*squeals* Thank you all so much for the reviews! I love you all! Seriously! All praises and criticisms are very welcome and I've tried to take everything you mentioned into account. I hope you enjoy this chapter too as much as you enjoyed the last few.
Does He Love Me?
Over the next two weeks, Taichi and Yamato continued with the charade of being a couple, settling into a familiarity around each other that, to them, seemed a little unnerving. To the rest of the world, it seemed as though their relationship was perfect. They were jovial and lighthearted about everything. Around each other they seemed to act, almost instinctively, like a couple, which, inside, started to disturb them.
On the Saturday afternoon two weeks after they had "gotten together", Taichi was in the change room getting ready for his soccer game. Daisuke and Ken were with him.
Taichi had noticed that Daisuke was starting to act a bit nervous around Ken, which seemed to upset the indigo-haired boy a bit, since he had no idea why his best friend was acting strange whenever he entered a room. Taichi sympathised with both boys. He knew all about Daisuke's plight, but he could also understand Ken's sudden withdrawal from Daisuke, which in turn, upset the younger goggle headed boy more. It was a huge big mess that could only get worse.
After the whole debacle with the Digimon Emperor and the dark seeds, Ken started to become more familiar with the rest of the digi-destined. The child of Kindness however, was befriended most intimately with Daisuke before he became closer friends with everyone else, even the younger digi-destined. You wouldn't think it, having been on television and being quite famous, not to mention trying to take over the digital world, but Ken was really shy. When he transferred from his private school in Tamachi over to Odiaba public, Daisuke was the one to bring the boy further out of his shell and encouraged him to be more social and friendly, he even convinced him to join Taichi and Davis' soccer team.
Their relationship was as close as Taichi and Yamato's.
Which is what cut Taichi up even more as he watched the two of them dance around each other awkwardly, neither knowing quite why the other was acting this way. Taichi was starting to get a bit sick of it.
"Davis," he called out to his young protegee, startling the two as his voice cut through the thick tension in the air. "Can you come over here? I need to talk to you."
"Sure." Daisuke wandered over and smiled innocently, yet nervously at Taichi. "What's up Tai?"
"What are you waiting for?" Taichi hissed quietly. "Didn't you listen to any of my advice?"
"I did, but it's just … I haven't quite found the right time."
"How about right now?"
Daisuke looked over at Ken nervously. "But, what if he hates me for saying this?"
"Davis? Didn't we already cover this?"
"Yeah, but I'm still having a few doubts."
"Don't think about it, just do it." Taichi pushed Daisuke into the middle of the room where Ken was waiting patiently for the two of them to finish talking. "I'll be outside, don't be too long." He said this to both boys and made his way to the exit.
Unbeknownst to the two boys however, Taichi turned away as they weren't looking and hid himself in a small niche, just to be sure that Daisuke would actually go through with this. At least, that's what he told himself. He was just as nervous as Daisuke was, he wanted this to go right for Daisuke too.
The boy in question was fidgeting nervously, refusing to look his friend in the eye. "Um, Ken?"
"Yeah?"
"Um, I … I have something to tell you." Daisuke looked up to gauge his friend's reaction to this then blushed and looked down again. Okay, big mistake. If I look up again I'm going to lose myself in those gorgeous dark pools and not be able to make a coherent sound.
"What is it?" I hope he tells me what's been bugging him, I hate not having my best friend around, it's rather lonely. Ken looked at Daisuke quizzically. "Davis, what's wrong?"
"Well, you see … I … uh … Oh, just forget I said anything." Daisuke was about to turn around, but Ken caught his arm. Daisuke looked up and instantly regretted it.
Ken's eyes were blazing with suppressed anger, but Daisuke didn't care about that. A huge surge of guilt washed through him as he also saw untold depths of sorrow in his dark eyes, sorrow caused by him. "No Daisuke, I won't forget. Do you have any idea what you've been doing to me for the past few weeks? I can't stand not having you around, but having you ignore me and act all strange is even worse for me. What the hell is your problem?"
"Ken, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to push you away."
"Well you did. And it hurt Daisuke." Ken let go of his arm and Daisuke couldn't break his gaze even as tears threatened to spill from Ken's eyes. "You're my best friend Daisuke, I thought you cared. You're the one I turn to when things get too rough, or when I need a break from things, or even just for fun. But I can't turn to you if you won't let me. So why won't you let me? Why have you been pushing me away?"
Daisuke finally looked away, tears in his own eyes. "I didn't want to ruin our friendship with my problems, so I didn't tell you. I didn't want it to come between us."
