Ah hah! I'm back. I have to say a little something before I start, like
normal. As I think I've said before, I'm working on my teaching degree now
and I just started my in-class observations today. I went into a fifth
grade class at a local elementary school (I'm likely going to teach fourth
or fifth grade) and after the teacher, who is awesome, and I talked for
about a half hour about what I was doing and whatnot, the students started
to file in. One of them caught my eye immediately. I did a double take
and thought to myself, "he looks like Cody". So they all sat down and the
teacher started class. She soon pointed at him to answer a question. He
even sounded like Cody. His voice wasn't quite as raspy as Cody's, but it
was pretty close. If he gets a cold I guarantee that they would match. A
little while later she called on him by name, and I kid you not, his name
was Cody. I was dumbfounded and couldn't keep from wanting to call him
'Iori' all day.
In another Digimon related school note, one of the kids for some reason asked me if I liked YuGiOh. Well, since I've never seen it, I said that I didn't know, but that I liked Digimon. None of the kids could believe it. "You like Digimon?" they kept asking. I told them to ask me any question about it and I got a few from them and answered them flawlessly. One boy still didn't believe me, so I told him that I'd bring in my nametag from work and show him the Guilmon sticker I have on it. Only then will he believe me.
After watching Sora leave, Tai and TK went on their way to the food court, weaving and dodging all the while.
"Hey, Tai," TK said to his friend in a low voice.
"Yeah?"
"This is going to sound a little odd, but uh, have you figured out how you're going to tell your parents that, well, you know?"
"As of yet, not really. I'll probably just end up blurting it out sometime."
"Aren't you worried in the least about what they might say, Tai?"
"Nah, my parents are pretty cool about everything. I don't really see how this would be any different."
"What if you're wrong? Can you really be that sure, Tai?"
"I think so, TK. I honestly do."
"I wish I could be so sure."
"If it's bugging you that much, would you like it if someone came over with you? Iori, myself or Koushirou? Or all of us? I'd be there in a heartbeat and I'm more than willing to bet that the others would as well."
"I might take you up on that offer, Tai. Thanks a lot."
"No problem. Now, let's get to Burger King before my stomach does anymore cartwheels."
"You're on, Tai," TK said as they neared the correct area, their noses picking up the mixed scent of everything from pizza to Chinese to grill smoke.
The other two boys were quick on their heels, reaching the food court a scant few minutes after them. Koushirou spotted them standing over by the BK counter and pointed them out to Iori. Iori smiled as he saw TK and they started moving to them.
"Hey Koushirou, get me something?" Tai playfully asked, pointing to the bag that hung from Koushirou's wrist.
"Nope. Not a thing. I got TK a present though," Koushirou said in a complete deadpan.
"Hey!" Tai yelped, not realizing that Koushirou was playing around with him. (poor Tai, always failing his Sense Motive rolls..sorry, unwarranted D&D reference.)
"Tai, I'm kidding. Of course I got you something."
"Oh, yeah. I knew that. I was just testing you to see if."
"Tai, we don't believe you, man. Sorry." TK was giving Tai the 'loser' sign as he and Iori and Koushirou started busting out laughing.
"Alright, whatever. I'm a loser. Now let's get some food, huh?" Tai asked them as hey made a wave over to the little restaurants. Koushirou and Iori led the way and TK and Tai followed behind.
About fifteen minutes later they returned and finally found an empty table. Well, empty, but not clean. Tai fixed that problem with a few napkins and a little bit of poured out soda. The four of them sat down and started digging in. Tai had stopped cracking jokes on Iori's Big Kid's Meal after they left the counter but he still kept looking at the little toy that came with it and giggled.
"You going to play with that, Iori?" Tai asked him, unable to control himself any longer.
"No Tai. Do you want it?" Iori said and made as to toss it to him. Tai opened his hands to catch it and Iori tossed it his way.
"Sweet. What is it?" Tai looked at the little plastic bag and tried to figure out what it was. "Oh well, I'll open it later," Tai said as he stuffed the little bag in his coat pocket. Now it was Iori's turn to laugh at him, which he did.
