Okay, this is part 2. I'm sorry that the parts are so short, but work with me. Enjoy! This part is dedicated to Rainchild.

Yamato saw his bag on the luggage carosel after half an hour of waiting for it and grabbed it. He quickly ambled out of the
busy airport and out onto the streets of Kyoto, Japan. Miyako lived there now in a VERY nice house with a VERY nice lawn.
She had come upon some money and had a luxurious life to show for it. Yamato stuck out his thumb and climbed into the cab
that stopped for him. He told the driver the address of his destination and looked around at the city.

Moments later, he was dropped off in front of a large, expensive-looking house with a fancy car out front. He gazed around
in awe and lifted his hand to knock on the wooden door, smoothing his hair nervously. He knocked loudly. The door was
opened by a man wearing a black dress outfit and small glasses, a butler. "May I help you?" he asked. Yamato nodded. "I'm
here to see Inoue Miyako. I'm her friend Ishida Yamato." He said. A noise was heard inside the house, and a woman with
long purple hair and shining brown eyes appeared at the door. She was wearing a long, fancy blue dress and was very
slender. "Yamato?" she asked, breathing in deeply. He nodded, smiling at her. She cried out and hugged the blonde man.
When she pulled away she was grinning like crazy. She hadn't changed a bit! "Mimi! Yamato's here!" she cried, pulling
Yamato into the house. The woman that was Mimi mall-walked towards Yamato. She had short brown hair, and was wearing a
short pink and gold dress that looked as if it were made for her alone to wear. She squeezed Yamato, her arms around his
neck. "It's good to see you." she cried. She looked him over, her eyes lingering on the missing patch of hair. She said
nothing about it, but you could tell she wanted to. Miyako broke the silence. "Jyou, Sora, and Iori are in the living
room. They'll be happy to see you." she said. Both girls, one on each side, grabbed his arms and led him to said room.

A man with short blue hair and half moon glasses sat talking energetically to a woman with shoulder-length red hair and a
man with short brown hair. All eyes traveled up to Yamato as he entered the room. Sora clapped her hand over her mouth.
"Yamato? Is that you?" she cried. Yamato nodded. The girl leapt up and hugged him around the middle. He looked over her
shoulder at Jyou and Iori. "Guys, if you want to hug me warn me first." he joked, worming away from Sora's death grip. Both
men chuckled, climbing to their feet to shake Yamato's hand. All his friends looked so similar to the way that they used
to. Only Yamato was visibly different. Jyou tapped Yamato's forehead. "Your hair must not like you any more, it's divorcing
your head." The man joked, bringing Yamato's hair loss into view without insulting him. Yamato grinned. "Wait until you
have a mid-life crisis. Then I'll be the one making jokes!" Yamato laughed and shook his head. "I'm glad to see you guys
again." he said honestly. There was a knock at the door. The butler called from the door way. "Are you getting it, madam?"
he asked. Miyako ran to the door to let in another friend and another memory.


Taichi climbed off the bus and walked straight to the biggest bar in Kyoto. He remembered his promise to hold off his
drinking, but figured that one beer couldn't hurt. He strolled in and sat down next to a blonde man that was extremely
interested in a notebook. Taichi grunted an order to the bartender before turning to his neighbor. The blonde was nursing
a beer, and mumbling as he scribbled something in the notebook. "Hello, there." Taichi said in a friendly voice. The man
turned his ice blue eyes onto Taichi. He was about to gripe about being disturbed, but smiled. "Taichi! Long time no see!"
the man cried. "Takeru!" Taichi called out in recognition. They shook hands. "Headed to Miyako's?" Taichi asked. Takeru
nodded. Taichi gestured to the notebook. "What's that?" The younger man blushed. "It's a letter to Hikari." he said shyly.
Taichi smiled. He had known about Takeru's crush on Hikari for a long time, and thought it was cute how they both loved
each other but would never admit it. Taichi took the beer that had been set in front of him and quickly drained it. "Shall
we?" he asked the blonde. Takeru nodded, and they set out for Miyako's house to remember the past that had slipped away
from them with age.

