Hey there, sorry for the delay (a short one, but it's a delay nonetheless). Thanks for all the nice reviews, I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
The Kiss
"Taichi, come on, wake up!" Hikari was banging furiously on Taichi's door. "You're going to be late!" She was about to raise her hand to bang again when the door suddenly opened to reveal her fully dressed and ready older brother. He walked past he without a word and left.
Hikari stared after him in amazement. /What is wrong with him?/ She grabbed her own bag and called out to her parent, "Bye! I'm leaving now!"
Mrs. Yagami poked her head out of her room and replied with the usual, "Bye honey, have a nice day!"
Upon leaving her apartment building, Hikari was suddenly accosted by an evilly grinning Takeru. As he held his hands over here eyes, she cried out laughingly, "Cut it out Keru, do you always have to do that every morning?"
Takeru released her and smiled. "It's fun. Why would I want to stop?" He started walking with his hands now safely in his pockets. "Hey, Kari, what was that you called me just then?"
Uh-oh, he picked up on it. Hikari thought frantically for some sort of cover up or distraction. "What do you mean?" Oh yeah, real smooth Kari. "I didn't say anything. Hey you know what TK, I'm really worried about Tai." Okay, good, now give him the scared-puppy look, you know he can't resist that.
Damn, not the puppy look! She knows I can't resist that! Takeru's face softened and he allowed the distraction to work. Then he frowned suddenly as he actually took in what she said and he forgot all about his prying.
"Yeah, I noticed he was acting kind of strange. I passed him as he was leaving for school and he didn't even seem to notice me as I said hi."
"He's been acting strange all week. Do you think something happened between him and Matt on Saturday? That's when I noticed Tai started acting weird."
"Now that you mention it, Matt's been acting strange ever since Saturday too."
"Do you think there's something we could do for them?"
"Not really, Hika-chan. If there's something wrong we should let them try and work it out first."
"I guess. We have kind of meddled a bit too much in their lives of late. Sora wasn't the only one who wanted this plan to work." They kept walking for a little bit before Hikari suddenly thought of something Takeru said. "Hika-chan?"
He shrugged his shoulders innocently. "Well if you're going to call me a cutesy name like 'Keru' then I had to come up with something cute in return that would suit you." He grinned at her and she scowled back.
"Takeru!"
"Ah, so now you all me by my name."
Hikari scowled at him again then turned away huffily. They continued to walk in silence for a while, Takeru still slightly amused by Hikari's actions, and Hikari embarrassed, irritated and pensive.
They decided to cut through the park in a silent agreement before Hikari broke the silence.
"Takeru?"
"Yeah?"
"You know I like you right?"
"Yeah I know. I like you too." Takeru smiled at her innocently.
"You know Takeru, you can be really naïve sometimes." Hikari sighed then stopped walking, pausing by the lake. She turned to face Takeru as he stood beside her and looked directly in his eyes. "I like you, as in love."
"And I said I know. I love you to Hikari." He smiled at her again, but this time his eyes showed the glimmer of knowledge that he hid before, as well as wry amusement at Hikari's own naivete.
"You jerk!" Hikari lightly punched Takeru on the arm to show her displeasure. "You knew exactly what I was talking about the whole time."
"Of course. It's fun to mess with people. Everyone seems to have this preconception that I'm naïve and innocent. I like to play that up a lot if you've noticed."
"I noticed." Hikari mock-glared at him. "You're really an evil fiend, aren't you my Keru."
"'My Keru'? Being a bit possessive aren't we Hika-chan?"
"Only with you. You've always been mine, but I think it's about time that I finally claim what's mine."
"Not if I do it first." Takeru leaned down and captured Hikari in a gentle kiss, holding her arms and bringing her in close to him. They broke off and stared deeply into each others eyes.
"Why today?" Takeru whispered.
"I don't know. I just did it." Hikari smiled dazzlingly at him. "I suppose all we really needed was official confirmation of what we already felt."
"I think I need a bit more confirmation."
"Oh?" Hikari arched en eyebrow then smirked. "Sure." She brought Takeru's face down for another chaste kiss, only this time, they both deepened it and turned the light touch into something less chaste and more passionate.
