Disclaimer: I do not in any way own the series Digimon or any of its characters featured in this fan fiction.

I've always felt that the concept of time a rather burdensome one, things would be so much easier if time was easier to manage, however as the fourth dimension is essential for our existence as it is right now, things such as long delays like this chapter's are often inevitable and all I can do is apologise.

In my defence, it was late when I wrote the above paragraph and metaphysical philosophical nonsense usually disturbs me at the oddest hours. I apologise again for being me.

For the past twenty-four hours I've had to listen to my band constantly tease me about Taichi. First Seiyo … well, actually, Sei never really let up on it, but he was the first to start in on me. Then Ji butted in while Sei was ribbing me with a few comments of his own. A dark glare sent him away for a while … but only a while. Urinto even managed a few dry comments that got the others snickering at one point. It was Kiromi who finally reminded us about our gig and the fact that we had to practice.

I thank whatever gods there are for bringing that wonderful boy into my life, he's a lifesaver, honestly. Well, that's' what I thought until he whispered something to me as I passed by that made me blush. I'd forgotten that I told him that I did like Taichi, the others were only guessing, but Kir knew.

Still, we did manage to practice and get everything organised for the gig for tonight, we were setting up at the hall around six when Taichi showed up, looking fantastic as usual … though I might be a bit biased there.

Uri and I had our hands full with one of the amps when he walked in.

"Hey Tai," I said in a strained voice. "I'll be with you in a sec."

"It's all right, I just came to tell you that I can only hang around after the show for a little while." I frowned as I heard something in his voice, but I was still a bit preoccupied with the huge and rather heavy amp.

"Sure Tai. You going to hang around until the show at seven thirty?"

He shook his head. "Sorry Yama, but I'm amazed I could even come down here briefly to see you. I've got to dash home and I'll probably only just make it back for the beginning."

"Oh." We put the amp down and I turned to Taichi and jumped down off the stage, walking over to him. "Something up?"

He shook his head. "Just stuff. But I'll definitely see you tonight."

I smiled. "Yeah, okay, some time together is better than none I guess."

He nodded. "Yeah. I'll see you later Yama." He turned and walked away and out of the hall. I frowned as I watched him. There was something else up with him, but I had no idea what.

I shook my head and got back up on stage to help my band continued preparing for our concert.

But there was still something that bothered me about Taichi's behaviour.


Our next visitor was not really a welcome sight, and had I actually been there when he showed up he wouldn't have made it very far without getting his lights knocked out. As it was however, I was occupied with Kiromi tuning and setting up the amps properly. We just had his bass to go and the microphone sound checks before we were completely set up for the show in half-an-hour.

Of course it was then we noticed the Urinto running from the side entrance gesturing frantically. I shared a quick look with Kir before we both jumped from the stage and headed over to him.

"What's up?" I asked as we headed quickly to the entrance.

"Rino," he spat.

I've been told that it is a very bad idea to get me angry and from the looks that Kir and Uri were sending me then I was fairly sure that my appearance itself was the most frightening part of that. Of course right then what I looked like was the furthest thing from my mind. Another thing to show just how pissed off I was.

"What does he want?" I growled, walking faster.

Uri shrugged. "Didn't ask, he was just pushing his way in. Sei and Ji are holding him back and I thought it might be best to get you first before we did anything."

"Good call." Another shudder. Guess my old iciness never truly wore off, right now I was glad for that though: Rino had to learn it was not a good idea to cross me or my friends, especially not Taichi.

"What do you want?" I snarled once we reached the door.

Rino glared at him flicking his hair back. "You've got some nerve Ishida," he snapped back.

"Forgive me if I think that rape deserves punishment."

"Rape?" He chuckled in a way that made me want to deck him right there. "I thought you'd know better than anyone Ishida."

"Know what?"

"That he really wanted me."

I snorted. "Talk about ego, there's no way in hell that Taichi would want anyone like you and I know exactly what I was seeing." I stepped forward and gestured for Ji and Sei to move out of the way. Seeing how I looked they complied. "It was not a smart move you made that night and this is even stupider. You could have just left things and no one would have to bring this up again."

"I'm not one to let myself be humiliated Ishida," he said menacingly … well it would have been menacing to most, but I'd faced worse than him.

"You should have thought of that before. Believe me, you make another move on Taichi and you'll be begging for humiliation over what I'll do to you."

"Right back at you. Unlike most of these morons, I'm not scared of your bluffs Ishida. You shouldn't have interfered with me."

"I don't bluff."

"Just why do you care anyway? It's not like he's yours."

"I don't have a hobby of collecting people to toy with and throw away once they're broken."

