Author's note: Here's the final chapter of 'Jealousy'! I'm sorry it took so long. A combination of my internet going down and me being ill meant I couldn't give this to my beta-reader for about a month. Gomen nasai, everyone!
The song TK and Patamon sing is 'Brave Heart', the Japanese Digivolving theme. I just love it! And I have such a funny mental image of these two singing it ^_^
I'm pretty sure that Matt's dad's name is Richard. It could be Malcolm, I'm not sure. *shrugs* Well, I called him Richard anyway. And another dad turns up as well...Joe's father! *growls* I don't like him. He's so mean to Jyou-kun ;_;
Some more notes: Ken tells a dirty joke (heheh) and 'Oyasumi nasai' means 'good night' *grins as everyone is suddenly freaked out*
This is my favourite chapter in the entire story, but also the hardest to write. It gets its title from an old proverb I can't quite remember _. But it went something along the lines of 'Whether they love or hate each other, not even God can come between two brothers.' Rather appropriate here... Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go hide from all the Matt fans that will want to kill me...
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Chapter 4: The Love Between Two Brothers
Matt shivered and pulled his jacket closer around himself. He had been right: it was absolutely freezing. Plus a fog had begun to settle over the city. The busy Tokyo streets were almost totally deserted as he threaded his way towards the meeting place. It was one of the many bridges that spanned the river that ran through the city. This bridge, however, was being resurfaced and so was fenced off. No traffic or pedestrians could get on it.
...Apart from the two blond brothers, of course.
Matt stared up at the chain link fence that blocked access to the bridge. A brief memory of a time when he and Tai had broken into a place like this before stirred at the back of his mind, but he pushed it away. Gripping the wire links in his fingers, he climbed up the fence and dropped down on the other side. He stood silent, making sure that no one had heard him.
Good. No guards.
He padded stealthily between the dormant machinery and the upturned tarmac. The fog was growing thicker and muffling his footsteps. He looked about. No sign of his brother.
"TK?" he tried to whisper and shout at the same time. Wouldn't be much good if there did turn out to be some workmen still around.
"Here, Matt." He looked round to see his brother come out of the fog like some ancient spectre. His white bucket hat, still with the faint image of a bloody handprint, shielded his eyes, casting his face in shadow. They stood looking at each other for a moment, then TK beckoned him. "Follow me."
Matt obliged and followed his little brother as he was led deeper into the fog. Eventually they came to the middle of the bridge. TK stopped.
The silence reigned between them.
"So...what did you want to talk to me about?"
TK said nothing.
"Is it..." he hesitated "Is it about Kari?"
"You could say that."
Matt jumped slightly at his brother's voice. It sounded emotionless and almost...dead.
"Do you know what it's like, Matt? To have your heart ripped out of your chest?"
Yamato guessed the second meaning and shuddered. No, TK would never do something like that.
"No...I guess I haven't."
"It's not a very nice feeling. In fact, it's downright unpleasant. And I've been feeling that way for a long time."
"Look TK, I'm sorry if you don't like the fact that me and Kari are going out...but you have to accept that it's what she truly wants!"
"Really?" TK turned his head slightly and his eye sparkled from a distant light "Do you truly believe that's what she wants?"
"Why? Who do you think she wants?"
"It's not who she wants, it's who she needs."
Matt sighed and lent against the railing of the bridge. The wire guards had been taken down, and only a railing stopped him from plummeting "And that someone is you."
TK turned round, both eyes glittering. And for a split second, between the glow and the shadow and the fog, he looked like a demon "Why, yes."
Matt shook his head "Look, I know you really like her, but you have to accept that she doesn't like you in return! Why can't you understand it?"
"Because I know it isn't true." TK walked up to his elder brother and stared deeply into his eyes. Matt looked back and saw the fear shimmering in them. He wasn't the new leader of the Digi-Destined, or the angel of Hope...just a scared little boy, terrified of losing what he loved.
"Do you..." TK hesitated nervously "Do you have any idea about all the things I've done to make her mine? Do you?"
"Well, I can imagine..."
"NO YOU CAN'T!!" TK's voice raised to a shriek "There's no way you can imagine what I've done!" he turned away and his voice grew sad "I'm not the innocent bearer of Hope anymore. And I'm no longer that little happy child who used to follow you around like a puppy dog."
"TK..." Matt got up and was about to walk towards him, when he heard a faint whisper.
"Get rid of him. Put him out of the picture. Then Kari will be yours...Forever."
"Um...TK?"
"It's a beautiful mantra, isn't it?" TK raised his head and gazed up at the stars "It's what I've believed in for a long time. And then...it worked."
"What worked?"
"My mantra." He turned and grinned "Can't you feel its power? I believed in it...and it made Kari mine."
"But...'get rid of him'? What do mean by..." Matt stopped, realisation hitting him "Davis."
TK looked at him "What?"
"Davis...it was you." Matt stared at his little brother "You killed Davis."
TK was silent, then said in a quiet voice "Is that what you truly believe? That I would take the life of someone else to be with Kari?"
Matt hesitated. Was he right? Or was he jumping to conclusions?
Takeru walked over to his brother again.
"You know, Matt, I'm really surprised at you. Why would think that your own flesh and blood would do something like that?"
"I'm...I'm sorry." Matt averted his gaze "I guess I just misunderstood."
"Yamato?"
