Mages and Knights
Summery: AU Takuya is the son of a poor farmer and on one day discovers he is an Elemental. Powerful people are out to get him so he travels to a School were he meets a lot of interesting people. And maybe fall in love with one of the strangest. Kouji/Takuya
Warnings: Digimon crossover, Cursing, Yoai, T rating
Chapter name: Pact of Friendship
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon Digital Monsters, or Digimon Frontier, or, Digimon Tamers, of Digimon Savers (even though they are not in the story, just thought I should include them. Or do you want them in? If you want I think I could.)
Author Notes: Hello my faithful peeps! Wat'sup ma homies? Look, I now it's been over a month since I last updated but it's not my fault! School and HW are killing me. I mean how can I be expected to do six pages of grammar, two Spanish worksheets, a pointless essay, and two science charts, not to mention the stupid science fair! I will rebel against the oppression! I will lead the revolt against the brainwashing that those 'teachers' are doing to innocent kids. I will be named Queen and Almighty ruler of the new free world! Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaha-cough-hahahahahahah-cough-cough-hahaha-HA-HA! Whoo…Thank you again for listening to my pointless rambles. Don't worry I'll go and visit my physiatrist now.
Another reason why this is so late is because my flashdrive got corrupted and erased all my fanfiction! Thank god, I had all of them saved on the computer but the chapter I was working on (this one) was deleted so I had to do it all over again. It was half finished too… (Sigh) sorry.
Over 3,000 hits! OMG! Thank you so much! I love you all!
Anyway, I got a request for Kouji's view on things. I was originally planning to do it only in Takuya's POV but if you people want to I will dedicate the next half-chapter to chapter on that so vote on it and I will announce the results next time. Here is the new chapter, enjoy!
Takuya touched the red Stiphe on the door to his and Kouichi's room. It opened as he pushed it further with a kind of creak. He stepped into the empty room and crossed to his bed. The air was faintly cold as his inside twisted with worry but he masked all that with a smile. A shaky smile but a smile nevertheless. He jumped on his bed and bounced twice before finally sitting properly and still.
Tapping noises filled the room for a moment as five people entered after him through the open door. Daisuke bounced into the room with vigor and threw himself onto Kouichi's bed. He landed and located himself into a comfortable but weird position. He was on his back upside down, making his spiky hair spray across the covers. Takato and Kouichi came next and also went over to the bed. Kouichi sat with his back to the headboard and propped his feet on the space next to Daisuke's stomach. Takato just sat next to him and in front of Kouichi's legs with a pensive look on his face.
Tai and Hazu came next. Tai walked over to the nearest desk, which was Takuya's, and grabbed himself the chair. He turned it around and sat down, sensing that a long discussion was ahead. Hazu was next to him, leaning against the wall to the desk, for once looking like he was taking something seriously. The window curtains were drawn, not letting in a lot of light although the lamps on the desks provide some dim light to see by.
Juri came silently and, without a word, sat next to Takuya. Her presence soothed him down a little. After all, she knew more about him than the others so maybe she could come to his aid when he got stuck. But…
There he doubts again. But he doesn't really know any of these guys too well so he has a good reason. What if they were like the some of the other children here? If he told them his background would they be disgusted? Would they think that he wasn't worth going through the dangers of being there for him? They stuck with him when he almost killed them when he tried to protect them so why should they go away now? He didn't know but he didn't want to go through the risk.
Silence came down uncomfortably on the six students, all waiting for something to happen. Takuya shifted and the smile became strained on his face as he tried to find the words to begin the painful conversation that was unavoidable.
"Umm," he began unsurely.
"Why don't you start with where you are from?" Juri commented next to him.
He nodded, grateful for Juri's interference. "Well," he started. "You already know this, Juri knows more about it though, but I came from a little village called-"
"Hey!" Daisuke shouted from his awkward position. "How come Juri already knows this?" He turned around so he was laying on his stomach and he glared at both of them.
Juri eyed him. "I met him before School opened. I ran into him." Literally too, Takuya mentally added as he thought about the painful fall. What a weird way to form a friendship.
