"Cowboy take me away.." I must thank the Dixie Chicks for creating such a
wonderful song, one that is so great that it's been running in my head for
three straight days now. I was at a rock concert yesterday with bands
like Stone Sour, SR71, Trust Co. and a few more, and even during the heavy
guitar jams I still heard the Chicks' song. Aaarrrg.
Overall the show was great, aside from the heat, and the fact that my brother showed up. How uncool. Not that I hate him or anything, but do you know how hard it is to scope out people with your brother around? I saw the most awesome boy in the world and well, probably wouldn't have left the show alone, BUT my brother was there and wouldn't leave my side. Anyway, I've decided that I'm about to throw this closet door into the fire and have a huge coming out party and you're all invited. I've put up a longer rant about the whole day on my little web thing -- http://www.ujournal.org/users/energy/ if anyone cares.
Anyway, enough of crying over spilled milk. Stupid brother, ruining my fun. Alright, I'm done. Oh, gotta give a round of applause to the Detroit Lions, having won a game!!! They didn't wait all season this time. Great!! Oh, and get ready hockey fans, the season starts soon and the Red Wings are ready to repeat.
As Mara ripped the door open she saw Tai standing before her, completely soaked to the skin. His eyes looked vacant, almost surprised, when he saw Mara. He stood there.
"Taichi?!" Mara said and whisked him inside, catching the door with the tips of her toes just hard enough to have it swing closed almost silently.
"Taichi? What are you doing out on a night like this?"
"It's a little hard to explain, Mrs. Izumi," Tai started to explain the situation but he was wracked with shivers and his voice ceased for the moment.
"Tai, you're soaked and freezing." Mara's mind was whirling, setting plans up and getting ready for action. "Get your wet clothes off and I'll get a few of Koushirou's clothes for you to put on. I'll meet you in the bathroom."
"Wait, Mrs. Izumi, don't wake Koushirou, please." Tai raised his head and looked at her and she saw much hurt and what might turn out to be a big bruise.
"Alright. I won't." Mara stole down the hallway like a wraith and was back with a change of warm clothes before Tai had even completely removed his jacket. She saw Tai slowly making progress and fought the urge to help him. Instead she escorted him into the bathroom, setting the clothes on the counter. "Just toss your wet clothes in the tub and we'll do something with them later."
Tai smiled at her lightly and spoke equally light, "Thank you." Mara ruffled his hair and shut the door behind her. She leaned against the wall across from the bathroom and put a hand to her forehead and sighed deeply.
"I promise you, Tai, if what I think happened did happen, there will be repercussions. I promise." She stood straight and her green eyes flashed brilliantly.
In the kitchen Mara had set a kettle of water on the stove, having decided that she likely wouldn't get too much sleep tonight. Tai came out of the bathroom dressed in a minute or so in what were large clothes to Koushirou but normal size to Tai. Mara heard his footsteps and called out to him.
"I'm in the kitchen, Taichi." Tai made an appearance a few seconds later. "Tea or hot chocolate, Taichi?"
"Hot chocolate, if it's not that much of a trouble," Tai answered her, still not looking directly at her.
"No trouble at all, Taichi," she said as she started to fix him some. Mara caught a quick glimpse of Tai's cheek. It was a bruise on his face, she was sure of it now. Tai stood in silence as Mara worked her magic in the kitchen. In a few short minutes she had her tea and Tai his hot chocolate. He simply stood in place and looked at, taking a sip finally.
"Come on Taichi," she said to him as she put an arm around his shoulders and slowly led him out of the kitchen and over to the couch. He sat down slowly, still not looking directly at her. She sat down next to him and crossed her leg.
"Would you like to tell me what happened, Taichi?"
"I guess so," Tai squeaked out. Mara waited until he was ready to start. "As you know, we all went to the mall today to shop for Christmas, and while we were having lunch, we all made a deal." Tai looked over at Mara, realizing that he might be stealing Koushirou's thunder if he were to reveal too much.
"It's okay, Taichi, Koushirou told me about the deal earlier tonight." Mara smiled at him, the unsaid message behind the smile was that he was safe here.
"Well," Tai started, "I guess he told you everything, right?" Mara only nodded and Tai allowed himself a little smile of his own. "Things at my house didn't go so well." Tai ceased talking for a moment while he studied the mug of hot chocolate in his hands.
"Taichi, you don't have to tell me this if you don't want to," Mara told him gently as she placed a hand on his knee.