Matt looked up to see TK grinning evilly. "You were right."
He gave his brother a vicious push, sending him flying backwards. He crashed into the railing and the momentum sent him off balance. His arms windmilled, trying desperately to right himself...and with a scream he plummeted.
TK peered over the railing.
Matt had caught hold of a thin metal ledge and was hanging above the churning grey waters by one hand. He looked down at the waves, then back up at his brother.
"Takeru...TK...please, pull me up!"
TK laid down on the concrete and watching his brother swinging 50 foot from his death with an amused look on his face "Oh, and what will happen when I do, hmm? I'll be sent off to an asylum and you'll be with Kari forevermore."
"No TK, I won't tell anyone, honest! Just please, pull me up!"
TK laughed, a laugh somewhere between the pureness of an angel and the corruption of a demon. "You expect me to believe that? And even if I did pull you up, you'd still be with Kari!"
"Fine, I'll split up with her then!"
He blinked, shocked "You really would?"
"Yes!"
"Just to save your skin?"
"Yes...no! TK, just pull me up and we can talk about it!"
"You disgust me, Yamato. Treating Kari's love like some cheap object. Like another notch on your bedpost." He reached into his pocket and pulled something out, something silver. Matt's eyes widened as something slid out of the metal object.
A switchblade.
TK saw the fear in his eyes and smiled "My, that look seems familiar...oh yes! It was the same look Davis and Tai had..." Matt looked up and shivered at the fire in those sapphire eyes "Right before I KILLED them!"
Matt swung round, trying to haul himself up "You mean YOU killed Tai? You BASTARD! Tai'd done nothing to you! Nothing!"
TK tutted and shook his finger, like an adult scolding a small child. "My my, such strong language, young Yamato! You think I actually enjoyed killing them, do you? I didn't do it because I wanted to, I did it because I had to! To safeguard mine and Kari's love!" His voice dropped to a sinister hiss. "And you, big brother, just happened to get in the way!" he looked thoughtfully at the switchblade "What a shame...you had such a lovely voice as well! What a pity to waste it!"
The blade blurred down in a blinding arc, slashing across Yamato's throat. He gasped and scrambled to retain his grip on the ledge while trying to stop the blood. It hadn't severed his windpipe, but was deep enough to cause a lot of pain and blood loss. He glared up and tried to speak, yet nothing came out.
He couldn't talk.
"What's the matter, Yamato?" asked TK, smirking "Cat got your tongue?"
Matt tried to swear at him, but it hurt too much to speak. No doubt the blade had damaged his voice box. His vision began to blur from the blood loss, but he saw TK raise the switchblade again.
He forced the words out, despite the agony, and they came bubbling through the blood that clogged his throat.
"I...won't...let...you...have...the...sa...satis...faction...of...THAT!" with a triumphant smirk, he let go and fell silently into the dark waters below, silently laughing all the way.
TK lowered his blade and watched the spot where his brother had landed.
Matt didn't resurface.
He took out a tissue from his pocket and wiped his blade clean. Finishing his task, he threw it into the river below. He stood up and went to the other side of the bridge and peered down.
No tissue.
And no Yamato.
He stood and watched for several minutes, just to make sure.
Yes, no Yamato.
No Yamato at all.
He turned round and walked back home.
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TK sat with his feet up, watching TV and eating a chocolate bar. The holidays were great: nothing to do but laze around! Patamon was still sleeping off the pills. He'd been asleep for about 15 hours now. Maybe five tablets was a bit too much...
The telephone rang, but he didn't bother to get up to answer it. The answer machine was on anyway. Just then his mother walked into the room and glared at him for not answering the phone. He gave her a look that said 'What? The answer machine's on! '
Nancy picked up the phone and started talking. TK went back to watching his programme. The main character was babbling on about crystals, or cards or something, which would give him power to do whatever and beat whats-his-name and save the world etc etc. He yawned. Boooooooooooring!
"TK?"
He looked round. His mother had covered the mouthpiece with her hand to talk to him, while still on the phone.
"Yeah?"
"Have you seen Matt?"
He tensed "What, recently?"
"Yes. Your father said that he went out last night but didn't come back. He tried all Matt's friends but he's not there either, so then he tried here. Do you know where he could be?"
TK shook his head "No, I don't know. Sorry. Have you tried Kari's?" Yeah, like she'll know that he's at the bottom of the river...
Nancy relayed TK's message, then turned back "Yeah, he tried that first. Any ideas?"
"I dunno. He's probably just crashed at one of his mate's house. He'll turn up later." In a body bag, no doubt...
Nancy finished the phone conversation and hung up. She sat down on a chair and looked at the TV. The main character was being a hero again and doing something both noble and extremely stupid. "I hope he's alright. Matt's never done something like this before."
TK stole a look at her "Oh don't worry. He'll be okay."
Nancy shook her head "I guess I'm just being over-protective. He's sensible enough to stay out of trouble."
Takeru went back to watching TV.
Yes mother, sure, whatever you say...
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The false dawn was creeping over Tokyo harbour. The small fishing boats were just setting out and the gulls started to flock in the sky. The rocky beaches by the river were deserted apart from a few sleepy seagulls that dozed fitfully.
"Rwww RWARWARWAR!!!"
The seagulls snapped awake and flew off, keening angrily at the small dog that chased after them, yapping and barking.
"Ouji! Ouji! Come back here! Leave those seagulls alone!"
