Wishing you were Here

Chapter 5 – A Father's Love

A/N: sorry it took so long to update! this chapter is slightly longer but I had to leave it as it was. please review!!! oh and this is dedicated to mini-chan, aka honest-liar. I think all of my chapters from now on will be dedicated to somebody special, namely my reviewers ^^::

It was 5.00 in the morning. Tai was wide awake when the phone rang. He slipped out of bed and scuffled outside into the hallway, for lack of better things to do, picking up the receiver, ready to tell off whomever the idiot was at the other end of the line.

"T-Tai? It's me, Takeru..." His voice was hoarse and muffled. Tai growled and started to snap something. He stopped, frowning.

"TK? Have you been crying?"

There was an awkward silence and then-

"W-what? No! Where'd you get that idea from? There's absolutely nothing wrong," Takeru mumbled unconvincingly.   

"Oh yeah sure," Tai muttered sarcastically, rolling his eyes. "You called me at what- 5.00 in the morning?- because you felt like telling me there was nothing wrong- and you expect me to believe you?" He sighed. "Look TK, just spill the beans. What's the matter?"

"Tai- I think, I think 'nii-chan's in hospital..."

Silence. Tai's eyes widened slowly and he gripped hard onto the table, his knuckles turning white almost immediately.

"What?" he asked very very quietly.

"I think 'nii-chan's in hospital," Takeru repeated shakily.

"You think Yama's in hospital? You think? What do you mean, you think?!"

"Tai-"

"Where is he? What's he doing there?"

"Tai-"

"God, what did he do?"

"Tai! Get a grip!"

Tai took a couple of deep breaths and forced the panic down. He pressed the phone tightly against his ear, unconsciously twisting the cord in his fingers. "Sorry. Go on."

"Tai- I'm- I mean, I'm not even sure it's him. It was on the news and he had the same name and everything- but there weren't any photographs- and Mum's completely ignoring it, I don't know what to do Tai- God, they said he was in a critical condition- and I just- Tai; I'm scared that 'nii-chan's gonna die."

His words came out in a rush and Tai bit down on his lip when he heard the last part, drawing blood. He licked his dry lips and tried to sound as sure as he could when he opened his mouth to speak.

"Don't be silly TK. You're not even sure it's really Yama right? And even if it was, he's already at the hospital. Everything's going to be fine. You'll be alright kid." Even to Tai, his words seemed false.

"No I won't."

Tai flinched.

"How can I be alright if 'nii-chan's dead!? Don't lie to me Taichi; I'm not so little anymore." His bitterness stung. Badly.

"Don't talk as though the whole fucking world is against you Takeru Takaishi!" Tai hissed, suddenly angry. "You think you're the only one who misses Yama? You're wrong!!! How do you think I felt when his sick, bastard, sorry-excuse-for-a-dad took him away? How would you God damn feel if he did it again?! Because that's what we were about to do. Step aside and let him take Yama away from us. Again. And you know what? I'm not going to let him this time. He's not getting Yama without a fight."

Tai paused for breath and sighed, clutching his temples.

"Sorry-I shouldn't have-"

"No. Don't apologise Tai."

"TK-"

"Please don't interrupt me," Takeru pleaded, "There's something important I have to tell you. If I stop now, I won't ever have the guts to tell you again."

Tai fell silent. Takeru took a shuddering breath.

"The-The reason dad and mum divorced? It was because- because dad hit us." The last words were spoken barely above a whisper and Tai had to strain his ears to hear them. His face drained of all colour and he struggled to control the pounding in his chest.

"Fuck. Oh fuck you TK! Why didn't you bloody say anything?" Tai exploded.

"Because I was too busy pretending that I was a perfectly normal kid!!! What kid wants an abusive father Taichi? And it's not even so bad for me because I was still little and I didn't remember everything he did, but Yama- God, Yama needed someone to keep him sane. I was that someone and then- and then he found you. But now-? Now 'nii-chan doesn't have anyone. I don't think dad killed him. I think dad killed him inside..."

"You're wrong TK! Don't give up on him! You are hope, and without hope, there's nothing. Nothing, do you hear me?! Look, and don't even try to argue with me- I'm coming over right now. Don't move and- don't do anything stupid 'kay? Yama needs us."

Tai quickly dropped the phone and it fell to the floor with a clatter. He stepped over it and rushed to the door, flinging on a jacket.

The door slammed behind him.

Please be alright Yama...

~

Comments? Suggestions? I think I've got a vague idea of where the next chapters coming from but-… eh, review anyway! ^.^