On the other side of the lake two pairs of eyes watched the show with interest.
"You'd better tell your brother to be careful. If he hurts her, I'll kill him."
"Don't worry Tai, I don't think we'll have problem with those two." Yamato leaned back into Taichi's chest as they sat peacefully on their favourite spot over the lake.
They continued watching the two as they broke off again and finally realised where they were. The older brothers smiled as their younger siblings blushed furiously then walked off in the direction of school hand-in-hand.
"Hey, that's right, we have school."
"Taichi, I swear, if you move, I will so kick your butt." Yamato was lying quite comfortably against his best friend, starting to doze off.
"But what about school?'
"Oh and you've never wagged a few classes before?"
"But we have double gym this morning!" To Taichi, this was almost a sin, truenting gym class.
"Exactly why I don't want to get up." Yamato opened one eye and grinned up at his friend. "Just relax Taichi, no one will miss us."
"You're just lucky I like you so much Yama," Taichi mumbled as he continued reclining comfortably on the rock. "And that it's so nice here."
"See, two very good reasons for you to stay, me and the rock."
Taichi laughed. "You're reason enough for me Yama."
It was strange, but that nickname didn't seem to bother Yamato as much any more. Actually, every time Taichi said it, warm shivers ran down Yamato's spine. He really enjoyed these moments with Taichi, but there were so few of them now. Because of their argument on Saturday, both boys were acting awkward whenever someone else was there to witness their shows of affection. It seemed to many that they were doing their relationship in reverse: acting comfortable first and nervous now.
They couldn't help it though, both boys seemed to feel it was an invasion of their privacy every time someone approached while they were together. It was almost as if the two of them felt they were actually a couple.
Yamato pondered all of this in his half daze and realised at that the concept of actually being with Taichi for real wasn't as frightening or disgusting as he first would have imagined.
"Hey Tai?"
"Yeah?"
"What do you imagine your first kiss to be like?"
Taichi looked down at Yamato, puzzled as to why he would ask such a question. "I'm not really sure. I don't really think about that sort of stuff. What about you?"
Yamato smiled dreamily. "I've thought about it a lot. What I would love is for it to be at one of my concerts. I'd be singing, but everything I say is aimed at this one person and they know it, like a serenade. After the concert, we meet backstage and we kiss, it's perfect."
"Wow." Taichi was stunned at how much this meant to Yamato. "I never knew that you felt like that."
Yamato looked away, slightly embarrassed. "I admit it, I'm a romantic."
"Well at least one of us is, it balances out the relationship."
Yamato tried to ignore the warm feeling surging through him as Taichi referred to them as in a relationship. "Yeah, I guess it does."
* * *
"Look at them."
Sora, I'm not so sure this is a good idea." Mimi was frowning at her friend. "Don't you think we've interfered enough?"
"No. Look, they're barely talking to each other, we have to do something."
"Well, you're plan isn't exactly the greatest, I'm not so sure Tai will fall for it. He might get pissed at us if we interfere too much." Mimi was looking really worried. "Please, Sors, let's just leave this alone."
"No Meems, I want this to work and I'll do anything to see it does." Sora walked away from her friend and over to the table in the cafeteria where Taichi was sitting by himself, ready, able and willing to implement her plan.
Mimi watched her leave sadly. "I wish you'd spend as much time on me." Mimi wiped away a stray tear and walked out of the cafeteria, away from the object of her desire.
* * *
"Hey Tai." Taichi looked up from his musing to see Sora standing beside him, smiling brightly. "What are you doing?"
"Thinking." Taichi turned his attention back to contemplating the mess of food on his plate that he was previously playing with. To his extreme annoyance, Sora sat down beside him. Can't she see that I want to be alone with my thoughts?
"Thinking about what?"
"Things you probably wouldn't want to know about." Maybe that will deter her.
"Oh." Sora blushed slightly and looked away. "So why aren't you an Yamato with each other?"
"What? I can't do anything without him now? Is that what a relationship is these days? Two people constantly clinging onto each other unable to make a decision alone?"
"I've just been noticing that you two don't seem to talk as much as usual."