"No fair!" Daisuke said indignantly. "Why where you doing there?"
Juri looked at him like he went over the deep end and huffed, "What is this? Twenty questions? I live there you dolt."
"Why do-" Daisuke started to retaliate when Tai reached behind him and grabbed a blank scroll from the desk. He chucked it accurately and it hit Daisuke on the forehead. He had this startled look as the scroll toppled onto his lap. He looked at it until his mind properly processed the attack and he glared at Tai, who grinned cheekily. Hazu snickered by his wall, his eyebrows slanting mischievously over his eyes.
"Why did you do that for?" he pouted. Kouichi and Takato sigh in unison while Takuya smiled a genuine grin in amusement.
"You talk too much," Tai simply said. "If you continue Takuya won't finish or even begin for that matter." He then tilted his head to Takuya, a motion to go on with his explanation.
He cleared his throat then started again. "Well, I came from a little village called Izumai near the Eternal Star Forest."
"Izumai?" Kouichi inquired, frowning. "I heard that name before somewhere…"
"That's where Kouji and Tanshin found me," Takuya explained.
Kouichi nodded slowly, still frowning. "Yeah," he said. "Kouji was bugging father about going with on a trip with Tanshin. He hates being confined somewhere even if it's our manor. Father finally broke down after mother intervened on Kouji's behalf. I didn't hear where though. Just that's near the Eternal Star Forest." He tilted his head. "Never mentioned Izumai. I wonder where I hear that name before…" He trailed off.
"Anyway," Takuya continued. "They met me while checking out the forest and they moved me to Canalis where I met Juri."
"At what time did you arrive at Canalis?" Hazu asked.
"Oh, um," he said trying to think back. "About two weeks ago. A week before I Calvis opened."
Tai frowned. "Kouichi, where you there when they left?"
Kouichi nodded an affirmative. "Two days before they left, we came over to Canalis to get our school supplies. They left me with some relatives since I don't really like to travel more than I have to."
Tai said, "That doesn't make sense. Izumai is less that a days travel from Canalis. If they left earl in the morning and came back right after they checked the forest they should have been back the same day. The Eternal Star Forest isn't that big or densely populated with trees. Should have been easy to go over."
"They gave me a message by Detector saying that they ran into complications and would see me when Calvis opened," Kouichi said.
Tai straightened up in his chair. "That's it. They had a full week in Canalis and they didn't contact you. What were they doing?" He looked at Takuya.
"I don't know what Kouji was doing. He never told me," Takuya said, pawing the hair in front of his eyes. "Tanshin said that he was going to straighten out my enrollment since my family didn't have any money to pay for my school fees." He colored slightly but remained firm.
"He couldn't have done that in just a week," Hazu sniffed as if smelling lies and trickery in the air. "Enrolling a kid in the most prestigious school for magic Users takes years not to mention tons of money and recommendations. Parents submit their child's name a few years after they are born, that way the School can regulate who comes and who comes out. And the reserve bank in the School is for helping to pay not to completely cover the costs as in your case."
"There something else at work here," Takato said for the first time. "He would have had to appeal to a higher branch to get you in such a short amount time. I know you're an Elemental but in the past Elemental's with no money haven't been accepted and I don't think this is any different. Would there have been any other reason why they wanted you here so badly?"
"Well." Takuya cocked his head nervously. "I do know another reason."
"So?" Daisuke said impatiently. The lamps on the desks wavered slightly.
Juri glanced at him, sensing something was bothering Takuya. His mother and Mimi did that often too. People called it woman's intuition. Takuya, personally, called it the paranoia of the alien female race though he would never say that out loud again. Last time he did say it, Mimi pushed him into the river making him sick in bed with a cold for three days after that episode. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, as the all too true saying goes.
Takuya didn't want to say it. This was even greater danger than his temper flashes. It could scare them away like he didn't want. But he had to say it. They could choose if they wanted to stay with him after that. It's their health that would be at risk if anything happened. But Kouji told his parent that this school has strong barriers that were impossible to pass. There was no way they could enter. Right?
