[4]
Concert
Takeru was thankful that only a few of the Chosen aside he and Daisuke would be attending the concert. He didn't want to have to worry about his hidden identity in front of the older kids anymore than he did with Yamato. Takeru had decided on the black tank and some dark denim jeans with weird zippers at the side of the knees. The jeans flared slightly at the bottom. The entire thing nearly clashed with his pink tennis-shoes, but being boys, they had completely forgotten about shoes.
"You aren't ready for heels, anyway, man," Daisuke had chuckled.
They all loaded up into the Yagami vehicle alongside Taichi, Hikari, and Koushiro. Daisuke quickly explained that Takara was some kind of exchange student and also his cousin. He left out the part about chasing over Yamato, not that Taichi and Koushiro would hear over their bickering.
"I don't know why you're making me go to this thing..." Koushiro sighed, pulling up his phone and reading some downloaded science journal. Taichi screamed and grabbed the phone and threw it to the back seat, nearly missing Hikari's head.
"Because! I go to all your stupid science things and you never do anything with me. Besides, you like Yamato's music... okay that's a bad example. I know you don't. Come on, it's supporting my best friiiieeeend!"
"Can we just go?" Daisuke whined. "You two lovebirds are gonna make us late."
So, an hour later they arrived across town in a seedy bar. Taichi pulled Koushiro and Hikari close to him, shooing away Daisuke and any other unwanted suitors for either of his previous lovelies. Takeru started coughing as soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs and had their stamps applied.
"What's up, Takara?" Taichi called over the roar of the music playing on the loud-speaker.
"Is it... always so foggy...?" Takeru questioned. He had been to Yamato's concerts before, but never in a place like this. He was used to.. auditoriums and such. This was apparently a very low-budget show and it made Takeru question what the band was thinking when they signed up to play here. Koushiro must have read the boy's mind and began going into a long explanation about there being no good auditoriums on this side of town and attracting a wider audience... sales... recognition... something. Takeru coughed again.
Taichi finally held back a second and pulled Takara close to him, "It's just a little smoke. I'm used to it from my Dad, but I'm guessing Aunt Motimiya isn't a smoker, is she?"
"...no," Daisuke confirmed.
"Good answer," Takeru snapped. Finally the group found a booth on a west wall that had a semi-decent view of the stage.
Taichi proceeded to order the group drinks, except for Koushiro. Takeru started to say he didn't drink either- his Mom strictly forbade it, but he thought one wouldn't hurt for the time being. He just wouldn't drink a lot. He had witnessed Taichi and Daisuke's antics under the poison and wasn't thrilled to go around acting like a complete asshole the rest of the night, especially when he needed his wits about him. On that same hand, he had seen Yamato drink once and it wasn't nearly as fun for him. Takeru had heard the story: he was all over a girl he had been dating for years and they had a falling out. No details were ever explained, though, but Takeru knew that particular girl had been Sora. He was starting to rethink that drink.
"So, what are you doing in town, Takara?" Koushiro questioned, trying to stir up some meaningful conversation before his fiance wrecked any chance of it happening.
"I transferred to Odaiba High for my senior year," Takeru explained. "Uh... I like basketball and music magazines, and... getting my snooch pounded on Friday nights."
Daisuke blinked. "You weren't actually supposed to say that."
Hikari glared intensely. She could catch that reference from a mile, having sat through more than enough bad television with Taichi and Yamato on lazy afternoons.
Koushiro hesitated a second, briefly pondering the girl's sobriety. "So, you're a fan of the Wolves' then? I prefer a more technological sound... this is a bit too distorted for me, although Yamato did promise to experiment with some techno elements at some point. I should discuss that with him later."
"Hey, Takara, this would be a great chance to rekindle what we had going earlier with Yamato-kun, wouldn't it?" Daisuke smiled.
Hikari eyed Daisuke's drift, "...what trouble did you ladies get into already and not inform me?"
"Oh, we just ran into Yamato at the mall. Takara played it all cool and I think he likes her... huh? Huh?" Daisuke grinned, nudging Takeru, who was hiding behind his smooth, flat bangs.
"I've been his best friend like, forever. Let me hook you up. You'd probably have a night you would never forget," Taichi said, smiling as their drinks arrived. He rubbed his hands together and passed them out.
"Not to mention remember," Koushiro added.
"So Yamato is a little... socially inclined... give the guy a break."
"...I'm not sure about this," Takeru whispered to Daisuke. "I don't like the way they're talking about Yamato... they would never say this if I was in front of them..."
