This chapter is two years after the first chapter. This fic is still completely silliness, and later on in the chapter it is completely goofy. The votes were counted and Taito beat Sorato by a long shot, so in the next chapter, we'll actually start working on the romantic stuff, right? =)
* * *
I just woke up
Coffee in my cup
Such a warm and sunny day
Find out what the papers say
"I got you something, kind of as a going away present."
Yamato looked at his dad is surprise. He got me something? At first he eyed his dad warily, knowing full well that the previously said sentence didn't sound right. His father smiled at the cautious look Yamato was giving him. He walked to the elevator, Yamato's eyes following him closely and uneasily.
"Wait here. I left it in the apartment," Mr. Ishida said, grinning wider as Yamato startled into more surprise that this wasn't a joke.
The elevator doors closed with a 'bing' and started to whir as it moved up. Yamato was still frozen by the open car, stuffed full of boxes and the like that were packed with his clothes and things. He blinked at the elevator doors, half expecting his dad to jump out and shout, 'Ha! Fooled ya didn't I?' but… that didn't happen. He finally started to breath again, though it was shakily and he moved from his spot to close a car door.
When he heard the 'bing' of the elevator again, he spun around and stared. The doors opened and his father stepped out, holding a big, wrapped box, with a wrapped lid placed neatly on top. He was grinning like a mad man and Yamato shied away as he approached the car. The wrapped box was placed on the back of one side of the car and pushed to Yamato on the other side. Yamato eyed the box, then his father, then the box, then his father, and then the box again. He hesitantly reached out to touch it, but withdrew his hand and shot backwards when the box moved a bit.
Mr. Ishida laughed at the actions of his son. "Go on. It doesn't bite, I promise."
"That's reassuring to know," Yamato mumbled and eased himself to the box. He uncertainly reached out again and tentatively lifted the lid. Once more he shot backwards, the lid falling to the ground, as something bounced out at him. He flattened himself against the wall and stared at the wiggling, black and white animal yipping at him. As his heart slowed down, he turned his gaze to his father. "You. Got. Me. A. Dog."
Another evil grin went across Mr. Ishida's face. "I thought you'd like her. I was walking through the mall the other day thinking of what I could get you – since after all you're leaving and thus rescuing me from having to suffer the stress of your college inks – when I came across a pet store with this little girl bouncing in the window. And I thought, 'That is exactly what Yamato needs'."
"I hate dogs," Yamato said coldly, still pressed against the wall and watching the dog sniff the edge of the box.
Mr. Ishida put his hands on either side of the dog's head, covering its ears. "Shh, don't say that in front of her. You'll hurt her feelings."
"I can't believe you got me a dog," Yamato whined softly. He gently pushed of the wall and walked to the bouncing, wire-haired schnauzer. It yipped playfully at him, obviously young, and jumped on the edge of the box trying to touch him. Yamato reached out and pet the dog's head, all the while glaring at his father. "You are such a jerk. You know I'm a cat person."
"You are such a jerk. You know I don't like cleaning up gram cracker cities that occupy my entire kitchen with easy-cheese roads and rivers," his dad replied as counter attack. They looked at each other, meeting the other's eyes briefly, and looked away. "Okay, so grab your dog and get in the car. The faster I get out you to the apartment the faster I wont have to ever see you again."
Yamato mumbled something under his breath, but picked up the box the dog was in and lifted it from the back of the car. The sudden movement made the little schnauzer fall to the side of the box heavily. It looked at Yamato with big eyes and opened its mouth to let its tongue hang out as it panted. Yamato frowned in disgust and chose to look elsewhere than the dog as he entered the car. He placed the box at his feet on the floorboard and closed the car door. As he was trying to buckle up, the dog jumped out of the box into his lap and tried to lick his face. Yamato gave a squeak of surprise and pushed it back down, hurriedly buckling before it could leap again.
The whole way to his new home, Yamato had to fight the little dog off of him. He glared at his father constantly for the unwelcome surprise, but only got an amused smirk as a response. He scowled and stared out the window as best he could without the dog licking his face. Even though the apartment complex Yamato would be staying at was only a few blocks down the street it seemed forever before they got there. Yamato was out of his seat and the car within a matter of seconds after it stopped.