"Ok," Takuya said, mentally crossing his fingers for luck. "They checked the forest because they got a message that something was in there." Ok, easy, now how to say this with tact… "The Black Oracle was there and was after me to use me against the kingdom." Did he forget to mention that he had no tact?
The responses to that statement were alarming. Takato and Kouichi both had shocked, almost really upset, and their jaw swung to the floor. Tai's eyes darkened furiously as his mind raced miles ahead. Hazu jumped and settled for a wide eyed, No-freaking-way look and his hands tightened into fists. Daisuke jumped even worse that Hazu and fell of the bed with a thump and a "what?" The reaction mad him sure, in one scary moment that they were going to panic and stomp away, leaving him to see their backs walking away.
Then someone's hand fell on his own. He looked over at his hand, startled to find it was Juri's. He looked up and saw Juri's brown eyes swimming with tears and shinning with surprise and -was he imagining this? - concern. She was crying for him, a guy she had only known for a mere two weeks. It touched him more than ever.
"Say what?" Daisuke croaked as he crawled back on top of the bed, gazing at Takuya like he was the God of Lost Pudding.
"That," Takuya said holding his hands up in defense. "Is what Tanshin and Kouji told me. A group of them where in the forest for about ten years. About the time I started showing my magic and my parents decided to get me checked. Tanshin thinks that the mage found something funny about me and went to the Black Oracle. According to them I was the reason for them to be there so I left."
Takato shivered momentarily. "Is there any facts that actually support this?" His eyes were begging Takuya to deny the claim. Takuya felt dread because he knew the true story but could possibly destroy what he had.
A lump formed in Takuya throat making him unable to form a word. He bit his lip, knowing that his face showed what he wouldn't say.
"Oh, Takuya," Juri breathed, smile growing away uncertainly, sadly. "Why don't you trust us?" Her voice was filled with sadness and, most of all, betrayal. He hated seeing her eyes turn that way even if it was for a fleeting moment.
He shifted on the bed, the covers bunching under him. "I…I don't know," he cracked out from unwilling lips. He really didn't know too. He wanted to trust them, he really did. But something stopped him like an invisible net with no holes to escape from.
"You're afraid," Kouichi said plainly from his bed, his voice curious and bewildered. He blinked in confusion. "Of…losing us?"
As soon as Kouichi said Takuya knew it was true. Takuya laughed shortly. "Yeah, I guess you're right," he said softly and his voice grew in confidence and resignation, after all, he gave up denying it years ago. "Back in Izumai I was always the odd one out. Since I have a big temper and no control, I always ended up having temper flashes in the most random places. That scared off every other kid in the village and so, naturally, I wanted nothing more than a friend. And I did have one. Mimi." A small grin appeared on his face as memories flashed across his mind like a show.
"Mimi?" Tai said, raising an eyebrow. He pushed his chair back so that the front legs were raised in the air and the back rested on the edge of the desk behind him.
His grin grew into a bigger one. "Yeah, Mimi Tachikawa. She is two years older than me but she was my best friend, my only friend back home. She was never afraid of me even when I had temper flashes. She was kind and never let me down when I needed her. I love her like the sister that I never had. I could trust her with anything and she would always keep it a secret."
"No wonder you are so reserved," Juri murmured, her hold tightening on Takuya's. "Mimi sounds like a wonderful person. I wish I could have met her." Her voice was wistful and wishing. Mimi and Juri would have gotten along wonderfully; Takuya had no doubt about that.
Takuya was about to nod, agreeing with her when a memory came speeding to him like a bullet. He almost slapped his head in frustration. How had he forgotten that? Geez, you'd think this guy had short-term memory, Takuya thought, somewhat concerned that he was thinking of himself in the third person.
He smacked his fist into the palm of his other hand. The smack brought the attention of the others towards him. "You can see her!" he exclaimed. "In a way anyway."
They looked at him expectantly and a little uncertain. The lamps on the desks stilled for a second then continued to waver. Juri smiled with a hopeful light shinning out her.
