1 PAY OFF ARC
Story two -- Paying the Price
Angst, shounen ai, parental abuse, homophobes.
Rating: R, for parental abuse, adult situations and language. [Possible lemon, no guarantees though.]
AN: I always hate to see parents not except their children in certain cases. One of those cases is when a child is homosexual. I'm going to try and write this as best I can, and I hope to have the angsty part down since I'm sort of going through that now with my own parents. They don't seem to watch their words and use words like 'fag', 'queer' and other words such as that around me and it's upsetting. But Taichi's gonna be a little braver than I am in my case. ^^;
Digimon is the rightful property of Toei animation, fox kids and a bunch of rich Japanese folk. I claim to own none and write this simply for other's, and my, enjoyment.
***
Chapter Three
***
"What the fuck! Does he think that we're not mature enough to handle the fact that he's a damned queer!? Bastard... He's probably thinking a bunch of shit about us for using words like 'gay', 'fag', and 'queer', bastard!" Akira stormed back and forth across the hotel room.
Yue sat on one of the beds, holding a pillow tightly, eyes wide with shock. Yukata sat next to him, eyes wide, mouth open. He was thinking it probably wasn't the best idea to tell Akira that Taichi was Yamato's boyfriend, not best friend.
"No wonder the bastard didn't want to sleep in the same room as us, he wanted to be in a room alone with Taichi--so he could fuck the idiot up the ass!" Akira nearly screamed. Takashii placed a hand over Akira's mouth and sat him on one of the beds.
"Chill out, Akira. What the hell is your problem with Yamato and Taichi?" Takashii asked, removing his hand and staring down at the red head.
"Only the fact that Yamato didn't have the damned decency to tell us he was a fag!" Akira spat, trying to get up.
Takashii slapped Akira across the cheek, making him fall to the side. "What the hell is your problem!? Do you have something against Yamato being gay?"
Akira glared tenaciously up at Takashii's calm face, watching out of the corner of his eye as Takashii rubbed his hands together. "Glad it hurt."
Takashii's eyes widened then narrowed. "What the hell is your problem? I didn't particularly care for Taichi, but just because you find out he's sleeping with our lead singer and the creator of this band you think it's okay to hate both of them? Stop being a narrow-minded bastard, Akira. There's no need for that. They need our help, not you're hate."
"Nice little speech, but it doesn't change how I feel about the two of them," Akira uttered, slowly getting to his feet.
Takashii pushed him back down onto the bed. "Listen," he spat harshly, lowering himself to glare at Akira. "There is no reason for you to hate either of them. So what if what they do is different, since when did you become a little religious freak?"
Akira glared daggers at the boy in front of him.
"Didn't think you were. You don't have to like it, but there's no reason for you not to like them. You know as well as I do, if we lose Yamato because of your ignorance, we lose the band. And some of us will lose a friend. So be careful of what you say." Takashii stood and began to walk over to the sliding glass door to shut it.
"*My* ignorance?" He huffed and stood. "I would say it's Yamato's ignorance for not *telling* us. If he would have earlier, then we wouldn't have this problem. The bastard is too incompetent to say anything."
Takashii whirled around and glared. "There is no reason for that! Yamato probably didn't say anything because of this exactly! You would have acted this exact way if he would have told you to your face, and you probably would have done something that you would have regretted! Don't *even* say it's Yamato's fault, when you know damn well it's your *own* ignorance! If I were him, I wouldn't have said anything either! That doesn't excuse how he's distanced himself from us, but he doesn't need your contempt because you can't stay level-headed!"
He went over to the sliding-glass door and froze. Yamato stood there, in his robe, hair messy from laying on it wet. Tears ran down his pale face silently as he stared at Takashii.
Yue, guessing something was wrong, walked over to see what Takashii was looking at.
"...Yamato-san..."
***
Yamato blinked his eyes open and looked behind him where Taichi slept, leaning against the headboard, remote in one hand, his hand in the other. Yamato smiled and grabbed the remote carefully, turning off the television. There was more light coming into the room than there should be...
