Our Concession to Capitalism: We do not own Digimon. Maybe in the not too distant future we could, but we don't now. So do not sue. "That's The Way I Like It" belongs to the Backstreet Boys.
Lianda's Notes: Wow. Finally we have a fic that's non angsty. Fun. Fun. Fun. I love this story. It's so cute, it's so romantic, it's so.....yaoi! Right, Riko?
Riko's Notes: Unh-huh! That's right Lia. It's not really angsty at all, and it's probably the best thing I've ever written. In retrospect, the song really has nothing to do with...anything. It just makes me think of Daisuke. And despite what Lia seems to think, it is not a lime in an way, shape or form. At least it wasn't meant to be.
That's the Way I Like it
By Riko and Lianda+++
"Somebody told me that you're not my kind
So have I lost my mind"
+++
The bell rang. Then class started like every other day. One after another, the children filed in, dropping their bags under their desks, and slid into their chairs, chatting all the while. And due to the laws of physics and the universe, just as the conversations were getting good, the teacher walked in. Silence immediately drowned out all the noise the students were making, as everyone got down to the all-important task of copying down notes. In the centre of it all, working twice as frantically as anyone else, was a young maroon-haired boy.
If one were to look over Daisuke Motimiya's shoulder at that moment, you would find him scribbling away. Not copying down the notes from the board, oh no, but instead working on a rather intricate drawing. The page that he was doodling on was filled with all sorts of sayings and letterings that would make no sense to any who did not know the be-goggled boy. Things like "D.M.+ H.K." or "Hikari Motimiya 4 ever!" would have no meaning to the unaware observer, but to this boy, they were life itself.
What he currently laboured on was his most bold project to date. A picture of three very underfed children. One of whom -the one wearing what appeared to be a bowl but was most certainly a hat- was tied to a post with flames dancing around his feet. Off to the side another figure wearing crude goggles was laughing and holding onto the last figure who had hearts coming out of, what can only be supposed, was her head.
"Whatcha working on?" The brunette in the seat beside Daisuke asked, craning her neck to see the drawing he was doodling.
Daisuke flushed a deep mauve and moved an arm to block her view. This was not something she should see. Scratching the back of his neck with his free hand, he grinned and began to blubber incoherently. "Oh! This! It's nothing Hikari! I mean. Well. It's obviously something, but nothing. You know?" He trailed off when he noticed her smiling and nodding slowly at a point about a metre behind his head.
Suddenly she blinked and focused in on him. Slowly her smile widened to something that could possibly be called seductive and she leaned forward, cupping her chin in her hands. "Of course Dai-chan. I understand completely." Daisuke went even redder and began to wonder frantically if the emotions he was feeling were the right ones.
+++
"You keep on doing all the things I like
You've got me hypnotised"
+++
Now, to say Daisuke Motimiya liked Hikari Kamiya was the same as saying the sun would come up tomorrow. Everyone knew it to be true, so it was hardly ever commented on or thought about. Except by Daisuke himself, because in depth of his heart he knew he loved Hikari. But he worried about whether he was getting this 'love' thing right. Drooling over her, dreaming about her and all those other things the truly infatuated were supposed to do seemed like so much work. And though that just didn't seem right, Daisuke was still sure that he loved her. He would just have to keep trying until he got it right.
"Hah! Got it!" A laughing voice called as the paper was whipped out from under Daisuke's elbow. Daisuke swirled around and glared at the laughing blond. "Now, let's just see what we've got here."
"Give it back T.P.!" Daisuke snarled and snatched in vain at the thief.
Now, to say Daisuke Motimiya hated Takeru Takaishi was like saying the sky was a colour of the rainbow, it barely scratched the surface. A whole, functional vocabulary could be built around the things Daisuke thought of Takeru and the things he'd do to him at first chance. But hatred was the first thing that rose to mind: raw, burning hatred. He knew many people could put it more eloquently, Ken or Koushiro for example, who used big words like 'abhorrence' or 'detestation'. But hatred summed it up nicely.