"We talk, just not around other much."
"Oh. Why is that?"
"Sometimes we have things to say to each other that we don't want anyone else to hear." Is she going to ever leave me alone? Why is she being so persistent? Does she want something?
"Right. I was just wondering something though. Why don't you two ever kiss?"
"We're waiting for the right time." And I'm not too sure that Yamato really wants to kiss me, I don't want to risk anything on a whim. Over the past week, Taichi had spent a lot of time considering his relationship with Yamato and found that he was starting to slip into the role of 'boyfriend' every time he was around Yamato, even when they were alone. It was almost as if he actually considered what they had as a real relationship.
Strangely enough though, I really wouldn't mind if this was real. Taichi smiled. He didn't tell Yamato this when they were talking in the morning, but Taichi had actually considered what his first kiss would be like. He didn't have a perfect setting as Yamato did, he just imagined who he would share the precious moment with.
Yamato himself.
Taichi never told him this, he didn't want to ruin anything they had. Yamato's friendship meant more to him than most things in his life. They'd vowed that nothing would ever break up their friendship, and taking the bet too far might. Taichi knew how much that first kiss meant to Yamato and he didn't want to spoil it by using the bet as an excuse, because he knew that it would hurt Yamato if he did that.
Which, unfortunately, Sora couldn't see.
"When is the right time for a first kiss?"
"When both people are ready."
"It's just a kiss Taichi."
"Maybe for you." Taichi looked at her in irritation. "Sora, is there a point to all of this?"
"Don't be so pushy Taichi, I was just wondering how well it's actually going. You do realise that if you break up before the month is up you have to deal with the consequences."
"I know, but there's no problem with that, seeing as we're still dating."
"Well, I don't see it, you two could just be saying that to try and convince me and not have to deal with the terms of the bet." Sora smirked at her friend. That should get him moving.
Taichi growled menacingly. "Sora, I think it would be best if you leave ma alone and keep your nose out of my business. Now if you'll excuse me." Taichi got up and walked away to empty his tray and leave the cafeteria.
"Well that could have gone better," Sora muttered. "I wonder if Yamato's more willing to listen." Sora got up herself and left in search of the other half of Taichi's relationship.
* * *
Yamato was in the music room when Sora came bursting in through the door.
"Finally, I've been looking everywhere for you."
"Hey Sora, what's up?" Why does she sound so anxious? And what's that weird glint in her eye?
"I'm worried about Taichi."
"Why? What's wrong?" Yamato put the guitar he was strumming gently down and stood up, looking at Sora worriedly. "Is Taichi hurt?"
"No, he's just been acting kind of strange. I was just wondering if everything was going all right between you two."
"We're fine." Why is she so interested in us? Wait, does she maybe suspect something? "Actually Sora we're more than fine."
"Well, I'm not so sure, the way Taichi was acting had me a bit worried. I think he's concerned that people aren't buying into your relationship any more. I have to admit, I'm one of them."
Yamato laughed nervously. "I told you Sora, there's nothing wrong."
"Have you two even kissed yet?"
Yamato's eyes opened wide, and he knew that for this question he couldn't lie. "Not yet, we're waiting for the right time."
Sora rolled her eyes disgustedly. "I don't think Taichi feels that way."
"What are you talking about?" Taichi couldn't really want to actually commit to a real relationship could he? Yamato felt a sudden fluttering in his stomach as the possibility of Taichi feeling the same thing he did ran through his mind.
"I don't really know, but the way Taichi's been acting has sort of bothered me. Do you think you could find out what's wrong? I mean, if it's between you two then I won't pry, but I'm worried all the same."
"Sure. I'll go find him now."
Sora smiled dazzlingly at Yamato. "Thanks Matt." Yamato grinned and walked out of the room, not seeing as a smile of triumph passed over Sora's features.
"There, that should give them another kick-start."
* * *
Taichi was wandering disconsolately around the school grounds, contemplating many things, all related to one central figure.
Yamato.
Why did things have to be so hard? Why did Sora have to push like that? She didn't know, or perhaps didn't want to know, that he and Yamato were just fooling everyone, but still, their business should be their own.
