TK looked at Kari worriedly GOCC GOCC 2 5 2001-10-16T15:42:00Z 2001-10-16T15:47:00Z 5 2668 15212 GOCC 126 30 18681 9.4402

A new player

TK looked at Kari worriedly. "How's your brother?" Her eyes flickered from the soccer field below, to regard him sadly. "Still the same, huh?" They were in the top row of the bleachers, watching as the soccer team went through various drills. The players below looked small, but a certain, orange-haired player still stuck out from the rest. He was running the fastest, pushing himself to the edge of exhaustion.

"He comes home every night, eats, then goes back out to wear himself down more. He says he can't sleep at night, unless he's too tired to do anything else. Mom's worried, and is thinking about sending him to a psychiatrist for depression."

"I can't believe that Davis' leaving had this much of an impact. I wonder what would have happened if they'd had a chance to date before the Motomiya's sent Davis away." Kari shrugged, wrapping her arms around herself to ward off the chill she had been feeling lately. Even quality time with Izzy lacked the ability to do more than dim it.

"I don't think it was Davis' leaving, so much as his seeming unwillingness to fight with his parents. Tai was ready to face the world to be with Davis, and Davis simply shrugged, and said 'see you later', according to Tai."

"So, this depression of Tai's is brought on by his feelings of insecurity where Davis is concerned?" She nodded, watching as the players left the field for the locker rooms. So far, no one on the team had thrown a fit about showering with Tai, a fact she was grateful for. She didn't want to know what would happen if Tai was left to face everyone without Davis. Lester and Carl were both publicly ignored, thanks to the continual efforts of Matt, and Mark Butress. The goalie, and new co-captain, had made it plain that he wouldn't stand for anyone to mess with their star player, and the rest of the team seemed to be in agreement with him.

"I guess Davis deflated his ego when he left. He doesn't understand how they could have gone on for two days, found each other, and then have Davis leave without a single word of protest."

A tall, lanky blonde sat down in front of them, fixing them with a cool blue gaze. "I heard that it wasn't without protest. He and his parents went at it for nearly six hours before they finally shoved him in his room, and barred the door so that he couldn't get out. Jun said that he yelled till morning, when his mother let him out for school. She said that they did that everyday, until he boarded the plane."

"I don't suppose that anyone has bothered to tell Tai all of that, have they?" TK looked at his brother pointedly, but Matt shrugged.

"He's kind of difficult to talk to, especially where the D-word is mentioned. I tried twice yesterday, and he nearly took my head off. If I hadn't ducked, I'd have a black eye. He's been in a mood for the past week. I'd like to see anyone talk some sense into his thick skull." At that moment, they saw Tai coming out of the building, his gym bag in hand, his hair slicked down from his shower.

TK nudged Kari and Matt, and pointed at the other end of the field, where a familiar raven-haired genius was heading straight toward Tai. "Oh, gods. There is so going to be bloodshed." Kari put her heads in her hands, wishing that her brother would just move on with his life, and damning everything, and everyone that got in his way. "There is no way on the face of the planet that the guy in love with Davis, and Davis' best friend can hold a conversation without mentioning him."

"Maybe he wants someone to practice against?" TK looked hopefully at his brother, since Kari was too busy moaning into her hands. A blonde eyebrow rose in response, and his brother smiled slightly.

"If they have it out, we all know that Ken will win. Then Tai will have to listen to someone for once, instead of running away from us all." Matt grinned. "I'd like to see him get whipped, just once for old times sake."

______________

On the field, Tai and Ken were facing off, light brown eyes meeting cool violet without emotion. "What do you want, Ichijouji?"

Ken shrugged, standing with his feet apart, as if preparing for a fight. "I thought that maybe we should have ice cream together, or coffee, whichever you prefer." He looked up at the stands, and waved at his friends. "Alone, of course. I think we have a lot to discuss. I don't think that your sister or friends would mind having someone spirit you away for awhile."