Takeru skipped easily out of the way and grinned. "Oooo. So it's something you don't want me to see either? Well that makes it even better." He flipped the paper around and stared intently at it. Then he broke into a wider grin. "I think you captured me very well. I particularly like the detail you put into the flames. Veeery artistic." The blond flashed a dazzling, toothy smile at his friend.
+++
"It's a price I've got to pay
For all the things you do but I like it"
+++
Daisuke felt a heat building in the centre of his chest and he grimaced uncomfortably. The poetic part of Daisuke's mind decided that one-day, when a great author wrote a story about him, they'd describe it as a hot ball of fury. But really, the more practical part of him announced, it was more like a warm, fuzzy feeling that irritated Daisuke more than anything Takaishi could do.
"I said…" Daisuke muttered sotto voce because the teacher was throwing dark glances their way, "Give it back!" This last part was yelled loudly as Daisuke launched himself out of his chair at the blond. Together they fell to the ground, kicking and biting.
"Motimiya! Takaishi! With me, after school!" The teacher shouted getting to his feet and separating the boys.
The bell rang. Students began to file out of the classroom. Takeru gave Daisuke a frustrated glare to which the boy returned a joyful sneer. Hikari skipped up to the boys and tapped her chin thoughtfully. After concentrating hard for many moments, she grinned at them brightly.
"Guess you won't be joining us." And she danced off, with both boys' eyes trailing after her.
+++
"Gotta listen to the groove
And you gotta listen well
The way I do it"
+++
"I hope you know this is all your fault." Takeru spat across the aisle. Takeru was obviously upset over the detention and was naturally taking it out on the only thing in the detention office that wouldn't suspend him. Daisuke rolled his eyes. He'd been through more than his fair share of detentions, and he considered himself something of a veteran. And he could see that this rookie Takaishi was going to get him in big trouble.
"You're the one who took my picture." Daisuke hissed back.
"You didn't have to tackle me." Takeru glowered.
Daisuke bit back a scream. "It was my picture!"
"You tackled me!" Takeru's voice was getting dangerously loud.
Two eyes met, brown to blue and locked. Daisuke shivered uncomfortably. For an instant, when their eyes had met, he'd felt something odd. In a matter of seconds the small bundle that was Daisuke Motimiya's heart had jumped up into the boy's throat, and caught. It was a feeling that made Daisuke incredibly nervous, mostly because he found that he rather liked it. And so this nervous, uncomfortable boy lashed out in the only way he could think of.
"Shut it!" Daisuke barked and grabbed frantically at Takeru's hair.
"Ouch! You idiot!" Takeru grabbed Daisuke by the throat and pulled. Daisuke gave a strangled grunt as his balance was thrown off kilter. And for the second time that day he toppled to the ground, Takeru beneath him.
"You two!" The supervising teacher grumbled, getting to his feet. "You'll be in detention for a week now if I have anything to say!" The teacher grabbed Daisuke by his shirt collar and pulled him away from Takeru. "Now out! Out!" He shoved them roughly out the door.
Takeru tugged his shirt cuff and glared at his feet. "I hope you're happy."
"Hey boys!" Hikari called as she skipped down the hall towards them.
Daisuke pasted on his best 'totally devoted' smile and glanced at Takeru. Anything that would keep him away from Hikari was worth it. "You bet I am."
Hikari reached them and waved perkily. After a few moments Takeru's glum mood sunk in and she frowned up at him. "What's wrong?"
Takeru folded his arms across his chest and glowered at the world in general, and Daisuke in specific. "Daisuke here got us a week more of detention." He shook his head sadly, "Guess I'll have to break our date for tomorrow."
Hikari sighed unhappily and pouted up at her lifelong friend. "You can still take me to Mimi's party tonight, right?" Takeru nodded reassuringly.
Daisuke felt the bottom of his stomach drop away and his ears began to buzz. "Wha-what?"
Neither of them appeared to hear because Takeru wrapped his arms around the young brunette's waist and pulled her mouth up to his own. Daisuke's jaw dropped, and he stared. His world was spiralling away and he couldn't think of anything he could do to make it stop. Luckily, he knew someone who would.
