To the Highest Bidder
By theladyknight
Disclaimer: Digimon—not mine!
Tenshiyume24: Thanks for all the nice words! I'm glad you like it!
Placid Snowflake: Please don't throw forks! I promise you won't need to!
Shadowcat: Thanks! Click the link on my name, and it'll show you my bio page and other stories…I've got plenty more!
Cherryblossom Sky: I didn't even think of that, but given Makoto's character, that's something he would've said. He's an idiot.
Caravaggio: Well, at least Sora agrees with you…no one else did…
Syl Sylver: You're reviewer number 300! Just thought I'd point that out and thank you!
Mrs. Ishida-to-you: I didn't want Yamato to get charged with battery or something like that. But go ahead and start the We Hate Makoto club…thankfully this is the last chapter he's in until the sequ…-I said too much!-
Mewgia Mirrorcoat: I'm glad you gave the fic a try! Thanks!
And thanks to: Tyrantress, Inconnu, soratoforever, Only Secret, maiden-of-dreams, sorato-takari, indigowolf, midnight-mystic-dragon, Kerei Kitsune, Sakura Arielle, scorpion05, HiEi JaGaNsHis FlAmE, animeaddict99, sapphire dragons, feelingblue, Curtis Zidane Ziraa, Kay, nickygirl, money makes me smile, crazyamzy, anxious, SoratoFan, Anubiana, Yume-dream, Dark Magician and Holy Mage, princessstphanie, Wind Witch, riza, Trio Wing, BrnttsDoItBest, and direwolf1427…here's the chapter!
Chapter 14: Answers
"You heard me, Ishida. It's an easy choice: make millions of dollars being the beloved singer of an incredibly successful band or stay with that plain, nobody you claim to "love"."
Yamato stared Makoto down. Their eyes never left each other's. "That's low, Makoto. You've done some stupid things before, but this takes the cake." Akira spat.
"The band won't last our entire lives. We're gonna need friends and people there who love us for who we are. People like that are always there." Yutaka rationalized.
"People do love you!" Makoto shouted as though it was the most obvious thing in the whole world. "They worship you, want to be you, date you, have your babies…"
"That's sick!" Takashi exclaimed.
"Women want you. You guys are gonna be huge! Why would you give that up for some girl? It's an obvious choice what to do, Ishida."
Yama gave him a sly smile. "You're right, Makoto. I do have a choice, a very easy choice.
"I'm glad you're coming to your senses, Ishida. Let's hear it…"
The blond faced his three band members. "You guys know what I'm going to do."
"Of course," Yutaka grinned, patting Yamato on the back. "No regrets, man."
"We knew you wouldn't let us down."
Yes! He's going to choose the right one!
"Bro, we all know you're making the right choice." Takashi bumped knuckles with the blond.
Yamato turned back around, now facing Makoto once again. He took his time, casually sauntering over so that he was eye level with the fat man. "Well,"
"I've made me decision. Makoto, I quit."
WHAT?
"I love Sora, and she's so much more important to me than the band."
"Ishida, you're making a huge mistake!"
There was clapping behind us. "Way to go, Yamato!"
I saw Akira nudge Takashi. "I wish I had enough courage to do that."
I can't believe it. Why? I…I can't take it.
"Sora! Sora, where are you going?"
I darted out the nearest door. I have to get away! He picked me over the band. Why the hell did he pick me over the band?
My feet carried me out the studio as fast as I could fly wearing the ridiculous shoes I had on. I didn't know where I was going, nor did I care. All that mattered was getting far, far away from the blond as quickly as possible.
Finally, I arrived at the park about half a block away. My eyes searched for someplace to land, and my body collapsed onto a swing. It was there I broke down.
Why did he do that? He gave up his spot as lead singer in a band that had just signed recording contracts because of me.
We're not even going out for God's sake!
Yamato, now you're making me wonder. Why did he do that? I wanted him to choose the band! I wanted him to do this so then we can end this fake relationship. It's killing me to go on with this—I love him for real, but I have no idea where he stands, particularly after that stunt he just pulled. My vision blurred with streams of tears, and I buried my head in my arms.
"Sora!"
I looked down to see a pair of cerulean eyes staring into mine. Yamato was kneeling directing in front of me, eyes full of concern. "Sora, why did you run? What's the matter?"
My mouth refused to function. Nothing came out of it. Seeing as I was temporarily mute, I did the first thing that came to my mind, which didn't involve speaking.
