I don't own any of the Digimon character, and I don't own the poem by Langston Hughes. Please don't sue me!
I'm really sorry about the delay in posting this. And I'm also sorry if some of the names of some of the people at the party aren't accurate. (
"So how's band practice going?" Daisuke asked as we began our walk to Mimi's house.
"I never knew Taichi was such a great musician," I replied.
"Yeah, Tai has a lot of hidden talents," he said, beaming.
"He's perfect," I commented, unable to keep all the bitterness out my voice.
Daisuke's smile disappeared, replaced by an unreadable expression. "Taichi's life isn't picture-perfect," he says slowly, as if he's carefully choosing every word. "I'd say it was more like an impressionist painting. From a distance, it looks flawless; but once you get close all you see are smears of paint. No one has an ideal life- not even the most popular boy in Odiba."
His cinnamon eyes blaze as he continues his speech. "And maybe you'd know all that if you'd stop pushing him away! Do you know how much that hurts him? No, you can't know."
"I push him away because I- I love him," I whisper, feebly trying to defend myself.
"Tell him that," he states matter-of-factly.
"It's not that easy," I mutter, "or that simple."
"Life for me ain't been no crystal stair," he says.
"It's had its tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor,
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on those steps
'Cause you finds it kinder hard
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still going' honey,
I'se still climin'
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair." He clears his throat, slightly embarrassed. "Langston Hughes, 'Mother to Son'. The title doesn't really fit, but the theme of the poem seemed appropriate." He clears his throat again, and his usual demeanor returns. "Man, how about that game! Taichi was awesome…"
"Dai! Yamato!" Mimi greeted cheerily. She kissed us both on the cheek before ushering us into her home. "I'm so glad you two could make it! Is this your first time coming to Fifth Quarter Yamato? I'm sure you'll have a blast! Make yourselves at home. I'd personally you to all the guests, Yamato, but the duties of a hostess are endless. Dai will have to do the honors." And then she disappeared in a whirl of pink.
"Did we get a chance to say anything?" I asked, amazed that someone could say all that in one breath.
"We didn't need to, she had the whole conversation covered," Daisuke laughed. "Look, there's Taichi," he said, pointing to Tai, who was weaving his way through the crowd skillfully (though I noticed he was swaying slightly).
"Yama!" Taichi exclaims cheerfully. He smiles before planting a kiss on my nose. "I'm so glad you came," he says as he links our arms together and leans on me gingerly.
"And my protégé!" he exclaims happily as he playfully punched Daisuke's arm.
"He gets a kiss and I get a punch," Daisuke mutters in mock anger as he rubs his arm.
Taichi laughs good-naturedly. "Aw, does Dai want a kiss too?" he teases.
Daisuke glares at him. "How many have you had now?"
"Oh, I don't know," Taichi answered giddily. "And what does it matter?"
"Because I know who'll be called upon to clean up when your stomach has had enough," a voice from behind answered. The voice belonged to a girl with shoulder-length chestnut hair highlighted with streaks of copper. Her sapphire eyes twinkled as she spoke. She was dressed extremely casually, with blue track pants and a soccer jacket.
"Do I have to remind a certain someone what happened after that certain someone got involved in that incident involving a certain glass of Suma's infamous green-glowy shit?" Taichi retorted.
"And do I have to bring up the incident with the dress?" she asked, feigning a deceptively innocent smile.
I raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Dress?"
Everyone's attention suddenly turned to me.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Daisuke exclaimed as he grinned sheepishly. "Kaili, meet Yamato. Yamato, meet Kaili."
"Is this the same Yamato that Taichi…" Kaili began to ask.
"Yes," Tai interrupted hurriedly. "He is the lead singer of the band I'm going to be playing with."
Kaili grinned cheekily as some sort of realization dawned on her. "It's a pleasure to meet you Yamato. Now," she said as she grabbed Daisuke's arm, "me and you versus Roe and Kikonanomi in foosball."
"You know, any other girl would've asked for a dance," Taichi comments. Kaili ignores him.
"But Mimi told me to show Yamato around," Daisuke protests, though he obviously wants to play..
"I'm sure Tai has it covered."
"Oh." Daisuke grinned. "Then come on! We'll kick their sorry asses into last week!."
"I'm glad you came," Taichi said as he watched Daisuke and Kaili walk off.
"Because you're too plastered and need someone to walk you home? Or are you just saying this so I forget to ask you about a certain incident involving a dress?" I asked jokingly.
"Neither reason," he says somberly, but doesn't elaborate on his answer. Instead, he kisses me soundly. It's so perfect; and anything that causes this kind of reaction is obviously right and just the way it always should have been. Part of me is wishing this moment would never end, but the other part of me is telling me not to take advantage of Tai's drunken state.
Reluctantly, I push him away gently. He looks at me, hurt and confusion on his face.
"I'm taking you home."