He looked over to where the glass door was. Taichi had left the door open slightly, and the curtain had been drawn. Now the door was completely open and the curtain open as well.
He heard yelling from the next room. It sounded like Akira and Takashii were arguing. He got up slowly and walked over to the glass door and listened.
"... Damned decency to tell us he was a fag!" he heard Akira yell.
"... Something against Yamato being gay?" Takashii asked loudly.
Yamato's eyes widened. How... How did they know? Had one of them came in and saw him sleeping with Taichi? He guessed so, considering the door was open. He felt the bile in his stomach. This wasn't a good thing. If they all knew, he would be kicked out of the band for sure. They could tell other people, the jocks at the school--the idiots who thought they were cool. He would get beat up. Taichi would get hurt.
Images of Taichi lying against a school locker, a bloody nose and a busted lip, were what filled his head for a moment. It couldn't be happening, no, it couldn't. He was dreaming... There was no way they had found out, he wasn't ready for them to know. They wouldn't understand, they couldn't understand... They would segregate him, just like he thought they would... They wouldn't talk to him again... They would shy away or make disgusted comments as though he were dog shit...
Yamato swallowed and looked back at where Taichi slept, the moonlight glowing through the room. He frowned and walked closer to the other room's glass door. He leaned against the brick wall, afraid his knees may give out... He listened quietly, his eyes closed, trying not to cry. He couldn't cry. He got hysterical when he cried, they would here him surely.
"... There is no reason for that! Yamato probably didn't say anything because of this exactly! You would have acted this exact way if he would have told you to your face, and you probably would have done something that you would have regretted!"
Takashii was standing up for him. Where were Yue and Yukata? It didn't matter. They weren't saying anything to Akira, so they were apparently against the fact that he was gay. He stood up away from the wall, the tears running down is face when he opened them. His vision was blurry, but he heard every word that was spoken.
"... Don't *even* say it's Yamato's fault, when you know damn well it's your *own* ignorance! If I were him, I wouldn't have said anything either! That doesn't excuse how he's distanced himself from us, but he doesn't need your contempt because you can't stay level-headed!"
He looked through the doorway and saw no one until Takashii walked into the doorway and froze, staring at the crying blonde.
Yamato stared at him, he was thankful that Takashii was on his side, but he was so afraid. Too afraid to move or speak. Yue walked up behind Takashii, a frown on his face.
"...Yamato-san..."
Yamato didn't move. He just stood there and cried silently, staring at the two in front of him. He could see Akira in the background, glaring; Yukata still sat on the bed, now staring in his direction.
Yue pushed by Takashii and stared up at the blonde. Yamato could sense the younger boy felt sorry for him, and he didn't take it in contempt. He understood that Yue was on his side, along with Takashii.
"Yamato-san," he whispered, just loud enough for Yamato to hear. "Are you gay...?"
Yamato closed his eyes. He wanted to smile at the naiveté in the boy's voice. He nodded slightly, opening his eyes. "Yes..." he whispered.
Yue and Yamato stared at each other for the longest time; no one made a sound, no one moved. Yamato was still crying, and he was surprised he wasn't going hysterical like usual. It was a quiet crying, a calm one.
"Yamato-san... Why didn't you tell us?" Yue blinked up at him.
Yamato looked at Takashii, behind him to Akira and over to where Yukata stood now, then back to Yue. They all wanted to know why. But he knew for different reasons. "I... I didn't want you guys to dislike me..." He frowned, hearing Akira almost inaudibly say 'Too late...'
"We don't dislike you Yamato..." he heard Yukata say. He looked up to see him standing next to Takashii. "We just wish you would have said something. We feel like jerks now, because of our word choice."
That had to be the most intelligent, nicest thing Yukata had ever said to him.
Yukata came forward to stand in front of him, pushing Yue out of the way gently. "Why don't you go sleep, we'll all talk in the morning over breakfast."
