Taichi sat in his seat at the beginning of school. Taichi glared at Akeno who sat on top of the desk to his right. Toshiro was in front Akeno, sitting in the seat while writing and half listening to the argument Taichi and Akeno were persistent to win.
"He did not." Taichi said as his anger started to get to him.
"He did, fucking, too." Akeno's anger was no better.
Toshiro sighed, "I thought you guys settled this argument last night. Remember, Taichi? You said you'd stay out of it?" Toshiro didn't even look up from the paper he was writing on.
Tai snorted. "Yeah. That's what I said but Akeno always throws things out of proportion…"
"No I don't…"
"And when he finds out he's wrong it's me that cleans up the mess he made with apologies or bribes, depending on the size of the argument or whatever else you want to call it."
Akeno chuckled bitterly, "Yeah, sure Taichi. Name the last time you had to 'clean up the mess'."
Taichi narrowed his eyes at the taller boy in irritation, "Remember Becky?"
Akeno snorted, "That doesn't count."
"Yeah, well, whatever. What I'm saying is that you are too stubborn to let things slide then too stubborn to say sorry. I'm always the one doing it."
"Fine!" Akeno said angrily as he stood up and hovered over Taichi. "Let's make a bet. I bet you… fifty dollars that he stole my phone. If, by the end of the week, I'm proven wrong, then you can have the money and if I am proven right you owe me fifty bucks. A big five zero. How 'bout that?"
Taichi stood up to meet his friends height, for he didn't like when people tower over him. "You don't have fifty." Taichi said skeptically.
"I'll get it."
"I don't have fifty."
"Then, when I win, you'll get it for me." Akeno held his hand out to the brunette for a handshake.
Taichi thought about it for a moment before thrusting his hand forward and shaking. "Fine, when I win you'll get it for me… but I can't wait the week… make it a day. I'll skip school today, find the blond and find out if he stole it even if I have to search his house with a police warrant." Taichi offered.
A smile spread across Akeno's face, "Deal but if you can't find him... you owe me fifty." Taichi nodded as he broke the handshake. "Don't be too disappointed." They glared at each other for a moment before Taichi turned on his heel and started walking to the exit of room.
"This is a bad idea, guys." Toshiro warned as he watched Taichi walk away before they decided to head to there right seats as Ms. O'Brien walked in.
"Akeno, where's Taichi going?" Ms. O'Brien asked. She had started to learn whose friends were who's in her classes.
Akeno shrugged. "Wouldn't know." He said as the teacher looked at him with eyebrows furrowed, trying to find out if the.
**
Yamato returned to his apartment, carrying his over filled backpack. He was exhausted, after the night before and the load was weighing on him so much that he fell to his knees and struggled to get it off. He really had intended on going to school that day and just attend late but that wasn't an option, obviously. He had too much to do and, while he was at the library using the computer to print off his resume, he realized that it would just be easier to just stay home. Well… not exactly home because he had a million things to do. He still had to drop off his resume at a few places since he lost his job the night before because of the fight that Taichi and Akeno had started that he got blamed for. He had to take the phone, he stole, to the Trade-It Shop and get money so that he could buy a new light bulb because his just burnt out that morning, he also needed groceries and cloths and sheets for his bed. He had a lot to do and not enough money… not to mention he's late with last months rent.
Yamato sighed. It's been too hard since his parents kicked him out. Too hard. He knew that for it to get better he had to at least graduate high school but dropping out was becoming more and more of a possible option each day. Juggling a full time job, for the pay was higher then minimum wage, school and an apartment of his own was becoming impossible.
The bag hit the floor with a bang and he raised to his feet, leaving the bag by the door he walked to his mattress. He fell on to it and closed his eyes. Even on the lumpy mattress on the floor he still felt comfortable just lying there but he couldn't alloy himself some sleep for the day was still filled with deeds needing to be done. The mattress was bare of any sheets for, during the nighttime hours when he slept, he often used his coat as a blanket. He had never got enough money to buy any. The only reason why he had a mattress was because the neighbor who he used to babysit for was throwing away a older one and he asked if he could buy it instead but they just gave it too him which helped a lot because he was broke at the time… In fact, He was broke so often that he had to sell his stuff. He sold so much of his own stuff that he now had to steal other peoples stuff to sell instead now-a-days.