SLAP!
The blond clutched his left cheek, a red mark now slowly appearing. "Sora?"
I finally regained the ability to speak. "Why did you do that, Yamato? Why did you choose me?"
His eyes widened. "Why wouldn't I choose you over the band? Sor, he was asking me to give you up from my life, and put the band in front of everyone and everything!"
"Yama, I wanted you to choose the band! I don't want you giving up your career because of me!"
"Sora, it's not just about my future with the band. Makoto has been pushing us to get rid of everything in our lives that we hold close to us. Someone had to take a stand. I guess I was the one really willing to give it all up and tell him."
Tears continued flowing from my eyes. The blond pulled me off the swing into his arms. "Don't touch me!" I broke loose of his grasp. I don't want you to charm me again and make it seem like everything will be okay—you always do that, Yamato. Things aren't going to be alright! Why can't he just see that?
"Calm down, please,"
"You want me to calm down after what you just did? Think about that hard, Yamato! What are people gonna think?"
"What do you mean?" He tried to grab my hand in a comforting gesture, but I pulled away for the second time.
"The public, Yama! Once this gets leaked out to the press, things are gonna erupt. Everyone will assume you and I are really serious, and we love each other a lot. But you know what? WE'RE NOT EVEN GOING OUT!"
"Sora…"
"Look, Yamato," I didn't care if I was interrupting him, "we've been pretending to be a couple for so long, yet you could just go back there and admit we're not going out. It would make things so much easier."
"Why would it do that?" He challenged.
How was he not getting this? Doesn't he understand what this is gonna make us do? "We thought this act would fade away after a few months, but now we have to keep it up for God knows how long." My voice sounded across the night sky. I'm surprised a bunch of people in the neighboring apartments haven't opened up their windows to yell at us for being so loud.
"No we don't." He merely stated.
"What? Of course we do!"
"No, we really don't."
I glared at him. "Why would that be, Ishida?"
He paused. "We can make it official."
"Excuse me?" I froze. What did he mean? He took notice of my state, bringing me towards his warm body. I didn't react fast enough to push him away.
Our faces were mere centimeters apart. His hot breath brushed across my face, and it took all my willpower to refuse to give into the temptation of kissing his soft lips. "Stop pretending to be my girlfriend; I don't want to pretend anymore, either. I want you to be my girlfriend for real."
My eyes widened in shock while his anxiously bore down into mine. "What did…Yama…what?"
"Shh, just listen." He placed a finger over my lips, keeping me from interrupting him anymore. "I love you, Sora."
I fought with his strong arms, attempting to liberate myself from his tight grip. I didn't move, though. He refused to let me go. "Stop throwing those words around! You've said them so many times, and I've wanted to believe them, and I started to believe them and…" I was rambling as I choked back a fresh set of tears, spilling my true feelings out into the open in the process.
Yamato lightly brushed the tears from my eyes before resting his chin on my shoulder, pulling me into a tight hug. "Sora, I swear to you that I meant them every time I said I love you. It was eating me up inside, pretending to be your boyfriend, when from the very start I was crazy about you."
"Why didn't you do something then?" I stopped resisting. Only a little, though.
"I was afraid of loosing your friendship. I care about you so much, so much more than you'll ever know."
My eyes turned a dark shade of red, and I purposely looked away from his face and his own pools. "How do I know you're not just sweet talking to get me to go along with this so your image won't be ruined? How do I know you're being sincere?"
"Would I ever do something like that? Fame means nothing to me, especially if I can't have you with me, friend or more. Damn it, Sora, I've loved you since we were younger, much younger, and I'm kicking myself for not telling you earlier. I was afraid. Afraid of rejection, afraid of loosing you, afraid of so many things."
"Stop the sweet words! You swept me off my feet too long ago, and it's breaking my heart to be here like this, listening to you do it all over again. I don't know where you stand, Yamato! I stopped pretending a long time ago! It sucked to pretend. Do you know how hard it was, kissing you, trying to convince myself that this was all temporary? That the man I'm in love with was only pretending? I've loved you forever, but I only now just noticed it. Yamato, don't tell me you love me if you don't mean it."
In one fluid motion, he captured my lips with his in a long possessive kiss. I tried to fight it, but resistance only proved to be futile. His lips moved against mine delicately, as though this kiss was really trying to tell me something. He pulled away, and I looked up into his gorgeous orbs.
