Don't own it, don't sue me.
A/N at the bottom...
~*~*~*
The next morning, Taichi woke when the sunlight came through the window. He hadn't slept well the night before. Constant noises kept sounding all over the house. On any other given night, those noises would have seemed fairly normal to Taichi, but given the day's events, it was understandable.
Taichi now rose, and stumbled to the bathroom to get himself ready for school. He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed. His eyes had deep circles under them, and the bruises on his wrists stood out against his paled skin. Taichi ran some cold water and splashed it all over his face. He dried off his face, brushed his teeth and hair, and left the bathroom to go get dressed.
Taichi put on an extra long school shirt to cover the bruises on his wrists and glanced at himself one more time in the mirror. He decided he should wash his face again and returned to the bathroom to do so.
As he was drying off his face, he heard the alarm in Yamato's room go off. He smiled and finished quickly before Yamato stumbled groggily into the bathroom. Taichi laughed. "Morning Yama," he said softly.
Yamato smiled sleepily, "Mornin Taichi," he responded. 'He seems to feel a bit better.' He added as an afterthought to himself.
Yamato groomed himself more carefully, and then nodded to himself before stepping out of the bathroom and walking into the living room where Taichi was seated in front of the T.V. "Are you-"Yamato stopped his sentence as he looked at what Taichi was watching.
"-body was discovered in a desolate alleyway between Hightonview Terrace, and 8th street. The man, Masaki Shotanuo shown here was found shot in the head at approximately 4:30 am this morning. Though there are no definite leads, the police are looking to blame drug lord Slade Naruto. Slade Naruto shown here, is wanted for questioning, and if anyone sees him they should call this number: 1800 734 8321. The police are also looking for any possible witnesses that could possibly help link this man to this horrible tragedy, I'm-"Through the report, Yamato had sat next to Taichi and upon the end of it turned off the T.V. and attempted to smile.
"Taichi, you don't have to do anything you don't want to, but I think it's in your best interest to go to the police now," Yamato said softly.
Taichi tensed and he pulled away from Yamato harshly, "Are you nuts?! They'll kill me!"
"Taichi, who says they won't anyways? And this way, the police will know for sure it was Slade," Yamato reasoned.
"I'll take my chances," Taichi stated, "just drop it."
"Okay Taichi it was just a suggestion okay?" Yamato replied. Taichi rolled his eyes and got up carefully.
The two boys ate a breakfast of cereal in an uncomfortable silence and then grabbed their things to depart for school. Taichi was putting on his jacket when he felt Yamato's stare on him. "What?" Taichi almost snapped.
"You've been putting on your jacket for a minute now. . .are you quite finished?" Yamato said pretending to sound impatient.
"Oh. . .yeah," Taichi mumbled blushing slightly, "sure."
Yamato sighed. "Look Taichi if you're not up to this we can always ditch today," Yamato grinned, "it wouldn't be the first time certainly."
"I'm fine Yama, let's go."
The two boys got to school just before the late bell rang. Taichi slid into his seat and stared straight ahead.
Taichi couldn't concentrate on any of the lessons that day. Many times, Yamato had to jab Taichi in the ribs pointedly a few times and whisper an answer just to keep Taichi from having detention again.
Just before the bell rang to signal the end of math class, a messenger from the office came in and talked to Taichi's teacher for a moment. Finally Taichi's teacher nodded with a frown and turned back to the class. He walked towards Taichi and stooped down. "Taichi," he whispered, "you're wanted in the office, the police are here and want to ask you a few questions." Then the teacher walked away back to the front of the class.
Taichi's eyes widened and he looked to Yamato to see if the blonde had heard also. By Yamato's expression, it was apparent he had. "It's okay Taichi, just stay calm and see what they want first okay?" Yamato whispered.
"Right," Taichi whispered back. He stood and gathered his things. Taichi walked from the classroom down the familiar hallway towards the principal's office. He had walked this hallway many times for all of his mischief, but this time he had no goofy smile on his face and he was silent.
He finally reached the door and felt a cold sweat begin to run down his face. Finally, he reached out a shaky hand to the door and rapped three times on it. The door opened momentarily and the principal's face loomed in front of him. "Ah Taichi, come in." The Principal waved his hand as an invitation for Taichi.
Taichi walked into the office and noticed two other people sitting in the room. Taichi gulped and sat in the seat the Principal motioned towards. "Sit down Taichi, these are agents Preston Hardesty, and Moroki Lanka. They just want to ask you a few questions."
"Sure," Taichi replied trying to sound confident, "no problem!"
The agent Moroki stepped forward. "Taichi. . .I'm sure you've heard the reports of the murder in the alley between Hightonview Terrace, and 8th street."
"Yeah who hasn't? That's horrible," Taichi replied quietly.
"Taichi were you down that alleyway yesterday at any time?" Moroki asked.