"I have a question for the two of you," Koushirou said to Tai and TK while he took a little break from stuffing his face with a Whopper with Cheese, no tomato. Tai and TK looked at him while they continued to feed themselves.
"Go on Koushirou," Tai mumbled with his mouth full, a little bit of bun falling out of his mouth.
"Well, I asked Iori this a little while ago and I thought I'd ask the two of you as well." Iori nodded slightly and the other two stopped munching for a second. Koushirou spoke a little lower, not wanting to attract any extra attention. "Okay. Have either of you decided how you are going to tell your parents or whoever that you are gay?" Silence filled the space between the four of them, broken only by the drone of the other three hundred people in the food court.
"Um, well.I've tried to figure out a good way to do it, but so far I've come up dry," TK told the others. "I don't have a clue."
"I'll probably just tell them over dinner," Tai said and that fact didn't really surprise anyone.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one who is feeling the same way then," Koushirou said and took a sip from his cup.
"I think everything will work out fine, but you know," TK said and got nods of agreement.
"What if we set a date then?" Tai said. "That way we won't have this hanging over us for that much longer."
"I don't know," Iori said very slowly.
"You're worried right?" Tai asked him and Iori nodded. "Well, this way it'll be over with and you won't have to worry about it any longer," Tai said and took a sip himself.
No one said anything for a minute or two, contemplating Tai's idea. "Well?" Tai asked.
"I don't know, Tai. What if I set up to do it and then I can't?" TK asked him.
"Well, then you get a little moral support like I mentioned earlier. Call me and I'll be there." Tai was looking at TK when he said that and then turned to the others. "The same goes for you guys. Call me if you need me. I'll just stand there if you want, for support. Got it?"
"I think so," TK said. "You're right about it. I don't want to have to continue thinking about it. I want it to be done and over, no matter the consequences." TK's sentiments seemed to be shared by the others at the table. "When?" TK asked and the table went silent again.
"Let's see, our DigiDestined party is in a few days, so we should really have it done by then. I don't want it clouding our fun." Koushirou said that and crumpled up his wrapper and stuck it in his French fry box. Iori looked like a deer stuck in headlights.
"What's the matter, Iori?" TK asked him, as gently as could be.
"Nothing, really. I just thought that if we set a date that it was sort of official, you know? Sort of like, well, by Tuesday my mum and grandfather will know that I'm gay."
"Didn't you say a little while ago that you felt like you were lying to them by not telling them?" Koushirou asked him.
"Yeah, but." Iori started before TK interrupted
"We're surely not going to force you to do this, Iori. If you don't want to, you don't have to. I won't care one way or the other. If you're not comfortable about it, put it off." TK finished and smiled his brown- haired boyfriend.
"Thanks, TK. I'm going to do it. I need to." Iori told *his* boyfriend. "Then, I guess the next question is when," Iori asked with his hands spread open.
"Well, what about tomorrow?" TK said.
"Tomorrow? What about today?" Tai said, completely serious. "We've all been talking about it, so why not get it over with, hmm?"
"I like tomorrow better," Koushirou and Iori said at almost the same time.
"Is that cool, TK?" Tai asked TK, assuming that the others were alright with it as well.
"Um, I guess so. I do want to go on and do it."
"Well then, is it settled? Before TK's game?" Tai asked and put his hand out in the middle of the table.
"Yes," Koushirou said with a lot more force than he knew he had in him as he stuck his own hand out, covering Tai's.
"Yes," Iori said, covering Koushirou's hand with his much smaller hand. All eyes converged on TK.
"I'm in. By tomorrow!" he said and put his hand in the center
Lunch broke up and the four of them started on their way home. A short bus ride later they were back near school. The four of them broke company and headed for home. Iori had his kendo, TK had to get to practice, Tai had to go wait on his mum and sister, and Koushirou had to finalize a few last things for their little Christmas bash. He and Yamato had been put in charge of everything since they were looked at as being the most responsible. Joe would have helped out but his class work and training were keeping him far too busy.