"Oh, Tak...ara..." Hikari started, being careful since Koushiro was within earshot. She lowered her voice a little more and leaned into Takeru's ear. "They're just trying to be nice around you."
"I don't want anyone to treat me nice," Takeru snapped so the entire table could hear him.
"...sorry if we said something that offended you," Koushiro blinked.
Taichi just laughed and kissed Koushiro, making the boy swat him away with sputtering annoyance.
"No, you're fine. I just feel Yamato-kun isn't like that all the time, is he?"
Taichi shrugged, "Of course not. That's just how he acts at shows. Honestly, you should spend a normal day with the guy. He's a total geek."
"He would kill you if you said that to his face!" Takeru gasped.
"Let him try," Taichi snorted. "Oi, there they are."
Takeru turned and looked over at the stage. Yamato was joined by Takashi, from earlier; their drummer, Yutaka; and on keyboards was Akira. Takeru observed each of them. Despite being Yamato's tight-nit circle of friends, he knew little about them. Once, Takeru heard his mother badmouthing them, but she tended to overreact. There was a slew of cheering and clapping.
Once it died down, Yamato grabbed the mic and walked forward. "Thanks, thanks... so, we should probably get this show on the road right?"
The crowd cheered.
"Nah," Yamato breathed, turning back to his bandmates. "They aren't paying us enough, are they?"
"Hell no!" Yutaka grinned.
A small group at the table near the bar sounded disappointed.
"Those girls sound sad, Yamato," Takashi chuckled.
"Ah, fine. Tobira; Door."
As the guitar and Yamato's bass filled the tiny room, Takeru felt his heart skip. "It's a little loud."
"Have you seen them before, Takara?" Taichi asked.
"Y-Yes, but never in a small place like this..." Takeru replied, holding his hand over his breast.
"I'm gonna go mosh when they get to the good stuff," Taichi announced. "Koushiro, you coming?"
"You know I'm not," Koushiro sighed.
"I'll go, Taichi," Hikari said.
"You'll get your toes broken!" the brother cried and Takeru laughed. He loved seeing their dynamic and noting the difference between. Even when Takeru took his feelings and their lack of time spent together out of the equation, he still felt Yamato was closer to him than other siblings.
After a little playful arguing, Taichi chased Hikari out onto the dance floor and disappeared into the fanbase.
Koushiro spent some time observing the newcomer. He had suspicions about the girl's relation to Daisuke, but she seemed nice enough. After spending nights texting Yamato about his erratic love life and not having anything to offer since the blonde never divulged details, Koushiro hoped that what Daisuke had mentioned earlier wasn't an exaggeration.
"Takara, what do you expect to get out of this?"
Takeru blinked at the sudden question. "Sorry?"
"Dating Yamato. That is or is not your goal?" Koushiro clarified.
"...well, actually, I want to get to know him better. I know it sounds silly, but I love him."
Koushiro reached over for Taichi's drink and took a very tiny sip. After all, he was driving. "You are aware of how you sound, then?"
"Like all of those girls flashing them in the front row?" Takara sighed, staring down at his so-called chest.
"Where?!" Daisuke cried. "Takara! Takara! Go! Use your boobs! Use your boobs!"
"Do you have a skip in your record?" Takeru smirked.
"Takara is a wholesome girl, Motimiya. She wouldn't be caught dead up there. None of those losers really appeal to them."
"Even that guy... exposing things?"
"He should probably be arrested," Koushiro whispered.
Takeru covered his eyes, suddenly smudging his eyeliner, leaving a black streak across his face. "Oh, no..."
"Oh, dear," Koushiro whispered. "Let me go get Hikari. I don't know a lot about these so-titled make-up crisis."
Koushiro then stood and took a breath (but not a deep one in fear of lung cancer... or if they had been in the back, a contact high) and braved the mob.
"Wow, I wouldn't be caught dead in that," Daisuke laughed. "So... Takeru, what are your plans for after the show?"
Takeru wasn't paying attention. He had conditioned himself not to leer at his brother when his friends were around. Feeling comfortable with Daisuke, though, he leered to his heart's content. Yamato was just as beautiful as ever and now that Takeru had been dolled up himself, he could see the traces of eyeliner accenting already long lashes. When his brother narrowed his eyes, something seemed sad about him and Takeru locked onto those eyes for just a moment. Takeru's sight trailed down to Yamato's lips which smiled at him and a barely noticable gesture of fingers unwrapping from the mic signaled that he remembered him. Or Takara. Whatever. Takeru would have loved to go on towards Yamato's choice of tight jeans and boots, but Koushiro returned with Hikari.
