Warnings: Blood, m/m,

Disclaimer: I am making no money off of this; this is purely for the amusement of my twisted mind.

Authors Notes: Sorry I took so long! Summer reading, 1000 pages in a week then a week of tests. I so LOVE school...As a sorry I have created a short Taito piece, 100 done, I think you will like I, called "The letter". Sorry again and ON WITH THE SHOW!!!!

Another Death

Yamato pressed his lips to Taichis forehead lovingly as his vision turned crimson. For the first time sense his mortal body died Yamato cried and a single crimson teardrop cascaded down his pallid cheek.

Yamato pulled back just enough to look down at his precious charge. Two chocolate eyes were staring up at him, glazed over but recognizing, his lips were moving but no words came out. He was alive, a weak pulse beat erratically under pale skin, he was alive but not for long, already the fragile heart was slowing, failing with no blood left to pump.

In the next few moments there were no thoughts on Yamatos part, only a rush of human adrenalin coursing through his system, guiding his movements. He brought his own wrist to a sharp fang and tore the flesh, no time for grace or elegance. Crimson gushed from the wound, droplets falling onto Taichis dry lips. Tai groaned, not fully understanding what was happening around him through the pain in his body, and unable to comprehend what needed to be done.

"Drink." Yamato cooed as he pressed his bleeding wrist to Tais mouth. Taichi blinked as the first rush of blood spilled into his mouth, then his fevered hands grasped the appendage much like Yamato had done only a day before, clutching it to his lips.

Yamato watched silently, worry coursing through him like the blood flowing from him. He did not know if it would work, if he was still too young in vampire time, if he could bring someone over from the very point of death, snatch Taichi from deaths cold embrace and make him immortal. But even as these worries tore at him he could not help but watch Tai fighting desperately for the life he was unwittingly killing, it was too heartbreaking. He tore his crystal eyes from the sight and pressed his lips to Taichis forehead once more. Minutes passed and Yamato was growing steadily weaker, his veins were on fire, pain shooting through every part of him with the acute senses of the undead. He had given more than even Myotismon had, fear and love propelling him to give everything he had to Tai. But he could not let himself become useless, who else would care for Tai now if not for him? Taichi could hate him all the more for what Yamato had made him later, once he was safe and as close to alive as he could become. When the pain grew too unbearable and it seemed like he would burst into flames Yamato wrenched his wrist away, falling back wards to lay limply in the pool of Taichis blood.

He didn't know how long he lay there before Tai moved from his lap, he could feel the brunet crawling up his body and stopping when their heads were only inches apart.

"Yama?" Taichis whimper was worried and pained, enough to make Yamato turn to watch the stricken face. A hand caressed his pallid cheek. "Your Ok right? Yama?" Taichis eyes were filling with crystalline mortal tears. Yamato nearly laughed at how familiar this position was, Taichi hovering above him fearing that he had once again broken the blond. Yamato would have laughed but he was still far to worried, not that his face showed it, it was the perfect picture of stoic uncaring.

Taichi was full out crying now, mumbling apologies, promises that everything would be alright, he actually thought he had killed Yamato and that now he would watch him die when really it was the other way around. Tai was still caressing Yamatos cheek when the first spasm of death wracked his slender frame, sending him down into Yamato.

Matt caught up Taichi in his arms and sat up, holding him like an infant and whispering soothing words until the fit passed. As soon as the pain was gone Taichi smiled weakly.

"Yama your OK." He sighed and snuggled closer into Yamatos heat before another wave of pain hit him, twisting a painful cry unbidden from his throat. His hands clawed at his chest where the pain was emanating from his heart. "What-What is happening?" Tai gasped in a forced voice that faded at the end of every clipped word.

"Your mortal body is dieing." Yamato didn't know how to feel. It was working, Tais body had not rejected the blood, he was changing and still had a chance, on the other hand Tai was never going to be human again. Tai, the one who was suppose to go live a full life and die a natural death an old man because Yamato could not was going to become immortal, he would fear the sun and take life and his damnation would be Yamatos fault. So the joy did not prevail in his voice and neither did the sorrow, this left a cold indifference that struck Tai even through his pain.

"It's going to hurt for awhile, then you will be like me." Yamato added, this time sorrowfully, as if he had lost something very dear to him.

Taichi writhed in Yamatos lap, trying to hold back the gasps of pain that were being wrung from him. Of course Yamato could see all of this and it hurt him to do so. He was wished there was some way to ease the pain of death. A way to take the pain upon himself instead. Maybe blood could ease the pain for him, feeding while the body changes so as not to suffer the inhuman hunger pains as well. But that would mean having Tai take life before he even turned.

