Title: Four weddings and a funeral...or what happens when I can't think of one, and want to piss people off.
Warning: I did not give anyone a religion. If they say something along those lines, and it's followed by an exlamation point, that means it's just an exlamatory statement, not made in a religious context. And, this is the longest chapter of this story, so far. BTW: I do not own any beverage franchise's real, or imagined. I use the names without permission of the copyright owners, and I do it with no profit.
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Daisuke sat in a chair by the window, dressed in his normal street clothes. He had been checked in for observation, and they said that he was free to go, as soon as his parents got there. His first reaction? He had put a message through to the others.
He figured that if he had ever needed his friends, that would be the time. He was sore, and in pain. His whole body felt like a giant wound. His movements were slow, and slugggish, and it had taken him nearly five minutes to type out the short message on his D-3, because his hands were shaking so badly.
The doctors had kept him overnight, not bothering to search through his belongings for his home number. It wasn't until Monday afternoon that the police had asked for his personal information. An hour later, the doctor said that he was calling his parents. And now, it was only a matter of seeing who would get there first.
He had had a long chance to think while laying in the hospital bed. The thing was comfortable, but he hadn't been able to sleep. He hadn't slept in nearly thirty-six hours. Maybe he could blame his actions of the previous day on that.
Keeping the promise to his father, he had told them that the black eye he still sported, and the split lip were the result of an earlier fight. No need to piss the old man off, if he got there before his friends.
A thought flashed briefly throug his mind, and he closed his eyes. Would they actually show? Or would they decide that he was too much trouble? His best friend tried to help him, and he ran. Takeru reached out to him, and he ran. He had been a coward.
He hadn't run from the bully. He felt along the left side of his face, and winced. It was swollen and sore. His whole body was a massive bruise, and it hurt to move. Underneath the pain though, was a satisfaction. He had stood his ground. His life was his own.
The first time they hit him, they attaced at once. That was where most of his injuries came from.
After that, they had attacked him one at a time, and that was their mistake. The leader started, and grew pissed each time Dai ducked under his arm, or dodged him. Then, he made the colossal mistake that ended up costing him the fight.
He had pulled a knife out, and waved it in the air. "When we're done with you, bitch, we're going to go find Takaishi, and fuck him over, since he seems to want to play the protecter to dick-licker, here. Then, we're going to cut him up into little bitty pieces."
They had laughed, ignoring the unnatural way his body had stilled as he looked at them.
That was the last thing he remembered, before waking up in the ambulance. According to witnesses, it was in self-defense. Dai had waited for him to swing the knife his way, and then had jumped on him, pounding away with his fists as if he'd never stop.
The police had already been there, and spoken with him, asking him questions. He'd answered them all from within his daze.
He had put the leader into Intensive Care, with massive head trauma, and the other two, when they tried to help, and gotten the crap kicked out of them. But it was ruled self-defense. The police didn't even bother trying to arrest him, not in the condition he was in when they found him.
There was no doubt that he had needed to defend himself. Along his right side was a bandage, to cover the wound where the knive had slid past, and dug under his skin. It wasn't deep, but it enough to sting, and be uncomfortable.
The same thought ran around in his head, chasing itself around the others that jumbled in his mind.
His life was his own. He was in control.
"Daisuke!" Ken ran into the room, and crossed to the chair instantly. He kneeled in front of him, and looked up, his breathing ragged. He had gotten a ride with Jyou, and had run from the front entrance to his room. "Are you okay?"
Daisuke smiled, but was interrupted before he could respond.
"Dai!" Takeru burst in, his rapid breath a match for Ken's. He'd ridden with Matt and Tai. He stopped halfway across the room. "Jesus! What happened?"
Blue eyes met brown, and the smile widened on Dai's face. He was stopped from answering again when the others filed into the room, looking worried and scared. "Hey, guys!"
He pushed up from the chair, and Ken stood with him, putting a hand on his arm in support. They looked at him, taking in the cuts and bruises, and the painful way he walked towards them.
Tai cleared his throat, and looked at him. "Did you win?" There was concern in his voice, and in his gaze.
Dai nodded, then wished he hadn't. His head started pounding, but he ignored it. "Yeah. Three against one, and I kicked ass!" He said it with as much enthusiasm as he could manage without moving his jaw to much. Ken and Takeru looked at each other.
