Ahh, the next chapter. Sorry it took a while. Anyways, yeah, the impending problems continue...

No Complaining
*A Glimpse of What Would Be*

"H-Hikari-kun?" Takeru called, popping his head in the Kamiya stronghold. Gripping the bouquet of flowers tightly in his hand, he stepped into the apartment, only to see a redhead and a bluehead walk from the living room to see who the newcomer was. "Hi...eh? K-Koushirou-san? Jou-san? What are you doing here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing," Koushirou said with a smile.

"Konnichiwa, Takeru," Jou greeted.

"Konnichiwa, Jou-san," Takeru greeted in return. "Actually, Koushirou-san, I have a date, per say." He lifted the bouquet of lilies and roses for the two older guys to see.

"Oooh, you're getting on with Yagami Hikari, huh?" snickered Jou with a wicked grin. "It seems to me everyone is getting something on with someone these days..." He sighed with a thoughtful look. "And of course, that leaves me out the circle of things."

"Don't worry, Jou," Koushirou said with a matter-of-fact look on his face, "you'll find that special someone someday. Don't rush things. For now," he added with a sly grin, "there's always me."

Jou gave Koushirou a smile. "No offense, buddy, but you ain't my type."

Takeru laughed.

At the same time, Hikari and Taichi emerged. Hikari was dressed in a pink long sleeve and a pair of black flares. Her hair was unadorn as she smiled shyly. "Takeru-kun!" she greeted, flinging her thin arms around Takeru immediately.

"Hey, Hikari-kun...Taichi," he greeted to the Yagamis.

"Takeru," Taichi said weakly.

"Are those for me?" she asked, pointing at the bouquet.

Takeru nodded, handing them to a thankful Hikari.

"For a moment," Koushirou joked, "I thought they were for me."

"Yeah, right," Jou said sardonically, giving Koushirou a thud.

As Hikari ran off to place to bouquet on a vase and Jou and Koushirou started a mild debate, Takeru walked up to the sullen Taichi, who was pale and fraile-looking. "Hey, Taichi," he greeted again. "Um...I hope...you know...you don't mind that...I'm dating your sister and all."

"Oh, sure, no problem," he replied faintly, clearing his throat and brushing his hair back. He then leaned over and whispered to Takeru's ears, "If you hurt my sister in any way at all, you'll wish you've never dealt with a Yagami, got me?"

Takeru suddenly remembered the day Daisuke gave him a knockout and tried proclaiming his love for Hikari. He remembered how pissed Taichi had gotten when he heard the news and was ready to pound Motomiya into ground beef. He gulped and nodded. "Taichi, I'd never hurt Hikari," he told him truthfully, looking into Taichi's hardened eyes. "I even protected her on some occasion. I'm not going to change my character now."

Taichi backed off and nodded. "I know," he replied, "just making sure."

Takeru smiled. "It's good to know you're still over-protective."

"And over-bearing," Hikari said, approaching them again. "Oniisan, are you giving one of thise 'I'll beat you up' speeches to Takeru here?" she teased, partially-smiling.

"Maybe," he replied mildly.

"Hey, you guys," Jou called, "say cheese!"

They turned to see Jou hold up a camera. Hikari grabbed Takeru's arm and they smiled into the camera while Taichi moved out of the way to give them the sportlight. He grinned, but felt deeply saddened inside as Jou captured the moment in the camera.

"We better get going," Hikari said, grabbing a jacket.

"Sure thing," Takeru replied, "see you later, you guys."

"Have fun," Jou told them gently.

"Tell us how it went," Koushirou said. "The movie, of course."

"Suuure," Takeru teased.

Hikari walked up to Taichi and kissed him on the cheek. "Have fun at whatever that tavern is you're going to," she told him as Jou and Takeru began to tease Koushirou. "And Oniisan...dn't hurt yourself," she added emotionally, looking at him seriously.

With Taichi not smiling or laughing, she could already seem some lines around his mouth as he nodded solomnly. "Don't worry about me," he said, patting her shoulders. "Go on with Takeru. He's a good guy...oh, and don't be home after midnight otherwise Mom 'n' Dad'll kill you."

"Hai, Taichi." She smiled and skipped to join Takeru out the door.

"C'mon, Taichi," Koushirou said, pulling on his burly brown coat. "We'll don't want to miss their special...I'm starving."

"You're always, hungry," Taichi countered, following them.


"That was an amazing restaurant!" Miyako exclaimed as they left one of Tokyo's hotspot restaurants. She had a very content face; she should since she had over five servings of food. It was a treat, after all; she rarely got something for herself since she had to share with her other siblings.

Ken smiled reservedly. It was nice to see Miyako happy.

"Aah," she sighed, "I feel like hitting the sacks now."