He opened his eyes and looked over the horrible apartment. The dishes in the sink barely could be seen over the rim and they were the only ones he had. He needed to get some dish soap, he remembered.
He sighed and stood up. He had only come back for the phone. Walking into the only other room in the apartment he opened his bathroom cabinet. A bottle of aspirins were in there and the cell phone. He grabbed and left the room, closing the door then walking to the front door. He wanted to go trade the phone in for some money first then shop for groceries and after that he'll go home and do the dishes then go around and hand out resumes. He yawned and left the apartment, locking the door then leaving to the Trade-It Shop.
**
Taichi scowled, only now realizing how stupid he was to say that the bet should only go on for today. The blond had taken the day off school. That's what the office said after he had finally decided to go to them and ask where Yamato was for he couldn't find him in the school. He had told the secretary that Ms. O'Brien wanted to know why Yamato wasn't in class. It seemed a good enough excuse. The office bought it anyways and they won't find out it's a lie until they ask Ms. O'Brien herself and that will be after I have my fifty, Taichi thought.
Taichi, at the moment, was walking down the road trying to see if he could find the blond but his luck was looking down right now. He was walking in the same direction as Yamato walked a week or so ago when he had saved him from Akeno's wrath, though he knew even if he passed the blond's apartment he wouldn't know it. He was just hoping that he'd see him at some point along the way. After all, it was still early.
The brunette reached the intersection, which was at the end of the street, just as the light turned red. He pushed the small button on the pole that would help the light change quicker and waited. He sighed as he watched the cars go by in a whirl of colours and as he looked past them he saw a pay phone and an idea came to him. In the phone book they will have a listing of peoples names and addresses… he'll just look for 'Ishida' and call all the places to see if a 'Yamato' lived there.
Enthusiasm coming back to him, he almost started crossing before the light turned to green and the moment it did he ran across, reaching the other side then… he froze… on the spot. The store the phone was near had large glass windows that practically covered the whole front wall and inside, at the counter, was a blond… Yamato.
Yamato was hard to miss in a crowd or anywhere for that matter. His blond hair stuck out like a sore thumb especially since Japan was filled with dark haired people and the porcelain skin he carried didn't help at all. Even Taichi had to admit the blond was attractive, though he wouldn't admit it out loud, but the features Yamato had were too easy to spot.
This time was no different as he walked calmly to the window to see what the blond was doing. In side it was just a small room that was outlined in a counter that held, what looked like, some pretty old watches, rings, and some electronic stuff. Taichi looked up to see a sign over the store that read in large letters 'Trade-It Shop'. Yamato's in a pawnshop? Oh… please tell me he doesn't have Akeno's phone.
His hope faded as Yamato pulled out a small black phone from his pocket and handed it over. Taichi gritted his teeth as he watched the middle aged man, behind the counter, examine the electronic device. His two tanned hands rolled into fist and Taichi wanted nothing more then to beat the shit out of the blond.
Taichi forced himself to take two deep breaths telling himself that maybe that isn't Akeno's phone, maybe Yamato had gotten a phone and for some reason or another he didn't want it anymore or something.
His fists unclenched and his muscles relaxed slightly. He decided then that he would follow Yamato to see if there's something that will prove Taichi wrong about it being Akeno's phone.
Taichi moved to the side of the building as Yamato was given money for the phone. He peaked beyond the brick wall and almost panicked when he saw that the blond walk out of the building and turn in his direction. He looked around and dashed into the phone booth, picked up the phone, and pretending he wasn't spying on the other boy. Taichi watched the direction he had just come out of the corner of his brown eye and, sure enough, Yamato circled the corner and walked down the same street Taichi was on with his head held low, hands in his black jean pockets and slumping a bit as if the weight of the world lay upon him. He walked past the phone booth, ignorant of Taichi's presence and onward.
Taichi waited for Yamato to be far enough ahead before putting down the phone and stepping out of the booth. He walked down the street waiting while trying not to look as if he were stocking someone and, as he thought about it, it seemed as if that was exactly what he was doing.