Iori headed on his way, pulling his hood up against the sharp wind that had begun to gust with renewed force. He pulled the bag with TK's gift in it closer to him and lowered his head a bit in an attempt to keep stray snowflakes from his eyes.
"Hello, Mum, Grandfather. I'm gay. I thought you'd like to know," he whispered to himself and shrugged his head at the stupidity he heard. "No, that won't work." Iori walked on, trying out other possible segue (that odd word there is pronounced seg-way, definitely not how I thought it was spelled.energy) into his announcement. "What if I left them a note? No way. That is too impersonal. I have no idea how to do this." Iori strolled the last few blocks home and went inside.
Iori was thankful that no one was home right then. If someone had been and they'd have asked how he was, he'd likely have blurted his secret right out. Iori allowed himself a small smile at that thought as he went to put TK's gift in his room. He set it reverently on his chair and set out to make himself a small glass of juice and maybe a few crackers and cheese.
TK grabbed his gym bag (wait a sec.TK and Iori and Yolei are supposed to live in the same building..hmmm. Interesting. Well, TK and his mum moved. There. That solves that problem.) and headed to practice. Once there he proceeded to have one of the absolute worst experiences of his life. He couldn't shoot to save his life, he couldn't guard a snowman, the list goes on. It was like he was out there physically only, his mind light years away. Finally, after the coach had pulled out more than a handful of hair in frustration over his until-this-moment- star player, he called TK over to the sidelines.
"Takaishi, what is your problem? Are you awake out there? You've got to get your mind in the game if you don't want the season to be over tomorrow."
"I, I'm sorry sir. I'm not really sure what my problem is today," he lied, horribly. The coach saw through it like a thin veil of satin.
"Uh huh. Think I just fell off the turnip truck, son? Want to tell me what's on your mind?"
"I really can't sir, believe me. Don' t worry though, by tomorrow I'll be as focused as I can be," he told the coach. "Focused one way or the other," he told himself. TK had just decided that he'd get it over with tonight when his mum returned from work.
"Alright, Takaishi. Why don't you go to one of the side baskets and work on your shooting? It might do you good to have a little quiet time."
"Right." TK picked up a ball and walked over to one of the other goals. The coach went back to yelling out instructions to the other players.
"Okay, TK. Time to get your head together." dribble dribble dribble. Shoot. Swish.
"So I'm gay. Big deal." dribble dribble, pivot, shoot. Clank.
"Alright, maybe it is a big deal. I can handle this though." dribble, jump, fade away. Swish.
"Mum has always supported me in everything I've done so far, why would this be any different?" pivot, jump, fake, shoot. Clang.
"Okay, this is a little different. Still, I'm her son and she has loved me all the while anyway." Clang.
"Alright, she hasn't known the whole story or anything, but it shouldn't matter, right?" Swish. TK went on playing his little game, slowly getting his head together and clearing his mind for the task that lay before him.
Tai made it home and had just shut the door when he heard the sounds of conversation from the living room. "Is that Daisuke?" He asked himself as he headed in that direction, stopping to get a glass of water from the kitchen.
".so I told Ken that, hey Tai. What's going on?" Daisuke said, the first half to Kari and the second to Tai.
"Well, I thought I'd come home and see how my sister is doing, but it seems that you've beaten me to the punch," Tai told him.
"Yeah, I've been here for a little while now." Tai looked over at Kari and laughed inwardly as she rolled her eyes.
"So Kari, has he been taking care of you?" Tai asked his sister with a hint of sarcasm.
"He's been great, actually," Kari told him in all honesty.
"Yeah, I even helped her hold her hair back when she tossed her cookies a little while ago," Daisuke told Tai, sticking out his bird chest just a little. (A/N: gross, Dai, really gross.) Tai started laughing and Kari made a face that read 'oh my god, I don't believe he just said that', causing Tai to laugh even harder.
"So Tai, I guess you went shopping too, huh?" Daisuke said as he gestured to the bag Tai had set down. "Get me anything?"
"Nope. Sorry. This is for Koushirou."
"Ah man, what's up with everyone buying presents for everyone except me?" Tai looked at him cluelessly. "Yeah, I ran into Koushirou and Iori at the mall and Iori had a present for TK, you have one for Koushirou."