"I know," he said and started again. "My sister and I had worked out a plan where she would go to bed early so that I could tell my parents alone." Tai looked at Mara and before she could ask her question he answered it for her. "I told her earlier in the afternoon. So, she went up early and I sat with them and tried to find the perfect time to tell them. We sat and watched tv for almost ninety minutes before I finally brought it up."
Tai stopped talking again, as if to try to replay the scene in his mind. "Things fell apart almost instantly. Everything is a blur, Mrs. Izumi. I told them that I wanted to tell them something and I did, and immediately my mum started screaming and my father only stood there, giving me a terrible look. Somewhere along the line, she hit me. I fell on the floor and then I ran out of the room."
"Taichi, I'm so sorry," Mara empathized.
"I grabbed my coat and ran out the door. I wandered the streets for almost an hour. I stopped in the park for a little while before it started raining. When it began pouring I didn't really know where to go, so I came here. I'm sorry if I woke you, Mrs. Izumi."
"Taichi, don't be sorry. I wasn't asleep anyway, and even if I was I'd certainly get up and let you in, anytime." Tai finished his mug of chocolate and set it on the coffee table.
Mara's mind was racing. How dare she hit him! she screamed in her head. Let me find her in the market and I'll clean her quick. Tai's words brought her out of her little reverie.
"Thanks again, Mrs. Izumi. I really don't know where I'd have gone." Tai looked like he was near tears when he told her that, likely brought on by the recent memories.
"Taichi, you are welcome to stay here as long as you need to. If it ends up being for good, that's perfectly fine. I've thought of you as almost a second son now for a while, and since you and my son are as close as you are, welcome to the family."
"Thanks, Mrs. Izumi," Tai told her and then he did begin to cry lightly. Mara put her arm around him and pulled him close. Tai fell into her embrace and relaxed.
About that time, a certain red-head we all know and love came out of his bedroom. He had a stuffed animal of some sort under one arm. Closer examination would later reveal it to be a well worn teddy bear. His eyes were half-lidded due to the buildup of eye buggers and his red hair stuck out in an afro-like exhibition of bed-head. Koushirou walked slowly out into the living room, still not quite totally awake.
"Mum? Who are you talking to?" Koushirou asked before his eyes saw the boy she was hugging. "Tai-chan?" Koushirou called and tossed the animal to the floor and woke completely up. He raced to Tai and was sitting at his feet in mere seconds. He looked up in Tai's face and then in his mum's. Mara was smiling at him and she patted on her leg, motioning for Koushirou to hop up. Koushirou did so and gave Tai a strong hug.
"Tai, is everything okay?" Koushirou's voice was quivering when he asked Tai this, partly out of fear and partly from seeing Tai's tear- streaked face.
"It is now, Koushirou. It is now."
Wasn't that just so fluffy at the end? So very puffy-cloud soft and mushy? Kou-chan with a little teddy bear? Aaaahhhh.so cute and cuddly and whatnot. I must say that this was a difficult chapter to write for some reason. I didn't even want to write about when Tai's mum hit him. I can't stand to see a kiddie hurt. As of right now you can count on a confrontation between Mara and Mrs. Kamiya. I just don't know if she will straight kick her ass or what. Who knows. She might whup his father too, for good measure. I've not decided for sure yet.
Now for a few post story ANs: Thanks guys for getting me soooo close to 100 reviews. The counter is at 99, but with the infrequency that new reviews appear on my screen, it could already be there. I feel special now, not in the I'm-better-than-someone- else way but I guess lucky. I get to do something that I love to do, write, and I get to find out how other enjoy my writings. I win, and you win (I hope ;) thanks again.
Now, back to my little contest I had a chapter or two ago. The Dragon's Spirit won with the correct guess of Tai, and since it was his b-day, he gets a present. A giftfic. TDS, I'll write you a Digimon story. Give me the premise, the characters you like, any romances (I can even write straight couples, by the way- whoa! Can you believe it??) and I'll do it for you. Email me or drop a review, whatever.
Don't worry REN, your Wilkeru is coming. I've sort of got an idea and it's busy metamorphosing into a story as we speak.
Lets' see.oh, tamagochi, you should go ahead and post that tamers fic you've been working on. I would like to see it. (or send me the early edition...)(or I could be patient..sure.)
Um, Yoshiki has a new story I just sent him back beta-d. It is the follow up to Harsh Memories and I can't seem to think of what it's called at this moment. Harsh somethings. It'll likely be up soon or maybe already. Check it out.