**
Yamato took a clear plastic back off a roll at the grocery store and started filling it up with apples. Only five for he was afraid that he wasn't going to have enough money for all the things he needed and he needed a lot. He didn't buy juices and milk because he just drank water out of the tap at his apartment. If he didn't need to buy something he wouldn't.
He looked at his grocery cart and went over everything that he had, to see if he could put something back or needed something else. Seeing he was done with the shopping experience he pushed his metal cart to the cash registers.
At the cash registers he paid for the things to only watch the one hundred and twelve dollars he just got, minimize to a mere ten dollars. He sighed and picked up the six heavy bags of groceries before he left the store. The wind hit him and he shivered. It's been getting cold and it reminded him that he needed a new jacket.
He hated living on his own. Everything was too expensive, including his living costs. The cheapest apartment he could managed happen to be seven hundred dollars a month and he didn't think he'd be there for another month with the way he was paying his bills. Some time soon he's going to be living on the street. He could just see that happening and it was going to happen. His last job barely got his rent paid, and that's not even counting living expenses and he didn't even know when he'll get his next job…
He stopped for a moment and put the bags on the pavement. They were really heavy and one of the bags had eggs so he had to be careful. He looked at his hands and saw the red lines made from carrying so much weight with, what felt like, strings.
Taking a deep breath he picked up the bags again and started walking. After a few minutes he came to a crosswalk and turned left, crossing the street and heading into the low part of town. Even in busy Japan some streets seemed to be deserted and it was likely in the part of town Yamato lived. There were no tourist attractions or parks or even schools. To get to school he had to go a far distance which seemed to be dangerous at the hour he had to leave to make it on time.
As he walked further and further away from the noisy busy streets he started to notice how his footsteps seemed to echo… but not naturally. It wasn't even in the same order and sounded louder as if the steps were heavier then his own. He started to get the distinct feeling of being watched… being followed.
He could feel every muscle in his body tense as the echoing continued. Yamato had never been an overly muscular guy. He never liked sports, never got in fights, never had a chance to test his strength and wasn't even entirely sure if he could hold his own in a fight, which is why one could understand why his heart started to race upon the thought that he might get jumped or robbed. Not like he had anything that was worthy of stealing but when whoever found out he had nothing what would they do to him.
He felt his eyes widen as he thought of all the ways he could be hurt and had to force himself to breath regularly in order to not freak out. He struggled to gather up his courage and look around to see if maybe someone was following him or just walking down the street the same as him.
Taking a shaky breath he slowly turned around. He realized just how venerable he was while holding the bags since his hands weren't available to help defend him and he was almost grateful when he finally turned around just enough to see behind him and notice no one was there. He sighed in relief and told himself he was just being paranoid.
He started walking again and only seconds later the echo continued. Yet again he was almost brought to the point of panic. Someone was following him and hiding when he looked behind him just like they would in a movie. Probably ducking into an alley that would always be conveniently there to help the attacker escape the view of the pray before they would come up behind them and stab him five or six times or maybe…
He shook his head as if trying to escape the unpleasant thoughts. Go home. You'll be safe there. Go home as fast as you can and lock the door when you get there. He told himself but knew that he couldn't run with the load he was carrying so he quickened his pace and nearly screamed when the echoed footsteps sped up a moment later.
He hated the whole thought of cat and mouse but didn't know what else to do so continued with his path.
It wasn't long, luckily, before he made it to his apartment. At the front of it he slowly turned around, hoping the attacker would hide again and he would be able to get into the elevator alone or at all. To his luck the attacker hid. He momentarily wondered why, since whoever was following him probably already guessed that Yamato knew he was being followed but didn't let the thought graze his mind for more then a second before pacing in front of the elevator doors and pushed the up button. He only waited a second before the doors opened and he stepped in, placing a few bags down while forgetting about the eggs, he pressed his floor number four and went up.
He placed the rest of the bags on the cold metal floor and stared at his hands. To his surprise, they were turning blue. The bags were cutting off his circulation. He hadn't even noticed, he completely forgot, when he was too busy trying to calm himself while the stocker was after him.
The bell to the elevator dinged and the doors opened. He jumped and kept his mouth closed tightly to avoid an unnecessary scream. He picked up his bags and quickly walked towards his apartment, which seemed too far away in his opinion. Reaching his door he placed his bags down again and scrambled for his keys.