"Tsktsktsk," he teased, grinning fully at her now, which to his pleasure made her blush into pink. "You shouldn't have eaten that much...it's only nine after all..."

She glared at him. "Only?" she cried. "It felt like hours in there."

"Time flies when you're having fun," he commented, slipping his arm around hers as they walked down the busy main streets of Tokyo. The city was filled with lights, blocking out the moon and stars' radiance and the sounds were filled with chatters of conversation.

"True," she agreed, leaning towards him. He looked down at her with a baffled look, which made her look back to meet his confused gaze with a slightly panicky one. "Oh...is this...bothering you?" she asked, standing up straight, parallel to Ken. "I'm sorry..."

"No, it's okay," he replied quickly. "It's just...new to me, that's all."

She looked at him. "You sure?"

"Yes," he nodded.

As Miyako leaned back towards him, Ken let go of a ragged sigh, thinking. This is probably the best days of my life, he thought. I don't ever want to let go...she's so gentle...yet, there's this knawing feeling at the back of my head to walk cautiously, just in case. But I can't help myself...am I...falling in...love?"

"You okay, Ken-kun?" she asked, looking up at him.

He gave her a confused look. "Why do you ask?"

"You're trembling," she pointed out.

He swallowed dryly. He was, actually. He jerked his arm away from her and studied his arms well. He noticed that his hands were dead pale against the street lights and that they felt slightly clamly to his touch. "I...I..." he stammered for an explanation.

"I think we should take you home, Ken-kun," Miyako said, brushing back her magenta hair, trying to hide her disappointment, " before something happens to you while we're downtown."

"O-Okay," he agreed shakily.

Taking his arm, she guided him across the busy streets.


"It sucks, really," Koushirou commented.

"Don't complain," Jou told him, picking at his noodles. "You were the one who was enthusiastic about coming here. The bouffet and all...tsktsktsk, really, Koushirou. I took you smarter than that."

"I am," Koushirou said huffily, "if just isn't as good as I thought it would be." He shrugged, looking at his meal. "Nonetheless, if my Mom sees me complaining about food, she'll give the entire damned speech about food and the poor people for the 100th damned time!"

"Hmm, sounds like Shin," Jou remarked, looking at Taichi. He was incredibly worried; Taichi looked positively sullen by the way he just poked at his food for the entire time they were at the Tavern. I guess the great leader isn't invinsible after all, he thought sadly. I hate to see Taichi sulking like that. "Taichi, are you alright?"

He looked up, blinking. "Huh?"

"You barely touched your meal," Jou pointed out.

"I'll eat it if you want me to," Koushirou piped.

"Ssh," Jou hushed him.

Taichi shrugged. "It's nothing, really," he said softly. "I mean...oh, I don't know. I was watching Hikari and the way her expression changes when she's around Takeru. The way she lit up like that...it makes me wonder about myself and my long, lost love life." He shrugged.

"Is this what this is all about?" Koushirou asked with his mouth full. "Over Yamato and Sora?"

Taichi said nothing.

"Gosh, Taichi, they've been dating for over four years!" Koushirou explained, dropping the chopsticks. "And all of a sudden you've developed signs of depression and anxiety over love lost?"

Taichi blinked. "Is this true, Jou?"

Jou nodded gravely. "I have to be honest with you, Taichi," he said in his serious, physician voice. "The signs are all in front of me...anxiety, weariness, lack of activity, paleness, your poor character and um...and the...eh, well..."

"What, Jou?" Taichi demanded.

Jou looked extremely grim. "Your wrists, Taichi."

"What about them, Jou?" he asked coolly.

Jou scowled. "Don't toy with me, Taichi, I'm the doctor, not a fool."

Taichi shook his head, brushing his hair back. "I'm sorry, Jou," he apoligized. "I've been a bit...snappy, lately. I guess the entire idea that I'm never gonna be with Sora is finally getting its drawbacks. I mean, I never got a chance to say that I loved her...more than friends...thing." He sighed, thumping his head on the table. "It's over. My chance is gone."

"Taichi..." Koushirou said.

"Save it, Koushirou," Taichi snapped. "There's nothing in this world that'll make this heart feel better." He stood up abruptly. "Arigatou for taking me out for dinner, but I think that I need some time alone to think this all out, that's all."

Jou nodded in understanding. He only wished he could help Taichi before something bad happens to him. But he had to work things out for himself. Only time will heal his condition more than he ever could. "If you need to talk," he said, "you know where to find me, okay?"

"I'll keep that in mind, Jou-san," Taichi said. "Ja ne."

Jou sighed, watching him leave. It's a shame, he thought. It's a damn shame.
Koushirou was gleaming over Jou's platter. "You eating that?"

Jou sighed and pushed the plate towards Koushirou.


~End of Chapter~
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