A/N: This is the sequel to "How to Hatch an Egg in Three Days". Doesn't really matter if you read that, though.

Ages: Kari, TK: 13 xXx Daisuke, Koushiro: 14 xXx Mimi, Tai, Sora, Yama: 15 xXx Jyou: 16

DISCLAIMER: Nope, don't own Digimon.

Tip the Scales:
Chapter One
by: neo-chan

It was Saturday, April 19th, and I had just woken up. Sunlight was streaming in through the cracks in my blinds and my window was open, allowing me to hear birds chirping outside.

I hopped out of bed, humming as I made my way to the bathroom. Today was the day. I was going to tell Tai.

It had been two years since he'd mentioned the concept of us being a couple; plenty of time to think about it. And now that I was older and had been exposed to more things, it was easier to grasp the idea of going against the "norm" and pursuing some sort of relationship-other than friendship-with another male.

I ate quickly and then put on my pre-selected clothing. I knew what I wore wasn't that important to Tai, but I wanted to look good anyway. And at the same time I wanted to look casual, like I hadn't really thought about my outfit too much. The clothes I'd decided on was a pair of tight jeans-Mimi called them, among some other jeans of mine, my "girl pants"-, a black long-sleeved shirt, and a black belt with silver studs. Simple, but it looked good.

Over the last while I'd let my hair grow out, and so it hung to almost my shoulders. What actually happened was that I'd just been too lazy to get it cut, and one day Tai had commented that he liked it that way, so it had been decided that I wasn't going to cut it after all.

Tai had grown taller than me, which he loved to gloat about. Also, he'd become increasingly outgoing while I'd become more quiet and reserved. Our friendship hadn't changed though; if anything, it was stronger. Which is why I was convinced that we were ready to engage in a different kind of relationship.

Picking up the cordless phone, I dialed Tai's number. The phone rang twice before anyone picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Kari. Is Tai up?"

"No, but I can go wake him up for you!"

Before I even answered, Kari put down the phone and I heard her yell "Tai!"

The 'Easter chick', whom had been named Yamachi by putting mine and Tai's names together, had unfortunately died about a year after it hatched. We'd had a funeral for it and everything. Tai's mom had offered to buy them a new pet, but Kari had refused.

The phone was picked up and Tai grumbled into it.

"H'llo?" he mumbled.

"Hey," I said, feeling guilty for waking him up. "Um... do you think you could meet me at the park?"

There was a pause, then Tai groaned.

"Matt, it's frikkin' early! What could you possibly want on a Saturday morning?"

"Um..." I suddenly felt stupid. "...to talk?"

"Are you kidding?"

"No," I said sheepishly.

Tai let out a heavy, exaggerated sigh. I held my breath, waiting for his answer.

"...fine. I'm awake now anyway. Just let me get dressed and stuff... I'll call you back when I'm ready."

"Okay. Sorry I woke you up."

"If it was anyone but you, I'd kick their ass. See you soon."

"Bye."

I hung up and glanced in the mirror one last time, then slipped on my shoes-which were black and white and completed my outfit-and left the apartment, heading down the hall to the elevator. I knew Tai had probably fallen back to sleep, despite what he'd said.

When I got down to the fifth floor and knocked on Tai's door, Kari answered it as I'd expected.

"Hi, Matt," she said, letting me in.

"Hey, 'Kar. Tai in bed?"

"Yup."

"Thought so." I took off my shoes and headed down the hall to Tai's room as Kari went into the living room.

I entered Tai's room and shut the door behind me. We didn't really have to go to the park; we could just talk right there and then. Especially because I couldn't wait to get it over with.

"What do you want, Kari?" Tai mumbled, face buried in his pillow.

I sat down cross-legged on his bed. "Getting dressed, huh?"

Startled, Tai rolled over to face me. He laughed and shook his head.

"You know me too well." He sat up and stretched. "Alright, alright, give me five minutes, I swear-"

"It's okay, we don't have to go."

"I was hoping you'd say that." Tai leaned back against his headboard. "Well, what did you want to talk about?"

I was nervous as hell, and so I stalled by rattling off a random fact.

"Did you know Dai and Mimi are together?"

Tai raised an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. I was there when we found out."

"Oh."

"Yama, c'mon. Let's cut through all the games and get right to the point. What is it?"

I looked down at Tai's sheets, playing with an invisible thread. "Okay... Tai, you know how..." I paused, not knowing how to phrase it. "Um... remember that whole... thing... a couple of years ago?"

I peeked up at Tai just in time to see him nod.

"Uh-huh. Go on."

"Well, it's obviously been a long time since then. So I thought about it. And I... I came to a conclusion."

"Which is...?"

"I think I want to do it."

I felt a blush creeping through my cheeks. That had been the worst possible way to word it.

"Do what?" Tai asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Have that kind of relationship," I said softly, not daring to look up.

There was a moment of sickening silence. I waited anxiously, biting my lip. Silence could be a good or a bad sign.

"Hm."

I looked up, but Tai was gazing in another direction. And he was frowning. The knot in my stomach tightened.

"I don't know, Yama."

I stared at him in shock for a few long moments.

"What do you mean?" I squeaked, finding my voice.

Tai's eyes finally found mine. "Two years is a long time. I've had time to think about it, too, and a relationship like that between us might not work."

Hot tears stung the backs of my eyelids. I couldn't believe Tai was saying this.

"You're doing this just to spite me," I hissed in realization.

"No I'm not. This has nothing to do with you turning me down two years ago."

"Then why are you mentioning it?"

"Because I know that's what you think!"

"Then why? You wanted it so badly before, what made you change your mind?"

"Yama, how long do you think we'd be able to hold a steady relationship for? We're fifteen."

"But it was okay when we were thirteen?" I challenged.

He shook his head. "I didn't think about it back then."

"Well, you should've."

"Well, I didn't."

Tai and I had a staring match, neither of us wanting to break first. Eventually I did, looking away.

"So what now?" I asked, my voice void of emotion.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Close yourself off to me like that. What do you want me to do, lie and say I think we should go for it right away? That's not how I feel, Yama. Not anymore."

I shook my head and stood up. "I can't believe you're saying this."

"Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're gonna get all mad because-"

"Because what?" I snapped. "Because you fucking turned me down just to spite me?"

"I told you, that's not what it is-"

"Whatever."

I left Tai's room, walking through the hall with my jaw set and my fists clenched. Kari looked up when she saw me at the front door and frowned.

"What's going on?"

"Nothing," I said, trying to sound neutral. "Lock the door, will you, Kari?"

She didn't ask any more questions. As I waited in the apartment hallway for the elevator, I kept looking back at their door, half-expecting Tai to come after me. But the elevator came and the door stayed shut.

After I entered my apartment, I sat on the couch and waited. The TV was on but I wasn't watching anything. I sat there and waited for Tai to call, or show up at the door, or something.

But he never came.

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