"Really?" she gushed in excitement.
Takuya nodded and moved on hand towards his neck. Touching the black leather choker, he moved his fingers along the material trying to find where it was. A slight crinkling sound told him that he found it; right where he last left it, on the left side of his neck. He carefully slipped a finger under the leather and pulled outwards. With his free hand, he removed the totally flat piece of cheap paper from the side of his neck. At first it was uncomfortable to have a scratchy piece of paper next to his neck but, after the first few days, he got use to it. Or maybe it's because the paper was flattened so much there was no more sharp little edges to scratch him.
He held his precious sketch in his hands. Then he carefully started to free the sketch from its folds. There was a sudden shuffling sound as the other Users moved from their positions to glance at it. Then it was free for all to see.
Two people made of charcoal lines started back at him. Takuya stood with a grin on his face, his hair disarrayed into a messy bush. His arms folded defiantly at his chest. Mimi stood next to him, her arm around his shoulders as if to protect Takuya from the shadows of the black lines that crisscross over the page. Her grin showed no fear at the world and her eyes shinned with an inner light that warmed all those who approached. Her hand was raised in a wave; he could almost see it moving across the planes of black and white. Both their grins said that they were ready to face what ever cross their paths because they had each other to lead on. It was the same grin that mirrored Takuya face for years after and he was glad.
The background covered the edges of the picture in its shades of charcoal. Right behind them was a giant, sturdy oak tree that in real life was chopped months ago. The branched were full with leaves as if it was blowing in an autumn wind. Each delicate leaf was drawn with the precision of a loving artist. The stems blended perfectly into the branched that had darkened lines that brought out the impression that it was guarding something.
That tree brought back memories from long ago. So long ago that he was almost startled when they came, seeming alien. When they were just kids, Takuya five and Mimi seven, Mimi found him covered in ash by a half-burned sapling. Takuya had had one of his first temper flashes that drew Mimi's attention from the field where she had been picking flowers. She found a little kid on the ground, crying, his tear mixing with the ashes on the ground. In Takuya's wide eyes she had smiled and reached down to help him. That was the first time he had held a hand that was not his one of family's.
He remembered what he felt at that time as if it was yesterday. Amazement, bewilderment, and warmth. Amazement because his girl was smiling at him. No one other than his family had smiled at him; the only glances he received where fearful and disgust-filled. She was here with no remorse holding his hand. Bewilderment because she was not running away crying like all the others. They had only hear the rumors of his tamper flashes and they all ran away fearful without knowing if it was true. Yet this girl in front of him was standing in the aftermath of one of those rumors that turned true and she was still here, with a smile. And warmth when their hands touched because he was being filled with the one thing he would always want: acceptance.
He never knew why she reached out to him but he was forever grateful. The curiosity had nagged at him for year after until one day heading to Takuya's house, he asked. Mimi fell silent for a long moment before she answered sincerely.
"Why? Well, at that time I only saw a little kid crying in the ashes. That's what really got me. Why were you crying? Some people would have said it's in my nature to help others but it really isn't. It wasn't right crying there. Ashes are a sign of rebirth, Takuya. Fire destroys, that's true but it also leaves space for something grater to grow in its place, something beautiful, something more. I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to help you grow from the ashes into something even better." A smile.
And she did just that. She helped him grow into a more confident boy with less bitterness and anger at the world that he otherwise would of had. Sometimes he wondered who he would have turned into if he hadn't met her. He would have been very different, that's for sure. But if she were here she would be disappointed in him. She would say how foolish it would be to let your fears stop you from creating the friendships he craved so much. He felt ashamed as he stared at her cheerful face that looked up at him. She wouldn't want him to remain isolated. She would have wanted him to have friends and love.
His eyes widened. Love? Where had that come from? He had never experienced anything other than family and friendship love. Nothing like having a lover or boy/girlfriend or anything like that. A flash of deep blue and a tingle in the corner of his lips was what his mind presented him without warning. He colored a sharp red as he remembered the weightless moment in the infirmary. He jus couldn't figure Kouji out. One minute he was ignoring him and the next he was coming close to kissing him. Takuya felt a tread of longing at the thought that just added to his growing confusion. What was that guy doing? Why couldn't he be clear for once? If he did then Takuya would have a better view of where he stood in this complicated mess.
