Chapter Three

Kamuran didn't call the next day. Or the day after. In fact, he didn't call for a whole week. When he finally did, he seemed somewhat distant. We talked shortly about nothing in particular and it felt as thought I had ruined my life again. I figured that it was best not to bring up the other night.

School had started up at a normal pace again. It was easier than I'd originally thought it would be. Hardly anyone knew that I was gay, and if they did no one mentioned anything.

My dad had gone on another business trip. I missed having some one to talk to- Kamu hadn't called lately- but it wasn't all bad. For instance, I could stay up really late, even on school nights.

I sighed heavily. I had finally finished my homework and I headed into the kitchen to grab a coke. I opened the fridge and growled at the lack of soda. I took one anyway and quickly scribbled a note to get more. I headed into the living room and plopped down onto the sofa, snatching the remote.

I was flipping through the channels when I heard the shuffling of footsteps behind me. I turned around, suddenly quite nervous. My front door was wide open. I shivered, but not from the cool air blowing into my house. I stood up.

I gasped at the body lying on my floor. "Tai?"

He looked up at me. I watched as he giggled like a little kid. "Teehee, look Yamato! I can dance."

I watched in horror as the usually sane Taichi stood up and began teetering around as though his legs were made of Jell-O. He fell towards me and I automatically caught him. He looked up at me, innocence etched into his features.

"I think I forgotted how to walk," His breath made my head reel and I almost gagged.

"Tai," I lifted him to his feet, "You're drunk."

"I have to pee, Yama," I tried to hold in my anger as I walked him to the bathroom. He stepped inside the room and I closed the door. I slowly massaged my temples. How could this have happened? Tai didn't get drunk, it just wasn't him.

I heard something strange. I pushed open the door. I saw Taichi retching in the toilet. He looked up at me, a bit of his normal self in his features. He opened his mouth to speak but instead turned back to the toilet and barfed again.

"Dammit Tai," I shook my head and ran into the kitchen to get a paper towel for him. I ran back to the bathroom. I flung open the door only to find him lying on the floor, unconscious. I groaned.

"Shit," I mumbled under my breath. I picked him up from underneath the armpits and began dragging him across the floor into my room. I heaved him onto the bed. His lips moved silently in slumber as I began pulling off his tennis shoes.

I went back into the bathroom and picked the towels off of the ground. I wiped the vomit off his face. I threw them out in the kitchen and hurried back to my room.

I sat down on the bed and tried to take his shirt off. No matter how hard I tugged and pulled I couldn't get it over his mass of bushy hair. I groaned and gave up. I walked to my door and slowly turned around.

I smiled sadly as I looked at the brunette's lovely features. I shook my head. I couldn't allow myself to feel this way again. Tai was straight, he'd told me himself. Plus, now I was happy, wasn't I? I mean, I had a boyfriend. I sighed and watched him turn onto his side and fall deeper into sleep.

~§~§~§~§~§~

I shuffled across the parking lot in front of my apartment. I glanced up at the windows only to find the lights still off. I wondered if Tai had woken up yet. When I'd left for school this morning, he'd still been fast asleep. I had scribbled a short note to him, trying to explain everything that had happened in a few sentences.

I took another step towards the stairs. I stopped in my tracks when two of the school bullies stepped in front of me. I gulped and slowly backed up. I hit something hard and reluctantly spun around. There were three more behind me.

"Hi," I said quite nervously. One of them laughed while another curled his hand into a fist.

"Look who we found. The class queer," said someone behind me. I turned around to find Akuryou, the biggest and meanest kid in our school. It was said that he had been held back for three years. "You know what, boys? Homos like him," he jerked his finger in my direction, "give us guys a bad name."

They chortled childishly and turned to me, grinning evilly. I smiled, suddenly scared, and waved at them. "Should we teach him a lesson?"

They stepped closer. I tried to duck under them, but was caught by my long hair. I screamed in agony as they lifted me and wrenched my arm up behind my back. I bit my lip, not willing the tears to come.

