Disclaimer - I'm not rich enough to own Digimon, and believe me, you'd know it if I did. ^_~

A/N: Okay, so this chapter's longer than the others. Solely because it's just about over with, and if I do my normal length in chapters it'll take much longer... And I'm being lazy.

Behind the Curtain
Chapter Fifteen

Taichi didn't know why, but he was okay. He was okay with everything. . . He went to work the next day after the 'incident', and worked better than he had in weeks. Well, until a certain blonde paid him a little visit, that is.

The knock on his door made him jump. He looked around the small office-like room, wondering what he was supposed to be doing. Then the door opened and revealed a short, petite woman. She smiled at him as she said, "There's someone here to see you." He stared at her for a few moments, then blinked.

"Okay," he said, nodding. He stared at the blonde that walked into the room. He blinked a few times; then raised an eyebrow. "What the hell do you want? Last time I listened to you all hell broke loose."

The blonde shook his head, he sighed. "You don't understand,"

Taichi slammed his fist down on the desk in front of him. He stared at the blonde, his eyes angry. "What the hell don't I understand? I understand that I was stupid for ever trying."

The blonde shook his head again. "He's in the hospital," he said quietly, not meeting Taichi's stare. "He tried to commit suicide."

Taichi stared at the blonde. He was dumbfounded; he was speechless; he couldn't comprehend a single thought running through his over-loading brain. He could feel his heart beat in his throat and his stomach churning. There wasn't nearly enough oxygen in the room for his muscles for they were aching. When the blonde looked up at him, straight in the eye - he snapped out of his trance with a blink.

"Come again?" he said.

"He's in the hospital. He could die because he'd been laying there on the bathroom floor for who knows how long."

After the blonde finished the sentence, Taichi blacked-out. He couldn't remember anything. He didn't remember screaming at Takeru for lying to him, and he didn't remember throwing his telephone across his apartment when he left the office. He didn't remember leaving the office or getting to his apartment. He didn't even remember driving to the hospital. But, everything was crystal clear when he stood there in Yamato's hospital room staring down at him - his body pale. Machines around him beeping and tubes everywhere.

He swallowed thickly when a nurse came into the room and did her check to make sure everything was doing it's job. He let out a shaky sigh as he searched the room for a chair, intent on staying in the room for a while. When he spotted one he grabbed it, pulling it towards the bed. He winced when it made a loud screeching sound as it was pulled across the tile floor. He looked up at Yamato quickly and winced again when he stirred.

Taichi watched, wide-eyed, as Yamato's crystal blue eyes opened. He inhaled quickly when those same eyes landed on him. He felt like a deer caught in headlights. Yamato stared at Taichi for a long while before closing his eyes again. Taichi watched him patiently, wondering if the blonde would open his eyes again.

Sure enough, Yamato opened his eyes once more. He stared at Taichi again, his eyes soft - so Taichi took advantage of the situation.

"How," he started, but his voice trailed off. He cleared his throat. "How do you feel?" he said, trying again. Yamato's shrug was weak, and Taichi barely caught it. "Probably not any better than I do," he said, shrugging himself. "I feel like someone's played baseball with my head." The comment got a weak smile from Yamato.

Taichi couldn't get over how pale the blonde was. And, he'd thought Yamato was pale before... Ha, this didn't even compare. "You know, you could have died," Taichi said finally. The blonde nodded.

"That had been the point," he replied, his mouth barely moving, his voice barely above a whisper. "Dumbass."

Taichi gave Yamato a weak smile at the term of 'endearment'.

"What had you been thinking? It was very..." Taichi trailed off.

Yamato sighed. "Go away."

The brunet stared at Yamato. He felt the rage build up inside of himself. What exactly was the man's problem? Honestly. Here Taichi was, sitting in the man's hospital room, trying to give some moral support. This was how Yamato repaid him? Telling him to go away? Taichi was starting to think that coming to see Yamato had been a bad idea, though, not like he'd had a choice because he couldn't remember how he got there in the first place.

"Go away, I don't want you here."

At that, Taichi's mouth fell open. He gaped at the blonde laying on the bed. He was about to say something when he heard a voice behind him.

"Get over yourself, Yamato."

Taichi spun around and stared at Takeru as he walked further into the room, placing himself next to the brunet. Then, Yamato hadn't been talking to him? He'd been talking to Takeru?

"Leave me the hell alone for once." Taichi stared at Takeru and waited for a reply. Yamato's voice was biting, and he wondered if Takeru would match his tone. He'd never seen them both together before. But, with them being in the same room together he didn't think they looked alike at all. Yamato was much more appealing. Much more.

Instead all Takeru did was sigh, a sign of defeat. Taichi wondered why the two brothers seemed to have so many problems with each other. Or, why Yamato had such a problem with Takeru. Whenever he had mentioned the boy to Yamato, he'd clam up and get upset. Taichi wished he knew what had happened between the two.

Taichi didn't stay at the hospital for very long after Takeru entered the room. He decided that he'd give Yamato some time to rest. When he walked out of the door, Takeru grabbed his arm.