Hikari stepped forward, and hugged him awkwardly, trying not to hit a sore spot. Rather difficult, considering the shape his body was in. "I'm glad that you're okay." She pulled back to be replaced by Miyako, then Sora, and then Mimi. To say that he was surprised would have been an understatement.
He sniffled, fighting to gain control of his emotions. "Thanks." It was shaky, but sincere.
"Praise Allah, the boy's in one piece!" Miyako hollered with relief.
"When can we leave?" Matt asked, smiling at him.
"As soon as my parents come and sign me out." He sighed, not wanting to dwell on that moment that would arrive too soon. Catching the look of dread on his face, Iori stepped forward.
"Don't worry, Dai. We'll be here." The younger boy offered him the reassurance, smiling at him.
"Thanks, Iori. I appreciate it. And I appreciate all of you coming down here, to support me." He looked at them, his eyes sparkling from the tears he was holding back.
"I'm just here to kick your ass for being late today." Tai grinned at him, rubbing his fist into the opposite palm. A couple of people chuckled, and they all smiled, however dimly, at the joke.
"What happened?" Ken repeated his earlier question, removing his hand from Dai's elbow.
"The bully from Saturday found me, and brought a couple of friends with him. They were all ready to whoop my ass, when the lead jerk said something that he shouldn't have. I blew up, and that's all I remember before waking up. I blacked out."
"What happened to the bully?" Takeru asked, blue eyes hard. If the creep wasn't in the hospital with Dai, he wouldn't be that long in joining him.
"He's on the fourth floor with a concussion. If my parents go with the police's suggestion, he'll be charged with assualt, and attempted murder."
"What?" Mimi nearly swooned at the word murder. Sora put a reassuring arm around her waist.
"Big and Ugly pulled a knife out, and threatened me, and another person. That's when I blanked out. According to some guy standing nearby, I jumped on him, and beat the living daylights out of him. He said that they didn't touch me after that."
"You took on an armed assailant, one that was nearly double your size, without recalling any of it?" Koushiro asked, black eyes both amazed, and impressed. Dai shrugged, and nodded modestly.
"Actually, three assailants, one armed, all double my height and weight." The redheaded genuis whistled his surprsise.
"Watch out world, Motomiya has impressed Izumi Koushiro!" It was Mimi that teased him gently, her russet eyes dancing with relief and merriment. Nothing could keep her down long.
"Davis." They all turned to face Mr. Motomiya. He looked at them all coldly. "It's time to go. Get whatever things you have here, and lets move." Without another word, he turned, and walked away. The joy that had been in the room was gone, completely disappearing with his arrival.
With a squaring of his shoulders, Takeru stepped out after the older man. Tai and Matt exchanged looks, and then quickly followed, Ken following them, and leaving everyone else confused and depressed. "Let's go, then." Daisuke exited, his shoulders slumped.
The others fell into step behind him, letting him lead the way to the front desk, where Ken, Takeru, Tai, and Matt were having a discussion with his father. As they drew nearer, the conversation seemed to end, and they missed what had gone on.
His father filled out a form on the desk and walked away without addressing him. Matt was holding Tai in his arms, trying to calm him down. Takeru was standing against the wall, his fists clenched, eyes hard. Ken looked at the retreating back with a bleak look.
It was Matt that finally explained it to him. "You'r father said that you're free to do whatever you want. You can pick where you want to stay. My dad's never home, and I have room at my house. The Yagami's won't mind if you stay there. My mom won't mind if you stay at Takeru's. It's up to you."
Ken looked at him, his gaze softening, and turning apologetic. "It's a permanent move."
Everyone started offering their spare rooms, and Miyako even offered her own room, and volunteered to sleep with one of her siblings. He looked at them all, amazed that they were willing to sacrifice their time and space for him. It left him speechless for several minutes, as eleven pairs of eyes waited for his decision.
The urge to cry was strong, and he had to mentally stop himself from biting his lip. "You guys are wonderful. Truly remarkable." Brown eyes glistened as he looked at each of them. "I can't believe that it's taken me this long to figure out how great."