Taichi could see everything going on around him but with the pain controlling the spasms of his body there was simply nothing he could do about it. This was truly horrifying as Yamato placed him on the ground and walked away, into the forest and out of sight. Tais mind exploded, Yamato had left him, he had pushed the blonde too far, forced him into something he was against with his entire being and now he would pay for it. He had not been deft to the cold indifferent words given to him, it was then he feared Yamato had given up on him, disgusted and betrayed he would leave, but he had not gone until now. Tai didn't want this, it hadn't been the power Taichi had coveted, it was Yamato. He had bled himself to the point of death because Yamato would not do it for him, because Yamato would live alone forever rather than put up with him and he could not let that happen. Taichi would and has done everything for Yamato, but he messed up and pushed too far, now Yamato was gone. Scarlet tears streamed down Tais face as he curled up into a ball in a pool of his own blood, not for the pain ripping at his body but for the loss of his love.

"Tai!" Yamato ran back into the little cove and pulled Tai into his lap, indifference forgotten for the moment. Taichis limbs immediately unfolded themselves and wrapped around Yamato convulsively, desperately.

"Don't- Don't leave me!" The pain was growing worse and Taichis words were more clipped, it took everything he had to say them, to keep Yamato at his side.

"I'm sorry." And he was, Yamato was saddened to see the tears streaming down his loves face, to see how weak his mighty leader had become for him. "I wont leave you again, but I had to go feed." Yamatos cheeks were flushed and rosy, his eyes sparkling, like a human in the prime of life, the most human state a vampire could achieve, and it had taken several evil digimon to get this way. Without explanation he lifted his wrist to Taichis mouth, expecting it to be taken readily but Tai turned his face away.

"Drink, it will make you feel better." Taichi shook his head again; he did not want to hurt Yamato again.

Matt played with a chocolate lock as he thought of what to do, admiring the deep color against his pale hand and sharp fingernails. Then a smile that revealed his pearly white fangs graced his features and he releases the lock in order to stab delicately at the side of his throat. A crimson rivulet made its way down his shoulder and into his cloths, falling close to Taichis open mouth. Yamato shifted the boy in his lap until Tais face was in the curve of his neck.

"Go on." Yamato spoke and was answered with Taichis half contemplated thoughts, falling hazardly from him. Taichi didn't want to hurt him again, a valiant leader to the very end. Yamatos voice again took on its indifferent mask as the painful thought coursed through his mind, only as a leader would Tai not want to hurt him. "You wont hurt me."

That was all the reassuring Taichis blood lusting mind needed when so close to his coveted prize. Matt had expected pain actually; a ruthlessness he had become accustom to so quickly with his own kills but Taichi was supremely gentle. His neck was not torn further, and definitely not into shreds as he had dreaded, instead it was almost intimate; a direct link with Tai that he had only glimpsed before but through the clutter of pain.

Taichi released his hold on Yamatos neck after drinking till his hearts content, he could feel Yamatos heart beat, feel the blood in both their bodies and knew without knowing how he knew how much he could take without hurting the other boy, how much he needed to not crave anything and have his eyes turn red. After he released the pale neck he pulled back to examine the area with his head resting on Yamato shoulder, blood still seeped from it but it appeared to be healing. Tai wasn't thinking about his actions anymore, mind muddled with the sleepiness of overeating something warm and savory. He let himself lick Yamatos pale neck like a kitten with milk until it healed over before his eyes. It was then he noticed for the first time that he was in less pain. Occasionally the spasms of pain attacked him but they were bearable, only causing him to double over slightly.

"Why?" Yamatos voice was deeper than normal and tinged with the pain of inner turmoil. When he got no answer and knew that none would come Matt decided upon a question that his heart demanded a concrete answer for, one that he would not let slip away. "Did you want death or this?" His arms tightened unconsciously around the boy in his arms, trying to protect them both from the answer.

"I was not trying to kill myself." Taichi answered slowly, afraid of the response he might get. Yamato seemed to accept the answer because he kept talking.

"Do you have any idea of the danger you are in? Of all the plans you ruined?" Yamato was not accusing, rather his voice held that same unmistakable sorrow. The sorrow that sounded as if his world had come crashing down around him and lay in ruins at his feet.

"I don't care about the danger, and we can make new plans, together." Tai sat up and twisted until he faced Yamato and could stare into the unfathomably deep sapphire eyes that were more beautiful now than every before.

Yamato stared quietly for a moment. Taichi was changing before his eyes. His tan skin was becoming lighter, not as light as his own but still pale. The warm chocolate eyes were shining brightly as the gained some swirling color and began reflecting the light in mesmerizing ways. Yamato could even see the beginnings of two fangs biting lightly into his soft bottom lip.

"You should care. Myotismon will not like this, if he knows what happened he will try to kill you. I cant send you away now, not to the real world, there the light will kill you instantly or you will be alone for eternity."

"Does this mean you will stay with me?" Taichi missed all of the words Yamato had dubbed important in his own mind and asked the question without thought.

