charges, and strip you of everything you're worth." Mimi hissed. "I'd especially love ripping that piece of shit jazz bass away from you."

Mimi threw open the glass door and before she slammed it in his face she made one final comment. "Okaa-san was right! You are nothing but street trash from the wrong side of the tracks!" Then she slammed the door in his face and ran for her silver Jaguar parked across the street. After a lengthy thoughtful pause, Iori finally spoke.

"Well... we'd better start cleaning up." Iori went into the kitchen and rummaged for some cleaning supplies. Jyou and Daisuke were forced to drag Taichi out onto the oudoor seating area to cool him off before he could veritably kill Yamato. Yamato stood, frozen to his spot at the door, his hand nursing his injured cheek. Sora shot her ex-husband and angry look, but as always, he didn't notice. Throwing her hands up in defeat, she took the broom Iori offered her and she began to sweep the dust and debris from the floor as Takeru and Koushiro moved the table. After Taichi had sufficiently calmed down and the main seating room of the Aoiya was brought to an acceptable order, Yamato roused from his trance.

His eyes fluttered. "Did she... did she leave?" He asked no one, yet everyone listened. Jyou was about to deposit the remnants of a patch of the ceiling and a shell casing from his dustpan into the trashbin when Yamato approached him. "Jyou, did Tachikawa just leave?"

The doctor did a doubletake, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose. "I- I don't believe this...."

"Answer me Kido! Did she leave or not?!"

"She's been gone Nii-chan!" Takeru erupted, throwing his rag on the floor. "Where the fuck have you been?" Yamato snorted and headed for the door. "Nii-chan! Yamerunda!"

"She- she left... Tachikawa left? Tachikawa did this to herself!" Yamato kicked the door open and went in the direction of the alley, where his Fireblade was parked.

"I've got to stop him!" Takeru sped for the back entrance through the kitchen only to be met by Sora blocking the way.

"Don't do it Takeru."

"Sora, you don't know what you're talking about! Out of my way!"

"No, you don't know what you're talking about! Let... him... go." Takeru approached Sora and placed his hands gravely on her slim shoulders.

"Sora...." He controlled his voice as best as he could. "Sora. Mimi could be in danger right now. Yamato tends to go on these... pseudo-psychotic benders- I don't know! The point is, right now my brother's a crazy man. You don't know what he's capable of doing."

"And I'm telling you Takeru, Mimi is probably the only one safe from his little episodes." Sora opened the door and stepped out onto the pavement, looking to the night sky. A shooting star.

"How are you so certain?"

"Because... he told me that he wouldn't forgive himself if he let her walk away from him again." Sora returned to the seating room to see Taichi dump himself into a chair, and Miyako poured the coffee and added some brandy in each mug.

Mimi's eyes were swollen and pink, dabbing at her eyes with a hankerchief. And it was not due to the overdramatic, dragged-out death scene she was watching from her videotaped favourite daytime drama 'Shinjima Crossings'. She stuffed another spoonful of Ben & Jerry's in her mouth and swallowed audibly. Scraping the bottom of the half-quart carton, she licked off more chocolate and artificial cherry residue before throwing it onto her pristine white plush carpet. A purplish stain grew after a few moments of watching the frozen confection melt. Mimi, defeatedly, picked it up and tossed it into her wicker wastebasket. She then looked at her big-screen Panasonic and switched it off, then ejected and violently pulled out the videotape. Yards upon yards of glossy, black film curled at her feet as Mimi unrolled it from the wheels like a thing possessed. At one time Mimi would have killed to get a cameo role on the serial. But they would have delivered it to her on a silver platter, after all she's Tachikawa Mimi. Idols are exempt from auditions, waiting lines, and hard work in general! But she did work hard to get where she is! She busted her ass hour after hour, day after day on her cooking show and on the sentai!