The girls swarmed him again, hugging and crying. He embraced them all. With heartfelt feeling, he took a moment to thank all of them, and send them on their way, until only Takeru, Ken, Tai, Matt, Kari, and Miyako remained. With the exclusion of Miyako, it was back to the original group that the whole mess had started with.
Takeru pushed off from the wall, his anger being pushed down. Daisuke looked at him, and narrowed his eyes. With a look at the blue-haired boy next to him, he teased gently. "You're as bad as Ken." He watched with satisfaction as both blushed.
Tai slung an arm around his sister's shoulders, and grinned at them. "I'm thinking that you three need to settle this out between you. We'll be down in the waiting room." He pulled the girls with him, and Matt followed. Ken turned to smile at him gently, indigo eyes blank of all emotions.
"I should be going soon. If you want to stay with me, we have about five minutes before we have to run to catch the bus. If not, I'll be going now." His tone was nuetral, but he had trouble meeting the redhead's eyes.
"Takeru, give me a moment with Ken, please." Takeru looked at him, and shrugged, walking away. Daisuke smiled at his best friend. "Thank you."
"For what?" Ken frowned in confusion, his eyes questioning.
"For being my best friend. For going through everything for me. For not rubbing it in my face that I wasn't the one you wanted to be with when you didn't know how I felt." Ken looked at him sharply, then looked away with a smile, and a blush.
"You see so much more than I ever thought you did." He looked down the hall at the waiting blonde. "It's him, isn't it?" Daisuke shrugged nonchalantly, as if the whole subject was of no importance. "Maybe you should tell him. After yesterday...yes, he told everyone." Ken answered the surprise written on Dai's face. "After yesterday, I think that the only confusion between any of us, is who you like. Or, at least, it's a riddle for the others."
"Really? When did you figure it out, oh Great One?" Takeru was approaching them again, three cans of soda pop held in his arm. He had visited the vendor machine, and he didn't look happy.
"Damn people. It's a Pepsi machine, but doesn't have a Pepsi in it. It's got diet, and caffeine free, but no regular. Here." He shoved a can of...tea at Ken, and a Mountain Dew at Dai. The other two simply looked at him, then burst out laughing.
"What?" Daisuke just shook his head, and switched Ken cans.
"I've been up for nearly three days with about six hours of sleep. I really don't need the sugar, or the caffeine." Takeru looked at him for a moment, then pulled the newly opened can from his grasp.
"Tea has caffeine." With that, he walked away, Ken snickering at the incredulous expression on Dai's face.
"That was good." The redhead glared at him, then huffed, and walked away from him indignantly. "Sorry, but it was!" They walked in silence for a moment. "You know, I was thinking that we should do that breakfast thing, like you and and Takaishi did."
"Sure, but without the kissing." He said it blandly, his face not betraying any of the mirth captured in his eyes.
"Of course, as long as you promise not to ravish me, either." Ken said cheekily, walking with him toward the blonde in front of them.
"It might be hard, but I think I'll manage." With a quick move, they hugged, Ken initiating the movement.
"Later." They pulled back from each other, and Daisuke jogged to catch up with Takeru.
"Let's go. I'm starving." Takeru grinned at him.
"Of course, TC. We have wonderful friends, you know that?" The evening was cooling off, and the hall was empty.
"Absolutely." They headed for the entrance.
"It's been a crazy couple-a days." He tried again.
"Yes, it has." Daisuke was starting to catch on to the one-sided conversation, and Takeru's lack of response.
"I'm glad things are going to be back to normal."
"It's a good thing." Daisuke looked at him, this teen who had kissed him, and was now attempting to ignore him, without ignoring him.
"The world's going to be flooded by milk, and we're all going to die." That stopped him in his tracks. "Ah, so you're going to join this conversation now, are you?" His brown eyes were challenging.
"Dai, I really hate to break this to you, but in the condition you're in, I could whoop on you without a problem." A single shoulder raised as he passed him, continuing on his way.
"But you wouldn't, cuz you love me." Ken passed the blonde, catching the stunned look on his face.
"It's uncanny, isn't it?" The genius left him standing in the hallway, following his friend, a knowing smirk on his face, leaving the blue-eyed one to wonder at what he'd said.
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End note: For anybody who is wondering, no I cannot count. I think I've misinformed three different people due to this lack in my education, and I'm sorry.
And, Lilas, I was going to wait to upload this, but, like I said, I figured you'd like it before you left.
