Welcome one and all. This is Landslide, a song inspired by the Dixie
Chicks song as well as an episode of ER I saw. This will be a sad fic,
I'll warn you now. I won't spoil it now, but you will be able to probably
guess the story in a handful of chapters. This is going to be an emotion-
heavy fic, so you might want to get a few tissues ready.
This fic sort of takes place during my other story A Redhead's Wish, but it isn't necessarily the way that ARW will end. It might someday become that way once I run out of ideas for it. Until then, just bear with me. In this story, Taichi has lived with the Izumi's for a few years now after his parents were deemed unfit to care for him or Kari any longer. They became very close friends in a hurry, no big surprise, and it evolved into love eventually. I will go on and tell you that you might need a box of tissues for the later chapters. Enjoy and let me know what you think.
"Hey Tai, slow down for a minute." Koushirou called out. They had been walking along the beach and all of a sudden Koushirou was dog tired. Tai stopped and turned to face his boyfriend and saw that he'd fallen a good ten paces behind.
"Come on, slowpoke, we're going to miss the sunset, not to mention dinner," Tai called while he was standing, hands on hips, the sea breeze blowing his hair everywhere.
"I'm coming, Tai." Koushirou told him as he slogged up the thick sandy bank as fast as he could. Tai watched as his koibito stumbled up the bank and fell to his knees at Tai's feet. Koushirou was breathing heavy, like he'd run a marathon, not just walked a half mile.
"Are you okay, Koushirou-kun? You look very peaked."
"I'm alright. I, well, I don't know what hit me. I was just tired."
"Can you make it back?" Tai asked him, alarm brewing in the corners of his mind.
"Yeah, just let me rest for a second or three." Tai sat down beside Koushirou and put an arm around his shoulders.
"Ready?" He asked after a minute or so had passed.
"Yeah. That was really weird, Tai. I was fine before we turned around by the pier, but maybe halfway back I felt like I'd not slept in a week." Taichi looked at him, considering making a bigger deal out of it than Koushirou was, but stopped when he saw the light reflecting in his koi's eyes. He looked absolutely beautiful right then. Tai smiled instead, choking back the questions he wanted to ask and stood
"Thanks," Koushirou said as Tai pulled him to his feet. The two of them brushed sand from their rears and began heading back to the hotel. "We'd better hurry, Tai. We don't want to be late for dinner again.."
The previous night, their first in Australia, the only thing that the two of them were requested to do all day was to be back at the Izumi's room by seven o'clock. Well. By no intentional fault of their own, they had arrived nearly an hour late. They'd simply lost track of time while playing on the beach and therefore made them miss their dinner reservations on the veranda. Mara hadn't said anything to the two of them about it, but they knew she was upset with the whole incident, and her being upset with them was worse than any punishment that Koushirou could imagine.
They made decent time on their way back. Tai slowed his pace to allow the shorter legged boy to keep up with him. He kept glancing at Koushirou from the corner of his eye while they were walking, seeing the exertion on his boyfriend's face. He put an arm around Koushirou's shoulders and slowed a bit more.
"Koushirou, you're sure you're feeling okay, right? You wouldn't try to hide anything from me, would you?"
"Tai-chan, honestly, I am fine as far as I know. Maybe it's just a little bit of jet lag or something finally catching up with me. I'll just go to bed a little early tonight and I bet I'll be fine in the morning." Tai didn't really buy that, but he had no reason to doubt Koushirou, so he let the subject drop.
They made it back to the room after one quick stop and still had time to spare; fifteen minutes to be precise. Each boy took a quick sand- removing shower and dressed and the four of them made their way to the veranda for their dinner reservation. Their seats were perfect, right on the edge of the patio. The sun was just beginning to go down and the few clouds that were hovering somewhere near the Great Barrier Reef started to turn incredible shades of red, blue, and orange.
Mara and Luke Izumi were watching the sunset for all its glory. Their two children, one natural, one not, stared out with their minds filled with questions.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Into Taichi's Mind ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I wish I knew what was wrong with Koushirou. I know something is wrong, but I don't know how I know. He's slept a lot since we've been here. Heck, he even slept most of the way here on the plane. That's not like him at all. When we all flew over to see Mimi last year, his face was plastered in the window almost the whole way, not that there was a lot to see except the ocean.
I wanted to pick him up and carry him back after we stopped that last time. Koushirou said he was 'just tired' or that it might be the start of a growth spurt. I was upset and I sure didn't want him to notice, so I told him that I hoped it was a growth spurt so that maybe I'd stop getting cramps in my neck when I kiss him. He liked that and we made it back to the hotel room shortly.