"Taichi the digidestined are all sitting in the middle of a field of Myotismon digimon waiting to be sent home be me! But they can't go because we can not go into the castle with just them or you like you are, Myotismon will know and kill them and us!" Yamato said heatedly. He had almost called the digidestined his friends but it seemed like too much of a liberty to say so. Yamato ignoring Taichis question blatantly, because for right now that was just too much to handle. Taichi staying with him forever had never even come into his mind, even if for a second he had entertained the idea of turning Taichi he never thought the boy would stay. Eventually Tai would hate what he had become and lash out at the one who made him what he was, Yamato. Besides, there was no strong link besides this secret holding them together. Once Yamato had thought they were best friends but those foolish days were over, Tai would never feel even an inkling of what he felt, not even in friendship. Even if Taichi stayed with him for a while it would only be until he learned enough not to be afraid and then he would become bored with his companion and leave.

Tai looked down at Yamatos neck when he could take the intense gaze no longer. Matt had not answered his question and that made him doubt, then to make matters worse Yamato continued on with a speech that only proved Tai was being selfish. Their friends were in danger and all he could think about was making sure Yamato would not leave him.

"Your right, we have to go get them back." Tai thought for a moment, biting his lip out of habit and yelping as fangs sunk into his lip. Yamato actually smiled at that. "You can go tell the digimon there was a change in plans and bring all the digidestined out here, there was a cave near by we can hide in until we think of some way to get out of this mess." Tai stood up, lifting himself from Yamatos warm embrace for the first time. It didn't last long, another fit of pain gripped Taichi and had him doubling over, only staying upright thanks to Yamatos strong arms wrapping around his chest.

"Tai!" Yamato was panicked, for a horrible instant he thought that Taichis body was rejecting the process, that after all they had been through Taichi would die. Of course it was only the last pains of his dieing body which soon passed and left Tai standing and comforting the distraught blond. "Your not ready yet."

"We don't have a choice. Besides I'm fine." Tai smiled as brightly as he ever had and kissed Yamatos cheek. Tai knew in his heart that he had been horrible to Yamato in the past, that even now he had just ripped an unwilling gift from his body, and that sometime very soon Yamato would leave him, but when that time did come he would fight and live on because these last moments with the blonde were not wasted. Tai would never have to wonder "what if" and maybe in time Yamato could forgive him and they could stay together for the rest of their immortal lives. "Come on." Taichi tugged Yamato forward until Matt regained composure from the kiss and had them both running through the forest at top speed.

"Good Luck!" Tai whispered as Yamato left him in the bushes at the end of the field. The digidestined and their partners all turned eagerly toward Yamato, Sora still quivering slightly from her hiding place behind Mimi.

Yamato drew himself up to his full height and flashed his fangs at the group, trying his best to look imposing and official.

"Good work, I won't have to kill you all after all." He addressed Myotismons pathetic gooneys. "Go back to the castle, I have work to do here. If I see even one of you trying to stay back you will die in a most painful way." Another flash of teeth had all the digimon running up tot the castle as fast as their legs would take them.

Sora screamed at the top of her lungs and several of the digimon stopped and turned back. "HE KILLED TAICHI!" She screamed again, she would have continued if Mimi had not clamped a gloved hand over her mouth. Sora saw the blood covering Yamato and instantly flipped out, never mind that Yamato would have either had to roll in blood, as he had actually done, or blow Taichi up to get himself in such a state. Too many of the digimon had heard this to be eliminated by Yamato. He could only hope that none of them would take the suspicious news to Myotismon.

Yamato walked toward the group of what he once called friends. They all waited eagerly for him to talk, save Sora who was still screaming behind Mimi's hand.

"Follow me." Yamato said shortly and made sure that they all complied or were forced to comply as he led them into the forest. Before they could reach the bushes that Tai hid in Yamato decided to try speaking to him without words.

'You should stay out of sight until we get to the cave or Sora might cause several big problems.'

'I can hear you!' Taichi thought excitedly before he could stop himself, Yamato was glad the others were behind him and could not see him forcing back a laugh. Just being around Tai like this made him feel giddy, like everything that had happened was just a bad dream and that they could live as they once had. 'I will stay out of sight, but this is still really cool!' Yamato could practically picture Tais mirthful face as he sent the message.

With several directions from Taichi, Yamato led the group to the little cave and ushered them all inside.

"Where is Taichi?" Takeru asked a little sadly from his seat on the ground. Yamato flinched, Tai had become Takerus new Onii-chan after all, he should have known that would be the first thing from Takerus mouth but he didn't want it to be.

"I'm here." Tai stepped out of the enveloping darkness in the back of the cave and into the gentle light. Takeru was so relieved that he ran over and hugged Tai, everyone missed Yamatos flinch as he sunk into one of the corners, and feelings of uselessness and being unwanted washing over him.