Takeru and Taichi knocked on the door. The butler answered it again, but Miyako and Mimi were already standing there.
"Everybody's here now!" Miyako called, hugging both men. They followed the women into the sitting room and grinned at
eveybody. The same couldn't be said for the people in the room. They stared disapprovingly at Taichi's beer-belly and
Takeru's longish hair. "What, did someone die?" Takeru asked jokingly. Miyako glared at the room full of people.
"Everyone, say hello to Taichi and Takru!" she cried. Yamato jumped up without thinking and took Taichi's hand, then
Takeru's. "I've missed you both." he said. Hikari hugged Taichi and Takeru, and he sheepishly handed her the letter he
had written in the bar. Giggling she ran back to her seat. Taichi saw Daisuke waving frantically and moved to sit next
to him. He and Ken were siting on a sofa. Taichi took the empty spot next to Ken when he noticed Daisuke's arm around
Ken's waist. Taichi stared at Ken questionably. Ken responded by lifting a hand and showing off a sparkling ring. Taichi
couldn't believe it... He'd never pictured Daisuke and Ken as a couple or even gay! Daisuke saw Taichi's reaction and
kissed Ken on the lips for show. Taichi glanced across the room at Yamato, who was watching Ken and Daisuke with a look
of concentration on his face. He noticed Taichi staring at him and quickly turned to converse with Sora. Taichi couldn't
understand. 'Why doesn't Yamato want to be around me?' he asked himself. He dismissed the thought and began talking with
his old friends.

"Where are you satying tonight, Yama?" Taichi asked his friend. Yamato looked at Taichi without expression. "I dunno." he
mumbled into his cola. Taichi grinned. Why not stay at my place? It's an apartment at Highton View Terrace, and I don't
charge for board." he suggested. Yamato looked unsure, but agreed anyway. "Great!" Taichi cried. He walked away to find
Ken and Daisuke, but spotted Daisuke alone. "Daisuke, I need to talk to you. Alone." Taichi admitted. Daisuke led him away
to one of the bedrooms. "What's up, Taichi?" he asked. Taichi looked at the ground. "I- I just am going throught the early
stages of a secret hell. Daisuke, I'm gay. What can I do?" he cried, wiping his eyes. Daisuke frowned. "Is that why you
turned to drinking? To solve your problems?" Daisuke asked. Taichi nodded and patted his large stomach. "Yup. Didn't work
to well, I'm still gay." Daisuke smiled. "How long ago did you and Ken get married?" Taichi asked. Daisuke fingered the
gold band on his tanned hand. "A year next month. Ans may I say, I've never been happier." Taichi grinned. "I'm glad it
worked out for you two. Well, I had better get back out there. Thank you Daisuke." Taichi said. "For what?" Daisuke asked.
"I have no clue."

No sooner did Daisuke step out of the bedroom, Yamato grabbed him and pulled him into another room. Daisuke frowned.
"What now?" he asked. yamato sighed. "I have a crush on someone." "Should I applaud?" Daisuke asked sarcastically.
Yamato glared. "I have a crush on another guy!" Daisuke smiled. "You too? Taichi just told me that..." he stopped short.
"Nevamind." he mumbled, blushing and cursing himself. Yamato's eyes widened. Taichi was... gay? "Well, that helps alot!
Thanks Daisuke!" Yamato called as he ran from the room. "For what?" Daisuke asked the empty room.


The two boys thanked Miyako and promised to meet the gang for a day of activities the next day. Taichi led Yamato to the
bus stop where they sat on the hard, weathered bench. "How's American life?" Taichi asked. Yamato smiled. "It's not bad."
He pointed to the spot on top of his head. "It's just very stressful. And the language is confusing! They are a bunch of
wild ones, Americans." He said. "How about you?" "I live seven apartments away from my old home. It's very close to work,
and not far from a pub." Taichi grinned. Yamato frowned. "Taichi, why did you do this to yourself?" Yamato asked. Taichi
looked at his feet. "I have my reasons." he said softly. "Is itbecause you're gay?" Taichi jerked hs head up and met
Yamato's deep eyes. "How did you- yes, that's it." Taichi admitted, knowing that Yamato would hate him now. Yamato's hand
found its way to Taichi's shoulder. "Taichi, I'm balding because of stress. I haven't told anyone, but it's because I'm
gay too. You aren't alone." Yamato said, feeling tears sting his eyes. Taichi looked at Yamato in surprise. "You- you're-"
Taichi stuttered. Yamato nodded. The ycouldn't continue their conversation further, for the bus had arrived.