I wish my mind would turn itself off and let me stop worrying about it. I don't want to make a big deal out of it if Koushirou isn't. I can't help it though. I care too much about him to not worry. I guess this is the kind of feeling that our parents have for us; unconditional love and concern. I really do hate seeing him like this, though.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Into Koushirou's Mind ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Man, what is wrong with me these last few days? It feels like I have lead in my feet. I've slept more in the last few days than I have in forever. I took a long nap the day before we left, slept almost all the way here, fell asleep by 930 last night, and I'll likely do the same tonight. With me sleeping as much as I have been, I shouldn't be tired again until sometime next year.
Maybe this is just a vacation thing. We've been through so much in the last few years, with the digital world adventures and all. Maybe my body just needs to recoup its energy or something. Whatever it is, I hope I get over it soon so I will stop ruining Tai's time here. I don't want him to spend this week worrying about me.
Look at him, sitting over there. He has just a dab of chocolate on his face, just above his lip. He looks so cute right now. I hope he's not worrying about me. Tomorrow I am going to be perfectly fine and we can go out and have a good time.
Their dinner plates were cleared off and they shortly left the patio and headed back to the rooms. Koushirou and Tai followed the parents into the larger room and sat around with them for about a half hour or so. The sun was now completely down and the moon was just visible over the horizon, reflecting on the water. Koushirou's eyelids began to droop and Tai decided that it would be good to get him on to bed before he fell asleep
"Come on, Koushirou, let's go. I'm tired, you look tired. We've got a big day of doing nothing tomorrow to get ready for."
"Yeah, I'm beat. We'll see you guys at breakfast tomorrow," Koushirou said, waving to his mum and father.
"Sleep tight, you two," Mara said as they walked to the door and to their room across the hall. Luke was already asleep on the couch, snoring loudly. Koushirou sported a tired grin as he shut the door behind him.
"Let's get you into bed, Kou-chan. You look like you're about to drop right here in the doorway."
"I feel like I could, Tai-chan. It feels like I had all the energy sucked out of me." Koushirou tossed the semi-dressy shirt on a chair and his pants soon followed. He pulled the covers back on one side just enough to climb in and let out a big sigh of contentment and tiredness. Tai came over and pulled the sheets up to his boyfriend's chin.
"Goodnight, Kou-chan. I hope you feel loads better in the morning," Tai told him as he bent over and kissed him on the forehead. "Maybe you will have grown a few inches overnight and I won't get the neck pains anymore." Tai saw Koushirou smile sleepily and begin falling asleep before a rebuttal could make its way out. Koushirou mumbled something and he was out quicker than a candle in a hurricane.
Tai stood and watched his love drift off into sleep and continued watching for another few minutes. Finally he moved and went to the mini- fridge and pulled out a can of Sprite. He went to the mini-bar, and after a few seconds search, found what he was looking for. He added the small bottle to the Sprite in a cup and had recreated the drink that one of the beach bartenders had allowed him and Koushirou to sip during the heat of the day. Tai winced as the first draught went down, but it was worth it. The bartender told him that it was guaranteed to take his mind off his problems.
Koushirou turned on his side and Tai jerked to attention, thinking something might be wrong. After he calmed down, Tai half-smiled and dug in his backpack for his Discman and headphones. He took them and the cup out onto the deck and shut the door behind him.
Tai plopped down in one of the chairs and put the phones on. He powered up the small device and was greeted to the sounds of Nine Inch Nails. He listened to Trent Reznor and the music while he drank the beverage he created. He began to grow tired finally; the disc had nearly played through and he decided it was time to head back inside and go to bed himself.
Tai stepped into the room and shivered a bit as the air conditioning hit him. He drank the remainder of his cup and started back to the bed. He paused and watched Koushirou sleep. Something is wrong, I know it. Tai carefully pulled the other half of the covers down and after turning the lamp off, climbed in beside his love. He leaned in close and put an arm over Koushirou in a vain attempt to ward him from whatever illness was stalking him.
In case anyone is interested, here are the lyrics to Landslide. If you don't care, you can go on and stop reading here and hopefully leave a review.
Landslide (Originally by Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac) Covered by the Dixie Chicks
I took my love and I took it down Climbed a mountain then I turned around And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills Well the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky What is love? Can the child within my heart rise above Can I sail through the changing ocean tides Can I handle the seasons of my life
Uh ah ... uh ah .... uh ah ...
Well, I've been afraid of changin' 'Cause I built my life around you But time makes you bolder Children get older I'm getting older too
Well ...
(Instrumental)
Well, I've been afraid of changin' 'Cause I built my life around you But time makes you bolder Children get older I'm getting older too
Well, I'm getting older too
So, take this love and take it down Yeah, and if you climb a mountain and ya turn around And If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills Well the landslide brought me down
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well maybe ... Well maybe ... Well maybe ...