"Help the girl. This set will be done any minute."
"Oh," Hikari piped, enjoying the chance to fret. She didn't get to do this much with Miyako, who could actually care less how she looked. She took Takeru's hand and the two forced through the crowd to the women's restroom. Koushiro followed as well, otherwise Taichi threatened his life. He had to wait outside the door, but he could hear them talking even over the chatter and bass.
Hikari gently dabbed at Takeru's face and he let out a more manly, "Ouch!"
"Hush, Koushiro or someone in here will start wondering..." Hikari muttered. "Now hold still. I can't believe Miyako gave you cheap shit to wear."
"H-Hikari..." Takeru whispered.
"Sorry, Takeru. Honestly, I didn't want to be here. I hate these kinds of bars... there's always some dick trying to hit on you. Hence why I wasn't leaving you alone with Taichi and Daisuke. I'm not trying to be mean, either, but I'm not sure leaving you alone with Yamato is swell, either."
"He's just my brother," Takeru whispered extra low.
Hikari read his lips and sighed. "Do you know what he does at the end of every show, Takara?"
"...goes home?"
Hikari planted her face into her hand, nearly getting mascara all over her bangs. "No, the band goes and drinks and mingles until they don't know their dicks from their brains and they find whoever is most willing and take them home."
"...my brother isn't like that."
"He is."
"I refuse to believe that."
"It's the lifestyle, Takeru."
"...but Yamato has more self respect than that! I know he does!" Takeru protested, his voice a high pitched male whine.
"Are you two alright?" Koushiro questioned. "If someone's bothering you, I'll come in."
"Well, why don't you remind him of that? I'll convince Taichi to go through with his proposal from earlier. Get you two talking away from all this... crap."
"Not the word I would use-"
"Um, that's not what I meant. I meant there's... on the floor... nevermind." Hikari sighed, trying not to puke at the sight under the sink. She didn't even know that was possible. "Let's just get out of here, okay?"
Koushiro was relieved when the two girls headed out and joined him. Something had been trying to talk to him, but Koushiro couldn't make heads or tails of it and he was almost willing to risk his fiance's wrath just to return to the table.
The bass threw Takeru's heart again as the last song started up. They returned to the table without anything too eventful, save Daisuke's "serious" question of, "So, did you two lez out?". Hikari at least managed to speak with him about the "arrangement" and things went as planned.
Takeru was more than nervous when his friends lead him backstage to where the band was laughing and drinking. The entire thing made Takeru extremely uncomfortable. He wasn't sure if it was his own good nature or the stereotypical less esteemed mind of a woman playing tricks on him. "Um... H-Hello again."
"Ah, see, isn't she adorable?" Yamato smiled, tossing his hand out in Takeru's general direction.
"So go bang her already," Yutaka teased and Yamato kicked him off of the arm of the couch, sending the young drummer flying into the black coffee table. The table shattered into two pieces and Takeru, startled, rushed over to Yamato without thinking.
"See what you did, dickhole?" Yamato snapped.
"Good going, Yuta," Akira chuckled. "That means its officially time for me to get the Hell out of this inferno and back to the safety of my apartment. Later."
"Later," the other three replied. Yutaka rolled over, pulling shards of wood from his leather vest.
Takeru couldn't even think, still held in the safety of his brother's arms. It's been ages... not since we were kids... but then, I'm to blame for that. I told Yamato I needed space, but this is more like outer space. The "brunette" could hear the musician's heartbeat against his ear, which had been beating quickly when Takeru rushed over, but was now calming. Were you... worried?
"Sorry," Yamato breathed, pulling Takeru close to him, who flinched at the faint scent of alcohol on his breath. Yamato kicked Yutaka when he tried to get back up, then hopped down from the trunk he had been sitting on, taking Takara with him.
Taichi gave a wave and laughed at the remaining group as he returned to escort his sister and fiance and Daisuke, home.
"Again, s-sorry," Yamato said.
Takeru glanced around. He had lead them somewhere even further backstage. "It's... no problem. Guys get like that."
"Oh, do you have siblings?"
Takeru didn't have to think of an answer. "An older brother."
"Ha, really? I have a little brother, actually. I bet Mom wouldn't let him come tonight."
"...o-oh?"
"She's constantly putting these thoughts in his head. Takeru's never going to think for himself with her hovering over him..." Yamato said. His words tumbled out with the occasional slurring of letters. "Enough, enough about me. Tell me about your brother."