"Hey!"
Yamato looked up and smiled for the first time that morning. He waved at Taichi and Hikari running towards them. Taichi flipped him up and spun him around in the air, setting him on the car hood.
"Yama! I was wondering how long it was going to take you to get here. The rest of us already have our stuff unpacked, even Sora, and she brought a lot," Taichi chirped.
They heard a car door slam as Mr. Ishida got out. "Sora? As in a girl? Oh well, wont be my problem when she gets pregnant. I guess I'll have to let you ruin your own life."
With a roll of his eyes, Yamato turned back around to face Taichi, as he had turned when his father started speaking. "My dad's got it in his head that I'm some slut just because I'm in a rock band and I'm nearly nineteen."
"Oh, how funny," Taichi laughed. He helped Yamato slide off the car bonnet and it was at this moment he noticed the bouncing animal at his side. He stared at it blankly and gave Yamato a confused look. "A dog? You brought a dog?"
"I'll tell you later," Yamato mumbled with a wave of his hand. The two of them, with Hikari's help, began to unpack the car. Mr. Ishida leaned against the side of the building smoking a cigarette and watching them.
Taichi and Yamato had decided that for college they would get their own apartment. They were going to one not too far from their homes, and it would be perfectly fine if they'd stayed at home, but the idea of being out on their own appealed to them. Sora, who had become a good friend in the past two years, agreed to share the apartment with them since she too wanted to get away from her parents. Kari was still in high school, but the apartment Taichi and his friends were staying at was closer than where she was living. That, and the fact that Yamato and Sora were going to be there was cool, since she thought Yamato was very good looking and Sora had always been a person she looked up to.
Mr. Ishida was just happy to get his odd son out of the house.
"Okay, dad, I've got everything out. You can go now," Yamato called, checking the car one last time just to make sure he was correct in saying that. "I guess I'll see you later."
"Yeah. I guess. I hope Taichi and Sora have locks on those cabinets and restraints on the bed to keep you from driving them crazy at night. Heaven knows you're a lunatic," Mr. Ishida muttered. He flicked his cigarette on the ground and smashed it in with his foot before walking to Yamato beside the car. They stared at each other flatly. Lastly, Mr. Ishida pulled Yamato into a tight hug.
"I'll miss you, too, dad," Yamato whispered. For a little while in time, there was a peace between the two. Of course, all good things come to an end and Yamato had to draw back. His father gave him an affectionate kiss on the forehead, got in his car, and left.
Yamato smiled. "I think I won."
Free, limo ride
Free food inside
Grabbed my briefcase, left my house
Got a meeting with the mouse
Flying first class
* * *
"What the hell are you doing?!"
Yamato looked up from his spot on the bathroom floor at Taichi standing in the doorway. He froze, his hand in mid-motion of sewing toilet paper to one of the towels – the towel already having been sewn to the shower curtain and the shower curtain with elaborately cut out shapes on it. So there Yamato was, sitting in the middle of the floor with needle, toilet paper, and towel in hand, and thread nearby, with scissors still resting on the bathroom counter.
"Um… good morning Taichi…" Yamato said uneasily. He placed the objects occupying his hands on the floor, but otherwise stayed put.
"Yamato, it's three thirty in the morning! What are you doing?" Taichi demanded.
"I… well… I was bored…" Yamato stammered. It was one thing that his dad caught him doing absurd things in the middle of the night, but he wasn't living with his dad anymore.
"You were bored?" Taichi scowled. "Why didn't you watch television or eat, or take a freaking sleeping pill!"
Yamato flushed bright red. "I guess I didn't think about that…"
"You guess?!" Taichi slapped a hand to his forehead. "Oh, damn, Yamato. You're not living with your dad anymore. You have to curve this weird habit of yours somehow. I'll tie you to the bed if it'll keep you from doing crazy things at this hour. Go sit on the couch and wait for me. Now!"
