Track 10: The Third Letter

Summary: Yamato receives a cassette tape from an old friend in the mail.

A/N: Takes place in my headcanon. If you haven't read "Tegami ~Letter~" than this will be a bit difficult to understand. If you get the other references, then kudos to you. I plan to expand on it eventually.

A/N 2: I originally wanted to write this "script" format to keep in the "spirit" of the drama CD... thanks FF, for not allowing them anymore. I hope this short drabble will suffice.

No pairings/warnings.

January 2003

Yamato tossed down his keys and immediately started for the kitchen. He was late from band practice, mostly because he and Yutaka weren't agreeing on the new songs. Yamato growled as he remembered his defense. He kicked off his shoes, almost forgetting, then started prepping.

Cleaning and cutting the vegetables didn't take long. He was having an off week. Sora was claiming he was "cold" to her. Something she just loved to bring up.

Yamato set the rice to cook and headed for the couch. He flopped down with a sigh, thumbing through the couch cushions for the remote. When he opened his eyes he noticed a package on the table. It was too small to be anything super important, then he noticed the name.

He scrambled to pull it open, but it was sealed tight. He grabbed the envelope and went back to the kitchen, grabbing the knife from the drying rack and slicing through. He tore through the manilla paper and pulled out a cassette tape.

His blue eyes went wide and he rushed back to his bedroom and found his boom box. He plunked the cassette inside.

"Um... wow... can't believe I knew which button to press-!"

Yamato chuckled to himself, curling his knuckles under his chin as he listened.

"Yamato-kun... it's been a little over a year now. I heard your band is doing well. I saw the concert. Well, the transmission cut off after that giant monster attacked, but with the way my brother goes on about monsters it's like they're real." She made a snorty giggle, then silence. "How is Gabumon? I miss gossiping about you to him... Anyway, I'm not sure what else I wanted to say. You're as beautiful as your voice. You're probably used to hearing that."

Yamato took the boom box with him as he went back into the living room. He set it down on the table and turned it up as he entered the kitchen. "You have no idea," he replied to the humid air.

"I just wanted to let you know I'm doing well. I'm even playing some card games now. Nothing spectacular... my deck is called "Cute Sister". You don't have a sister do you?"

"I'd probably be terrified of her."

"I am back in school. You haven't been skipping have you?" "For fuck's sake." "Too much band practice, I bet. I told you it would make you stupid." A pause. "I'm kidding! I bet you could be a rocket scientist."

Yamato scoffed.

"This tape is getting a little long. For someone who doesn't have too much to say... I hope maybe I can meet you with my own eyes someday."

"...meet me... I'm not who I was then. Sorry, Shizu-chan."

"I would love to hear back from you again. We could be old fashioned pen pals! Wouldn't that be cute? I don't know how many pen pals ever talked through cassette tape... but then we did that because I couldn't see what I wrote. I have lovely handwriting. Maybe I'll write it all in blue, for Gabumon. And... thanks again for Tobira ~Door~. When I heard it on the college radio, I broke down crying. I think Jounouchi is threatening your life now, tee hee."

"Yeah, I'd like to see him try."

"Again... would love to hear from you. Hope you're living happily. Lots of love, Shizuka."

The tape clicked off and Yamato found himself staring down at the rice cooker, despite the fact it had changed to warming mode, lost in the static. He chuckled to himself and walked back to the living room. He took the cassette out and tossed it on the floor.

Then he stomped on it.