Warning: I did not give anyone a religion. If they say something along those lines, and it's followed by an exlamation point, that means it's just an exlamatory statement, not made in a religious context. And, this is the longest chapter of this story, so far. BTW: I do not own any beverage franchise's real, or imagined. I use the names without permission of the copyright owners, and I do it with no profit.
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Daisuke sat in a chair by the window, dressed in his normal street clothes. He had been checked in for observation, and they said that he was free to go, as soon as his parents got there. His first reaction? He had put a message through to the others.
He figured that if he had ever needed his friends, that would be the time. He was sore, and in pain. His whole body felt like a giant wound. His movements were slow, and slugggish, and it had taken him nearly five minutes to type out the short message on his D-3, because his hands were shaking so badly.
The doctors had kept him overnight, not bothering to search through his belongings for his home number. It wasn't until Monday afternoon that the police had asked for his personal information. An hour later, the doctor said that he was calling his parents. And now, it was only a matter of seeing who would get there first.
He had had a long chance to think while laying in the hospital bed. The thing was comfortable, but he hadn't been able to sleep. He hadn't slept in nearly thirty-six hours. Maybe he could blame his actions of the previous day on that.
Keeping the promise to his father, he had told them that the black eye he still sported, and the split lip were the result of an earlier fight. No need to piss the old man off, if he got there before his friends.
A thought flashed briefly throug his mind, and he closed his eyes. Would they actually show? Or would they decide that he was too much trouble? His best friend tried to help him, and he ran. Takeru reached out to him, and he ran. He had been a coward.
He hadn't run from the bully. He felt along the left side of his face, and winced. It was swollen and sore. His whole body was a massive bruise, and it hurt to move. Underneath the pain though, was a satisfaction. He had stood his ground. His life was his own.
The first time they hit him, they attaced at once. That was where most of his injuries came from.
After that, they had attacked him one at a time, and that was their mistake. The leader started, and grew pissed each time Dai ducked under his arm, or dodged him. Then, he made the colossal mistake that ended up costing him the fight.
He had pulled a knife out, and waved it in the air. "When we're done with you, bitch, we're going to go find Takaishi, and fuck him over, since he seems to want to play the protecter to dick-licker, here. Then, we're going to cut him up into little bitty pieces."
They had laughed, ignoring the unnatural way his body had stilled as he looked at them.
That was the last thing he remembered, before waking up in the ambulance. According to witnesses, it was in self-defense. Dai had waited for him to swing the knife his way, and then had jumped on him, pounding away with his fists as if he'd never stop.
The police had already been there, and spoken with him, asking him questions. He'd answered them all from within his daze.
He had put the leader into Intensive Care, with massive head trauma, and the other two, when they tried to help, and gotten the crap kicked out of them. But it was ruled self-defense. The police didn't even bother trying to arrest him, not in the condition he was in when they found him.
There was no doubt that he had needed to defend himself. Along his right side was a bandage, to cover the wound where the knive had slid past, and dug under his skin. It wasn't deep, but it enough to sting, and be uncomfortable.
The same thought ran around in his head, chasing itself around the others that jumbled in his mind.
His life was his own. He was in control.
"Daisuke!" Ken ran into the room, and crossed to the chair instantly. He kneeled in front of him, and looked up, his breathing ragged. He had gotten a ride with Jyou, and had run from the front entrance to his room. "Are you okay?"
Daisuke smiled, but was interrupted before he could respond.
"Dai!" Takeru burst in, his rapid breath a match for Ken's. He'd ridden with Matt and Tai. He stopped halfway across the room. "Jesus! What happened?"
Blue eyes met brown, and the smile widened on Dai's face. He was stopped from answering again when the others filed into the room, looking worried and scared. "Hey, guys!"
He pushed up from the chair, and Ken stood with him, putting a hand on his arm in support. They looked at him, taking in the cuts and bruises, and the painful way he walked towards them.
Tai cleared his throat, and looked at him. "Did you win?" There was concern in his voice, and in his gaze.
Dai nodded, then wished he hadn't. His head started pounding, but he ignored it. "Yeah. Three against one, and I kicked ass!" He said it with as much enthusiasm as he could manage without moving his jaw to much. Ken and Takeru looked at each other.