Yamato jumped to his feet and scurried out of the bathroom. He winced as he heard the bathroom door slam behind him, and slumped onto the couch. Way to go, Yamato. He thought to himself. Can't you be normal for once?
A minute later, he heard the toilet flush and the bathroom door open again. Taichi walked over to the couch and sat down in front of Yamato, glaring the whole time. "This is the first and last time I'm going to say this: if you ever wake up and need something to do, then either bake some cookies, watch the television, or clean, but do not ruin this apartment! Sora is going to be so ticked when she wakes up!"
Yamato fidgeted. "I'm sorry… I… I'll cook something for you and the others next time… okay?"
"I don't care. Just as long as you don't ruin this place," Taichi muttered. He got to his feet and pulled Yamato up. "We're going to go back to sleep, and tomorrow morning you're going to apologize to Sora and Kari, and clean up all that. Understand?"
"Okay," Yamato sighed. "I understand."
The two of them headed back to their bedroom, Yamato in front because Taichi was trying to conceal his smile.
* * *
Sora and Kari stood in wonder in the bathroom doorway, one holding Yamato's dog in her arms. They looked at each other, then at the frowning blonde pulling the thread from the towel and shower curtain. Yamato glanced at them, but quickly averted his gaze and blushed. Taichi was leaning against the bathroom counter with his arms crossed and giving Yamato a very dirty look.
"I…uh, I'm sorry, Sora… Kari," Yamato mumbled. "I got a little bored last night."
"A little?" Kari appalled. "When someone is a little bored he colors in a coloring book. You must have been bored crazy!"
"She's right, Yamato! This is… scary! I knew you tended to do weird things when you were alone, but this is just too extreme! You ruined the shower curtain!" Sora exclaimed.
"I'll buy a new one," Taichi sighed. He checked his watch and gave Yamato a stern look. "We have astronomy class in an hour. You can take a break for now to get ready, but when we come back, you'd better fix the rest of this up, got it?"
Yamato nodded quickly. "Yes."
Sora shook her head disapprovingly and set Roofus – the name she'd given Yamato's dog – on the ground. "Well, I have to go to Language now. I'll see you two later. Kari, am I still giving you a ride?"
"…Yeah…" Kari was still scanning the bathroom with wide eyes.
They grabbed their bags and made their way out of the apartment.
* * *
"Honey! I'm home!"
The voice that rang through the apartment was not one of a human's. It was shrill and almost whistle-like. Yamato knew this very well by now, it having been a few weeks since they'd all moved into the apartment – and he was still trying to curve his habit like Taichi told him to. He leaned out of the bedroom to look at Taichi stroking Sora's green and blue parakeet's feathers. Taichi had taught it to announce his arrival when he entered the room.
"Hey Taichi, do you know where my voice recorder is?" Yamato called, slipping back into the bedroom to continue his search.
"I thought it was on your dresser?" Taichi yelled back.
Yamato straightened and looked on top of his dresser, and – seeing the object in question there – looked at the now messy room with clothes and all other sorts of things thrown everywhere. He frowned and quickly started cleaning things up, noticing – with annoyance – that Kari's cat was smirking at him from her spot on the bed. "Oh shut up," he mumbled. "I just didn't think to look there is all."
"Did you find it?" Taichi asked, still – thankfully – in the other room.
"Yes! Thank you!" Yamato shouted over his shoulder as he dumped dirty clothes back into the laundry basket. He had to clean this up quick if he didn't want Taichi to get angry. Actually, Yamato knew Taichi wasn't really angry with him all the time, but might as well let the ex-soccer player think he had Yamato under his rein.
"Who were you talking to a moment ago?" Taichi could be heard from the kitchen now, most likely digging in the refrigerator.
Yamato paused in his cleaning, trying to think back on what he was talking about. "What?"
"Before I asked if you found your recorder – which, by the way, I have a question about that, too."
Again, Yamato tried to think what he was talking about. He looked to the cat on the bed. "What is he talking about?"
"There! You did it again! Do you have somebody in there with you?" Taichi teased.
"Ohh… No, I'm just talking to Venus," Yamato laughed. He heard Taichi snort in the kitchen and scowled. "Like you never talk to that dumb bird."