"Well," Tai started but really wasn't sure exactly what he should say without tipping his hand *way* too much.
"Maybe they drew names, Daisuke," Kari piped in, seeing the look of worry on her brother's face.
"Yeah, maybe so. Did we all draw names and I forgot or something?" Daisuke asked.
"Um, yeah, that's it," Tai said. "we did draw names. Well, actually Koushirou did it for us on his computer."
"Oh, man. Stupid Daisuke, stupid," Daisuke told himself and slapped a palm to his forehead. "Who'd I get Tai? I don't remember at all."
"I think it was, um," Tai started and right then his eyes locked with his sister's. Her eyes shrunk into needles and almost screamed at him. "Oh, I remember," Tai picked back up, with a hint of a smile on his face, "it was Kari." He smiled as wide as his face would allow at her and she shot back with a look of death.
"Awesome!!" Daisuke said and jumped to his feet, nearly knocking over the chuck bucket (thankfully emptied and Lysol-ed by Daisuke after the last expulsion). "I've got to get back to the mall," he said and waved goodbye to the two Kamiyas.
"See you later, killer," Tai said quietly as Daisuke was already out the door.
"Tai, I'm going to kill you, and then kill you again. Then, a third time just for good measure," Kari growled at him and tossed one of her pillows.
"What? I just assured you of an extra present. How did I go wrong?"
"It was Daisuke!!!" She yelled. "Are you stupid? Now he'll be spending the next few days in all the woman's stores, trying to find the perfect gift."
"And that's a bad thing?" Tai asked her with his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face.
"Well," Kari really didn't have a lot to say about that.
"I thought so. You two make a cute couple, you know." Kari held her tongue for a split second, forming her words perfectly.
"Almost as cute as you and Koushirou," she said. The glass of water fell from Tai's hand and landed with a muted thud on the thick carpet. Water turned the piles dark.
"Excuse me?" Was all that Tai could get out of his mouth.
"I'm right, aren't I? I thought so," Kari said solemnly.
"Right about what?" Tai said in an attempt to throw her off the truth.
"Tai, I'm right, huh? I know it." Tai was completely dumbfounded, having no idea what to say. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I think that you two are cute as can be together." She smiled at him and his mind began to slowly thaw out.
"So, you know that, um, well," Tai stammered.
"Yes. Well, more precisely, I had a really strong feeling about it."
"You're not mad, or disgusted, or anything like that?"
"Of course not. Well, maybe just a little upset that I'll never have a chance with Koushirou, but aside from that, not at all." (would that be a Hikirou? Or Koukari? Hmmm.)
Tai started to smile and then he let out a deep breath. "I'm glad that you're okay with this."
"I'm here for you Tai, always. If I wasn't sick, I'd hug you right now."
"Thanks. What do you think about Mum, though? Will she be as welcoming as you?"
"I think so. Are you going to tell her?"
"Yeah, soon I think. Maybe tonight. I don't know for sure." Tai picked up the glass and studied it carefully, for no particular reason.
"You're worried aren't you?" Kari asked and Tai only nodded in reply.
Well, that is the end of this chapter and no, I didn't forget about Koushirou's part. I'm starting there next time, so ha. I'd like to give a big shout-out to the University of Louisville Cardinals for SHOCKING good ol' Florida State. Get out of here, 'Noles!!! Yeah!!! 26-20, baby!!!
Anyway, while in the middle of this story I had to go back to the school today and do more observation. Well, I found out that Cody's last name starts with a 'H' (I won't mention it just in case). If it gets any weirder, I'm going to have to search his book bag for Upamon or something. Freaky, huh????
energy's update: I've now been four days without smoking!!! Go me. I'm proud, but dying for someone to blow smoke in my face.. It's getting better tho. For all you youngins out there, DON'T SMOKE. There. It sucks and it's hard as hell to quit.
And finally, I'd like to thank Tropical Storm Isidore for completely ruining my plans for the last two days. Thanks a lot, wench. Nothing is a bigger plan killer than non-stop rain for three days.
