*asterisks* = emphasis on that word
CAPS = more emphasis
*CAPS w/asterisks* = even more emphasis

        “Hey, Sora. Come in,” said Taichi, giving her a quick hug before letting her into his apartment.
        “Hey, Tai,” said Sora walking in the apartment. “It has been a while since we’ve really spoken, hasn’t it? We should be in contact more often.” Sora smiled and walked in.
        “Hmm,” said Taichi, noncommitedly as they both sat down on the couch. Taichi hadn’t seen Sora or any of his other friends for nearly three months. He had called and emailed them, but never saw them in person. They were all too busy to see each other often. Taichi’s excuse was that he was in college and didn’t have time to go back home. But that wasn’t his reason. No, one of the “reasons” was sitting right next to him.
        After the usual offer of something to drink and the usual answer of “No thank you,” Taichi finally asked “So, what brings you here?”
        “Why don’t you come and visit us more often?” Sora asked, ignoring Taichi’s question.
        “You know I’m busy with school,”
        “Yes, but Jyou and Koushiro also go to college far from home and they go back there often.”
        “Sora, I can’t just leave. I have to work when I’m not at school and I use the extra time that I have for studying. It’s not like I have the time to just go back home,” Taichi explained, getting defensive.
        “No, that’s not why,” Sora shook her head and smiled knowingly. “Sure, you’re busy, but surely, you have enough time to come over when you’re on holiday.”
        “Sora, what are you getting at?” Taichi almost raised his voice. He was not only defensive, he was getting a little angry now.
        Sora seemed unfazed by Taichi’s anger. “I’m just saying that there’s something else keeping you here. What is it? Is there somebody special here?” Sora smiled. She knew what the answer would be.
        “No!” Taichi said quickly. “I just-I...”
        “You what?” she asked.
        “I...I...It’s none of your business,” said Taichi and avoided looking at her. They were silent for a minute, and just as Taichi started to calm down, Sora spoke.
        “It’s Yamato, isn’t it,” it wasn’t a question, it was a statement.
        Taichi looked at her sharply, “Why would you think that?”
        “You stay away because of Yama. I know how you feel for him,”
        “That’s ridiculous!” exclaimed Taichi, standing up. “I am *not* attracted to him!”
        “I never said you were attracted to him,” she pointed out.
        “I-I,” Taichi stuttered. “I thought that was what you meant.”
        “Why would you think that was what I meant?” Sora asked, standing up, also.
        “I just assumed...”
        “You wouldn’t assume that if you *weren’t* attracted to him.”
        “I’m not!”
        “I guess you’re right,” Sora said. “It was silly of me to think that you were. It’s easy to think that anyone could feel for him that way.”
        “Why?” Taichi narrowed his eyes as he stared at her.
        “Because of his looks, of course,” she said. “Yamato is a VERY good looking guy. You could say that he’s beautiful. I mean, with that face and those blue eyes, anyone could be attracted to him.”
        “Are you saying people are only attracted to him because of his good looks?”
        “So, you think’s he’s good looking?”
        “That’s not what I meant!”
        “So you don’t think that?”
        “No! Yes! I mean-I...I think that he’s good looking, but that doesn’t mean I’m in love with him.”
        “I never said you were in love with him.” Sora stated.
        “I-I was just saying—”
        “*Are* you in love with him?” Sora cut him off.
        “NO!”
        “They why did you say—”
        “I never said I loved him!”
        “But you think he’s good looking?”
        “I...I...yes,” Taichi said softly.
        “Well, everybody thinks he’s good looking. Some people even think they love him because of his looks.”
        “Are you saying that I love him because of his looks?”
        Sora raised an eyebrow, “Ah, so you DO love him.”
        Taichi whispered something that souned oddly like "damn it!" before exclaiming, “No I don’t!”
        “But you just said you did,” Sora pointed out.
        “I didn’t mean it like that,”
        “So you *don’t* love him?”
        “NO! YES! NO!”
        “Well, what is it?”
        “I...”
        “Is it yes or no?
        "I..."
        "It’s a simple question, really.”
        “*FINE*!! “You want to know so badly?! I *AM* in love with him, all right?! THERE! I SAID IT!” Taichi exclaimed, throwing up his hands in defeat. “And so what if I do love him?! It doesn’t matter! He has you!" Taichi’s voice grew softer and more despondent. "He always had you...”
        “No, she doesn’t.”
        Taichi gasped and his face turned into a shade of crimson as he heard a voice behind him. He was too caught up in his tirade that he hadn’t heard the door open.
        Sora walked toward Yamato, who was standing by the doorway. “I guess you’ll take it from here,” she gave him a wink before walking out and shutting the door behind her.

