Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, and I am always in deep mourning for my
loss.
AN: This is only part 1 of a two-part story so don't be too discouraged if everything is not perfect yet. It soon will be. I have every intention of turning this into sickeningly sweet fluff. Oh, and just a warning: this is supposed to be a taito (and it is!) but there is enough kensuke in it to float the QE 2. I just can't help myself!
1 Winter's Holiday (or Stupid Tai!)
Chapter 1 :: Does Not!
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Day 1
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As Taichi carefully negotiated the snowy mountain roads he began to wonder why they were doing this. Sure, Takeru had been bugging them about the fact that they had gotten to go camping when the younger digidestined had gone to fight the Digimon Kaiser since it had happened, but the 'just ignore him and he will eventually go away' plan had seemed to be working. Why he and Yamato had finally given in was beyond Taichi.
All twelve digidestined were now piled in the largest van that Taichi had ever seen and making their way to a remote cabin Koushiro had managed to get very cheap. Even Mimi had flown over to Japan for the four-day holiday. Apparently vacations appealed to everyone.
Still, despite his unsure attitude, Taichi had to admit the younger kids did deserve a bit of a break. They had just saved the Digital world, and quite possibly the real one, for the second time in less than a year. He just had to keep telling himself that his bad mood was only because he had spent the last hour listening to Daisuke and Miyako argue. Soon they would be at the cabin and everyone could get a little space and things would be much better.
He let out a relieved sigh when Yamato pointed out the drive up to the cabin. Taichi stopped the van right in front of the cabin's door and everyone scrambled out. Yamato stood beside his door admiring the view. It really was beautiful. He turned to smile at Taichi who smiled back. Everyone began to make his or her way into the cabin.
"Ok, there are six bedrooms," Yamato said, taking charge, "so everyone is going to have to double up."
"Ken's rooming with me," Daisuke declared, pushing past everyone and through the second door on the left side of the hall. Ken just shrugged and followed after him. Jyou and Koushiro walked into another room, as did Sora and Mimi. Takeru grabbed Hikari's hand and they both tried to sneak into an empty bedroom but were stopped at the last minute by Taichi and Yamato.
"You really didn't believe that was going to happen, did you?" Yamato asked them both. Takeru just shrugged. Taichi crooked his finger at Miyako, standing her next to Hikari as he gave Takeru a playful shove towards Iori.
"Ok, so that means Miyako goes with Hikari and Takeru with Iori and you and I are in the last room." Taichi watched to make sure the younger digidestined had gone into their proper rooms before following Yamato into the only remaining room. Plopping down on a bed, Taichi closed his eyes and stretched out his legs with a smile. Now this was what a vacation was supposed to be like.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Daisuke came in from messing around outside with the others, stomping the excess snow off of his boots in the process and made his way strait towards the small kitchen where he had left Ken earlier and where he just knew he would still be. Sure enough, Ken was in there, the only one left, still standing very close to the old wood stove, now many pages deeper into one of the books he had brought along.
"You're still in here?" Ken glanced in his direction before turning back to his book, making sure to turn his back on Daisuke in the process.
"It's warm in here." Daisuke chuckled. He knew a challenge when he heard one.
"I could keep you warm," Daisuke suggested, his tone borderline between joking and suggestive. He came up behind Ken and wrapped his arms tightly around him. Ken gave a small shiver at the cold still seeping from Daisuke's many layers. Daisuke buried his chilly nose in the hair at the base of Ken's neck.
"Daisuke, stop that." Ken tried disengaging Daisuke with a shrug of his shoulders, but the other boy had too good of a grip. Besides which, he had begun placing little nibbling kisses along Ken's neck that made Ken's wish to be left alone seem to evaporate. Daisuke took Ken's next sigh to be one of defeat. He loosened his grip long enough to take away Ken's book, placing it on a nearby counter.
"No one's even here." Ken smiled at the pout in Daisuke's words. He took advantage of the lighter hold to turn around so that he could actually see Daisuke's face. Big mistake. The puppy dog eyes were being displayed full force.
"That doesn't mean that they won't ever be coming back," Ken protested, leaning in towards Daisuke in the process. "And end up with the shock of their lives." Ken stopped moving again; his nose only the fewest of millimeters away from Daisuke's as is paused in thought.
"Would you just stop stalling Ichijouji?" Daisuke asked after several long seconds had passed, his voice a thoroughly frustrated growl that made Ken's smile widen.
"Sorry. Can't. People have to eat in this kitchen, you know." Ken was teasing him again. Ken started to pull away, regretfully shaking his head, but Daisuke tightened his arms, drawing Ken back in.
"All the better reason to move this into a bedroom." Ken seemed to consider his suggestion for a second before quickly closing any remaining distance between them and giving Daisuke the kiss that he wanted so badly.
"Well, I suppose, if we must," he replied a little breathlessly after breaking off the kiss a moment later. Daisuke just grinned, and grabbing his wrist, began pulling Ken out of the room.
Taichi quickly ducked out of the hallway and through the back door when he saw that they were heading in his direction. He stood staring out across the landscape to where everyone else was deep in a snowball war, trying to make sense of what he had just seen. Daisuke…and Ken? …They were…together?…No way!…But? Taichi gave a small smile before running back out and into the snow, forgetting the gloves he had gone in to retrieve.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was much later by the time that everyone had gotten so cold that they had to leave the fun outside and come in, and they were now all spread about the cabin. They had drawn straws to see who would do the cooking and Hikari, Takeru and Iori had lost. Daisuke kept trying to pick at what ever it was that they were making for dinner that night and all three were at about the end of their rope. Finally he went too far, reaching in between Takeru and Hikari to grab a pinch of rice with his bare fingers. Hikari snatched a wooden spoon out of a container on the counter, coming after Daisuke with a mad screech.
"Leave the food alone!" Hikari exclaimed as she chased him around the table a couple to times before he scurried over to where Ken had returned to his apparently all-too interesting book.
"Help me!" he begged, trying to hide behind Ken. Ken set down his story with an exaggerated sigh before grabbing Daisuke by the scruff and holding him out where Hikari could get him. Hikari smirked as she closed in on her now captive victim and the other girls, sitting around the table sipping their hot cocoa began to laugh.
"Traitor! How could you?!" Daisuke asked Ken as Hikari raised the spoon high above her head, threading to bring it down hard. At the last second he cracked. "I promise I won't bother you any more!" he begged Hikari, who lowered the spoon with a smirk.
"Now how can I refuse an offer like that?" She tossed the spoon in the sink before going back to her cooking. Daisuke stood there a moment longer as everyone else went back to what they had been doing before the little fight had broken out.
"Fine then," Daisuke mumbled, then raising his voice, "I'll go. Nobody here loves me anyway! Not you," he pointed at the table, "not you," he pointed at Hikari, "and definitely not you!" Daisuke made a face at Ken as he leveled his last accusation and left the room, pretending to be in a huff. Miyako just rolled her eyes. She did not know who those two thought they were fooling. Subtle was not in Daisuke's dictionary.
Daisuke moved into the den where Jyou was also reading a book (must be catching) and Yamato and Taichi were talking on the far couch. He leaned against the wall, listening for a moment.
"That's just it Taichi. She's beautiful and, and bouncy and, and the epitome of human female perfection, but…" Yamato paused a moment, searching for the right words to describe the latest in a very long chain of girlfriends, "she has the personality of a cow." Taichi sat thoughtfully for a few moments, obviously attempting to work something out in his mind.
"I didn't realize that cows had personalities."
"That's my point!" Yamato sighed, throwing his head back over the couch, his eyes turned toward the ceiling for a moment.
"Um, hm." Taichi and Yamato both looked up at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Daisuke stood directly in front of them.
"That's not true." Taichi sent an annoyed glance in his direction. Apparently Daisuke had decided to take a break from his near-constant pestering of Hikari…and Ken. Taichi took a moment to marvel at how natural that sounded before being drawn back into the conversation by the sound of Yamato's voice.
"What are you talking about Daisuke?" He sounded weary and worn.
"Cows. Cows do have personalities." Daisuke said matter-of-factly, nodding at both of them.
"And you would know how? When have you ever been any closer to a cow than a picture in a book?" Taichi almost laughed at the incredibly dirty look on Yamato's face. If Daisuke had any sense, he would turn tail and run. There was nothing Yamato hated more than being corrected by eavesdropping little know-it-alls. Daisuke, however, was entirely undaunted. In fact, he rolled his eyes.
"It's a little something called learning by association. Its something we humans are especially good at." Taichi threw is hands up in the air in a gesture of surrender. Judging by the grin on Daisuke's face, he had no idea just how thin of ice he was treading on. Yamato just leveled yet another killer glance at Daisuke.
"You've been hanging around with Ken too much. You aren't allowed to see him anymore." Everyone knew it was an empty threat, especially as Ken was just across the hall and rooming with Daisuke. Still, it made Yamato feel somewhat better. With another grin in their direction, Daisuke skipped across the room to the doorway into the kitchen. Leaning in he spoke loudly enough to be sure that Taichi and Yamato heard.
"Yamato says I can't hang around with you anymore!" Daisuke's eyes never left the two boys on the couch who looked as if their greatest wish was for him to disappear. Both heard a soft mumble from inside, followed shortly by Daisuke's sharp laughter as he moved into the other room. Taichi continued to watch the doorway for a few seconds before turning to Yamato.
"Were we just insulted?"
"I don't even want to know."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When getting ready for bed, Iori was surprised to hear a short knock on his and Takeru's door. The door flew open seconds later and Miyako bound inside, not bothering to answer the look of confusion on Iori's face. She tossed the pillow she had been carrying on the bed opposite of Iori and flopped down. Finally, Miyako turned to look at Iori, who was still staring.
"Hey!" she said brightly, giving him her flashiest smile.
"Hey, Miya." Iori's response was much more subdued, questioning and he did not bother with the smile.
"I'm going to stay here for the night if you don't mind. That couch is kind of lumpy."
"What about Takeru?" Miyako gave another grin.
"I wouldn't worry about that. Hikari will take care of him." Iori frowned, looking towards the door as if he were about to leave. "Oh, don't be such a prude!"
"I'm not," he protested, trying to think of a way to put his conscious at ease with out being labeled as a baby tattletale. "It's just that I don't think that Yamato or Taichi would approve."
