Zero 2

ST: WHOO! The big 'first gig'. You're all gonna like this chapter. It has a surprise ending.

TK: Yea yea.

ST: Can't you just leave me alone?

TK: No.

ST: Whatever. Anyways, somebody asked me what my big deal with pineapples and banana nut muffins. Truth is, it's just a quirk. You know, every Davis in my story likes banana nut muffins. Pineapples on pizza is icky. I can't think of the other thing, but I know it's out there somewhere. But anyways, there's the verdict.

TK: Yep. On with the story.

[chapter si6]

Ever since Friday, Ken became the unofficial manager of Zero 2 and stopped by everyday, on schedule, and gave the boys enthusiasm, compliments, suggestions, and food. TK, Dai, and Tai were all very grateful for all of it.

Leaving that in mind, we must once again speed up time to Tuesday. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are of no importance. Unless you enjoy the details of Taichi Yagami's life. Well, there really aren't any, so yea.

Back to Tuesday and it's importance.

Tuesday was like Monday, except it was Tuesday, the day before Wednesday, the day of their first gig. Due to utmost stress and anxiety, Tai worked his band to the bone.

"One more time."

TK groaned. "C'mon Tai! We've done this song six times. We know it. I'm sure."

Tai gave the blonde and authoritive glare and rubbed his sore, calloused fingers. "How many times did we do the other one?"

Davis sighed. "Seven."

Tai nodded. "And the one before it?"

TK and Dai said, "Seven."

"So, we do this last song one last time. Okay?"

"Fine."

"Good. Let's go."

They practiced one more time, the two younger groaning with relief when the song ended. Davis practically threw his drumsticks in the air while TK collapsed onto the concrete floor. Ken clapped and offered banana nut muffins to the tired boys. Tai laughed as he watched his drummer and bassist scramble over to Ken and retrieve their muffins, chugging them instantly.

Ken handed the big haired boy a large, homemade chocolate rice ball. "So, what songs are you guys playing tomorrow?"

Tai blinked. "Haven't you been here to listen?"

Ken blushed a little. "Uh, well, I was busy just watching y- I mean, I was too busy listening that I didn't hear the names."

"Oh, well then Mr. Observant, we're playing a Blink-182 song, a Good Charlotte song, and the song I wrote last Friday."

"Huh?"

"You'll see tomorrow."

][][][...][][][

And tomorrow came son enough. Maybe a little too soon for Taichi. If he wasn't so dense at times, he would've tried to maybe keep him indoors, low. But, hey, it's Tai! Either it was his denseness or maybe humbleness, doesn't matter. What matters is that he was plowed over by numerous of daily Sight goers.

For example, that morning when he went out to get milk for breakfast, he wasn't expecting the crowd to be Tai-watching, their faces plastered against the glass windows of the local Stop N Go staring at him as he was paying for his 2%. When he exited the store, gallon of milk in hand, at least 10 people surrounded him, bombarding him with questions and comments.

"Hey Yagami!"

"Tai, are you ready for tonight?"

"Whatcha gonna play?"

"You really gotsa band?"

"I love you Taichi!"

"Hey man, you rock!"

"Marry me!"

Tai sprinted home, trying to escape the mob. Once safely behind his front door, Tai shrunk himself against the wall and sighed.

"What the hell?"

Kari, popping out of the kitchen and grabbing the milk, answered him. "Tai, you're now officially famous in Odiaba. Well, more famous than you were a month ago. Anyways, your band is the first to go up against Matt's with as much enthusiasm and potential than, like, ever. You're gonna be a legend, whether you guys rock or suck."

Tai blinked, not paying mind to his sister's sly comment. "Really?"

Kari nodded and poured some milk into her bowl of cereal. "Yea. There's even a bet going on that you'll kick him down and take the top." Tai laughed nervously.

"R-really? Just-just how much money?"

Kari shrugged. "Maybe about 56,000 yen (a/n: in the assumption that yen is like 125 to the American dollar- around $448) up to now."

Her brother nearly fell over, a look of apprehension on his face. Kari came up behind him, her mouth full of Mini Wheats, and patted his back. "Kik hies azz."

][][][...][][][

That night took forever to get to. About midday they all met at Davis' house to plan out the night and get out their before-gig jitters.

It seemed as though Davis thought a new look would improve his state of- eh, scared-shitless-ness. When TK and Tai saw Dais when he opened the front door, they began to laugh hysterically.

Davis, blushing furiously, growled, "Oh shut up Mr. Gilligan Hat and Bushy Haired Dude."