        Taichi wanted to die right then and there. He couldn’t believe that he just shouted his feelings to Yamato’s girlfriend. And to make it a thousand times worse, Yamato heard him! This was just not his day. He could feel Yamato’s eyes on him, but he didn’t turn around and face him. He kept his back to Yamato and his eyes glued to his shoes. He gasped a little when he felt Yamato’s hand on his shoulder, forcing him to turn around. His eyes continued to study his shoes until Yamato pushed his chin up with his fingers, forcing him to look at the other boy.
        “Matt—”
        “Did you mean it?” Yamato asked.
        “What?”
        “Did you mean it?” he asked again.
        Taichi looked down once more and said in a soft voice, “Yes.”
        Silence was the only reply.
        The last vestiges of hope that Taichi had died with that silence. He finally worked up the nerve and looked Yamato straight in the eyes. A feeling of bittersweetness came over him. He loved looking into Yamato’s eyes, but he knew the reality of this situation. He decided to apologize. That was all he could do to alleviate this terribly awkward situation. “Matt, I’m sorry, I never meant—”
        He was cut off by soft lips pressing against his. Taichi’s eyes were wide with shock, but he soon relaxed and closed his eyes. He wrapped his arms around Yamato’s shoulders as he felt arms go around his waist, pulling him closer.
        “Don’t be sorry,” said Yamato, stopping the kiss but still holding on to Taichi. “Because I love you, too.” He kissed Taichi again.
        “Mmm...Matt...Wait...” Taichi breathed in between kisses before pulling away reluctantly.
        “Hm?” asked Yamato.
        “What about Sora?”
        Yamato smiled, “We broke up a week ago. In fact, this was her idea.”
        “I don’t get it,”
        “She was the one who dragged me over here and told me to wait outside your door while she talked to you.”
        “You mean this was all a set up?”
        “Yes,” said Yamato, pulling him even closer and kissing the soft skin in between Taichi’s neck and shoulder. “You’re not mad, are you?” Yamato whispered in his ear.
        Taichi shivered at the sensations Yamato was making him feel. “No, not in the slightest.”
        “Good. Now shut the hell up and kiss me.”
        “Okay.”

        Sora walked to her car across the street of Taichi’s apartment building. She smiled at Yolei, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.
        Yolei smiled back, “Matt’s not with you. I assume it went well.”
        Sora chuckled as she got in the passenger’s seat, “It went better than well. I riled Taichi up so bad I thought his head was going to explode. I’m surprised he lasted that long, really.”
        “How were you so sure that they both felt that way about each other?”
        “I guess I’ve always known, deep down.”
        “Are you...upset about this?”
        Sora gave a little smile, “I would be lying if I said no. I still love him, but it would be wrong and selfish of me to continue our relationship. The love between Yamato and I is nothing compared to what Taichi and Yamato have. I would be a fool to try and prevent those two to be together. They’re true soulmates, you know?”
        Yolei nodded, “Yeah, I think I do. Should we wait for him?”
        Sora laughed, “No, we should get going. I have a feeling Matt’s going to be there for a while. What’s next on the agenda?”
        Yolei started the car and drove off, “We have to go buy a gift for Ken. His birthday’s next week, remember?”
        Sora looked at Yolei, then to the window and gave a sly smile. “Yes. Ken’s present. Now I remember.”