Playing
The Part
Disclaimer:
Digimon and its characters are not associated with me. Tolei owns them.
Even Yamato. (T.T) Besides, if I was Tolei I would not have come up with
a series called Digimon Tamers…without the old digidestined.
A/N:
My humblest apologies for being so very late with this chapter. I was
sorely lacked for inspiration. Then I discovered that the geniuses at TV2,
bless their souls, were showing digimon re-runs. Thus, I am fully inspired and
ready to write. Domo arigato to all the people who reviewed the last chapter.
This one is longer, and I think it will appease all you Sorato junkies. Oh!
This takes place directly after the last chapter. I'll shut up now.
Yamato: *mutter* Finally…
Smabbi: *whaps Yama* I wouldn't talk…you're not
gonna like this chapter…
Yamato: *runs and hides* Save me!!
(*)(*)(*)
Chapter Seven: Conflict of
Interests
"Give, damn it!" Taichi tightened his hold. He had
Yamato in a headlock which technically meant that he had won their little
fight. Yamato had, however, decided that stubbornness was the way to win.
"Ne-never," he choked out melodramatically,
struggling to free himself. His head was starting to turn a brilliant shade of
purple.
"Dude, I don't wanna kill you," Taichi protested,
"Just give up. It can't be that important!"
Yamato's hands gripped Taichi's arm, trying to pull
it away from his neck, "I am not letting you win!" He coughed violently,
trying to free his trapped head.
Taichi let go and the blonde teenager fell to the
ground, gasping for breath. Gradually, his face returned to its normal colour.
Taichi studied his recovering friend worriedly. Yamato was stubborn about
certain things, but what could he have thought about Sora, a mutual friend that
was so secret? Unless… His eyes widened.
"You like her," Taichi accused.
Yamato glared from his seated position. "Of course
I like her, baka! She's my friend!"
"Uh uh," Taichi shook his head emphatically. "You like
her." He grinned, "Yamato's got a crush on Sora!" He sang, dancing around
in an insane manner, "Yamato's got-"
He grabbed the big haired boy and pulled him into a
seated position next to him, "Shut up!" He hissed, "Why don't you just tell the
whole freaking school?"
Taichi grinned triumphantly, "You do like
her!"
"I-" Yamato sighed, running his fingers through his
hair, he'd walked right into it. How'd Taichi get so smart? "Look, just
shut up okay?"
Taichi settled into a comfortable position, "Why don't
you tell her?" He eyed his friend, watching for his reaction. Yamato shook his
head in response. "What?" Taichi asked sarcastically, "Too wild and outrageous
for Mr Cool Ishida?"
"It's not that. She's Sora."
"Uh huh," Taichi nodded like he understood. He
paused, waiting for Yamato to elaborate. When his friend clammed up again,
Taichi got impatient, "Was there more to your wisdom or was that it?"
Yamato resumed glaring at his friend, "I'm getting
there! Jeez…I'm just not telling her, okay?"
Taichi whapped him on the back of his head, "You've
got to tell her, baka!"
"I can't," Yamato moaned miserably, "She
hates me!" He buried his head in his arms.
"I don't think so," Taichi replied doubtfully, "She
was miserable at school today. She'd hardly talk to me!" He added,
making it sound like Sora not talking to him was the all important factor.
"Really?" Yamato brightened visibly, "She was
miserable?"
"Don't sound so happy about it," his friend
grumbled, "Sora miserable is depressing."
"No, it's just that she doesn't hate me!" Yamato
cheered. He checked his watch, "Crap! I'm late for rehearsal!"
Taichi rolled his eyes, "Will Sora be there?"
"I think so," Yamato said, climbing to his feet.
"Are you going to tell her?" Taichi leaned back so
he could look his now standing friend in the eye.
"No, I have to apologize first," Yamato said,
taking off at a run when he realised just how late he was.