They glanced up at the bleachers together, where their audience was watching avidly, waiting for the first blow. Tai hefted his bag a little higher, then met Ken's gaze with a slight smile. "I think you may be right about that. And can we make it lunch? I don't care for coffee, and I definitely don't need ice cream after practice. The sugar will keep me up for hours."

"Okay." Ken nodded in agreement, and they walked off the field together, with one last look at the teens on the bleachers. Tai drove them to a restaurant down town, to a place where the group used to meet to keep in touch. They walked in together, getting several odd stares as people tried to figure out if Ken was male or female. He hadn't cut his hair in months, and it hung just past his shoulders. He was wearing a light jacket, hiding his slight build, and any gender-identifying marks.

They took up a corner booth, sliding in across from each other. Ken declined the paper menu that a waitress tried handing to them, and then waited patiently for Tai to make his selection. They ordered drinks, and Tai ordered chicken teriyaki. After several minutes, they were left alone, ignoring the curious looks from people around them. "What did you want to talk about, Ken?"

Tai's voice wasn't exactly friendly, but it had lost some of its anger. Ken shrugged, and then met his gaze directly. "I was asked to check in with you, make sure that you didn't hate anyone in particular."

"I see. This is a pity talk, right? The one where you tell me how Davis didn't really mean to lead me on, but it was never anything really like that?" He swallowed, struggling to keep his voice low. His eyes were burning from suppressed emotion.

Ken looked at him sadly, and then shook his head. "You haven't a clue, Kamiya. Don't knock my best friend without reason. He's doing everything humanly possible to get back here quickly, without killing himself." Tai looked up at that, his expression hopeful. "Yeah, he's trying to come back, Kamiya. If you'd listen to your friends, instead of wallowing in your pity, then you'd know that."

Tai grinned sheepishly. "I haven't exactly been myself this week." It was Friday, and almost coming to the first whole week of Davis being gone. "How is he? Has he been able to contact you?"

"Yeah. His parents left directions with the director, and he's only allowed to write to approved people. Supposedly, they told the guy that Davis was in some evil gang, and it was for the safety of the school that he didn't write you. I'm on approval, and so are they. Anyone else has to be cleared through his parents." Their drinks arrived, delaying the conversation for a moment.

"I wish I could have had a chance to say I'm sorry. I kind of stormed away when he told me." His grin faded. "I couldn't believe that I'd gone through so much trouble, and he wasn't even going to stick around. Now I can't even write to him."

Silence settled over them for a moment, before Ken brightened momentarily. "He also wants to know if you have a date for the year end party. He says that if all else fails, they'll have to let him come home when school is out."

Tai frowned, imaging the time until the school year was over stretching out before him, the days turning into months, which turned into years. "Tell him that I'll be free, and waiting."

The pizza came, and they were quiet again. Ken declined Tai's offer to buy him something to eat, taking a sip of the cola that he had ordered. He looked out the window as the older teen ate his food, making quick work of all ten slices. Ken didn't want to know how it was that both goggle-boys could eat as if there were no tomorrow, and not be either ill, or grossly overweight.

"So, you can write to him. Does that mean that I can give you a letter to pass on?" He batted his eyes hopefully, causing the dark-haired genius to raise an eyebrow.

"Of course. That was the other point behind this meeting. As cold-blooded as it sounds, he wanted me to check up on you, since I'm the only one that his parents will allow him contact with. I think he threatened suicide if he couldn't write to at least one of his friends."

"Thank you. For coming here today. It means a lot, to know that it...he.." He trailed off, shoving a lump of food into his mouth for lack of knowing what he wanted to say.

Ken just smiled knowingly. "He'll be back. Don't worry too much, Tai. Where there's a Davis, there's a way." They laughed, meeting the gaze of the other with a newly formed bond. "Besides, 'distance makes the heart grow stronger'. This will give you time to figure out if its more physical than emotional, or vice versa."