Last chance to get your votes in on who's family---two parents, one mum and a grandpa, or a single mum---whatever, is completely homophobic. So far it's a tie, one for each character. Sorry REN, you can't hedge your bet. One or the other. Leave your guess in a review. Maybe the winner will get something. Who knows. Anyway, I'm hungry so I'm going to finish this and go get some food.
energy
In another Digimon related school note, one of the kids for some reason asked me if I liked YuGiOh. Well, since I've never seen it, I said that I didn't know, but that I liked Digimon. None of the kids could believe it. "You like Digimon?" they kept asking. I told them to ask me any question about it and I got a few from them and answered them flawlessly. One boy still didn't believe me, so I told him that I'd bring in my nametag from work and show him the Guilmon sticker I have on it. Only then will he believe me.
After watching Sora leave, Tai and TK went on their way to the food court, weaving and dodging all the while.
"Hey, Tai," TK said to his friend in a low voice.
"Yeah?"
"This is going to sound a little odd, but uh, have you figured out how you're going to tell your parents that, well, you know?"
"As of yet, not really. I'll probably just end up blurting it out sometime."
"Aren't you worried in the least about what they might say, Tai?"
"Nah, my parents are pretty cool about everything. I don't really see how this would be any different."
"What if you're wrong? Can you really be that sure, Tai?"
"I think so, TK. I honestly do."
"I wish I could be so sure."
"If it's bugging you that much, would you like it if someone came over with you? Iori, myself or Koushirou? Or all of us? I'd be there in a heartbeat and I'm more than willing to bet that the others would as well."
"I might take you up on that offer, Tai. Thanks a lot."
"No problem. Now, let's get to Burger King before my stomach does anymore cartwheels."
"You're on, Tai," TK said as they neared the correct area, their noses picking up the mixed scent of everything from pizza to Chinese to grill smoke.
The other two boys were quick on their heels, reaching the food court a scant few minutes after them. Koushirou spotted them standing over by the BK counter and pointed them out to Iori. Iori smiled as he saw TK and they started moving to them.
"Hey Koushirou, get me something?" Tai playfully asked, pointing to the bag that hung from Koushirou's wrist.
"Nope. Not a thing. I got TK a present though," Koushirou said in a complete deadpan.
"Hey!" Tai yelped, not realizing that Koushirou was playing around with him. (poor Tai, always failing his Sense Motive rolls..sorry, unwarranted D&D reference.)
"Tai, I'm kidding. Of course I got you something."
"Oh, yeah. I knew that. I was just testing you to see if."
"Tai, we don't believe you, man. Sorry." TK was giving Tai the 'loser' sign as he and Iori and Koushirou started busting out laughing.
"Alright, whatever. I'm a loser. Now let's get some food, huh?" Tai asked them as hey made a wave over to the little restaurants. Koushirou and Iori led the way and TK and Tai followed behind.
About fifteen minutes later they returned and finally found an empty table. Well, empty, but not clean. Tai fixed that problem with a few napkins and a little bit of poured out soda. The four of them sat down and started digging in. Tai had stopped cracking jokes on Iori's Big Kid's Meal after they left the counter but he still kept looking at the little toy that came with it and giggled.
"You going to play with that, Iori?" Tai asked him, unable to control himself any longer.
"No Tai. Do you want it?" Iori said and made as to toss it to him. Tai opened his hands to catch it and Iori tossed it his way.
"Sweet. What is it?" Tai looked at the little plastic bag and tried to figure out what it was. "Oh well, I'll open it later," Tai said as he stuffed the little bag in his coat pocket. Now it was Iori's turn to laugh at him, which he did.
"I have a question for the two of you," Koushirou said to Tai and TK while he took a little break from stuffing his face with a Whopper with Cheese, no tomato. Tai and TK looked at him while they continued to feed themselves.
"Go on Koushirou," Tai mumbled with his mouth full, a little bit of bun falling out of his mouth.