Taichi didn't move from his seat on the ground as
he watched his friend's departure. "There goes the biggest baka in
(*)(*)(*)
He hadn't shown up yet. She supposed that this
could be a good thing. After all, out of sight, out of mind, right? On one
hand, she was angry, using what had happened as an excuse to not show up to
rehearsals was childish. The cast and crew had put so much effort into the
play. They didn't have the time to replace Romeo, if they could even
find a replacement. On the other hand, she was a little sad. He must really
hate me… She sighed, Not that I did anything wrong…
When had she become so unsure of herself? She used
to be so confident, so unworried about guys, she'd always been one of
the guys. Kissing Yamato had changed all that. She picked at her skirt hem
absentmindedly, everything came back to him. It wasn't fair. One guy shouldn't
be able to turn her life upside-down that quickly. She caught the rather
annoyed look that Takani-sensei was giving her and busily began to study her
script.
It wasn't long before she was lost in her thoughts
again. This is not fair! She wasn't supposed to be so caught up,
so enamoured by one guy.
"Uh, Sora?"
Her heart jumped at the all too familiar voice.
There he was, blonde hair suitably messy, crystalline eyes full with a mixture
of hope and guilt, lips curved into a sheepish smile.
"Y-yamato," she half stammered, cursing herself for
doing so, "What are you doing here?" her voice came out harsher that she'd have
liked and his smile faded slightly before re-asserting itself.
"I'm Romeo, remember?" He sat down next to her,
pretending to ignore the fact that she was being less than friendly. He was
determined to make things right between them again. Unfortunately, his newly
recognised feelings were making him nervous and he wasn't sure how to start. Try
apologising, baka!
She pretended to study her script, although the
words appeared as nothing more than a blur to her teary eyes. She blinked
rapidly, How can he just sit there and act like nothing happened?
Maybe it hadn't meant anything to him, but it had been important to her, he
should have more concern for her feelings. How can he be so cold?!
"Sora," his voice again interrupted her mental
ravings, "Look at me, please?"
She sighed; there was that pleading tone she
couldn't resist. Reluctantly, she lifted her eyes to his. "What do you want,
Yamato?" She asked, deliberately keeping her voice cold, "Haven't you done
enough?"
He faltered at that, "I-uh…" A blush covered his
cheeks as he realised that the rest of the cast was listening intently to their
conversation. At his glare however, most of them hastily returned to whatever
they had been doing. Yamato grabbed Sora's wrist, pulled her to her feet and
dragged her from the room.
She tried to pull her arm free from his grip, but
he was stronger than she was, "Where do you think you're taking me?" She
demanded angrily.
He stopped in the small courtyard outside the hall,
"Here. We need to talk without nosey people eavesdropping."
She sat down on the bench, justifiably annoyed at
his attempt to be commanding, "Talk. I have nothing to say."
Irritated, he ran his fingers through his hair, Why
the hell does she have to be so stubborn? He needed a plan. Ignoring
this newly sprung animosity was obviously not going to work. "Sora, about last
night…" he paused, searching for words.
"Is that what this is about?" She interjected,
forcing a weak laugh, "Don't worry about it, Yamato. It's practically
forgotten."
"Really?" He asked sceptically, "Then why're you so
angry?"
"Because you just dragged me out here like I was
your property!" She spat, "You don't own me, Yamato! We're friends; a
friendship is based on the fact that we're both equals," She looked him
straight in the eye, "And, friends don't take advantage of each other."
He cringed at that, "Sora, I-"
"What? You're sorry? Lately you're always sorry,
Yamato!" She was finally giving vent to the anger and frustration she'd been
holding back for the last few days, "Try something else for a change!" She was
unaware of the tears running down her cheeks.
Roughly, he pulled her into a hug, realising how
distraught she was and how much she needed a friend right now. "I know I've
been apologising a lot lately," he murmured softly in her ear, "I haven't got any
excuse. I got carried away and I… If you never want to see me again, I
understand. You just have to tell me." He continued to stroke her hair,
allowing her time to think.
(*)(*)(*)
His closeness unnerved her, Why does he have to
be such a good friend? She knew he was waiting for a response, a response
that she didn't have. She could say that she never wanted to see him
again, that would mean throwing everything away. Their friendship, begun in the
digital world and cultivated long after that. Can I do that? Can I just tell
him to leave? Could she handle losing one of her closest friends? Not
without serious heartache. Not without forever wondering what could have
been.