Hikari stepped forward, and hugged him awkwardly, trying not to hit a sore spot. Rather difficult, considering the shape his body was in. "I'm glad that you're okay." She pulled back to be replaced by Miyako, then Sora, and then Mimi. To say that he was surprised would have been an understatement.
He sniffled, fighting to gain control of his emotions. "Thanks." It was shaky, but sincere.
"Praise Allah, the boy's in one piece!" Miyako hollered with relief.
"When can we leave?" Matt asked, smiling at him.
"As soon as my parents come and sign me out." He sighed, not wanting to dwell on that moment that would arrive too soon. Catching the look of dread on his face, Iori stepped forward.
"Don't worry, Dai. We'll be here." The younger boy offered him the reassurance, smiling at him.
"Thanks, Iori. I appreciate it. And I appreciate all of you coming down here, to support me." He looked at them, his eyes sparkling from the tears he was holding back.
"I'm just here to kick your ass for being late today." Tai grinned at him, rubbing his fist into the opposite palm. A couple of people chuckled, and they all smiled, however dimly, at the joke.
"What happened?" Ken repeated his earlier question, removing his hand from Dai's elbow.
"The bully from Saturday found me, and brought a couple of friends with him. They were all ready to whoop my ass, when the lead jerk said something that he shouldn't have. I blew up, and that's all I remember before waking up. I blacked out."
"What happened to the bully?" Takeru asked, blue eyes hard. If the creep wasn't in the hospital with Dai, he wouldn't be that long in joining him.
"He's on the fourth floor with a concussion. If my parents go with the police's suggestion, he'll be charged with assualt, and attempted murder."
"What?" Mimi nearly swooned at the word murder. Sora put a reassuring arm around her waist.
"Big and Ugly pulled a knife out, and threatened me, and another person. That's when I blanked out. According to some guy standing nearby, I jumped on him, and beat the living daylights out of him. He said that they didn't touch me after that."
"You took on an armed assailant, one that was nearly double your size, without recalling any of it?" Koushiro asked, black eyes both amazed, and impressed. Dai shrugged, and nodded modestly.
"Actually, three assailants, one armed, all double my height and weight." The redheaded genuis whistled his surprsise.
"Watch out world, Motomiya has impressed Izumi Koushiro!" It was Mimi that teased him gently, her russet eyes dancing with relief and merriment. Nothing could keep her down long.
"Davis." They all turned to face Mr. Motomiya. He looked at them all coldly. "It's time to go. Get whatever things you have here, and lets move." Without another word, he turned, and walked away. The joy that had been in the room was gone, completely disappearing with his arrival.
With a squaring of his shoulders, Takeru stepped out after the older man. Tai and Matt exchanged looks, and then quickly followed, Ken following them, and leaving everyone else confused and depressed. "Let's go, then." Daisuke exited, his shoulders slumped.
The others fell into step behind him, letting him lead the way to the front desk, where Ken, Takeru, Tai, and Matt were having a discussion with his father. As they drew nearer, the conversation seemed to end, and they missed what had gone on.
His father filled out a form on the desk and walked away without addressing him. Matt was holding Tai in his arms, trying to calm him down. Takeru was standing against the wall, his fists clenched, eyes hard. Ken looked at the retreating back with a bleak look.
It was Matt that finally explained it to him. "You'r father said that you're free to do whatever you want. You can pick where you want to stay. My dad's never home, and I have room at my house. The Yagami's won't mind if you stay there. My mom won't mind if you stay at Takeru's. It's up to you."
Ken looked at him, his gaze softening, and turning apologetic. "It's a permanent move."
Everyone started offering their spare rooms, and Miyako even offered her own room, and volunteered to sleep with one of her siblings. He looked at them all, amazed that they were willing to sacrifice their time and space for him. It left him speechless for several minutes, as eleven pairs of eyes waited for his decision.
The urge to cry was strong, and he had to mentally stop himself from biting his lip. "You guys are wonderful. Truly remarkable." Brown eyes glistened as he looked at each of them. "I can't believe that it's taken me this long to figure out how great."
The girls swarmed him again, hugging and crying. He embraced them all. With heartfelt feeling, he took a moment to thank all of them, and send them on their way, until only Takeru, Ken, Tai, Matt, Kari, and Miyako remained. With the exclusion of Miyako, it was back to the original group that the whole mess had started with.