"Do you believe me when I say I love you, Sora? I'm not lying; I was only lying to myself, trying to hide my feelings. It's out now, Sora; the truth's out. I can't deny it anymore. I love you and nothing will change it, not the band, not Makoto, not the way you feel…nothing. The choice now is if you're willing to believe I'm sincere and give me the chance I've been waiting for since we were a lot younger. I promise I'll always be there and never hurt you. You have my word. But if you don't believe me, I want us to still remain friends. I told you that back when we first started this little charade. I never believed it would escalate to something like this, but this is what it comes down to. Two choices, Sora; it's up to you. I'll respect whatever decision you come to."
It was there I finally understood what he had told me in the beginning. No one could tell you who you could love and who you couldn't. You don't necessarily choose who that person is, but once you find that person, don't let them go. This choice I have is so much like the ultimatum Makoto offered him.
My eyes shut and memories of growing up with the blond flashed through my mind. He stood up to two older bullies, taking them on for me when we had just started school. Yamato and I would hang out on the rooftop during summer nights, discussing what we thought the future held. I never thought the adorable, hardheaded blond I met at the park, fighting with Taichi and me over a toy would be the one who would capture my heart and never let it go.
Yamato was right; the choice was really easy.
Yama's lips felt so right against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, closing the gap between us, our lips dancing together. How could I have doubted this choice? How could I have doubted him? Our lips were locked in a ferocious battle and slowly, he started to pull away. I didn't want this to end for fear it was all just a dream. I kissed him harder, keeping him from ending it and removing his delectable lips from mine. Finally, a good time after I had initiated this kiss, I pulled away, needing a breath of air and feeling tears seeping down my cheeks. But my eyes were dry.
I glanced up to see the blond wiping tears out of his eyes. Hugging him to me, I whispered, "If I hadn't already believed you were sincere, this would have convinced me. I love you, Yamato, and I want to be with you for real, no more pretending."
His handsome face broke out into a gigantic grin, and the next thing I knew, he had lifted me up into the air. "I've been wanting to hear you say that for the longest time. I love you too, Sora."
He placed me back on the ground, and our lips met in a joyous reunion. I never believed kissing Yamato could get any better, but kissing him and knowing my love for him was returned far surpassed it.
We stayed there in each others arms, kissing for quite some time. I don't really know how long we were out there. It seemed like everything was perfect, like nothing could go wrong. But as soon as I thought that, I knew something would happen.
"Yamato, are you out there?"
"Hey, Ishida!" We broke apart to the sound of two very different voices. One seemed worried while the other was incredibly pissed off. Take a guess at who the second person was. Five people soon joined us, and Yamato faced them all.
"What do you want now, Makoto? I told you I quit."
Takuya stepped forward. "Actually, Yamato, you are bound to your contract for the next two years. The only way you can be released is if both you and I agree to terminate it, or if I fire you.
Wait, there's an idea…
It seemed Yutaka picked up on it too. He, standing behind Takuya, whispered it to Akira, and soon Takashi knew as well. "Group meeting," the drummer called out before Yama had the chance to respond, most likely saying he wanted the first option.
They gathered in a circle, and I knew the plan right away. The four talked amongst themselves for around five minutes before breaking apart, all facing Makoto and Takuya.
"You're right, Takuya, it seems I'm bounded by contract. I guess I'm still in the band."
Makoto looked as if Christmas had come early. "You know the conditions, Ishida. If you're in the band, you've gotta ditch Sarah or whatever this chick's name is."
It was Yamato's turn to smirk. "Actually, the only person getting ditched around here is you, Makoto. You're fired!"
"What did you say?"
Akira smirked. "I believe you heard him the first time, Makoto. It was a group decision. We all decided we're sick of you and can do much better. It's time for you to leave."
"Scram, adios, ciao, aloha, sayonara, adieu, arrivederci, buh-bye. Choose your lingo. You're fired!" Yutaka exclaimed.
Makoto hadn't moved. Takashi smirked at him. "Do we have to spell it out for you? Y.O.U. A.R.E. F.I.R.E.D.!"
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. "You can't fire me! You don't have that power."
"They do possess it, Makoto," Takuya took a stand now; "it's in their contracts. They have the power to select a manager and the authority to remove that person if they don't think the manager is working for their best interests."
"Absolutely not! You can't do this!" He screamed.
