Redvind: hey guys!

Koromon: we're back again! With a ficcy that Redvind have been occupied with for long.

Redvind: I used to like this fic. The idea was stuck at me deep, as I started to write 'Seek' /how come the story ideas must often come up when I'm working on another fic/ but…I'm not sure now.

Koromon?

Redvind: I mean, the more I write it, the more it begins to suck up!

Koromon: anyway, here it comes…

Stupid mistake by Redvind

I was in love with a boy.

I wasn't really expecting that. Sure I hoped that one day I would find someone I cared most and falling in love with but never once did I think it would be a boy. When I first saw him, it was sort of like an accident.

I walked home, earlier than usual, after band practice. It was a very tough day. We argued about something that I couldn't clearly remember but it made us all mad and the only agreement we had was go back home and talk about it later. After that we went to our own ways. I used this way that passed the soccer field. I was not into sport nor cared about it much. That's why I had never paid any attention to whatever circled around…in another word, him.

There was a game playing to the end, I thought. Because it was a loud whistle blow that altered me to look over the field. It was when I first saw him.

A boy, around my age, with beautiful tanned skin that glowed in the last sunlight of the day and hair that slightly messed up from gentle wind, was standing out in the middle of the field. He was gasping for breathes, eyes half closed, lips parted openly, head raised up to the sky, sweats rolling down his face, hand tugging his collar's soccer uniform to let off the heat. The boy was clearly in ecstasy.

That sight was absolutely gorgeous.

I was stunned, feeling my heart beat faster like it would badly break out my chest. I couldn't take eyes off him. I kept watching him until he went with his teammates to the club's locker room. And until the crowd moved to separate ways that I was able to snap out off my thought and went home. I dreamt of him that night, about nothing in particular as he was just…standing there, smiling at me warmly. I heard him call my name. I called his back…then it hit me that I didn't actually know his name. He kept calling mine. Next minutes I realized it was actually my father trying to wake me up. Realities came down on me.

It was love at the first sight.

I was in love with a boy whom I didn't even know his name but his number in the team. It was ten.

Fortunately he was a player in my school's soccer team. That gave me a chance to see him in school. Probably to know him more.

Unfortunately I wasn't the only one.

'Have you heard about the soccer game's yesterday? Our school's team won! Could you believe it?'

'Yeah! I also heard that it was because of this first year new player. He scored the winning goal.'

'Not to mention he is very cute, too. And very sexy!' a sigh. 'Such a body. And eyes that are like none others.'

The next day all I heard around school was how great yesterday's game and how fantastic the number tenth player was. I leaned his name shortly after. Yagami Taichi.

Students and teachers congratulated him all day in hall way, in class, in gym…almost everywhere. Even in toilets they were talking about him. Although every time he said it wasn't all because of him. They won because of the team.

He was very popular, one of star athletes, carefree, funny, cheerful and brave and...and…AH! You say it. There are a lot of things about him that make everyone love him. Of course, some might not like him that much…jealousy type, you know what I mean, but at least they leave him alone. Nor they did start a fight with him because they knew perfectly that they would never be able to defeat him. Personally I think they couldn't really find the hearts to.

I saw him around school once or twice, but I never had courage to go talk to him. I wanted to. Somehow it was hard for me. I mean, what could be bad if I just walked to him and congratulated him like everyone else?... I didn't know.

Maybe it's my reputation that held him back. I was the cool-looking musician. I played in a rock band. Girls were always scramming for us and half of them desperately wanted to date me. Or it could be my fear. I was so chicken out, thinking how people would react if they knew I liked a boy. I could have lost everything…my future, my music career, my reputation and such. Now when I think about it, it was so stupid of me. I do not need to fear anything at all. Even my fears couldn't stop me.

A week later I walked pass the soccer field again, hoping I got a chance to see him playing. That's all, really. I didn't expect something else, though I wouldn't say it went that bad.

I remembered that day I had so hard band rehearsal, not to mention the day was so hot that I was all sweats, even at night, and had a small towel around my neck. There he was… like I had heard other people saying that he was always the last one going home after soccer practice so that he could train himself more. I couldn't help smiling as I watched him running over the field…so lively, so happy.

That's when the winds blew strongly and forced my towel flit away. Over the field. I hurriedly ran to it, reaching out my hand to get it but it was so fast. Someone jumped up, catching it. I stopped myself before him. I was startled to see who it was as I gazed at those warm, beautiful cacao eyes I could drown myself in. The object of my dream…Yagami Taichi. I was so speechless…couldn't think of anything to say. Just stared at him like an idiot…

"Is it yours?" he looked at me right in the eyes, handing it to me. I heard my heart beat loudly in my ears, felt my face warmer.