"Wow," Hazu muttered, looking at the ink scene with appraising eyes. "She's even hotter than Izumi and that's saying something."
"She looks really nice," Takato commented.
Takuya nodded as he folded the sketch again. He returned it to its respectable place inside his choker. It settled back like a warm touch of a hand. He took a deep breathe and began. "Maybe it wasn't true at the time but when we were traveling on horse (evil horses!) we were attacked."
Daisuke sucked in a startled breath. "Attacked?"
Takuya nodded, his eyes shifting away from the other wide eyes on him. Only two pairs were narrowed in concentration and suspicion. "Yeah," he said, berating himself for such distrust towards these people. "Two riders with black armor and horses attacked us in the middle of the Opal Forest. Kouji and Tanshin managed to fight them off but they escaped."
"Where there any distinguishing marks on them?" Hazu asked.
"On their chests there were white circles."
Hazu sighed and nodded wearily. "The mark of the Black Oracle," he muttered. "A never-ending white circle in a sea of black."
"How do you know that?" Daisuke asked with the same suspicion he showed earlier towards Juri. What is it with this guy and questioning everybody?
Hazu glared at Daisuke, he probably had asked the same question in his mind. "My family," he said tightly, his lips pressing against each other. "Has dealt with things like likes of them." He obviously did not want to continue this conversation further.
But like the oblivious idiot Daisuke was, he asked, "How? Has your dad fought them? Did you fight them? Did you kill them or-"
"They killed my mom," he said shortly, pain barely presentable in his choked and angry voice.
Daisuke quieted instantly, a sorry expression on his face. Juri, Takato, and Kouichi all winced. Tai sighed but didn't say anything, but his eyes spoke volumes. They held sadness, angry, and injustice.
Takuya said the only thing he could think of. "Sorry," he said.
Hazu shrugged, casually, putting a flirty smile on his face, eerily reminding Takuya of what he himself did. "Whatever," he said. "It's in the past anyhow." He looked at Takuya, silently begging him to start so that the attention would shift back to him.
"There also something else," he admitted. Might as well tell them all now that the cat's out of the bag.
Juri looked back at him, startled. "What?" she asked breathlessly. "Did you get hurt or something?"
Takuya quickly shook his head. "No, but something happened when I was unconscious. It's really weird but I was transported somewhere else."
Tai raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Transported," he said, smiling a bit. "That's…odd."
Takuya frowned at him. "You don't believe me," he said accusingly. Well, he was just going to have to show him otherwise. Ok, so who did they say they were…?
"Well, it is kind of out there," Kouichi reasoned then smiled. "But if you say so I'll believe you, Takuya. But for others here with less faith-" Here he looked over at Tai and Hazu "-can you tell us details."
Takuya nodded and launched into a description of the whole scene. The lights, the chamber, Fate and Destiny, and the flashes of history that came from the dark past of the Elementals. He told them everything from their conversation that he could remember, the big words they uses helping nothing.
"Something isn't right," Takato said, contemplating the descriptions. "If Elementals did all those things then why don't we know of it? I have never heard of them in that light, not even in History of the Users. Why wouldn't they have taught us that?"
"Maybe they did want us to know," Takato said, expressing his thoughts. "If we learned about this we would have had a fear for them but, Elementals were thought to be extinct so why did they cover it up?"
Tai shook his head, indecisive. "Well, have to figure this out by ourselves. I doubt the staff would want to help us seeing as if they helped cover it up or they have no clue on this either."
Juri nodded, and came to the same conclusion. "We'll do our best in the library and figure out about the sea coast city, the army, and the assassination. And also we'll dig up what we can about the Weavers. They said that they would call you again. This is serious Takuya. They were forbidden to talk to you by the Gods. Something serious must happen in the future for them to disobey them like that." She looked at him, her eyes deep. "If they call on you again you must tell us whatever they do. We want to help you."