He smirked. "I see, so you're just another interested party. Scared of a bit of rivalry then?"

"You actually consider yourself on a similar level to me?" I know that was a bit arrogant, but his attitude is so much worse. "Boy, do you suffer from serious delusions."

"You won't act so high once I snag what you want right from under your nose Ishida."

"Shouldn't you be twice as worried if you think I was interested in Taichi?"

"Worried? About you?" He scoffed.

I shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

"We'll see who's worried once I get Taichi."

"Like he'd pick you over me anyway, Taichi prefers anyone over scum like you. Anyone would. Rapists aren't exactly among those who most consider quality boyfriend material."

He growled and leapt at me, but I was ready for that and swung at him, landing a punch in his chest. His own fist just scraped at my side and I brought my knee up into his stomach. It was then that Ji and Sei jumped in and pulled him away from me, tossing him out the side door.

"I swear I'll get you back Ishida," he called out, startling the small crowd that had already gathered nearby in anticipation of the show.

I stepped out and few people waved and called out enthusiastically. I hardly noticed, watching the disgusting boy before me. "Don't forget I warned you, don't go near him or you'll find out for sure whether my threats are bluffs or not." Sei, Ji and I all moved back in and closed the door behind us, trying to put Rino out of our head and continue preparing for the show.

I allowed myself one last glare at the door before I shook my head and headed to the stage and finished tuning my guitar. There was no way I was letting that sleaze near Taichi, or any of my friends for that matter and there was no way that Taichi would even want to be near him, much less dating him.

"Delusional bastard," I muttered. It didn't matter if Taichi was dating me or not, Rino wasn't getting him.


Takeru had come around just before the gig as well, giving greetings from everyone to me. The band had a list of people who were allowed backstage that we gave to security guarding the doors. The other guys had one or two people with descriptions (Uri sometimes had his latest girlfriend's name on there every few weeks) but I decided to do something different.

All of the digi-destined were on the list but instead of a description, they all had to answer a question that only a few selected people would know. They weren't very personal or anything, just quirky. Most gave in and answered once they realised they couldn't get in otherwise, despite the fact that we usually came to the same venues and the security probably knew them already, but Takeru and Taichi usually protested against the questions. I usually changed theirs each time I had a gig and they became slightly more … "quirky" with each gig.

Before, Takeru had actually glared at me. It was quite an odd and frightening sight actually, but I just couldn't help laughing, knowing exactly why he was so upset with me. It was sometimes an advantage being an older brother, knowing things about your siblings when you were trying to get back at them for something.

When Takeru was involved though, it usually meant war and I knew he'd get me back somehow. Not today though, he usually planned quite meticulously. It would be something to look forward to later when life got a bit dull.

Taichi hadn't shown up though, as he'd mentioned, but then neither had Hikari yet according to Takeru. Family things then. Still, despite knowing this, not having Taichi around beforehand put me off a bit, I'd grown very used to his presence before a gig.

Boy did I have it bad. But then again, who wouldn't want their best friend around for something like this?

I think Keru noticed my distraction.

"Something up 'nii-chan?"

I shrugged. "Tai's not here yet. He said he wouldn't be but …" I trailed off with a sigh, knowing Takeru would understand.

He nodded. "That's pretty odd. Tai hardly ever misses the show beforehand." He frowned. "Kari said she'd be late too, didn't tell me why though."

"Tai said he couldn't stay after either."

"Family trip tomorrow then?"

I frowned. Taichi did say his parents wanted to have a bit of a vacation this summer, I didn't think they would start it this early in the holidays though. "Maybe," I replied quietly. I hoped it wasn't something really big … but then Taichi would have told me if it was right?

"'Nii, stop getting paranoid."

"I'm not getting paranoid." Takeru just looked at me. Damn, forgot he was my baby bro and knew me so well. I grinned weakly. "Okay, so I'm a little paranoid."

"Good, admission is the first step to recovery."

I glared at the mocking tone but he just smirked impishly. I looked around to see what the others were doing. Ji and Uri were just going over their cues again for a few songs with Kir watching and jumping in sometimes. Sei was talking with his brother and friends. Everything looked completely ready and set up and I could hear the hall starting to fill up. Just ten minutes or so until curtain-rise … or stage entrance for us. I don't think we had a curtain.

Perfect time for just a little chat with Keru, we hadn't had much time to talk lately. "So what's been up with you chibi?" The nickname had taken on a slightly ironic tone these days. Takeru was taller than me now and smirked every time I used the name, rather than getting all huffed about it.

He shrugged. "Not much I guess." Hm, I knew my sibling just as much as he knew me. That response was a complete lie.