"Then I suppose that we shouldn't tell them." Miyako gave him a pointed look before crawling underneath the covers and closing her eyes. Iori continued to sit on the edge of his bed, refusing to let this drop.
"I don't want any part of this!" He sent a fist down into the cheap bedspread.
"Too late!" Miyako smirked, never opening her eyes, "Turn off the light, would you?" Iori grabbed his pillow from the top of the bed and stormed out of the room.
"You had better not tell!" Miyako called after him, never getting any response. Iori stormed across the hallway and knocked on the door to Jyou's room. Koushiro opened, his hair tousled as if he had already been asleep. The anger streamed out of Iori as he realized that he had probably awoken both boys. He blushed, more than a little embarrassed.
"Iori? Is something the matter? You don't feel sick do you?" Jyou sent a concerned look over Koushiro's shoulder, just before he moved aside, motioning for Iori to enter.
"Can I stay in here?" Iori asked, hugging his pillow tight to his body. Jyou sent a gentle smile over Iori's head to Koushiro.
"Of course you can." Koushiro replied.
"Are you and Takeru having a fight?" Jyou asked. Iori hesitated a moment, very unsure as to how much he could divulge with out making Miyako mad. Very little, he decided. Still, he did not want Jyou or Koushiro to worry about him.
"No, but Miyako's in my room because Takeru's in hers with Hikari and if I tell Yamato or Taichi…but I don't want to get in trouble." It all came out in such a rush that it took a while to decipher. "Please don't tell anyone."
"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of everything and I won't tell Yamato or Taichi, all right?" Iori took a moment to think it over. Jyou's plan seemed like a pretty good idea. Anyway, Miyako had not said anything about telling Jyou. He nodded his acceptance.
"Good." Jyou stepped out into the hall and opened Iori's door, flipping on the light. "Come on Miyako, up and at 'em. You know perfectly well that you can't stay in here." Miyako sat up with a groan.
"Jeez Jyou, can't you just look the other way for once in your life? Hmmm? You know as well as I do that this is pointless." Jyou just crooked his finger at her, telling her to come, and with an exasperated sigh, she did. He escorted her one door down the hall to her original room. After three sharp knocks, he swung the door open, catching Hikari and Takeru still in a very compromising, but thankfully, not too shocking position. Jyou allowed Miyako access to the room before leading a furiously blushing Takeru out…and right into a rather perturbed Yamato. Yamato still carried his clothes from the day and toothbrush and had apparently been making his way back to his room from the bathroom when he had seen the goings on.
"Don't worry, I'll take it from here," he said grimly, pinching Takeru's ear and leading him the rest of the way down the hall, oblivious to the chorus of owowowowowow. Yamato shoved Takeru into his room.
"Do not push me Takaishi Takeru," he warned. Takeru winced a bit, then nodded, sitting on his bed with a thunk and furiously rubbing his throbbing ear. Yamato just left him there, flipping off the light as he shut the door. Takeru continued to study what he believed to be the sleeping form of Iori.
"Man, kids have it easy," he whispered to no one in particular before climbing under the covers, still soothing his sore ear.
"I hate kids," Yamato proclaimed, flipping of their light and flopping down on his bed a few moments later. Taichi gave him a wan smile, but refused to comment or question, his mind still busily going over Ken and Daisuke.
Taichi listened until he heard Yamato's breath even and slow then rolled over so that he could watch the sleeping boy. He knew most people did not believe his thoughts ever went any deeper then the most recent soccer game but that just was not true. His mind strayed back to the scene in the kitchen earlier that day for what must have been the hundredth time. There must be something going on between those two. That was the only way to explain what he had seen.
Taichi sighed. He knew why he was thinking about all of this and he knew why he should just force it all out of mind. Still… No! It was never going to happen. Taichi groaned as he flopped over noisily to stare at the bare wall, only to stiffen as he heard Yamato turn over as well and mumbling something. He held his breath until he was sure that the blonde was just turning in his sleep and had not actually awakened, finally letting it out with a soft whoosh. Taichi closed his eyes for only a moment before opening them again to stare at the paneling in front of him. This was going to be a very long night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Day 2
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"Yes, you do."
"No, I do not."
"Uh, huh."
"No."
"Uh, huh."
"That's not true and you know it!" Taichi cringed as he realized that the heated battle was heading in his direction. Never mind he something important he wanted to talk to Yamato about. It had only taken him four years to get to this point.
"Hey Taichi! Tell Ken he does too squeal like a little girl." Yamato rolled his eyes at Daisuke's request and Taichi just shrugged. To be perfectly honest, he had no idea if Ken squealed like a girl or not. Still, both boys were watching him with an expectant air.
"If I say no, you would just disagree with me and if I say yes, Ken will never speak to you again." So it was a cop-out. Taichi really could not care less. He had much more important things on his mind at the moment.
"No, he wouldn't." Daisuke said with a grin, giving his dark-haired friend a nudge.
"Yes, I would."
"No, you wouldn't."
"Uh, huh."
"Unn, uh."
"Uh, huh." Yamato resisted the urge to scream. Thankfully, they were moving back out of the room. Taichi sent a pained grimace in his direction. But at least now they did not have to worry about Ken being a bad influence on Daisuke. No, Daisuke was definitely a bad influence on Ken. Yamato and Taichi sat in silence for a moment longer before Yamato felt the urge to prod.
"Well? You wanted to tell me something?"
"Yeeeaaah," Taichi drew out the word as long as possible before taking every bit as long to gather in another breath.
"I want to talk to you guys," Miyako proclaimed, thudding down in between the two boys. Taichi did not know if he should cry or thank the heavens. He decided both would be appropriate.
"It's about Hikari and Takeru," she continued without pausing for breath. Yamato groaned, looking towards Taichi for support, but he had not rejoined the conversation, as of yet.
"I don't think it's fair that Daisuke and Ken get to room together when everyone knows that they're a couple…" Yamato raised a questioning eyebrow at that little announcement while Taichi remained completely non-nonplused. "And we all know that there is something going on between Jyou and Koushiro," she continued, refusing to stop her prepared speech. This time it was Taichi who looked a bit shocked and Yamato who seemed unfazed. "So what's the big deal about Takeru and Hikari?"
"Mind your own business, Miyako," a rather disgruntled-sounding Jyou said from the easy chair in which he had been studying a few moments ago. Miyako just shrugged. What did he have to be upset about? Yamato shot a grateful smile in his direction. When no one bothered to answer her question, Miyako pressed a little further.
"Is this just because they're your younger siblings?" Miyako's tone was one of someone placating a child. Taichi could almost hear Yamato grinding his back teeth, and he knew he had to do something before he punched the younger girl. Taichi caught Yamato's eyes behind Miyako's head, motioning with his head and shoulders. Yamato nodded his acceptance with the plan a fraction of a second before both turned and shoved Miyako off of the couch.
"Fine!" Miyako scrambled back up and onto her feet with a dirty look at both of them, "But you're both being ridiculous!" She left the room in a quiet, post-storm calm. The silence reigned for several moments, Jyou returning to his text and Yamato and Taichi both in desperate need of a break. It was not until sometime later that Yamato finally turned to face Taichi again.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Taichi just closed his eyes and leaned back against the couch. He really did not feeling like talking about this anymore. Some how the vapid, carefree mood that had settled on him at about two in the morning (when he had finally decided to get everything off of his chest) had left. Anyway, it would be better to do it later, when they could be assured some privacy, or so he told himself. Still, he needed an answer.
"Nothing, really. I just wanted to make sure we agreed to a minimum age of 15 for our next trip."
"Sure. Works by me." Yamato gave him a quirky grin just as Koushiro, Sora and Mimi came into the room, the girls giggling. Koushiro settled himself on the arm of Jyou's easy chair.
"Oh, Yamato," Mimi crooned, "Sora just told me the funniest thing." They began to make their way over to the couch.
"Get OUT!" Neither Taichi or Yamato had meant for that to come out so brusquely, but it did, and it certainly worked, for both girls turned tail and ran with little more than a murmur.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Taichi walked around the small cabin den, doing his best to work out what he should do. To think he had actually almost told Yamato what he had been thinking! Never before this would he have ever believed that he would be grateful for Miyako's noisiness. But as some more time had passed and as he began to realize the enormity of the statement he had been so willing to blurt out in the middle of the room, he began to see her as a kind of lifesaver in the sea of his own stupidity. He was so caught up with his thoughts that Taichi failed to notice Koushiro's annoyed stare.
"Would stop all that pacing!" the red-head finally burst out, "You're wearing a hole in the carpet and you're making me a nervous wreck!"
"Maybe I wouldn't be pacing if someone hadn't rented us a cabin with out a television or anything else fun to do," Taichi snapped back. 'Ohhh, bad move,' Taichi could not help but think. It was never a good idea to blame or vent your frustrations on the younger genius. He could swear he could see the smoke rising from between Koushiro's ears and cringed, awaiting the assured response.
"Taichi. I don't know what you have up your butt, but I strongly suggest you remove what ever it is before you ruin this little trip for everyone." Koushiro quietly clicked shut his laptop before standing to leave. "And, until you do, I think I'll just stay in my room." Taichi swallowed the guilty lump in his throat as he watched the boy leave. He really had not meant to upset him. He ran out into the hall into which Koushiro had just exited.
"Koushiro! Izzy! Iz! Just stop already. I didn't mean anything. I'm sorry!" Finally Koushiro stopped and turned around, allowing Taichi to catch up. He was at his door already anyway. He studied Taichi's penitent countenance for a few moments before sighing.
"I know how you feel. But you should just tell him. You'll be glad you did. Oh, and for future reference, you mumble when you muse." And with that, Koushiro walked into his room, closing the door on Taichi's shocked face.
"Huh? Iz? Wait!"
"Taichi?" Daisuke had just stepped out of his room. Taichi was about to offer some excuse and just walk away, but remembered, at the last second, something that he had been doing his best to work out since yesterday.
"Why aren't you outside with the others?" Taichi rounded on the startled boy.
"Ah, Ken gets cold real easily so I'm staying in to keep him company." Taichi nodded, moving further down the hall with Daisuke following like an obedient puppy. "What's the matter?" Taichi did not seem as if he was going to answer, then suddenly stopped, turning in his tracks.