He found them in his right pocket and hurriedly fought for it to go in the key whole while half waiting for the attacker to come back. The door flew opened and he picked up his groceries and quickly placed them by the door before turning around to shut the door and getting tackled to his floor.
He screamed out, eyes squeezed tight as he punched wildly at the person sitting on his chest. He felt, whoever it was, sock him in the eye before grabbing a handful of his collar and standing up to pull him to his feet as well. His eyes opened wide but before he could look at the attacker's face he through a punch that landed square on the other's nose and he watched the attacker fall back and bang his head on the wooden floor. Yamato was about to run for it when he saw it was Taichi.
Taichi jumped to his feet, ready to fight again but instead Yamato ran to the only other room in the place. His bathroom. He slammed the door and locked it before Taichi could continue.
"What?" Taichi shouted angrily. "What?? I thought you said you could take me easily. I thought you were stronger then this! After all, that's what you said!" Taichi banged his hand on the old door two times in his anger, while wiping blood away from his nose with his other hand, then waited for a response and was more then surprised when none came. He was waiting for some kind of witty remark or sarcastic statement but not silence. "You stole it, you did, didn't you!" Taichi shouted through the door. "You stole Akeno's phone and lied and now I lost fifty bucks just because you had to have a five finger discount."
Yamato was sitting on the toilet seat, shaking. Taichi had really scared him. Beyond scared him. He was in the midst of panic and couldn't shake the feeling as he listened to the brunette bang and rant through the door. But something Taichi said had held his attention and didn't let him focus on his own fears. And now I lost fifty bucks just because you… For some reason that simple statement had really gotten to him. I lost fifty bucks just… It bothered him and he could feel anger start to reside in him. "Lost fifty bucks." Yamato said in a low voice.
"What was that?" Taichi shouted through the door defensively though he hadn't heard what Yamato had said.
"Lost fifty bucks…" Yamato said only a tad bit louder.
"Yeah! I bet Akeno fifty bucks that you hadn't stolen his phone while I was trying to get him off your back but you did steal it and lost me a lot of money in the making!"
"Lost fifty bucks." Yamato said. Taichi was silent as he heard Yamato repeat it again. He didn't understand. "Try loosing your home, or family, or everything you own in the matter of an hour." Yamato said louder still. His voice bubbled as he realized how angry Taichi was about the measly fifty bucks when he, himself, lost far more then that and he had never ranted like Taichi had about it. Tears stung his eyes as he heard his voice grow louder by the second. "Try loosing your future and yourself!" Yamato shouted. "You lost a measly fifty bucks! Look around you! Look at the place that I live that I'm barely able to afford with stealing! I WISH I HAD FIFTY DOLLARS TOO LOOSE YOU SELF-RIGHTOUS JERK!!!" Yamato fell silent and waited for a response but was met with silence.
Taichi backed away from the door at the outburst. Yamato seemed to be a very collected person from past experience and didn't seem to be the one to just start shouting for any reason. Taichi blinked twice before taking the blonds advice and looking around the room he was in. He cringed as he stared at the place. It did look bad. It looked as if it shouldn't even be in use. The dark brown wooden floors had nails sticking out of the boards and splinters. The walls were cracked and the only window in the place seemed too small to light the place. The kitchen was small and unclean. The counter was two feet and the dish filled sink took up most of it. A small green fried stood beside it.
Taichi didn't know what to say. He wanted to say sorry but… he didn't know. With one glance at the bed the blond slept on, he knew he couldn't stay there anymore. He needed to think about it, so he stuffed his hands in side his opened coat pockets and left the apartment the way it was without a word.
**
Taichi Yagami wasn't an overly sympathetic person nor was he cold hearted. He'd see someone that was down and felt sorry for them… nothing more nothing less. He wouldn't plunge into a situation to help them because it wasn't any of his concern. The persons problems weren't his business. But… It was different with Yamato. He was… different. He wanted to help Yamato but knew he couldn't with out it coming off weird. It would be weird to help the one who you always argue with, that you really don't know and only know there name because they stole your friends phone. Too weird.