Ouji, a little ginger coloured King Charles spaniel, yipped happily and ran to his master. He jumped round his master's feet as his owner tried to untangle some seaweed from his long floppy ears "Honestly Ouji, is that proper behaviour for a little prince, eh?"
Ouji barked. His name meant 'Prince' in Japanese, and his master often made jokes about it.
"Now, you go have some fun, but don't run off, okay?"
Ouji bounded ahead as his master walked slower down the beach. The little dog ran to the shoreline, but yelped and ran away as a wave came too close. He sniffed around the washed up debris when he noticed something.
Something didn't smell right.
It wasn't a garbage smell.
It was...a human smell.
There was a human around!
He looked up and down the beach. No, only his master. And it wasn't his smell.
Ouji started to sniff around, then came to a pile of seaweed and jetsam. He started to dig through it with his small paws. Yes, the human smell was in here!
"Ouji! What are you doing? Leave that trash alone!"
The little dog barked at him to come over, then resumed his digging. Sighing, his master came over.
"Look, what have I told you about..."
He stopped when he noticed his dog trying to pull something out.
It was a sleeve.
And there was an arm still in it.
Suddenly filled with urgency, he joined in the digging. Soon they had completely uncovered it.
The body of a teenage boy with blond hair, lying on his front.
The man hesitated, then turned him over.
Dead eyes stared back at him and the throat was cut and caked in blood.
He yelped and fell backwards, close to hyperventilating. Shakily he pulled out a mobile phone and dialled in a number.
"Operator, can I help you?"
"Y-yes...ambulance please, and the police! I...I've found a body!"
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"Tsukame! Mabushii asu wo! Mamore! Ai suru hito wo! Takumashii jibun ni nareru sa..."
Takeru's voice came echoing out the apartment. He was in a strangely happy mood today. Patamon had finally woken from his drug-fuelled sleep and Matt had been missing for about 36 hours. Now he was just prancing round the room with Patamon, with the stereo on full blast, pretending to be rockstars. Patamon had found a sparkly wig in the bottom of the wardrobe (goodness knows what that was doing there) and had put it on, and now they were jumping about playing air guitar.
"Kowase! Yowaki na kimi wo! Kuzuse! Butsukaru kabe wo!"
Patamon grinned and supplied the next line.
"Atsui kodou buki ni naru kara..."
"BELIEVE IN YOUR HEEEEEEEEEEART!!!" The two had just hit the final high note when Nancy came crashing in. They both froze mid air guitar-riff, looking very embarrassed.
"Er...kiisan?"
"TK! Quick, get your coat!"
Nancy looked pale and was breathing heavily.
"What's wrong? What's the matter?"
"It's Matt..." Nancy took a deep breath "He's in the hospital!"
TK swore, but not for the reason his mother suspected. He grabbed his jacket and ran out the apartment with his mother, Patamon close behind. They bundled into the car and TK's hand clenched on the armrest, almost making it buckle.
If Matt's still alive...then he'll tell everyone about me! About Tai, about Davis...about HIM! And then...Kari will NEVER be mine!!
Patamon, sensing his partner's nervousness, patted his arm "Don't worry TK, I'm sure Matt will be all right!"
TK smiled back "Yeah, you're right. He's gonna be okay."
Yes, he's gonna be okay...but not when I'm through with him!
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The hospital was bustling with activity. Doctors and nurses wandered about, visitors came and went and people with minor complaints got directed to the correct department.
TK stood and watched them all through slitted eyes. He didn't like hospitals. Not one bit. After tearing himself up he had been forced to stay in here for several days. And he hated every moment of it. If he hadn't been discharged he would've escaped away.
Nancy Takaishi was getting hysterical by reception, as the poor receptionist tried to bring up Matt's details. Eventually she managed to find out his room number and brief direction to where it was. Not even stopping to say thank you, Nancy turned, grabbed her son and ran towards the lift.
A few corridors later, Nancy rounded a corner and saw a familiar figure leaning against a wall, anxiously chewing on the end of a ballpoint pen.
"Richard?"
Richard Ishida started at the voice, then got to his feet as he saw who it was.
"Nancy?"
His ex-wife practically threw herself at him "Where's Matt? What happened to him? Is he okay??"
Richard shook her to stop her becoming hysterical "Calm down! Let me explain!" he took a deep breath "This morning someone found him on the beach...he had been washed up by the tide." He braced himself for the hardest piece of the news "His throat had been cut and he'd been dumped in the river."
Nancy shook her head, almost disbelieving "You mean...someone tried to kill him?"
"Either that, or it was suicide." They both turned round to see TK, Patamon on shoulder, staring at them with steely eyes "I know my brother. He'd know better than to walk on darkened streets, and I doubt he has any enemies that hate him enough to do that. So maybe..." he averted his gaze to the floor "He wasn't dumped." His voice lowered to a whisper "He jumped."
Nancy went over to him and grabbed his shoulders "TK! How could you say such a thing! Matt would never try to kill himself! He's got too much to live for!"
TK raised his head and Nancy saw the fear that was in those sapphire eyes and hugged her youngest. Richard Ishida went and stood beside them, not sure whether to wrap his huge arms around them or not. So instead, he just stood there awkwardly.
"Mr and Mrs Ishida?"