"What could be so important that you think it would ruin our friendship if you told me?"
"My feelings." It was barely a whisper, but Ken heard it.
His feelings, but why would he hide them … unless he doesn't want to be friends any more. "Do …" it was hard for Ken to form the words, "Do you want to not be friends Dai?"
Daisuke looked at him horrified. "How could you even think that?" Daisuke grabbed Ken's hands in his own and stared directly into his sad eyes. "My friendship with you means more to me than anything in the world."
"Then why would you hide something? What could you possibly feel for me that could change our relationship?" Ken stared back at Daisuke, who couldn't hide his feelings from showing in his eyes any longer. Ken's eyes opened wide in realisation. "Oh." Does he really love me?
Daisuke looked away as he got no further response from his friend, but he didn't release his hold on Ken's hands. "Ken, I understand if you hate me, and I know that —" Daisuke was suddenly cut off as Ken's lips descended onto his and caught them in a gentle kiss.
They stayed like that for a while, savouring the feel of each other's lips until the need for air caused them to break apart.
Daisuke looked at Ken in wonder. "I never imagined that you could ever feel like that for me."
"And why not?" Ken smiled at his beloved. "You always seem to underestimate yourself Dai. How could anyone not see the value in you? I fell in love with you before I even recognised this feeling as love. I lived to see you smile and laugh, I wanted nothing more than to see you and I knew that such a simple thing would be enough to make the day worth while."
"Wow." Daisuke smiled a bit sheepishly. "No one's ever said anything like that about me before."
"Well now you know how I think of you." Ken smiled gently and Daisuke couldn't resist leaning in as he saw that beautiful smile and kiss him.
Taichi decided that this was the moment he should leave. Everything turned out all right and there was no need to worry about the two of them any more.
"Hey Tai," one of his teammates called out to him. "Where are Ken and Davis?"
"Oh, they'll be out in a little bit, the just have to take care of something first." Taichi smirked and walked onto the field to stretch before the game.
* * *
"Woo-hoo! We won! Hey Yama! Did you see that fantastic goal I scored?" Taichi came bounding over to the stands as soon as the whistle blew for the end of the game. The digi-destined who weren't playing on Taichi's soccer team (that is everyone but Ken and Daisuke) were in the stands with Yamato, to whom Taichi was waving wildly and blowing kisses.
Taichi leapt up to where they were sitting and sat down beside Yamato and beamed. "Are you proud of me Yama?"
"I'd be prouder and more able to show my appreciation if you took a shower before coming near me Tai-chan." Yamato was inching slowly away from his boyfriend.
Taichi put on his best beaten-puppy look. "You don't want to be around me any more Yama?" He sniffled miserably and Yamato almost caved, but at the last second his resolve remained firm.
"Taichi, shower now." Taichi managed an even more pathetic look. "Taichi I'm serious." There were tears forming in Taichi's eyes. Okay, time for the last resort. "I'll get you a present if you do."
"A present?" Taichi's eyes lit up and he grinned. Then he grabbed Yamato in a huge hug, uncaring of the protests coming from his boyfriend's mouth. "Thank you Yama."
"Urgh! Tai, get off me!" Yamato tried unsuccessfully to dislodge Taichi from his death grip, then he noticed the smirk on his koi's face. "Taichi, what are you up to?"
"Nothing." Contrary to his words, Taichi then started to tickle Yamato, who started laughing and protesting futilely. Eventually, Yamato stopped struggling and Taichi sat on his lap.
Taichi grinned and leaned over to whisper in Yamato's ear. "Forget the present, this is much better. I think I like you like this, my sweet Yama."
"Tai!" Yamato blushed and pushed him off before he could lick his ear, a strange habit that Taichi had picked up while they were being intimate one time and tended to do whenever he caught Yamato in a position like the one he was in now. "Stop it now or I'll scream."
Taichi smirked. "But you'll do that anyway, I like it when you scream."
"TAI!" Yamato was a furious shade of red now and he could feel the others' stares on them. Yamato tried to think of a way to get Taichi off him. Finally thinking of something, Yamato cooed, "Taichi, do you like ice cream?"
"You know I do." Taichi caught on and grinned. "Is that my present?"
"Only if you get off me and have a shower. Only good boys get rewards."
Taichi licked his lips. "I can't wait." He gave Yamato a quick peck on the cheek and whispered softly, "Get me something Yama flavoured." Then he got up and walked away, knowing full well that Yamato was even more flustered than before.