Damn, why did I agree to this stupid bet in the first place? Taichi kicked at a rock, scuffing his shoe. Why did things have to get complicated? Why did I have to start falling for my best friend? Why does this mess seem bigger than it is?
"Damn stupid thing," Taichi muttered, walking over to sit underneath a tree. He leaned back and looked up through the foliage, patches of sunlight falling onto him. "Why does he have to believe that it's all still a farce? Gods, I wish it could be real, but he doesn't want it to be."
"Taichi?" The brunette looked back down and over to his left as he hard that familiar voice. Yamato stood nearby, watching him with concern. "Are you all right?"
Taichi gave him a sloppy half-smile. "Never better."
"Sure." Yamato still wasn't convinced, Taichi looked so serious sitting there under the tree, the golden sunlight framing his features and forming a halo around him. Okay I admit, he looks hot too, but I'm still worried.
Yamato walked over and sat down beside him, offering a small smile of comfort. "What were you thinking so intently about just now?"
"Nothing much." Taichi flushed slightly and looked down.
"Sure." Gods, he looks so gorgeous and I bet he doesn't even realise it. Taichi never lets anyone help him with his own problems, he's always putting himself second. I'm not letting him this time. "Taichi, tell me, what's wrong?"
"Look Yamato there's nothing wrong."
"Whatever." Yamato glared at him. "You can't always keep everything in, Taichi, you've got to learn to trust people."
"Like you're one to talk," Taichi spat.
Yamato looked away. "You're probably right, but at least I'm trying."
"Why? There's no point. Whatever I want will be completely disregarded anyway."
"Only because you let it. Taichi, sometimes you have to put yourself ahead of others, like now. What's bugging you?"
"Will you just drop it Yama!" Taichi stood up and tried to walk away.
"No Tai," Yamato got up and grabbed his arm, "I want to know what's eating you."
"No, you don't."
"I'm sure it can't be that bad." Yamato turned Taichi around so they were face to face. "Taichi please, does it have anything to do with me? Is that why you won't say?"
Taichi refused to look at him.
"I'll take that as a yes. Does it have something to do with this stupid bet?"
Taichi still continued to avoid his eyes.
"Okay, now we're getting somewhere." Yamato thought for a bit. "Is there something you want me to do?"
"Look Yamato, I don't want to talk about it."
"Tough, you are. Now spill, because I'm not leaving until you tell me exactly what the hell is wrong with you."
Taichi looked at him with blazing eyes. "Do you want to kiss me Yamato?"
"What?" Yamato took a step back.
"It's a simple enough question. Would you kiss me? Would you make this farcical relationship even more complicated and painful than it already is."
Yamato's eyes glazed over and he glared coldly at Taichi. "How can you even ask me that? You know my problems with relationships, how can you stand there and ask me to kiss you for no reason but to further this stupid relationship that neither of us want to be in?"
"It's what everyone expects of us."
"Fuck their expectations!" Yamato stalked away from Taichi. "I never thought you were so fucking shallow Taichi. Would you seriously ruin our friendship over a stupid kiss?"
"Depends on how you react to it?"
"Taichi, if you ever try to kiss me because of this stupid bet —"
"As usual you completely overreact."
"Excuse me? I'm not the one who thinks of everything as a joke."
"A joke? You think I'm joking about all of this? You're the one who pushed me to tell you what's wrong. I told you, shouldn't you be happy?"
"Happy? Taichi, I pushed because I cared, I wanted to know what was wrong so I could help. But if you're too stubbourn to accept my help —"
"I don't need help Yamato, I told you that before."
"Fine then." Yamato walked away. "I guess you no longer need me around. Have fun trying to make a relationship work on your own, because I'm sick of this one."
Taichi watched him leave with a cold gaze and it wasn't until Yamato was completely out of sight that he slammed his hand against the tree and leaned back in anguish. Lifting his head up to stare at the sky again, tears staining his cheeks, he muttered, "What have I done?"
AN: Sorry to you Sora fans. But I needed a bit of antagonism and she was just standing there, I had to use her. The next chapter should be out in the next few days (hopefully tomorrow.) Until then.
