Guess what, I got my first flame, ever. I just thought I'd mention that milestone in my fan fiction writing career before I get onto the chapter. I'm not sure how this one turned out, but I hope you like it. Oh, and I do not own the song "60% Intentional", which is briefly featured the beginning of this chapter. It belongs to a band called Antiskeptic. Other than that, enjoy the chapter.

What Does It All Mean?

Troubled chocolate eyes stared up at the ceiling as light slowly crept through the wide window and birds began to chirp their greeting to the world. They didn't blink, didn't flinch, not even as the radio alarm turned on and began playing in the middle of a song.

~~~

You're beautiful, you're a babe and I am never coming back.

The principles, the tears the pain, yeah you will never see me back.

I feel the loss, I feel ashamed for all the things that could have been.

My love remains, pulse in my veins, but the fact remains that you lied to me.

Breathe, and feel the mourning and the sorrow don't you?

~~~

Taichi turned on his side and turned off the radio at the second initiation of that last line. He sighed quietly and got up, heading over to his bathroom with his clothes to get ready for the big day.

This is the greatest day in my life, this is all I've looked forward to for so long. So why don't I feel as excited as I know I should be? Taichi sighed again as he washed himself then started on the arduous task of washing his thick mass of hair.

"Maybe it takes a while to kick in," he muttered, turning off the shower and stepping out. He stared at his reflection in the mirror and sighed again. I'm really good at lying to myself aren't I? At least others believe the façade. I just wish … Taichi sighed yet again. "I wish things were different."

* * *

Daisuke grinned as he caught sight of two familiar figures walking through the corridors of the stadium before him. He was on his way with Ken to the change rooms and their training when he saw Takeru and Hikari walking towards the media room.

"TK! Kari!" The two turned around and smiled. They stopped so the two players could catch up to them.

"Hey Davis, Ken." TK grinned at them while Hikari gave them both a quick hug. "Ready for the big game?"

"Totally!" Daisuke was practically jumping in excitement. "I mean, even if we don't win, I don't care. We made it to finals and we get to play! How cool is that!" Ken shook his head amusedly at his boyfriend while Takeru laughed at his friend's antics.

"I think you're team might mind if you guys won or not."

Daisuke shrugged. "I guess. But we'll try our best, that's the main thing." Daisuke suddenly grinned slyly and sidled up to Hikari. "So, Kari, are you going to be cheering for me out there?"

Hikari grinned at him. "I might be. And Ken too."

Daisuke winked at her. "I'm sure you'll be cheering hardest for me won't you?"

Hikari giggled at him and the other two boys looked on in amusement.

"I might, but I think there's someone else you're forgetting about. Sorry Davis, but I'll be rooting for Kyoto in this one." She laughed at his horrified expression.

"Traitor!" he gasped exaggeratedly. "I can't believe you would betray me like this. I feel so used." Daisuke sniffed and looked at her imploringly. "Don't you like me any more Kari?"

Kari smiled and patted him gently on the head. "Sorry Davis, I've got other men in my life too." She grinned as Takeru pulled her into a hug. "And I think you do too."

Daisuke grinned and turned around to his patiently waiting boyfriend. "You're right. But remember I'll be giving you hell if Tokyo win!" Daisuke poked his tongue out at her over his back then gave his slightly affronted boyfriend a hug. Ken's face softened and he smiled over at the other couple.

"We should get going to training." He looked sternly down at Daisuke, who looked away innocently. "I have to make sure that Dai doesn't get distracted again."

Takeru grinned wickedly at them. "I'm sure that you'll keep a very good eye on him." Ken blushed and poked his tongue out at his friend in a juvenile gesture, then he dragged Daisuke off down a hallway with him, waving goodbye too Hikari as he did so.

"We should get to the media room as well." Takeru gave Hikari a quick kiss on the lips then led the way down the hallway.

When they got there, they told their names to the man at the door and were allowed through. Some of the Kyoto team were there, but not all. Takeru frowned as he didn't see a large bush of dark chocolate hair sticking up anywhere.

