Title: The Soloist
Rating: PG
Chapter: 2/2
Genre: AU, General, Romance, Angst
Pairings: TaiTo, DaiKen and Takari allusions
Warnings: Might appear OOC, mild language
Summary: After seven years abroad, Taichi returns to Japan and meets a interesting individual with an interesting personality.
DISCLAIMER: Standard disclaimers apply.

~*~*~*~

            "Ishida!!??" Taichi ejaculated again, this time louder. Perhaps too loud, for he could feel everyone staring at the two of the, in curiosity, most probably to know the real identity of The Poet and his connection with the newcomer.

            Yamato blinked once, then twice, as though making sure his eyes were not playing tricks on him, and that it was really Yagami Taichi sitting in front of him. It was Taichi all right, gawking straight back at him, and was too shocked to even move a muscle. His mouth was wide open, his eyes well nigh bulging out of their sockets.

            Yamato finally regained control over his muscles, and before he could give Taichi a piece of his mind in a shape of never-ending chains of blows and vigorous punches (or a suffocating tight hug, a small voice hissed in his ear) to Taichi, the latter had slapped a couple of yen notes on the counter, grabbed hold of his arm and yanked him away from his seat, away from the onlookers and out of the bar. Yamato tried to break free, but soon decided to follow Taichi's lead, realizing their nosy audience was no more than superfluous hassle, and a swarm of busybody enquirers was something they could do without, especially if they were looking for a private tête-à-tête. And delivering a bruise or two.

            Taichi dragged him to a dim section of the streets, where upon seeing a vacant bench just where the light struck it, Taichi pulled a not-so reluctant Yamato and gestured for him to sit down next to him. There were only a handful of people walking around, but they were rustling down to get home as soon as possible, wasting minimum time. The duo was certain they were as good as alone. Taichi released his grip on Yamato at last, and Yamato massaged his slightly chafed wrist.

            Moments past as they inhaled deeply, trying to calm themselves down from all the excitement and commotion.

            "Okay, Yama, shoot,: Taichi breathed at last. "I know you're damned pissed off with me, but let me explain everything before—"

            "Before I break your nose?" barked Yamato silently, but just as crossly.

            "—before you break my nose and my jaw," added Taichi.

            Yamato folded his arms and with a contemptuous snort, he leant back. "You have one minute."

            "Two."

            "One."

            "Geez, man, you're really angry."

            "****, man, you just disappear suddenly without informing me, your best friend, not even a ****ing letter, leaving me worried sick with the least idea of your whereabouts and condition! And now you're angry with me for constantly worrying—"

            "Yamato, I'm sorry, okay?"

            "Sorry is not enough. It never is whenever Yagami Taichi's involved."

            "Your sarcasm's as sharp as ever. I see years do not change you that much."

            Yamato's once lean yet healthy body looked frail and shaky. His face was ashen and haggard, and his brows were quivering with anger. He had not grown that much over the past seven years, but the wrinkles on his face told their own story.

            "Enough crap, Yagami, now talk."

            Taichi switched his gaze to his shoes, the lamp post, the passing vehicles, and anything but at Yamato. He could not look at him, especially as guilt was pinpointing at hom for making Yamato look like hell.

            "What's the matter, Yagami? Cat got your tongue?" Yamato's icy words cut through the awkward stillness like icicles.

            "Nah, just guilt," admitted Taichi.

            "Good."

            "For you, not for me."

            "Excuse me. I was the one without a best man for my wedding!"

            "I said I'm sorry!"

            "I know!" Yamato almost yelled. "What I really need now is an explanation!"

            "Look, if we're just going to argue like this, there's no way am I able to give you one!"

            For the nth time that night, Yamato sighed. "Talk."

            "I know I was wrong for not making it to your wedding seven years ago, and for leaving you, everyone just like that. I got the scholarship I was aiming to do business management, but it required me to leave for the States. This is my first time back in Japan since my departure."

            Yamato struggled to maintain the level of his tone. "Why didn't we receive any news from you? Why didn't you call, or at least write?"

            "I-I tried to," replied Taichi. He instantly knew his words to be a lie. "But my assignments, projects and whatnots kept me occupied."

            "That's no excuse."

            "Besides, I couldn't bring myself to talk to you," He was speaking truthfully, but for some reason his guilt was thickening. "I mean, I knew you'll be angry at me for leaving at the exact moment of your wedding, and let's just say getting a letter full of obscenities and other expletives from you wasn't what I had in mind."

            "I have every right to know."

            "…I suppose you're right," Taichi gave in, admitting his fault. "But it's too late to say anything right now."

            "Hell, why can't you make it less than seven ****ing years?"

            "…let's not talk about the past anymore. I know I was wrong." Taichi attempted a weak smile although he knew only too well his old friend would not buy it. "How's everything? Everyone?"

            'Okay, so that wasn't exactly the smartest question to ask…' Taichi berated himself as soon as Yamato hung his head in remorse. He quickly said, "That is, if you don't want to talk about it, I'd understand."