"Huh?" Tai looked at him, confused. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?" It almost sounded as if the genius were hinting that it could possibly be just sex between them, and he didn't like it. What he felt for Davis went beyond the mere craving for his body. Maybe not far beyond, but it was something more than he'd felt for anyone else.

"I don't mean to be offensive. Just, when Joe and I first hooked up, there was this great physical attraction between us. I just constantly wanted to touch him. Finally, he asked me to chill out. Said that if I could tell him I loved him in six months, with no physical contact, and then we could have something. Otherwise, it wouldn't work."

"Really? He thought you were using as some sexual object, then?" Ken nodded, his gaze straightforward. "Man, that's funny. Who would have thought of our blue-haired bishies both being sex-craved nymphomaniacs." The waitress eyed them funny, and turned away from their table. She sat the check quickly on the surface, and scurried away. Tai snickered.

"Actually, it's only been five months. Withdrawal and abstinence have done wonders for us both. We have a very strong bond now, when we're not trying to constantly inhale each other through kisses."

"Interesting. Did you know that a passionate, two-minute kiss will burn off fifty calories?" Ken raised his eyebrow, looking thoughtful.

"I didn't know that. I might have to tell Joe. Wouldn't want one or the other of us to become overweight, would we?" They grinned at each other, laughing at their private joke.

Shopping with the girls

"I can't believe that school is almost over." Mimi sighed. Sora nodded agreement, sorting through yet another rack of clothes. They had dragged Tai out to a shopping spree, telling him that staying cooped up wasn't good for him. He had merely shrugged. After three hours of power shopping, he was wishing that they would shoot him, quickly.

"I know. It seems like yesterday that we all started high school, and now most of us are graduating." She held a green shirt up to her, holding out one sleeve. Mimi looked at her for a moment, and then shook her head, holding out a pink one instead. Tai rolled his eyes, and waited for the floor to swallow him up. "So, are you and Matt going to the year-end bash?"

"Of course." Mimi grinned, moving onto the next rack of clothes with Sora. Tai followed obediently. He didn't have a choice. They would kidnap him once a week, dragging him to the mall, making him sit through six hours of non-stop shopping. "It's been so great, going out with him. He's such a wonderful boyfriend."

They smiled at each other, leaving Tai to roll his eyes again. They compared significant others, occasionally asking him about Davis. He had told them time and again that he had nothing to compare it to, since his relationship with Davis consisted of a fictional two days, and three days of avoidance. "You're coming, too, aren't you Tai?"

Sora was smiling at him hopefully. He smiled and nodded. Matt and Ken had both threatened to drag him there bodily if he didn't go willingly. Since the afternoon he spent talking with Ken, they had become close, and since Matt was Tai's best friend, it ended up being the three of them quite a bit. Tai often wondered if the musician minded hanging out with two gay boys, but the blonde gave no indication, so he didn't worry about it that much.

"I'm glad. Matt's band is going to be doing the music, so I can have someone to dance with." Mimi pulled out a tie-dye shirt, swirls of pink ranging from a light, pastel shade, to a neon pink. "What do you think?"

Tai made a gagging noise, and both girls swatted at his arm.

______________

Ken met him for lunch the next day. They bought lunch from a noodle cart, and walked through the park to a set of secluded benches. Ken sat on the seat, with Tai using the backrest for a chair.

"How is he?" Tai used his chopsticks quickly, digging into the food with gusto. Ken ate more slowly, savoring his food.

"He's good. He misses everyone. He's going to his fourth school Monday. We're hoping that it's his last, but his parents are almost as persistent as he is."

They watched as two kids on skateboards rode past. Tai looked at the genius, curiosity making him frown. "I've been wondering about something for quite a while. If you knew that he was gay, and you've known that you're gay, did you two ever try hooking up?"

Thoughtful violet eyes met expectant brown. Ken searched his eyes for jealousy, or uncertainty, but met only interested curiosity. He smiled and lifted a shoulder slightly. "Not really. When Davis and I first became friends, we were both too busy trying to save the world. After that, he went back to going on and on about your sister."

