Disclaimer: I do not in any way own the series Digimon or any of its characters featured in this fan fiction.
Okay, this took a little while, but it's not as long as the last one, so I'm pretty happy with myself, especially considering the hard time I had writing the final scenes of this chapter. I'm glad that people haven't forgotten this story of mine (I honestly wouldn't have blamed you if you did, it was ages)
Hm, okay, one issue to address … Rino. I noticed that many don't like him (understatement of the year…) He wasn't actually in my initial draft for this fic. I needed some tension and thus he was born in chapter 2. I wasn't going to extend his appearance any further than that, but in the back of my mind I could see him jumping up and down waving his arms around yelling "Plot device!" Such tactics are very hard to ignore so he came back (much to all of our annoyance) and I'm not sure when he's going to leave again. Well … actually I do, but I'm not telling yet :P You'll all have to wait and see.
… Wow, long AN, sorry, but I'll be quiet now.
Do you have any idea what it feels like walking off stage after an amazing show like that? It's euphoric, comparable to the feeling just after orgasm. Crude image, I know, but it's just so perfect. For that moment I live. I can still hear the roar of the crowd and everyone backstage congratulating us, but its all background murmurs, I'm so caught up in the sensations of it all. I'll never get tired of this, no matter how old I get.
"Yo, Ishida." I look over to see the band grinning at me and I can't help but smile sheepishly back. This happens after every show, but I guess they're used to it now. Urinto waved me over and asked, "After party at my place?"
"Sure, let's just wait for everyone then. Sora and the others said they'd be here to help pack up."
"Man, I love your friends 'Mato," Ji grinned, leaning against the wall.
"You might," interrupted a voice I recognised as Jyou's, "I think Yamato might feel a bit differently." His hand clamped down on my shoulder and I grinned up at his amusingly stern face. "He loves to torture us, not a very nice friend is he now?" Nearly everyone was already backstage or heading there.
Seiyo gasped dramatically. "Yamato, how could you do that to such nice people? Shame on you."
I snorted. "Like you guys are any different, you just like them 'cause they save you lot all effort after the show."
"Perhaps they can just recognise generosity when they see it," Sora stuck her tongue out at me as she passed. "Unlike some people."
"I'm hurt," I pouted. "You didn't even say anything about my amazing performance out there."
"Urgh, ego much?" Miyako swatted at my head, sharing a grin with Sora.
"I thought it was cool," Daisuke jumped in quickly, rushing to my defence.
"Suck up," Takeru glared at him playfully.
"Takes one to know one Keru-chan," Daisuke sent back with a smirk. Boy was it amusing to watch those two go at it.
"Man, they haven't stopped," Ken groaned, leaning tiredly against Miyako. "They've been at it since Dai and I got here. Next time someone else can baby-sit them, I've done my time."
"Count me out," Hikari held up her hands and backed away. "I have to deal with them just as much as you Ken. I know Daisuke's your best friend, but Takeru's mine, they're just as bad as each other."
"Well, Miyako and I have to put up with them a lot too," Iori piped up. "It's only fair someone else gets a turn."
"Shove them in a room somewhere and lock the door," I suggested lazily. "Always works with me and Tai."
"ISHIDA!!"
I paled. "Most of the time," I added in a weak voice.
"Would you like us to lock you and Tai in a closet now to work out your differences?" Koushiro asked me with an amused smirk as he watched Taichi stalking angrily towards us. Even Daisuke and Takeru stopped arguing to watch the drama unfold.
"Not this time I think," I whispered in a strained voice.
"Ishida!" Taichi stopped right in front of me and grabbed my shirt. "What the hell was that?"
"You didn't like my question?" I asked mildly, knowing it would irritate him.
"You were not possessed by a cherry tree!"
"It was close enough," I shrugged, trying not to snicker at the look on his face. It didn't work and I collapsed against him in a fit of laughter. "Come on Tai, lighten up, you're the one who gave me the idea for this week's question. At least it's not as bad as last week's one."
Taichi blushed. "Shut up," he growled softly, pushing me away. He pouted and glared at me. "Why do you have to do that? Can't you ever be serious?"
"Look who's talking," I retorted. "You're never serious."
"I am too!"
I snorted disbelievingly. "Yeah right Taichi, your middle name is like anti-serious."
"Anti-serious? That's not a word."