Recording an album was no day at the shore. Some nights she came home crushed, utterly hoarse from singing or harmonizing after 20 hours! Shuffling into her kitchen, Mimi stole a glance at herself in an antique crystal-framed mirror. She was a little chubbier now- and glad of it- they had put her on starvation diets during her modeling days. 10 hours at the gym! And she wondered why Cherry Garcia and Godivas became full-blown addictions, rather than just her favourite treats. And speaking of which, Mimi rubbed her stomach as she heard it audibly turn from eating that ice cream. She had nothing remotely nutritious to eat at Daisuke's. She was much too... disgusted. The only light that was on in the house was emanating from the refridgerator, as hers had glass doors. Mimi pulled out the rice cooker and a blue tupperware which stored last night's chicken teriyaki. She had scooped out a generous amount of rice on a pyrex dish, then topped it with the chicken and deposited it into the microwave. As it was reheating, Mimi tentatively chose a bottle of wine from the rack on her centre island. The microwave went off in loud, piercing beeps signalling that it was finished. Mimi located a pair of chopsticks from a drawer and just as she went to enjoy her meal, she heard a strange humming noise. It was muffled and coming from outside, and it was getting louder. The droning, booming sound of a motorcycle engine. Mimi drew her lacy frill curtain back an inch and saw a familiar red and black Fireblade skid to a rough halt by the curb. Yamato steadied the bike, his right foot planted firmly on the blacktop. The blinding halogen headlight went out as Yamato powered down the engine. Pulling the keys out of the ignition and pocketing them, he jogged up the pavement to Mimi's front door. He rolled his eyes at the immaculate gravel driveway and the expertly cared-for flower beds. Mimi held her breath and stood in the dark, partially hidden by the archway in her living room. The chime sounded. Yamato pressed the button again. Another long minute of silence. Several irritated chimes later and Mimi was on her knees, stifling her sobs.

"Open up, Tachikawa! I know you're there!" Yamato mocked. But, to make sure he looked over to the driveway again. The Jaguar was parked. But then a mental light flickered, and Yamato sprinted away in revelation. Hand clamped over her mouth, Mimi tensely waited on the floor. It had grown so quiet, she could hear the muscles shift as she blinked her eyes.

"Yokatta," she partially rasped and partially mouthed. Getting to her feet Mimi padded back to the kitchen and groped for the nearest chair. After flopping down into it she sighed and let her head fall into her hands.

"You are a difficult woman, Tachikawa." The darkness said.

"Nani?!" Mimi shot up from her seat and the kitchen lights flared up. The back door was open and Yamato sat adjacent from her. He lifted his right hand, her spare key dangling from his fingers. Yamato shook his head. "Didn't take me long to figure out which flower pot your key was hiding under."

"Don't make fun of me."

"And don't you threaten me." Mimi opened up the microwave and retrieved her dinner.

"You've insulted me, belittled me, and outright depised me for so many years Yamato. I gave up on trying to figure out why. I've taken all of your abuse at work with grace, and even you have to recognise that. But now," she stepped forward, "I'm at a loss. I won't fight with you any longer. But if you feel that uncomfortable working with me, associating with me, because I disrupt your precious space at work..." Mimi lay her hands flat on the table and edged her face so close that the tip of her nose touched his. "Then by all means, feel free to turn in your notice. I'm sure the producers could dig up a singer who's just as good, if not better than you. As for me, I like my job." She turned away with a toss of her hair.

"You have any more of that?" Yamato gestured to her plate. Mimi inwardly frowned. It touched her, really that Yamato might be hungry. He was. And with resignation she went to fix him a plate. They exchanged no conversation, Mimi barely picked at her food as she observed Yamato eat with such relish. She poured him another glass of the thick, blood red Saint-Estephe. Yamato drank deeply, as Mimi still nursed her first. Mimi got up and strutted behind Yamato, twining her fingers in his hair. Her other hand rested on his shoulder. Yamato slid his hand up to hers and took it, held it over his heart.

"Do you really hate me?" Yamato stood to his full height, towering over Mimi.

"Such things you say...." Immediately, his hands clamped around her slender throat, slamming her petite frame into the floral painted wall. Mimi gave a grunt of suprise, but not fear. No, never fear. She didn't even blink once when their eyes bored into one another. "Tell me Mimi," Yamato's thumbs stroking the tips of her clavicles which met at the hollow of her throat. "Would you ever say to me: 'Stop. If you really love me, you'd stop.' " A thoughtful pause.