+++
"That's the way I like it
Everybody now, I like it
Everybody now"
+++
"Okay," the genius tapped his hand on the computer desk and glanced down at Daisuke, who lay sprawled on Ken's bedroom floor, "explain it to me one more time."
Ken was Daisuke's saviour, just as some considered Daisuke to be Ken's. It was Ken who came up with Daisuke's harebrained schemes...well, the ones that worked anyway. It was Ken that helped Daisuke through his darker moments. It was Ken that Daisuke turned to when he needed advice. It was Ken who helped Daisuke with his math homework. So it wasn't surprising that Daisuke trusted Ken with this particular problem, but for some reason the dark-haired genius just wasn't getting it.
"She's in love with him!" Daisuke yelled, trying for the simplest possible means of explanation.
Ken blinked in surprise. "And you're telling me you didn't know this?" Daisuke wasn't known for his intelligence, but this was stupid even for him!
"Him!" Daisuke apparently hadn't heard Ken, that, or he'd just ignored him. "Him? What's so great about him?" Daisuke struggled to his feet and began to pace, waving his hands around in an attempt to emphasis the ridiculesness of the situation but only managing to look ridiculous himself. "Okay, so he's sensitive." Daisuke admitted turning to look at Ken and ticking off fingers. "Fine, and considerate and smart," Daisuke's eyes sparkled for a moment, "And he's got those bright blue eyes and the golden hair and…" Ken's mouth twitched. Daisuke glared him into silence. "But why?" He moaned plaintively.
"Yes, why. Why come to me?"
Daisuke threw his hands up into the air. "I want your help. I need a plan to break them up."
Ken's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "So that you can get together with Hikari?"
"Of course!" What had they been talking about for the last half-hour? "For a genius you sure are slow sometimes."
Ken leaned back in his chair and regarded his friend in calculating silence. It was one of Ken's many talents, he could calculate anything; Daisuke included. He watched for many minutes until he was nearly positive he knew what was going on in Daisuke's head before he spoke again. "Are you sure?"
Daisuke would've groaned. Daisuke would've rolled his eyes. Hell, Daisuke was almost at the point where he'd storm out and try to come up with a plan on his own if it wasn't; well, the way Ken said it. Ken was a bit of an enigma, full of hidden meanings and there was something about the way the question fell of his lips that suggested he was aiming at something beyond the obvious. "Sure about what?"
"That she's the one you want."
+++
"That's the way I like it
Everybody come on, I like it
Everybody come on"
+++
Daisuke frowned at the ground, as if daring it to suddenly come alive and swallow him up. He almost wished it would. Daisuke had raised his hopes, and with these hopes he'd gone to Ken; wishing vainly that the genius would have a brilliant way to win fair Kari out of the arms of his rival, once and for all. But Ken had laughed at him, not out loud, but it was obvious he was laughing on the inside. Ken! Ken was his best friend. Ken was his loyal partner. Ken, Ken had mocked him.
"Are you sure that she's the one you want." Daisuke scowled at the pavement.
One would think that by now the Motimiya boy would be used to being a laugh-stock. But, as Daisuke would attest to, one never really got used to it. Especially when it's your best friend who is doing the laughing. As Daisuke reached the front of his apartment building he paused to look at the sky. It was drawing near evening and the sky was turning a lovely shade of amber, and upon this fitting stage a telltale scene was being performed. Across the sky a maroon tinged moon chased the golden sun, and further along the horizon the first speck of light sparkled in the path the two spheres would take. Daisuke frowned; even the heavens were laughing at him.
"Well, I'll show them! I have a plan!" He shouted raising his fist to the sky and earning some very disturbed looks from his fellow pedestrians, "I'll show Ken! I'll show Hikari! I'll show Takeru," he spat the last name out, "I'll win her yet!" He took a deep breath to calm his fury. Ken's comment had struck bone, and the injured Daisuke was just starting to feel pain. "The one I want…" The confused boy muttered a last time before turning to ascend the apartment stairs.
