Warnings: offensive language/swearing, male/male pairing

Disclaimer: Do not own Digimon or any of the characters used.

Author's Notes: Re-written, posted 2010-09-17.


Dirty Secrets: Chapter Two


Takuya had sort of, kind of on purpose but not really been avoiding Kouji. Every time he saw the raven haired teen he felt a swell of guilt and he figured it'd be better to just try and avoid the teen rather than confront him. He knew that Kouji was aware of the stories that Mira and Kyle had been saying about him, and Takuya figured if he wanted to clear his own name then he could.

Until then Takuya was just...not really but really avoiding him. Not like the raven haired teen went out of his way to make any form of contact with Takuya at all. The second day the Takuya was at Fairfield Kouji gave him a slight wave and an even slighter smile. Takuya had pretended not to notice when it was pretty obvious he did. He tried to pretend the hurt look in the other teen's eyes didn't bother him but it did.

A lot.

Since then Kouji had made no sort of contact at all. That had been nearly three weeks ago. Not even in math did they talk, which was causing Takuya to suffer greatly. Kouji had taught him a little bit on that first day of class, but since then they had continuously added onto what they were learning and Takuya was so confused with the stuff they were now doing he felt like he was drowning.

Not to mention the big unit test they had coming up.

Takuya yawned as he closed his textbook as the bell rang signalling the end of class. He jumped up and grabbed his bag quickly, stuffing his text book into it without really paying attention before practically dashing towards the door. He wasn't paying attention once he got into the hallway which caused him to crash into somebody, nearly knocking them over.

"Oh, shit, sorry," he began before stopping quickly. "Oh, it's you."

Kouji recollected himself from the collision as he stood awkwardly beside Takuya. "It's me," he repeated, meeting Takuya's gaze. His stormy blue eyes held more emotions than Takuya could place. He didn't say anything else, just calmly gazed into Tom's eyes.

"Yeah..." Tom trailed off, seeing Kyle approaching with a wave. Takuya knew the blond was within earshot and he felt pressured to be on Kyle's good side. He had, after all, managed to score Takuya a spot on the soccer team. "Well, watch it...fag," Takuya snapped.

Kouji's eyes narrowed with anger, or maybe it was because he was hurt by Takuya's words.

"You're no better than the rest of them, you know that?" Kouji asked before a mocking laugh escaped his lips, but there was no humour behind it. "And I thought you were actually different," Kouji stormed away down the hall as Kyle clapped Takuya on the back with a grin.

"Hey, so you do have a back bone in there!" he jested as Takuya, still somewhat shell shocked from the words he had spat at Kouji, headed to his locker and dumped his school stuff in favour for his soccer gear.

"I..." Takuya trailed off. "I guess I do."

"Well, you're aggressive on the field, I knew that personality was hiding somewhere inside you," Kyle laughed. "What a fairy," Kyle laughed again, referring to Kouji.

Takuya felt like a dick, but just grinned and laughed along with Kyle. "Yeah," he added weakly. "Total loser."

"Ready for the tournament this weekend?" Kyle asked, changing the subject quickly to the soccer tournament they had on the weekend. "We are going to kick ass!"

Takuya felt the familiar stirring of excitement begin to bubble in his stomach at the prospect of competition, all previous guilt forgotten as he followed Kyle down to the charge rooms to get ready for soccer practice.

Takuya threw his math binder into his backpack along with his textbook as he got the stuff he would need for the evening. He was dreading the thought of the pile of math homework he needed to finish that he had been putting off in favour to hang out with his friends, soccer practice and his general dislike for all things math related.

Glumly he kicked his locker shut and locked it before hiking his bag up on his shoulder and heading down the nearly empty hall way. He had stayed late to finish a project for his Biology class. It was easier to use school computers that trying to fight Shinya off their internet. He had a computer in his room but Shinya hogged the wireless internet stick.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and Takuya reached down and pulled it out to read the text message he had just received.

Heya kid! what's been happening? haven't heard from you lately! 3 Izumi

Takuya rolled his eyes as he texted back:

Not much...been stressed with soccer and I'm gunna fail math

Takuya didn't take his eyes off the screen as he continued to text back and forth with Izumi.

Junpei got his new phone, 778-9485, he sent his old one thru the dryer. Fried it

Takuya laughed. Izumi had been his best friend, and still was, back home. Junpei was Takuya's other really close friend he had as well. Izumi was the only reason he had been passing math, while Junpei had always been the entertainment when he felt like his head was going to explode.

A sudden hit of nostalgia hit him as he thought about home, and how it used to be.

Junpei and Izumi would never think to bully anybody. The three of them made a comic sight themselves. Izumi, the smart preppy one, Takuya the jock, and Junpei the slightly stocky, humorous one. They made an interesting trio but it worked for them. They balanced each other out.

Takuya's new friends were interested in four things: being popular, looking good, winning and crushing everybody who they deemed was below them. Generally not the crowd Takuya ran with but they accepted him and so far school, besides for math, had been going good.