"He needs to see a doctor," the blonde said easily.

Taichi stared at the younger man, wondering what he was talking about.

"He needs special attention."

Arching an eyebrow at the sentence, Taichi pulled his arm out of Takeru's grasp. "What're you talking about?" he hissed at the blonde.

Takeru sighed wearily. "That's why he doesn't like me. I tried to put him in an institution."

Taichi's eyes widened, and he started choking. On what, he did not know. "A what?" he managed to say between coughs. "Like, a mental institution?" Takeru nodded slowly. Taichi licked his lips and started shaking his head. "No," he said. "There's no way you're getting me to say anything about an institution to Yamato. No way!"

The blonde sighed. "Please, Taichi. I think he'll listen to you." Taichi started laughing. This boy was insane. He was absolutely delusional. Deranged even. Did he not know what had happened between Yamato and himself? Obviously not, because if Takeru did he would have never even suggested such a thing.

Once Taichi was done laughed, he looked Takeru in the eye. "I think you're insane. Absolutely mad." Takeru shook his head.

"Taichi, you don't understand. He'll listen to you! He will, I know he will!"

"No. I'm not going to do it. No way, no how. The last time I listen to you, it turned to shit. So, just leave me out of this."

With that said, Taichi turned and walked out of the hospital. Why was he always told he didn't understand? Why did so many people underestimate him? It truly got on Taichi's nerves. . . That everyone though he was some brainless dumbass who didn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. It made him mad, actually. It's pissed him off, royally. He was always being told that he didn't understand something. He was told that at least once a day. Well, everyone could kiss his ass for all he cared.

He decided not to go home right away. Actually, he didn't even get into his car. He thought he'd walk around town for a while. . . Even though it was 10 o'clock at night. He didn't really care. He needed fresh air, and this was the only way to get it.

Every now and then he would check his watch, just to make sure it wasn't getting too late. He wanted to make sure that he got back to his apartment before Daisuke would, just so the boy wouldn't worry.

Actually, come to think of it. Taichi couldn't remember if he'd seen Daisuke when he was at his apartment earlier, before he went to the hospital. Those hours had been such a blur, Taichi didn't know up from down or left from right. Maybe Daisuke already knew what was going on, and wasn't worried about Taichi. The brunet sighed, it didn't really matter. . . Either way, he'd be home before midnight. And that he was, opening the door to enter a dark apartment.

Taichi flipped on a light quickly so he wouldn't hurt himself tripping over things on the floor. Just as he sat on the couch the door opened again, revealing Daisuke out in the hallway. The boy walked into the apartment and smiled at Taichi.

"How did it go?" the boy asked. Ah, so he did know about Yamato and the hospital.

"Fine," Taichi replied with a shrug. "He woke up for a bit, he seems to be alright."

Daisuke nodded, a smirk across his face. Taichi arched an eyebrow at the shorter boy.

"What?"

Daisuke shook his head. "Nothing."

Taichi shook his head as well. He stood up from his spot on the couch. "Well, I'm going to bed. I think I'll go to the hospital tomorrow morning. . . Before I go to work." Daisuke nodded.

Well, Taichi had never been much of an early riser. He could barely get up at six every morning. He had no idea how he managed to get up at five and be out the door by five thirty, but he did. He was at the hospital before six, and then found out that visiting hours didn't start until seven. The lady was nice though and let Taichi see Yamato early.

He didn't know what he had intended on doing when he got to Yamato's room. He hadn't thought that far. So instead, he just sat down in a chair by the bed and waited. He watched Yamato's face - it would twitch every now and then. Taichi smiled to himself, the blonde looked so peaceful. Like he didn't have a care in the world, but Taichi knew that was a lie. Yamato seemed to have more problems than anyone Taichi knew. More than Taichi, himself. Which was quite a lot.

When Yamato's eyes finally opened, Taichi took a deep breath. He was preparing himself for what was to come, he knew he was going to regret what he was about to do, but maybe Takeru was right. Maybe.

"Hi, Yama."

Yamato smiled at Taichi, and Taichi gave everything he had to smile back confidently. "Hey, Tai."

Taichi took a deep breath. "I think that maybe you should. . . Go see a doctor, Yama."

The blonde raised an eyebrow. "Doctor?" Taichi nodded.

"Yeah, a doctor. You know, see what's wrong?"

Yamato's eyes stayed on Taichi, making him very uncomfortable. "With me?" Taichi shook his head quickly.

"No," he started quickly. "There's nothing wrong with you. . . Just to make sure, you're stab--Okay. To make sure you're okay."

The blonde stared at Taichi, his expression was calm - but that didn't make Taichi feel any better. All the brunet could do was prepare himself for the words he knew were going to fly out of Yamato's mouth at any second. The blonde was never going to agree to something like that, not in a million years. And, even if he did. . . It would take lots of persuasion.

[tbc]

Aero: The storm is almost over... Or should I say, there's always calm before the storm? Heh, okay, I'll just shut up. There will be some Taito soon, like, maybe the next chapter? Heh, I'm not entirely sure yet. ^^;; But, please review, okie? -Ciao