Yamato blinked and started to go. "Thanks you guys..."
***
Taichi groaned and rolled over, away from the light that shined through the glass door. He cuddled next to the warm body next to his and smiled contentedly in his half-asleep state. One arm lay over the boy next to him, running a finger along his back.
Yamato smiled, watching the tan face in front of his. He had went to bed like Yukata had said, but had been up for the past hour thinking. How would he explain what had happened last night to Taichi? Maybe he could ignore it and Takashii, Akira, Yue, Yukata and himself could talk when they returned to Odaiba later that day.
If he got up now and went to tell them, Taichi wouldn't know until after they talked... Once they got back to Odaiba, they could talk, just him and the band. It was his fault for not saying anything, why should Taichi have to be in the middle of it?
A small subconscious thought in the back of his mind told him that it was his fault, and Taichi was a part of it as well. He was Yamato's partner.
Yamato shook his head, frowning. After tucking some hair behind his ear, he placed a chaste kiss on Taichi's head--the lump had gotten smaller, though it was still there--and removed himself from the bed to change into something comfortable for the ride home and to go talk to the rest of the band briefly.
He wasn't exactly sure what he could say to them; maybe Akira was still sleeping and he could tell Takashii and the others that he wanted to wait and talk until they got back to Odaiba. But what if Akira was awake, then what would he do?
Yamato frowned. Ishida Yamato was *not* afraid of Keicha Akira. The little voice told him that he *was* afraid of what would happen if word got out about his sexual preferences though...
He sighed. If only he hadn't brought Taichi with him... Two days without seeing him wouldn't have been that bad. He would have been busy anyway.
No, it wasn't Taichi's fault. His own clumsiness caused this problem. He should have locked the doors, or better yet, not have fallen asleep while holding Taichi's hand and lying between the boy's legs.
After pulling a shirt over his head and fixing his hair, he took one last look at Taichi who was still sleeping before grabbing a keycard and exiting their room to talk to his band.
***
"So, I was wondering if maybe we could hold off this little talk until we got back to Odaiba. I don't want Taichi in it just yet and it's probably best to wait until we get back so we won't risk one of us, probably Taichi and I, not having a ride back," he whispered to the two members that were awake--Takashii and Yukata.
"Akira won't be happy about it, but it's probably for the best. We'll wait until we get back--do it after school one day. We'll meet at my place and talk," Takashii whispered.
"How about on Tuesday? Taichi won't have to wonder because he'll be busy with soccer practice until four, which will give us an hour and a half, plus another half-hour until he gets home."
Takashii nodded and looked over at Yukata, who shrugged. He didn't seem to care when they talked, if they talked at all. He had woke up about ten minutes before Yamato came over and wasn't exactly ready to begin the day. Which, of course, was evident in the fact that his hair was still everywhere, rather than pulled back into a loose ponytail like usual.
Yamato smiled. "Thanks a lot guys." He stood and turned to leave.
"Hey, just because we're okay with you being homosexual and all, doesn't mean we agree with the fact that you didn't mention it to us earlier," Takashii called quietly after him.
Yamato stopped and turned around slowly, his head bowed. "I know, and I'm sorry. You just have to understand it's kind of difficult to come out and say, "Hey! I'm gay!" and not mean happy..." He looked up with a wry grin on his face.
Yukata grinned. "Hurry back to your little--er... not so little, compared to you-- boyfriend."
Yamato smiled and left.
***
"Tai, come on. It's eleven thirty, time to get up..." Yamato nudged his still sleeping boyfriend, poking him in a spot on his side that only came in knowledge from practice.
Taichi simply grunted and rolled over, throwing the blankets up over his head, uncovering his feet and lower legs.
Yamato rose an eyebrow artfully as he looked at the protruding feet. Taichi had always been exceptionally ticklish, especially on his feet and around his ankles.
Sliding onto the bed and next to the curled feet, Yamato glanced back up at Taichi--or rather, where he was under the blankets--before closing in on one of the feet.