"Are you and Ken a…" Taichi struggled for a way to put this delicately, "…thing?" Despite all efforts to the contrary, Taichi could not stop the feeling of flush passing over his body. There were just some things he preferred to leave to Sora and the other girls. Daisuke, however, was not so easily embarrassed.
"Hmmm, I don't know," he teased, "Define 'thing.'" It took everything in Taichi's power for him not to finish taking out his frustrations on Daisuke. But, look where it had gotten him with Koushiro. This was going nowhere—and fast. Taichi could not help the frustration that leaked into his voice.
"You know what I'm talking about, Daisuke."
"What? Romantically?" Daisuke smirked some more when Taichi nodded. "No. We're just friends."
"Really?" Taichi eyed him narrowly.
"What?" Daisuke asked again, not quite smirking as much anymore.
"Nothing…it's just that yesterday…in the kitchen…I saw…I don't know!" Taichi wanted to scream. Damn his social inhibitions! "Are you saying you and Ken have never…you know…" Daisuke raised his eyebrows in a questioning gesture. "You know what I'm talking about!" There was nothing Daisuke wanted more than to laugh out loud at how flustered cool, calm Taichi was becoming, but even he was bright enough to realize that that might very well put his life at risk. Then what would Ken do?
"Well, if you must know, Ken and I both agree that there are aspects of life about which we would both like to know more. And so with that in mind, we do our best to keep open and, ah, explore all possibilities." It sounded like a speech that had been prepared by Ken.
"But it's not a feelings relationship…" Taichi could not help but press a little further. Not after coming this far anyway.
"No!" Daisuke let out another laugh, "God no! Can you imagine?"
"No." This voice was much softer and came from a few steps down the long hallway. Taichi and Daisuke turned towards the sound, both shocked that they had been overheard. Ken stood just outside the door to Daisuke's and his room and looked as if someone had just punched him in the gut. He stepped back into the room and closed the door so softly that there wasn't even a click. Daisuke gave the confused Taichi a hard shove before hurrying over to the door.
"Sorry," Taichi whispered to no one in particular just before slinking out the back door.
Daisuke rapped lightly on the door before calling, "Ken?"
"I'm fine, Daisuke, really." Daisuke cringed. This was not a good sign. Ken had apparently decided to just ignore the whole thing. Daisuke rattled the doorknob, which was locked, just as he had suspected.
"Ken, can I come in. You know I wasn't being serious." Daisuke paused, waiting for an answer.
"I know." Daisuke could hear Ken's whisper soft voice breaking.
"I thought that's what you wanted me to say."
"It is."
"Then let me in!"
"No, not right now. In a minute, ok?" Daisuke sighed as he realized Ken was crying softly and doing his best to cover.
"No! Let me in now," he pushed.
"No." Ken's voice was a little stronger this time, a bit of anger edging it's way in at Daisuke's pushiness. Daisuke smiled.
"Let me in or I'll take the door off the hinges." Daisuke's eyebrows scrunched together as he heard what sounded like a cross between a sob and a laugh.
"You can't…" Was that laughter Daisuke heard in Ken's voice?
"Oh?" he asked, desperate to find out what was so funny.
"The hinges are on this side of the door."
"I'll just go around to the window," he said shortly after a few moments hesitation, a bit indignant at having his previous plan shot down. He started away, but heard Ken turn the lock. Daisuke peaked into the room. It was dark with all the lights off and the shade drawn. All there was of Ken was a lump under the covers of what was supposed to be his bed. He sat down on the bed, pulling back the covers so that he could see where Ken had his face pillowed on his arms, his own pillow still on Daisuke's bed where he had left it the night before.
"So you hate me now, right?" Ken turned suddenly and pinned Daisuke with his red-rimmed blue-violet eyes.
"No, Daisuke. I could never hate you." The truth of his statement was obvious in the blazing eyes. "I just wish you weren't such a great actor." Daisuke began to gently massage Ken's side.
"Tell me about it," he replied with the air of one sorely put upon. "You know, we could just tell them. They are our friends. Besides which, I think Taichi has a pretty good idea what's going on now and will probably tell everyone anyway." Ken did not look as if he was quite as sure but nodded his head anyway, trying to put the nervous fear of loosing his first real friends far, far from mind. "I know the perfect way!" Daisuke grinned, jumping up from the bed and moving over to the desk. He looked around for a minute before looking back at Ken.
"Do you have any paper and a pen?" Ken was unsure just what he was planning to do but pointed to his black school bag anyway. Daisuke grabbed the case and began dumping its neat contents out on to the desk, pell-mell. Ken forced down the urge to groan.
"Pastel? I never would have guessed," Daisuke smirked, picking up a package of gel pens as he began sorting through everything.
"They were for a school project."
"Sure…" He set aside a couple of sheets of paper, a roll of tape and the gel pens before he began trying to fit everything back into the case. Ken motioned for him to let him do it before any more damage could be done. Daisuke handed over the case gratefully before sitting down to go to work. When Ken had finished reorganizing his bag, he sat it back in the exact same spot as before and went to stand over Daisuke's shoulder. To say what he saw shocked him would be an understatement.
Taking up most of the page was a huge heart in which Daisuke had written 'Ken and Daisuke 4 Eva' with each letter in a different color. Within the main heart and all around it were smaller hearts, rainbows, flowers and what looked to be duckys and bunnies.
"Do you like it?" Daisuke asked as he finished adding a light purple, lacy border to the largest heart and held the picture up to Ken. Ken just gave Daisuke a peck on the cheek, then bit his lip, unwilling to open his mouth unless he laugh and hurt Daisuke's feelings.
"I'm going to hang it on our door," Daisuke said, grabbing the roll of tape. Ken looked at him a little unsurely.
"If you think that's best," he said hesitantly. Daisuke just grinned.
"If you're going to make a statement, you should make a statement," he declared. Well, there was no arguing with that logic. Ken just smiled his best smile and nodded. Daisuke finished taping the sign to their door before closing it and turning on Ken with a predatory grin.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Yamato found Taichi later, he had snuck back inside and was sitting on his bed mumbling something about his anti-Midas touch. He looked down on his friend. Something was definitely not right. Koushiro had mentioned that he had been acting strange earlier. Yamato sat down on the bed, pulling Tai up to sit next to him so that he could wrap his arm around him.
"This has really been a pretty stinky vacation, right?"
"I don't know. Everyone else seems to be having a pretty good time. Well except for Koushiro and Daisuke and Ken, but that's my fault and not theirs. I've ruined everything!" Yamato gave Taichi's shoulders a squeeze.
"Have you seen the sign on Ken and Daisuke's door? I don't think you've ruined anything. And I just saw Koushiro a few moments ago and he seemed fine to me. What's been going on?" Taichi looked at him for a few moments before shaking his head and trying to throw himself back down on the bed.
"Come on, Taichi, this is silly," Yamato held him tightly so that he could not lie back down. "You can tell me what's wrong." Taichi seemed to consider this for a moment before caving in.
"There's some one I really like, really," he said slowly.
"And you're not sure that she'll like you back?" Yamato guessed, only somewhat incorrectly.
"No, I know he won't," Taichi practically wailed.
"Oh," Yamato pulled back a moment so that he could look into Taichi's distraught face before pulling him back into a tight hug. "You know, I never guessed. And I thought I was pretty good about this sort of thing." Yamato smiled at Taichi even though he could not see it. "How can you be so sure?"
Taichi took a deep breath. It was now or never. Maybe in the end he could blame the whole thing on his bungled emotional state. "Because he's my best friend and he already has a girlfriend," he said softly, fighting back the tears as he waited for Yamato to respond.
"Oh, Taichi," Yamato finally replied, letting out every last bit of breath. He sounded so sad. Taichi pulled away a bit so that he could actually see Yamato's face. The deep concern was obvious.
"I know. It's stupid. I shouldn't have said anything. Things like this never work out." Taichi's voice was a flat, emotionless monotone.
"No! It's not stupid and I'm sorry," Yamato insisted until Taichi's stare began to wear him down, "But you're right. It wouldn't work out." Yamato still had a grip on Taichi's hands, his blue eyes looking deep into Taichi's chocolate ones.
Taichi just nodded, pulling the rest of the way away as he stood up. "I think I'm going to go for a little walk…cool my head." He gave Yamato a pained smile and quietly left the room, oblivious to Yamato's protests.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Daisuke awoke, he was shocked to find Ken gone. He had begun to look around frantically, stumbling out of bed when he heard Ken.
"Daisuke! Shhh!" Ken whispered, motioning Daisuke over to where he sat on the other bed and pointing at the wall. Daisuke crawled on to the bed and sat opposite of Ken. He could hear the slightly muffled voices of Taichi and Yamato, but he could not understand what was being said. Still, judging by Ken's face this was important. Daisuke began to concentrate, trying to block out all other sounds, but all he could understand was snatches of conversation. Daisuke jumped when he heard Ken's startled gasp.
"Poor Taichi," Ken whispered.
"What's going on?" Daisuke whispered back. Ken put his finger to his mouth trying to silence him and leaned closer to the wall.
"We shouldn't be eavesdropping!" Daisuke whispered again.
"Shh!" Ken shushed him again. Finally, Ken pulled away from the wall, turning so he could lean his back against it. A couple seconds later they both heard the other bedroom door open and then close softly. Ken looked so very sad.
"Will you please just tell me what's going on?" Daisuke whispered, very worried and not sure why he was still whispering. Ken took his hand and led him over to the other bed, only about two meters away. Still, Ken seemed a bit more relaxed at that distance.
"Taichi really likes Yamato," Ken began softly.
"Really?" Daisuke grinned. Ken motioned for him to keep his voice down.
"But Yamato doesn't like Taichi that way. He said something about them being friends and Taichi agreed, but…" Ken trailed off sadly. Daisuke knew what he was saying. Taichi must really be taking this pretty hard.
"Oh, man. That really sucks." Ken nodded his agreement. They watched as Taichi moved across the snow and out towards the lake a little way before sitting down underneath a tree. Suddenly Ken turned and unwound his scarf from around the bed's headboard, moving towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To check on Taichi," Ken made it sound like it should have been painfully obvious.
"But you're going to freeze!"
"Then come with me," Ken called over his shoulder, heading outside.