In between his ears and supported by his goggles were his drumsticks. Tai spurted, "Calling the mother ship?" Davis was about to jump the brunette when his koi grabbed his shoulders and lightly kissed his forehead, still trying to contain his laughter. "Dai, it's just too cute for words."

Tai thwacked his mini drummer on the head and entered the apartment. "C'mon Mr. I'm too Cute For Words and Mr. Gilligan Hat. Let's formulate tonight's performance."

Dai closed the door and followed TK and his sempai/leader into his living room.

][][][...][][][

[6:00 pm Sight]

"Ladies and Gentlemen, chicks and dudes. Tonight is your lucky night. It's amateur night for not only the stage, but for the café. Sodas and all other drinks only 90 yen a piece!" (a/n: about 72 cents)

Tai peeked his head through the black thin curtain and peered out into the full house. "Tai, you're killin me. Get away from the stage!"

Tai scowled at the young blonde. "Shut up Takeru. If I want to make myself nervous enough to piss my pants, so be it."

TK rolled his eyes and walked over to Davis, who was eating the free back stage food (banana nut muffins).

Ben McMen stuck his head into the back stage area. "Zero 2, you guys ready?" Tai nodded and motioned to TK and Dai. They nodded and Tai's guitar and TK's bass was grabbed by their respective owners. The two had brought their instruments home with them the day before.

Tai followed Ben out onto the stage. A loud cheer erupted from the crows as the three boys emerged from the wings. Ben took the mic and said, "Yo dudes and dudettes. Here's the fist public showing of Odiaba's hottest hit, Zero 2!"

The crowd cheered and shouted with joy. Ben stepped down and TK, Tai and Dai situated themselves. Davis got himself comfortable behind the Sight's drum set, pulling the drumsticks out from behind his ears and twirling a bit on the stool.

TK plugged his bass into the amp that was on the left edge of the stage and pulled the strap onto his shoulder. Tai placed himself right in the center, in front of the mic. He was lead singer after all. TK and Dai both had one by them, for back up. Tai plugged in his guitar and looked out into the crowd.

Was he nervous? Hell yea.

"Hey. How's it goin?" A loud cry of 'great' rumbled the small café. "Yea, cool. Okay, we're playing three songs. The first two you should know, and are welcome to sing along. The last one is one that we wrote ourselves. Ready?"

Tai's fingers were shaking and he couldn't believe that he made it though the introduction. The young guitarist nearly resorted to what his instincts were yelling inside his head: RUN. Then a face in the crowd caught his eye. Ken. Tai sighed deeply and thought, "Think of it as practice."

Tai turned to see TK and Dai awaiting his command. Tai nodded and shouted, "4, 3, 2, 1!"

/Hanging out behind the club on the weekends/

/Acting stupid, getting drunk with my best friends/

/I couldn't wait for the summer and the Warped Tour/

/I remember that it's the first time that I saw her there/

n.n

/She's getting kicked out of school cause she's failing/

/I'm kinda nervous, cause I think all her friends hate me/

/She's the one, she'll always be there/

/She took my hand and I made it I swear/

n.n

/Because I fell in love with the girl at the rock show/

/She said "what?" and I told her that I didn't know/

/She's so cool, better sneak in through her window/

/Everything's better when she's around/

/Can't wait until her parents go out of town/

/I fell in love with the girl at the rock show/ n.n

/When we said we were gonna move to Vegas/

/I remember the look her mother gave us/

/17 without a purpose or direction/

/We don't owe anyone a fucking explanation/

n.n

/I fell in love with the girl at the rock show/

/She said "what?" and I told her that I didn't know/

/She's so cool, better sneak in through her window/

/Everything's better when she's around/

/Can't wait until her parents go out of town/

/I fell in love with the girl at the rock show/

n.n

/Black and white picture of her on my wall/

/I waited for her call, she always kept me waiting/

/And if I ever got another chance I'd still ask her to dance/

/Because she kept me waiting/

n.n

/I fell in love with the girl at the rock show/

/She said "what?" and I told her that I didn't know/

/She's so cool, better sneak in through her window/

/Everything's better when she's around/

/Can't wait until her parents go out of town/

/I fell in love with the girl at the rock show/

They were amazed by the standing ovation their playing received. It was only a cover song. Blink 182 was way better. But Tai didn't dwell that long on this miracle. Before the crowd could quiet down, he began the next song with TK and Dai following.