They came anyways when one of them brought his fist into my jaw. My teeth sunk deep into my lip and it started to bleed freely. They let me drop to the ground and I lay there curled up. I sobbed. Why were they doing this? What had I ever done to them?

"Look at all high and mighty now," he slammed his foot into my chest and I rolled onto my back, wheezing. They laughed and I struggled to stand up. I wouldn't be beaten like this. Someone squashed my hand down into the ground. I yelled again.

"Yamato!" I heard a voice. Was it God? Had he come to tell me that my time was over? "Yama!"

I looked up. Only one person called me that, and he was running towards us right now. I tried to yell at him to stop, that this wasn't his problem, but what came out was, "Taichi? Help me?"

Akuryou stepped in front of me. He raised his fist to strike Tai as he neared me. I watched him take the blow. He wiped the blood off of his lip and brought his whole weight down on his opponent. Akuryou smiled and gestured with his head towards Tai. Every one of the other bullies began battering him helplessly. He fought back bravely, but I could tell it was in vain.

I stood up while their attention was on Tai. I smiled grimly and tapped Akuryou on the shoulder. He turned angrily around. I brought my knee up with all the force I could muster into his crotch. He grimaced and fell to the ground, writhing in pain. I couldn't help but grin as he limped away, shouting back at me.

"Yamato, are you alright?" Taichi stood up and walked towards me. I tried to smile again, but I coughed and held my side. He leapt to me and put his long arms around my shoulders. I leaned against him as he helped me walk to the elevator. I rested as he pushed the button for the third floor.

I looked at his fine features, and the anger etched into them. "Tai, are you okay?" he turned to me and smiled a warm friendly smile. I couldn't help but grin back. Just like old times, I thought.

"I'm fine," The elevator door opened and I limped out with him. We walked along the balcony to my apartment. I pushed open the door, "I've had worse, ya know?"

I nodded and followed him inside, "Why did you…"

He stopped in mid-step and turned to me. "I know what happened last night," I was going to protest, when he interrupted again. "I didn't mean it like that. I know what you did for me when I was drunk. Thanks."

I nodded and started to walk to my room. I stopped when I realized that he was following me. "Tai?"

"Well…I was just thinking, Yama," he stepped out in front of me. "You got pretty beat up back there. Are you sure that you're alright?"

"I'm fine Tai. Thanks though," I turned around to walk into my room. I opened the wooden dresser and pulled out a new shirt. I'll have to wash this one, I thought, Dad can't see the bloodstains on it.

I shrugged out of the old shirt, trying to do so without pain. I winced when my arm accidentally brushed against a dark bruise on my chest. I set the shirts down on the bed. I stepped into the bathroom and stared into the mirror.

"I look like shit," I thought as I looked at my bruised face and bloody lip. I turned the faucet on and got my hands wet. I gently dabbed at a large cut above my eyebrow.

"You need soap," Taichi laughed at me. I glared at him and brushed past him to get dressed. I sat down and struggled to pull the shirt on without hurting myself.

I felt the bed shift under new weight and I looked to my right. I flinched away as Tai gingerly pressed a moist soapy clothe to my forehead. I relaxed as I felt it slowly start to feel better.

"Told ya that soap would help," he joked. "Feels better, neh?"

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Could he have changed? Or was he just trying to make up for last night?

"Does it still hurt?" I bobbed my head again. My heart raced within my chest as he leaned forward. I closed my eyes as his soft, sweet lips pressed into the wound. He stepped back and slowly stood up. I wanted to leap forward and embrace him when he smiled down at me. "Now?"

I wanted to say no. I wanted to tell him that my pain had gone, both mentally and physically. I looked away. He hadn't meant that anymore than in friendship.

"What's wrong?" he asked sullenly, sitting down on the bed next to me. "Yamato?"

"Why'd you do that?" I said, in a whisper that was barely audible. I didn't think he heard me, so I was going to repeat myself when he spoke.