+++
"… Tell me you're here to stay"
+++
It's an unseen and generally inconspicuous type of social insecurity that draws people to arrive at parties in groups. The entire idea of dates is just a way of excusing the old instinct that still lingers from the days when there really was safety in numbers. Now it is really only for the security of knowing that no matter what happens, you will have someone to talk to and you will not be labelled a "wallflower". The word "wallflower" is so often used interchangeably with the idea of "going stag". No one really escapes these, least of all self-conscious, hormone driven teens; it's one of the problems we all have to live with. Well, most of us.
Problems never seemed to affect Mimi Tachikawa. Usually they passed by her completely and struck down the individual nearest to her, but rarely touched her. When the odd one did find it's way into her head, it always managed to get itself lost in the labyrinth of more important issues. Such as what to wear at a given time, on a given day when it was imperative that Miss Tachikawa look her best. Of course, it helped that in this case Mimi was throwing the party. And it was also comforting to know that Jyou was there, of course Jyou was always there. Mimi wasn't quite sure why, he just was.
So when the doorbell rang it was with complete confidence that Mimi flipped her peach scarf over her shoulder and strode to the door. She swung the door open and greeted her guests with a large smile and a loud: "Hey Guys!" Mimi's ability to speak in capitals was one of the many things about her that confused people.
"Hi Mimi." Takeru grinned looking very smooth with an exhilarated Hikari hang on his arm. "Thanks for inviting us."
Mimi giggled. "Of Course I'd Invite You, Silly. This is a party for Digidestined. And you are one, aren't you?"
Takeru conceded the point with a quick nod of his head before being dragged onto the dance floor by Hikari. Mimi didn't have time to wonder about Hikari's sudden open preference for Takeru, because close on their heels came Yamato and Taichi.
Taichi and Yamato were not a couple. The farthest from it in fact, the only reason they had come together was because neither wanted to give the other a chance to gain any leverage with the beautiful Sora Takenouchi and since Sora wouldn't choose between them, they'd come together to avoid any possible mishaps. They said their polite greetings and moved off into a corner to wait.
Soon guests were arriving every second and the party kicked into full swing. Taichi and Yamato chased a frightened Sora around the house. Hikari and Takeru danced so close one would be at a loss to tell where one started and the other ended, and Miyako attempted to teach a flustered Iori to dance. No one noticed a very determined looking Daisuke enter with a marginally less determined Ken behind him. Daisuke took a deep breath and took a step forward. Ken grabbed his friend by the shoulder and twirled him around.
+++
"You're dangerous, oh baby
Could you do me right?"
+++
"Don't do it." Ken looked gravely into his friend's eyes searching for a glimmer of sanity.
Daisuke forced himself to relax. "What do you think I'm going to do?"
"Something stupid." Ken said plainly, "don't do it. Don't ask her to dance. Don't challenge him to a duel, OK? Just don't."
"What do you know?" Daisuke snorted.
Ken sighed. "I know you."
Daisuke gave up. "Well what should I do?" He hissed angrily. "I can't just give her up."
"You know she's not the one you're worried about."
"Right, right." Daisuke growled throwing his hands into the air. "I'm in love with Takeru. Yeah, whatever."
Ken snapped; he grabbed Daisuke by the chin and forced him to look out at the dance floor. "Look at her. Look at him. Can you look at him and tell me you don't love him? Hunh? Can you?" Daisuke shut his eyes and twisted his head, trying to break away from Ken's grip. For such a fragile looking boy, Ken had a lot of power. "Say it, dammit!"
Daisuke gritted his teeth and opened his eyes. "I don't l-," and he saw Takeru, "oh god."
Ken let go off his friend's chin and shook the circulation back into his fingers. Finally he looked over at the mesmerised Daisuke. "Right." He nodded. "Now what are you going to do?"
Daisuke stood silently for a moment and then his face hardened. He took a step down the stairs and began to cross the floor. "I'm going to ask for a dance."
+++
"Will you come out to play?
'Cause that's the way I like it"
+++
The music had slowed and faded. Reluctantly Takeru backed away from Hikari.