"I don't see him here."

Hikari nodded. "Well, Kyoto have the media room until their training. Then it's Tokyo's turn. Tai's still got another two hours before he has to show up."

"He could also be standing right behind you." The two whirled around to see Taichi grinning at them in his usual carefree manner. "You two ready to start this interview?"

"Sure." Takeru gestured to a few seats nearby and they sat down. "This is the basic interview. You're not that well known. Well, you are apparently, but not in any intimate way by the public."

"Technically, you guys will have an exclusive, since you're the first magazine I've ever talked to." Taichi grinned. "Would that help your sales in anyway for the next issue?"

Takeru grinned. "That's even better than we'd hoped." He cleared his throat. "Anyway, there are some personal questions on here that we would like you to answer, but I don't want to make you uncomfortable, so if anything offends you, you don't have to answer."

Taichi nodded then looked at the piece of paper in Takeru's hand curiously. "What sort of questions?"

"Well get to that eventually." Takeru cleared his throat again and Hikari set up a small tape recorder. "Here we go. So, Taichi, we've been told that initially you started soccer at a very young age. Can you tell us a bit about that?"

Taichi grinned. "Jeez TK, you sound so formal." Seeing Takeru's glare Taichi held up his hands and answered the question. "I've been interested in playing soccer since I was very young. I think about three or four."

"Wow, that's young." Takeru looked a bit shocked. "I didn't know you started that young. Were there any teams you could join at that age?"

Taichi shook his head. "Junior league started at five, so I kept practicing until I was old enough to play. I didn't play proper competition in the junior leagues until I was eight. I've been in the first division teams ever since then."

"When did you start playing professionally?"

"Right after school. Scouts had been out to the area and through my club and school they found out about me. I was offered a few college scholarships all around Japan."

"So why did you choose Kyoto?" Hikari stared closely at Taichi as he thought carefully about this question. She was just as interested in his answer as Takeru was.

"I don't really know. I'd visited Kyoto once for a school soccer championship and I fell in love with the place. I'd heard stories from friends, but seeing it, it's so beautiful." Taichi snapped out of his dreamy state. "Not to mention it was away from home. After a while, you have to learn how to be independent."

Takeru nodded. "Very true. Okay, next question. What other interests do you have?"

Taichi laughed at this. "Oddly enough, I don't have many more interests. I've become a bit reclusive since leaving high school."

"Yeah, you were always one of the more popular and louder people at school." Takeru grinned at his jibe, but Taichi merely smiled.

"Watch it Takeru, you wouldn't want to insult me now would you?" Takeru shut up and Hikari laughed softly at the actions of her brother and beloved. "I do have some interests. I like music. I was briefly taught how to play the guitar a while ago, however, my skill hasn't much improved since then." Takeru laughed at this and Taichi grinned sheepishly. "Actually, I do have another interest. At college I took a literature class, which I didn't continue when I was offered the position on the team. However, since then, I've been collecting various older works for enjoyment."

Takeru and Hikari stared at him in shock. "Are you serious? You, Yagami Taichi, are into works like Shakespeare and Milton and things like that?"

Taichi grinned and nodded. "Yeah, unusual isn't it? People change after a time. None of my older friends would have suspected it. Actually, I don't think too many know about it."

"You're damn right they don't know about it!" Hikari said.

Taichi shrugged. "I guess I like to surprise people at times."

Takeru grinned. "You seems to be quite good at that." He looked down at the piece of paper and paled slightly at the next question. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Taichi and Hikari looked at him curiously. "The next question is somewhat personal and you don't have to answer if you don't want to."

Taichi nodded, feeling a fluttering in his stomach as he tried to figure out what sort of question it was. "Sure."

"Okay then. I'm sure that many people have been interested in you in more ways than one. Could you perhaps tell us, if you wish, about previous relationships, if any?"

Taichi stilled slightly. "Define relationships."