"I don't know, it just seemed like the right thing to do," he spoke slightly, shaking. "Yamato, I don't know what's going on. But when I saw you with you're boyfriend last week. I felt all weird inside."

"What do you mean?"

"It was like it was when you were dating Sora, and I wanted to be with her," He bit his lip to try to hold back his tears. In all the years I had known him, I had never seen him break down this easily.

I did the only thing I could think to do and I wrapped my arms about his tall frame. We sat there on my bed as I rocked him, murmuring slight answers to his worries.

"I'm sorry, Yama," I felt his wet cheek press against the soft flesh of my chest. "I'm so sorry for the way I treated you last year. I know that I should have shown more respect for something like that; it's completely out of your control. Over the summer I kept wondering if you'd ever forgive me. I'd walk to the door of your apartment, but then I'd angrily storm away. I missed the best friend I'd ever had. Can you forgive me?"

I felt the tears pour down my own cheeks. I couldn't believe this. How long had I waited to hear those exact words? He wanted to be my friend again. I gently pressed my lips into his forehead, "Of course."

His brown eyes turned up to look at me. I could see through the puffiness and sorrow, the glint of a smile. I saw him reach up to me and gently kiss my cheek. I could feel a blush slowly rising to my cheeks.

"Yamato? I think I love you," I could tell from the way he said it that he expected me to leap away in revulsion. I almost did jump up, but I quickly controlled that feeling. I felt his hand rest on my cheek as he brought his face nearer to mine. I melted into that kiss, giving it everything I could.

I felt him run his tongue gently along my lower lip. I broke away, this was wrong. Taichi wasn't queer. I just couldn't believe that.

"Yama?" I looked at him.

"Tai, you don't want to love me," he looked puzzled and sat up. I explained, "When I told you last year that I loved you I meant it. I don't know if I still do. You hated me for it last year and I don't want that to happen again."

I saw him stare down at the floor. "I'm sorry. I was confused last year, too. I knew that you meant it, and that scared me. I was scared that I might feel that way, also. I was scared to love you."

"To fear love is to fear life," I muttered. Tai looked up immediately. I shook my head and smiled sadly. "It's just a quote I heard somewhere. To fear love is to fear life; and those who fear life are already three-parts dead."

He smiled, "Exactly."

I stared deep into his brown eyes and felt some of what I'd felt two months ago stirring deep within my blood. "Are you still scared?"

"I'm scared that you might reject me, because you've found love with someone else. But no, I'm not scared to be in love with you," he paused. "Are you?"

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out and I glanced away. "I'm scared that you won't mean it. I'm scared that you'll tell everyone what a jackass I am for believing you. So yes, I suppose I am scared to love you."

I gently reached my hand up to brush away a tear. Tai deftly caught it and held it gently. I turned my head to him as he brought his other hand up to wipe the salty fluid away.

With my hand in his, he neared my face and whispered, "Do you?"

I made my gaze level with his and stared at the beautiful face only inches from my own. "Yes. Yes, I think I do," I replied smiling. This time it was me who gently kissed him.

I could tell he was inwardly smiling. He brushed his fingers lightly against my cheek and brought his other hand to run through my blonde hair. The kiss deepened as I felt him slide his tongue into my mouth. He's good, I thought, while he touched the parts of my mouth with his tongue.

I needed breath, so did Tai. I tried to break away, but instead Tai held my head close to his and lowered his mouth to kiss my neck. I gasped with pleasure. Taichi chuckled and gently bit my ear. I smiled and followed suit.

Suddenly, he pushed me down onto my back. I immediately became nervous. What if he didn't like the fact that I was still a virgin? I was almost eighteen. I relaxed quickly as I felt him lightly trail his fingers over my pale skin. My pulse raced as Tai traced the line of my chest. I saw him bring his mouth down towards me and I breathed in heavily as he licked my nipple.

My muscles grew tense and I longed for more. I pushed my self up on my elbows when Tai stopped. He was kneeling on the bed beside me, staring at the bruise on my chest.

