And here it is, the big game. Enjoy.

Show of the Century

As soon as his booted feet touched the soft green field, Taichi felt a grin cross his face. He probably looked rather silly, grinning like that, but this was one of the biggest moments of his life, standing here, about to go on the field to play one of the most important games of his career.

Glancing around, he noticed that he wasn't the only one feeling the excitement in the atmosphere. Ryotu, standing near him, was looking around the stadium in awe. None of them could believe they made it this far and were now at the National Finals, the culmination of many hopes and dreams. All they could do was stare and troop over to the middle of the field to wait for the other team and the national anthem.

The roar of the crowd was enormous, it was amazing how many people the sport drew in. The stadium was completely filled and Taichi had heard that it could seat close to a hundred thousand people, if not possibly more.

"Oh shit," Taichi whispered, the anxiousness hitting him suddenly.

"My sentiments exactly," Ryotu muttered back, just as fearful.

Shurizu glanced over at the two of them and grinned, sensing their nervousness. "It's not that bad," he soothed them.

"How would you know? Kyoto hasn't been in a grand final for almost ten years. You haven't been here that long have you?" Ryotu was looking at the captain curiously and Taichi looked at him also.

"Not quite, but I guess the novelty wore off slightly. But I suppose it hasn't yet for you young ones."

"We're not that much younger than you," Ryotu protested. "I'm only twenty four."

"And I'm twenty eight, I've been playing professionally for seven years, that's a long time for an athlete, so yes, you are both young by my standards." Shurizu grinned. "And Taichi here's just a babe."

Taichi glared at the two of them as they laughed. "Well, who's a vice captain of a grand final team at twenty one?" They both shut up and he grinned. "I'd say that age doesn't always indicate experience and skill."

"Unfortunately blind luck is an important factor too."

"Hey!" Taichi glared at the grinning captain, masking the slight sinking feeling in his stomach with a playful huff of irritation. They all turned away as the other team walked onto the field and Taichi let out a silent sight of relief as Shurizu's attention was taken away from him.

The two teams faced each other and greeted each other before turning to the stage set up just below the commentator's box and the emerging band.

If the roar of the crowd was loud before, now it was deafening as that gorgeous blonde head popped out and Yamato smiled dazzlingly at the crowd. Hundreds of light flashes went off from various cameras around the stadium. It was a complete shock to many people to see the Wolves there, the band for the night hadn't been mentioned at all during press releases about the Finals.

Taichi grinned, knowing that Yamato was soaking this up in his usual unruffled manner. He could almost see the cool blue gaze from his spot on the field. The grin faded to a soft smile as he gazed up at the stage.

Ryotu glanced over at his friend and smirked as he saw the look on Taichi's face. Looks like he's not as over Ishida as he thought. Ryotu didn't notice the strange look Shurizu was sending Taichi's way and Taichi didn't notice either, caught up in admiring Yamato.

The band set up and strummed a few notes, instantly silencing the crowd. Yamato stepped up and his golden voice washed over the crowd, making their hearts soar with pride as he sung their national anthem with pride and enthusiasm himself.

Taichi stood on the field, his eyes never leaving Yamato's face as he sang too, a slight smile still touching his face. His eyes never left that soft pale face, not until the anthem was over and everyone clapped and cheered the band that had brought them such pride.

Blue eyes met brown for a split second and small smiles were exchanged before the two teams were sent to opposite ends of the field to begin the game on the umpire's whistle.

* * *

Yamato had a perfect view of the field from his seat in the box allocated for the band near the stage. He watched the fierce game in earnest, wincing every time that Taichi was knocked down and around.

The first goal wasn't scored for a while. By that time two people on the Tokyo team as well as one on the Kyoto side had to be taken off for injuries. It was nearing half time when the forward from Kyoto, Ryotu, had been passed the ball close to the Tokyo goal. He looked around for someone and seeing Taichi nearby was about to pass, but a Tokyo back fielder blocked the path.

Ryotu hesitated slightly, which would have been his undoing but he heard someone call to him. He passed the ball with barely a thought to his right and an open space where Shurizu's voice had originated.