When Tom got home from school he sat at the kitchen table determined to get through the pile of math homework he had been putting off for soccer practices. He had two sheets with thirty questions each on them to get through and he didn't know where to start. He was attempting to solve one of the simpler questions when his phone vibrated across the table, breaking his concentration.

He flipped it open and read the text message he had just received.

Xbox live? Yeah? - 778-9485

Takuya smiled, a text from Junpei's new cell phone. He quickly added the boy's number to his contacts before texting back.

Ready to have ur ass handed to you?

He piled up his math homework that he had barley gotten through five questions of. It was a lost cause anyways. He stuffed it back into his bag before going upstairs to his bedroom. He rolled his eyes at his next text from Junpei.

I think you've forgotten who you're playin against bud

He stuffed his phone into his pocket and got ready for a few hours of mindless, brain cell killing video games.

Takuya was gathering his books from his locker when Mira came to stand beside him with another girl that Takuya had learned was Cassandra, one of Takuya's many new 'friends' he hung around with during and after school. He was grabbing his math book even though it was his lunch hour.

"What are you doing with those?" Mira asked, frowning. "We're going into town today. Cassie's got the van today."

"I am way behind on my math homework," Takuya complained. "I really have to finish it before math class," Takuya explained.

"Oh come on," Mira exclaimed. "It's Friday! Let's go hang out in town, and have fun. We barley ever get to leave this damn school at lunch. Civilization is too far away to walk to."

Takuya bit his lip, but one look at Mira's pleading face had him agreeing with her and going into to town with them, math homework, again, forgotten in his locker.

The last thing he had expected to happen when he walked into his math classroom that afternoon was Mr. Black announcing a pop quiz.

"If you have trouble with this, you'll struggle with the unit test," he explained. "This is going to help me, and you, target where you need help."

He handed them out and Takuya stared at his sheet, lost. If only he had just worked on those damn math sheets maybe he wouldn't be sitting here, staring at his paper like an idiot while the rest of the class got to work. Takuya glanced around the room and his eyes landed on Kouji, who was calmly working through the sheet.

Maybe if he wasn't such an ass Kouji would have helped him again.

But you don't want to associate with him, remember? Takuya had to remind himself. His new friends had said some really mean things about Kouji, and they wouldn't lie to Takuya for no reason right? Which is why Takuya knew Kouji was bad news.

"Alright," Mr. Black's voice startled Takuya out of his day dreaming. "Five minutes alright? We've still got a lesson to get through today."

After the five minutes was up Takuya's page was pretty much blank, the odd shoddy equations were written down underneath some questions. Takuya sighed, resigned to his fate. It was obvious that he had failed. And epically, at that.

Takuya looked away when Mr. Black picked up his quiz, but couldn't help but peek at his teacher's expression. He felt like an idiot when the man frowned as he glanced at the paper over before putting it on top of the pile and moving on.

Takuya's plan was to slip out of the classroom as quickly as possible after class. Takuya was sitting at his desk after Mr. Black's lesson had finished when the teacher stopped at his desk while he walked around the room to see how people were doing.

"Takuya," he said quietly, "Can I have a quick word with you?"

Takuya felt a spike of embarrassment shoot through his stomach. "Uh, sure."

"I couldn't help but notice your page was really blank," he man stated, not unkindly, but in a reprimanding tone none the less. "Are you still struggling with the material?"

"I got a little behind on the homework with everything that's been happening," Takuya admitted honestly.

"I know students, for some reason, think teachers are out to get them when we try to offer help," Mr. Black said with a slight smile, "So, I was thinking, a student helper."

"Like a tutor?" Takuya asked.

"Exactly," the man said. "Just a few times a week after school or at lunch, just to help you grasp the concept of the material. One-on-one help with another student can be incredibly beneficial."

"That'd be great," Takuya said, though he really wasn't all too thrilled with the idea.

"I know you have to keep your marks up for soccer," Mr, Black said, "This will help you a lot, okay? Meet me after class."

Takuya struggled with the new material he was trying to learn for the last twenty-five minutes of class before the bell rang signalling the end of Takuya's day. Takuya gathered his things slowly and walked to the teacher's desk.

Kouji was standing there too, awkwardly. Takuya bit his lip. There was no way that Kouji was struggling with the material. Not after the first day Takuya had been in class. That stuff had been a joke for Kouji. Takuya had to admit, he had to admire the strange teen's skill in mathematics.

"Kouji," Mr. Black said, turning to the dark haired teen first. "I asked you a few days ago if you'd be will to tutor a student for some extra pocket change," the man said. "Takuya is greatly in need of some help."

Takuya's insides froze suddenly.

"Would this be alright with you boys?"

Takuya numbly nodded his head. There was no point is saying no. Out of the corner of his eyes Takuya could see Kouji doing the same thing.

"Great, how about you have your first session tonight, if possible?" the teacher asked. "Discuss it. Tell me the times you guys figure out to do this, at least three times a week, and let me know."

Takuya still felt a little bit numb inside. Kouji was going to be his tutor.

He wasn't sure if that worried him or made him excited.