            The pause indicated that Yamato was in two minds. "A lot has happened, and most of them are just plain bad."

            "Bad?" Taichi held his breath.

            Yamato continues before Taichi could stop him from elaborating. Possibly the blond saw that talking would release the unbearable burden. "I don't know, Tai, but everything doesn't seem to be working out. Everything happened suddenly, simultaneously, that we were too helpless, to numb to react, to mend anything, to prevent more damage."

            Taichi said knowingly, "The damage's already done."

            "You've said it." Yamato's voice was starting to crack, but he paid no heed to it. He held up his hand, a motion to inform Taichi that it was nothing to worry about. "Fortunately Takeru and Hikari are doing well, even amidst the calamities."

            "Calamities?" repeated Taichi, half afraid to hear more.

            "Marriage problems." Yamato found his words to be gushing down with incredible velocity, just like a waterfall. "Ken and Miyako's."

            "What happened?"

            "From what I heard from Ken, their nuptial was a disaster. He actually confessed to Daisuke that he was never in love with Miyako, and he just accepted her decision of them hooking up officially because he had no heart to reject her. You know how persistent and hopeful she is. He called himself an unpardonable idiot for that irrational act, and he's half insane regretting it."

            "Is he, then?"

            "No, thanks to the powers that be. And Daisuke. He helped Ken a lot, especially in giving him some things he couldn't find elsewhere, not from Miyako that's for sure. Comfort, happiness, support, security—in short, love."

            Taichi chuckled. "I knew something was up between those two since the start, and always wondered when they would actually get down to it. I'm genuinely happy for them."

            "The problem lies with their kids," Yamato pointed out. "Right after Miyako found out about Ken's alleged adultery and—questionable sexuality, she went berserk. She kicked Ken out of the house he had bought, and refused to see the kids have anything to do with their father, insisting he was nothing but bad, perverse influence on them."

            Taichi's fists clenched with a force he knew was in him all this while. "Huh…negative influence…"

            "You know how Miyako is. She gets her daily dose of adrenaline from petty issues. She hasn't changed at all…"

            "How's Ken taking all this stress?"

            "Despite his matrimony flop, I'd say he's lucky to have a loyal man by his side, earning his strong support and undying love…" Here Yamato trailed off, a hint of morose in his tone.

            Trying to change the subject, Taichi asked, "What about others? Jyou? Your bro? Mimi?"

            Yamato produced a pack of cigarettes from his inner pocket. After receiving a green light from his companion, he let it and placed it between his dry lips. "Mimi moved to Europe, and we heard nothing of her since. No news is good news, that's what I think. Jyou, he's busy with his life as a doctor. His career keeps him on his toes at all times, so we don't really hang out with each other." Yamato inhaled the cigarette smoke around him. "I'm sorry, but right after my—marriage we moved, so we kind of lost contact with anyone else."

            "I missed a lot, huh?" remarked Taichi lightly.

            "Tell me about it." Yamato crossed his weary legs. "Aren't you going to ask about…her?"

            'Sora', Taichi thought instinctively. "Are you willing to fill me in?"

            A slow "Do you want to listen?"

            Here Taichi debated with himself. As much as he wanted to know what had caused Yamato immeasurable amount of pain, he knew he would never forgive himself for forcing Yamato to recall his episode of agony in his book of life.

            "Trust me, I'd rather tell you and make a clean breast out of everything."

            Taichi scrutinized Yamato's expression as he spoke, and saw only frankness. "Okay, Yama, tell me."

            Yamato waited for the most appropriate time to drop the bomb. "We're filing for a divorce."

            Taichi gaped at him in disbelief. Sure, a part of him was dancing in exhilaration, but the other was utterly crushed for Yamato, knowing exactly how he must have felt about everything. "But you two…since high school…"

            "Everything that has ever happened between us was a mistake, a huge one. A terrible mix-up, I'd say." Yamato flashed a sad smile at Taichi "I'm worse than Ken, huh?"

            "Well, so far I haven't checked the other pubs out for any sign of him," Taichi joked lamely, but failed to liven the mood up.

            "Chances are you won't find him in one. Try looking for him in Dai's apartment, but don't expect him to spurting sombre stuff."

            "So…was the poem about us? Sora, you and me?"

            "It was meant to be a song, but after ages of life without music, I guess I kind of lost my touch. Besides, this husky voice doesn't make a great singing material."

            Taichi decided to try his luck in unveiling the one matter he was still uncertain of. "You told me you've lost something vital."

            Yamato fidgeted. He could see this was coming, and was rather afraid to know how he stood in Taichi's eyes. Fear of a second rejection, but there was also the curiosity to know. In the end he told himself that he had nothing to lose, and perhaps everything to gain.

            "What about it?" asked he.

            "Were you talking about—me?"

            "What do you think?" Yamato asked back.

            "After all these years, you still can't give me a straight answe—"

            "Of course it's you."

            Taichi was stunned. "R-Really?"