Realising their mistake, the Tokyo defenders rushed to fix it, but the damage was already done. Shurizu caught the ball on the run and swiftly dodged one defender and had a shot at goal. The keeper looked about to catch it but it just slipped out of his fingertips and slammed into the net at the back.

A huge cheer went up and Yamato grinned as Taichi and the others ran over to their captain and grabbed him in a huge group embrace. They broke up and moved back to formation but Yamato watched curiously as he noticed Taichi was the last to leave the captain. He couldn't see from here but it seemed like Taichi was smiling brightly about something. Yamato felt something heavy in the pit of his stomach and he couldn't look away from the figure of Taichi for the rest of the half.

Right before half time something happened.

Shurizu was running down the field weaving through the defenders. Taichi and Ryotu were running on either side and slightly behind. Taichi ran forward with a burst of speed as Shurizu changed directions and called for the ball.

Shurizu looked over to him, not looking where he was running, so he didn't see the defender as he was running. The defender was expecting him to dodge slightly to one side and was ready to intercept him slightly, only Shurizu only turned slightly and ran straight into him as he was trying to kick the ball away. They both fell down just as the half time whistle blew and there was a gasp from the crowd as both struggled to get up. It was a very rough collision.

Taichi let the ball roll away and ran over to his captain with the others close behind, from both teams.

"Shu, you okay?" Taichi got there first and knelt down.

Shurizu winced and gasped slightly as Taichi moved him slightly. "Went over on my ankle." He laughed. "I don't think I've made a mistake like that in a while."

Taichi grinned. "Guess not." He looked over and saw that the Tokyo guy was already on his feet and walking away with his teammates. "Do you want me to help you stand?"

Shurizu nodded and Taichi motioned for Ryotu to come over and help him. They got Shurizu to his feet and waved to the crowd, as if saying everything was fine. Everyone walked off the field then, to the cheering of the ecstatic crowd.

"Hear that Shu, they love you, so don't do that again."

Shurizu laughed at Taichi and nodded. "Don't worry, I won't." The three of them stopped as a stretcher team approached. Taichi and Ryotu helped him onto the stretcher and walked close by the stretcher as they made their way back to the change rooms for the fifteen-minute break.

Taichi turned around just before they entered the stadium, seeing the band setting up again and Yamato standing with an acoustic guitar plugged into the amps. His heart fluttered slightly with anticipation.

Yamato greeted the crowd again and stuck right into the first song.

Taichi smiled softly as he heard the acoustic chords and that first sweet sounding word. He wiped at his eyes feeling a slight stinging as he listened to the song that Yamato had written originally for him.

Ryotu looked at him curiously as he caught up to them.

"Sorry, I wanted to see what song they played first."

Ryotu nodded, smiling at Taichi and the sad expression on his face. "Who wouldn't?"

Taichi grinned at him. They entered the change room after Shurizu was taken down the hall a way to have his ankle inspected. Their coach greeted them with smiles as they entered the room and began his long and enthusiastic talk as they drank water.

Taichi didn't care what anyone was talking about, he was feeling so elated. Everything was hitting him all at once, the excitement of the Finals, his elation with simply playing soccer as he loved and last, but not least his renewed feelings for Yamato. No matter what the outcome for today, he knew that this was going to be one of the most important and earth-shattering days of his life and he was looking forward to every minute of it.

* * *

Yamato rushed to the box so he wouldn't miss anything as the teams trooped out of the change rooms.

The line up for both teams had changed for the half.

With Shurizu out, Taichi was now acting captain and some people had been swapped and subbed. On the Tokyo team there were just as many changes. One major one that interested both Taichi and Yamato were two of the subs brought out to play.

The terror twins, as they'd been dubbed by Yamato's band. Ken and Daisuke. They'd been dubbed that with good reason. Even without planning, they'd gotten into more trouble together than Yamato and Taichi, or so it had been said. Considering some of the things that Taichi and Yamato had done that seemed unlikely, but then they'd gotten away with most of those so it was possible for them to get into more trouble.

Yamato knew that Taichi was grinning as he saw them and Yamato couldn't help but grin himself. This game was going to get even more interesting with the three of them there.

The whistle blew and everyone was off.