Takuya smiled, feeling much more secure now that he wasn't alone anymore. "Yes," he said then frowned. "You were with me most of the time in Canalis. Do you have any idea what they meant by helping me?" He really couldn't figure it out.
Juri frowned. "Black and ragged," she whispered to herself. Takuya had to strain his ears to catch her words. "White and smooth. Ancient. It rings a bell…" She fell silent for a few moments, very serious-like as if she was contemplating the meaning of life, and then randomly jumped up, her face shinning with excitement. The abrupt motion of the bed caused him to (much to his dismay) squeak and fall backwards on the soft bed covers.
"The daggers," she gushed out, scaring the other boys with her out of character burst of crazy enthusiasm. "The handsome dude at the shop said that the daggers had been waiting for the last fourteen years. You're fourteen! And that two women gave them to him! Fate and Destiny! It all fits! I'm a genius!" She planted her hands on her hips in triumph.
Takuya gasped and mentally smacked himself repeatedly. The daggers! How had he forgotten them? He really had short-term memory. He dove from the bed at his bag. He searched frantically in the dark depths known as his school bag. Fighting massive books and attacking quills and dodging arcs of flesh melting ink he finally spotted the smooth cover of the box. He grabbed the sides and pulled it out, making sure none of the sides got snagged anywhere.
Takuya quickly made his way back to the bed and sat back down. He popped the latch and opened it. Kuroi and Shiroi shinned back in all their glory, well, Shiroi did, Kuroi just sucks any light in. Why didn't this immediately pop into his head when he first saw them? The daggers are like replicas of Fate and Destiny. He fingered them, remembering the cool touch of Fate's hands on his chin. They sent this to help him with whatever laid ahead in his future.
He looked up at the faces. He wasn't alone anymore. He didn't have to face it all by his self. He didn't have to worry anymore about what would happen if he fell because they, his friends, were here now, to help him back up on his feet. He never felt more relief in his short life. He now felt that he could take on whatever was thrown in his path. His hands tightened on the box. No more he would worry. No more he would doubt his friend's trust ever again. Determination made fire blossom in his eyes and his mouth stretched into a pure smile. He wasn't alone anymore.
And that was all that mattered.
"I suppose it's my turn now," Tai said, running a hand in his gravity-defying hair. Takuya looked at him in confusion. What? The others nodded and turned to give Tai their full attention, well, all except Daisuke who looks just as confounded as Takuya. Tai sighs at their expressions, and then smirks. "You guys have short-term memories don't you?"
Takuya and Daisuke scowled in unison. So, he's now a mind reader is he?
"You know," Tai said slowly, as if talking at a pair of infants, that infuriating smirk still on his face. "Before Takuya burned half of the field. When Izumi was going at it with her big mouth. What me and Sora were arguing about." The smirk melted of his face and turned into a sad look that didn't fit his cheerful self at all.
Kouichi immediately jumps into his concerned alter self. "You don't have to," he said softly. It didn't take a genius to figure out that this would be painful to Tai.
Tai hesitated a bit then firmly shook his head. "No," he said, his voice a bit soft. "No, you deserve to know and…I…want to finally tell someone." He looked away briefly. "I never really told anyone the reason…I didn't want…I... just, just should of… I never told anyone." He stopped then chuckled dryly. "I'm not making any sense am I?"
No one said anything. Even Daisuke felt the effort that Tai was putting in to tell them what happened between him and Sora. For a while the only thing you could hear was the silence that descended into the room's interior. Tai seems to take his time trying to for the words he needed. Takuya started to fidget then, forced himself to stop. Time to bring out that deep friendlyish patience that he harbored deep inside him. Well, Ok, he had no patience but one could try couldn't he?