"Taichi your different!" Takeru grinned up at the older boy, using his little fingers to point out the fangs Tai had developed.

A loud sigh and a whoosh of air came from somewhere in the middle of the cave, Sora had fainted and was currently being lowered onto the ground.

"How did you do it?" Mimi asked, staring wide-eyed at the fangs and glassy fingernails. "What did you both do? Can I get a pedicure like that?"

Izzy responded for Taichi and Yamato, flipping open his laptop so that they could only see a tuft of red hair above the monitor. "Neither of you are registering as completely human anymore, so I'm guessing Myotismon did something to change Yamato but I'm not sure about Taichi."

"Long story short, Yama is not happy with me." Tai threw his hand to the back of his head nervously and glanced over at where Yamato had sunken into the shadows. Something about the way Yamato was holding himself was wrong, searching for it now Tai could feel the emotions coming off Yamato but could hear nothing. Yamato was sad, depressed, dejected, feelings of uselessness all but radiated from him; even doubt could be felt around the blond. Finding no reason that Yamato should feel several of those things Taichi decided it was time to investigate. It would be his last gift to Yamato before he was abandoned by the blond, Tai would fix whatever was causing him so much heartache.

"Why don't you guys eat and rest up. We all need to prepare for whatever could attack us." The group decided that this would be best and left Sora asleep on the floor to feed the digimon and rest, talking lightly amongst themselves as they did so.

Taichi slipped over to Yamato and took a hold of a slender wrist, dragging him into the back of the cave where only their superior eyes could see each other clearly.

"Yama what is it?"

"He might be able to see us, hear us right now." Yamato answered softer than necessary, as if guarding the words from Myotismons ears.

"What? How?"

"He has this thing, I saw you all through it. I could hear ever word you said." Yamatos voice was strained; bad memories making it difficult to talk, Tai took note of this but as forced to ignore it for the moment.

"Well there are a million caves around here, he wont be able to pick out which one we are in." Tai sat down and watched Yamato do the same; they sat cross-legged across from each other, so close that their knees touched. 'What if we talk like this? The others wont say anything he cares about.' Matt nodded an affirmative, watching the rocks, which had suddenly become very fascinating.

'Something is wrong, I can feel it.' Tai said to Yamato without words, when he got no response he took Yamatos hand into his own and squeezed it gently. 'It's what you saw isn't it? What did you see when you watched us?'

'Nothing.'

'Yama.' Tai grabbed the other hand too and held them both in his lap, pouting his lips cutely in an attempt to break the blondes resolve.

'Stop that. Don't tease me.' Yamato said harshly but made no move to take back his hands. 'I know I am not needed here, that I am only still with you all because I am a digidestined and help Gabumon digivolve. Takeru doesn't need me, he has you. And you don't need me either Taichi so don't pretend you do!'

'You're my best friend of course I need you!' Tai thought instantly.

'You were happy enough without me!' Yamatos voice was harsh in Tais mind but now it made sense. Yamato had always suffered from these insecurities, feelings that he was not wanted, that he would be abandoned. The only thing that could have set him off was seeing that one day where Taichi was smiling despite the throbbing pain in his heart, the day that through fake lightheartedness on his part got the group further than he had ever thought possible. The only thing was, why would Yamato care if he hated Tai?

'No, that was all fake. Manufactured for the benefit of the group. As leader I had to do it to get to you faster!'

'As a leader you were trying to save me.' Yamato spat back sorrowfully.

'As your friend! No matter what I say you are going to think what you want but at least know this! No matter what happens I will never leave you. Never. If we are separated someday far from now it will be because you got sick of me, I need you Yama!' Taichi sent a rush of raw emotion to Yamato through their link, love and passion, enough to erase the doubts of anyone except Yamato.

"You only need me because you are actually afraid of something for once! Afraid of what you are! You wanted this, the power, the beauty, I would have saved you from it but you took it anyway! Don't lie to me Taichi!" Yamato blew up, ripping his hands from Taichis and standing. "You have what you wanted, you took it from me! Now leave me alone!" Yamato was heartbroken, confused and pained by his own thoughts, he couldn't stand it anymore.

Outside the little cave bats were clearing out of the nighttime skies and back to their master. The sky was not its normal deep blue but an agitated gray, heavy storm clouds rumbled above as lightning struck the ground, scorching wherever it touched, telling the tale of what was to come. A battle with fire and light, tension and darkness, a battle in which something or someone would cease to exist.

Next chapter sooner, I promise. I have very good ideas for this little story, there is still more to go yet! What will Myotismon do? What will out beloved heroes do? Can they conquer all of there mental angst or let it consume them and let the digital world fall? Next time on Digi...Vampires Kiss....(Review please! I love opinions!)