Taichi hesitated. He could lie if he wanted to. But if they had found his bag down there, then they would know right away he was involved. Taichi opted for the truth. "Yes," he answered.
"What time were you down there?" Moroki prodded.
"Uhm- around 6:30, 7:00 pm. Why?" Taichi asked in utmost innocence.
"Did you see anything strange?"
"No."
"Hear anything strange?"
"No."
"Tell me Taichi, what were you doing down that alleyway in the first place?"
"It's a shortcut. I live in Hightonview Terrace, and I was coming from here from a soccer practice."
"Well I suppose it makes sense. Are you sure you didn't see anything? Didn't see this man?" Moroki asked pulling out a picture. Taichi looked at it and immediately felt the color drain from his face. It was a picture of Masaki. Immediately, Masaki's voice filled his head and Taichi replayed the murder in his head. Taichi shook his head roughly.
"I don't know what you're talking about agent," Taichi lied looking straight into Agent Moroki's eyes. Moroki's eyes flashed and he was about to jump on Taichi's sudden silence a moment ago when Agent Hardesty stepped forward.
"Well thank you very much Taichi. Unless you have something you would like to tell us, that will be all," Hardesty said with a big grin.
"Nope, Nothing," Taichi replied quietly.
"Alright then Taichi, here's my card. If you. . .suddenly remember something, give me a call," Hardesty replied smiling the whole time.
"No problem," Taichi replied standing up and bowing to both of the detectives. Then Taichi gathered his things and left the office.
One he had gone, Moroki turned to Hardesty. "Are you insane?!" he roared.
Agent hardesty grinned. "Probably, but is there a specific reason you asked?"
"You KNOW he has something to do with this Hardesty!" Moroki declared.
"Yes," Agent Hardesty replied with a small shrug. Moroki went red in the face.
"Then WHY didn't you QUESTION him more?"
"Because Agent Lanka, I don't want to scare him off. Couldn't you see it in his face? He is afraid for his life. He's not going to talk while he's spooked," Hardesty snapped.
"Well. . .I. . ."
Agent Hardesty turned to the window to watch Taichi meet with Yamato and walk away down the road. "Just give him a day or so, he'll come back to us. If not, I'll go get him for more questioning. Deal?"
"Fine, whatever. . .you better be right about this."
"I am."
~*~*
"Taichi!" Yamato called loudly throughout the apartment.
"Yo?!" Taichi yelled coming into the same room as Yamato.
"I'm going to the store for some more food now. . .you want to go?"
"No I'll stay here."
". . .are you sure?"
Taichi rolled his eyes. "Yes Yama, I'm not a baby you know."
"Okay then. I'm going to pick up T.K. and Kari too."
"Why?"
"Mom is going out of town. I don't want them to stay alone."
"Oh. . .good idea. Bye Yama."
"Bye!"
Yamato closed the door and locked it before he walked away down the street. He walked to T.K.'s apartment which was now located ten blocks from Yamato's apartment.
Yamato continued up the stairs to T.K.'s door. He knocked twice, rather loudly. He heard loud, running footsteps and giggles before he heard his brother call, "WHO IS IT?!"
"It's me doofus, open the door."
T.K. opened the door to see T.K. and Kari smiling at him. "Hi Yamato!" Kari greeted.
"Hi guys, you ready?"
"Yep, let's go!"
~*~*
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Taichi was restless and jumpy. 'Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea,' he kept chanting in his head. 'Maybe a hot shower will calm me down,' Taichi decided.
Taichi walked down the hallway and went into the bathroom. He shut the door and turned on the shower, stepping it when the room began to steam. Taichi closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the cool tiles taking a deep breath then releasing it.
The past couple days' events played over again and again in his mind until Taichi opened his eyes and heaved a great sigh. A sudden sound alerted him to another presence in the apartment. Wide eyed, Taichi glanced quickly up at the clock on the wall and saw that only a half an hour had passed, too little time for Yamato to go get their siblings, get food, and get back, even if he had been running full speed.
Trembling, Taichi shut off the water and gathered the clothes he was supposed to wear, throwing them on quickly. Taichi walked to the door and pressed his ear against it. He heard footsteps and his breathing began to become erratic.
Taichi backed away from the door. He looked around feverishly for a way out and instead jumped into the bathtub of the shower. Taichi cowered there as he heard voices. Taichi peeked his head above the tub attempting to listen as the voices became silent.
A tense moment passed before loud popping noises were heard and Taichi ducked back into the tub as bullets shot through the door and ricocheted off the tub he was in.
'YAMA!'