"I guess," Tai began slowly, haltingly. His eyes started to glaze over with the memories. "It really started with our mothers. My mother, Yuuko and her mother, Toshiko. They were old school friends. They went to Calvis together and were the best of friends but they both had to go different ways but they, by pure coincidence, happened to live in the same town after they married so they stayed in touch. Sora and I were born in the same year and, when we were old enough, played almost everyday. When it was raining outside we would go to her house or my house to play. I loved playing with her more than anybody else. We grew up together and we trusted each other like siblings. We were ecstatic that we both got the genes to be Users and go to the same school. I remembered the day before we left for Calivs. We promised that, through thick and thin, we would always stick by each other as the best of friends." He smiled and Takuya winced because it was a pain-ridden smile that just wouldn't fit any face especially his normally peaceful face. "You can probably figure out how that turned out."
Takuya had no idea that he friendship he had with Sora meant so much to him. Maybe it was like the friendship he has with Mimi. Gods, he would die if they turned against each other. He remembered the feeling he had back at the field. The feeling at Sora covered up her real emotions and craved the friendship. Maybe that's why she became one of Izumi's friends. To replace what she lost.
Tai was now staring at the wall, his eyes over glazed. Takuya had a feeling at Tai was talking more to himself that to them. He continued, his voice cracking a bit. "In the beginning it was fine. We met in every class we had together, we had every meal with each other, and we talked and joked like always. Life couldn't have been better in my opinion. Then we saw him. I remember it like it just happened a few hours ago. He came in through those doors and I…" He broke off, his voice withering away.
Then Juri made her move. She carefully rose from the bed and made her way over to where Tai was sitting. She looked pointedly at Hazu and he nodded, catching her drift. He moved from his spot on the wall and sat next to Takuya, taking Juri's empty space. Juri knelt slowly and put her hand on Tai's knee.
"What happened Tai?" she questioned in a soft manner.
Tai looked a bit more reassured and began to talk again. "I fell for him instantly, hard and fast. From the first glance but I didn't want to because I knew the look on Sora's face the minute he came through those doors. I kept it to myself for so long because I knew Sora and I didn't want to hurt her. That was the last thing I wanted to do. Everyday she would talk on and on about him and she told me her every fantasy. It was so so hard to keep it all in. I felt like I was betraying her for even feeling like that. I just wanted it to go away. But it didn't. It just grew and grew and I had no control over it. Every time I saw him or glimpsed him the hallways, my heart would almost burst out of my chest and it hurt so bad. I wanted to talk to him, to do something, anything. But I couldn't because Sora was my best friend and she wanted him. It was all I could do not to yell at her to stop and to hate myself for feeling."
He shuddered a sigh then continued in a rush as if he was scared someone would stop him. "It was horrible. I wanted to stay with her, she was my best friend. But I couldn't take it anymore even though I thought I had it under control. One night in the library she was talking about him again. She was going on and on about his silky hair, how goddamn blue his eyes are, and how they would be perfect together and if she should ask him out. I just snapped. I held it in for two years, for her sake and our friendship's, but I couldn't take it anymore. It all came out like one almighty flood. I told her everything. I tried to stop but it was as if my mouth just wasn't listening. People always told me that bottling your feelings like that wasn't good." Tai chuckled, emotionlessly. "If only I listened, then maybe it wouldn't have ended that way."
Takuya was totally engrossed in the story, amazed how Tai could have held his feelings for so long. His heart was aching for Tai and all he suffered just to keep Sora with him. But the sad part was that they all knew how it ended.
"Needless to say she didn't take it that well." His shoulders stated shaking with the effort to control his feelings. "It all ended there. In that dark library. Years of friendship and trust destroyed in a single day. We never talked civilly again. It was all insults and harsh words. And it was all because of him." His eyes started firing up again. "I know that I couldn't stop it because I tried. I really tried. I was hard but I accepted her decision. But that wasn't the hardest and most painful part."
The silence was hot with the words. They all echoed eerily just like the Weaver's chamber. He shuddered again then, with determination in his eyes, said, "The hardest part was that the feelings never stopped. I still feel them every day. Every time I see him or think about him. But I know how to push them down now. Not that they'll go away." He shook his head, his brown hair swaying with him. "No, they're just buried. But that's for the best. I have no chance anyway, I know that."