"Well, I asked Iori this a little while ago and I thought I'd ask the two of you as well." Iori nodded slightly and the other two stopped munching for a second. Koushirou spoke a little lower, not wanting to attract any extra attention. "Okay. Have either of you decided how you are going to tell your parents or whoever that you are gay?" Silence filled the space between the four of them, broken only by the drone of the other three hundred people in the food court.
"Um, well.I've tried to figure out a good way to do it, but so far I've come up dry," TK told the others. "I don't have a clue."
"I'll probably just tell them over dinner," Tai said and that fact didn't really surprise anyone.
"I'm glad I'm not the only one who is feeling the same way then," Koushirou said and took a sip from his cup.
"I think everything will work out fine, but you know," TK said and got nods of agreement.
"What if we set a date then?" Tai said. "That way we won't have this hanging over us for that much longer."
"I don't know," Iori said very slowly.
"You're worried right?" Tai asked him and Iori nodded. "Well, this way it'll be over with and you won't have to worry about it any longer," Tai said and took a sip himself.
No one said anything for a minute or two, contemplating Tai's idea. "Well?" Tai asked.
"I don't know, Tai. What if I set up to do it and then I can't?" TK asked him.
"Well, then you get a little moral support like I mentioned earlier. Call me and I'll be there." Tai was looking at TK when he said that and then turned to the others. "The same goes for you guys. Call me if you need me. I'll just stand there if you want, for support. Got it?"
"I think so," TK said. "You're right about it. I don't want to have to continue thinking about it. I want it to be done and over, no matter the consequences." TK's sentiments seemed to be shared by the others at the table. "When?" TK asked and the table went silent again.
"Let's see, our DigiDestined party is in a few days, so we should really have it done by then. I don't want it clouding our fun." Koushirou said that and crumpled up his wrapper and stuck it in his French fry box. Iori looked like a deer stuck in headlights.
"What's the matter, Iori?" TK asked him, as gently as could be.
"Nothing, really. I just thought that if we set a date that it was sort of official, you know? Sort of like, well, by Tuesday my mum and grandfather will know that I'm gay."
"Didn't you say a little while ago that you felt like you were lying to them by not telling them?" Koushirou asked him.
"Yeah, but." Iori started before TK interrupted
"We're surely not going to force you to do this, Iori. If you don't want to, you don't have to. I won't care one way or the other. If you're not comfortable about it, put it off." TK finished and smiled his brown- haired boyfriend.
"Thanks, TK. I'm going to do it. I need to." Iori told *his* boyfriend. "Then, I guess the next question is when," Iori asked with his hands spread open.
"Well, what about tomorrow?" TK said.
"Tomorrow? What about today?" Tai said, completely serious. "We've all been talking about it, so why not get it over with, hmm?"
"I like tomorrow better," Koushirou and Iori said at almost the same time.
"Is that cool, TK?" Tai asked TK, assuming that the others were alright with it as well.
"Um, I guess so. I do want to go on and do it."
"Well then, is it settled? Before TK's game?" Tai asked and put his hand out in the middle of the table.
"Yes," Koushirou said with a lot more force than he knew he had in him as he stuck his own hand out, covering Tai's.
"Yes," Iori said, covering Koushirou's hand with his much smaller hand. All eyes converged on TK.
"I'm in. By tomorrow!" he said and put his hand in the center
Lunch broke up and the four of them started on their way home. A short bus ride later they were back near school. The four of them broke company and headed for home. Iori had his kendo, TK had to get to practice, Tai had to go wait on his mum and sister, and Koushirou had to finalize a few last things for their little Christmas bash. He and Yamato had been put in charge of everything since they were looked at as being the most responsible. Joe would have helped out but his class work and training were keeping him far too busy.
Iori headed on his way, pulling his hood up against the sharp wind that had begun to gust with renewed force. He pulled the bag with TK's gift in it closer to him and lowered his head a bit in an attempt to keep stray snowflakes from his eyes.
"Hello, Mum, Grandfather. I'm gay. I thought you'd like to know," he whispered to himself and shrugged his head at the stupidity he heard. "No, that won't work." Iori walked on, trying out other possible segue (that odd word there is pronounced seg-way, definitely not how I thought it was spelled.energy) into his announcement. "What if I left them a note? No way. That is too impersonal. I have no idea how to do this." Iori strolled the last few blocks home and went inside.