I think that about covers everything I wanted to say now, so I'll end this and go post and then sleep. Oh!! Bon Jovi's new album comes out next week!!! Are you excited???? I am. O-tay. That was odd... "we're halfway there..oh-o living on a prayer!!" how many of you have even heard that song, energy ponders...
energy, getting the invitations for his party ready..
Overall the show was great, aside from the heat, and the fact that my brother showed up. How uncool. Not that I hate him or anything, but do you know how hard it is to scope out people with your brother around? I saw the most awesome boy in the world and well, probably wouldn't have left the show alone, BUT my brother was there and wouldn't leave my side. Anyway, I've decided that I'm about to throw this closet door into the fire and have a huge coming out party and you're all invited. I've put up a longer rant about the whole day on my little web thing -- http://www.ujournal.org/users/energy/ if anyone cares.
Anyway, enough of crying over spilled milk. Stupid brother, ruining my fun. Alright, I'm done. Oh, gotta give a round of applause to the Detroit Lions, having won a game!!! They didn't wait all season this time. Great!! Oh, and get ready hockey fans, the season starts soon and the Red Wings are ready to repeat.
As Mara ripped the door open she saw Tai standing before her, completely soaked to the skin. His eyes looked vacant, almost surprised, when he saw Mara. He stood there.
"Taichi?!" Mara said and whisked him inside, catching the door with the tips of her toes just hard enough to have it swing closed almost silently.
"Taichi? What are you doing out on a night like this?"
"It's a little hard to explain, Mrs. Izumi," Tai started to explain the situation but he was wracked with shivers and his voice ceased for the moment.
"Tai, you're soaked and freezing." Mara's mind was whirling, setting plans up and getting ready for action. "Get your wet clothes off and I'll get a few of Koushirou's clothes for you to put on. I'll meet you in the bathroom."
"Wait, Mrs. Izumi, don't wake Koushirou, please." Tai raised his head and looked at her and she saw much hurt and what might turn out to be a big bruise.
"Alright. I won't." Mara stole down the hallway like a wraith and was back with a change of warm clothes before Tai had even completely removed his jacket. She saw Tai slowly making progress and fought the urge to help him. Instead she escorted him into the bathroom, setting the clothes on the counter. "Just toss your wet clothes in the tub and we'll do something with them later."
Tai smiled at her lightly and spoke equally light, "Thank you." Mara ruffled his hair and shut the door behind her. She leaned against the wall across from the bathroom and put a hand to her forehead and sighed deeply.
"I promise you, Tai, if what I think happened did happen, there will be repercussions. I promise." She stood straight and her green eyes flashed brilliantly.
In the kitchen Mara had set a kettle of water on the stove, having decided that she likely wouldn't get too much sleep tonight. Tai came out of the bathroom dressed in a minute or so in what were large clothes to Koushirou but normal size to Tai. Mara heard his footsteps and called out to him.
"I'm in the kitchen, Taichi." Tai made an appearance a few seconds later. "Tea or hot chocolate, Taichi?"
"Hot chocolate, if it's not that much of a trouble," Tai answered her, still not looking directly at her.
"No trouble at all, Taichi," she said as she started to fix him some. Mara caught a quick glimpse of Tai's cheek. It was a bruise on his face, she was sure of it now. Tai stood in silence as Mara worked her magic in the kitchen. In a few short minutes she had her tea and Tai his hot chocolate. He simply stood in place and looked at, taking a sip finally.
"Come on Taichi," she said to him as she put an arm around his shoulders and slowly led him out of the kitchen and over to the couch. He sat down slowly, still not looking directly at her. She sat down next to him and crossed her leg.
"Would you like to tell me what happened, Taichi?"
"I guess so," Tai squeaked out. Mara waited until he was ready to start. "As you know, we all went to the mall today to shop for Christmas, and while we were having lunch, we all made a deal." Tai looked over at Mara, realizing that he might be stealing Koushirou's thunder if he were to reveal too much.
"It's okay, Taichi, Koushirou told me about the deal earlier tonight." Mara smiled at him, the unsaid message behind the smile was that he was safe here.
"Well," Tai started, "I guess he told you everything, right?" Mara only nodded and Tai allowed himself a little smile of his own. "Things at my house didn't go so well." Tai ceased talking for a moment while he studied the mug of hot chocolate in his hands.
"Taichi, you don't have to tell me this if you don't want to," Mara told him gently as she placed a hand on his knee.
"I know," he said and started again. "My sister and I had worked out a plan where she would go to bed early so that I could tell my parents alone." Tai looked at Mara and before she could ask her question he answered it for her. "I told her earlier in the afternoon. So, she went up early and I sat with them and tried to find the perfect time to tell them. We sat and watched tv for almost ninety minutes before I finally brought it up."