Taichi was very offended by this insult on both him and his – well, Sora's – bird. "That's different. I'm teaching Palmolive how to talk."
There was moment's silence between the two, and then Yamato muttered, "At least Venus isn't named after a dishwashing soap." He said a little louder for Taichi, "What was that second question you had for me?"
"Huh? Oh yeah. I was wondering why you have a recorder. It's not like you," Taichi appeared in the doorway, giving Yamato a disapproving frown at the mess, "take it to class with you."
"I'm cleaning it up. What? Don't look at me like that," Yamato snapped. He rolled the shirt up that he was supposed to be folding and threw it at Taichi. "I have a recorder because sometimes when I'm doing something, such as cleaning, I get an idea for a song and I can just sit here and sing away, but when I go to put the lyrics down on paper, I can't remember the beat or the exact lyrics. So now when I feel a song coming, I can just turn on that recorder and listen to it later."
Taichi started to nod, but got a confused look on his face. "Um. Whatever. Just try to keep the room clean while I'm gone okay? I hope you don't have wild sex parties in here while I'm gone."
"You know it," Yamato scoffed, rolling his eyes.
"In fact, I was thinking up a way for you to use enough energy before going to sleep so you wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night, not that I don't love your cookies," Taichi said. Yamato stared at him, kind of looking… horrified. Taichi returned the look with a puzzled one, before it dawned on him. "Oh! Not like that!"
Yamato gave a sigh of relief. "Okay, I was starting to freak out. I mean, we were just talking about wild sex parties and then you said that."
"Well, I didn't mean it like that," Taichi answered, a bit nervously. "I was thinking more along the lines of club dancing… perhaps…?"
"Ugh! No way," Yamato now had a particularly disgusted look on his face.
"Why not?" Taichi folded his arms over his chest and gave Yamato his best anger-pout – he had been working on it for a while now.
Yamato was immune to the – what he called – 'pathetic stare'. "Because they play a bunch of really crappy songs."
Taichi blinked. "They play… your songs…"
"I know that."
"Then what's the deal?" Taichi – though he often tried – could never figure out the odd ways of the human mind, at least not Yamato's mind.
"Tai-chi," Yamato groaned. "Don't you get it? I don't like to listen to myself, and I don't like to listen to a bunch pop singers, or rap, or being crammed in a room with a bunch of people."
Taichi had been expecting that response and smiled. "That's why I found a place that plays your kind of music and isn't really crowded. You'll love it!"
"No, Tai, I wont," Yamato confirmed and stalked from the room with the laundry basket in his hands.
"Don't use that tone." Taichi shivered, and followed him out. "You always scare me when you use that tone. It makes me think you're going to turn on me again." Yamato rolled his eyes, but smiled nonetheless. "Are you coming with me and Sora tomorrow night?"
"Sora and I," Yamato corrected.
"Yeah. Anyway, are you coming or not?" Taichi dropped onto the couch and grabbed the remote.
"I didn't know you were going somewhere." The television was flipped on and Yamato could hear the sound of a cartoon as he gathered all the dirty clothes from the bathroom.
"We were planning on going to the soccer game over at the college."
Yamato stopped momentarily to think. Back when they were in high school, Yamato insisted he hated soccer – and all other sports – but Taichi wouldn't take 'no' for an answer and before long the sport just grew on him. He also kind of liked watching gymnastics now. How did they bend like that? "I don't think I have anything to do, but I was kind of hoping to go home and steal my CDs back from my dad sometime this week."
"We can do that tonight night. Kari is having some of her friends over and I'd rather not be here when they show up. Maybe we can swing by your dad's and then go visit Jyou and Koushiro," Taichi suggested.
Yamato appeared at the end of the couch and dropped the basket of dirty clothes on Taichi's stomach. "Okay, that's fine with me, but it's your turn to do laundry."
I'm so happy
Feeling snappy
My life is rosy' I'm feeling comfy cozy
Keeps getting better
Good times forever
And this is one great day
* * *
"Actually, I thought you were going to the soccer game with us."