Yamato found a door and opened it. Takeru noted that it was a dressing room. Yamato didn't close the door. Did he forget, or is he being considerate? I'm Yamato's little brother, damn it. I should be able to read him better than this. I feel like the real Takara would feel...
"Oh, you don't get along, I guess?" Yamato asked, picking up the conversation. There was yet another couch on the far right side of the room. Parelell was a set of make-up chairs and a wall of mirrors. In the back was a row of lockers. The floor was covered in some odd red carpet and the walls were dated with wood panelling.
Takeru tried to ignore the atrocious sight and continued, "Well... we don't see eachother very much. He's... off at college and it's in another city. We were really close as kids... but I don't know what happened."
"Sounds like he grew up," Yamato replied, rummaging around in the cushions of the couch. He grabbed a half empty beer from the empty space between the arm of the couch and the cushion.
"Still, he should call once in awhile... I am just his sister after all. I worry."
Yamato smiled, looking over at this green-eyed young woman. He had to admire the fact that she wasn't all over him. In fact, it was a nice break. Not only had she rescued him from the same fate after drinking with his buddies, but here she was, just talking with him like a normal fucking human being. She hadn't brought up the band or the music or what he was "really" saying with this or that. Hell, Yamato suspected she knew a thing or two about the actual composition process, if he pushed. That would be absolutely something.
"Thank you," he said out of the blue, letting his eyes meet hers.
Takeru blushed and took a seat on the floor. Yamato tsked and stood, nearly falling over, yet offering her the couch. This was the brother he knew. Not the strange demon hiding behind whatever wall he had put up over the last seven years. At that thought, Takeru worried himself. Had it really been that long since they went out for a bite to eat or he stayed over at his fathers? He blamed Yamato's practices at first- there was no reason to go over to a brother that slept past noon and a father who was never around. Then, Takeru blamed school. He had to study. He had midterms. The younger generation had something planned. "For... what?" Takeru asked finally, a hint of guilt rising up from his vocal chords.
"Just... this," Yamato replied with a smile. He wasn't even drinking the rest of the beer. He set it over on the counter to forget. "You're talking to me."
"...did you expect me to put out on our first date?" Takeru smirked, not knowing where the Hell that had come from, but he enjoyed it.
Yamato laughed a bit, followed by a small hacking cough. Cigarettes or nervousness? Takeru would let his brother decide that one. "See? You're special. There's... like, this light in you I haven't seen in anyone else before."
"What kind of light?" Takeru wondered out loud.
"Hope, I think," Yamato chuckled. "So, what did Taichi go through all that trouble for? What did you want to ask Ishida Yamato, alone in a back room?"
Takeru had finally stopped blushing and was now starting again. "Would it surprise you if I had no intention whatsoever?"
"Not really," Yamato said. "At least steal a kiss from me, to make this entire thing worth it."
"...is that what you want or what you think I want... or what you think you want?"
"Now you're getting a little too philosophical for me, Takara. Let's just say you would be doing me a favor."
"How so?"
"I want to remember you. Remember this."
"...remember what exactly?" Takeru asked as Yamato leaned over him. Takeru could feel Yamato's breath on his cheek and it was so not unlike his many dreams that left him aching the next morning.
Yamato leaned back a little, touching noses with the young lady in front of him and eased in delicately for a kiss. Takeru had easily expected a peck on the cheek or the brush of his lips on his own. He was swooning, surely, but then Takeru tasted the sting of alcohol and the smokey remains of a cigarette. In his dreams, he had always pictured Yamato to taste something akin to vanilla, sweet, but bitter in consendrated doses.
Takeru could deal with his brother exploring his mouth, too, but then Yamato's right hand reached behind Takeru's head and pushed them closer together, going deeper. Deeper than Takeru knew was possible. He could feel heat trying to stir in his loins and tried to think of anything else to deny it when Yamato pulled away- completely.
"If that's all you want... I'd get out of here before the crowd leaves. It's a pain to get through the crowd after the closing band's final set. I'm sure you have a curfew, anyway."
Takeru nodded and left. He contemplating hugging him, but that was way too personal and he didn't want to risk any further contact at the expense of his sanity and merely thanked Yamato before leaving.
Takeru decided then that this was no longer something he was doing for himself. He had to figure out what was suddenly bothering his older brother, because everyone else was accepting this as some kind of act, but Takeru knew better. He was the only one that could know any better. He had seen a bit of the caring brother he remembered and a bit of the brother he didn't know anymore. He had to figure out which was truest to heart and also remind himself that he wasn't a giddy fangirl as he found time to himself in the shower that evening.