Disclaimer: ish not myun. ish belongsh to dishney
Tai: *slap* why did it take you so long to put up this chapter?!
Me: owchies! T.T i couldn't help it!
Matt: someones still in a bad mood *edges away from tai*
Me: IM SO SORRY IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO UPDATE!!! ive been so busy!!! ive got exams in 7 days!!! and i was away for 5 days last week so I couldn't put it up! im so sorry! *wails*
Tai: *snort* always the same excuses swifty…
Me: T.T but im serious!!! and since ive got exams, it might take a while to put up the next chapter, so just as a warning, it might take longer than a week again to update. hopefully not, but im just warning you
BIG THANX GO TO Rocke and Roll, DigitalDreamer, BeautyLiesWithin, Kari Elizabeth, Akira5867, Lethal Darkness, Cleo and Shadow-of-Hearts!!! Thank you so much for your kind words!! =)
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"And he wonders why?!"
"I-I don't know Tai…please-"
"No!" Taichi punches the wall again.
Please…stop…not here…not now…stop it…please…I pull my knees in closer, desperate for the security it brings. I watch through tear-filled eyes Tai rest his head hopelessly against the wall. Sora approaches him warily and places a trembling hand on his shoulder, whispering comforting words I cannot decipher. I continue to sit here, cowering from my brother. His sudden rage attacked me in almost the same velocity it did Mr. Ishida. His change of character scared me to the core. I couldn't stand seeing Tai being hurt so deeply…I couldn't stand the conflict either. How could Mr. Ishida be so blind to Matt's situation? At the time where Matt needed him the most, he let him down. He'd let him down too many times. I'm not saying Mr. Ishida's a terrible, abusive father. He cares for T.K and Matt. But he doesn't know them. He doesn't know Matt's more fragile than he looks. Matt's no crybaby, but he needs a father who's gonna be there for him when he needs him. Like any normal person. He's depressed, and since Mr. Ishida's not gonna listen, what else will Matt do? What he's been doing to suppress his problems for the last year. Drug or drink himself out of it. But sooner or later, something was bound to go wrong, and it did. And now Mr. Ishida is counting the costs of his ignorance. But so many are suffering…
Tai's head jerks up suddenly, awakening my eyes.
"Matt…" he mouths, panic filling his once fiery brown eyes. The name sinks in… Tai bolts off towards the elevator, slipping in just before the doors close. Sora runs towards me. I begin to shiver.
"C'mon Kari," she urges, panic evident in her voice, "let's go." She helps me stand, and we hurry over to the elevator, running into one about to leave. My mind races.
Oh no! What about Matt?! What if Mr. Ishida got to him first? What did he say? What did he do? Oh no…not more…Matt can't take it…he's gonna be driven to suicide…If Mr. Ishida was anything like he was to Tai…I don't want to think about it…
"C'mon," Sora's voice penetrates my thoughts and we jump out of the elevator, catching the sight of Tai running towards Matt's door. We chase after him, watching him open the door and freeze. We catch up and stand at the door. Tai rushes in.
"Matt!" he cries, fear taking over. Matt looks up to him with bloodshot eyes.
"No, please…" he moans, trying to back further into the corner he's cowering in. Sora runs in and joins Tai, while I quickly climb over the bed.
"It's Tai," Taichi comforts, looking directly into Matt's terrified eyes. Matt's eyes desperately search Tai's trembling eyes, before he throws himself onto Tai, clinging to him for dear life.
"He found out Tai…he found out…he found me," Matt cries, burying his face deep into Tai's chest. "He came…he came…" I slip quietly onto my knees and hug the crying Sora. Taichi wraps his left arm around Matt, and motions for me to get the blanket off the bed. I grab the white blanket, and Tai wraps it around the trembling Matt.
"He came…he found me…he was so…" Matt whispers, trailing off. I begin to shiver again, thoughts on what Mr. Ishida could've done to Matt to make him like this running through my mind. Beside me, Sora takes one deep, shuddering breath and shifts over next to Tai. She places her hand on Matt's retreated back.