They all looked round to see a doctor standing a few feet away from them. He was immensely tall and well built enough to be a rugby player. Short grey/blue hair clung to his skull and coal black eyes peered at them. TK was struck by the fact that he looked an awful lot like Joe, and pretty much guessed who he was.
"Takaishi." Said Nancy out of habit.
"Gomen. But are you both the parents of Yamato Ishida?"
They nodded.
"Well, your son is now out of surgery. Would you be as kind as to follow me?"
They followed in silence, until TK spoke up "Are you Dr. Kido?"
The doctor looked down at him with those emotionless eyes, making him feel 8 years old again "Yes, I am. Why do you ask?"
"I'm friends with your son, Joe."
"Ah, yes. Jyou." The tone he said it in clearly indicated he didn't want to talk about his Digi-Destined son, so TK slipped back beside his mother. He'd thought that Joe had sorted out all the problems with his father long ago. Mind you, with his father looking like he could break a Monochromon's spine with one hand, he didn't blame Joe for not standing up to him.
Eventually they came to another waiting room. Another doctor, a student, got up.
"This is Doctor Arita. He'll be taking you from here." Dr Kido turned to leave, but for a few seconds, stared down at TK. The depths of those coal black eyes reminded TK of the Dark Ocean and he trembled slightly. He was almost thankful when Joe's father left the room.
"Um...Hello." He turned back and took a look at this new doctor. He looked barely 20 years old, hardly out of college. Bangs of his black hair flopped over his eyes and, although attempting to be cheerful, he exuded that aura of someone scared of everything. Rather like Joe, TK mused. "I'm Doctor Arita, and I assume that you're the parents of Yamato." He peered down at TK "And his little brother." He looked at Patamon "And his...um..."
"I'm a Digimon." said Patamon "And my partner's TK."
"...Friend. Right." He gestured. "If you would so kind to follow me..."
They went down some more corridors until Dr Arita eventually stopped at a door. He held it open politely to let everyone else in, then followed them in himself.
Takeru pulled up short at the sight in front of him.
Yamato was lying, as still as death, on the hospital bed, wired up to countless machines. His hair was matted and unkempt and his skin ghostly pale. A deep scar was torn across his throat, sealed by several thick stitches. An oxygen tube ran from a machine into his partially opened mouth and down into his lungs. For a few seconds, there was silence in the room save for the soft beeping of a heart monitor, until Nancy broke it with a sob. Richard, sensing her distress, wrapped his arms around her and she cried into his chest.
TK stood and watched impassively
"He was brought in early this morning." Arita's voice cut through the atmosphere like a knife "He was found on a beach by a man walking his dog. He was in a critical condition, but we've managed to stabilise it for now." He shook his head "Hopefully he should regain consciousness in a few days, and make a recovery in about a month."
Nancy sat down heavily on the chair next to the bed, picked up Matt's hand and started to stroke it. There was silence for a while again.
"Your son's in a band, isn't he? The Teenage Wolves?"
"Yes," Richard smiled "He's the lead singer and guitarist. No doubt when all the fans hear of this he'll be swamped with 'get well soon' cards."
Arita nodded "Yes, I thought he was in that band. My little sister's mad on them." He voice grew quiet "But...I'm afraid that there's some bad news."
Nancy looked round fearfully "What? What is it?"
Arita sighed and looked at the floor "When his throat was cut, although it didn't severe an artery, it damaged his voice box...he may never speak again, yet alone sing. I'm afraid his singing days are over."
"Oh, poor Matt..." Nancy resumed stroking his hand "Singing was his life! What's he going to say when he wakes?" she realised her faux pas, ignored it and turned back to Arita "Isn't there anything you can do? Can't you fix his voice box or something?"
Doctor Arita shook his head "No, I'm afraid not. It's been damaged beyond repair. I'm sorry."
Richard sighed "Well, at least he's alive. That's the main thing."
"Yes." TK stared at the heart monitor and spoke in deadpan "That's the main thing."
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True to Doctor Arita's words, Matt's condition stabilised and he was moved from the emergency ward into a private room. And true to Richard's words, the room was packed with cards, flowers and presents from all his fans. In fact, there had been so many that they had to stop bringing them in, and most of them were lying at home. But beside his bed were the ones from the Digi-Destined, and, most prominently, the one from Kari.
Gabumon had come from the Digital World to visit him. Given the choice, he would've stayed by his side permanently, but the hospital didn't take too kindly with that. So, he was staying with Richard instead. Every visiting time he came, unless Richard was at work and couldn't get him a lift in. And each time they prayed he would wake up.
It had been a week since he had been brought in. The Digi-Destined and their Digimon had come to visit and Joe, eager to show off the fact that he had just passed his driving test, had picked up Gabumon (he would've gone on his moped, but the fact was that the helmet wouldn't go round Gabumon's horn).
Now they all crammed into the room, Kari sitting next to the bed and holding her boyfriend's hand. TK had gone out to get everyone a drink. He didn't seem to like to stay long; mind you, no one blamed him. After all, it was his brother lying there unconscious.
"And then I said..." Ken gave a dramatic pause and all the Digi-Destined stared at him "'No dammit, that's a pencil'!"
Everyone roared with laughter, except Cody who blushed. It lasted for a good minute, and when they calmed down, something set them off again. Sora wiped away a tear caused by laughing too hard.
"Oh Ken, I never expected you to say something like that! Honestly, you're just a hentai!"
Ken blushed "No I'm not! It was just...ah..."