"Not for king's ransom." Yamato chortled at her snobbery.

"'Not for a king's ransom....'" Yamato went to tighten his grip, when he suddenly dropped his hands. "That's my girl." Yamto dipped his head towards hers, to plant his kiss on Mimi's lips. She stayed perfectly still as an marble statue. She returned that kiss, and when he withdrew Yamato gave her another. This one deeper amd lasted much longer. Mimi was left struggling for breath and her head lolled all the way back. Her lips were glossy like a berry wet with dew. Her tongue felt velveteen, as Yamato grasped it gently with his teeth and sucked on it.

"Anata wo... daku.**********" Mimi moaned. Yamato hoisted Mimi into his arms and ran for the stairs. Mimi's head swam as Yamto kicked the door to the master bedroom open, and he tore off the pink satin and Queen Anne lace bedspread then dumped her on the queen-sized mattress. Yamato slammed her door shut and began to undress. Mimi couldn't wriggle out of her clothes fast enough. She leapt into Yamato's arms, clad only in their undergarments they kissed again. At first it was slow and tender, just bursting with passion. But gradually need took over, and their kisses were faster, deeper, and quite long. Mimi had to forcefully pull away to refill her lungs, Yamato had quite enough of it anyway. His hands expertly unclasped the lacy black strapless bra which barely contained her large breasts and were sliding into the back of her matching bikini panties. Caressing her silky, now naked rear and legs, Yamato felt Mimi pawing him gently aching for such intimate contact. Mimi kissed him again, and let her hands stray into his boxers. To her fear and thrill, Mimi found Yamato's need quite great, as in the erection he was carrying was probably painful. Breaking her firey kiss, Mimi grinned woefully at what she had to do. She owed him, after all. Sliding down on all fours near the foot of her bed, Mimi mustered up all her courage and put on her best 'come hither' look and glanced over her bare shoulder. Yamato just blanched.

"MIMI!"

"I don't care." She said off-handedly. Then her eyes grew hard and serious. "Take the edge off Yamato. Fuck me senseless."

"And then we'll make love?" That's all he wanted.

"We'll make love." Mimi nodded and turned away, clawing at the carpeting, bracing herself. She didn't her Yamato move towards her, or remove his shorts. Mimi saw a flash before her eyes as she felt Yamato slip inside. She shrieked then bit her lip, the intrusion was so intense that she dared herself to drop her head down and look between her legs. Mimi discovered Yamato was only halfway in. She groaned when he sheathed himself completely. 'Slam me, baby! Slam me!' Hands on Mimi's hips, Yamato thrusted slowly using every bit of control to keep the same rythm.

After a bit their movements grew wild, and Yamato knew Mimi was approaching her climax by the tone of her cries. He almost bit into her shoulder when he withdrew and Mimi gasped loudly. Crawling onto her bed, Yamato and Mimi took a moment to catch their breath. Lying astride her, Yamato smiled and proceeded to plant a kiss on Mimi's silky pink lips. She, on the other hand, had other plans. Pushing on Yamato's shoulder, Mimi mounted him, kneeling up. Applying all her weight on where they would join, Mimi reached behind her to assist him. Yamato hissed, clawing at the bedclothes as Mimi's sugar walls did its work massaging and milking him. The most blissful smile crossed Mimi's face, cradling Yamato to the hilt, Mimi rocked and undulated on his organ with a will and with the feel of her muscles contracting and clamping down on him Yamato knew she was at the brink. "YAMA-CHAN.... YAMA-CHAN....!"

"MIMI!"

"YAMA-CHAN! Onegai, come inside me... come with me!"

"Give... me your... hands Mimi...."

"Demo...!"

"Haiyaku...!" She gave Yamato her hands and he clasped their hands into fists above his head. "MIMI!" At the last minute he flipped her onto her back.

"YAMA-CH-A-A-A-A-N-N-N!!!!!" They bucked and thrusted until a massive orgasm thundered through them, and the world exploded into a billion hot fragments.