/It's a new day but it all feels old/

/It's a good life that's what I'm told/

/But everything it all just feels the same/

/And my high school felt more to me/

/Like a jail cell a penitentiary/

/My time spent there it only made me see/

n.n

/That I don't ever wanna be like you/

/I don't wanna do the things you do/

/I'm never gonna hear the words you say/

/Cause I don't ever wanna/

/I don't ever wanna be/

n.n

/You/

/Don't wanna be just like you/

/What I'm sayin is this is the Anthem/

/Throw all your hands up/

/You/

/Don't wanna be you/

n.n

/Go to college a university/

/Get a real job that's what they said to me/

/But I could never live the way they want/

/I'm gonna get by and just do my time/

/Outta step while they all get in line/

/I'm just a minor threat so pay no mind/

n.n

/Do you really wanna be like them/

/Do you really wanna be another trend/

/Do you wanna be pare of that crowd/

/Cause I don't ever wanna/

/No I don't ever wanna be you/

n.n

/You/

/Don't wanna be just like you/

/What I'm sayin is this is the Anthem/

/Throw all your hands up/

/You/

/Don't wanna be you/


Better than before, the crowd was close to pouncing on them. Tai, full of confidence now, yelled over his shoulder, "Are we ready?!" Teeks and Dai yelled back, "YEA!"

/What's the difference of never knowing at all/

/When every step I take is always too small/

/Maybe it's just something I can't admit but lately/

/I feel like I don't give a shit/

n.n

/Motivation such an aggravation/

/Accusations don't know how to take them/

/Inspiration's getting hard to fake it/

/Concentration's never hard to break it/

/Situation never what you want it to be/

...... (a/n: I'm not going to torture you. You already know the song. )

At the end of their show, the crowd broke all restraint and mobbed the band. The coffee shop had officially become a Target Center. They grabbed Tai, TK and Dai and carried them around.

Tai knew he had topped Matt's band 150%. But he didn't care. For some strange reason, all he wanted was to escape the riot and get to Ken and his usual chocolate rice ball.

Which wasn't very hard to accomplish. Once Tai's feet were on the floor again, he heard his name clearly being called from behind. He quickly turned around.

"Ken!"

"Hey! You guys kicked ass!"

"Thanks!"

Ken grabbed Tai's arm, causing the older to slightly blush. "Let's go outside?"

"Yea!"

Before anyone could notice, Ken and Tai put their soccer skills to the test and sprinted out the exit (after squirming their way through the thick crowd). Once out in the cool air, they started laughing.

"Ken, you have a knack for sneaking up behind people, you know that?"

Ken winked. "Only you, Tai-chan. Only you." Before Tai could blush more, someone called out to him.

"Yagami Taichi!"

Tai flinched, knowing the voice that rang throughout the empty sidewalk. He slowly turned around and, sure enough, there stood the notorious Yamato Ishida.

"Matt."

Yama, glaring furiously, walked up to the boy and stared him straight in the face. "You! You-you, fucker!"

Ken snorted. "That's the best you can do Ishida? Fucker?"

Matt gave a death glare to his ex. "You stay out of this you bitch."

Ken quickly flushed red and bowed his head, silent. It was now Tai who was glaring at the blonde. "Hey! You have no right to say that! You're a stupid slut and-"

"Oh shut up! You're a backstabbing traitor! You and me, we were friends. But, what did you do? Ditch me when you didn't like what you saw. Well, take a good damn look at yourself, cause we were always told me were practically identical. I hope your fame makes you so delusional that you all crash and burn."

"Fuck you!"

"I wouldn't wanna fuck a jerk like you, no thanks."

Before Tai could leap on Matt, he began to leave. Tai growled, "Ishida! Don't you walk out on me!"

Matt turned back around. "No, only the holy Taichi can do that."

Tai sucked in his pride and let his 'friend' leave.

[to be continued In the seventh installment of 02]

[next, ST's notes and comments followed by TK's insults]


ST: Did you guys enjoy the songs? Oh, I don't own Blink 182, Good Charlotte or Sum41. Though it'd be cool if I did. I'd be filthy rich...

TK: Review please.

ST: And how about Matt's cut on Tai, huh? Ouch. Oh, please excuse the harsh language. I know, this one's PG-13, some people may have sensitive ears. I can't help it if Matt has a bad mouth!

TK: Review please.

ST: On the other hand, I'm gonna be posting another story. It's gonna be a TK/Ken (Taken). It's basically a result of writer's block boredom. Cause I'm stuck on 02, I started writing this funky idea last night at like 12. It's gonna be a bit more loose cause, well, usually I have at least 10 chapters already laid out before I start typing. But, yea. It's also gonna be shorter.

TK: Review please.

ST: Also, this weekend I'm gonna be up at my cabin, so I won't be able to do anything. I'll be back on Monday, so, Til then!

TK: Review please.

[tbc]