Kari laughed again. It was a wonderful release from all the tension and worry she had been feeling. And just wait until she told TK that sto-
Someone squeezed her hand.
She froze, then looked down at the hand in which she held Matt's.
"Kari?" asked Izzy, noticing something wrong "What's the matter?"
"I...I thought..."
A quiet groan cut her short.
Everyone fell silent.
"Matt?" asked Gabumon, leaning over the bed to his partner.
The seconds dragged by.
Almost unnoticeable at first, Yamato's eyelids began to flutter.
Everyone held their breath.
Then, slowly, painfully...Matt opened his eyes.
He blinked confusedly, trying to focus. His gaze shifted onto the Digi-Destined, puzzlement etched on his features.
"MATT!!" Kari almost jumped him, hugging him tight "You're awake! Oh, thank God! You're awake!"
He looked at her strangely, then at the room. His eyebrow raised in puzzlement at all the get well cards as his brain failed to make the connection.
Noticing, Sora went forward "Matt...do you have any idea where you are?"
He shook his head slowly.
"You're in the hospital."
Matt's eyes went wide as his brain figured it out and all the memories came rushing back. He tried to speak, then noticed for the first time the large tube running down his throat. He attempted to talk around it, when he realised something.
He wasn't talking.
In fact, no sound came out at all.
He started to panic, desperate to tell the others who the murderer was and frightened by his silence. Kari grabbed his shoulders to stop him becoming hysterical.
"Matt, calm down! Look, your throat's been damaged and you can't speak yet. Don't try to talk, it'll really hurt you." She deliberately didn't mention the fact that his throat had been cut. The suicide theory was still too painful for them to face.
Yamato gave a sigh and shot her a sad look. He willed her to understand what he was desperate to say, yet she didn't get it.
But wait! What if he could write it down? He tried to lift his arm but a bolt of pain shot up his shoulder. He yelped, or at least tried to. It came out as a funny half whimper, half squeak noise.
Joe shook his head. "I guess you probably strained some muscles too, Matt. Don't worry, they'll heal pretty soon."
He groaned and sank back into his pillow. What was he to do? He knew TK's secret, yet was unable to tell anyone! How long would it take for him to heal sufficiently enough to uncover his little brother for the murdering scum he was?
"Hey guys, I'm back with the drinks!" the door opened and TK came through, arms piled high with cans "They didn't have any mineral water, Kari, so I got you a..." he saw his brother staring at him "Matt. You're awake."
If he had the strength Matt would have leapt from the bed and strangled TK there and then. He tried to struggle against the pain, eyes full of pure venom.
TK, you bastard! I'll get you for this! I'll tear you apart with my bare hands!
Gabumon grabbed his arm and tried to calm him "Please Matt, don't move! You're too weak! You need to rest!"
"Matt!" Kari's hand was at his face, twisting it round so he could see her "Stop moving about! You have to stay still!"
He sighed and stopped his struggle, glaring daggers at his little brother. Everyone looked at TK curiously, who gave them a look back that said I'll tell you later.
A bell began to chime softly, indicating the end of visiting time. The Digi-Destined stood awkwardly, not willing to leave now that Matt was awake. A nurse came in, checking that they were all about to leave, when she noticed Matt.
"Oh, you're awake, Mr Ishida! Well, that's good news! But unfortunately visiting time is over, so you'll all have to leave."
Everyone made their goodbyes and left. Kari bent down and kissed Matt on the forehead.
"Aishiteru, Yama-chan."
He smiled gently, showing that he felt the same. TK, being the only one left in the room, opened the door for her to step through. She went through, and TK was about to follow when he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He turned to see Matt glaring daggers at him.
I'm still alive, Takeru. I'll tell everyone about what you did, and then you'll have no place to hide!
TK shot him a venomous look back.
Oh no you won't, Yamato. And I'll make sure of that!
He left and slammed the door behind him.
Matt sighed and lent back into his pillows, staring up at the ceiling.
Tai, Davis, if you're up there listening...I'll make sure TK doesn't get away with what he's done...
He closed his eyes and drifted into restless sleep.
I promise...
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"All right TK!" all the Digi-Destined rounded on him "Why was Matt so angry to see you?"
"You did something to him, didn't you?" accused Gabumon.
"No guys, please, listen to me!" TK held up his hands to ward off their words "Let me explain." He took a deep breath and began his tale.
TK sat on the sofa, absently watching TV. He flicked through the channels, bored out of his skull. Why was there never anything on?
*BRINGBRING, BRINGBRING*
Who would be ringing at this time of night? Still, he got up and answered it.
"Moshi moshi, Takai-Matt? Hey, what's up? Huh? You want to meet me? Where? Okay. Are you alright? You sound...okay okay, calm down! I'll be there in 10 minutes. Is that alright? Good. I'll see you there."
He hung up and went into his room to get his jacket. Patamon was asleep on the bed, and he didn't have the heart to wake him. Slipping his jacket on, he left the house.
The park was cold and he shivered in his jacket. He sat on the bench, waiting for his brother. He had sounded upset on the phone. What was up with him?
"TK?"
He looked up to see his brother come out of the fog. His hair was mussed up and he looked like he'd been crying.
"Matt? What's wrong?"
Yamato went and sat next to him, then started to cry. TK, completely unused to this, tried his best to comfort him. Eventually the sobs quietened.