"Oh no." She moaned and pointed across the floor. "Look who's coming."
Takeru followed her gaze and spotted Daisuke weaving between people, and coming towards them. Takeru rolled his eyes in disgust, but his heart really wasn't in it.
"Can't he take a hint?" Hikari asked desperately.
Takeru felt a twinge of disgust, but this time directed at his brunette girlfriend. "Why don't you just say no?"
She looked up at him with eyes that said 'Because it's fun to make you jealous', but she smiled sadly and replied, "because of the way he asks. Like he has his heart in his hand and I'll crush it if I say no. He's almost here, you'll see."
And it was true Daisuke was upon them. He stood in front of the couple for a moment or two, as a rosy blush spread across his cheeks. "Ummmm…" he began hesitantly, "I know you may not feel the same way about me, but I just want one dance." Hikari opened her mouth to speak, but Daisuke was on a mission. "Just one dance, I… I think I love you. So, please, can I have this dance…" Hikari sighed and stepped forward to comfort the soon-to-be-desolate boy, "…Takeru?"
As sometimes happens, a moment in time stopped. And spread out over the entire floor, catching the attention of everyone in the room. All noise stopped and attention was turned to the young boy standing in the centre of the room, turning dark crimson.
Takeru just stared. Part of him was screaming to punch the idiot in the nose and be done with it, but a part Takeru that he had never noticed before was screaming something completely different. It told him to say yes. To take Daisuke in his arms and never let go. And Takeru was lost, caught between propriety and desire, completely and totally adrift on a sea of contradicting emotions. So he kept staring.
It was rapidly dawning on Daisuke that everyone in the room was watching him, and that Takeru wasn't saying anything. Of all the things he could do, Daisuke decided, this was the worst. It felt like his heart was bleeding and the more they stared, the more he bled. So he turned and ran. Anywhere, he didn't care, as long as it was away.
+++
"Gotta listen to the groove
And you gotta listen well
The way I do it"
+++
"Takeru," a soft voice broke the silence that had been threatening to smother the remaining Digidestined.
Takeru turned and there was a hard crunch of bone connecting with bone, before Takeru went sprawling across the floor. No one dared to breathe, least of all Ken. He was on a roll and it startled everyone. Ever since it became obvious the change back was permanent Ken had become a pushover. He was so afraid of becoming what he had been; he didn't want to risk his second chance by hurting anyone. But for Daisuke…? Daisuke had been there when Ken's world came crashing down around his ears. They were Jogress partners, and that brought them as close as humanly possible. For Daisuke Ken let his Kaiser instinct take control once more.
"What was that for?!" Takeru exclaimed angrily, but more than a little afraid to move. Ken was watching him in a cold way that was all too familiar.
Ken sneered. "I don't owe an explanation, but you do." Takeru looked up in puzzlement. "Do you have any idea how much you hurt him?" Seeing that Takeru was finally getting the point Ken began lashing out at the world in general. "Do you all enjoy hurting him? You're more sadistic than I am - was." Koushiro winced at the slip, but Ken didn't even blink. "Do you look at him and think, 'His ego is to big, let's deflate it'? Has it ever occurred to you that maybe that ego is the only thing that keeps him sane? It's his shield and do you know what I think? I think he must have an awful life if the people he must shield himself against are the same people he calls his friends. Don't you agree?" Ken glanced around the crowd. He had their full attention and some of the even had the decency to look guilty. Not Hikari though, but Ken hadn't expected much from her. He'd already decided she was a nasty little -
"What should I do?" Takeru asked in a pleading tone of voice.
Ken rolled his eyes dramatically. "Go after him."
Takeru didn't move for a moment or two, his face twisted into an agonised expression. Then he sprang to his feet and sprinted to the door.
"Takeru!" Hikari stamped her foot, "Get back here!"
But Takeru was already out the door. Ken smiled softly. "I've done all I can do Dai, it's up to you now."
