The Affair

A/N: First let me apologize for taking SO freaking long for updating/ I know that I should have a good excuse, but I don’t…I just ran out of my creative juices, if you will. In a way I’m kind of glad I did, because my story is now taking an unexpected turn that you will hopefully find to be original and enjoyable. Enjoy, and of course review! ;0)

CH 4: Poetic Justice

"Tai...is that you?"

The young man in question immediately looked up from his scotch, a weak smile creasing his lips as he gave the redhead before him a small wave in greeting. "Hey, Sora...what brings you to this side of the city?"

"From the looks of things, I should be asking you the same question" the fiery fashion designer remarked, plopping herself down upon the barstool neighboring her downcast companion. "If you don't mind my being nosy, is everything alright? You seem awful upset."

Keeping his gaze fixated firmly on the shot glass clenched tightly between his fingers, Tai subconsciously gritted his teeth before elevating one shoulder in response.

"Tai" Sora tried yet again, "please tell me what's wrong. How can I be a good friend if I can't even help out?"

"Why bother?" he finally snapped, sending her a look that could surely cause all Hell to freeze over. "Mimi frickin' left me without a single explanation, Sora, so of course I'm gonna be fuckin' upset!"

"Tai!" Sora exclaimed, absolutely appalled. "We're in a public facility, you know! Keep your voice down!"

"So?" he muttered, sourly sucking on a piece of ice from the bottom of his scotch. "If they don't like it, they can kiss my one-hundred percent natural tan ass."

Feeling the heat in her cheeks rising due to the impervious glances that they were now receiving, Sora decided that swift and immediate action was necessary. Rising up from her stool in order to take her leave, she then placed a hand reassuringly upon Tai's shoulder and urged sweetly into his ear, "Matt's currently out on a business trip in New York, so why don't you come home with me?"

Tai looked up at her, completely unable to prevent himself from grinning like a fool as he exclaimed, "Why, Sora Takenouchi Ishida! I've got morals, ya know! I could never bed my best friend's wife, no matter how hot she is!"

"Tai Kamiya!" she gasped, giving him a swift punch in the arm, "leave it to you to turn a perfectly legit offer into some wanton little escapade!"

"Well I didn't deny your offer, now did I?" Tai demanded, thus causing Sora to blink.

"Oh...well, I-"

He grinned. "Lead the way, Ms. Jezebel."

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Sora and Matt's penthouse was terribly cluttered at the moment, yet somehow still managed to retain a simple and classy charm. Tai felt rather beside himself standing amidst such finery, yet he still managed to bestow his hostess with utmost pride over his own self. This was, of course, quite the opposite of what he was actually feeling.

"Have a seat, won't you?" Sora suddenly urged, smiling as she placed a glass of red wine down upon the coffee table in between them. "I can't believe you've been standing here the entire time I was in the kitchen! Sit down, you oaf!"

Plunking down onto the sofa like an obedient puppy, Tai couldn't help but admire the fiery redhead's sense of place in the household. It was quite clear to him that she knew exactly what kind of respect she deserved and that she would never settle for anything less.

'As it should be' he thought, immediately coming to the remembrance that he wasn't just here for a social get-together. Taking advantage of the wine at his place, he then questioned in his most disarming manner possible, "So what was it exactly that you wanted to talk about so badly back at the bar? I mean, why couldn't we do it there?"

Sora was clearly taken aback. "What? Where on earth did you get that impression? It was your childish behavior that made me decide to take you back here to spare you of further embarrassment!"

Instead of arguing with her as he so sorely desired, Tai heaved a sigh, then nodded. "You're right" he finally agreed. "You are ab-so-lutely right, Sora. I was a complete fool to try and drown away my sorrows over Mimi with a scotch when a nice shot of whiskey would've been much better."

"Tai, please" Sora begged, placing a hand over her face in what appeared to be disgust. "I brought you over here so that we could resolve your problems, not encourage them!"

Tai suddenly looked up from his wine, thoroughly exanimate. "Then how, pray tell, did you think we could solve my problems without actually discussing them? If you're not willing to hear my sob story about Mimi, I guess you're not really a friend at all."

The tone that he now used with her was terribly somber and devoid of all prior warmth, Sora shuddering due to her displeasure with this 'new' Tai. What had Mimi done to turn him into something so cruel and cynical?

"She left me to go to New York" Tai suddenly revealed, now answering Sora's unspoken query. "There was no explanation, no phone number, no nothing...just an empty hole in my heart. I love Mimi, Sora...why would she do this to me?"

Sora, on the other hand, could merely balk in response. "N-New York" she finally managed to stammer, "as in...New York City?"

Tai nodded.

"Oh, Jesus" she swore brusquely under her breath, her doe brown eyes fiery and full of sheer enmity once she realized that it was very plausible that Mimi was with her husband at that very moment.

"What is it?" Tai demanded, now fully alert and at her side. "What the hell's going on here, Sora? Do you know something that you're not telling me?"

"I..."

"What?" he pressed, taking her by the shoulders so that she was forced to meet with his imploring gaze. "Do you know why Mimi's all the way over in New York?"

Sora bit her lip, then nodded with severe reluctance. "I-I think so..."

"Then tell me!"

"Oh, Tai, please, I can't right now, I-"

"Do it, dammit!"

Shocked, Sora gazed up into his fiery eyes and immediately burst into tears, falling pathetically into the security of his arms as she wailed, "Oh, Tai, they're gone! I knew I should've told you before, but I was far too embarrassed to admit what was going on!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Tai demanded, taking the sobbing redhead by the chin before forcing her to meet with his line of vision. "You're not making any sense, Sora! What are you trying to say?"

Sora sniffed, bowing her head before revealing weakly, "What I'm trying to say is that my husband and your fiancee have gallivanted off to New York."

"Recently?"

"Yes."

"Together?"

"Yes!"

Panicking, Tai seized Sora by the wrists and wrenched her back up and to her feet, urging frantically, "Well, c'mon! The next plane to New York leaves in a couple of hours!"

Sora balked. "What? Tai, we can't just get up and leave, it's-"

"No time to argue...let's just go!"

Following after her stubborn best friend, Sora couldn't help but feel a twinge of desire to just stay behind and be in denial, yet she knew that Tai would never give her that option. One way or the other, the truth would finally be revealed...

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"This was such a great idea, Matt" Mimi whispered, gazing out fondly at the lapping waves beneath their cruise ship as she continued to snuggle into his arms. "Although it will take quite a while to get to America, I almost wish that this could last forever since being alone with you is the best pleasure known to man."

Matt grinned. "Well gee, even I could've toldja that one! Whaddaya say, Meems? Want me to go down deck and get you a drink?"

"Oh! Well I'd love one!" Mimi agreed, giving him a quick peck on the cheek as her thanks. "Just don't be too long, alright? I'll miss you."

Matt nodded and chuckled, yet the moment he turned in order to leave he accidentally bumped Mimi with his arm, her shrill screams resounding in his ears as a chilled splash of water suddenly seeped into his shirt.

"Mimi?" he gasped, whirling around in an instant. "Oh, God...Mimi!"

Stripping himself of his now soaking wet T-shirt, Matt frantically dove into the ocean after his lover, only to overhear the thunder rolling forebodingly overhead...

A/N: Dun dun duuuun! LoL What shall become of our dear adulterers? You’ll find out…if you REVIEW! XD