"Yeah it is, I say it is, therefore it is."
"But it doesn't even make grammatical sense! I thought you were good at grammar and literature and stuff."
"I am, but I didn't think you even knew what grammatical meant: I've seen your homework Tai."
"Shut up, not all of us can be super geniuses like you. Course, right now you seem to have lost your super-powers and have to resort to making up words in order to get back at me."
"You know," Ji drawled, barely managing to draw our attention away from each other, "I've got the keys to the prop room if you two are interested."
I think both of us had to stop and think about what he just said then. I recovered first, recalling what we'd just been talking about in the group, but Taichi's face was bright red and he was making an odd choking noise. I couldn't help but laugh at the display. Thinking of something, I sidled up beside Taichi as he recovered and whispered in his ear.
"So Tai, you interested in settling our argument in the prop room?"
"Yama!" He blushed even more and shoved me away. I nearly fell to the floor at that point, my body shaking so much from laughing. "I thought you were supposed to be the mature one," he spat at me, trying to regain some semblance of dignity.
"I am, what does that say about you?" I stuck my tongue out at him.
"You want immaturity, fine!" He stuck his tongue out back at me and pulled a face before stalking off, yelling over his shoulder, "Don't expect me to talk to you for the next few months if that's how you're going to be."
"I'm the one supposed to be saying that!" I yelled back, getting up and glaring after him. I crossed my arms and waited for a reply. "Fine, act like that then, who needs your help with packing things up anyway?" I turned away and moved to help Kir with the bass amps. I knew the other digi-destined were rolling their eyes at the back of my head, or at Tai … probably both of us. Still a few helped out with the amps and stuff while others made sure everything else was going all right backstage and helped with the instruments. Who needed roadies when we had my friends?
It was a great help, considering how many of us there were, we were always packed up really early: giving us more time to party afterwards. We kept most of our equipment in Kir's van. He and Seiyo had already jumped in while Uri and his latest girlfriend were in his car with Sora and Koushiro, who knew the girl. I forgot her name, I do remember her being at the party though. Ji had Jyou and four of the younger digi-destined as well as Sei's older brother and his friend in his van, which left …
"Hey nii, make sure you don't crash the car on the way there." I glared at Takeru who just smiled, Daisuke snickering beside him. Taichi was leaning sullenly against my car. Boy was this going to be a fun ride tonight.
"Get in," I snapped. I really don't know why I was suddenly so pissy, I know I had mood swings as bad as a girl at times, but this was weird even for me. There was just something in the way that Taichi was standing and staring off at nothing that bugged me. He wasn't being serious, or taking things too seriously back then was he? No, he knows me better than that.
"Thinking too hard is going to bad for someone like you Yama, you might just make your brain explode you know." I loved that smirk, even when I was pretending to be annoyed at him. At least I knew everything was fine.
"I think you're confusing me with you Tai, I seem to recall a time grey matter dribbled out your ears when you tried to be intelligent." I grinned at his indignant expression and got in the car, starting it up so he had to rush in with a glare in my direction.
"At least I won't have to fear that I put too many chemicals in my hair and will probably get cancer later in life."
"Like your eating habits won't cause heart failure."
"At least my eating habits won't cause anorexia."
"Hey! I eat, it's not my fault that my high metabolism makes me godlike in my appearance."
"In appearance only," he snorted. "You're rather mediocre in other respects."
"Take that back!"
"Never!"
I could hear both Takeru and Daisuke sighing in the back, but we were having too much fun to care now.
I think we surprised everyone when we arrived back at Uri's place to put away the equipment and start our party. Takeru and Daisuke were the first two to get out of the car. I thought I heard them both mumbling something about us being insane … though Daisuke was probably commenting more on me than Taichi, seeing as the boy was still idolising my best friend. Takeru was cursing us both.
Taichi was laughing as he left the car and he shot a grin my way as I got out and locked up the car. "I hate you , you do know that."
I grinned back at him. "I know you do, the feeling's quite mutual." I waved to the others who had already arrived. "What did I tell you about enclosed spaces, works like a charm every time." Taichi rolled his eyes and chuckled.
"Next time make sure we're not stuck in there with you," Takeru muttered.
"Yeah," Daisuke agreed. He looked over at Takeru. "Did you understand any of that back there?"