"Matt? Please tell me, what's wrong?"
His elder brother blurted out the entire story. How his life was going downhill, his depression at Tai's death, the stress of being in a band, the fact that...that...
"That what?" asked Sora.
TK shook his head. "I don't want to say just yet. It'll cause more harm then good." He continued his tale.
"Matt, you really mean all that?" TK asked in disbelief.
He nodded slowly "Yeah, all of it." He gazed up at the starry sky "Do you think that Tai and Davis are up there, watching us?"
TK lent back, looking at the sky as well "Yeah, I'm sure of it."
"It'd be nice to see them again."
"Well, that's not gonna be for a long while."
"Um-hmm."
TK looked back at him "What do you mean, um-hmm? That you're going to see them sooner?"
"That's a possibility..."
"Matt, you don't mean..." TK's eyes grew wide as he realised "...suicide? Matt, you can't!"
"And why not? I mean, it would end all my problems in one go."
TK grabbed his shoulders and shook them "Matt, think about what you're saying! You want to KILL yourself! You can't do it!"
"And why not? It's MY life, I can do with it what I want!"
"But what about everyone you'll leave behind? What about mum and dad and Gabumon and Kari...and what about ME?? Matt, you can't do this!"
Matt stood up angrily "I'll do what I damn well like! All my life I've had people telling me what to do, and quite frankly I can't take it anymore! What I decided to do is MY business! And I don't need the advice of a snivelling coward of a little brother!"
TK got up and grabbed his shoulders "Matt, you're just upset! Please calm down, and we can talk about it!"
"Get you hands off me!" he pushed his little brother away "You've got no right to tell me what to do! Leave me alone!"
"MATT!" TK brought back his hand slapped him round the face "Pull yourself together! Just calm down!"
Yamato raised his hand to his face where he had been hit, shocked. Suddenly he snarled and leapt at TK and they went scuffling in the dirt. He had the weight, height and age advantage and looked set to win, until TK balled his legs up and kicked him in the stomach, knocking him away.
Matt got to his feet, winded, while TK propped himself up on his elbow, nursing a cut lip. Yamato got his breath back, then turned and ran away.
"Matt!" TK tried to get to his feet, yet his legs refused to support him. "Come back! Don't go!"
There was no answer.
"Please..." he hung his head. "Come back..."
The Digi-Destined were silent.
"I did it." TK dragged his bucket hat off his head and stared at the faint bloody handprint that refused to wash out. "I drove him to suicide. I pushed him over the edge." His shoulders began to shake. "And it's my fault!"
"It's not your fault." Kari put her hand supportively on his shoulder. "Matt had his own reasons for doing what he did. You tried to stop him. You didn't cause him to try and kill himself, so stop blaming yourself. It's not your fault."
TK smiled weakly. "Thank you, Kari."
Izzy shook his head. "I never thought that Matt would try to take his own life. I mean...he's Matt!"
"Yeah, I know what you mean." Gomamon's ears drooped "But then, he hasn't been the same since Tai's..." He sensed his partner stiffen and looked up, concerned. "Joe? What's the matter?"
The matter just happened to be Joe's father walking down the corridor towards them. Gomamon scowled and jumped into his partner's arms, his flippers draping protectively over him.
"Visiting time's over." Said Dr Kido to his son, blatantly ignoring everyone else "You and your friends should leave." He glared at the little seal. "ALL of you."
Gomamon growled in the back of his throat. It was a well known fact to him that Dr Kido didn't like him in the slightest, despite the fact that he had saved Joe's life many times. But then his growl was cut off as he felt Joe's hand rest on his back.
"Hai, Otou-san." Jyou turned and gave his friends a look that said please lets get out of here and don't argue because you have no idea what my father's like and I really don't want there to be an incident. The other Digi-Destined got his look and they all started to drift away down the corridor, Jyou walking behind them as if shepherding them away.
Dr Kido glowered as he watched them all go. They were all a bad influence on his son. Swanning off to this Digital World and claiming to be the guardians of both worlds. And those creatures they were always with...dirty filthy vermin. And he wished that damn seal thing would stop following Jyou...
He turned and carried on his round.
************************************************************
TK got into his bath and sighed as the warm water slid over his tired muscles. It was a perfect temperature- hot but not too hot-, had just the right about of bubble bath foam and was just the right depth- deep but not deep enough to flow over the sides. In all, a perfect bath.
A perfect end to a not-at-all perfect day.
He frowned as he sank into the warm water, submerging up to his neck. Not only was Matt alive, now he was awake. Him being alive had buggered up his plans, but there was still the faintest hope that he wouldn't awaken...he smile absently. Hope. He couldn't get away from it. But then, he was the Digital World's representation of it. But that was beside the point.
Both courage and friendship could fade and die, but it was far harder to extinguish hope. No matter how hard you tried, there was always a little tiny spark left. Maybe buried, maybe too small to see...but always there. And like a choking weed it would grow and consume all.
But both courage and friendship withered, withered and died, crushed like a delicate flower. And once thoroughly destroyed...it could never grow again.
Tai was dead, and so was Davis. Where was their courage and friendship then?
But through it all, Hope remained. Hope that the Light would return to it again...
TK sighed and lent back so he was staring at the ceiling. Matt was awake, but completely unable to talk. But when his muscles healed, then he could write, and soon he'd reveal his secret to everyone.
