Tethered Together, Torn Apart.
"I couldn't believe I didn't see it coming."
"Dai, it's okay. He's been sick for a while. Now he's in a better place." Taichi was trying to comfort his partner. The loss of their pet hamster was unbearable. It was Taichi's present to Daisuke for their 15th day anniversary. But a lot of time has passed since then. The affectionately named "Taisuke" spent Christmas with them, watching them kiss underneath the mistletoe, many times. He was there when Mrs. Yagami made them a three-tiered cake and they devoured it in one sitting. He was there when Daisuke would ask Hikari for advice about her brother, and how she would ask for information on Takeru in return. He was there during their heated fights, as well as their most passionate moments. He was there throughout the spring, watching them lay on the bed as they watched the cherry blossoms bloom and fall, through the window. He was there through every video game tournament, and every movie marathon. He was there at the Father-Son picnic where Taichi, Daisuke, and their fathers competed in the company soccer game, even when Daisuke kicked the ball right into Mr. Yagami's face, and the hysterical laughing that followed. He was there through every super-soaker-fight, and every ice-cream-pillage that accompanied summer's warm caress. He even made it through the first day of school, and a few days after that. He didn't make it to be a part of their one-year anniversary, which was in a week. A lot has changed in one year. Hikari and Takeru became an item, which both boys didn't seem to mind. They haven't seen Ken or Yamato around in ages. They both assumed that they're off together doing God-knows-what. As for Tai and Dai, they had their ups and their downs, but now, they seemed stronger than ever. As they said their last words and covered the shoebox coffin with dirt, the bond between them only grew as Taichi held Daisuke in his arms as Daisuke rested his head on Taichi's chest. Nothing would get in the way of their love for each other. Nothing.
"What are we gonna do today, Dai?" Taichi asked anxiously, lightheartedly, a way that only someone in love could understand. "Pig out? Watch TV? Not do homework? Cuddle?"
"I can't," Daisuke said hesitantly. Then, he shifted tone, in hopes to cover his worry and anxiety. "I have a doctor's appointment. Stupid doctor. He's cutting into my precious time with you!"
"Oh." Taichi had some concern. Dai was the greatest actor that Taichi ever known. He could hide his emotions pretty well in front of others, but he never thought that Dai would do it to him too. He didn't seem to like the doctor much, but this just was plain weird. Daisuke could feel the worried feelings that Taichi had.
"I'll be fine, senpai. Don't worry." He gave a 'thumbs up,' adjusted the goggles that his love gave him, and smiled. Then, he gave his beloved senpai a kiss, and left.
Daisuke failed to notice the peach-colored walls of the doctor's office, or the birds that were gliding around, or the view of the harbor from the window. "Mr. and Mrs. Motomiya, I'm sorry." Daisuke didn't want to hear any of it. His mother was sobbing, his father was angry. Daisuke was silent. He only tuned in to the doctor's words sporadically. Odd, but the words that he did hear seemed to have hurt him. Nothing. Diagnosis. Grim. Inevitable. Weeks. Death. Sorry. Daisuke wanted nothing of it. He took off his senpai's prized goggles, and cried.
"I beat you again. That was too easy!" Taichi wasn't the best at practicing modesty, but he did know when his love was troubled. Saturday afternoon rolled by once again, and they were doing what they did every Saturday afternoon: playing video games. As Taichi ranted on and on about how he used that killer combo, Daisuke faded out. Taichi looked into his eyes, and couldn't find that sparkle that once filled his eyes.
"Dai, what's wrong? It's such a great day! There's no need to be sad." Daisuke was a little startled, but not surprised. When Daisuke visited him the day after the doctor's appointment, Taichi could tell that something was eating up at Daisuke. All they did was sit on the couch and watched the sunset together. When he was holding Daisuke, Taichi noticed that the younger boy had a heavy burden inside his heart. "I know. We can get a pet turtle, and call him Daichi. He can be there when we celebrate our one-year anniversary tomorrow!" Taichi was trying to pump up a little excitement, while trying to get to the heart of his love's problem. Just to give a response so that things could seem normal, Daisuke said whatever he could think of.
"You're silly, you know that?"
"Just trying to put a smile on your face…" Daisuke said nothing. Taichi became uncertain of how his love was feeling. The least he could do was get the boy's attention.
"Dai? Earth to Dai? Hey buddy, what's wrong? Daisuke Motomiya? Speak to me!" On the verge of tears, Taichi tried to reach out to knock some sense into his love, but Daisuke snapped back.
"Stop it, Taichi!" The tears began to roll down. "Don't touch me!" Taichi couldn't understand. He couldn't stop sobbing. He couldn't stop hurting. Daisuke stood up, and heartlessly uttered those words that Taichi always feared to hear.
"I don't need you, Taichi. I hate you." Ignoring Taichi's heart-tugging screams, Daisuke got up and left. Hikari, who was in the kitchen, noticed Daisuke leaving.
"Leaving so soon, Dai?" He didn't respond. He just walked passed her, took his shoes, and left, not bothering to stay and put them on. After slamming the Yagami's front door behind him disrespectfully, he fell, and cried.
"I'm sorry, Tai. Forgive me. It had to be done."
Their one-year anniversary came and passed. Taichi hesitated to call after being hurt so bad. He waited by the phone with Daichi the turtle beside him. It never rang. He didn't know what to do. The high sun was setting across Odaiba, and the leaves of the oak trees were fluttering around in the air, tumbling every which way. He tried his best to ignore them. Taichi didn't care anymore. All he wanted was his little Daisuke in his arms. That seemed unlikely. Daisuke didn't want anything to do with him anymore, or at least that was how Taichi felt. Exhausted and heartbroken, Taichi collapsed on the couch. Hikari couldn't stand the sight. She hated seeing her brother in such disarray.
"Oniichan, are you okay?" It was obvious to her that he wasn't. She just wanted to ask. Taichi only muttered to himself.
"Why would he break my heart like that?" Hikari heard the cry of desperation and help.
"I don't know. But you know what you need?" Hikari smiled and pulled out a spoon and a bucket of ice cream from the freezer. "You need to spend some quality time with you little sister, and we can dish about the boys in our life. What do you say?" Before Taichi could give a response, or a lack thereof, Hikari opened the bucket only to discover that the Rocky Road tub was empty. "Darn! I guess I'll run out to Miyako's family's store and pick up some ice cream, okay?" She walked towards the door, only to be greeted by a package. She picked it up. It was light. The card said that it was for her brother. "Taichi-san! A package for you!" He didn't respond. She sighed, put the package next to her lifeless brother, who was staring at the sun and the sky's gradual shift in color, and left to get some much needed ice cream.
Minutes passed before the holder of the crest of courage even noticed the box that was next to him. It said senpai. Seeing that only hurt Taichi more, knowing that Daisuke was here and never bothered to say something to him. He tore the brown wrapping around it only to find a shoebox. It had pictures of Daisuke, Taichi, and them together plastered all over it. Taichi cried and smiled. He didn't know what to expect inside. He opened the box, and all the joy that came to him for that slight moment disappeared. It was his goggles. He didn't understand. There was a tag attached to it.
Happy anniversary, Taichi-senpai.
That's all it said. Taichi uncontrollably whimpered. He didn't understand. "Was this some kind of cruel joke? How could you have done this, Daisuke? I thought you love me? You don't care! After all we've been through, you go and throw it all away?" Taichi screamed and ran into his room. He took the goggles and put it at the foot of his bed, and he threw the box to the wall. It was just there on the floor, but he didn't care. He crawled into bed, and cried himself to sleep.
Ek: I have nothing to say. Keep going.