Iori was thankful that no one was home right then. If someone had been and they'd have asked how he was, he'd likely have blurted his secret right out. Iori allowed himself a small smile at that thought as he went to put TK's gift in his room. He set it reverently on his chair and set out to make himself a small glass of juice and maybe a few crackers and cheese.
TK grabbed his gym bag (wait a sec.TK and Iori and Yolei are supposed to live in the same building..hmmm. Interesting. Well, TK and his mum moved. There. That solves that problem.) and headed to practice. Once there he proceeded to have one of the absolute worst experiences of his life. He couldn't shoot to save his life, he couldn't guard a snowman, the list goes on. It was like he was out there physically only, his mind light years away. Finally, after the coach had pulled out more than a handful of hair in frustration over his until-this-moment- star player, he called TK over to the sidelines.
"Takaishi, what is your problem? Are you awake out there? You've got to get your mind in the game if you don't want the season to be over tomorrow."
"I, I'm sorry sir. I'm not really sure what my problem is today," he lied, horribly. The coach saw through it like a thin veil of satin.
"Uh huh. Think I just fell off the turnip truck, son? Want to tell me what's on your mind?"
"I really can't sir, believe me. Don' t worry though, by tomorrow I'll be as focused as I can be," he told the coach. "Focused one way or the other," he told himself. TK had just decided that he'd get it over with tonight when his mum returned from work.
"Alright, Takaishi. Why don't you go to one of the side baskets and work on your shooting? It might do you good to have a little quiet time."
"Right." TK picked up a ball and walked over to one of the other goals. The coach went back to yelling out instructions to the other players.
"Okay, TK. Time to get your head together." dribble dribble dribble. Shoot. Swish.
"So I'm gay. Big deal." dribble dribble, pivot, shoot. Clank.
"Alright, maybe it is a big deal. I can handle this though." dribble, jump, fade away. Swish.
"Mum has always supported me in everything I've done so far, why would this be any different?" pivot, jump, fake, shoot. Clang.
"Okay, this is a little different. Still, I'm her son and she has loved me all the while anyway." Clang.
"Alright, she hasn't known the whole story or anything, but it shouldn't matter, right?" Swish. TK went on playing his little game, slowly getting his head together and clearing his mind for the task that lay before him.
Tai made it home and had just shut the door when he heard the sounds of conversation from the living room. "Is that Daisuke?" He asked himself as he headed in that direction, stopping to get a glass of water from the kitchen.
".so I told Ken that, hey Tai. What's going on?" Daisuke said, the first half to Kari and the second to Tai.
"Well, I thought I'd come home and see how my sister is doing, but it seems that you've beaten me to the punch," Tai told him.
"Yeah, I've been here for a little while now." Tai looked over at Kari and laughed inwardly as she rolled her eyes.
"So Kari, has he been taking care of you?" Tai asked his sister with a hint of sarcasm.
"He's been great, actually," Kari told him in all honesty.
"Yeah, I even helped her hold her hair back when she tossed her cookies a little while ago," Daisuke told Tai, sticking out his bird chest just a little. (A/N: gross, Dai, really gross.) Tai started laughing and Kari made a face that read 'oh my god, I don't believe he just said that', causing Tai to laugh even harder.
"So Tai, I guess you went shopping too, huh?" Daisuke said as he gestured to the bag Tai had set down. "Get me anything?"
"Nope. Sorry. This is for Koushirou."
"Ah man, what's up with everyone buying presents for everyone except me?" Tai looked at him cluelessly. "Yeah, I ran into Koushirou and Iori at the mall and Iori had a present for TK, you have one for Koushirou."
"Well," Tai started but really wasn't sure exactly what he should say without tipping his hand *way* too much.
"Maybe they drew names, Daisuke," Kari piped in, seeing the look of worry on her brother's face.
"Yeah, maybe so. Did we all draw names and I forgot or something?" Daisuke asked.