"Oh, that Taichi! I'll get him back." Yamato gazed after his best friend. "If he wants ice cream, I'll give him ice cream." Then he smirked as evilly as Taichi before and walked off, leaving the rest of the digi-destined behind looking slightly stunned.
"That was just … wow." For once, Miyako couldn't form any words as she stared after the retreating Yamato.
"Yeah," Mimi agreed.
None of the others had ever seen the two boys act this intimately before. Sure they acted like a couple often, but sometimes they still seemed a bit hesitant when around others. This almost seemed like a private moment between the two, something the others were never privy to. And it was a moment between the two like that which only further proved to the digi-destined that they were meant to be together.
"Maybe we should go with Yamato and get some ice cream too?" Hikari's innocent comment had some of the older digi-destined cracking up, they couldn't help it, the strangeness of the situation along with the many implications of what they just witnessed was too bizarre and incomprehensible, even for Koushiro, to stand without breaking down in some way.
Realising what she just said, Hikari blushed and cleared her throat. "Or maybe not."
Takeru smiled at her. "You know Kari, you're really cute when you blush."
"Takeru!" Hikari blushed further and everyone laughed at them.
Without saying anything, they decided they might as well catch up with Yamato and wait at the nearby ice cream shop for the three boys to finish changing.
Taichi was the first of the three to dash in.
"Davis! Ken! Hurry up! The ice creams will melt." Taichi grinned and plonked himself down on Yamato's lap. "Am I sufficiently clean and sweat-free my darling Yama?"
Yamato smiled approvingly. "I suppose. It's enough to earn yourself an ice cream."
"Why do I want another when I can just have yours?" Taichi licked Yamato's triple chocolate fudge waffled cone and smiled. "Mmm, nice. Tastes nicer than you."
Yamato smiled. "I'm sure I can find a way to change your mind on that."
Taichi gave him a sultry smile. "I'm sure you can."
"Ugh, please, get a room." Takeru rolled his eyes at the display and handed Hikari her ice cream.
"Oh? And like you two any better?" Yamato raised an eyebrow at the children of Hope and Light, satisfied when they blushed. "When were you planning on telling us you were officially a couple?"
"We're not! We're just friends!" Takeru glared at his brother.
"So there." Hikari stuck her tongue out at her brother and his boyfriend.
Before either of the older boys could reply, Daisuke and Ken made their appearance and Taichi's attention was immediately shifted to them.
"Guys, I think Daisuke and Ken have something to tell us." Taichi smiled evilly as both Daisuke and Ken glared at him.
"I can't believe you Tai, how could you spy on us like that?" Daisuke sat down on a seat, still glowering at his idol. "Don't you have any decency?"
"I was just making sure you were going to go through with it." Taichi took another lick of Yamato's ice cream.
"You told Taichi?" Ken asked Daisuke with wide eyes after he sat down beside his 'friend'.
"Well, there wasn't anyone else I really knew who would understand and I look up to him like a big brother. It seemed like the best thing to do at the time." Daisuke sent Taichi another glare. "At the time that is."
"That was a mistake," Yamato told them, a bit late.
"You told Yamato?!" Daisuke looked horrified.
"He's my boyfriend, I tell him everything. Besides, I can trust him."
"Not to mention he'd probably give better advice," Ken muttered.
"Hey!" Taichi glared at the indigo haired boy. "I only told him about Davis. Not about this, although he's probably figured out what's happened by now."
Yamato grinned at the two of them. "Yep. Aren't you glad that everything will be out in the open now?"
"No!" Both Daisuke and Ken looked mortified at the prospect of telling their friends the true nature of their relationship.
"You think we were?" Taichi raised an eyebrow. The two boys flushed, knowing that there was no real reason to hide anything from their friends. Taichi smiled, satisfied.
"What on earth are you going on about?" Sora asked, speaking for the entire group of seriously confused digi-destined.
"Did you know that Ken's really very romantic?" Taichi asked them.
"Tai!" Ken glared warningly at the older boy.
Taichi took no notice. "Did you also know that Daisuke is a really good kisser?"
Everyone stared at Taichi in amazement, even Yamato.
"Taichi!" Daisuke however was looking really angry.
"Oh, don't take my word on it, just ask Ken."
The former Digimon Emperor blushed scarlet and looked down, extremely embarrassed. Taichi grinned at this and at the way Daisuke also turned an interesting shade of red.
"My work here is done. You coming Yamato? You did promise me a present as well as ice cream. Maybe we could combine the two to make something even more delicious." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and flounced out of the store, knowing that everyone watched his movements.