"Don't even *think* about it Ishida Yamato," a gruff voice called from under the mound of blankets.
Yamato grinned and crawled up to the head of the bed. He leaned down towards the blankets, smirking. "Why not? It's the only way to get you out of bed."
The blankets lowered a little, showing off the tired brown eyes that sparkled slightly with announced mischief. "Simply offering yourself would have quickly aroused me."
That comment simply got him a smack on top of the head.
"Ow!" Taichi sat up in the bed, leaning back against the headboard. "That was unnecessary."
Yamato rose an eyebrow and glanced quizzically at him. "I didn't mean that kind of arouse... Pervert."
Taichi grinned and leaned closer to him, "Ah, yes, but I'm *your* pervert..." He kissed him quickly on the lips, intent on moving in for the kill.
Before Yamato could complain, Taichi pounced, successfully bring Yamato down on the bed and smothering him with kisses.
"Taichi, get off of me!" Yamato pushed him away, his face scrunched up.
Taichi frowned and sat up, looking down at him. "I see, don't like my kisses anymore..."
"Idiot, go brush your teeth and maybe I would like them a little better."
***
After some time to themselves--both Yamato and Taichi, and the rest of the band--they eventually got together and began packing their things up to leave. Instruments were already in the beat up van, only left over food, and any other possessions they had brought with them had to be taken to the van.
There was an uneasiness in the air that Taichi didn't understand, and when he privately questioned Yamato about it, he simply got a shrug and a bag placed in his arms.
Akira was still bitter about the whole thing, but after Takashii had talked with him, he had eventually agreed that they could wait until they got back to Odaiba. He wasn't pleased that they would have to wait until Tuesday, their second day back home, but it would have to do.
He wasn't sure he was comfortable with Yamato being homosexual. He had never dealt with different sexual preferences from his own, and he wasn't sure he liked it. Yamato was different, more so than he was before the band found out. No one else in the band seemed to mind that he was gay, but Akira didn't like it. He knew Yamato was the backbone of the band, but he wasn't sure he wanted him in the band anymore. Takashii and him could do the singing, and there were plenty of songs that weren't completely written yet, thing they had written together a few years back, when Yamato was busy with other things.
Either that or they could audition for a new singer. Someone that looked more like the rest of the band so it didn't look like the lead singer was a sore thumb sticking out. They wouldn't have to play any instrument; they would just have to have a fresh, good voice and look normal. Yamato was different--he had blond hair and blue eyes. He was full decent Japanese, his entire family was, but he didn't look a bit Japanese except for his small eyes.
Of course, neither did Yue or Takashii, but they were only half-Japanese.
He sighed and looked towards the hotel where everyone was exiting. Yamato seemed uneasy as he entered the van; behind him Taichi looked confused. Good. Bastards deserved it. He turned back to the wheel and buckled his seat belt as the van side door shut and the passenger side door opened.
Takashii had a considerable frown on his face as he slipped into the seat, but Akira ignored it and started the van instead. Yes, it was considerable-- if it was anyone else looking at him.
***
The rest of the ride home, the entire three hours, was spent in an uncomfortable silence. Taichi was getting upset at the fact that Yamato didn't even look over at him; he simply sat there, staring at his feet or his hands in his lap. It was royally pissing him off and he would make sure Yamato found out when they finally got back to Odaiba.
In the last half-hour, Yue and Yukata pulled out some cards, but after Akira, who once again had switched places with Takashii, turned around and glared at the bunch of them, they put them away.
Luckily, they reached the docks within fifteen minutes of the boys putting the cards away.
When they reached the docks, Akira pulled Yamato away from everyone else.
"Listen, Ishida. I'm not too keen on you being homosexual, but we'll clear that up on Tuesday after school at Takashii's place. Make sure you're there," he stated, staring the blonde in the eyes briefly before Takashii came over at Yamato walked away.
Tuesday. That meant he had today and tomorrow to explain to Taichi what happened. This would be fun...
***
TBC.... Next, the talk...