Daisuke ran after him, grabbing his coat from the rack by the front door. He finally caught up with Ken and spun him around.
"Will you at least go put on a coat so that you don't catch pneumonia?"
"I don't have a coat."
"You didn't bring your coat?" Daisuke asked, shocked.
"No, I don't have a coat." Ken turned and began walking over towards Taichi again. It took Daisuke a moment to make sense of Ken's statement. When he did, he quickly caught back up with Ken, spinning him around to face him for the second time.
"What do you mean you don't have a coat?" Ken just shrugged, unsure as to why Daisuke was making such a big deal out of this. "You have the most over protective mother in the world!" Ken gave Daisuke a dirty look. "How can you not have ten coats?"
"I guess she just never thought about it," Ken shrugged again, rolling his eyes at the horrified look Daisuke was giving him, "Besides, I'm fine so it doesn't matter."
"Well at least put my coat on!" Daisuke began pealing off the brown jacket, but Ken held up his hand, gesturing for him to stop.
"I'm wearing a sweater, Daisuke. If I put that on, I'll burn up and you'll freeze. This is pointless anyway." Ken turned and hurried over to Taichi, leaving Daisuke to shrug back into his coat and follow.
Taichi looked up as Daisuke skidded into the tree. "Hey." Daisuke didn't think he sounded as if anything was wrong. He brushed the snow that had fallen off of the jolted tree branch from his hair before flopping down next to Taichi.
"So what do you guys need?" Taichi finally asked. He really just wanted to be left alone, but neither Ken nor Daisuke looked as if they were going to be leaving anytime soon, even if Ken was turning blue.
"We overheard you and Yamato…" Ken trailed off quietly.
"Oh." Now he didn't sound as ok. Taichi drew his knees up under his chin and tried his best to will away the blush.
"We didn't mean to," Daisuke interjected, "Those walls are paper thin." It was just a little white lie after all. Taichi wondered grimly about whom else had over heard. He could have sworn that there were times when even he could barely hear Yamato.
"I was just being stupid," Taichi said softly, "I guess when I saw how happy the two of you were together…when I wasn't tearing that up anyway…sorry." Daisuke just laughed.
"Don't tell Ken that!" he giggled, shaking his head, "The next thing you know he'll be blaming himself for this one too." Ken growled deep in this throat before kicking a clump of snow on to Daisuke's back. Daisuke leaned in close to Taichi to whisper, "You know it's the truth."
"I hate you." Ken sighed, neatly sitting down and wrapping his arms around Daisuke so he could rest his head on his shoulder. Taichi smiled at them both for a moment before looking away.
"No, this one is definitely my fault. Yamato has his choice of beautiful women. Why would he want me? Why would anyone want me?" Taichi let out a mournful wail.
"Don't say that. If Dai-chan weren't around I would definitely want you," Ken spoke up suddenly causing the other two boys to turn and stare at him. Ken just smiled, "Well its true. He's cute," he told Daisuke. Daisuke cocked his head to the side for a moment, studying Taichi closely.
"Yeah, I guess I can see that," he said after a moment, "He kind of has that boy-next-door look." Daisuke grinned as Taichi let out an actual laugh.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yamato had just settled back down to work on the song that he had promised himself he would finish this weekend when there was a knock at the door. Oh well, it's not like he was able to concentrate anyway. Koushiro came in a few moments later.
"Are you and Taichi fighting?" he fired point-blank. Yamato looked up from his notebook shocked.
"Huh?"
"I asked if you and Taichi were having a fight." Yamato looked around a little nervously, as if he was not quite sure just how he should answer. This, of course, only peaked Koushiro's curiosity. "Well?"
"No! Why? Did he say anything?" Yamato stuttered over his words. He was worried about Taichi. Could he be more upset than he had let on? Duh! Of course he could, this was Taichi they were talking about.
"No, not really," Koushiro continued in that same calm voice he always used when he was trying to figure something out, "He just wants to trade rooms."
"Trade rooms…" Yamato felt as if someone had punched him. Taichi did not even want to stay as him any more? Yamato's eyes fell on the opposite bed as the room trailed off into silence.
"Is this because Taichi told you he's gay?" Koushiro suddenly broke back into Yamato's thoughts, "Because if it is…" he trailed off menacingly, waiting for Yamato's response.
"Huh? How did you know about Taichi? And, no!" Yamato paused for a moment thinking, "Well, maybe. Well, probably, but—" he was cut short by a very upset Koushiro.
"I can't believe it!" Koushiro exploded, marching across the room to poke Yamato in the chest, "And from you of all people! How could you hurt Taichi like that?" Koushiro emphasized each point with another poke, "He's suppose to be your best friend! You, you bigoted, self-righteous…" Koushiro began sputtering, unable to put his anger into words anymore, but still poking at Yamato's chest.
"OW! Stop it, Koushiro!" Yamato grabbed one wrist and swatted at the other, "Just stop it!" He paused to take a few deep breaths before staring Koushiro directly in the eyes. "You don't understand at all."
"I seriously doubt that." Koushiro was more than a little miffed, but there wasn't much he could do with one hand. Not when Yamato could move as quickly as he could, anyway. Both boys just continued to stare at each other venomously, trying to bring their breathing back to a more normal level. Jyou poked his head inside to view the stalemate.
"What's going on?"
"Yamato told Taichi he doesn't want to room with him just because he's gay." Sarcastic Koushiro was really not a pretty sight. He gave Yamato another dirty look as he wrenched his wrist away, rubbing it gently. Jyou just looked plain shocked.
"Why would you do that? Poor Taichi. No wonder he's so upset." Jyou stepped over to Yamato and gave him a hard shove just where Koushiro had finished making his bruise. "How can you be such a jerk?" Yamato shoved the older boy back, standing up from the bed.
"Where's Taichi?" he asked curtly. It did not seem as if they were going to answer him, but then Jyou pointed out the window just behind Yamato. All Yamato could see of Taichi was a bit of coat sticking out from behind a tree beside the lake. Daisuke and Ken were next to him. Yamato watched for a moment longer as Ken, the only one who still stood, sat down as well, wrapping his arms around Daisuke. Yamato frowned.
"Aw, hell."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ken and I'll help you get Yamato back," Daisuke declared when Taichi had finished laughing, "We can cover his bed in snow, or worse, I'll just sic Jun on him!" Ken rolled his eyes and Taichi gave Daisuke's head a rub.
"Thanks, but no thanks, kid," he said fondly, "I don't want to do anything to Yamato. I still love him and he's still my best friend. It's not his fault that he can't feel the same way."
"Pity," Daisuke mumbled shortly, making Ken and Taichi chuckle again.
"Hey," Taichi smiled at him, "It's good to know your friends care, even if their way of showing it is to sabotage another friend." All three lapsed back into silence until they heard Yamato clear his throat a few moments later. Everyone was a bit surprised to see him standing directly behind them, he having made it all the way across the icy snow with out making a sound. Yamato's dark clothes and coat was an odd contrast to the bright colors the other boys wore. He gave them all a brief smile.
"Hey guys, can I talk to Taichi for a second?" Yamato had his hands in his pockets and was rocking back and forth from his heals to the balls of his feet uncertainly. Ken scrambled up quickly, offering a hand to Daisuke, who just continued to stare at the person whom had upset his idol so very much.
"It's ok. I'll talk to you guys later," Taichi said, trying to give Daisuke a hint. Finally Daisuke stood, getting a grunt from Taichi as he nearly pushed him into the ground using his shoulder as leverage. Yamato watched them start to walk away before he sat down in the spot they had just vacated. He had just opened his mouth to speak when they were interrupted by Ken's (rather girly) squeal. Ken was holding his shirt and sweater out, jumping up and down in an attempt to dislodge some snow Daisuke had dropped down his back. On one hop, he did not land so well and ended up on his butt. Daisuke burst out in loud guffaws. Before he knew what had happened, Ken's leg shot out and Daisuke was also sitting in the snow, still laughing. Yamato and Taichi continued to watch until both had gotten back up and started stumbling back towards the house.
"I hate them," Taichi said mournfully, but he was smiling.
"I'll put snow down your back if you want me to." Yamato offered, scooping up a handful of snow to show his good intentions. Taichi grimaced before turning to study something in the other direction. Yamato sighed, dumping the snow back on the ground.
"Listen, Taichi, we've been friends for a long time now," Yamato paused, waiting for a response that never came, "You know how incredibly good I am at screwing things up. I mean, look at all the girlfriends I've had." Taichi cringed again and Yamato let out a frustrated sigh.
"What I'm trying to say is even if I did swing that way I don't know that I would date you."
"Gee thanks," Taichi replied sarcastically.
"Damn it Taichi! You're my best friend. You have to know that! And I could never do anything to hurt that relationship! What if this is just some crush? Huh? What then? What happens when you get tired of me and find yourself in love with someone else? I don't know what I would do if you weren't always in my life."
The only response Yamato got for pouring his heart out was a short, "Yeah."
"Please, Taichi?" Taichi felt bad when he heard the pained note in Yamato's voice. "Can't things just be the way they were before?" Having to be the cheerful one was beginning to wear at Yamato. All he wanted to do was pull his knees up under his chin and stare out over the lake cursing life. And he just may have, too, if it were not for one nagging little problem.
"My butt's freezing!" he declared, giving Taichi's shoulder a nudge with his own. And low and behold, Taichi actually gave him a small smile. "How long have you been out here?"
"Too long," Taichi replied with a short chuckle, "I can't feel anything below my waist." Yamato stood up, offering Taichi a hand as Ken had done for Daisuke only a few minutes before. Taichi stood up, tottering for a few seconds on unsure legs before Yamato wrapped his arm around his waist.
"How about next time you run off to mope some place warmer, hm?" Yamato gave Taichi a squeeze.
"I do not mope!" Taichi declared indignantly.
"Sure you don't," Yamato smiled, helping Taichi back to the house.
"There's going to be someone else," Yamato said softly a few moments later. He could feel Taichi nodding on his shoulder and smiled down at him. Yamato let them both back into the house, doing his best to ignore the pang of regret he felt both at his words and Taichi's acceptance of them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC
an: I promise that the next part will have more taito and less kensuke. Well, it will have more taito anyway…
Be Kind, Rewind—I mean Review! Review. I meant Review…Really…Sorry…
AN: This is only part 1 of a two-part story so don't be too discouraged if everything is not perfect yet. It soon will be. I have every intention of turning this into sickeningly sweet fluff. Oh, and just a warning: this is supposed to be a taito (and it is!) but there is enough kensuke in it to float the QE 2. I just can't help myself!