"I think we just did," Yama dryly replied. "But I guess we can take another vote to show we weren't lying. All in favor of giving Makoto the boot raise your hand." At once the four Teen-Ages Wolves, Takuya, and I each raised a hand. Well, both Takashi and Yutaka raised two hands.
Makoto glared at every single one of us. "You will regret this. Your careers are over."
"As long as I don't have to loose someone I love, it doesn't bother me," The blond stated, wrapping his arms around me.
Makoto stomped a foot. "See if I care; you could have been successful with me, but now you're a bunch of nothings. You'll be regretting this decision for a long time!" He stormed off amidst the cheers and shouts of our group.
"Well, I'd say that worked out quite well."
"Yeah, except for the fact we don't have a manager anymore." Yutaka replied.
Yamato grinned. "At least we're done with Makoto. I'm back in the group, guys, because I love playing music, and because the four of us have been through so much together. We deserve this. But if our next manager, whoever it may be, asks me to dump Sora, I'm out."
Takashi gave him a high-five. "Same with me; well, that is if they ask me to give up anything I love or take away anyone I love." Akira and Yutaka each nodded their heads.
Takuya's eyes sparkled. "Well, I have a proposition for you." All ears perked up, and everyone faced the man. "I started out in this business a few years ago, working as a manager. I will temporarily fulfill the role until you find a new, honest one. But I actually have a suggestion for the perfect person…"
"Me?" I questioned when Takuya stopped right in front of me. "But…but I know nothing about being a manager."
"I'll teach you. Yamato told me you were planning on studying something regarding business at the university. Consider this sort of like an internship, moving onto a very high job. Why not take this opportunity? You can take online classes as well in order to get your degree, and if you ever decide this isn't the right career option for you, you can leave. No one will be bitter. Sora, it seems like you're the best person for the job. The guys are always raving about you. From the way they talk, it seems like you'd make the best decisions for the group, not favoring one individual over another." Yamato grinned at him. "What do you say, Sora?"
"Say yes!" Takashi pumped his fist in the air.
"It'd be great to have you with us. You'd make everything fair, and I know you do what's best for the band. You've known us all for awhile so nothing will be too strange and awkward." Akira responded.
Yutaka pouted. "Come on, Sor, you know it would be awesome!"
The blond smiled down at me. "I have a feeling you know what my vote is."
I couldn't keep from grinning. I have always wanted to go into business. This could prepare me for a lot of things in life. And I can take online classes…"I guess I could give it a try."
"Yes!" the band all exclaimed.
Takashi let out a whoop. "SORA SANDWICH!" I swear these guys have been hanging around Taichi way too much.
"Let her breathe, guys." Takuya cautioned. "She can't be your manager if she suffocates."
One by one the guys, with the exception of Yamato, pulled away. "Thank you for everything, Takuya. We really appreciate it." Yamato shook the man's hand once more.
"It's no problem, Yamato. I'm glad we can have you guys on board. I must say, I'm really looking forward to it. We'll all meet up on Monday afternoon to begin making arrangements." Takuya checked his watch. "It's 11:30, why don't you all head home? I'll cover for you inside. You all could use a well-deserved break. Go; enjoy the rest of the night."
"Thanks," The group chorused as Takuya walked toward the studio.
"You guys up for some video games at my place?" Yutaka asked.
"Hell yeah!" Akira exclaimed.
Takashi laughed. "You guys don't stand a chance against me! I'm the best!"
"You two up for it?" Akira faced us.
Yamato and I caught each other's eyes. "We'll pass."
"Alright, but you don't know what you're missing." Takashi answered. With a wave and call of, "Have fun you two," they were off.
"So," Yama answered, lightly kissing my neck, "what do you want to do?"
"I'm not too picky. Mom and Dad aren't expecting me for quite some time."
He raked a hand through his hair. "Well, Dad's gone. I have the apartment to myself and…"
Our eyes locked, and I felt a small smile creep onto my face. "Your Dad's gone?"
"Yeah, he left for a business trip."
"A bit clichéd, don't you think?"
He fought back a grin. "Cliché is bad?"
I linked my arm through his. "In this case…no. Lead the way, Yamato…"
A/N: 1 more chapter left! I can't believe this story is almost done! But I do have a surprise for anyone who reads these little notes—expect it at the end of next chapter. I have a feeling you'll like it; I know I'm excited! Please review and let me know what you think! I'll need some reviews to cheer me up after I take two really hard tests tomorrow. Just how I want to spend my birthday, failing tests…please review!
