Hi everyone! This is my first fanfiction post. I've been inspired by everyone's Taiyama posts (I know I'm suuuper late) but hey, late is better than never right? I'm thinking of making a few chapters so I hope you enjoy it! Please let me know what you think! :)
Takeru and Yamato have a heart to heart.
Takes place after Digimon Adventure Tri
The sun is setting, painting the sky a mix of pink and orange hues. Takeru and Yamato are sitting on a grassy hill, watching the other digi destined who are talking and laughing a distance further in front of them.
"Hey, do you think I can stay with you and Dad for a few days?" Takeru asked as he smiled at Yamato.
Yamato, who would usually question his brother and advise against it, shrugged nonchalantly.
Takeru, seeking confirmation, swayed into his brother's arm until Yamato turned his head and met his gaze. "Is that a yes?"
"Yes, Takeru. If that's what you want, I'm sure… I'm sure Dad wouldn't mind." Yamato replied and offered his brother a slight smile.
Takeru was always good at getting his big brother's attention when he wanted it. Though he preferred staying at their mother's house where he lived, he couldn't stop thinking about how much everyone had been through in the past couple weeks and he felt like wanting to stay just a bit closer to his big brother.
The digi destined had saved the world again, but this time, with greater consequences. Most of the city streets were still closed for construction. Buildings were condemned, classes were still postponed, and the hospitals were filled with people tending to their injuries – big and small. Sure, they had saved the world, but the cost was high this time around. They had lost their teacher, and Meicoomon, and for a moment, they almost lost Taichi.
"Should I ask why you want to stay over?" Yamato shifted his body to face Takeru.
Gazing out ahead at the sunset and not at his brother, Takeru answered, "I just thought it'd be nice to spend more time together."
Yamato nodded, keeping his eyes on his brother, "I know Takeru, and I'm glad to have you stay with us… but I can still see you even when you're at Mom's. I just want you to know that."
"I know, Yamato… it's just…" Takeru turned his body to face Yamato. The brothers were now both sitting cross legged facing each other. "So much has happened and I just think it's important to spend more time with the people we love. We never know how much time..." Takeru's voice broke off and he looked down at the grass.
Yamato was watching his brother very intently. His brother was still smiling, but it was more of a sad smile. Yamato felt a pull in his chest like he knew what the next words out of his brother's mouth were going to be. He reached his arm out and put his hand on Takeru's shoulder.
"It's settled then. I'll let Dad know." Yamato gave his brother a smile and watched as his brother's mood instantly shifted. He couldn't remember the last time he had had a sleep over with his brother. He briefly thought back to the digital world, but quickly decided that didn't count as time worked in weird ways over there.
The brothers exchanged looks of satisfaction as they each felt glad that they would be spending more time with each other. Time was important, they both knew that. They both also knew that they didn't spend enough quality time together. With all that they had been through lately, some quality time was overdue.
"Great! Shall we talk about something more uplifting?" Takeru chuckled as he readjusted his body to face forward and catch the remaining remnants of the sun setting. The past few weeks had been very challenging and he felt at peace being with his friends and his brother.
"Sure," Yamato smiled, "Anything else on your mind, Takeru?"
Takeru glanced down at the other digi destined until his eyes fell upon Hikari who seemed in giddy conversation with Mimi. Takeru smiled sheepishly as a rosy hue filled his cheeks. He was grateful for a lot of things.
"Ah, so that's what's on your mind." Yamato playfully shoved his brother and gave him a sly grin.
Takeru, feeling betrayed by his complexion, blushed harder. "Well…uh.." Takeru took a deep breath and looked at his brother. He figured now would be as good a time as any to tell him what had happened. "Now that you bring her up…"
Yamato's eyes lit up in curiosity. What was once a sly grin was now replaced with a more serious facial expression. "Spill. Right now." Yamato demanded.
"So we uh…" Takeru felt himself get nervous. His brother was going to be the first person he'd tell this news to and he just realized he hadn't said it out loud yet.
Sensing his hesitation, Yamato pressed on. "Let's go. On with it."
"We might have...kissed. A little bit." Takeru said sheepishly.
Yamato stared at his brother in disbelief. He was surprised by the news, although the longer he thought about it, the more he figured he should have seen it coming.
Waiting for a response, Takeru looked up at his brother trying to read his face.
After a few moments, Yamato spoke, "That's great, Takeru." Yamato was smiling. His brother's happiness had meant everything to him and he really did like Hikari. "I always thought you two would be great together."
"Thanks Yamato." Takeru smiled and looked back down at Hikari.
"So are you two uh… dating?" Yamato asked.
"Well uh.. we haven't really talked about it. You're actually the first person I told."
"Well, I am your brother." Yamato smiled. He took pride in knowing that Takeru had told him first.
"Ha, yeah. I don't even think Taichi knows. I'm not sure if or when Hikari is going to tell him." Takeru became nervous once again.