"Don't worry…now…" she says, trying to keep her voice steady, "We're here for you, and no-nobody can come to harm you."
"But…but he still came," Matt whispers, slightly muffled from Taichi's shirt. "He came Sora…he came and he…he lost it. He screamed so loudly Sora…he grabbed my shirt…and he looked at me with such disgust…he was so ashamed of me…he screamed insults…so loudly…the nurses pulled him away…but it was too late…" Matt's voice dies. My heart sinks.
He got here first…he found out…oh no…now what are we gonna do?"It was too late…" I breathe, inaudible to anyone else. Tears stream down my cheeks, soaking the already damp collar of my shirt. Matt's bone-chilling scream pierces through my mind. Memories of Tai's encounter with Mr. Ishida flash before my eyes. I blink them away, my eyes flickering to the tears streaming down Sora's pale face. Time freezes.
All the pain and suffering…will it never end? How long must this go? Will this all have to end with a death? Just to pull this all to a close will one have to die? But what will that bring? So many are suffering…hear my cry…hear our cry…
I shuffle silently towards Sora and place my arm around her comfortingly. She leans into my shoulder and cries.
Hear our cry"Hear our cry…" I whisper, looking towards the ceiling. Movement to my left catches my attention, and I turn to find Tai slowly standing up, cradling a shivering Matt in his arms. Tai lets out a hiss of pain as Matt coughs, putting pressure on his injured arm. Matt's eyes snap open.
"Tai?" he asks breathily, fear in his voice, "What's wrong?" Tai lays Matt gently onto the bed.
"Nothing," he answers, his teeth gritted. My heart clenches. He's injured his arm again! He wasn't supposed to use it! Oh no…
"No, please," Matt whispers desperately, grabbing Tai's right arm.
"Ah!" Tai cries out in pain, pulling his arm from Matt's grip. Sora and I stand up as Matt holds Tai's hand and pulls back his sleeve, revealing the bandages. Matt's eyes widen.
"Oh no, Tai," he whispers, fear again evident in his voice. He slowly backs away, shaking his head.
"No, Taichi no," he moans, "I'm so sorry…no…no please no…" Matt's breathing becomes erratic as he nears the edge of the bed.
"No! It's not your fault!" Tai assures, grabbing Matt and pulling him back into the middle of the bed. Matt trembles violently.
"Yes it is," he whispers, his voice quavering. "That's my fault. It always is." Matt stares at the floor, his eyes emotionless. Tai sighs, pulling up a chair and sitting down.
"Ishida…" he exhales, pulling down his sleeve, "Do I have to beat this out of you? It's been a while, come to think of it. Are you due for another smack in the face?" I stare at Tai disbelievingly. He has the uncanniest ability to bring up something usually funny in these kinds of situations, hoping to lighten the mood. Bad timing. But hey, it's Taichi.
"It was too late Taichi," Matt mumbles, lifting his tearstained face.
"It's never too late," Tai replies, a flicker of determination lighting in his eye. They stare deeply into each other's eyes.
"I wish it was," Matt mumbles, his bleary eyes closing as he falls down onto his pillow, exhausted. Sora smiles sadly as she pulls the blanket over the fragile body.
"See ya round Matt," she whispers, kissing his forehead lightly before walking towards the door.
"Sleep well Ishida," Tai says, standing up and helping me to my feet.
"Thank you," Matt mumbles, curling into a ball under the blankets. Tai smiles, before walking towards Sora at the door.
"Remember, we're here for you," I mumble, truth echoing on every word. I place a yellow rose next to him. Matt stares at the flower, eyes shimmering in simplistic wonder. I walk to Taichi, and we leave.
Something so simple…the meaning beyond…~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ooooks…like i said before, it might take a while to update. but id like to thank everyone for not killing me for the last chapter…yeh, im paranoid, shaddup Rocke and Roll. Anywayyy…thanx, and cyaz!!! ^^