Oh, and what will happen when I do, hmm? I'll be sent off to an asylum and you'll be with Kari forevermore.
Dammit, he couldn't let that happen! He'd done a good job buying himself time by inventing a cock-and-bull story about Matt trying to kill himself. But now what? Time was slipping away like sand between his fingers...
He'd an unfinished job to do.
But now, even more careful planning was required. It was going to be much harder this time.
His quick mind thought out all possible options. Finally, he hit one that gave him the best chance. He explored it all in his head, mentally pouncing on the idea, tearing it apart for flaws, working out all possible angles...
Finally satiated, he grinned and sank completely under the water.
Oh Matt, you're gonna wish that you were killed the first time round...
Because nobody is going to stand in the way of mine and Kari's love!!
************************************************************
Matt continued to stare at the wall.
It was peach coloured, but time had mottled it. If he stared hard enough the darker patches began to wobble and take on shapes. Currently the patch by the door was doing a pretty good impression of a Digitamamon, while the one on the far wall impersonated a one-legged Kiwimon.
Matt sighed.
Is this what he had been reduced to? Staring at walls for hours on end?
The drugs pumping through his system were making him alternate between deep sleep and insomnia...and currently it was the latter. Being unable to talk, he couldn't sing like he used to when bored, and since he couldn't use his arms, reading or playing on a Gameboy was out of the question. And visiting time wasn't for ages...
He was beginning to wonder why no one had asked him why he'd been found washed up with his throat cut. Shouldn't the police be doing inquires and stuff? No, TK had probably thought something up in that devious little mind of his. He still couldn't believe it. How could innocent Takeru, the little boy who used to follow him around adoringly and cry all the time, turn into a killer? He wasn't evil by nature. No, he still hated the forces of Darkness.
Then something clicked.
Kari.
TK wasn't doing this because he was evil; he was doing it because he was obsessed. Actually, even that was too mild a word. He had gone beyond obsessed. Somehow his brain had warped into becoming something so determined to be with Kari that he was willing to kill people to have her.
Including his own brother.
If that was the case, then no one was safe. Anyone who showed just the inkling of fancying Kari would end up with a knife between their shoulder blades.
And God help anyone who actually asked her out on a date!
Dammit dammit dammit, why wouldn't his arms heal faster? He could worry about his throat and the fact that he might never sing again later. Now he had to stop his little brother...
Suddenly a great wave of tiredness swept over him as the drugs screwed him up again. He was asleep before his eyes even closed.
************************************************************
A bunch of flowers bustled their way into the hospital reception. The receptionist watched curiously as the bunch attempted to navigate around kids and patients alike, before coming to a halt in front of the desk. The petals rustled as someone tried to poke their head around the bouquet and smiled at the receptionist.
"Hi...I'm here to see Yamato Ishida in room 1138."
The receptionist suppressed a smile at the young boy wearing a lop-sided bucket hat with a curious faint red mark on it peering through the foliage of the bouquet "And who might you be, young man?"
"I'm Takeru Takaishi, his younger brother."
"Okay, hold on." She turned and started to type on the computer. Eventually she saw that he had clearance (with Matt being as famous as he was, they'd had to limit who could see him so as to stop rampant fangirls coming and disturbing him) "Right, you can go through. Visiting time ends in half an hour."
"Oh, okay. Arigatou!"
The receptionist smiled as she saw the boy stagger down the corridor under the weight of his bouquet of flowers.
How lucky Mr Ishida was to have a caring brother like that.
************************************************************
TK walked into Matt's room and closed the door quietly behind him.
Fast asleep on the bed. Only the light rising of his chest belied the fact that he was still breathing.
At least that tube down his throat stopped him from snoring.
He put the flowers into the vase on the stand, pulled up a chair and sat down, leaning in close to his brother's face.
"Maaaaaaatt!" he whispered "Maaaaaaatt! Wake up, Yamato!"
Matt stirred in his sleep as he began to wake.
"Maaaaaaaaaaaaatt! Look who's heeeeeeeeeeere!"
The older boy's eyelids fluttered, then flickered open.
He looked confusedly at the ceiling, then focused on the face dangerously close to his own.
He started in surprise and was just about to fix him the death glare when he realised something.
There was no one else in the room.
TK had come to see him alone.
Which meant...
He started to panic.
"Oh my, what's the matter, Yamato?" asked TK patronisingly. "You look like you've seen a ghost!" He smiled innocently. "Or you've just seen the face of death itself!"
There were a few rather choice words Matt would have liked to say to his little brother, but the tube down his throat prevented it. TK looked down at him with big sorrowful eyes.
"Aww, what's the matter, Matt? Can't you talk? Oh, *what* a shame! And I guess you'll never get to tell anyone your little secret either..."
TK sighed and rested his chin in his hands "Kari's going to be so upset, you know. Not only losing a friend and a brother, but now her boyfriend through suicide. Such hardship for one girl to take..."
Suicide??? Matt's eyes widened. So that was why no one had asked him any questions! They all thought that he'd try to kill himself!
TK reached into his pocket and took something out. With a flick of his wrist, something snapped out of the object.
His switchblade.
Matt could feel his heart pounding against his chest. For the first time in his life, he felt genuinely afraid. He was at the mercy of his little brother, who was blinded by his extreme obsession. And this time, there was no one to stand by him and protect him.