Yamato was taken back by the mention of Taichi's name. He looked forward down at the other digi destined until his eyes found Taichi sitting down on the grass talking to Jyou and Sora. Yamato smiled, but it was more of a sad smile like his brothers. He hadn't really spoken to his best friend since the last Digimon battle when Omegamon formed to defeat what had become of Meicoomon. He knew he wouldn't admit it but Yamato missed him. Still, and he knew it didn't really make sense, but he hadn't really gotten over his fear and anger of almost losing him.
Yamato felt his brother's eyes on him and realized he had never answered Takeru's last comment.
"I'm sure that will be a fun conversation." Yamato smiled at his brother.
"Think, Taichi will kill me?" Takeru asked in a voice that seemed half joking and half serious.
Yamato looked back down at Taichi and smiled another sad smile. He was happy that Taichi was here, alive, and hanging out with all their friends together. Truth be told, Yamato would love to see Taichi playfully get mad at Takeru. Taichi seemed to just get back his confidence and courage at the end of their last digi battle. He had been so unsure of himself and his choices in the weeks prior. Yamato had had to step up into more of a leadership role that actually fit him quite well. To his surprise, he had liked being in charge. But also, he knew he could step up and do it because he had watched Taichi do it for all these years and not surprising at all, Taichi was a great teacher even if he didn't intend to be. Taichi had a way of bringing the courage out of everyone and always made them feel braver than they were. Yamato had felt brave and confident and while he knew he had grown and matured over the years, he knew that most of that confidence was thanks to Taichi. Despite their years of fighting, Yamato admired him and he knew he was lucky to call him his friend.
Yamato sighed. He knew he should tell Taichi all of this. He felt a weird mix of guilt and shame swell inside of him. All of the anger and frustration he had at Taichi was really just due to the fact that he couldn't stand the thought of losing him. Taichi had made mistakes. He had been indecisive, emotional and a bit reckless and it had led to a lot of stress, worry, and hardship. But, could Yamato really blame him for that? It's not like he himself was perfect so, why did he expect Taichi to be? Was Tiachi not allowed to be negatively affected by the last battle? Maybe you can't bear the crest of courage all the time. And then right there, the thought hit Yamato like a ton of bricks. You have the crest of friendship, dummy. And instead of being there for your best friend, you're mad at him. What kind of friend is that? Your crest is the one that needs fixing, not his. Yamato immediately decided that he was in fact, being an unreasonable moron and he would talk to Taichi. He would let him know that he forgave him, that he wasn't alone, that he was still his best friend and most importantly, that he was sorry for taking too long to say all of this. With that, Yamato smiled and this time it was a genuine smile.
Takeru looked over at Yamato inquisitively. He had just asked his brother if he thought Taichi was going to kill him for kissing his sister and here Yamato was smiling down at him. Takeru examined his brother's facial expressions. What had started as a sad smile had turned into a deep frown, which had turned back into a sad smile, but now… a real smile? What in the world could Yamato be thinking? Takeru decided not to interrupt his brother's deep thoughts. Instead, he just watched intently until a light smile and rosy hue filled his brother's cheeks. Takeru looked down at Taichi, and then back to his brother, and then back to Taichi to confirm. Yes, Yamato was definitely smiling at Taichi.
"Yamato?" Takeru nudged his brother.
"Huh. What? Sorry… geez," Yamato put his hands over his head as he snapped himself out of it, "Must have spaced out or something. Sorry if I worried you."
"Oh no, it's fine," Takeru was sporting a puzzled expression. "You looked really deep in thought there."
"Yeah. I'm sorry. It's just… this weird thing with Taichi." Yamato looked down at the grass. He wasn't sure if he should share his thoughts with his brother.
"Do you uh… think he's going to kill me?"
Yamato let out a genuine laugh as his brother's comment caught him off guard. "That's right!" he couldn't believe he forgot to answer his brother's hilarious question. He really must've spaced out hard. "No, Takeru. I don't think Taichi will kill you. And if he tries," Yamato smiled at his brother, "I'll protect you. Don't worry." With that, Yamato turned his gaze back towards the other digi destined.
Takeru wasn't sure if he was satisfied with his brother's answer, but he decided to accept it anyway. He continued looking over at his brother who was still watching Taichi. Taichi was just talking to Jyou and Sora and Takeru wondered why his brother was in a trance looking at them. Regardless, Yamato looked happy and that's all that Takeru cared about. Takeru knew that Yamato was never one for wearing his emotions on his sleeve or openly discussing them. They were different that way, but it was fine. Their brotherly bond was always an unspoken one. Upon this thought, Takeru joined his brother's eye in looking at Taichi. He wondered if the bond Taichi shared with his brother was also an unspoken one. He was sure Yamato must have been very effected by almost losing Taichi, but he wasn't there to see it as he had been taking care of Hikari. Upon thinking of Hikari, Takeru began smiling sheepishly again as the fond memories of the two of them returned and then it hit him. Is Yamato looking at Taichi, the same way I'm looking at Hikari?