Takeru shook his head. "Much as I am rather fluent in "Yamato-speak", I understood maybe every third thing said. On top of that I don't get "Taichi-speak" at all, so it's rather useless trying to follow anything they say."
"I think we were just insulted," Taichi informed me.
"I think we were," I nodded. "I also think that requires some payback."
"Puh-leez," Takeru glared, "the car ride was enough punishment. I refuse to be anywhere near either of you while you're fighting again." He shuddered. "You two are worse than a married couple."
I saw that twinkle in his eye … he'd better watch his back when he got home, that was a low blow. Kir was smirking at me too, I was just glad that Taichi wasn't as bothered by the comment as me, otherwise my secret would have been out just in the awkward way I was acting.
He snorted, that evil glint to his eye. Oh, he had something really good planned. "Like you and Daisuke are any better," he retorted.
"What?!" Daisuke gaped while Takeru spluttered, looking shocked. I think I was the only one who knew my brother well enough to know he was panicking as well. I grinned. This certainly was interesting information. I smirked at my brother and just before he glared and turned away, I knew I was right, the faint blush and that look in his eyes told me so. Who needed payback later, this slightly sticky situation was already sweet enough to sate me. He'll just get the teasing of his life later.
"As fascinating as your sibling relations are," Koushiro interrupted, "don't you think we should head inside now?" He pointed at some of the others already ignoring us and moving away. "It appears that your band is eager to begin."
"Fine," I sighed, "We'll have fun later then."
The after-concert parties were ritualistic for us. Basically all our friends knew about it, but it never got as bad as some of our planned parties, mostly because we never let it. Well, it was mostly me, but the other guys respected the fact that most of my friends didn't enjoy the same sort of entertainments as they did. There was a bit of drinking going on, but most of the time it was people coming over to say hi and comment on the show. Unfortunately, that also meant a lot of fans coming over that I don't often like to see. Although, some of them had been getting better. Having actually showed up at quite a few parties, Jun really didn't bug me all that much before. She was still head of my (and the band's) fan club, but she wasn't as obsessive about me as before. I think one of the earlier parties where she caught me and Ji making out for the bet gave her the impression that I probably wouldn't ever be interested.
Like I always said, making out with other guys can have some major benefits.
But Jun was here with the other fans. A bit later on in the night she managed to catch up with me and talk a bit about the show. I suppose when you got to know her she wasn't that bad. She and Sora actually got on pretty good and Miyako seemed to like her as well. Daisuke was a bit biased in his opinion of her but that was to be expected of the younger sibling.
Taichi and I got separated pretty early on in the party, which I was bugged about. He did say earlier he could only stay for a little while, I didn't want to miss him going. But I was caught up in being social with everyone. Front-men had their responsibilities after all.
I did see Daisuke and Takeru though. They told me they and the other younger digi-destined were leaving with Jyou and Koushiro. I already knew that Sora was going to be leaving with Jun a bit later, so now everyone except Tai was accounted for. That freaked me a bit, I hoped he hadn't left yet, though Takeru assured me that he was still around somewhere, that knowing smirk on his face. He has spent far too much time around me.
Once I saw the others off I went looking for Taichi, finding my band and Sora and asking them if they'd seen him. They had, but a while ago. I was getting frustrated and just a little more worried. A few people from school had also seen him around and someone finally pointed him out. Guess I was a bit more worried than I thought from the wave of relief that washed through me once I saw him.
"Hey Tai," I managed to say with a smile as I walked over to him.
He looked up at me and returned the smile, not saying anything, turning to stare out into the night again. I had found him in Urinto's backyard leaning against the back fence. Urinto had a weird pile of rocks and debris piled up in one corner that allowed a few people to sit and stare over the two-metre fence. I climbed up beside him, knowing the pile was far more stable than it appeared.
"Something on your mind? You're never this contemplative in one night, it's starting to scare me a bit." I grinned at him, but Taichi didn't even bat an eyelid at the banter, continuing to look away. I frowned. "Tai? Really, is something up?"
He shrugged. "I don't really know Yama, I'm just thinking about a few things that's all."
"Sure." Okay, so Tai didn't often spend his time thinking about things too deeply, he was a person to enjoy life rather than debate it, which is something I really like about him … another thing I really like about him. That didn't mean that he didn't have moments like this, they were rare, but usually pretty important. I knew that Taichi liked his space when he was in these moods, but he usually didn't mind me being there, in fact preferred it sometimes.