1 Winter's Holiday (or Stupid Tai!)
Chapter 1 :: Does Not!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Day 1
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
As Taichi carefully negotiated the snowy mountain roads he began to wonder why they were doing this. Sure, Takeru had been bugging them about the fact that they had gotten to go camping when the younger digidestined had gone to fight the Digimon Kaiser since it had happened, but the 'just ignore him and he will eventually go away' plan had seemed to be working. Why he and Yamato had finally given in was beyond Taichi.
All twelve digidestined were now piled in the largest van that Taichi had ever seen and making their way to a remote cabin Koushiro had managed to get very cheap. Even Mimi had flown over to Japan for the four-day holiday. Apparently vacations appealed to everyone.
Still, despite his unsure attitude, Taichi had to admit the younger kids did deserve a bit of a break. They had just saved the Digital world, and quite possibly the real one, for the second time in less than a year. He just had to keep telling himself that his bad mood was only because he had spent the last hour listening to Daisuke and Miyako argue. Soon they would be at the cabin and everyone could get a little space and things would be much better.
He let out a relieved sigh when Yamato pointed out the drive up to the cabin. Taichi stopped the van right in front of the cabin's door and everyone scrambled out. Yamato stood beside his door admiring the view. It really was beautiful. He turned to smile at Taichi who smiled back. Everyone began to make his or her way into the cabin.
"Ok, there are six bedrooms," Yamato said, taking charge, "so everyone is going to have to double up."
"Ken's rooming with me," Daisuke declared, pushing past everyone and through the second door on the left side of the hall. Ken just shrugged and followed after him. Jyou and Koushiro walked into another room, as did Sora and Mimi. Takeru grabbed Hikari's hand and they both tried to sneak into an empty bedroom but were stopped at the last minute by Taichi and Yamato.
"You really didn't believe that was going to happen, did you?" Yamato asked them both. Takeru just shrugged. Taichi crooked his finger at Miyako, standing her next to Hikari as he gave Takeru a playful shove towards Iori.
"Ok, so that means Miyako goes with Hikari and Takeru with Iori and you and I are in the last room." Taichi watched to make sure the younger digidestined had gone into their proper rooms before following Yamato into the only remaining room. Plopping down on a bed, Taichi closed his eyes and stretched out his legs with a smile. Now this was what a vacation was supposed to be like.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Daisuke came in from messing around outside with the others, stomping the excess snow off of his boots in the process and made his way strait towards the small kitchen where he had left Ken earlier and where he just knew he would still be. Sure enough, Ken was in there, the only one left, still standing very close to the old wood stove, now many pages deeper into one of the books he had brought along.
"You're still in here?" Ken glanced in his direction before turning back to his book, making sure to turn his back on Daisuke in the process.
"It's warm in here." Daisuke chuckled. He knew a challenge when he heard one.
"I could keep you warm," Daisuke suggested, his tone borderline between joking and suggestive. He came up behind Ken and wrapped his arms tightly around him. Ken gave a small shiver at the cold still seeping from Daisuke's many layers. Daisuke buried his chilly nose in the hair at the base of Ken's neck.
"Daisuke, stop that." Ken tried disengaging Daisuke with a shrug of his shoulders, but the other boy had too good of a grip. Besides which, he had begun placing little nibbling kisses along Ken's neck that made Ken's wish to be left alone seem to evaporate. Daisuke took Ken's next sigh to be one of defeat. He loosened his grip long enough to take away Ken's book, placing it on a nearby counter.
"No one's even here." Ken smiled at the pout in Daisuke's words. He took advantage of the lighter hold to turn around so that he could actually see Daisuke's face. Big mistake. The puppy dog eyes were being displayed full force.
"That doesn't mean that they won't ever be coming back," Ken protested, leaning in towards Daisuke in the process. "And end up with the shock of their lives." Ken stopped moving again; his nose only the fewest of millimeters away from Daisuke's as is paused in thought.
"Would you just stop stalling Ichijouji?" Daisuke asked after several long seconds had passed, his voice a thoroughly frustrated growl that made Ken's smile widen.
"Sorry. Can't. People have to eat in this kitchen, you know." Ken was teasing him again. Ken started to pull away, regretfully shaking his head, but Daisuke tightened his arms, drawing Ken back in.
"All the better reason to move this into a bedroom." Ken seemed to consider his suggestion for a second before quickly closing any remaining distance between them and giving Daisuke the kiss that he wanted so badly.
"Well, I suppose, if we must," he replied a little breathlessly after breaking off the kiss a moment later. Daisuke just grinned, and grabbing his wrist, began pulling Ken out of the room.
Taichi quickly ducked out of the hallway and through the back door when he saw that they were heading in his direction. He stood staring out across the landscape to where everyone else was deep in a snowball war, trying to make sense of what he had just seen. Daisuke…and Ken? …They were…together?…No way!…But? Taichi gave a small smile before running back out and into the snow, forgetting the gloves he had gone in to retrieve.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
It was much later by the time that everyone had gotten so cold that they had to leave the fun outside and come in, and they were now all spread about the cabin. They had drawn straws to see who would do the cooking and Hikari, Takeru and Iori had lost. Daisuke kept trying to pick at what ever it was that they were making for dinner that night and all three were at about the end of their rope. Finally he went too far, reaching in between Takeru and Hikari to grab a pinch of rice with his bare fingers. Hikari snatched a wooden spoon out of a container on the counter, coming after Daisuke with a mad screech.
"Leave the food alone!" Hikari exclaimed as she chased him around the table a couple to times before he scurried over to where Ken had returned to his apparently all-too interesting book.
"Help me!" he begged, trying to hide behind Ken. Ken set down his story with an exaggerated sigh before grabbing Daisuke by the scruff and holding him out where Hikari could get him. Hikari smirked as she closed in on her now captive victim and the other girls, sitting around the table sipping their hot cocoa began to laugh.
"Traitor! How could you?!" Daisuke asked Ken as Hikari raised the spoon high above her head, threading to bring it down hard. At the last second he cracked. "I promise I won't bother you any more!" he begged Hikari, who lowered the spoon with a smirk.
"Now how can I refuse an offer like that?" She tossed the spoon in the sink before going back to her cooking. Daisuke stood there a moment longer as everyone else went back to what they had been doing before the little fight had broken out.
"Fine then," Daisuke mumbled, then raising his voice, "I'll go. Nobody here loves me anyway! Not you," he pointed at the table, "not you," he pointed at Hikari, "and definitely not you!" Daisuke made a face at Ken as he leveled his last accusation and left the room, pretending to be in a huff. Miyako just rolled her eyes. She did not know who those two thought they were fooling. Subtle was not in Daisuke's dictionary.
Daisuke moved into the den where Jyou was also reading a book (must be catching) and Yamato and Taichi were talking on the far couch. He leaned against the wall, listening for a moment.
"That's just it Taichi. She's beautiful and, and bouncy and, and the epitome of human female perfection, but…" Yamato paused a moment, searching for the right words to describe the latest in a very long chain of girlfriends, "she has the personality of a cow." Taichi sat thoughtfully for a few moments, obviously attempting to work something out in his mind.
"I didn't realize that cows had personalities."
"That's my point!" Yamato sighed, throwing his head back over the couch, his eyes turned toward the ceiling for a moment.
"Um, hm." Taichi and Yamato both looked up at the sound of someone clearing their throat. Daisuke stood directly in front of them.
"That's not true." Taichi sent an annoyed glance in his direction. Apparently Daisuke had decided to take a break from his near-constant pestering of Hikari…and Ken. Taichi took a moment to marvel at how natural that sounded before being drawn back into the conversation by the sound of Yamato's voice.
"What are you talking about Daisuke?" He sounded weary and worn.
"Cows. Cows do have personalities." Daisuke said matter-of-factly, nodding at both of them.
"And you would know how? When have you ever been any closer to a cow than a picture in a book?" Taichi almost laughed at the incredibly dirty look on Yamato's face. If Daisuke had any sense, he would turn tail and run. There was nothing Yamato hated more than being corrected by eavesdropping little know-it-alls. Daisuke, however, was entirely undaunted. In fact, he rolled his eyes.
"It's a little something called learning by association. Its something we humans are especially good at." Taichi threw is hands up in the air in a gesture of surrender. Judging by the grin on Daisuke's face, he had no idea just how thin of ice he was treading on. Yamato just leveled yet another killer glance at Daisuke.
"You've been hanging around with Ken too much. You aren't allowed to see him anymore." Everyone knew it was an empty threat, especially as Ken was just across the hall and rooming with Daisuke. Still, it made Yamato feel somewhat better. With another grin in their direction, Daisuke skipped across the room to the doorway into the kitchen. Leaning in he spoke loudly enough to be sure that Taichi and Yamato heard.
"Yamato says I can't hang around with you anymore!" Daisuke's eyes never left the two boys on the couch who looked as if their greatest wish was for him to disappear. Both heard a soft mumble from inside, followed shortly by Daisuke's sharp laughter as he moved into the other room. Taichi continued to watch the doorway for a few seconds before turning to Yamato.
"Were we just insulted?"
"I don't even want to know."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When getting ready for bed, Iori was surprised to hear a short knock on his and Takeru's door. The door flew open seconds later and Miyako bound inside, not bothering to answer the look of confusion on Iori's face. She tossed the pillow she had been carrying on the bed opposite of Iori and flopped down. Finally, Miyako turned to look at Iori, who was still staring.
"Hey!" she said brightly, giving him her flashiest smile.
"Hey, Miya." Iori's response was much more subdued, questioning and he did not bother with the smile.
"I'm going to stay here for the night if you don't mind. That couch is kind of lumpy."
"What about Takeru?" Miyako gave another grin.
"I wouldn't worry about that. Hikari will take care of him." Iori frowned, looking towards the door as if he were about to leave. "Oh, don't be such a prude!"
"I'm not," he protested, trying to think of a way to put his conscious at ease with out being labeled as a baby tattletale. "It's just that I don't think that Yamato or Taichi would approve."