From his position atop the table where he was trying to replace a light bulb, Yamato could barely see Taichi's pout and thus didn't care. "Taichi, I can't. If I could, I would, but I volunteered to take Takeru and Daisuke to an art show, and after that's over with I'm going to buy a desk for the computer that is currently sitting on the floor of our bedroom."
Taichi rolled his eyes and dropped into one of the kitchen chairs. "You only volunteered because you didn't want to go to the game. Admit it."
Yamato stopped what he was doing and looked at Taichi flatly. "Fine. I did. I hate soccer with a passion." He rolled his eyes. "I don't hate soccer, you should know that by now."
"You wont even come to support the college?" Taichi whined.
"If they needed support, I would, but since they have about a hundred other people screaming them on, I don't see the point of wasting a perfectly good night that I could spend with my brother and his friend instead of you," Yamato replied casually, returning to the task of screwing in the new bulb.
"I love you, too, Yama-chan," Taichi muttered, and slumped in his chair.
Yamato sighed and jumped off the table. He tossed the old light bulb into the trashcan and leaned against the counter, facing Taichi with his arms folded. "Okay, what's the deal?"
"If you were at the soccer game, you'd be safe from fan girls," Taichi suggested.
"Oh please. Like I'm not going to be at an art show?" Yamato chided. "It's not like we're going to be in a highly populated area. Daisuke is one of the few people who knew about this thing, and probably the only one going. There aren't going to be any crazy fans."
With a sigh, Taichi stood up and walked to the kitchen doorway. He didn't turn back towards Yamato, only simply mumbled, "Yeah. Have fun," before leaving.
"Taichi…" Yamato called after him, but a moment later the front door slammed.
* * *
"Here kitty, kitty, kitty," Yamato called. In a flash Venus ran into the room and delighted at the sight of the red food dish – that Yamato had bought for her – filled with wet cat food of some sort. She eagerly waited on the floor as he leaned over to set it down, her little bell – Yamato having bought that for her too – on her shiny collar – Yamato also buying that for her – jingling as she moved with the grace only in a way that a cat can move. Yamato pet her gently on the head and stood up straight to wash his hands.
"Honey, I'm home!" Palmolive squawked from his nearby perch.
Taichi stepped into the kitchen, smiling, and held out his finger for Palmolive to get on as he walked into the kitchen. "Hello Palmolive."
"Hello, hello, hello," Palmolive repeated.
"And hello to you, too, Yama," Taichi said.
"Hey Tai," Yamato replied. "How was your day of classes?"
"Ah, fine, I suppose. The French teacher is almost as crazy as you are." Taichi gave him a wink and set Palmolive back on her perch.
"Thanks," Yamato grinned and looked back down at Venus on the floor. She'd finished her midnight dinner and looked back up at him. He opened his arms and she happily leapt into them. Yamato lightly pet her and looked back at Taichi. "So… since we're both taking the Astronomy class, how was it?"
Taichi sighed. "Fine, I guess. It was pretty boring for me, but if you like that kind of stuff then it might be interesting. The only reason I'm taking it is because I need an extra class to keep my schedule perfect."
"Yeah… Do you know if we have any whipped cream?" Yamato asked.
"I think there is some… uh, no. We don't have any. At all. Absolutely no whipped cream. Why would we have that?" Taichi quickly moved back to beside Palmolive and once more held out his hand for her to climb on. It was his best attempt to avoid Yamato's eyes.
"Really? I could have sworn we had some…" Yamato sighed. "Oh well. Anyway, Venus and I are going to bed now. Don't get too loud. Oh yeah, that's one thing. Green Bird…"
"Palmolive," Taichi corrected.
"Palmolive," Yamato rolled his eyes, "squawks in the middle of the night and it bother Venus. Can you put her in her cage or something?"
Tai looked very insulted. "Can you put Mars…"
"Venus," Yamato corrected.
"Venus," Taichi rolled his eyes, "on a leash or something?"
Yamato looked very insulted. "Venus isn't a dog, Taichi. The bird has a cage of its own. Cats always have free run of the house except for the closets."