Taichi bit his lip as he continued to tap his pencil against the desk as he stared out the window with unseeing eyes. He wasn't really paying attention to anything. Ms. O'Brien was at the front of the class talking about who-knows-what while he sat there trying to find out why he'd actually want to help the blond.
He noticed Yamato hadn't come to school that day. It was just first period but he doubted Yamato would come at all.
Vaguely Taichi heard his name being called but he really didn't pay attention, being too involved in his thoughts. He felt something lightly hit his temple and blinked a few times before looking up at the teacher beside him. She turned weary eyes to the Akeno and said, "Thank you, but I needed no help in arousing him from his dream like state." I looked down at the small piece of paper that lay on my desk that was just thrown at me.
"Sorry Miss…" He pauses a moment then remembers he has to call her by her whole name. "Ms. O'Brien but sometimes you have to give him a good whack to get his attention." A few chuckles filtered from some kids lips as Taichi gave Akeno a glare but the class stayed moderately quiet.
Ms. O'Brien ignored Akeno as she glared at Taichi. "Would you like to share with us your thoughts?" She asked as she held her head high.
Taichi looked at her as if she were crazy. "Wha…"
The teacher rolled her eyes, "Full and complete sentences please."
"Oh, yeah, sorry… What?"
She sighed. "Well, whatever you seem to be thinking about appears to be more enjoyable then my lesson, so if you please share with us." Taichi thought for a moment.
"Um… well you see…" He paused again then sighed. "Sorry sensei." The bell chose that moment to ring and Taichi was about to stand up and thank god for it until the teacher announced…
"Taichi, come to my class after school would you. I want to talk to you." I nod solemnly as the classroom quickly empties.
**
Yamato looked at his watch… Just after lunch. He cursed as he realized he was late. He had called the school around nine from a payphone when he was handing out resumes and said he'd be in by lunch. He didn't want to miss another entire day of school. He already imagined himself to have unbearable amounts of homework from missing yesterday. He had went to the office and signed in but, unfortunately, as he walked out the bell rang and his computer teacher wasn't the nicest guy.
He crept down the school hall towards his computer class. Maybe he could sneak in unnoticed, he hoped but it was unlikely.
As he reached the door to his class he peaked in to see the teacher talking to the students who all were watching him from their computer chairs. He took a deep breath as the students turned to their computer and the teacher got himself busy at his own desk.
Yamato turned the handle and slowly opened the door. A few kids that were closer to him glanced at him but he saw that he hadn't gotten the teachers attention so he thought he was okay now. He crept to an empty seat beside a guy with red hair that he recalled as Izzy. The seat beside him was the only one available he noticed as he sat down and turned on the computer.
"So…"Yamato said to the red head he saw looking at him through the corner of his black eyes. "What's today's task?" He asked as he logged in.
The red head looked forward again and started typing. "We're looking for playboys magazines on E-Bay."
Yamato sighed as he turned on the Internet. "I don't know why you lie all the time when you're not even good at it." Yamato looked around him to see who else he sat beside when he noticed the teacher glaring at him from across the class.
Yamato gulped and turned around in his seat to act innocent when he heard his teachers deep voice say, "Yamato… I don't recall you being here when I marked the attendance."
Yamato turned slightly in his chair and looked at the older man. "Maybe you just didn't notice me?" The blond tried. The man brought his hands to his temples as if he had a headache and rubbed in circles.
"I'm sure that's not the problem… in fact, I think the problem is you and your lack of punctuality. After school, be here in my class for a detention. Until then, find out what you are supposed to be doing from one of your classmates for I'm not going to waste my time with you any further." With that said, Yamato's teacher went back to his wooden desk in front of the class.
Yamato sighed and tried to get help again.
**
Ms. O'Brien sat in her class, marking assignments that she had instructed her class to complete the other day. She looked at her watch again then to her door. Taichi was ten minutes late and she was growing tired of waiting. She, for one, didn't like doing her marking at work but greatly preferred to do them at home. She'd usually marked them while listening to a song that would take her mind off any troubles that the day had brought so she could concentrate fully on the task at hand. A trick she had picked up from University though this same trick didn't work with everyone.
