open arms 5

Tai paces back and forth in the small waiting room. he's gotta be okay. He just has too.
The doctor's sudden prescence breaks into Tai's reverely.

Mr. Kamiya?

His scared brown eyes focus on the doctor.

You are the one that brought in your roomate, correct?

Is he okay?

He'll be fine. Its just lucky that you found him when you did. He had a rare but serious allergic reaction to a spider bite.

A spider bite. He almost died from a goddamned spider bite. And I almost didn't get a chance to tell him. I have to telll him. And not care about the consequences. I can't live with myself if I never tell him.

Tai stands in the doorway, gazing at the figure on the bed. Matt turns and gazes into the tortoured depths of his brown eyes.

The voice lacking its usual tone of health.

Hi. How are you feeling?

Like hell.

Don't ever do that too me again Matt.

Blue eyes lock on his brown ones. Tai, I have to tell you something very important.

Just rest up Matt. I'm here for you. Tai reaches out for his hand. Matt smiles happiily and closes his eyes as Tai begins to sing him

Lying beside you, here in the dark
Feeling your heart beat with mind
Softly you whisper, you're so sincere
How could our love be so blind
We sailed on together
We drifted apart
And here you are by my side

So now I come to you, with open arms
Nothing to hide, believe what I say
So here I am with open arms
Hoping you'll see what your love means to me
Open arms

Tai stops singing. He sits quietly, holding Matt's hand. I love you Yamato. What if I had lost you? Matt speaks quietly, and Tai leans forward to stroke a tangled blonde bang from Matt's eye.


You sing really well Tai. Why didn't you ever sing like that in the digital world?

I don't know. Music's really your thing. Why did you leave your band Matt?

It was time for a change.

But you guys were doing so well! You had three albums out, and now that you left, the band is going down the toliet.



Good? Matt, those guys are your friends!

Tai, I don't want to talk about it! Besides they aren't my friends anymore. He adds quietly.

Tai was interupted by a nurse in white striding into the room.

Yamato, the doctor says that you can go home now. Is this your brother? Her delicate eyebrows rose in curiosity as her eyes went from the glowering blonde patient, and the olive complected gentleman next to him with his arm around him.

No, this is Taichi, my, uh friend. Matt stammers.

****next morning*****

Matt smiled as Tai peeked in the door. A grin cracked his face when he saw that Matt was awake.

Good morning!

Morning Tai.

Are you hungry? Tai asks him.

A little. Matt groans and begins to stand up. He is suprised, but pleased whne Tai gently pushes him back down.

Rest. I'll make it for you. Tai's eyes twinkle.

Are you sure? Doubtfully, Matt looks at Tai.

Hey I can cook! Really! Tai sprints into the kitchen. Okay breakfast can't be that hard to make. He opens the refgirator. Eggs. Excellent. Tai tosses three eggs into a pan, but does not bother to crack them open. Tai examines the burner. How do you turn this thing on? Maybe I should ask Matt. No. I need to prove to him that I can take care of him as well as he did for me. He returns to the regrierator. Pancakes can't be that hard to make, right? He pours water into a bowl, and pours the flour into it. He tastes the batter doubtuflly. YUCK. Maybe it needs some spices. He liberally pours salt and pepper into it. Tai is concentrating so much on gloping the batter into circles, he looses his grip on the bowl.

Splat.

The entire kitchen floor is now covered in the guey paste. His desparte eyes fall on an oatmeal box. He pours it into another pot, and adds some water. Tai makes up a nice tray, and adds a yellow wildflower to it. Perfect. I'll check on the oatmeal now. He puts the spoon in the oatmeal and tries to stir it. Damn! Tai cradles his hand. How hard is that stuff? The oatmeal was now a modern sculpture, complete with a bent spoon protruding from its center. Tai taps the eggs on the side of the glass. They raw yolk runs over his hands. Must not have cooked it long enough. Tai sighed as he looked about the war torn kitchen. How did Matt manage to do this without any effort? Tai watches sadly as another not very cooked egg joins the pancake batter on the floor.

Tai, did you die in there or what? Matt yells. He is curious, and worried. What is he doing in there?

I'll be right there. Tai yells trying to keep the panic from his voice. He sloshes the rest of the milk into the bowl, and throws in corn flakes. Grabbing a glass, he pours some orange juice, and carrys the tray carefully to Matt.

He grins at the sight of a very messy Tai carrying a tray in. I wonder how bad the kitchen is? Oh well. It's worth it to have Tai take care of me. A blush spreads across his cheeks.

Cereal and Juice. Very traditional Tai. Matt says, trying to ignore that jittery feeling in his stomach.

I know it isn't too eleberate, but.... Tai begins.

No, its perfect. Matt reassures him.

Why do I feel so happy? Should I tell him? You almost lost him from that spider bite. Tell him.





I have to tell you something. Tai begins nervously.

I already know Tai. I'll help you clean up the kitchen. Remind me never to let you cook.

That wasn't it.

It wasn't?



Matt waits expectantly, but his heart is pounding.

Is he going to tell me that he knows? Oh god. I love him. I can't lose him. Please don't let him hate me?

The worries disapeared when Matt saw the love radiating from Tai's brown eyes.

I love you Yamato Ishida.

to be continued.