Tai stopped talking again, as if to try to replay the scene in his mind. "Things fell apart almost instantly. Everything is a blur, Mrs. Izumi. I told them that I wanted to tell them something and I did, and immediately my mum started screaming and my father only stood there, giving me a terrible look. Somewhere along the line, she hit me. I fell on the floor and then I ran out of the room."
"Taichi, I'm so sorry," Mara empathized.
"I grabbed my coat and ran out the door. I wandered the streets for almost an hour. I stopped in the park for a little while before it started raining. When it began pouring I didn't really know where to go, so I came here. I'm sorry if I woke you, Mrs. Izumi."
"Taichi, don't be sorry. I wasn't asleep anyway, and even if I was I'd certainly get up and let you in, anytime." Tai finished his mug of chocolate and set it on the coffee table.
Mara's mind was racing. How dare she hit him! she screamed in her head. Let me find her in the market and I'll clean her quick. Tai's words brought her out of her little reverie.
"Thanks again, Mrs. Izumi. I really don't know where I'd have gone." Tai looked like he was near tears when he told her that, likely brought on by the recent memories.
"Taichi, you are welcome to stay here as long as you need to. If it ends up being for good, that's perfectly fine. I've thought of you as almost a second son now for a while, and since you and my son are as close as you are, welcome to the family."
"Thanks, Mrs. Izumi," Tai told her and then he did begin to cry lightly. Mara put her arm around him and pulled him close. Tai fell into her embrace and relaxed.
About that time, a certain red-head we all know and love came out of his bedroom. He had a stuffed animal of some sort under one arm. Closer examination would later reveal it to be a well worn teddy bear. His eyes were half-lidded due to the buildup of eye buggers and his red hair stuck out in an afro-like exhibition of bed-head. Koushirou walked slowly out into the living room, still not quite totally awake.
"Mum? Who are you talking to?" Koushirou asked before his eyes saw the boy she was hugging. "Tai-chan?" Koushirou called and tossed the animal to the floor and woke completely up. He raced to Tai and was sitting at his feet in mere seconds. He looked up in Tai's face and then in his mum's. Mara was smiling at him and she patted on her leg, motioning for Koushirou to hop up. Koushirou did so and gave Tai a strong hug.
"Tai, is everything okay?" Koushirou's voice was quivering when he asked Tai this, partly out of fear and partly from seeing Tai's tear- streaked face.
"It is now, Koushirou. It is now."
Wasn't that just so fluffy at the end? So very puffy-cloud soft and mushy? Kou-chan with a little teddy bear? Aaaahhhh.so cute and cuddly and whatnot. I must say that this was a difficult chapter to write for some reason. I didn't even want to write about when Tai's mum hit him. I can't stand to see a kiddie hurt. As of right now you can count on a confrontation between Mara and Mrs. Kamiya. I just don't know if she will straight kick her ass or what. Who knows. She might whup his father too, for good measure. I've not decided for sure yet.
Now for a few post story ANs: Thanks guys for getting me soooo close to 100 reviews. The counter is at 99, but with the infrequency that new reviews appear on my screen, it could already be there. I feel special now, not in the I'm-better-than-someone- else way but I guess lucky. I get to do something that I love to do, write, and I get to find out how other enjoy my writings. I win, and you win (I hope ;) thanks again.
Now, back to my little contest I had a chapter or two ago. The Dragon's Spirit won with the correct guess of Tai, and since it was his b-day, he gets a present. A giftfic. TDS, I'll write you a Digimon story. Give me the premise, the characters you like, any romances (I can even write straight couples, by the way- whoa! Can you believe it??) and I'll do it for you. Email me or drop a review, whatever.
Don't worry REN, your Wilkeru is coming. I've sort of got an idea and it's busy metamorphosing into a story as we speak.
Lets' see.oh, tamagochi, you should go ahead and post that tamers fic you've been working on. I would like to see it. (or send me the early edition...)(or I could be patient..sure.)
Um, Yoshiki has a new story I just sent him back beta-d. It is the follow up to Harsh Memories and I can't seem to think of what it's called at this moment. Harsh somethings. It'll likely be up soon or maybe already. Check it out.
I think that about covers everything I wanted to say now, so I'll end this and go post and then sleep. Oh!! Bon Jovi's new album comes out next week!!! Are you excited???? I am. O-tay. That was odd... "we're halfway there..oh-o living on a prayer!!" how many of you have even heard that song, energy ponders...
energy, getting the invitations for his party ready..