She was thankful to have remembered her umbrella. She hated autumn. It made all of the flowers disappear and the leaves turned an unfashionable shade of brown. A few ticks of rain spattered against Mimi's pump and she resisted putting up her umbrella. Even though it was completely overcast, that morning's weather report called for a late-night downpour. Mimi shut the steel door to the Radio City Music Hall's back entrance and ventured up 47th street. She watched the directors and stage technitians prepare the NBC Studio for the 11 o'clock news broadcast, and saw a familiar commercial flash across the bigscreen on the set.

'Live and only at Radio City, making its American debut- "Le Comedie d'Utena!"'

Mimi ran a hand through her newly dyed pink tresses. Her smile was that of nostalgia with a slight undertone of melancholy. She was thirteen when it possessed her to express her love for her signature colour in such a drastic manner. This time it was to play role, as she had done a thousand times before. But no film or television role was more challenging and hearwrenching than to play Tachikawa Mimi. She was getting help, now of course. The Duane Reade's down the street was still open and Mimi decided she wanted a bottle of water before finding the nearest computer terminal, when she heard peals of familiar laughter coming from the 47-50-Rockerfeller Center train station in front of First Fidelity. Taichi and Sora, arm-in-arm returning from each of their respective offices emerged from the station. Taichi watched as men on a scaffolding began draping shimmering silver and gold holiday bunting across the entrance to Christie's.

"Man! Is it Christmas already? I don't think we're anywhere near Thanksgiving yet!" Sora tugged on his trenchcoat collar.

"Speaking of which..."

"Nani?" They stopped briefly.

"About the curtains in the bedroom." Taichi groaned. "Now I've been patient Taichi. *Very* patient."

"Ahhh! Once she moves into my house, already she starts doing evasive surgery. Look, Sora this is your type of thing. I have my compete confidence in you." Sora moaned at how pedantic Taichi still could be at times.

"Taichi," Sora whined, "you're missing the point!" Taichi blinked several times and threw her an obtuse look. "This is going to be *our* bedroom. As in you and me-" Sora pointed to herself then pressed a finger to Taichi's breast "-and this is something, y'know, that couples should do." Taichi let Sora continue her little rant about how romantic decorating their bedroom would be when he spotted Mimi strolling by one of the elaborate shallow black marble Rockerfeller Center fountains.

"OY! MIMI!" He put his metal briefcase down and waved.

"Ara-? Mimi?" Sora broke off her little speech earlier when she saw a pink-haired woman stop by the little staircase leading up from the fountains. "MIMI-CHAN!" They jogged to where Mimi stepped onto the pavement. After some hugs they chattered and laughed, catching up on eachother's lives. Sora and Taichi eager to hear the news about the "Utena" musical American debut. Mimi blushed, but decided to let a few little details leak, after all her biggest supporters and fans were her fellow Chosen. Sora then unzipped her leather case she was carrying her portfolio in and showed Mimi some of her new Utena-inspired sketches. Then the conversation took a turn to the musical's CD release which was scheduled a week before the musical performance debut.

"Speaking of CDs," Taichi interrupted, "where did Yamato dig a hole and hide in?" Sora nodded, genuniely concerned.

"Sou, sou. Mimi, where has Yamato run off to?"

"Hai! What's the big deal with him? I've tried calling him, paging him, beeping him, e-mailing him, IM-ing hi-" Sora clapped a hand over her lover's mouth.

"WHAT Taichi means to say is, has Yamato and the band gone incognito for a bit?" Mimi let herself collapse on a concrete ledge. She crossed her arms over her breasts and glowered.

"That moron, has secluded himself with a bunch of other morons in that studio of his for the past two weeks." She threw up her hands in a defeated gesture. "It's not my fault he decided to screw around up until Sony's deadline to finish the album."

"Kisama," Taichi sighed. "Yamato has made his life revolve around stress." Sora nodded in agreement.

"Somebody say my name?" They all jumped when they saw Yamato standing behind them, wearing his usual leather jacket, scratching the back of his neck. In his other hand was a paper tote which bore the Kinokuniya Bookstore logo.

Taichi sweatdropped. "Oy, Yamato! We were just talking about your new CD. When's the release?" Yamato glared at his best friend, causing Sora to bristle.