+++
"That's the way I like it
Everybody now, I like it
Everybody now"
+++
Ask any policeman and they'll tell you; no one runs unless they're running away from something. Daisuke ran for about two blocks before he slowed to a stop on a street corner. Mimi's house was near the centre of town and very close to the Asa Kawa River, Daisuke could feel the spray carried on the night breeze distilling on his cheek.
"This is stupid. Why am I running? I'll have to face him sooner or later." Daisuke mused breathlessly.
Bending over his knees he peered down the street and than up it, they way he'd come. Down, far down there he saw a figure running towards him. Daisuke's nerves quivered as the figure called out in Takeru's voice, "Daisuke!"
"Yes," Daisuke nodded to himself, "I have to face him sometime. But not now." He swivelled on his heel and ran down the street towards the river.
Takeru was close behind as they reached the banks. Daisuke looked around wildly; he was cornered. Mentally he snarled and took off along the edge. Suddenly something large and heavy slammed into his waist, and two arms wrapped around his legs. He swore fiercely as he toppled to the ground, face first. Rough hands grabbed him by the shoulders and turned him onto his back. Daisuke looked up into the bright eyes of Takeru who sat straddling his legs.
"What do you think you're doing?" Daisuke spat struggling vainly to sit up and dislodge Takeru.
Takeru grimaced. "Keeping you from doing something stupid."
"Why does everyone think I'm going to do something stupid!" Daisuke yelled at the sky and promptly decked Takeru. Takeru's head snapped back and he winced.
"Fine. You want to play?" He muttered under his breath before uncurling and springing on Daisuke, and gaining a stranglehold on the shorter boy.
Daisuke grunted as he toppled over backwards for what seemed like the hundredth time. Takeru hands were clasped around his neck and slowly pressing in on his windpipe. Desperately Daisuke clawed at Takeru's wrist trying to get the blond to release him.
"Why do you have to be so stubborn?" Takeru demanded; he was sweating from the effort of keeping the all-around more athletic boy underneath him. The muscles in his legs were taut from squeezing in on Daisuke's hips in a futile attempt to keep him where he was. Daisuke could only gag in response and lash out with his hands at Takeru's face and hair. "I don't know why I'm even trying to talk to you."
+++
"That's the way I like it
Everybody come on, I like it
Everybody come on"
+++
Daisuke was fed up. He was tired of being yelled at. He was tired of being mistreated. He was tired of trying to pretend he didn't want to reach out and run his hand across the cheek of the boy who, to all appearances, was trying to kill. He'd started off the night with such a clear vision in his mind of what should, and would, happen. Now, thanks to Ken and Takeru he was dirty, tired and his brain was quickly running out of oxygen.
That could explain what happened next, one must remember that Daisuke wasn't thinking clearly. His world was starting to get dim, you see. So, for a second he forgot about respect, love and the general rule regarding the places you don't kick other boys, and he kneed the boy he loved, with perfect accuracy, in the crotch. Takeru's eyes widened and the grasp around Daisuke's throat loosened. While Daisuke gulped huge breaths of air, Takeru limply rolled off him. Together the two boys sat in silence, collecting their thoughts and their shattered sanity.
"What-?" Daisuke began, stealing a glance at his nemesis.
Takeru shook his head and grinned grimly. "It seems I owe you quite a few excuses." He turned his head and caught Daisuke's eye. "I'm sorry I didn't say anything when you- Well, when you-"
"Said I loved you?" Daisuke supplied regretfully. "Listen, I'm sorry. I never meant-"
Takeru grinned, his eyes dancing. "Will you shut up for a moment? I'm trying to say something romantic." Daisuke's mouth fell open in shock. Takeru chuckled. "Oh, screw that. This is to good to pass up." Firmly, he applied his mouth to Daisuke's. A surprised gasp escaped from the maroon-haired boy, and true to what he said Takeru didn't miss his chance to catch Daisuke open mouthed. Mere moments passed before Daisuke melted into the kiss, responding eagerly with all his heart; and body.
+++
"Everybody come on
I like it
Everybody come on
That's the way I like it"
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Reviews are really appreciated! Really! Nice reviews that is. Although, I suppose you could write nasty reviews. But we don't like those. No we don't.