"You shouldn't push your feelings down like that," Juri said, her eyes deep with remorse and helplessness. "And how do you know that he'll reject you?"
Tai sighed again and smiled softly down at Juri, thanking her for her concern. "I know Juri, I know. There's no way he'll go for me. After all, he just met me for the first time."
The others were silent, trusting Juri to know how to handle a situation like this. "You don't know that. He may know you but just never talked to you."
"Thanks but I never liked false hopes. Anyway, he has legions of students after him, all willing to give themselves to him at a word. I destroyed something valuable for something utterly hopeless and worthless."
Juri's face hardened. "That's not true," she said, focusing her every bit of wisdom into her words. "Sora didn't deserve to be your friend if she didn't accept every bit of you. Including your emotions. It wouldn't matter if you had the same feeling towards the same person."
Tai smiled weakly. "Thanks," he said real gratefulness behind it.
Takuya decided to speak. This was sort of the way he was starting to feel these days, maybe Tai would help Takuya along the way. "Is there anything we can do to help?" he said, really wanting to do anything productive for his friend.
Tai shook his head. "Nah," he said, shooting a thankful look at Takuya that made his effort worthwhile. "You listened. That's more than others did."
"Well, we will always be here if you need anything," Kouichi said. Takato and Daisuke nodded is if to emphasize the meaning of Kouichi's words.
Hazu just sat but he thrust out his fist into the air letting it hang there. Tai looked at it for a moment then at Hazu. Finally he smiled and thrust out his own fist, touching the face of Hazu's fist and staying there. Then Daisuke muttered, "I wanta" and did the same, laying his fist with the others. One by one, Kouichi, Takato, and Juri, all did the same. All that was left was Takuya who started at the jumble of fists.
Then Mimi's face popped into his mind and, slowly, put his fist at the top of the pile. "No matter what will happen," he said, looking at the others with deliberation. "We will always be there to help each other. Right?"
At once everyone nodded and, as one, they threw their fists in the air. "Right!" They said, happily, and the pact of friendship formed. One that would be put to many tests and trials but that would stay in one piece.
They all sat back in their respective places, content.
Until, Daisuke interrupted the pleasant silence. "I forgot to ask," he said quickly, curiosity rolling off him. "Who is this guy you like?"
Juri opened her mouth, furious, about to reprimand him with his insensitivity. Tai waved his hand and chuckled, stopping Juri in her wrath. "It's alright," he said, the corners of his mouth curling into a smile. "I might as well finish telling what I started."
He looked over at Daisuke and smirked. "So you want to know?"
Daisuke nodded his head in fast motion. Takuya feared that his head would roll of his shoulders.
"Ok then," Tai said. "Just to say I'm not lying about this OK?"
They all nodded. Tai took a deep breath and paused. The suspense was killing everybody which was probably what Tai was aiming for. Tai didn't say anything for a couple minutes that was suffocating everybody until Daisuke, that taking the suspense anymore, yelled, "Tell us already!"
Tai sniggered once then said two words that surprised everybody. Except Juri who probably figured it out a while ago. She's good that way. But that's off the point. Takuya couldn't help but to hand his jaw in revelation.
"Yamato Ishida."
That was not what they were expecting. But it did fit. Taichi Yagami and Yamato Ishida. Yamato Ishida and Taichi Yagami. You know what Takuya thought at that moment?
It fits. It just does. Maybe far away but it was there and all Tai had to try was to was reach.
Well, there you go. I think I'm getting a little too angst these days. Anyway, you're all probably wondering why Mimi was such a big hit in Takuya's life. Don't worry, all will be revealed in the end. Mimi is very important in Takuya's life up to this point. I don't really like this chapter but, what the hell. Go with the flow.
Remember to vote if you want Kouji's POV or not. I like Takuya's but what the reviewers want, the reviewers get. I will try never again to get in such a late chapter but I don't know. Plaese be patient with me. I hate school! (Cries pathetically)
CALL ME! Or at least review.