Takeru pushed off from the wall, his anger being pushed down. Daisuke looked at him, and narrowed his eyes. With a look at the blue-haired boy next to him, he teased gently. "You're as bad as Ken." He watched with satisfaction as both blushed.
Tai slung an arm around his sister's shoulders, and grinned at them. "I'm thinking that you three need to settle this out between you. We'll be down in the waiting room." He pulled the girls with him, and Matt followed. Ken turned to smile at him gently, indigo eyes blank of all emotions.
"I should be going soon. If you want to stay with me, we have about five minutes before we have to run to catch the bus. If not, I'll be going now." His tone was nuetral, but he had trouble meeting the redhead's eyes.
"Takeru, give me a moment with Ken, please." Takeru looked at him, and shrugged, walking away. Daisuke smiled at his best friend. "Thank you."
"For what?" Ken frowned in confusion, his eyes questioning.
"For being my best friend. For going through everything for me. For not rubbing it in my face that I wasn't the one you wanted to be with when you didn't know how I felt." Ken looked at him sharply, then looked away with a smile, and a blush.
"You see so much more than I ever thought you did." He looked down the hall at the waiting blonde. "It's him, isn't it?" Daisuke shrugged nonchalantly, as if the whole subject was of no importance. "Maybe you should tell him. After yesterday...yes, he told everyone." Ken answered the surprise written on Dai's face. "After yesterday, I think that the only confusion between any of us, is who you like. Or, at least, it's a riddle for the others."
"Really? When did you figure it out, oh Great One?" Takeru was approaching them again, three cans of soda pop held in his arm. He had visited the vendor machine, and he didn't look happy.
"Damn people. It's a Pepsi machine, but doesn't have a Pepsi in it. It's got diet, and caffeine free, but no regular. Here." He shoved a can of...tea at Ken, and a Mountain Dew at Dai. The other two simply looked at him, then burst out laughing.
"What?" Daisuke just shook his head, and switched Ken cans.
"I've been up for nearly three days with about six hours of sleep. I really don't need the sugar, or the caffeine." Takeru looked at him for a moment, then pulled the newly opened can from his grasp.
"Tea has caffeine." With that, he walked away, Ken snickering at the incredulous expression on Dai's face.
"That was good." The redhead glared at him, then huffed, and walked away from him indignantly. "Sorry, but it was!" They walked in silence for a moment. "You know, I was thinking that we should do that breakfast thing, like you and and Takaishi did."
"Sure, but without the kissing." He said it blandly, his face not betraying any of the mirth captured in his eyes.
"Of course, as long as you promise not to ravish me, either." Ken said cheekily, walking with him toward the blonde in front of them.
"It might be hard, but I think I'll manage." With a quick move, they hugged, Ken initiating the movement.
"Later." They pulled back from each other, and Daisuke jogged to catch up with Takeru.
"Let's go. I'm starving." Takeru grinned at him.
"Of course, TC. We have wonderful friends, you know that?" The evening was cooling off, and the hall was empty.
"Absolutely." They headed for the entrance.
"It's been a crazy couple-a days." He tried again.
"Yes, it has." Daisuke was starting to catch on to the one-sided conversation, and Takeru's lack of response.
"I'm glad things are going to be back to normal."
"It's a good thing." Daisuke looked at him, this teen who had kissed him, and was now attempting to ignore him, without ignoring him.
"The world's going to be flooded by milk, and we're all going to die." That stopped him in his tracks. "Ah, so you're going to join this conversation now, are you?" His brown eyes were challenging.
"Dai, I really hate to break this to you, but in the condition you're in, I could whoop on you without a problem." A single shoulder raised as he passed him, continuing on his way.
"But you wouldn't, cuz you love me." Ken passed the blonde, catching the stunned look on his face.
"It's uncanny, isn't it?" The genius left him standing in the hallway, following his friend, a knowing smirk on his face, leaving the blue-eyed one to wonder at what he'd said.
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End note: For anybody who is wondering, no I cannot count. I think I've misinformed three different people due to this lack in my education, and I'm sorry.
And, Lilas, I was going to wait to upload this, but, like I said, I figured you'd like it before you left.