            "Would I lie to you?" Yamato had said too much, so he might as well tell him everything—including the part about his thinking of him as more than just a friend. "I've dealt enough in lies. See what I've put myself into after all the lies I've—"

            "You didn't lie to anyone!" Taichi argued.

            "I did! I lied to Sora when I said I loved her!"

            "You did love her—didn't you? I saw—"

            "Shows you how good a liar I am. I've never loved her, that I know now."

            "Yama, what are you saying? I remember your telling me during our high school years that you were jealous whenever you saw me with Sora!"

            "****, man, I wasn't jealous with you! I mistook that bit back then."

            Taichi fixed his eyes on him, a light of hope flickering in his eyes."

            "I wasn't jealous with you for being close to her—it was the other way around. But I found that out too late." There, he had said it. He had told Taichi indirectly how he felt about him. Now it was all up to Taichi…

            "God, Yama…I'm so sorry…" Taichi felt something was caught in his throat.

            "Sorry for what?" The blond almost snapped. "Sorry for not being ga—"

            "For not telling you."

            Yamato was about to open his mouth to deliver a question but his companion has clasped his lips over Yamato's trembling ones. As they kissed, the Yamato could feel a burning sensation in every inch of his body, and the ecstasy that came with it. Taichi's hand stole over Yamato's, giving it an affectionate grip. Yamato, in return, wrapped his other arm around his partner. He moaned, and Taichi pulled his face back an inch, giving him a satisfied grin despite his blushing face, no doubt induced by embarrassment.

            "As soon as you and Sora got together, I felt the same thing you felt about me and Sora. Jealous, so jealous that it blinded me. At first I thought I was jealous with you for having her, but later, I noticed that I felt nothing when I saw her hang out with other guys. In fact, I felt it when I saw girls trying to woo you," Taichi confessed the one thing he held close to his heart. "Then I knew…I was really in love with you. I couldn't break the news to you though upon seeing you with her…I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone. That's why I left before your wedding. I wouldn't be able to take it…to see the man I've always loved marry another girl…"

            "T-Taichi…" Yamato's eyes were swollen with tears. "Your timing's always horrible!"

            "Look who's talking." Grinning, Taichi swept Yamato's pearly tears away. "We've both wasted enough suffering for keeping our mouths shut. Hey, it's better late than never…"

            "You mean—"

            "Yeah, unless you don't want to. I've lot to catch up with, Yama, and the only way for me to do so is to finally give you what I ought to have given you years ago. Ishida, ai shiteru."

            "Taichi, you ***, I've always wanted to say the same darn words to you." Yamato threw himself over Taichi to give him the tightest embrace his weak arms could muster.

~ + ~ + ~

            The night was getting late, and they both agreed to land themselves in somewhere private. Yamato explained he had been sharing an apartment with Daisuke since his conflict with Sora, and didn't feel like seeing anyone else. He figured Sora must have been badmouthing about him to everyone she had in her address book, so when Daisuke offered him a room, he couldn't say no and thanked him amply for his generosity.

            "You sure he wouldn't mind?" asked Taichi as Yamato unlocked the door to his apartment.

            "He wouldn't," said Yamato, twisting the knob as he pocketed his keys. "Besides, you'll be sharing my room. Trust me, Daisuke'll be ecstatic to have you around. He still looks up to you."

            Taichi was showed to a small yet cosy living room. Noticing a narrow strip of light under one door, "Is he asleep yet?"

            Yamato hang his coat on the coat rack before joining his newfound lover in the couch. "They're like owls."

            "They? Ken too?"

            "Uh-huh. He stays here too." Yamato grinned delightfully for the first time after seven long years of despondency. "So you see why I can't really stay here during night time…"

            "They must be noisy, huh?"

            "Hell, I don't mind that in the least. It's only that I'm jealous of them screwing each other whilst I was all alone…"

            "Cursing me all the while, I bet."

            "You have no idea." Yamato was surprised be the sudden ring of his mobile phone he left on the coffee table. He gestured apologetically to Taichi before answering. "Yes, Ken?"

            "I know you're home right now, but we can't come out now…"

            Yamato waited patiently for Ken to finish giggling.

            "Sorry for that, Dai's tickling me. Anyway, your lawyer had been trying to reach you since this evening. Your phone barely ceased ringing."

            "I left it behind on purpose. What did he say?"

            "He told me to tell you to come over to his office tomorrow morning. The documents for your divorce are all done, what's left is for you and Sora to sign them."

            Yamato sighed in relief. "That's the second good news I received today."

            "What's the first?"

            Yamato and Taichi exchanged grins. "I'll tell you tomorrow. Oyasumi."

            "Wait, Yamato, what's the first—" The line went dead suddenly, and from where they were sitting they could hear Ken yelling "What did you do that for?" to Daisuke before relapsing into helpless peals of laughter, presumably was under another tickling attack from the other.

            "I see why you're jealous of them," remarked Taichi, amused.

            "Hey, Tai…"

            "Mmmm…?"

            Yamato pinned him down on the couch, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. "What say you we make them jealous of us instead?"

~*~*~*~ e n d ~*~*~*~