Tai sighed, moving his gaze back to his food. He was eating slowly, his mind deep in thought. "I know. It's funny, isn't it? How things work out?"

"I guess. I finally began to notice, though, that your name became associated with Kari's. I didn't think much of it, because he obviously had great respect and admiration for you." Tai smiled. "One day, he started talking about you, really excited, and hyper. Halfway through the conversation, he switched gears, and started in on your sister: 'Her hair is so beautiful. She's so sweet'. I kind of tuned him out, giving it half of my attention. Then he slipped up, got so lost in his own mental picture: 'his eyes are so great. He's so energetic, and strong. And when he laughs...'. He cut himself off quickly, as if he hadn't realized what he was saying."

"What did you do?" Tai put his empty container aside, turning his undivided attention to Ken.

"He shut up quickly, and I let it go. I asked him if he wanted me to tell him whom I liked. He looked a little scared. I think, somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that I was gay, and he was afraid that I liked him. So, I told him about Joe. He was surprised, but he accepted it rather easily. And then he told me about you."

Tai slid down the back of the bench until they were at the same level. "And?" He asked insistently, leaning forward, his eyes excited.

Ken grinned. "He liked you. The crush he had on Kari was mostly deflated when he met you. He kept up the pretense easily, because he could see bits of you in her at times. He passed it off as hero-worship at first, not wanting to deal with it. He knew his parents would take it badly.  He told me that you were one of the first people to make him feel worth something, and that's what made the difference."

"Because I realized that he was cool?" Tai frowned. "I don't get it."

"Because you made him feel worthy of leading the destined. You had respect for him, instead of pushing him aside like the pushy brat he can be. You gave him a chance. And because of that, he got to see the kind of person you were. Loyal, as loyal as he can be. Brave, but in a different way from him. He doesn't let fear in, because he refuses to think about what could happen. You go forward because you know it needs to be done, no matter what the risks are."

"He's faced some things that I don't think I could have. Living with Jun, for instance." Ken chuckled.

"Anyway. He said that his admiration began to shift. He saw how hurt you were when Sora went for Matt. He said it was odd that he hurt, simply because you hurt. You were happy for your friends, and you didn't hold it against them. He told me once that he has a thing for the pure of heart. He wants to adopt me, so we can be brothers, he wants to marry you, because he's in love with you, and, that way, Kari can be his sister. He'll have 'the three most wonderful people in the world' as his family."

"He's a great ego-boost, isn't he?" Ken tilted his head down, hiding his face behind his hair. Tai leaned forward to see the tears in Ken's eyes. "You miss him, too." It wasn't a question. "I'll tell you what. Since he isn't around to adopt you, I will." The genius gave a watery chuckle, and shook his head. Tai put his hand on his shoulder, not to gain his attention, but to lend his support. "I really appreciate everything you've been doing for us. He's right, you know. You are one of the nicest people I know."

Pale hands wiped hurriedly at his cheeks before Ken looked up again. "It's greed, really. I don't want to be alone all the time. Davis and I used to get together at least three times a week. I love Joe, but he's busy most of the week. The weekends are ours, but that leaves four days a week. I miss having my best friend around, and you're the closest I could find to a substitute."

"That's cool. I can deal with that. Personally, you're the closest I can get to him." They both laughed. "Man, we are pathetic. What would we do if he couldn't come home?"

"You'll have college next year. Maybe you can follow him around, to whatever school they ship him to. You guys could live within miles of each other, and his parents wouldn't even have to know."

Tai smiled at the thought, his eyes becoming soft as he slipped away into 'it-could-happen' images. After several minutes, he blinked, and looked at Ken. They shared another smile, companionable and understanding. The fact that they hadn't had much to do with each other before meant nothing. They were friends. Maybe not as close as Tai and Matt, or Ken and Davis, but friends that could count on each other.