But,
I don't know if I can't forgive him… She knew forgiveness
wasn't the real issue. There was nothing to forgive. The pain came from being
near him, being close to him, but always being a friend. Nothing more. Can I
live with that? She would have to tell him that the kiss, the one that
meant the world to her, meant nothing. She had never been a good liar, how
could she hide the extent of her feelings for him for any amount of time?
I
can't be apart from him, but I can't be near him…kami, what do I do?
(*)(*)(*)
His heart was pounding so loudly that he was
surprised that she didn't hear. He fought to keep his breathing even. He closed
his eyes, despite the tension; he wanted to savour the moment. Whatever she
decides, I'll accept it He had to, he could deny her nothing, if she said
that she never wanted to see him again, he would make sure that he was never in
her presence.
If
only I could hold her like this forever…
He would tell her, no matter what she said.
He had to tell her, his heart felt like it would burst with the amount of
emotion that was bottled there.
He was, however, plagued by doubts. What if I
tell her, and she doesn't feel the same way? He breathed deeply, inhaling
the scent of her shampoo, What am I going to do?
All his life, Ishida Yamato never had to worry
about whether a girl liked him. Girls were literally throwing themselves at his
feet. He was the centre of their teenybopper universe, and he kind of liked it
that way. There was nothing to worry about; his fans would do anything for him,
he was always the one who ended a relationship, confident that it was the right
thing to do.
Now, he found himself completely out of his depth.
He had no idea of how to proceed, how to make her feel the way he did. He held
her tighter, never wanting to let go.
I
can't lose you now, Sora, not when I've just realised how I feel.
(*)(*)(*)
I
can't do it… She felt her resolve slipping; I can't tell him
I never want to see him again. Pulling from his embrace, her eyes met his
azure ones and there was nothing she could do to stop the words from her mouth,
her heart had made the decision for her.
"Yamato, this is silly," she forced a weak smile,
"I'm just wound up because of the play. Last night, you confused me, that's
all. Of course you're forgiven! It was nothing, right?"
The words that had been forming on his lips died. Nothing?
It meant nothing to her? He had been such a fool, thinking that she could
love him too. Kami, of course she wouldn't. How could I have been so
stupid? We're just friends, that's all we'll ever be. He had to say
something, she was still waiting for him to respond, "I-"
"Sora! You're wanted on stage now!"
She looked at him pleadingly, "Yamato?"
"Sora!"
He winced at the harsh shout, "Yeah, we're fine,"
he gave her what he hoped was a reassuring look, "You'd better go," he reminded
her gently.
"Yeah," reluctantly, she slipped from his embrace,
"Aren't you coming in?"
"Soon," he replied, unable to shake the melancholy
tone from his voice, "It's quiet out here," he grinned half-heartedly, "No
fangirls you know."
She smiled, "Yeah…" He'll be okay, but I don't
know if I will be. Keeping the smile on her face, she ducked through the
open doorway.
(*)(*)(*)
He watched her retreating back, wishing that she
had never left his arms. Sora… His blue eyes were pained; I don't know
what I feel anymore. These feelings were overwhelming him, confusing him.
His eyes wandered over to the empty doorway and he
sighed, Sora, I think I'm falling in love with you…
(*)(*)(*)
A/N:
Ahh, done! Well, I hope you guys like the chapter. Sorato, right? Don't worry,
it won't be angsty for long. No really, how much Yamato torture can I write? I
luv him really! On a fanfic posting note, (for FF.net readers) I won't be
posting new fics on FF.net due to the numerous changes to the feedback system.
I'll keep posting chapters though. Visit my webpage
to find new fics.
Yamato: *reads the above chapter* Oh kami! You've
turned me into a lovelorn sap!!
Smabbi: Yama-kun! You came out of hiding! *glomps*
Yamato: ICK! *struggles to get free*
©
Smabbi-chan
2001-10-09