"Yes…" I managed to get answers off my mount, trying to calm my nerve down a bit. It was hard, though. "Thank you."

"No big deal!" he grinned widely, using the sleeve to rub the sweats off his face. However, I caught his hand before he could. He looked surprised at my behavior.

"Don't do that." I said. "Your shirt is dirty. It's not healthy to do that. Here." At that, I cleaned his sweating face with my towel, rubbing it against his face gently. Something must take control over me because I did it unconsciously. At the moment I forgot all about everything around us and concentrated on him. Only him. When I realized what I was doing, I blushed. Good thing that he didn't see.

Surprisingly, he let me do it. Just closing his eyes and letting me, looking so cute to top of everything. He reopened his eyes when I'd done. A sweet smile carving on his lips. An image to die for. I never forget that smile he gave me.

"Thanks." The smile turned into his famous grin. "I'm Taichi. Yagami Taichi." He stuck out a hand to me. I nervously caught and shook it lightly.

"Ishida Yamato."

After that day, Taichi and I became friends. I could openly talk to him at school. We started to hang out with each other. I came to his soccer practice more often and always went to his every match. He came to my band practice whenever he had times and got so excited about our music. Luckily for me, my band mates didn't have a problem having him watch us practicing. Actually they kinda liked Taichi instantly they talked to him. Must have been because his attitude that won every heart around. Not much later we began spending the nights over each other's house, he to mine most of the time, saying he wanted to keep me company because my dad frequently wasn't home. It felt nice having him around.

There's a wonder how he could stand my bitchy mood /as my band mates called it at times/…no, actually he didn't just stood there and took it, sometimes, I mean, most of the time, he knocked some sense into me, in a hard way. Then we started to fight, got tried, apologized and befriends again. Amazing, hmm?

I'm so grateful that my mates are really cool about things. Or else I would be dead long times ago.

"Will Taichi come today, Yamato?" Takashi asked out of the blue one evening.

"I don't know…probably not. There's an important game coming next week. He says he needs training." I answered, noticing the looks they were giving me. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because you sound…and look disappointed." Akira grinned crookedly. I thought wryly he's up for something. "Is it because the certain someone isn't coming here?"

I almost dropped my precious bass right then. Turning to them, I asked. "What makes you think that?"

"You're blushing! Ah! I'm so right." As if to confirm Akira's words, my face went bright red.

"It's so obvious." Yutaka replied, chuckling. "You always spend your time with him. Always talk about him. Know almost everything about him. You two argue and fight a lot, but able to reconcile less than two minutes. The longest was two days; then again you apologize at the same time. Oh, I haven't said you always want to keep him all to yourself. Don't tell me you don't know."

My eyes widened. Surprised? Shocked? I didn't know. They blasted out laughing suddenly. Akira the worst, rolling on the floor laughing too hard. I kept glaring at them until they could collect themselves again.

"You should have seen your face. You looked so funny." Yutaka said, weeping tears off his eyes. Takashi and Akira nodded in agreement, still grinning.

Something weighted on my stomach. I needed to get it out so I asked. "…so you…umm…are you okay about this?"

"'bout what?"

"Me liking Taichi…I mean he's a guy and so am I…" I felt nervous in a sudden. God, what if they hated me for it?…what if they kicked me out? I didn't want that. A little voice in my head said they wouldn't but still…

"Why should we?" Akira simply shrugged. "Your life is yours. You can do whatever you want. I don't care if you are gay or not. You are our friend."

Takashi nodded. "Akira is right again. Don't worry about us, Yamato. We don't have a problem about your sexuality. To tell you the truth, we are kinda not straight ourselves."

I stared at them, shocked. Yutaka grinned. "Takashi and I are dating. Akira is bi."

What a surprised…no wonders why they could tell my secret. Akira put an arm over my shoulder. "We are a band, Yamato. Remember? We teamed the Teenage Wolves together; played music together. We would never be able to if we lost any of us." That crooked grin of his came back again, like it belonged to his face. "Now I think we have a new mission to get you and him together, right?"

I was still unsure. "What if people know?"