The landslide will bring you down.
This fic sort of takes place during my other story A Redhead's Wish, but it isn't necessarily the way that ARW will end. It might someday become that way once I run out of ideas for it. Until then, just bear with me. In this story, Taichi has lived with the Izumi's for a few years now after his parents were deemed unfit to care for him or Kari any longer. They became very close friends in a hurry, no big surprise, and it evolved into love eventually. I will go on and tell you that you might need a box of tissues for the later chapters. Enjoy and let me know what you think.
"Hey Tai, slow down for a minute." Koushirou called out. They had been walking along the beach and all of a sudden Koushirou was dog tired. Tai stopped and turned to face his boyfriend and saw that he'd fallen a good ten paces behind.
"Come on, slowpoke, we're going to miss the sunset, not to mention dinner," Tai called while he was standing, hands on hips, the sea breeze blowing his hair everywhere.
"I'm coming, Tai." Koushirou told him as he slogged up the thick sandy bank as fast as he could. Tai watched as his koibito stumbled up the bank and fell to his knees at Tai's feet. Koushirou was breathing heavy, like he'd run a marathon, not just walked a half mile.
"Are you okay, Koushirou-kun? You look very peaked."
"I'm alright. I, well, I don't know what hit me. I was just tired."
"Can you make it back?" Tai asked him, alarm brewing in the corners of his mind.
"Yeah, just let me rest for a second or three." Tai sat down beside Koushirou and put an arm around his shoulders.
"Ready?" He asked after a minute or so had passed.
"Yeah. That was really weird, Tai. I was fine before we turned around by the pier, but maybe halfway back I felt like I'd not slept in a week." Taichi looked at him, considering making a bigger deal out of it than Koushirou was, but stopped when he saw the light reflecting in his koi's eyes. He looked absolutely beautiful right then. Tai smiled instead, choking back the questions he wanted to ask and stood
"Thanks," Koushirou said as Tai pulled him to his feet. The two of them brushed sand from their rears and began heading back to the hotel. "We'd better hurry, Tai. We don't want to be late for dinner again.."
The previous night, their first in Australia, the only thing that the two of them were requested to do all day was to be back at the Izumi's room by seven o'clock. Well. By no intentional fault of their own, they had arrived nearly an hour late. They'd simply lost track of time while playing on the beach and therefore made them miss their dinner reservations on the veranda. Mara hadn't said anything to the two of them about it, but they knew she was upset with the whole incident, and her being upset with them was worse than any punishment that Koushirou could imagine.
They made decent time on their way back. Tai slowed his pace to allow the shorter legged boy to keep up with him. He kept glancing at Koushirou from the corner of his eye while they were walking, seeing the exertion on his boyfriend's face. He put an arm around Koushirou's shoulders and slowed a bit more.
"Koushirou, you're sure you're feeling okay, right? You wouldn't try to hide anything from me, would you?"
"Tai-chan, honestly, I am fine as far as I know. Maybe it's just a little bit of jet lag or something finally catching up with me. I'll just go to bed a little early tonight and I bet I'll be fine in the morning." Tai didn't really buy that, but he had no reason to doubt Koushirou, so he let the subject drop.
They made it back to the room after one quick stop and still had time to spare; fifteen minutes to be precise. Each boy took a quick sand- removing shower and dressed and the four of them made their way to the veranda for their dinner reservation. Their seats were perfect, right on the edge of the patio. The sun was just beginning to go down and the few clouds that were hovering somewhere near the Great Barrier Reef started to turn incredible shades of red, blue, and orange.
Mara and Luke Izumi were watching the sunset for all its glory. Their two children, one natural, one not, stared out with their minds filled with questions.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Into Taichi's Mind ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I wish I knew what was wrong with Koushirou. I know something is wrong, but I don't know how I know. He's slept a lot since we've been here. Heck, he even slept most of the way here on the plane. That's not like him at all. When we all flew over to see Mimi last year, his face was plastered in the window almost the whole way, not that there was a lot to see except the ocean.
I wanted to pick him up and carry him back after we stopped that last time. Koushirou said he was 'just tired' or that it might be the start of a growth spurt. I was upset and I sure didn't want him to notice, so I told him that I hoped it was a growth spurt so that maybe I'd stop getting cramps in my neck when I kiss him. He liked that and we made it back to the hotel room shortly.
