I'm so sorry for the delay and for the shortness of the chapter, but as they say, quality over quantity … I think. Anyways, enjoy the chapter.

Aftermath

"And congratulations are certainly in order for you Taichi," the news reporter said with a smile.

Taichi grinned. "Thanks, but it's a team effort, not just my win."

"But Player of the Match, certainly an accomplishment for one so young." At this Taichi blushed slightly. "I'm sure we'll be seeing a lot of you in the near future."

"You can count on it," Taichi grinned again at the camera focused on him.

"Is there anyone you'd like to thank?"

"Well first is my team. They are the most fantastic bunch of guys I've met. My money's going straight to a party for them and my friends. Jeez, who else? How about everyone? My friends, my family, everyone who believed in me."

The news reporter smiled. "Well, we'll have to wrap it up now. This is Yagami Taichi, Kyoto centre-mid and vice-captain and Player of the Match for the National Finals. I'm B. Brief reporting, back to the studio." The cameraman signaled the end of the interview and the reporter shook Taichi's hand and thanked him for the interview before heading over to the media group.

Taichi sighed. Finally the press was done with him. That was the last reporter he'd have to deal with ... at least for twenty-four hours. He wearily trudged back to the change room and his team.

"Yo Taichi!" He was greeted upon arrival by Ryotu jumping on him excitedly. "We've been waiting for you! Now you're here I'll go get the drinks." Ryotu slapped him on the back one last time before he was gone and the rest of the team came up to him.

Taichi grinned weakly around at them. "Sorry for the lateness," he apologised, "the press wouldn't let up."

Ayoru grinned as he slapped him on the back. "You're really in the big leagues now kid."

Taichi glared slightly at the name but grinned at the affection he was receiving from everyone. "Party on me tonight," he announced to many loud cheers. "Now, I have to go have a shower." Taichi managed to finally escape his excited teammates and get past them to the showers.

He sighed as he reached them and grabbed a towel and stripped off his dirty sweaty outfit. He jumped in surprise as he finally noticed someone already present in the room.

"Sorry," Shurizu muttered with a small smile. "Didn't mean to startle you."

Taichi smiled back and shook his head. "It's all right." He continued stripping off. "How's your ankle?" he asked, turning away to remove his underwear and turn to the shower.

Shurizu moved over to one of the benches and sat down with a smile. "Better." He pulled on his shirt, the only item of clothing he had yet to put on. "Tai, you were fantastic today."

Taichi blushed hearing this praise from his captain and turned so that Shurizu couldn't see the blush. "Thanks," he mumbled. "But like I told the reporters, it was a team effort that won us the game."

"You're wrong." Taichi looked around in surprise. Shurizu was frowning slightly at him. "You were the only one who didn't get disheartened when those two kids came on."

"I'm sure the others wouldn't have given up."

"They looked like they were about to until you showed them it wasn't over. Tai, you're a natural born leader, a perfect inspiration for so many. But you're too modest sometimes. You deserve to be recognised for your efforts."

Taichi thought this over as he continued to shower. Shurizu didn't say any more until Taichi finished his shower.

"You're right," Taichi whispered quietly as he dried himself off. "I am a leader and I do bring out the best in people around me, I've just spent so long following that I thought I'd forgotten how to lead."

"It's not something your just forget." Shurizu stood up as Taichi wrapped his towel around his waist. "Unlike me, you have it in you to be fantastic. I'm just someone who stuck around long enough and knew enough about the game and how to win to get a good position."

"Shu," Taichi protested his captain's comments.

"No Tai, don't say anything more. It's time to celebrate. We did just win the Nationals after all." Shurizu offered him a small smile and Taichi grinned back.

"Yeah, we did."

* * *

Damn, which way is it? Yamato growled in frustration as he realised he was completely lost. He was stuck in an almost deserted corridor on the lower floors of the stadium, looking for a locker room he couldn't seem to find.

"Damn it!" he muttered, looking around for anything that could help him. Yamato sighed and decided to just keep going in the direction he was going. However in doing so, he ran into someone coming out of a side corridor.

Yamato gasped. "I'm so sorry," he quickly apologised, trying to help the man up. "I wasn't watching where I was going."

"It's all right," the man shrugged him off and turned to face him with a grin as he dusted himself off. "I guess I'm kind of …" Ryotu trailed off as he realised who had bumped into him.

Yamato looked at him in shock for a second before smiling. "Hey, Utira Ryotu. What a major coincidence, I was on my way to look for your team."

"My team or a specific player on the team." Ryotu grinned as Yamato blushed slightly. "Come on, I'll take you to Taichi."

Yamato smiled. "Thanks. Let me help you with those." He gestured to the boxes Ryotu was carrying.

Ryotu shrugged. "If you want, but they're kind of heavy."

"I noticed," Yamato commented dryly as he picked one up. He and Ryotu shared a smile and headed off to the Kyoto locker rooms.

* * *

It was quite a shock for the team to find Ryotu walking into the locker rooms with Ishida Yamato. The blonde grinned and congratulated the team on their win, sharing a few laughs before looking around curiously.