"Anything I can help with?"
Taichi shrugged. "Not just yet, you might be able to once I get myself sorted a bit more, but that might take a while."
I nodded, nothing life-threatening then, he usually asked my opinion in bad situations, or yelled at me, either one was an indication that something really serious was going on. "Well, you know I'm here when you need it Tai." I grabbed him in a one-armed hug and smiled comfortingly at him.
"Thanks Yama." He wrapped his arms around my waist and laid his head on my shoulder. Did I mention how much I like his hair? It's so soft and light … and it makes me kinda ticklish. I had to scrunch my nose a few times so as not to sneeze, only that made things worse. Taichi looked up at my squirming. "What's wrong?"
"Your hair's tickling my nose," I replied with a giggle.
He grinned. "I'll have to remember that for next time we get into a fight."
"We don't fight, we have animated discussions."
He laughed. "If you say so." He moved away and shifted slightly. I got up and we both got down. He looked at his watch, squinting to see in the dark. "I should head home now."
"Really?" He looked up guiltily at the disappointment in my voice. I sighed. "Guess it can't be helped. Hey, what are you doing tomorrow, we can hang out a bit more, I got a few new movies."
He shifted and looked away. Oh no, definitely not a good sign. "You can't make tomorrow? Um … well I have a few practices with the guys and Takeru's coming over … next Friday then?"
"Yamato," he said softly and I stopped, a sinking feeling my stomach. He hasn't called me by my full name for a while and not in that tone for even longer. This was really not good. "My family's going on vacation tomorrow."
"Oh." Damn, they were going early this year, not good. "How long?" It's fine, the Yagami's usually only go out for a week or two, I should be fine, Tai will call me or email me or something.
He still wasn't meeting my gaze. "Two months," he said quietly. I think my heart almost stopped. He'd be gone for two months? How the hell was I supposed to survive without my best friend for two months? I think my panic was showing because Taichi looked rather worried. "It won't be that bad for you Yama, at least you don't have to stay in a run-down chalet pretty much in the middle of nowhere with my family for two months."
I still couldn't reply. Doesn't he realise all the things that could happen in two months? I'm probably being really selfish here, but Taichi's basically my lifeline for everything, the only way I'm able to survive at all. Yes, he does have a life and family, but I need him. "Tai," I began, hearing the frantic tone myself.
Taichi looked really worried then. "What is it? It's not that bad Yama."
Much as I knew that in the back of my mind, for some reason I couldn't process the idea, all I knew was that Tai was leaving. I know it was irrational and stupid, but I couldn't help the fear that something would go so wrong in those two months. I freaked out and grabbed him in a tight hug.
"You can't leave for two months," I whispered hysterically to him, my face buried in his shoulder.
"Yama." He was using that tone he always did whenever I was being unreasonable and thick-headed, but it still wouldn't sink in and I clung to him tighter.
"Don't leave," I begged. I know I was being stupid, but the fear tightening my chest begged me never to let him go.
"Yama," he repeated softly, prying my arms away. No, I didn't want him to talk, I knew if he did he'd talk me around the situation somehow and I'd be left alone, I couldn't let that happen.
Without even thinking about what I was doing I reached up and pulled his face down to meet mine in a heated, frenzied kiss. He froze with the first sensation of my lips on his. I didn't take it further, just pressed closer and poured my heart out to him with that single action. I could feel him start to shake slightly from the intensity but he didn't respond in any other way. My stomach dropped and the full consequence of my actions finally sank in. I let my arms drop and stepped back, my own eyes wide, anxiously waiting his reaction.
He stared at me with a clouded gaze for what seemed a lifetime. I didn't bother pleading with him any longer, I'd screwed up and shoved everything out in the open for his judgement.
He sighed finally and looked away. "Goodbye Yamato," he said quietly then turned and walked away. I didn't try to stop him this time.
AN: … So … yeah, probably not what people were expecting huh. Che, talk about being overly dramatic Yama … but I'd planned this for a while so I'm kinda happy how this turned out. Wanted things perfect for everyone reading.
Well … I'll just be leaving now to … do something I guess, hope you all enjoyed this chapter and are eagerly awaiting the next (yes, I'm evil, I know)
Laters.
Vialana