"Then I suppose that we shouldn't tell them." Miyako gave him a pointed look before crawling underneath the covers and closing her eyes. Iori continued to sit on the edge of his bed, refusing to let this drop.
"I don't want any part of this!" He sent a fist down into the cheap bedspread.
"Too late!" Miyako smirked, never opening her eyes, "Turn off the light, would you?" Iori grabbed his pillow from the top of the bed and stormed out of the room.
"You had better not tell!" Miyako called after him, never getting any response. Iori stormed across the hallway and knocked on the door to Jyou's room. Koushiro opened, his hair tousled as if he had already been asleep. The anger streamed out of Iori as he realized that he had probably awoken both boys. He blushed, more than a little embarrassed.
"Iori? Is something the matter? You don't feel sick do you?" Jyou sent a concerned look over Koushiro's shoulder, just before he moved aside, motioning for Iori to enter.
"Can I stay in here?" Iori asked, hugging his pillow tight to his body. Jyou sent a gentle smile over Iori's head to Koushiro.
"Of course you can." Koushiro replied.
"Are you and Takeru having a fight?" Jyou asked. Iori hesitated a moment, very unsure as to how much he could divulge with out making Miyako mad. Very little, he decided. Still, he did not want Jyou or Koushiro to worry about him.
"No, but Miyako's in my room because Takeru's in hers with Hikari and if I tell Yamato or Taichi…but I don't want to get in trouble." It all came out in such a rush that it took a while to decipher. "Please don't tell anyone."
"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of everything and I won't tell Yamato or Taichi, all right?" Iori took a moment to think it over. Jyou's plan seemed like a pretty good idea. Anyway, Miyako had not said anything about telling Jyou. He nodded his acceptance.
"Good." Jyou stepped out into the hall and opened Iori's door, flipping on the light. "Come on Miyako, up and at 'em. You know perfectly well that you can't stay in here." Miyako sat up with a groan.
"Jeez Jyou, can't you just look the other way for once in your life? Hmmm? You know as well as I do that this is pointless." Jyou just crooked his finger at her, telling her to come, and with an exasperated sigh, she did. He escorted her one door down the hall to her original room. After three sharp knocks, he swung the door open, catching Hikari and Takeru still in a very compromising, but thankfully, not too shocking position. Jyou allowed Miyako access to the room before leading a furiously blushing Takeru out…and right into a rather perturbed Yamato. Yamato still carried his clothes from the day and toothbrush and had apparently been making his way back to his room from the bathroom when he had seen the goings on.
"Don't worry, I'll take it from here," he said grimly, pinching Takeru's ear and leading him the rest of the way down the hall, oblivious to the chorus of owowowowowow. Yamato shoved Takeru into his room.
"Do not push me Takaishi Takeru," he warned. Takeru winced a bit, then nodded, sitting on his bed with a thunk and furiously rubbing his throbbing ear. Yamato just left him there, flipping off the light as he shut the door. Takeru continued to study what he believed to be the sleeping form of Iori.
"Man, kids have it easy," he whispered to no one in particular before climbing under the covers, still soothing his sore ear.
"I hate kids," Yamato proclaimed, flipping of their light and flopping down on his bed a few moments later. Taichi gave him a wan smile, but refused to comment or question, his mind still busily going over Ken and Daisuke.
Taichi listened until he heard Yamato's breath even and slow then rolled over so that he could watch the sleeping boy. He knew most people did not believe his thoughts ever went any deeper then the most recent soccer game but that just was not true. His mind strayed back to the scene in the kitchen earlier that day for what must have been the hundredth time. There must be something going on between those two. That was the only way to explain what he had seen.
Taichi sighed. He knew why he was thinking about all of this and he knew why he should just force it all out of mind. Still… No! It was never going to happen. Taichi groaned as he flopped over noisily to stare at the bare wall, only to stiffen as he heard Yamato turn over as well and mumbling something. He held his breath until he was sure that the blonde was just turning in his sleep and had not actually awakened, finally letting it out with a soft whoosh. Taichi closed his eyes for only a moment before opening them again to stare at the paneling in front of him. This was going to be a very long night.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Day 2
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Yes, you do."
"No, I do not."
"Uh, huh."
"No."
"Uh, huh."
"That's not true and you know it!" Taichi cringed as he realized that the heated battle was heading in his direction. Never mind he something important he wanted to talk to Yamato about. It had only taken him four years to get to this point.
"Hey Taichi! Tell Ken he does too squeal like a little girl." Yamato rolled his eyes at Daisuke's request and Taichi just shrugged. To be perfectly honest, he had no idea if Ken squealed like a girl or not. Still, both boys were watching him with an expectant air.
"If I say no, you would just disagree with me and if I say yes, Ken will never speak to you again." So it was a cop-out. Taichi really could not care less. He had much more important things on his mind at the moment.
"No, he wouldn't." Daisuke said with a grin, giving his dark-haired friend a nudge.
"Yes, I would."
"No, you wouldn't."
"Uh, huh."
"Unn, uh."
"Uh, huh." Yamato resisted the urge to scream. Thankfully, they were moving back out of the room. Taichi sent a pained grimace in his direction. But at least now they did not have to worry about Ken being a bad influence on Daisuke. No, Daisuke was definitely a bad influence on Ken. Yamato and Taichi sat in silence for a moment longer before Yamato felt the urge to prod.
"Well? You wanted to tell me something?"
"Yeeeaaah," Taichi drew out the word as long as possible before taking every bit as long to gather in another breath.
"I want to talk to you guys," Miyako proclaimed, thudding down in between the two boys. Taichi did not know if he should cry or thank the heavens. He decided both would be appropriate.
"It's about Hikari and Takeru," she continued without pausing for breath. Yamato groaned, looking towards Taichi for support, but he had not rejoined the conversation, as of yet.
"I don't think it's fair that Daisuke and Ken get to room together when everyone knows that they're a couple…" Yamato raised a questioning eyebrow at that little announcement while Taichi remained completely non-nonplused. "And we all know that there is something going on between Jyou and Koushiro," she continued, refusing to stop her prepared speech. This time it was Taichi who looked a bit shocked and Yamato who seemed unfazed. "So what's the big deal about Takeru and Hikari?"
"Mind your own business, Miyako," a rather disgruntled-sounding Jyou said from the easy chair in which he had been studying a few moments ago. Miyako just shrugged. What did he have to be upset about? Yamato shot a grateful smile in his direction. When no one bothered to answer her question, Miyako pressed a little further.
"Is this just because they're your younger siblings?" Miyako's tone was one of someone placating a child. Taichi could almost hear Yamato grinding his back teeth, and he knew he had to do something before he punched the younger girl. Taichi caught Yamato's eyes behind Miyako's head, motioning with his head and shoulders. Yamato nodded his acceptance with the plan a fraction of a second before both turned and shoved Miyako off of the couch.
"Fine!" Miyako scrambled back up and onto her feet with a dirty look at both of them, "But you're both being ridiculous!" She left the room in a quiet, post-storm calm. The silence reigned for several moments, Jyou returning to his text and Yamato and Taichi both in desperate need of a break. It was not until sometime later that Yamato finally turned to face Taichi again.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Taichi just closed his eyes and leaned back against the couch. He really did not feeling like talking about this anymore. Some how the vapid, carefree mood that had settled on him at about two in the morning (when he had finally decided to get everything off of his chest) had left. Anyway, it would be better to do it later, when they could be assured some privacy, or so he told himself. Still, he needed an answer.
"Nothing, really. I just wanted to make sure we agreed to a minimum age of 15 for our next trip."
"Sure. Works by me." Yamato gave him a quirky grin just as Koushiro, Sora and Mimi came into the room, the girls giggling. Koushiro settled himself on the arm of Jyou's easy chair.
"Oh, Yamato," Mimi crooned, "Sora just told me the funniest thing." They began to make their way over to the couch.
"Get OUT!" Neither Taichi or Yamato had meant for that to come out so brusquely, but it did, and it certainly worked, for both girls turned tail and ran with little more than a murmur.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Taichi walked around the small cabin den, doing his best to work out what he should do. To think he had actually almost told Yamato what he had been thinking! Never before this would he have ever believed that he would be grateful for Miyako's noisiness. But as some more time had passed and as he began to realize the enormity of the statement he had been so willing to blurt out in the middle of the room, he began to see her as a kind of lifesaver in the sea of his own stupidity. He was so caught up with his thoughts that Taichi failed to notice Koushiro's annoyed stare.
"Would stop all that pacing!" the red-head finally burst out, "You're wearing a hole in the carpet and you're making me a nervous wreck!"
"Maybe I wouldn't be pacing if someone hadn't rented us a cabin with out a television or anything else fun to do," Taichi snapped back. 'Ohhh, bad move,' Taichi could not help but think. It was never a good idea to blame or vent your frustrations on the younger genius. He could swear he could see the smoke rising from between Koushiro's ears and cringed, awaiting the assured response.
"Taichi. I don't know what you have up your butt, but I strongly suggest you remove what ever it is before you ruin this little trip for everyone." Koushiro quietly clicked shut his laptop before standing to leave. "And, until you do, I think I'll just stay in my room." Taichi swallowed the guilty lump in his throat as he watched the boy leave. He really had not meant to upset him. He ran out into the hall into which Koushiro had just exited.
"Koushiro! Izzy! Iz! Just stop already. I didn't mean anything. I'm sorry!" Finally Koushiro stopped and turned around, allowing Taichi to catch up. He was at his door already anyway. He studied Taichi's penitent countenance for a few moments before sighing.
"I know how you feel. But you should just tell him. You'll be glad you did. Oh, and for future reference, you mumble when you muse." And with that, Koushiro walked into his room, closing the door on Taichi's shocked face.
"Huh? Iz? Wait!"
"Taichi?" Daisuke had just stepped out of his room. Taichi was about to offer some excuse and just walk away, but remembered, at the last second, something that he had been doing his best to work out since yesterday.
"Why aren't you outside with the others?" Taichi rounded on the startled boy.
"Ah, Ken gets cold real easily so I'm staying in to keep him company." Taichi nodded, moving further down the hall with Daisuke following like an obedient puppy. "What's the matter?" Taichi did not seem as if he was going to answer, then suddenly stopped, turning in his tracks.