"And why should the cat have a free run of the house and not Palmolive? Palmolive looks better and is a lot cooler than your dumb Venus," Taichi snuffed.
Yamato rolled his eyes. "Yeah, well, no straight guy would name his bird Palmolive."
"Oh, but a straight guy would name his cat Venus?"
Taichi and Yamato glared dangerously at each other, and it was during this that Sora decided to come in the kitchen for a glass of water before going back to sleep. She glanced at the two, rolling her eyes, and walked to the sink. Pulling a cup from the cupboard, she turned to the two, running her finger around the rim of the cup. They hadn't seem to notice her presence yet, or if they had, they didn't bother to show that they did, so she went ahead and spoke, figuring they could listen if they wanted. "How were you classes Taichi, and why are you up Yamato?"
"Fine."
"I was hungry."
One was holding the cat close to his chest, and the other had a bird on his shoulders. Sora could only imagine what had started this. She walked to Taichi, setting her cup on the counter, and grabbed the green bird off his shoulder. He instantly broke his stare with Yamato and cried out. He tried to grab it from her but she shoved the bird into its cage and locked it.
"Sora! Don't be so mean to Palmolive!" Taichi whined. He rushed to the cage and was about to open it, but Sora slammed the door shut on his hand and he withdrew it quickly with another cry.
"Palmolive can sleep in her cage tonight. After all, she is a bird," Sora said, ignoring Taichi's sad look. She took Venus from Yamato's arms, making him give her a glare, but not arguing. "Venus and I are going to go to sleep now, and I suggest that you two do. You, Yamato, have early classes tomorrow."
With that, she left, forgetting her thirst, and leaving the two child-like boys to mutter things under their breath as they sulked to their room.
I'm so happy
Feeling snappy
Will there be sorrow
When I wake up tomorrow?
* * *
"All I ask for is a clean home! That's not a hard request!" Yamato shouted, stomping out of the bathroom with three wet towels in his hand. He tossed them at Sora and Taichi sitting on the couch. "Why can't you two clean up after yourself?"
"You're one to talk," Taichi snorted, never taking his eyes from the soccer game he was watching and referring back to the times when Yamato's habit was big nuisance.
Sora shrugged and continued reading her magazine, making Yamato throw his hands in the air and stomp back to the bathroom. The doorbell ran just then, making him growl profanities under his breath. If it was the neighbors complaining about the noise again… Yamato jerked the door open, glaring hard at the boy that stood on his doorstep. "What?"
"I was wondering if I could talk to Takeru," Daisuke said slowly. He'd never been victim of Yamato's anger, and definitely didn't want to start sometime soon.
"Takeru is not here," Yamato snapped, going to close the door.
"Wait!" came a voice behind him, and Takeru ran up, stopping him. "I'm here."
Yamato stared at Takeru before giving another frustrated cry. "And I like to know when my brother comes to visit!"
"Oh yeah," Taichi said, sounding bored. "Takeru's here, Yamato."
"Thanks Taichi." Yamato flipped him off promptly.
Daisuke was a bit confused and looked from the two curiously. "What's up with them?"
"Lover's quarrel," Takeru assured him.
Yamato gave him a dirty look. "Oh, go fornicate with Daisuke and get out of my way."
"Forni-what?" Daisuke asked, while Takeru blushed shades of red.
"For-ni-cate," Yamato replied slowly, sounding even more irritated than before.
"What does that mean?"
"Look it up Daisuke!" Taichi laughed.
Daisuke was now even more confused. "How do you spell it?"
"S-E-X," Sora offered, trying to be helpful in Daisuke's need for information.
"Se… Oh…" Daisuke looked at Takeru and then turned his head away, now blushing himself. "That's not funny Yamato."
"No it's not," Takeru agreed and ushered his friend into Kari and Sora's room where Kari was trying to work on her homework, which was hard with all the shouting going on in the apartment.
Yamato dropped onto the couch between Sora and Taichi still reading and watching the television.
"My life bites."
Life, it ain't easy
It's so tough
It ain't easy
Put a smile on your face
Make the world a better place