But now she couldn't turn to music to comfort her restless mind for it kept coming back to her students. Curiosity was a characteristic that she did not much care for. The unbearable want to know something that, by all rules, she was not aloud to know. For example, she wanted to know why there seemed so much hostility between Akeno and Yamato in her first class. She had heard something about a phone but she did not understand entirely and now she was starting to think Taichi also had something to do with it. She wanted to know what this was all about. Possibly if she could help settle it or maybe even bring them together as friends… she wanted to know what she could do… Curiosity was a curse that she bared in all its ferocity.
"Sorry, I'm late." She lifted her head to her door and glanced at the slightly flustered brunette.
She waved a hand in the air as if to dismiss the subject as she paid more attention to the papers in front of her then Taichi at the door. "Fine. Accepted. Just be more punctual. Now sit. I will need to speak to you in a moment." Taichi nodded and took a seat directly in front of Ms. O'Brien's desk and waited.
He dropped his gym back on the floor by the desk and waited for the teacher to finish the assignment she had previously been working on. Making the final mark she placed her red pen down and looked up at the brunette. He was looking at her but it didn't appear as if he saw her. His mind seemed to be far away and she wondered what he had been thinking about but she refrained from asking as his attention was once again drawn to her as he blinked a few times.
She sighed. "May I ask?" She said rhetorically. "Is everything alright?"
He tilted his head a bit, "Yeah… I suppose." He said, wondering why she was asking that instead of chastising him.
She looked down at her desk and saw the pen she had put down a few seconds ago. She picked it up and put it into a cup that she had been using to old all her writing supplies. "I admit I probably don't know you as well as most but I've noticed a dramatic character change from the boy who couldn't stop talking. You almost completely ignored your friends this morning and you weren't paying attention in my class which isn't so different but you were so lost in your thoughts you didn't respond the first five times I called your name. So is it too much to ask if everything's okay?"
Taichi looked down at his desk and at his hands in his lap, then back to the teacher. "Um… well… I… I'm fine I just…" He sighed. "I'm just trying to figure out something. That's all."
The want to ask what this 'something' was came to Ms. O'Brien as powerfully as ever but she knew she couldn't ask it. She already got too involved with her questionings, she knew, and had to stop there before she got carried away. Sighing, she took her pen back out of the cup and gave Taichi one more look. "Alright." She said with finality. "You may go. I just wanted to make sure you were acceptably fine but tomorrow make sure you pay attention."
Taichi nodded quickly and got quickly to his feet and exited the class with the gym bag in his hand. Ms. O'Brien started marking the next assignment until the brunette left the classroom. She then looked up towards the exit and stared thoughtfully. She wanted to know more and she wished more then anything that she could find out but she knew she couldn't so sighed and started getting ready for home. There she could clear her mind of these wondering thoughts.
**
"Alright. You may leave but tomorrow at least try being on time." Yamato nodded as he stood from the chair in front of the computer teacher's desk and picked up his backpack. The bag weighed on his arms as his muscles worked to get it over his shoulder. When that task was completed he managed to pull it on his other shoulder before leaving the class as it was.
Having everything he needed, he didn't stop at his locker on his way to the exit. His back was hunched up again with the weight of the bag as he dragged his feet down the hall to the doors that were at the end of the hall.
Pushing through them he walked out into the radiant sunlight. It shined on his hair and caused a light glow to arise from it. The sky was a light blue, the kind of blue that put you in a good mood no matter what and, though it was day, you could still see the moon.
He walked across the school's green/brown lawn, which was being affected by the turning weather, to the sidewalk ahead. Though the sun was out it didn't make it all that warm. He hit the sidewalk and started walking down it in the direction of his home. He walked further down the street and started to move into the area with the apartment buildings were. The side of the street he was one had a long shadow cast upon it that seemed to go on forever. The street had very few cars on it and the street he turned onto just then had even less.
The silence and shadows were starting to get to him and the good feeling he had from the sun when he first walked out of the school was quickly dissipating as thoughts of his money problem came back. Wondering how to solve his money case he almost didn't hear the extra set of footsteps not far behind him. But he did.
He stopped where he was as his muscles tensed and he turned his head to look over his shoulder to see what was behind him, his view almost being blocked by his bag. Nothing was there. He turned back around and started walking to see if the steps would continue behind him and, sure enough, the echo continued.