"Are you and Ken a…" Taichi struggled for a way to put this delicately, "…thing?" Despite all efforts to the contrary, Taichi could not stop the feeling of flush passing over his body. There were just some things he preferred to leave to Sora and the other girls. Daisuke, however, was not so easily embarrassed.
"Hmmm, I don't know," he teased, "Define 'thing.'" It took everything in Taichi's power for him not to finish taking out his frustrations on Daisuke. But, look where it had gotten him with Koushiro. This was going nowhere—and fast. Taichi could not help the frustration that leaked into his voice.
"You know what I'm talking about, Daisuke."
"What? Romantically?" Daisuke smirked some more when Taichi nodded. "No. We're just friends."
"Really?" Taichi eyed him narrowly.
"What?" Daisuke asked again, not quite smirking as much anymore.
"Nothing…it's just that yesterday…in the kitchen…I saw…I don't know!" Taichi wanted to scream. Damn his social inhibitions! "Are you saying you and Ken have never…you know…" Daisuke raised his eyebrows in a questioning gesture. "You know what I'm talking about!" There was nothing Daisuke wanted more than to laugh out loud at how flustered cool, calm Taichi was becoming, but even he was bright enough to realize that that might very well put his life at risk. Then what would Ken do?
"Well, if you must know, Ken and I both agree that there are aspects of life about which we would both like to know more. And so with that in mind, we do our best to keep open and, ah, explore all possibilities." It sounded like a speech that had been prepared by Ken.
"But it's not a feelings relationship…" Taichi could not help but press a little further. Not after coming this far anyway.
"No!" Daisuke let out another laugh, "God no! Can you imagine?"
"No." This voice was much softer and came from a few steps down the long hallway. Taichi and Daisuke turned towards the sound, both shocked that they had been overheard. Ken stood just outside the door to Daisuke's and his room and looked as if someone had just punched him in the gut. He stepped back into the room and closed the door so softly that there wasn't even a click. Daisuke gave the confused Taichi a hard shove before hurrying over to the door.
"Sorry," Taichi whispered to no one in particular just before slinking out the back door.
Daisuke rapped lightly on the door before calling, "Ken?"
"I'm fine, Daisuke, really." Daisuke cringed. This was not a good sign. Ken had apparently decided to just ignore the whole thing. Daisuke rattled the doorknob, which was locked, just as he had suspected.
"Ken, can I come in. You know I wasn't being serious." Daisuke paused, waiting for an answer.
"I know." Daisuke could hear Ken's whisper soft voice breaking.
"I thought that's what you wanted me to say."
"It is."
"Then let me in!"
"No, not right now. In a minute, ok?" Daisuke sighed as he realized Ken was crying softly and doing his best to cover.
"No! Let me in now," he pushed.
"No." Ken's voice was a little stronger this time, a bit of anger edging it's way in at Daisuke's pushiness. Daisuke smiled.
"Let me in or I'll take the door off the hinges." Daisuke's eyebrows scrunched together as he heard what sounded like a cross between a sob and a laugh.
"You can't…" Was that laughter Daisuke heard in Ken's voice?
"Oh?" he asked, desperate to find out what was so funny.
"The hinges are on this side of the door."
"I'll just go around to the window," he said shortly after a few moments hesitation, a bit indignant at having his previous plan shot down. He started away, but heard Ken turn the lock. Daisuke peaked into the room. It was dark with all the lights off and the shade drawn. All there was of Ken was a lump under the covers of what was supposed to be his bed. He sat down on the bed, pulling back the covers so that he could see where Ken had his face pillowed on his arms, his own pillow still on Daisuke's bed where he had left it the night before.
"So you hate me now, right?" Ken turned suddenly and pinned Daisuke with his red-rimmed blue-violet eyes.
"No, Daisuke. I could never hate you." The truth of his statement was obvious in the blazing eyes. "I just wish you weren't such a great actor." Daisuke began to gently massage Ken's side.
"Tell me about it," he replied with the air of one sorely put upon. "You know, we could just tell them. They are our friends. Besides which, I think Taichi has a pretty good idea what's going on now and will probably tell everyone anyway." Ken did not look as if he was quite as sure but nodded his head anyway, trying to put the nervous fear of loosing his first real friends far, far from mind. "I know the perfect way!" Daisuke grinned, jumping up from the bed and moving over to the desk. He looked around for a minute before looking back at Ken.
"Do you have any paper and a pen?" Ken was unsure just what he was planning to do but pointed to his black school bag anyway. Daisuke grabbed the case and began dumping its neat contents out on to the desk, pell-mell. Ken forced down the urge to groan.
"Pastel? I never would have guessed," Daisuke smirked, picking up a package of gel pens as he began sorting through everything.
"They were for a school project."
"Sure…" He set aside a couple of sheets of paper, a roll of tape and the gel pens before he began trying to fit everything back into the case. Ken motioned for him to let him do it before any more damage could be done. Daisuke handed over the case gratefully before sitting down to go to work. When Ken had finished reorganizing his bag, he sat it back in the exact same spot as before and went to stand over Daisuke's shoulder. To say what he saw shocked him would be an understatement.
Taking up most of the page was a huge heart in which Daisuke had written 'Ken and Daisuke 4 Eva' with each letter in a different color. Within the main heart and all around it were smaller hearts, rainbows, flowers and what looked to be duckys and bunnies.
"Do you like it?" Daisuke asked as he finished adding a light purple, lacy border to the largest heart and held the picture up to Ken. Ken just gave Daisuke a peck on the cheek, then bit his lip, unwilling to open his mouth unless he laugh and hurt Daisuke's feelings.
"I'm going to hang it on our door," Daisuke said, grabbing the roll of tape. Ken looked at him a little unsurely.
"If you think that's best," he said hesitantly. Daisuke just grinned.
"If you're going to make a statement, you should make a statement," he declared. Well, there was no arguing with that logic. Ken just smiled his best smile and nodded. Daisuke finished taping the sign to their door before closing it and turning on Ken with a predatory grin.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Yamato found Taichi later, he had snuck back inside and was sitting on his bed mumbling something about his anti-Midas touch. He looked down on his friend. Something was definitely not right. Koushiro had mentioned that he had been acting strange earlier. Yamato sat down on the bed, pulling Tai up to sit next to him so that he could wrap his arm around him.
"This has really been a pretty stinky vacation, right?"
"I don't know. Everyone else seems to be having a pretty good time. Well except for Koushiro and Daisuke and Ken, but that's my fault and not theirs. I've ruined everything!" Yamato gave Taichi's shoulders a squeeze.
"Have you seen the sign on Ken and Daisuke's door? I don't think you've ruined anything. And I just saw Koushiro a few moments ago and he seemed fine to me. What's been going on?" Taichi looked at him for a few moments before shaking his head and trying to throw himself back down on the bed.
"Come on, Taichi, this is silly," Yamato held him tightly so that he could not lie back down. "You can tell me what's wrong." Taichi seemed to consider this for a moment before caving in.
"There's some one I really like, really," he said slowly.
"And you're not sure that she'll like you back?" Yamato guessed, only somewhat incorrectly.
"No, I know he won't," Taichi practically wailed.
"Oh," Yamato pulled back a moment so that he could look into Taichi's distraught face before pulling him back into a tight hug. "You know, I never guessed. And I thought I was pretty good about this sort of thing." Yamato smiled at Taichi even though he could not see it. "How can you be so sure?"
Taichi took a deep breath. It was now or never. Maybe in the end he could blame the whole thing on his bungled emotional state. "Because he's my best friend and he already has a girlfriend," he said softly, fighting back the tears as he waited for Yamato to respond.
"Oh, Taichi," Yamato finally replied, letting out every last bit of breath. He sounded so sad. Taichi pulled away a bit so that he could actually see Yamato's face. The deep concern was obvious.
"I know. It's stupid. I shouldn't have said anything. Things like this never work out." Taichi's voice was a flat, emotionless monotone.
"No! It's not stupid and I'm sorry," Yamato insisted until Taichi's stare began to wear him down, "But you're right. It wouldn't work out." Yamato still had a grip on Taichi's hands, his blue eyes looking deep into Taichi's chocolate ones.
Taichi just nodded, pulling the rest of the way away as he stood up. "I think I'm going to go for a little walk…cool my head." He gave Yamato a pained smile and quietly left the room, oblivious to Yamato's protests.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
When Daisuke awoke, he was shocked to find Ken gone. He had begun to look around frantically, stumbling out of bed when he heard Ken.
"Daisuke! Shhh!" Ken whispered, motioning Daisuke over to where he sat on the other bed and pointing at the wall. Daisuke crawled on to the bed and sat opposite of Ken. He could hear the slightly muffled voices of Taichi and Yamato, but he could not understand what was being said. Still, judging by Ken's face this was important. Daisuke began to concentrate, trying to block out all other sounds, but all he could understand was snatches of conversation. Daisuke jumped when he heard Ken's startled gasp.
"Poor Taichi," Ken whispered.
"What's going on?" Daisuke whispered back. Ken put his finger to his mouth trying to silence him and leaned closer to the wall.
"We shouldn't be eavesdropping!" Daisuke whispered again.
"Shh!" Ken shushed him again. Finally, Ken pulled away from the wall, turning so he could lean his back against it. A couple seconds later they both heard the other bedroom door open and then close softly. Ken looked so very sad.
"Will you please just tell me what's going on?" Daisuke whispered, very worried and not sure why he was still whispering. Ken took his hand and led him over to the other bed, only about two meters away. Still, Ken seemed a bit more relaxed at that distance.
"Taichi really likes Yamato," Ken began softly.
"Really?" Daisuke grinned. Ken motioned for him to keep his voice down.
"But Yamato doesn't like Taichi that way. He said something about them being friends and Taichi agreed, but…" Ken trailed off sadly. Daisuke knew what he was saying. Taichi must really be taking this pretty hard.
"Oh, man. That really sucks." Ken nodded his agreement. They watched as Taichi moved across the snow and out towards the lake a little way before sitting down underneath a tree. Suddenly Ken turned and unwound his scarf from around the bed's headboard, moving towards the door.
"Where are you going?"
"To check on Taichi," Ken made it sound like it should have been painfully obvious.
"But you're going to freeze!"
"Then come with me," Ken called over his shoulder, heading outside.