~*~*~*~
ACK DON'T KILL ME!!! I DIDN'T MEAN TO!!!! If you guys give even ½ the reviews you did last time for this chapter I swear I will have it out by next weekend! :)
~*~*~*
The next morning, Taichi woke when the sunlight came through the window. He hadn't slept well the night before. Constant noises kept sounding all over the house. On any other given night, those noises would have seemed fairly normal to Taichi, but given the day's events, it was understandable.
Taichi now rose, and stumbled to the bathroom to get himself ready for school. He looked at himself in the mirror and sighed. His eyes had deep circles under them, and the bruises on his wrists stood out against his paled skin. Taichi ran some cold water and splashed it all over his face. He dried off his face, brushed his teeth and hair, and left the bathroom to go get dressed.
Taichi put on an extra long school shirt to cover the bruises on his wrists and glanced at himself one more time in the mirror. He decided he should wash his face again and returned to the bathroom to do so.
As he was drying off his face, he heard the alarm in Yamato's room go off. He smiled and finished quickly before Yamato stumbled groggily into the bathroom. Taichi laughed. "Morning Yama," he said softly.
Yamato smiled sleepily, "Mornin Taichi," he responded. 'He seems to feel a bit better.' He added as an afterthought to himself.
Yamato groomed himself more carefully, and then nodded to himself before stepping out of the bathroom and walking into the living room where Taichi was seated in front of the T.V. "Are you-"Yamato stopped his sentence as he looked at what Taichi was watching.
"-body was discovered in a desolate alleyway between Hightonview Terrace, and 8th street. The man, Masaki Shotanuo shown here was found shot in the head at approximately 4:30 am this morning. Though there are no definite leads, the police are looking to blame drug lord Slade Naruto. Slade Naruto shown here, is wanted for questioning, and if anyone sees him they should call this number: 1800 734 8321. The police are also looking for any possible witnesses that could possibly help link this man to this horrible tragedy, I'm-"Through the report, Yamato had sat next to Taichi and upon the end of it turned off the T.V. and attempted to smile.
"Taichi, you don't have to do anything you don't want to, but I think it's in your best interest to go to the police now," Yamato said softly.
Taichi tensed and he pulled away from Yamato harshly, "Are you nuts?! They'll kill me!"
"Taichi, who says they won't anyways? And this way, the police will know for sure it was Slade," Yamato reasoned.
"I'll take my chances," Taichi stated, "just drop it."
"Okay Taichi it was just a suggestion okay?" Yamato replied. Taichi rolled his eyes and got up carefully.
The two boys ate a breakfast of cereal in an uncomfortable silence and then grabbed their things to depart for school. Taichi was putting on his jacket when he felt Yamato's stare on him. "What?" Taichi almost snapped.
"You've been putting on your jacket for a minute now. . .are you quite finished?" Yamato said pretending to sound impatient.
"Oh. . .yeah," Taichi mumbled blushing slightly, "sure."
Yamato sighed. "Look Taichi if you're not up to this we can always ditch today," Yamato grinned, "it wouldn't be the first time certainly."
"I'm fine Yama, let's go."
The two boys got to school just before the late bell rang. Taichi slid into his seat and stared straight ahead.
Taichi couldn't concentrate on any of the lessons that day. Many times, Yamato had to jab Taichi in the ribs pointedly a few times and whisper an answer just to keep Taichi from having detention again.
Just before the bell rang to signal the end of math class, a messenger from the office came in and talked to Taichi's teacher for a moment. Finally Taichi's teacher nodded with a frown and turned back to the class. He walked towards Taichi and stooped down. "Taichi," he whispered, "you're wanted in the office, the police are here and want to ask you a few questions." Then the teacher walked away back to the front of the class.
Taichi's eyes widened and he looked to Yamato to see if the blonde had heard also. By Yamato's expression, it was apparent he had. "It's okay Taichi, just stay calm and see what they want first okay?" Yamato whispered.
"Right," Taichi whispered back. He stood and gathered his things. Taichi walked from the classroom down the familiar hallway towards the principal's office. He had walked this hallway many times for all of his mischief, but this time he had no goofy smile on his face and he was silent.
He finally reached the door and felt a cold sweat begin to run down his face. Finally, he reached out a shaky hand to the door and rapped three times on it. The door opened momentarily and the principal's face loomed in front of him. "Ah Taichi, come in." The Principal waved his hand as an invitation for Taichi.
Taichi walked into the office and noticed two other people sitting in the room. Taichi gulped and sat in the seat the Principal motioned towards. "Sit down Taichi, these are agents Preston Hardesty, and Moroki Lanka. They just want to ask you a few questions."
"Sure," Taichi replied trying to sound confident, "no problem!"
The agent Moroki stepped forward. "Taichi. . .I'm sure you've heard the reports of the murder in the alley between Hightonview Terrace, and 8th street."
"Yeah who hasn't? That's horrible," Taichi replied quietly.
"Taichi were you down that alleyway yesterday at any time?" Moroki asked.