"Anou ne, don't act so innocent!" Yamato's hand came into immediate contact with the back of Taichi's head. They dropped their bags and took fighting stances.

"Te ne!"

"Kuso!" The ambassador and bassist grabbed eachother by the scruff of the neck. Mimi watched as the scene played out, twitching in anger and embarrassment knowing, despite her prayers it was going to get a little bloody.

"Anta ne... would you please grow up!!"

"Gya-a-h-h-h-h!" Sora screetched and wedged herself between the two men. She shoved Yamato away. "Would you please?! Mimi and I have NO desire to spoon-feed your supper after you knock eachother's teeth out!" She turned to Taichi, who was retrieving his briefcase. "And speaking of which, weren't we supposed to go eat?"

"I was going to ask you where you wanted to go." Sora grinned evilly and took Taichi's arm.

"And this is where we'll leave you. Because I know Taichi's going to make this up to me considering he knows as well as I, that Macy's and Sak's are open 'till 8." Taichi's face fell when he thought of the various gold and platinum cards in his wallet.

"O- oyasumi."

"Matte ne." Sora and Taichi made a beeline for the glass dome where an elevator would take them to The American Cafe.

"Ja." Yamato chortled.

"Bye bye." Mimi said, still seated on the ledge. Yamato turned to her.

"Ikou."

"Mm." She rose and dusted off her velvet skirt. Slinging her bag over her shoulder and sliding her hand through her umbrella's strap, Mimi and Yamato proceeded to walk down the street. There was a comfortable silence between them, and they thought it best not to cloud it with irrelevant small talk. Now Yamato enjoyed the quiet. Their fingers were threaded together, and every now and then he would brush her knuckles against his lips. Mimi gave him one of her little smiles when he did this. They were forced to run the rest of the way to their destination, an old-English style tavern and grill two blocks from the theatre, as it began to pour. Their jackets and hair soused from the rain. The sympathetic hostess handed them a pair of oversized linen napkins to, at the very least dry their hands and faces. She showed them to their table, a booth in the smoking section. Mimi shrugged off her white suede jacket and Yamato slung it over the bench with his leather one. She grimaced at the fact she would have to let her cashmere sweater drip dry when she got home. Mimi shivered and rubbed her bare shoulders as her body awaited to adjust to the tavern's warm temperature. Yamato slicked his hair back and lit a cigarette. His shirt also fell victim to the storm.

'But it clings to all the right places,' Mimi thought glancing at him. She immediately turned to look out the window when Yamato looked at her. The waitress brought them their menus and a glass of Chardonnay for Mimi, and Guinness for Yamato.

"Y'know, I don't want to know what you got at the bookstore." Mimi said before sipping her wine. Yamato exhaled from his nostrils.

"Is that right?" They continued to sit in silence, Mimi daydreaming and Yamato enjoying his smoke. As they waited for the waitress' return, Mimi slightly leaned over to get a peek at what was in the bag, but even with his eyes closed, Yamato pushed the bag further behind the bench.

'Damn!' Mimi only sighed and scanned her menu. "Hmm. The filet looks pretty good, but that Boston clam chowder is laugh-" Mimi froze when she felt a hand resting on her inner thigh. Yamato's face gave nothing away, even though his cigarette had been crushed out in the ashtray.

"What was laughing at you?" He deftly picked up his menu with one hand and studied the dishes.

"Nothing. I'm having the beef stroganoff." No, she definately didn't want to know what was in the bag. But having to shed clothes later on didn't seem as inconvenient as it did a few minutes ago.

**: This is the agency (I think) Kazama Yuuto is contracted with

***: Company that produced "Digimon Adeventure"

****: Japanese seiyuu for Tachikawa Mimi

*****: Japanese seiyuu for Ishida Yamato

******: The agency that Natsuki Rio (Inoue Miyako) is contracted with

*******: The channel that aired "Digimon Adventure"

********: The motorcycle that Kazama Yuuto owns and races with! KAKKOI!

*********: "You're being rude."

**********: "Get out of my way."

***********: "I want to sleep with you."