Story two -- Paying the Price
Angst, shounen ai, parental abuse, homophobes.
Rating: R, for parental abuse, adult situations and language. [Possible lemon, no guarantees though.]
AN: I always hate to see parents not except their children in certain cases. One of those cases is when a child is homosexual. I'm going to try and write this as best I can, and I hope to have the angsty part down since I'm sort of going through that now with my own parents. They don't seem to watch their words and use words like 'fag', 'queer' and other words such as that around me and it's upsetting. But Taichi's gonna be a little braver than I am in my case. ^^;
Digimon is the rightful property of Toei animation, fox kids and a bunch of rich Japanese folk. I claim to own none and write this simply for other's, and my, enjoyment.
***
Chapter Three
***
"What the fuck! Does he think that we're not mature enough to handle the fact that he's a damned queer!? Bastard... He's probably thinking a bunch of shit about us for using words like 'gay', 'fag', and 'queer', bastard!" Akira stormed back and forth across the hotel room.
Yue sat on one of the beds, holding a pillow tightly, eyes wide with shock. Yukata sat next to him, eyes wide, mouth open. He was thinking it probably wasn't the best idea to tell Akira that Taichi was Yamato's boyfriend, not best friend.
"No wonder the bastard didn't want to sleep in the same room as us, he wanted to be in a room alone with Taichi--so he could fuck the idiot up the ass!" Akira nearly screamed. Takashii placed a hand over Akira's mouth and sat him on one of the beds.
"Chill out, Akira. What the hell is your problem with Yamato and Taichi?" Takashii asked, removing his hand and staring down at the red head.
"Only the fact that Yamato didn't have the damned decency to tell us he was a fag!" Akira spat, trying to get up.
Takashii slapped Akira across the cheek, making him fall to the side. "What the hell is your problem!? Do you have something against Yamato being gay?"
Akira glared tenaciously up at Takashii's calm face, watching out of the corner of his eye as Takashii rubbed his hands together. "Glad it hurt."
Takashii's eyes widened then narrowed. "What the hell is your problem? I didn't particularly care for Taichi, but just because you find out he's sleeping with our lead singer and the creator of this band you think it's okay to hate both of them? Stop being a narrow-minded bastard, Akira. There's no need for that. They need our help, not you're hate."
"Nice little speech, but it doesn't change how I feel about the two of them," Akira uttered, slowly getting to his feet.
Takashii pushed him back down onto the bed. "Listen," he spat harshly, lowering himself to glare at Akira. "There is no reason for you to hate either of them. So what if what they do is different, since when did you become a little religious freak?"
Akira glared daggers at the boy in front of him.
"Didn't think you were. You don't have to like it, but there's no reason for you not to like them. You know as well as I do, if we lose Yamato because of your ignorance, we lose the band. And some of us will lose a friend. So be careful of what you say." Takashii stood and began to walk over to the sliding glass door to shut it.
"*My* ignorance?" He huffed and stood. "I would say it's Yamato's ignorance for not *telling* us. If he would have earlier, then we wouldn't have this problem. The bastard is too incompetent to say anything."
Takashii whirled around and glared. "There is no reason for that! Yamato probably didn't say anything because of this exactly! You would have acted this exact way if he would have told you to your face, and you probably would have done something that you would have regretted! Don't *even* say it's Yamato's fault, when you know damn well it's your *own* ignorance! If I were him, I wouldn't have said anything either! That doesn't excuse how he's distanced himself from us, but he doesn't need your contempt because you can't stay level-headed!"
He went over to the sliding-glass door and froze. Yamato stood there, in his robe, hair messy from laying on it wet. Tears ran down his pale face silently as he stared at Takashii.
Yue, guessing something was wrong, walked over to see what Takashii was looking at.
"...Yamato-san..."
***
Yamato blinked his eyes open and looked behind him where Taichi slept, leaning against the headboard, remote in one hand, his hand in the other. Yamato smiled and grabbed the remote carefully, turning off the television. There was more light coming into the room than there should be...