"Then we will get new kind of fans. Come on, it can be a test for us. If they really like our music, we will not lose them. And we can prove that we are good. The best even! Now let's talk about a plan to get Taichi…"

It's good to have supporters, I think. We came up with lots of plans but none of them worked. Most of the time because either I failed them myself or Taichi was really too naïve…I never knew. Akira was furious. He was ready to tie us together and then lock us in a closet once since Taichi seemed to never get a hint. Good thing Takashi and Yutaka stopped him. They told me about Akira's plan. It's good for a laugh now, but back then it was real scary.

Taichi introduced a girl friend to me.

It wasn't the first time he introduced his close friends to me. He always did when he had chances. That's how I knew Koushirou, the computer genius, and Jyou, the doctor-to-be, and the soccer team players that I hardly remembered. And because of going to his home so many times, I met his precious little sister whom, I believe, Taichi wouldn't let any guy come near, Hikari. Surprisingly, she's a close friend with my brother, Takeru.

Her name was Takenouchi Sora. A very close friend of his since primary school. I remembered seeing her with him every once in a while. He said they used to play soccer together before Sora started to play tennis when they attended junior high school. She was the type of great student; do sports, never miss classes, keep good grades, nice behave and very popular.

First thing I thought when I saw them together was they looked so perfect like they were destined or something. Sora freely nagged Taichi about how unruly he looked and mothered him every chance she got. I felt a spark of jealousy got through me. So unfair. Just because she knew him longer and better than me didn't mean Taichi belonged to her.

Then again being in love with Taichi didn't mean he belonged to me either.

"What's wrong, Yamato?" Taichi asked, concerned, looking at me.

I snapped out off my thoughts. Sora was just walking away after talking to Taichi like hours. I stared at her back, almost wished that she never came back. Shaking my head a little, I shrugged. "Nothing." I said, acting cool, hoped he would drop this topic that led me to nowhere.

But Taichi kept looking into my eyes. That made me nervous. It's like he could look through me, read my mind and see every part of me. But for some reasons, I couldn't look away.

"There's something wrong. You just don't want to tell me." He said, never took he eyes off. I was startled. Since when he knew me so well? Maybe better than anyone. I kept my mount shut. He sighed. "I'm not going to make you tell me. You know I'll always be there for you no matter what, right?"

He looked so serious at once. And I could do nothing but nod. Taichi held his gaze for a moment then slowly grinned. "Come on, let's go to my house. I've downloaded a new game you'd like."

Deep in my heart I wished he meant more than the friend thing.

We spent that night beating each other's ass, having so good time. I totally forgot all about that Takenouchi girl as if she never existed. Though the next day I saw her talking with Taichi, I didn't have the need to kill her. I knew I would never lose my best friend. I began to befriend with her. And she was not that bad.

However, I should really considered killing her in the most terrible, hurtful way before the whole complicated mess took place.

It was Christmas Eve. The band had a big gig that I invited everyone to come, especially Taichi. He said he would never miss it and would come visit me before the gig started, so I kinda looked forward to his coming. I told my band mates this. They smirked, teasing me a bit then left to check the stage and instruments. To give us privacy, Akira said. I so expected it to be Taichi when the door opened. Never thought it would be someone else….definitely not Sora bringing her stupid cookies.

I remembered I was in a good mood waiting for my crush before her showing up. Though how irritated I felt, she was a good friend by then so I greeted her nicely. She said she just wanted to meet me early to give me my Christmas present, her homemade cookies.

"Don't you want to try any?" she asked, looking nervous somewhat. I shrugged. That time I should have guessed she was up to something.

"Sure." I ripped the paper off. Those cookies looked good and smelled great, it must be said. I took one and tasted it. Not bad, really. Very sweet, but far from my dislike. I was so observed to the taste to notice that she was getting closer and closer.

"Is it good?"

"Umm hmm."

As the last bit of the cookie was gone, I felt her lips on mine. What the fuck?

"Hey, Yamato! You in here? Oh! My…sorry…I'll leave you two alone…"

Bad enough to have someone I didn't have a feeling for kissing me. Worse, it was the very moment Taichi walked in, completely stunned and shocked. The worst was he ran away, mumbling apologies before I had a chance to say anything… what…I didn't know 'cause I was too stunned to get a word, too.

Sora let go off me then, looking shy but keeping her grip on my arms. "Sorry about it, Yamato-kun. But I've really liked you for a long time. More than friend. I want to tell you that. I hoped you feel the same."

Sora liked me? But…

"…But I thought you liked Taichi." I was so confused. It was hard to believe at the moment.