"Is it just me, or is he even more insane than usual today?' Yamato posed the question to everyone.
"What does that make you?" Takeru asked. "You're the one dating him."
"Yeah, I am. And I wouldn't give it up for the world." Yamato smiled secretively. "You wouldn't believe how … interesting it is to date someone like that," he whispered mischievously and walked out of the store with a huge grin on his face.
"I so do not want to know what they get up to in their spare time," Daisuke shook his head and turned back to the table where eight pairs of eyes were on him and Ken, demanding an explanation.
* * *
"So Yama, what's planned for entertainment tonight?" Taichi was lounging on Yamato's couch, looking quite comfortable and relaxed in his slouching position.
Yamato glanced over at him from where he was fixing them a snack in the kitchen and frowned. "Taichi, if you sit like that you're going to end up with a bad back."
"You're starting to sound like my mother." Taichi pouted then stretched out further, so he was now completely lying down.
"That's because I care, so does your mother. We know what's best for you." Yamato entered the room and put a plate down on the coffee table in front of Taichi. "You know, you don't deserve this."
"I know, but you do it for me anyway because you love me and I'm too adorable to refuse." Taichi grinned and sat up, grabbed one of the crackers and ate it. "You know, whenever you make something healthy, you can never tell from the taste. But it's only when you make it." He grabbed another one. "What is in this topping anyway?"
"Tomato, chili, onion, capsicum, pepper and a couple of other spices and stuff."
"You can't tell." Taichi just kept wolfing down the snacks. Yamato sighed and sat down beside him, the couch now almost Taichi-free as he was too busy eating to worry about being lazy and hogging the couch, which was a miracle in itself. Yamato sighed at his best friend and smiled wryly, shaking his head. Taichi never changes, I don't think I've ever met anyone who could eat like him, or sleep like him either for that matter.
"Hey, Matt, you never answered my question." Taichi paused in his eating to look at Yamato knowingly. "What sort of entertainment do you have planned for tonight?" He licked his lips in an attempt at seduction that clearly failed.
"Taichi!" Yamato shoved him lightly. "Do you ever think of anything else?"
"Eating, sleeping and soccer." Then he fluttered his eyebrows. "And then of course there's you Yama, you never leave my mind."
"You know, there's no one else here, you don't have to keep it up any more." Truth was, the charade was starting to irritate Yamato. He had a nagging feeling in his stomach whenever they acted like this that made him jumpy and nervous. He didn't like it.
"It's fun." He didn't show it, but Yamato knew, as all close friends do, that Taichi was hurt by his remark. Why would he be hurt though?
"I guess." Yamato thought of a way to apologise without actually apologising. "I'm just a bit sick of this bet thing." Well, it was an explanation, he supposed, not really an apology, but it was a start.
"Why?"
"It feels wrong."
"I know what you mean." Taichi stopped pigging out and sat back on the couch and looked over at Yamato.
He looks so sad. Why is this thing bugging him so much? I know that we both feel a bit guilty about deceiving everyone, but there seems to be something more to it than that.
"Hey Yama? Do you want to just quit now? We can tell Sora it's off and deal with everyone now and get it all over with."
"What?" He's not seriously suggesting that? Is he really going to give in to Sora just because I'm sick of it? "But what about the deal? We have to take our whole fan club out to dinner if we lose."
Is that why he stuck through all this? Because he couldn't handle taking a few … well fine, a lot, of girls out to dinner? I thought that he wanted to play along with me. "I don't really care about that. If you want out, then I'll agree. It's not really that fair on us to keep a stupid bet like this anyway. Besides, the joke was starting to wear a bit thin."
Yamato looked away. So he was just in it for the joke? That shouldn't surprise me, he was more enthusiastic about messing with everyone's head than the actual deal that we had to be in a relationship. I should have known. "I'll back out if you want to."
"But I said I would if you wanted to."
"But I'll only do it if you don't want to."
"But you have to decide."
"Well why don't you?"
"Because I don't want to."
"Well I don't want to either."
"Well then we'll just stay together."
"Fine then."
"Fine."
The two boys studied each other after the short confrontation, both feeling extremely confused about everything and the same thought running through both of their minds:
Just what exactly does he feel?
AN: I must say, this is perhaps my favourite chapter yet. (Not to mention longest.) Oh and also, that snack thing that Yama made for Tai is actually something my dad makes. I haven't tried it (not a huge fan of chili) but I've heard it's really nice. Just thought I'd add that if anyone cared. Hope you enjoyed it.
