A/N: I've writer's block already! I might want to carry later parts of the story into a slightly less mundane plane. Literally. For the time being it is still stuck in Odaiba High School. Sigh There's just been a dry spell in my country recently, doing something to my head...

Disclaimer: No digimon to wash off my hands

Chapter 2-Why Am I Lost?

"Oops! Sorry," Yamato said gallantly, grabbing the arm of a girl whom he had knocked into.

"It's alright," she breathed as he righted her then dashed off in a whirl of blonde.

"Where is he? He's never around when I want to see him and when I'm busy I see him all the time!"

Yamato's mind was a swirl of jumbled random thoughts as he sidestepped people and rounded corners to look for Taichi, hoping to catch the boy before he left for home.

"Fat chance, he's always the first to leave school when the bell rings. Oh I'm fortune's fool! Guess Ms. Yui would be proud of that, forever telling us to apply lit in our lives... Why I am even talking to myself? Stop it!"

He said the last two words out loud unconsciously just the object of his search came into sight. Having pressed his head between his hands, he was not paying particular attention and knocked into a second person in as many minutes.

This one was not so forgiving.

"Where d'you think you're going?" Tokira, the school bully leered, pushing Yamato against the wall.

"Hey sorry man. I was just on my way." It came out easily and apologetically enough. At least, Yamato hoped so.

"Try telling me to stop this!" Tokira snarled, swinging a fist the size of a grapefruit toward Yamato.

"Oh God, not the face!" Yamato thought, squeezing his eyes shut and bracing for a blast of pain. "Maybe I can borrow foundation from Miyako, would that cover the bruise?"

But the blow never came. Yamato squinted slightly, to see Tokira's fist caught in Taichi's grip.

"Sod off." Taichi's voice was low and even, his eyes glinting dangerously.

Tokira's reputation was at stake but he knew that if he took on Taichi, the whole soccer team would be on him in no time. He stalked off, not before brushing his palm across Taichi's cheek. An uneasy feeling lurched in his stomach. There will be a reckoning for this.

"Taichi! Are you ok?" Yamato's anxious, harried voice jolted him out of his reverie.

"I should be asking you that," he chuckled then his voice took on a more serious tone. "Do you want to report that?"

"No need. Wouldn't work anyway. Comes with having his dad as a minister." Yamato muttered darkly before remembering what he wanted to say.

"Oh by the way, I was looking everywhere for you."

Taichi's heart skipped a beat. He forced down the loony grin that was threatening to spread across his face. Thankfully flushes don't show too well on tanned skin.

"What for?"

"Just that band practice was cancelled. Shozo had to attend a wake out of town and we figured there was no point practicing without a drummer. So, you want to go out later?"

The consternation on Taichi's face was all the answer he needed.

"Damn! The coach called us for practice today cause he won't be around the rest of the week. How about tomorrow?" He looked up hopefully.

"No, Sora's free then, I'm taking her out." Yamato responded dolefully.

"Sure, have fun!" Taichi sounded so cheerful that he couldn't help feeling hurt but he kept an aloof expression.

"See you around then," he casually replied. What was he supposed to do for the rest of the day?

"Let me ask you is there a God up there!" Yamato wailed into the telephone to an amused younger brother. The leather couch squeaked in protest as he punched it.

"That depends on whose perspective," Takeru said darkly. "I say no because I'm forced to listen to you woes."

"And that would be your fault because you refused to go out with me! I'm bored."

"And I'm busy! What did you think? Anyway even if I did accompany you, you would still be pouring your troubles to me!"

Yamato frowned. Takeru was forever busy. Actually it began after they had rescued Metalgreymon from the black spiral. Since then, Takeru's grades had taken a huge jump. He also joined all sorts of high profile societies, activities and had girls hankering after him. It was almost creepy, and definitely weird.

"What is it that you're doing anyway?"

"Cover story for the school magazine. It's due tomorrow."

"Won't keep you then."

"No wait! May I ask you something oniichan?"

Yamato just scowled at the ceiling. He knew he should be happy for his younger brother's sudden intellectual advancement. His parents certainly were but it reminded him strongly of the dark seeds in Ken. Also, Takeru had become more distant almost. He was still the same friendly, kind kid but so much more independent. He even wrote articles and designed web pages freelance, insisting to Natsuko that he didn't need pocket money.

Takeru must have taken silence to mean consent.

"Why are you so bothered with not spending time with Taichi? It's almost... as if you like being with Taichi more than Sora. No offence alright?" He quickly added.

"Rubbish!" Yamato scoffed but his heart jumped and something tugged at his stomach. He knew that feeling, having felt it so many times in the digital world. It was guilt.

"Well, just wondering. I hope you'll be honest with me though. I told you about Daisuke."

Yamato could just imagine Takeru pouting over the line.

"Fine. Here's the deal. Sora is kind, sincere, sweet; I mean she took care of everybody in the digital world. I will never forget that. Especially how she offered that some of the group goes with me when I wanted to be alone. I was such a selfish jerk but she still cared. Then she says she likes me and I owed it to her, know what I mean?" It came out a garbled rush and Yamato found himself anxiously waiting for Takeru's response.

"Right. So the feeling's not mutual."

"Who says it's not?" Yamato was getting very annoyed. "She's a great girl but after spending all that time with her I find I don't get to see Taichi so much is all."

"That's natural. Lots of couples spend less time with their friends, especially after having just gotten together."

Now that Takeru seemed more caring, Yamato was unconsciously opening up. "But I don't want that. I miss him."

"Ok that's not natural. Usually people only start missing their friends when they break up cause that's when they realize they've been neglecting their friends."

"That's not the point! What magazine have you been reading? That sounds like the worst case of psycho-babble."

"That's exactly the point." Takeru ploughed on unfazed by his older brother's rudeness. "Maybe your feelings toward Sora a merely platonic but you accepted her because you were grateful for the things she did for you. You like her very much but not enough to fill the void a significant other can fill."

"Yeah. Listen I gotta go. Good luck for your article."

Takeru sighed. He knew better than to push Yamato too much. "Thanks, bye."

Yamato stared at the cordless phone in his hands, his thoughts repeatedly drifting to what his younger brother had said. The guilt inside was full blown now. Takeru was right, he only regarded Sora as a good friend. Her intimate advances left him more uncomfortable than delighted. If he truly loved her, wouldn't he be more than happy to reciprocate? Surely she deserved better.

"I will try to love her." He whispered resolutely through the soft static, gripping the phone to strengthen his resolve.