"Um, yeah, that's it," Tai said. "we did draw names. Well, actually Koushirou did it for us on his computer."
"Oh, man. Stupid Daisuke, stupid," Daisuke told himself and slapped a palm to his forehead. "Who'd I get Tai? I don't remember at all."
"I think it was, um," Tai started and right then his eyes locked with his sister's. Her eyes shrunk into needles and almost screamed at him. "Oh, I remember," Tai picked back up, with a hint of a smile on his face, "it was Kari." He smiled as wide as his face would allow at her and she shot back with a look of death.
"Awesome!!" Daisuke said and jumped to his feet, nearly knocking over the chuck bucket (thankfully emptied and Lysol-ed by Daisuke after the last expulsion). "I've got to get back to the mall," he said and waved goodbye to the two Kamiyas.
"See you later, killer," Tai said quietly as Daisuke was already out the door.
"Tai, I'm going to kill you, and then kill you again. Then, a third time just for good measure," Kari growled at him and tossed one of her pillows.
"What? I just assured you of an extra present. How did I go wrong?"
"It was Daisuke!!!" She yelled. "Are you stupid? Now he'll be spending the next few days in all the woman's stores, trying to find the perfect gift."
"And that's a bad thing?" Tai asked her with his arms crossed and a smug smile on his face.
"Well," Kari really didn't have a lot to say about that.
"I thought so. You two make a cute couple, you know." Kari held her tongue for a split second, forming her words perfectly.
"Almost as cute as you and Koushirou," she said. The glass of water fell from Tai's hand and landed with a muted thud on the thick carpet. Water turned the piles dark.
"Excuse me?" Was all that Tai could get out of his mouth.
"I'm right, aren't I? I thought so," Kari said solemnly.
"Right about what?" Tai said in an attempt to throw her off the truth.
"Tai, I'm right, huh? I know it." Tai was completely dumbfounded, having no idea what to say. "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I think that you two are cute as can be together." She smiled at him and his mind began to slowly thaw out.
"So, you know that, um, well," Tai stammered.
"Yes. Well, more precisely, I had a really strong feeling about it."
"You're not mad, or disgusted, or anything like that?"
"Of course not. Well, maybe just a little upset that I'll never have a chance with Koushirou, but aside from that, not at all." (would that be a Hikirou? Or Koukari? Hmmm.)
Tai started to smile and then he let out a deep breath. "I'm glad that you're okay with this."
"I'm here for you Tai, always. If I wasn't sick, I'd hug you right now."
"Thanks. What do you think about Mum, though? Will she be as welcoming as you?"
"I think so. Are you going to tell her?"
"Yeah, soon I think. Maybe tonight. I don't know for sure." Tai picked up the glass and studied it carefully, for no particular reason.
"You're worried aren't you?" Kari asked and Tai only nodded in reply.
Well, that is the end of this chapter and no, I didn't forget about Koushirou's part. I'm starting there next time, so ha. I'd like to give a big shout-out to the University of Louisville Cardinals for SHOCKING good ol' Florida State. Get out of here, 'Noles!!! Yeah!!! 26-20, baby!!!
Anyway, while in the middle of this story I had to go back to the school today and do more observation. Well, I found out that Cody's last name starts with a 'H' (I won't mention it just in case). If it gets any weirder, I'm going to have to search his book bag for Upamon or something. Freaky, huh????
energy's update: I've now been four days without smoking!!! Go me. I'm proud, but dying for someone to blow smoke in my face.. It's getting better tho. For all you youngins out there, DON'T SMOKE. There. It sucks and it's hard as hell to quit.
And finally, I'd like to thank Tropical Storm Isidore for completely ruining my plans for the last two days. Thanks a lot, wench. Nothing is a bigger plan killer than non-stop rain for three days.
Last chance to get your votes in on who's family---two parents, one mum and a grandpa, or a single mum---whatever, is completely homophobic. So far it's a tie, one for each character. Sorry REN, you can't hedge your bet. One or the other. Leave your guess in a review. Maybe the winner will get something. Who knows. Anyway, I'm hungry so I'm going to finish this and go get some food.
energy