He looked over to where the glass door was. Taichi had left the door open slightly, and the curtain had been drawn. Now the door was completely open and the curtain open as well.
He heard yelling from the next room. It sounded like Akira and Takashii were arguing. He got up slowly and walked over to the glass door and listened.
"... Damned decency to tell us he was a fag!" he heard Akira yell.
"... Something against Yamato being gay?" Takashii asked loudly.
Yamato's eyes widened. How... How did they know? Had one of them came in and saw him sleeping with Taichi? He guessed so, considering the door was open. He felt the bile in his stomach. This wasn't a good thing. If they all knew, he would be kicked out of the band for sure. They could tell other people, the jocks at the school--the idiots who thought they were cool. He would get beat up. Taichi would get hurt.
Images of Taichi lying against a school locker, a bloody nose and a busted lip, were what filled his head for a moment. It couldn't be happening, no, it couldn't. He was dreaming... There was no way they had found out, he wasn't ready for them to know. They wouldn't understand, they couldn't understand... They would segregate him, just like he thought they would... They wouldn't talk to him again... They would shy away or make disgusted comments as though he were dog shit...
Yamato swallowed and looked back at where Taichi slept, the moonlight glowing through the room. He frowned and walked closer to the other room's glass door. He leaned against the brick wall, afraid his knees may give out... He listened quietly, his eyes closed, trying not to cry. He couldn't cry. He got hysterical when he cried, they would here him surely.
"... There is no reason for that! Yamato probably didn't say anything because of this exactly! You would have acted this exact way if he would have told you to your face, and you probably would have done something that you would have regretted!"
Takashii was standing up for him. Where were Yue and Yukata? It didn't matter. They weren't saying anything to Akira, so they were apparently against the fact that he was gay. He stood up away from the wall, the tears running down is face when he opened them. His vision was blurry, but he heard every word that was spoken.
"... Don't *even* say it's Yamato's fault, when you know damn well it's your *own* ignorance! If I were him, I wouldn't have said anything either! That doesn't excuse how he's distanced himself from us, but he doesn't need your contempt because you can't stay level-headed!"
He looked through the doorway and saw no one until Takashii walked into the doorway and froze, staring at the crying blonde.
Yamato stared at him, he was thankful that Takashii was on his side, but he was so afraid. Too afraid to move or speak. Yue walked up behind Takashii, a frown on his face.
"...Yamato-san..."
Yamato didn't move. He just stood there and cried silently, staring at the two in front of him. He could see Akira in the background, glaring; Yukata still sat on the bed, now staring in his direction.
Yue pushed by Takashii and stared up at the blonde. Yamato could sense the younger boy felt sorry for him, and he didn't take it in contempt. He understood that Yue was on his side, along with Takashii.
"Yamato-san," he whispered, just loud enough for Yamato to hear. "Are you gay...?"
Yamato closed his eyes. He wanted to smile at the naiveté in the boy's voice. He nodded slightly, opening his eyes. "Yes..." he whispered.
Yue and Yamato stared at each other for the longest time; no one made a sound, no one moved. Yamato was still crying, and he was surprised he wasn't going hysterical like usual. It was a quiet crying, a calm one.
"Yamato-san... Why didn't you tell us?" Yue blinked up at him.
Yamato looked at Takashii, behind him to Akira and over to where Yukata stood now, then back to Yue. They all wanted to know why. But he knew for different reasons. "I... I didn't want you guys to dislike me..." He frowned, hearing Akira almost inaudibly say 'Too late...'
"We don't dislike you Yamato..." he heard Yukata say. He looked up to see him standing next to Takashii. "We just wish you would have said something. We feel like jerks now, because of our word choice."
That had to be the most intelligent, nicest thing Yukata had ever said to him.
Yukata came forward to stand in front of him, pushing Yue out of the way gently. "Why don't you go sleep, we'll all talk in the morning over breakfast."