Takeru grinned, seeing a way out of possible tension the question was sure to cause. "Any sort of relationship with anyone."

Taichi grinned. "That's easier then. I haven't actually seen most people from my past for a while. I lived in Tokyo, as I may have mentioned, so I haven't seen my family in three years. In that time I discovered that there will soon be an addition to my family."

Takeru tugged at his collar nervously. "Uh, yes. Your sister is getting married."

"Yes, she is. It's a good thing I was friends with her fiancée before all of this happened or there might have been a big problem. It's a good thing that I think very highly of him too." Taichi smiled gently at the two of them. "I couldn't be happier for her, I know that she's with the perfect person for her and I'm truly glad and happy for them both."

"Thank you Taichi." Takeru smiled at his soon to be brother-in-law and Hikari sniffed and hugged her brother. Takeru continued with the interview. "What about friendships?"

Taichi grinned. "I was lucky enough, and still am lucky, to be part of a group of very close and trustworthy friends. It's amazing to see how much everyone has changed in three years though." Taichi sighed then, knowing what was coming next. He didn't wait for Takeru's nervous question. "As for romantic relationships, I've only ever been in one serious relationship and I'm not considering anything else."

Takeru nodded, glad that they were able to avoid any major embarrassment for both parties. He grinned and continued calmly with the interview now that the major question was over with.

* * *

Coach called Taichi over as they were leaving the field after their training. It was about three in the afternoon and they had about three and a half hours left to prepare for the game. This was when everyone double and triple checked that everything was fine before they went on and Taichi knew that their coach was very pedantic about many things.

"Yes coach?"

"Yagami, I was thinking that it might be best if you removed your jewelry for the game. I know it isn't necessary, but things might get rough and I know you'd hate it to get broken or anything."

Taichi didn't answer straight away. "I … I've never taken these off since I got them coach."

The older man nodded sympathetically. "I know, but just for this game you should."

Taichi hesitated then nodded, looking away. "Would it be all right though, if I gave them to someone to keep for me?" His coach nodded. "Then may I be excused for a bit so I can find him?"

Coach looked a bit unsure, but he saw the desperation in his star player's eyes. "Who is this man who you'd trust more than me?"

Taichi tried to explain. "It's not that I don't trust you, it's just, I'd only really want him to touch these. He gave me this five years ago," Taichi touched the pendant, "and he's the only other one with a replica of the ring. It's very special to me and I don't really want anyone else to have them for any period of time."

It was a garbled and confusing explanation. The coach knew there was more to his story, but Taichi spoke so strongly that he simply couldn't refuse the request. "Make sure you're back in half-an-hour. We need you to be in top form."

Taichi grinned. "Thank you, I really do appreciate this." He quickly ran off the field and into the stadium. He ran around to the media room to see if Takeru was still there. He wasn't.

"Damn!" Taichi frowned, trying to think if he'd gotten Takeru's mobile number. He didn't recall it. "Ken or Davis might have it," he muttered and went off in search of the Tokyo change rooms.

As luck would have it, he spotted the two of them walking towards the change rooms as he ran towards them. "Davis," he called out and the two younger boys turned around.

"Hey Tai, what's up?" Daisuke looked at the panting man curiously.

"Do you have TK's mobile number?"

Daisuke nodded. "Sure, but why do you need it?"

"I need to find out what Yama's number is so I can ask him a favour."

"I have Yamato's number," Ken told them.

"You do?" Taichi grinned. "Great. Do you mind if I have it?"

"You can borrow my phone." Ken pulled it out from his training bag and handed it to Taichi.

"Thanks." Taking a deep breath, Taichi quickly called the number that Ken had put up on the screen.

* * *

Yamato was sitting silently in the large and luxurious meeting room allocated to them by the stadium officials. He was so bored. Because of a mix up, they'd gotten here a few hours earlier than they'd needed to and they couldn't go anywhere. He couldn't even find Daisuke or Ken to talk to. He hadn't even been allowed to go to the media room to see Takeru, despite how he'd already been allowed an interview with his brother.