"Taichi? No, he is just a good friend. You know, kind of like a brother." I didn't say anything else. She must take my silence in the wrong way because the next thing she said… "…Oh…so you thought…no, I'm not dating him. Don't worry."

I didn't know what I should be worried. So I knew the fact that they weren't dating, but in this situation what made the difference? My crush walked in on me and his girl friend, whom, I assumed, he had a feeling for, kissing. I was so shocked. I didn't know what to do. One thing I knew was I had to tell Sora right away I never and would never saw her more than a friend. A rival, maybe. A lover? No way. Before I could say anything though, she left, saying she would be waiting for my answer….well… that was what she said.

Because after the holidays there was a rumor getting around school that Sora asked me out and I said yes. Could you believe it?

Taichi innocently did.

Taichi hadn't actually avoided me that time. He just…didn't look like himself. Less active, less talking, always lost in thoughts. Nothing like him at all. Especially when he wasn't happy or smiling. I didn't like it. I tried to talk to him, but he said he wanted to think.

A week later Taichi came to my house at night. From the look on his face I could tell he made up his mind on …something I didn't know yet. At least a bit part of him came back, I thought. Never once did I doubt that I would like it or not if I knew what he was determined to tell me. The next thirty minutes was the moment I wanted to go hang myself and prayed no one came save me.

"…what were you saying again?" I asked, shocked.

"I said I've heard you and Sora are going out. I want you both to be happy together. Sora is nice. I'm happy for you."

His words punctured my heart like a stuck lighting. God, it's hurt.

"But…but I thought you liked her…" I mumbled uncertainly as I was trying to figure out what's going on.

"Of course I like her. She's a good friend."

"No. I mean, really like her…love, maybe."

Taichi laughed lightly at my assumption. "You know what? People have been asking me that all days. I do love her but not the way you thought. We're too close to be anything but friends. Personally, I think she's like Hikari…like an older sister that I never have by the way she acts." There's nothing but sincerity shining in his eyes. When I didn't recover from the shocked, he laughed more. "Don't worry about me. All I want is your happiness."

His words strongly stuck in my heart and never left my mind. He wanted me to be happy. But how could I be happy when the person I wholeheartedly wanted to be with was him, not Sora, not everyone else. How could he not see that? I could almost be angry at him if I wasn't busy utterly mad at myself for not telling him the way I felt, the person I loved, the thing I wished for.

Though I had to admit, knowing Taichi didn't have feelings for Sora was quite a relief.

Taking the fact that I didn't deny the rumor, Sora claimed me as her boyfriend. All students believed. I sworn it was only because I didn't still get over the shock from my secret love's speech. And when I could comprehend again, it was too late. Another thing was that I was coward.

When Akira had heard about this, he nearly bit my head off if not for Takashi and Yutaka, again, stopped him. I told them everything; about what Taichi told me and Sora's confession. Akira called Sora stupid and too blind to see the true things. But one thing he gave her credit for was the confession she made to me. I had to admit he was right. In this point, she was braver than I was, for forcing herself to tell the one she loved. I knew how hard it got to be. Talk about experiments. Though things were quite different. For one thing, Sora was a girl and I a guy. It's very natural for people from opposite sex to be in love.

Which meant my love for Taichi was something very physically wrong. I knew, but I didn't care. They say there's nothing wrong in love, don't they? So how could you blame me? Than I might be the one that foolishly blind with love. I'd rather be than having to love someone else.

Sora began to come to our practice, bringing her food or drinks or whatever. She said she just wanted to see me, probably to spend some times together, knowing how busy I was. She insisted on coming, even though I said she didn't have to, with the caring smile on her face. She left when Akira said we needed to practice in privacy. I knew he didn't mean to hurt her and we did need the privacy, Taichi was in the special case, I couldn't help feeling sorry for her.

I realized it wasn't her fault for having feeling for me. So was it my fault for being in love with someone who was a guy and especially not her? Was it my fault for unable to return her feeling? Takashi said it wasn't; it's just the way things are. When you love someone sexually, there are only two options; they love you back or they don't. He said I didn't need to worry as long as I followed my heart. Because sometimes reasons are unreasonable but your heart never lie. I was so grateful of his advice. I've never forgotten it even now.

I knew I should have done something before things got rotten, however, being idiot me, I sort of ignored it until it was too late.

To be continued…

Redvind: see what I mean?

Koromon: not quite…what about you guys? turn to the readers with puppy eyes