Yamato blinked and started to go. "Thanks you guys..."
***
Taichi groaned and rolled over, away from the light that shined through the glass door. He cuddled next to the warm body next to his and smiled contentedly in his half-asleep state. One arm lay over the boy next to him, running a finger along his back.
Yamato smiled, watching the tan face in front of his. He had went to bed like Yukata had said, but had been up for the past hour thinking. How would he explain what had happened last night to Taichi? Maybe he could ignore it and Takashii, Akira, Yue, Yukata and himself could talk when they returned to Odaiba later that day.
If he got up now and went to tell them, Taichi wouldn't know until after they talked... Once they got back to Odaiba, they could talk, just him and the band. It was his fault for not saying anything, why should Taichi have to be in the middle of it?
A small subconscious thought in the back of his mind told him that it was his fault, and Taichi was a part of it as well. He was Yamato's partner.
Yamato shook his head, frowning. After tucking some hair behind his ear, he placed a chaste kiss on Taichi's head--the lump had gotten smaller, though it was still there--and removed himself from the bed to change into something comfortable for the ride home and to go talk to the rest of the band briefly.
He wasn't exactly sure what he could say to them; maybe Akira was still sleeping and he could tell Takashii and the others that he wanted to wait and talk until they got back to Odaiba. But what if Akira was awake, then what would he do?
Yamato frowned. Ishida Yamato was *not* afraid of Keicha Akira. The little voice told him that he *was* afraid of what would happen if word got out about his sexual preferences though...
He sighed. If only he hadn't brought Taichi with him... Two days without seeing him wouldn't have been that bad. He would have been busy anyway.
No, it wasn't Taichi's fault. His own clumsiness caused this problem. He should have locked the doors, or better yet, not have fallen asleep while holding Taichi's hand and lying between the boy's legs.
After pulling a shirt over his head and fixing his hair, he took one last look at Taichi who was still sleeping before grabbing a keycard and exiting their room to talk to his band.
***
"So, I was wondering if maybe we could hold off this little talk until we got back to Odaiba. I don't want Taichi in it just yet and it's probably best to wait until we get back so we won't risk one of us, probably Taichi and I, not having a ride back," he whispered to the two members that were awake--Takashii and Yukata.
"Akira won't be happy about it, but it's probably for the best. We'll wait until we get back--do it after school one day. We'll meet at my place and talk," Takashii whispered.
"How about on Tuesday? Taichi won't have to wonder because he'll be busy with soccer practice until four, which will give us an hour and a half, plus another half-hour until he gets home."
Takashii nodded and looked over at Yukata, who shrugged. He didn't seem to care when they talked, if they talked at all. He had woke up about ten minutes before Yamato came over and wasn't exactly ready to begin the day. Which, of course, was evident in the fact that his hair was still everywhere, rather than pulled back into a loose ponytail like usual.
Yamato smiled. "Thanks a lot guys." He stood and turned to leave.
"Hey, just because we're okay with you being homosexual and all, doesn't mean we agree with the fact that you didn't mention it to us earlier," Takashii called quietly after him.
Yamato stopped and turned around slowly, his head bowed. "I know, and I'm sorry. You just have to understand it's kind of difficult to come out and say, "Hey! I'm gay!" and not mean happy..." He looked up with a wry grin on his face.
Yukata grinned. "Hurry back to your little--er... not so little, compared to you-- boyfriend."
Yamato smiled and left.
***
"Tai, come on. It's eleven thirty, time to get up..." Yamato nudged his still sleeping boyfriend, poking him in a spot on his side that only came in knowledge from practice.
Taichi simply grunted and rolled over, throwing the blankets up over his head, uncovering his feet and lower legs.
Yamato rose an eyebrow artfully as he looked at the protruding feet. Taichi had always been exceptionally ticklish, especially on his feet and around his ankles.
Sliding onto the bed and next to the curled feet, Yamato glanced back up at Taichi--or rather, where he was under the blankets--before closing in on one of the feet.