I have to face it, the main reason I'm feeling so frustrated is because I know Taichi's here somewhere and he doesn't want to see me.

Yamato sighed, drawing the attention of his band members.

"Mato, you okay?" Ji asked curiously.

"I'm fine, just bored." They were still on edge with him since his painful retelling of his story with Taichi. Urinto could barely look at him without flinching. Seiyo was almost the same. Kiromi was the only one who would meet his eye and talk to him directly, though Yamato could still see a slight hesitation as he did so.

Before Yamato could get completely fed up with their actions, his phone rang, saving his unsuspecting band members from a tongue-lashing. "Yamato here," he answered brusquely.

"Yama?" The unmistakable voice on the other end asked.

"T-Tai?" Yamato could feel the four curious stares fixed on him as he stuttered this.

"Yeah. Look, I really need a huge favour of you. Are you at the stadium yet?"

"Yeah, we're in one of the meeting rooms near the north side of the stadium."

"Great, look could I meet you up there and ask you something?"

"Sure. Uh I think we're on the fourth floor in meeting room two."

"Great. I'll be there in a little bit. Thanks Yama."

"Any time. I'll see you in a few."

"Right." Taichi hung up and Yamato stared at his phone for a few stunned moments before hanging up himself and putting it away. He looked up to see his band staring curiously at him. "That was Taichi," he informed them unnecessarily.

"We heard. What's up?" Seiyo finally spoke to him.

"He needed a favour. He'll be here in a few minutes." Yamato sat down in one of the large chairs and leaned back, waiting for Taichi. The four other band members exchanged glances and shrugs before returning to whatever had previously occupied their attention.

There was a knock at the door after only a few minutes and Yamato quickly got up to answer the door. Before he knew what was happening, Taichi ran in and hugged him.

"Thank you so much for this Yama. I just really needed someone I could trust to look after them and you're the only one I know who I trust with this." Yamato stared at him as he quickly said all of this. Taichi pulled back with an embarrassed flush and grinned at Yamato.

"Uh, Taichi, why are you in such a hurry?"

"I spent so much time looking around for Takeru then for Davis and Ken then for you that I've almost run out of time before I have to get back to my team."

"Uh, right." Yamato shook his head at his friend's antics. "So what was this favour?"

Here Taichi hesitated. "I need you to take care of my pendant and ring."

Yamato's eyes widened. "You … what?"

"I can't play with them on. There's a risk that something might happen to them, they'd break or get lost or something." Taichi looked at Yamato pleadingly. "Please Yama, I only trust you with this because you know how much they mean to me."

Yamato nodded. "I know how much they meant to you."

"Still do mean to me," Taichi corrected sternly.

Yamato inhaled sharply as he heard this. He smiled at Taichi and nodded. "Sure, I'll look after them." Taichi grinned and quickly removed the necklace and handed it gently to Yamato, who put it around his own neck so that he wouldn't lose it. Then Taichi removed his ring and Yamato slid it on beside his own.

"Thank you Yama." Taichi didn't hesitate before giving Yamato a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'll meet you after the game to get them back okay?"

"Sure." Yamato grinned and Taichi waved to all the band members before dashing off down the hallway again. Yamato grinned at the sight and closed the door behind him.

"What was that about?" Ji asked.

"Nothing much," Yamato shrugged. "Just something between me and him." He smiled gently as he looked down at the rings on his hand. "Something more than I thought we had and something I don't want to give up again."

AN: Yay! Moving forward again. The next chapter's my fave (even though I haven't finished it yet). I hope you enjoyed this one and look forward expectantly for the next. Oh, and I'm sure you're wondering about Taichi's sudden interest in older literary works, well, I wanted to show a bit of change and character depth. Not to mention it doesn't really have a major impact on him. I personally think it would be adorable to see Taichi sitting in a big comfy armchair with a thick leather-bound volume of Milton's poems. But that's just me.

I'm not quite sure what I was on when I wrote about that. ^_^;;