"Yamato, I don't wanna hurt you more," he sighed, looking quite dejected. I sat up.

"You won't, I promise," he looked at me, searching for something in my eyes, it seemed. He opened his mouth to speak but quickly closed it as my lips pressed against his. "Tai trust me. I know I'm not as tough as you, but I'm pretty strong."

I felt him breathe gently on my neck and it sent a shudder of pleasure down my back. I grinned and ran my fingers through his hair. I breathed in the scent of him.

I watched as he leaned away and pulled of his shirt. I laughed as he struggled to bring it over his hair. I got up on my knees and helped him with it. When we finally pulled it off, he accidentally toppled over, and me with him. I felt him laughing as he lay slightly on top of me.

I felt my heart beat loudly when I felt his hands again travel over my body. He slowly caressed the skin just below my navel and I closed my eyes. I opened them to see Taichi grinning at the slight bulge in my pants. I started to protest as he agilely began unzipping my pants.

He brought his head up to silence me. I kissed him back, wanting more of him. He broke away and I glanced down. I watched him pull my pants down my legs. I stared in horror as he started unbuckling his own pants.

"Tai?" he flicked a glance at me and continued undressing. "I need to tell you something." He nodded. "It's important."

He sat down on the bed next to me. I sighed and stared straight at the brunette. He smiled.

"You won't believe this-"

"I'll always believe you, Yama-chan," he spoke, putting his arm on my shoulder.

I nodded slightly and continued. "But, you see, Tai. I'm-I'm still a virgin."

He stared at me, taken aback. "That makes no sense. I mean, you're one of the hottest guys I know," I blushed, but Tai didn't notice. He just stared at the floor, thinking. "I would've thought that you'd at least fucked Kamu…"

"No, we almost did. But he seemed angry when he found out. Are you angry?" he looked up at me and smiled.

"No, this just makes things even better," he smiled and hurriedly pulled his pants off.

"What do you mean?" I asked quizzically. He brought his finger to my lip, silencing me. He reached his hand toward my crotch and I felt myself tense. He brushed his fingers lightly against my palm and I relaxed a little.

I felt him rub gently on it. I gasped with pleasure. Tai responded by pressing a little harder. I closed my eyes blissfully. I almost didn't know what was happening until I sensed the air on my dick. My eyes shot open.

Taichi was laughing. I tried to smile, but I was worried. Worried that I might not be able please him. I felt Tai gently run a finger over my erect member. He set down another and moved them up and down. Eventually his whole hand was speeding up and down. I felt myself coming nearer and nearer to the edge, but it never came.

Tai slowly stopped. I opened my eyes and glanced at the puzzlement in his. I knew he was thinking the same thing I was. I sighed and sat up. This was hopeless.

Suddenly, he stood up and flung off his boxers. I stared at the stiff organ. I couldn't believe what was happening. I watched him crawl over onto the bed next to me. He gently pushed me over onto my stomach and up on my knees.

"Yama?" I turned my head around to look at him. He was staring at my ass. "Don't worry."

I was puzzled and turned back around to the head of the bed. I felt his hands on the sides of my butt and he placed the tip of his penis against my anus. I realized what he was planning a second to late. I winced and snarled in pain.

"Shit," I heard him say. I looked back and gave him a look to say "What the hell?" He smiled apologetically.

I glared at him. Dammit, I thought. This hurts. I grimaced as he slowly began moving back in forth. Slowly at first, then the thrusts grew harder and faster. I felt my vision blur with tears of pleasure. I felt my mind slipping. All I could think about was the joy I felt each time Tai threw himself into me.

My mind went blank as I felt myself releasing. At the same moment Taichi came. We collapsed onto the bed and he lay next to me. I rested my head on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around his waist. He pressed his lips onto my blonde hair and I smiled. I snuggled in closer as Tai began stroking my hair.

"I love you, Yama-chan," I heard him whisper to me. I hugged him tightly and drifted into sleep.