Introduction To Tai

Chapter 2: Introduction to Tai

Taichi Yagami played soccer in the park, everyday since he could remember. It was just what he liked to do. Even on days like today when he was alone, he loved to kick the ball around. It was peaceful to him.

He remember very well the first time he got a soccer ball for Christmas, when he was 5. He opened the box and looked at it.

"What is it?"

His Dad smiled. "It's a soccer ball, you kick it around, and you score goal's with it."

Tai smiled at the memory. Not long after that he was already a pro. He joined the soccer team in grade school. Even then it was obvious he was destined to be a great player. In grade school, he made many friends, but the best friend he ever had was Yamato Ishida, or as he called him, Matt. They had a lot in common and did a lot together, and they stayed over at each others house a lot.

Time went on for a while. One year, when Tai was about 10, Tai's family went to a family event and when Tai and his little sister Kari were off playing Soccer by themselves, or Tai was playing and Kari was trying, they heard their father yell. The next thing they knew, their father was coming up to them waving his hands.

"Let's go kid's, were leaving."

"Aww..." Tai said. "But we're in the middle of a ga-"

"I said NOW."

Tai's father didn't raise his voice often, but when he did, everyone knew he meant business. Without another word, Tai and Kari got their things to the car.

When they got home, Tai and his father sat down.

"What happened today Dad?" He asked.

His father seemed nervous by the topic.

"Well son... you know about the birds and the bees right?"

Tai nodded. "Yeah, when a Man and a Woman love each other, they get married and have kids."

His father nodded. "That's right. But son, there are some... screwed up people out there."

"What do you mean?" Tai asked confused.

"What I'm about to tell you is pretty gross, so I apologize in advance. Are you ready?"

Tai nodded.

"There are these people out there, called Homosexuals, or Gays, or Fags, or Queers... they are bad people."

"Okay," Tai asked, still confused. "But what makes them bad?"

"They... think it's okay to... have sex with someone of the same sex."

Tai had a general idea of what sex was, and he had never thought of that as a possibility, and he didn't know how it could work.

"How can they even?"

His dad shook his head. "I won't go into details, just trust me, its gross."

"But then why would people do it?"

"Lust. That's all it is. Only a man and a woman can know what love is."

Tai nodded. "I've never heard of this concept before, but It seems bad."

"Yeah it is. People want to have rights with it now."

Tai blinked, confused again. "Rights?"

"They want to be able to get married."

"EWW! Gross!" Is what Tai said out loud, but he thought to himself, 'if it was lust, and just about feeling good, then why would they want to get married in the first place?' But he knew better than to say it out loud. For now, he decided to try a different subject.

"What does that have to do with today?" Tai asked. His father looked down.

"I'm ashamed to say, your uncle, my brother is a fag. I've known this but just tried to ignore it, but, it seems that he and his... 'partner'... are going to go to the US and get married. Of course it won't be legal here, but they say they want to do it for the commitment, they don't care if it's legal. Makes no sense to me."

Tai nodded, still trying to process new information.

"Do you understand? Fags are bad people. They do nothing but corrupt other people."

Tai nodded, and that was that.

Things went on like that for a while, and Tai never thought much about that conversation again. At least not until... it happened.

One night when Tai was 13, he had a dream about Matt. It started out like a normal sleepover they were having, watching a movie, in sleeping bags, when suddenly Matt put his arm around Tai. Tai smiled. Then suddenly Matt kissed him. It felt good. Not just good, but it felt right, like it was meant to be. Tai awoke in his bed with a start. He couldn't figure out why he had a dream like that. Then he realized something. All of his classmates were talking about how attractive they found women, and he just didn't see it. Did that mean something? Tai shook his head violently. 'there's no way I'll end up being like one of THEM', he thought to himself.

But after that dream, he just started noticing more and more things about guys, especially Matt. He tried to deny it as much as he could, but there was just something about the blonde that he couldn't shake. He started distancing himself from Matt as much as he could. He hated that he had to, after all it wasn't Matt's fault that he felt so strangely about him. One day he and Matt were watching a movie with a gay character. Tai randomly called out, "Fag!" Tai found something interesting. Calling someone else a fag, made him feel better about himself. So he decided to keep doing it. He didn't notice how uncomfortable this made Matt.

Things went on like that for a few years. Tai made it to be captain of the soccer team. He was really really good.

Then it was time for school to be out for the summer. He had a great summer as always, but he missed spending more time with Matt, but he knew it was for the best.

About a month into the summer, Tai turned 17. He couldn't believe how old he was getting, and he hoped that the feelings he was having about Matt would go away soon.

Tai's dad came to him one day in the middle of summer. "Son, remember these people I've told you about, the fags?"

Tai nodded.

"My company has opened a place to try and make them be normal."

Tai was a little confused at this. He thought, by what he was saying, that it was a choice, and just because of lust. If that was the case, why would they need that?

Then a voice went off in his head. "Like you chose to dream about Matt?" Tai shook his head, trying not to think about it.

His dad continued. "I thought maybe you could come and help me there, and you can see why they are so bad."

Tai nodded, because he didn't know what else to say. He just knew that if his dad ever knew what he was thinking, he would be so upset. So he went with him.

As they walked in, his father explained what they do. "We do shock treatment. If that doesn't work, we'll try medicine."

Tai gulped, imagining how much shock treatment must hurt, but he knew it was for their own good.

"Do they know what's going on?" Tai asked, his father shook his head.

"No, they are unaware. It was a technique developed years ago, but a good friend of mine."

"Thoma?" Tai asked. His Dad smiled a little sad. "No... this good friend unfortunately died long ago... but I still conciser him my best friend."

Tai nodded and kept walking. He looked through the rows, most of them were adults, but after a while, he found a kid, that looked to be about his age. Blonde hair, blue eyes.

"Who is this?" Tai asked curiously.

"His name is Willis. When he told his parents he was gay, they faked his suicide, even had him write his best friend a suicide note, and then they sent him here."

Tai looked in at the boy. He could see how much pain he was in. Tai gulped and found the courage to say something to his dad.

"Dad... I agree with you, that being gay is wrong..." he said that, though he wasn't sure he believed it. "...but what don't you think this is a little too cruel? Especially a family faking their child's suicide, letting his best friend think he was dead?"

Instantly his father was mad. "Cruel?" he said. "It's their choice. If they weren't so disgusting none of this would have happened."

"I'm not debating they are disgusting, I just... feel bad for them... especially Willis, and wherever his friend is."

His father frowned more. "Your sympathizing with faggots? Are you trying to tell me something?"

Tai gave up. He knew there was no winning. "No."

"If they didn't want to be treated like this, they wouldn't get sucked into lust."

Tai nodded, and listened. But he was still confused about what to think.

After a little more talking, his dad gave him a copy of the key's. "This means I trust you son. Don't miss use them."

Tai smiled. "Thanks Dad."

He decided it was time to quit playing soccer for the day, and so he packed up, and went home for the day.

TBC