"I thought about using this," said TK, thoughtfully staring at the light reflecting off his blade "But then I thought nah. I wouldn't be able to cover it up. Besides, how could you get a switchblade here? Then I decided to use my brain a bit." He tapped the tube that ran up Matt's chest into his throat "You need air to live, don't you, Yamato?"
Every single swear word and curse was currently running through Matt's mind.
"Then I had another thought. Wouldn't the hospital pick up the fact that you'd died?" he nodded at the heart monitor. "So, I thought a bit harder." He got up and causally wandered over to the machine. Dropping round the back, he fiddled a wire lose, stood back up and tutted "Such shoddy equipment they use in these hospitals today! It's a good thing that Joe had the hindsight to leave a book about medical equipment just lying around for me to find!" He sat back down in his chair and placed his hand around the tube "Oh well, all's well that ends well, I suppose."
Matt's eyes shot wide open with fear and he begged his little brother with his gaze.
TK, please don't do this! I'm your brother! Show some mercy! You can't kill me like this! Please! I'm your brother!!
TK hesitated, then took his hand away.
If he could, Matt would have sighed in relief.
"Thanks for that, Matt...you stopped me doing something incredibly stupid."
Relief swept over the other boy. But then...he noticed something.
TK wore that same evil grin he had had just before he had pushed him off the bridge.
"This isn't a murder...this is a suicide!" he took his brother's hand and sadistically twisted it, causing Matt to choke in pain. Ignoring the fact that his muscles were probably screaming in agony, he curled Matt's fingers around the tube. Matt, unable to do anything, stared in horror at the grinning face of one Takeru Takaishi.
"Oyasumi nasai, onii-chan." he grinned "See you in hell!" With a vicious wrench, he yanked the air tube straight out of Matt's throat.
As soon as it slid free, Yamato felt his windpipe close up and blocking his air supply. He began to instinctively thrash about, desperately clawing for air, but with his battered muscles, he was just violently convulsing instead of wildly flailing.
TK smiled, then got up. He stood by the door and turned round at his brother, a small look of amusement on his face.
"I'll let you get on with it. Ja ne, Yamato!"
He left and closed the door behind him.
************************************************************
I went up to the vending machine and ordered myself a can of lemonade.
Oo, it was that 7-Up stuff they sell in the West.
I love that.
Opening the can, I take a swig and lean against the wall.
It's nice and cool as well.
Nothing better than a nice cold can of lemonade.
I look at my watch.
20:34.
I left Matt about 20 minutes ago.
Better go and check on him.
I go into his room and close the door behind me.
He's lying sprawled over his bed, eyes wide open.
That looks untidy; I'd better close them.
His face is an odd shade of blue.
Mind you, I'd probably look like that if I suffocated.
The tube that was down his throat is still in his hand. Hanging off the bed, mind you. So I move it back onto the sheets.
I stand back and check.
Yep, looks convincing enough.
I straighten my hat, brush the creases off my top and clear my throat.
Time to display my acting skills again.
************************************************************
Hiiroshi Matasaki, male nurse, pushed the dumb waiter down the corridors of the hospital. All he had to do now was take these sheets down to the wash rooms, get changed and then he could go home. He was knackered. These 12-hour shifts were so exhausting...
From nowhere a sobbing teenage boy hurtled down the corridor and latched on to his arm.
"Please, you've got to help me! Please! It's urgent!"
Hiiroshi overcome his initial shock and stared down at the boy. His wild blond hair was bursting from under his lop-sided bucket hat and his wide sapphire eyes were cascading with tears. "Whoa, calm down! Tell me, what's the matter?"
"It's-it's my brother!! He's killed himself!!" the boy broke down hysterically, sobs shaking his light frame. Hiiroshi grabbed his shoulders and shook him.
"Which room is he in? Show me, quick!"
The boy, unable to talk, grabbed his arm and led him back down the corridor to room 1138. Hiiroshi pulled up short at the sight inside and ran up to the boy lying limp in his bed, and began patting the side of his face
"Can you hear me?" He turned to the crying boy. "What's his name?"
He sniffed "Yamato...but everyone calls him Matt."
"Yamato! Matt, can you hear me?" he felt for a pulse and, finding none, checked for a heartbeat. When he failed to find that he pushed the emergency button on the wall beside the bed, barking in some instructions. A minute later various doctors and nurses came bustling in with a defibrillator and other equipment. The boy was shepherded outside and stood in the corridor. The minutes dragged by...
Hiiroshi came slowly out the room and closed the door quietly behind him.
The boy looked up at him with wide sapphire eyes.
"Is he okay? Is my brother alright?"
Hiiroshi sighed. This was always the hardest part of the job.
"You're Yamato's brother, right?"
A nod.
"What's your name?"
"Takeru, but everyone calls me TK."
"Right, TK..." he got down on one knee so that he was on eye level with the boy and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder "I'm...I'm afraid your brother has passed away. There was nothing we could do."
"You mean...he's...dead?"
"I'm sorry."
TK's mouth opened and closed like a fish, unable to form words. Eventually, only one came out.
"...dead?"
A nod answered him.
TK swallowed, fighting down the tears "Can I...can I please go phone my parents?"
Hiiroshi nodded "Sure. I'll walk with you."
Placing a hand around TK's shoulders, he led the way to reception.
Eyes straight ahead, he didn't notice the small smile creeping over the boy's face.
************************************************************