Tokyo was in possession of the ball. The forward passed to Daisuke, who'd run out quickly, dodging his opponent. He raced around the field and Yamato whistled in appreciation. He certainly had improved since he'd last seen the boy. Daisuke quickly passed over the field to Ken who'd just gotten free and was moving to the middle.

However the ball was intercepted by Taichi, who passed to Ryotu who was off like a bullet with the two younger boys after him along with Taichi, who was yelling out suggestions to his teammates.

Ryotu was tackled and the ball was taken away by the Tokyo mid fielder, who passed to Ken, who passed back over to their forward and ran around his player. Daisuke came back into the middle slightly, giving himself enough room to move around in the wings if need be. The forwards passed him the ball and he ran with it and attempted a goal, but it was deflected by one of the backs, to the dismay of the home crowd.

But Ken was there to catch the rebound and quickly he kicked again and the keeper jumped up and to the right, but it was no use, the ball hit the corner of the net and the crowd went wild.

The three teammates up that end ran to Ken and grabbed him, cheering him on. It was a fantastic goal and a very uplifting one for the Tokyo team. It was only five minutes into the quarter.

Daisuke gave Ken a quick squeeze before the two of them ran back to their original positions.

Taichi called out a few things to his teammates before they were back at the middle of the field for the next ball, but Taichi saw the slight widening of eyes and the barely discernable dejected slump to the shoulders.

Damn, they can't start loosing it now. Sure Ken and Davis are good, but so are we, and we'll have to prove it. Taichi looked around and saw Ryotu nodding in Ken's direction in appreciation, but he didn't look like he'd given up. Taichi grinned, knowing he could always count on Ryotu if things got tough.

The whistle was blown and Ryotu passed out to Ayoru, who'd come up. Taichi ran ahead and he was passed the ball. He dodged his opponent and made a dash through the middle of the field only to have the ball taken from him in a tackle by Daisuke.

He passed out to the Tokyo forward again who ran with it even as Ryotu tried to catch him. Taichi and Ayoru were running after then, trying to head off Ken and Daisuke, who had been singled out as impressive and very talented players. Ken was passed the ball and he was almost intercepted, but he passed of to Daisuke who had arrived. Daisuke made a go at the goal but their keeper caught the ball. Taichi ran back in the opposite direction as he booted it down the field.

They'd gotten lucky, but fifteen minutes later another attempt at goal was made and this time they weren't so lucky. Daisuke grinned as he ran back up he field feeling elated, his team and the crowd cheering him. Tokyo were now in the lead.

Taichi ran back still calling out encouragingly to his team. After the next whistle he redoubled his efforts to get the ball to the other end. He tackled and passed and intercepted until he managed to get his team's morale back up. Ryotu was there beside him, all the way.

Finally with about ten minutes to go, Taichi got an intercept from one of the Tokyo backs and quickly passed off to Ryotu off to the side before he could get intercepted. Ryotu didn't hesitate, he booted it to the goal and the ball slammed against the net, causing a huge cheer from the team and crowd. Kyoto were back in the game.

They played now with renewed vigour. The last ten minutes of this grand final game were the most intense anyone on the teams had ever played. Everyone played their heart out, but as always, there can be only one champion team.

Taichi was sprinting down the field towards the goal, knowing there was probably not even a minute left on the clock. He quickly tackled a Tokyo player and got the ball, passing over to Ayoru, who passed it back when he was steady and free again. Daisuke motioned for Ken and the forward to pick up Ryotu, they knew the play very well, but Taichi surprised them by running forward with the ball. Daisuke, who was ready for an intercept, tried to catch up, but there weren't enough defenders in proper position to stop this.

"Sorry Davis," Tai said just as he kicked the ball hard at the goal. Daisuke tackled him a moment too late. They two of them stared as they fell at the ball that slipped right through the keeper's fingers to score a goal.

The whistle blew then and everyone went crazy.

The crowd was roaring so loud that Taichi could barely form a coherent thought. He stared at the goal net in amazement before he was picked up by his teammates and carried across the field. Taichi still couldn't quite comprehend that with that last goal they'd won the championships that is until he was let down to stand on his own feet and hugged by his teammates while they yelled, "We won, we won!"

The National Soccer Championships were theirs.

AN: Next Chapter: the aftermath. Until then.