"Keru, you shouldn't tell fibs to your all-knowing brother. Tell me what's been on your mind."

Takeru sighed. "It's kind of hard to talk about."

"To me? You know you can tell me anything Keru."

Takeru blushed slightly. "It's …" he looked away and I knew just what he was going to say.

"So, who's the lucky party?"

"I hate that you're so observant."

"Not really, I just know you. If you don't want to say that's fine, but you know I'll help if you have a problem or whatever."

Takeru nodded. "Guess you'd be the best to talk to. I'm not sure how father would react, or mother … though I'd feel really uncomfortable talking with her." He bit down on his lip, thinking things through before looking up at me. "I'm not completely blind Yamato, I hear things and sometimes you and your band don't try to hide much."

I froze. This wasn't the sort of ground I was thinking to cover with him. "Uh, Keru … just what —"

"You're gay right?"

Now I was the uncomfortable one. And he called me perceptive … though I guess it's not that hard to find out if he was determined enough, I'm not totally subtle around Keru. "Uh … what do you think of that?"

Takeru shook his head. "Like I'd care, that's the main reason I'm talking to you, you're the only other person I know who is."

Backtrack … did he just imply what I thought he did? Now that was completely unexpected, Takeru was exceptionally popular with girls … but then, I guess I was too. I guess we're not so different as we and others think.

I managed a smile for him. "Wow, my sexual orientation is useful for someone other than a member of my band."

"What?"

I paled. "Ignore that. You were saying?"

Takeru looked at me oddly for a moment longer before moving on. "Yeah … well, this is the first time I've thought about something like this and I'm not sure what to expect."

I nodded. "How much do you not know?"

He blushed furiously. "Yamato! I'm not completely ignorant! You don't have to go into any detail about the … um, physicality of it, just, how am I supposed to get used to this?"

I sighed. "Takeru, that's not really the easiest thing to answer."

"I know. But how do you do it?"

I shrugged. "I guess I never really thought about it. No one's really all that close with me and I know that the people who are wouldn't care. I'm obviously not openly gay, but I don't think I ever hid it really."

"You still didn't tell anyone."

"I did when they asked. The guys in the band just knew and Taichi … he sort of witnessed something and asked. Though I thought he might have figured it out earlier."

"Because of the way you act around him."

I blushed. "Yeah, because of that. Guess you know who I like now." I smirked. "You going to tell me that piece of information yet?"

Takeru shook his head with a grin. "Not yet, but I will tell you soon. I just need to get used to things."

"Look Keru, I doubt the others will think any less of you, the bonds of friendship the group have surpass anything I've ever seen. They won't care and they're definitely not hate you for anything. You shouldn't really worry what anyone else thinks."

"Isn't it a bit hypocritical for you to be saying that?"

I winced. "Maybe, but you're not me, I know that you deal with other people better. You'd have no problems decking a guy who called you something or blowing of people who'd tease you or something. You're a strong person Takeru, I've known that for a long time."

Takeru smiled. "Yeah, you have. Thanks."

I returned the smile and gave him a quick hug, something I hadn't done for a while. "Come talk with me whenever you want, I'll always be here for you Keru. Except for right now, I'm about to go onstage." Takeru laughed and swatted at the back of my head.

"Some protective big brother you are."

"Hey, I have to do my job, you wouldn't want me disappointing all of my fans out there would you?" I grinned at him and waved as I headed off towards the rest of my band as they headed onstage. " See you after the show Keru." He waved back and headed back to watch the show from the floor.

"Hey out there!" I heard the cheers rise in volume as I called out through the microphone. I would never get tired of this. Call me an attention whore, I don't care, I loved it in the spotlight. I peered out through the lights, seeking the others. I grinned as I saw the rest of the digi-destined. Takeru was heading over to them and a few other people I knew were with them.

I managed to catch a glimpse of Taichi's smiling face before the house lights went out and the cues to begin our concert called to me. I doubted anything could surpass the rush of being onstage with people cheering and screaming. I truly loved it and everyone knew it.

There were few things that I loved more than my music, but seeing Taichi out there, knowing that he hadn't missed this as he'd promised, I knew that he was now counted among those things.

I was going to make sure he knew that.

AN: Again I apologise for the lateness, I've been trying to work on this every time I got a bit of inspiration, but then it became slightly fleeting and I'd be stuck again. Thank you all for sticking with it though … I haven't given up yet and never once considered it. This is one of the few stories where I know I want to go with it … it's getting there that's the problem.

I'm kind of surprised that I was able to finish the chapter today. I have a huge headache ... ah, the suffering artist :D

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter though.

Until next time.