I wish my mind would turn itself off and let me stop worrying about it. I don't want to make a big deal out of it if Koushirou isn't. I can't help it though. I care too much about him to not worry. I guess this is the kind of feeling that our parents have for us; unconditional love and concern. I really do hate seeing him like this, though.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Into Koushirou's Mind ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Man, what is wrong with me these last few days? It feels like I have lead in my feet. I've slept more in the last few days than I have in forever. I took a long nap the day before we left, slept almost all the way here, fell asleep by 930 last night, and I'll likely do the same tonight. With me sleeping as much as I have been, I shouldn't be tired again until sometime next year.
Maybe this is just a vacation thing. We've been through so much in the last few years, with the digital world adventures and all. Maybe my body just needs to recoup its energy or something. Whatever it is, I hope I get over it soon so I will stop ruining Tai's time here. I don't want him to spend this week worrying about me.
Look at him, sitting over there. He has just a dab of chocolate on his face, just above his lip. He looks so cute right now. I hope he's not worrying about me. Tomorrow I am going to be perfectly fine and we can go out and have a good time.
Their dinner plates were cleared off and they shortly left the patio and headed back to the rooms. Koushirou and Tai followed the parents into the larger room and sat around with them for about a half hour or so. The sun was now completely down and the moon was just visible over the horizon, reflecting on the water. Koushirou's eyelids began to droop and Tai decided that it would be good to get him on to bed before he fell asleep
"Come on, Koushirou, let's go. I'm tired, you look tired. We've got a big day of doing nothing tomorrow to get ready for."
"Yeah, I'm beat. We'll see you guys at breakfast tomorrow," Koushirou said, waving to his mum and father.
"Sleep tight, you two," Mara said as they walked to the door and to their room across the hall. Luke was already asleep on the couch, snoring loudly. Koushirou sported a tired grin as he shut the door behind him.
"Let's get you into bed, Kou-chan. You look like you're about to drop right here in the doorway."
"I feel like I could, Tai-chan. It feels like I had all the energy sucked out of me." Koushirou tossed the semi-dressy shirt on a chair and his pants soon followed. He pulled the covers back on one side just enough to climb in and let out a big sigh of contentment and tiredness. Tai came over and pulled the sheets up to his boyfriend's chin.
"Goodnight, Kou-chan. I hope you feel loads better in the morning," Tai told him as he bent over and kissed him on the forehead. "Maybe you will have grown a few inches overnight and I won't get the neck pains anymore." Tai saw Koushirou smile sleepily and begin falling asleep before a rebuttal could make its way out. Koushirou mumbled something and he was out quicker than a candle in a hurricane.
Tai stood and watched his love drift off into sleep and continued watching for another few minutes. Finally he moved and went to the mini- fridge and pulled out a can of Sprite. He went to the mini-bar, and after a few seconds search, found what he was looking for. He added the small bottle to the Sprite in a cup and had recreated the drink that one of the beach bartenders had allowed him and Koushirou to sip during the heat of the day. Tai winced as the first draught went down, but it was worth it. The bartender told him that it was guaranteed to take his mind off his problems.
Koushirou turned on his side and Tai jerked to attention, thinking something might be wrong. After he calmed down, Tai half-smiled and dug in his backpack for his Discman and headphones. He took them and the cup out onto the deck and shut the door behind him.
Tai plopped down in one of the chairs and put the phones on. He powered up the small device and was greeted to the sounds of Nine Inch Nails. He listened to Trent Reznor and the music while he drank the beverage he created. He began to grow tired finally; the disc had nearly played through and he decided it was time to head back inside and go to bed himself.
Tai stepped into the room and shivered a bit as the air conditioning hit him. He drank the remainder of his cup and started back to the bed. He paused and watched Koushirou sleep. Something is wrong, I know it. Tai carefully pulled the other half of the covers down and after turning the lamp off, climbed in beside his love. He leaned in close and put an arm over Koushirou in a vain attempt to ward him from whatever illness was stalking him.
In case anyone is interested, here are the lyrics to Landslide. If you don't care, you can go on and stop reading here and hopefully leave a review.
Landslide (Originally by Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac) Covered by the Dixie Chicks
I took my love and I took it down Climbed a mountain then I turned around And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills Well the landslide brought me down
Oh, mirror in the sky What is love? Can the child within my heart rise above Can I sail through the changing ocean tides Can I handle the seasons of my life
Uh ah ... uh ah .... uh ah ...
Well, I've been afraid of changin' 'Cause I built my life around you But time makes you bolder Children get older I'm getting older too
Well ...
(Instrumental)
Well, I've been afraid of changin' 'Cause I built my life around you But time makes you bolder Children get older I'm getting older too
Well, I'm getting older too
So, take this love and take it down Yeah, and if you climb a mountain and ya turn around And If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills Well the landslide brought me down
If you see my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well maybe ... Well maybe ... Well maybe ...
The landslide will bring you down.