"Where's Taichi?" He asked Ryotu curiously.

"Hang on." Ryotu pulled Ayoru aside and he pointed in another direction. "He's in the shower room with Shurizu talking," Ryotu told him. "If you head down that hallway it's to the right, a huge opening, you can't miss it."

"Thanks." Yamato smiled gratefully at him and walked off in search of Taichi.

He heard the voices before he came to the door. Taichi was laughing about something with someone who was most likely the Kyoto captain Shurizu. Yamato frowned slightly.

"Okay, Shu, no more time for a subject change. I think I've embarrassed myself enough." Yamato heard Taichi's voice echo up through the corridor and he slowed down slightly. He didn't want to interrupt anything serious.

"How about an answer to my question from earlier?" Yamato stopped completely hearing this and the silence that followed.

"Shu," Taichi whispered. "Look, I know you —" Taichi was cut off suddenly and Yamato heard something he wished he never had. Taichi being kissed by someone else. Yamato leaned back against the wall and felt a sharp pain in his chest. He looked away and wiped the few tears leaking from his eyes away.

I should have known he wouldn't forgive me that easily.

The kiss broke off and Yamato shook himself from his distraught daze. He got ready to leave when Taichi spoke again.

"No Shu." Yamato froze again, his eyes widening. Taichi continued on in a firm voice. "I'm sorry Shu, maybe under different circumstances, but there's someone else."

There was a pained and hesitant silence before Shurizu spoke again, only a slight waver in his voice showing his sadness. "The ring and pendant."

"Yes."

"How long?"

"Five years."

Yamato heard a sigh from inside. "He's lucky to have you Taichi. I hope we can still remain friends."

Yamato could almost feel Taichi's reassuring smile as he said, "Of course Shu, I'd hate to be otherwise."

"Then I think I might head back to the others right now."

"Sure. I'll join you guys soon."

"All right then." Yamato stepped back a bit hearing the footsteps approaching the doorway. Shurizu looked at him as he passed but didn't say a word. He didn't need to.

Yamato watched him walk back to the other room before turning back to the doorway and steeling himself for this next meeting.

Taichi looked up from his training bag and his clothes as he heard someone enter the room. "Ryo, is that ..." he trailed off as he turned around and saw who it was. He smiled brightly. "Hey Yama." Taichi's heart was pounding slightly in anticipation as he looked on Yamato's pensive face.

"I ... I came to return your ring and pendant," Yamato offered. Taichi walked up and took them from him with a small smile. He put the ring on, but Yamato kept the pendant and put it around Taichi's neck himself.

Taichi shivered slightly at the light lingering touch of Yamato's slender fingers on his skin. His breath was slightly haggard and his heart was beating even faster.

"Thank you," Taichi smiled at Yamato.

Yamato looked away. "You're welcome."

Taichi frowned slightly as he heard the slight catch in Yamato's voice. "Yama, are you all right?" Why would he be acting so strange? Taichi's eyes widened as he realised how quickly Yamato had come into the room after Shurizu.

Yamato looked over at him then turned away slightly, a slight flash of pain in his eyes. "I heard you before, I didn't mean to, but your voices echo up the hallway."

"Yama ..." Taichi looked away his eyes teary.

"You didn't accept his offer." Taichi inhaled sharply hearing the curiosity in his voice. "Why not?"

Taichi didn't answer straight away, he didn't look up at Yamato either. "Call me a fool," he finally whispered in a thick voice and Yamato looked shocked and guilty as he saw the tears sliding down Taichi's cheeks. "But I still love you."

Yamato couldn't answer him straight away he was so shocked.

Taichi took his hesitation in answering the wrong way. He shook his head, a hurt expression on his face. "I shouldn't have had such hopes, after all, why else would you leave if you didn't love me."

"Tai ..." Yamato stepped closer to him, flinching when Taichi pulled away. "Please," he begged, staring imploringly into Taichi's eyes, "I'm sorry."

"I don't want apologies!" Taichi informed him sharply. "I just want to know whether you still care enough about me to either leave me be to live my life, or stay with me."

Yamato reached up a hand to Taichi's cheek, ignoring his violent flinch. "Tai-chan, I never stopped loving you," he whispered and leaned down to kiss Taichi softly on the lips.

Taichi gasped slightly as he felt that those familiar silky lips on his and closed his eyes, reaching up to draw Yamato's head closer, giving his acceptance by deepening the kiss. Yamato drew Taichi's body closer to him in a tight embrace.

Taichi finally broke away and looked into Yamato's deep hopeful eyes. He smiled gently then brought Yamato closer to his, wrapping his arms firmly around his neck.

"Yama," he whispered softly. "Never leave me."

"I won't Tai-chan, never again."

AN: Yay! Happy times! Next chapter should be out soon. Only a few more to go, mostly with lots of happiness and fluff. So much for all my angst. Anyways, I'm sure you enjoy that better anyway. Laters.