He stopped again as he started to feel afraid. He forced his fear down and turned around. He knew that incase something happened he would have to be able to move fast, so he quickly let his back slip of his shoulders and fall to the ground with a thump.
"Taichi!" He said angrily at the streets that were, at a time, behind him. Adrenalin rushed through his vanes as he didn't hear a reply. He knew it was Taichi. Well, at least he thought he knew. Taichi was the one who followed him the last time and why the hell was Taichi following him?? "Taichi! If that's you I swear…" He waited again for a response, leaving his threat unfinished, and yet again one didn't come. Now he wasn't so sure that it was the bush head he thought it was and started to panic but he had to stop himself from doing so as he took a step back. He felt his foot come in contact with his fallen backpack and almost fell over but managed to stay up right. "Taichi, COME OUT!!!" He all but screamed.
He heard the outtake of air that could be interpreted as a sigh as Taichi walked out of an alley. He stood with his hands dug into his pockets of his leather like coat and his head down but eyes fixated on Yamato in an almost sympathetic stare.
Yamato's fear subsided as his anger returned. "Why the hell are you following me?" He hissed.
Taichi shrugged. "When'd you get to school?" Taichi said as he walked up to the blond, hands still deep in his pockets, not ready in the least for a fight that Yamato thought would come out of this confrontation.
"You were following me since school!" Yamato exclaimed as he stared at the brunette with wide eyes, arms hanging loosely at his side.
A small smiles found its way on Taichi's face, almost as if he thought it were cute that Yamato was so surprised. "You're not too observant when you're in your thoughts are you?"
Yamato scowled and crossed his arms. "What's your point?"
Taichi shrugged. A silence fell over them as Yamato waited for a response, something cocky, offensive, insulting, but after a while he realized a response wasn't coming.
He sighed and uncrossed his arms. "I don't have time for this." Yamato turned around and bent to pick up the backpack but before he could a tanned hand grabbed a shoulder strap tightly and he started to lift it. .
Yamato looked up at the brunette whose gaze didn't leave his own eyes, as the brunette lifted the bag onto his shoulder. "The bag always looked so heavy for you, I'll carry it." Taichi offered.
Yamato grabbed the strap and yanked it off the brunette's shoulder though Taichi didn't let go of the strap. "I don't need you carrying it for me."
"Fine." Taichi stated simply as he let go of the bag. It fell to the ground with a thump and nearly dragged Yamato with it as the blond was off guard and hadn't expected to brunette to give in so easily.
Yamato struggled to get the bag on his shoulders as Taichi watched with a eye brow raised as if to say that Yamato should have just let him take care of it. Yamato ignored the look and started walking down the street with Taichi beside him.
Yamato tried to ignore him and act as if he wasn't there but the stare Taichi had on him was starting to get on the blond's nerves as he struggled to cool his temper and not get angry again. Taichi will get the hint and buzz off in just a moment. Don't fret Yama. Yamato told himself though he doubted his thoughts.
After a moment Yamato looked at Taichi and asked, "Why are you still here?"
"Huh…" Taichi said and blinked a few times before seeing that he had been staring. He blushed and turned away. Shrugging, he looked back at Yamato, "Well, I wanted to walk with someone and you just happened to be here." Tai smiled at the blond who didn't return it. Tai sighed. "We could be friends you know?" Taichi said.
"I don't want friends."
"The other night, at the club, you didn't seem to thrilled about being friendless." Yamato's eyes hardened and he looked forward without a word. "Sorry." Taichi said as he realized that that wasn't the nicest thing to say.
Yamato sighed. "It's okay… and maybe your right. I'm not overly excited because I have no one but that doesn't mean I want a friend. I'd prefer to go without the pain and disappointments, thank you very much."
"Friends don't give you pain or anything like that…"
"No…" Yamato stopped walking again and stared at Taichi. "Good friends don't… how many good friends do you really think are out there. I bet not even a fraction of your friends are good." As Taichi stood there processing the information Yamato already started walking. "Leave me alone. I don't need friends or anyone else for that matter." And with that Yamato rounded a corner and left out of sight.
A/N: Okay… so this chap isn't so good… I'm trying. Creative criticism?