Daisuke ran after him, grabbing his coat from the rack by the front door. He finally caught up with Ken and spun him around.
"Will you at least go put on a coat so that you don't catch pneumonia?"
"I don't have a coat."
"You didn't bring your coat?" Daisuke asked, shocked.
"No, I don't have a coat." Ken turned and began walking over towards Taichi again. It took Daisuke a moment to make sense of Ken's statement. When he did, he quickly caught back up with Ken, spinning him around to face him for the second time.
"What do you mean you don't have a coat?" Ken just shrugged, unsure as to why Daisuke was making such a big deal out of this. "You have the most over protective mother in the world!" Ken gave Daisuke a dirty look. "How can you not have ten coats?"
"I guess she just never thought about it," Ken shrugged again, rolling his eyes at the horrified look Daisuke was giving him, "Besides, I'm fine so it doesn't matter."
"Well at least put my coat on!" Daisuke began pealing off the brown jacket, but Ken held up his hand, gesturing for him to stop.
"I'm wearing a sweater, Daisuke. If I put that on, I'll burn up and you'll freeze. This is pointless anyway." Ken turned and hurried over to Taichi, leaving Daisuke to shrug back into his coat and follow.
Taichi looked up as Daisuke skidded into the tree. "Hey." Daisuke didn't think he sounded as if anything was wrong. He brushed the snow that had fallen off of the jolted tree branch from his hair before flopping down next to Taichi.
"So what do you guys need?" Taichi finally asked. He really just wanted to be left alone, but neither Ken nor Daisuke looked as if they were going to be leaving anytime soon, even if Ken was turning blue.
"We overheard you and Yamato…" Ken trailed off quietly.
"Oh." Now he didn't sound as ok. Taichi drew his knees up under his chin and tried his best to will away the blush.
"We didn't mean to," Daisuke interjected, "Those walls are paper thin." It was just a little white lie after all. Taichi wondered grimly about whom else had over heard. He could have sworn that there were times when even he could barely hear Yamato.
"I was just being stupid," Taichi said softly, "I guess when I saw how happy the two of you were together…when I wasn't tearing that up anyway…sorry." Daisuke just laughed.
"Don't tell Ken that!" he giggled, shaking his head, "The next thing you know he'll be blaming himself for this one too." Ken growled deep in this throat before kicking a clump of snow on to Daisuke's back. Daisuke leaned in close to Taichi to whisper, "You know it's the truth."
"I hate you." Ken sighed, neatly sitting down and wrapping his arms around Daisuke so he could rest his head on his shoulder. Taichi smiled at them both for a moment before looking away.
"No, this one is definitely my fault. Yamato has his choice of beautiful women. Why would he want me? Why would anyone want me?" Taichi let out a mournful wail.
"Don't say that. If Dai-chan weren't around I would definitely want you," Ken spoke up suddenly causing the other two boys to turn and stare at him. Ken just smiled, "Well its true. He's cute," he told Daisuke. Daisuke cocked his head to the side for a moment, studying Taichi closely.
"Yeah, I guess I can see that," he said after a moment, "He kind of has that boy-next-door look." Daisuke grinned as Taichi let out an actual laugh.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Yamato had just settled back down to work on the song that he had promised himself he would finish this weekend when there was a knock at the door. Oh well, it's not like he was able to concentrate anyway. Koushiro came in a few moments later.
"Are you and Taichi fighting?" he fired point-blank. Yamato looked up from his notebook shocked.
"Huh?"
"I asked if you and Taichi were having a fight." Yamato looked around a little nervously, as if he was not quite sure just how he should answer. This, of course, only peaked Koushiro's curiosity. "Well?"
"No! Why? Did he say anything?" Yamato stuttered over his words. He was worried about Taichi. Could he be more upset than he had let on? Duh! Of course he could, this was Taichi they were talking about.
"No, not really," Koushiro continued in that same calm voice he always used when he was trying to figure something out, "He just wants to trade rooms."
"Trade rooms…" Yamato felt as if someone had punched him. Taichi did not even want to stay as him any more? Yamato's eyes fell on the opposite bed as the room trailed off into silence.
"Is this because Taichi told you he's gay?" Koushiro suddenly broke back into Yamato's thoughts, "Because if it is…" he trailed off menacingly, waiting for Yamato's response.
"Huh? How did you know about Taichi? And, no!" Yamato paused for a moment thinking, "Well, maybe. Well, probably, but—" he was cut short by a very upset Koushiro.
"I can't believe it!" Koushiro exploded, marching across the room to poke Yamato in the chest, "And from you of all people! How could you hurt Taichi like that?" Koushiro emphasized each point with another poke, "He's suppose to be your best friend! You, you bigoted, self-righteous…" Koushiro began sputtering, unable to put his anger into words anymore, but still poking at Yamato's chest.
"OW! Stop it, Koushiro!" Yamato grabbed one wrist and swatted at the other, "Just stop it!" He paused to take a few deep breaths before staring Koushiro directly in the eyes. "You don't understand at all."
"I seriously doubt that." Koushiro was more than a little miffed, but there wasn't much he could do with one hand. Not when Yamato could move as quickly as he could, anyway. Both boys just continued to stare at each other venomously, trying to bring their breathing back to a more normal level. Jyou poked his head inside to view the stalemate.
"What's going on?"
"Yamato told Taichi he doesn't want to room with him just because he's gay." Sarcastic Koushiro was really not a pretty sight. He gave Yamato another dirty look as he wrenched his wrist away, rubbing it gently. Jyou just looked plain shocked.
"Why would you do that? Poor Taichi. No wonder he's so upset." Jyou stepped over to Yamato and gave him a hard shove just where Koushiro had finished making his bruise. "How can you be such a jerk?" Yamato shoved the older boy back, standing up from the bed.
"Where's Taichi?" he asked curtly. It did not seem as if they were going to answer him, but then Jyou pointed out the window just behind Yamato. All Yamato could see of Taichi was a bit of coat sticking out from behind a tree beside the lake. Daisuke and Ken were next to him. Yamato watched for a moment longer as Ken, the only one who still stood, sat down as well, wrapping his arms around Daisuke. Yamato frowned.
"Aw, hell."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ken and I'll help you get Yamato back," Daisuke declared when Taichi had finished laughing, "We can cover his bed in snow, or worse, I'll just sic Jun on him!" Ken rolled his eyes and Taichi gave Daisuke's head a rub.
"Thanks, but no thanks, kid," he said fondly, "I don't want to do anything to Yamato. I still love him and he's still my best friend. It's not his fault that he can't feel the same way."
"Pity," Daisuke mumbled shortly, making Ken and Taichi chuckle again.
"Hey," Taichi smiled at him, "It's good to know your friends care, even if their way of showing it is to sabotage another friend." All three lapsed back into silence until they heard Yamato clear his throat a few moments later. Everyone was a bit surprised to see him standing directly behind them, he having made it all the way across the icy snow with out making a sound. Yamato's dark clothes and coat was an odd contrast to the bright colors the other boys wore. He gave them all a brief smile.
"Hey guys, can I talk to Taichi for a second?" Yamato had his hands in his pockets and was rocking back and forth from his heals to the balls of his feet uncertainly. Ken scrambled up quickly, offering a hand to Daisuke, who just continued to stare at the person whom had upset his idol so very much.
"It's ok. I'll talk to you guys later," Taichi said, trying to give Daisuke a hint. Finally Daisuke stood, getting a grunt from Taichi as he nearly pushed him into the ground using his shoulder as leverage. Yamato watched them start to walk away before he sat down in the spot they had just vacated. He had just opened his mouth to speak when they were interrupted by Ken's (rather girly) squeal. Ken was holding his shirt and sweater out, jumping up and down in an attempt to dislodge some snow Daisuke had dropped down his back. On one hop, he did not land so well and ended up on his butt. Daisuke burst out in loud guffaws. Before he knew what had happened, Ken's leg shot out and Daisuke was also sitting in the snow, still laughing. Yamato and Taichi continued to watch until both had gotten back up and started stumbling back towards the house.
"I hate them," Taichi said mournfully, but he was smiling.
"I'll put snow down your back if you want me to." Yamato offered, scooping up a handful of snow to show his good intentions. Taichi grimaced before turning to study something in the other direction. Yamato sighed, dumping the snow back on the ground.
"Listen, Taichi, we've been friends for a long time now," Yamato paused, waiting for a response that never came, "You know how incredibly good I am at screwing things up. I mean, look at all the girlfriends I've had." Taichi cringed again and Yamato let out a frustrated sigh.
"What I'm trying to say is even if I did swing that way I don't know that I would date you."
"Gee thanks," Taichi replied sarcastically.
"Damn it Taichi! You're my best friend. You have to know that! And I could never do anything to hurt that relationship! What if this is just some crush? Huh? What then? What happens when you get tired of me and find yourself in love with someone else? I don't know what I would do if you weren't always in my life."
The only response Yamato got for pouring his heart out was a short, "Yeah."
"Please, Taichi?" Taichi felt bad when he heard the pained note in Yamato's voice. "Can't things just be the way they were before?" Having to be the cheerful one was beginning to wear at Yamato. All he wanted to do was pull his knees up under his chin and stare out over the lake cursing life. And he just may have, too, if it were not for one nagging little problem.
"My butt's freezing!" he declared, giving Taichi's shoulder a nudge with his own. And low and behold, Taichi actually gave him a small smile. "How long have you been out here?"
"Too long," Taichi replied with a short chuckle, "I can't feel anything below my waist." Yamato stood up, offering Taichi a hand as Ken had done for Daisuke only a few minutes before. Taichi stood up, tottering for a few seconds on unsure legs before Yamato wrapped his arm around his waist.
"How about next time you run off to mope some place warmer, hm?" Yamato gave Taichi a squeeze.
"I do not mope!" Taichi declared indignantly.
"Sure you don't," Yamato smiled, helping Taichi back to the house.
"There's going to be someone else," Yamato said softly a few moments later. He could feel Taichi nodding on his shoulder and smiled down at him. Yamato let them both back into the house, doing his best to ignore the pang of regret he felt both at his words and Taichi's acceptance of them.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
TBC
an: I promise that the next part will have more taito and less kensuke. Well, it will have more taito anyway…
Be Kind, Rewind—I mean Review! Review. I meant Review…Really…Sorry…