Taichi hesitated. He could lie if he wanted to. But if they had found his bag down there, then they would know right away he was involved. Taichi opted for the truth. "Yes," he answered.
"What time were you down there?" Moroki prodded.
"Uhm- around 6:30, 7:00 pm. Why?" Taichi asked in utmost innocence.
"Did you see anything strange?"
"No."
"Hear anything strange?"
"No."
"Tell me Taichi, what were you doing down that alleyway in the first place?"
"It's a shortcut. I live in Hightonview Terrace, and I was coming from here from a soccer practice."
"Well I suppose it makes sense. Are you sure you didn't see anything? Didn't see this man?" Moroki asked pulling out a picture. Taichi looked at it and immediately felt the color drain from his face. It was a picture of Masaki. Immediately, Masaki's voice filled his head and Taichi replayed the murder in his head. Taichi shook his head roughly.
"I don't know what you're talking about agent," Taichi lied looking straight into Agent Moroki's eyes. Moroki's eyes flashed and he was about to jump on Taichi's sudden silence a moment ago when Agent Hardesty stepped forward.
"Well thank you very much Taichi. Unless you have something you would like to tell us, that will be all," Hardesty said with a big grin.
"Nope, Nothing," Taichi replied quietly.
"Alright then Taichi, here's my card. If you. . .suddenly remember something, give me a call," Hardesty replied smiling the whole time.
"No problem," Taichi replied standing up and bowing to both of the detectives. Then Taichi gathered his things and left the office.
One he had gone, Moroki turned to Hardesty. "Are you insane?!" he roared.
Agent hardesty grinned. "Probably, but is there a specific reason you asked?"
"You KNOW he has something to do with this Hardesty!" Moroki declared.
"Yes," Agent Hardesty replied with a small shrug. Moroki went red in the face.
"Then WHY didn't you QUESTION him more?"
"Because Agent Lanka, I don't want to scare him off. Couldn't you see it in his face? He is afraid for his life. He's not going to talk while he's spooked," Hardesty snapped.
"Well. . .I. . ."
Agent Hardesty turned to the window to watch Taichi meet with Yamato and walk away down the road. "Just give him a day or so, he'll come back to us. If not, I'll go get him for more questioning. Deal?"
"Fine, whatever. . .you better be right about this."
"I am."
~*~*
"Taichi!" Yamato called loudly throughout the apartment.
"Yo?!" Taichi yelled coming into the same room as Yamato.
"I'm going to the store for some more food now. . .you want to go?"
"No I'll stay here."
". . .are you sure?"
Taichi rolled his eyes. "Yes Yama, I'm not a baby you know."
"Okay then. I'm going to pick up T.K. and Kari too."
"Why?"
"Mom is going out of town. I don't want them to stay alone."
"Oh. . .good idea. Bye Yama."
"Bye!"
Yamato closed the door and locked it before he walked away down the street. He walked to T.K.'s apartment which was now located ten blocks from Yamato's apartment.
Yamato continued up the stairs to T.K.'s door. He knocked twice, rather loudly. He heard loud, running footsteps and giggles before he heard his brother call, "WHO IS IT?!"
"It's me doofus, open the door."
T.K. opened the door to see T.K. and Kari smiling at him. "Hi Yamato!" Kari greeted.
"Hi guys, you ready?"
"Yep, let's go!"
~*~*
Meanwhile, back at the apartment, Taichi was restless and jumpy. 'Bad idea, bad idea, bad idea,' he kept chanting in his head. 'Maybe a hot shower will calm me down,' Taichi decided.
Taichi walked down the hallway and went into the bathroom. He shut the door and turned on the shower, stepping it when the room began to steam. Taichi closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against the cool tiles taking a deep breath then releasing it.
The past couple days' events played over again and again in his mind until Taichi opened his eyes and heaved a great sigh. A sudden sound alerted him to another presence in the apartment. Wide eyed, Taichi glanced quickly up at the clock on the wall and saw that only a half an hour had passed, too little time for Yamato to go get their siblings, get food, and get back, even if he had been running full speed.
Trembling, Taichi shut off the water and gathered the clothes he was supposed to wear, throwing them on quickly. Taichi walked to the door and pressed his ear against it. He heard footsteps and his breathing began to become erratic.
Taichi backed away from the door. He looked around feverishly for a way out and instead jumped into the bathtub of the shower. Taichi cowered there as he heard voices. Taichi peeked his head above the tub attempting to listen as the voices became silent.
A tense moment passed before loud popping noises were heard and Taichi ducked back into the tub as bullets shot through the door and ricocheted off the tub he was in.
'YAMA!'
~*~*~*~
ACK DON'T KILL ME!!! I DIDN'T MEAN TO!!!! If you guys give even ½ the reviews you did last time for this chapter I swear I will have it out by next weekend! :)