"Don't even *think* about it Ishida Yamato," a gruff voice called from under the mound of blankets.
Yamato grinned and crawled up to the head of the bed. He leaned down towards the blankets, smirking. "Why not? It's the only way to get you out of bed."
The blankets lowered a little, showing off the tired brown eyes that sparkled slightly with announced mischief. "Simply offering yourself would have quickly aroused me."
That comment simply got him a smack on top of the head.
"Ow!" Taichi sat up in the bed, leaning back against the headboard. "That was unnecessary."
Yamato rose an eyebrow and glanced quizzically at him. "I didn't mean that kind of arouse... Pervert."
Taichi grinned and leaned closer to him, "Ah, yes, but I'm *your* pervert..." He kissed him quickly on the lips, intent on moving in for the kill.
Before Yamato could complain, Taichi pounced, successfully bring Yamato down on the bed and smothering him with kisses.
"Taichi, get off of me!" Yamato pushed him away, his face scrunched up.
Taichi frowned and sat up, looking down at him. "I see, don't like my kisses anymore..."
"Idiot, go brush your teeth and maybe I would like them a little better."
***
After some time to themselves--both Yamato and Taichi, and the rest of the band--they eventually got together and began packing their things up to leave. Instruments were already in the beat up van, only left over food, and any other possessions they had brought with them had to be taken to the van.
There was an uneasiness in the air that Taichi didn't understand, and when he privately questioned Yamato about it, he simply got a shrug and a bag placed in his arms.
Akira was still bitter about the whole thing, but after Takashii had talked with him, he had eventually agreed that they could wait until they got back to Odaiba. He wasn't pleased that they would have to wait until Tuesday, their second day back home, but it would have to do.
He wasn't sure he was comfortable with Yamato being homosexual. He had never dealt with different sexual preferences from his own, and he wasn't sure he liked it. Yamato was different, more so than he was before the band found out. No one else in the band seemed to mind that he was gay, but Akira didn't like it. He knew Yamato was the backbone of the band, but he wasn't sure he wanted him in the band anymore. Takashii and him could do the singing, and there were plenty of songs that weren't completely written yet, thing they had written together a few years back, when Yamato was busy with other things.
Either that or they could audition for a new singer. Someone that looked more like the rest of the band so it didn't look like the lead singer was a sore thumb sticking out. They wouldn't have to play any instrument; they would just have to have a fresh, good voice and look normal. Yamato was different--he had blond hair and blue eyes. He was full decent Japanese, his entire family was, but he didn't look a bit Japanese except for his small eyes.
Of course, neither did Yue or Takashii, but they were only half-Japanese.
He sighed and looked towards the hotel where everyone was exiting. Yamato seemed uneasy as he entered the van; behind him Taichi looked confused. Good. Bastards deserved it. He turned back to the wheel and buckled his seat belt as the van side door shut and the passenger side door opened.
Takashii had a considerable frown on his face as he slipped into the seat, but Akira ignored it and started the van instead. Yes, it was considerable-- if it was anyone else looking at him.
***
The rest of the ride home, the entire three hours, was spent in an uncomfortable silence. Taichi was getting upset at the fact that Yamato didn't even look over at him; he simply sat there, staring at his feet or his hands in his lap. It was royally pissing him off and he would make sure Yamato found out when they finally got back to Odaiba.
In the last half-hour, Yue and Yukata pulled out some cards, but after Akira, who once again had switched places with Takashii, turned around and glared at the bunch of them, they put them away.
Luckily, they reached the docks within fifteen minutes of the boys putting the cards away.
When they reached the docks, Akira pulled Yamato away from everyone else.
"Listen, Ishida. I'm not too keen on you being homosexual, but we'll clear that up on Tuesday after school at Takashii's place. Make sure you're there," he stated, staring the blonde in the eyes briefly before Takashii came over at Yamato walked away.
Tuesday. That meant he had today and tomorrow to explain to Taichi what happened. This would be fun...
***
TBC.... Next, the talk...
