Well, here's next chapter. I don't know if someone still reads this… No more excuses, I just lost my imagination somewhere... It must've been lost where I lost my white kitten... I'm still hoping that I can find him sigh...

D. I. S. C. L. A. I. M. E. R.

Not mine, I think it's Disney's!

"A Simple Melody"

Chapter Three. – If this is a bliss then I'd rather be damned!

-"Oh Yama, you're so beautiful. I'm sorry angel, it's all my fault."- Tai said lowly, thinking that the blond was fast asleep, but to his disappointment, Matt's eyes snapped open.

-"What did you just say?"- Asked a wide eyed blond.

At the moment, Taichi's color drained like water. His face, usually tanned, was probably paler than Matt's.

"He heard me! Oh my God! What do I do now? What do I say? Oh my! He'll find out and he'll never want to talk to me again! Is the door too far away? I can make it if I run fast! Oh God! What am I saying? I can't run out like that! It would be so obvious; besides, I'm no coward. There has to be a way out of this, I just have to think… What can I do now...?" Tai's thoughts raced through his mind as his panic seem to rise at the same speed as Matt's curiosity. He couldn't think of any excuse that would help him avoid the questions that Matt could have at the moment.

The blond was still not facing him. He wasn't sure if it would be a good idea to look at Tai's face. He might not be able to control the smile that wasn't giving up on his face. No matter how much he tried, he couldn't seem to hide it.

"He thinks I'm beautiful! He called me angel! He likes me! He must like me! I mean, he thinks I'm beautiful, he calls me angel... he HAS to like me! He wouldn't be saying those things if he didn't felt them… would he? Of course not! Tai's not that kind of guy! So, does this means he feels the same way? Does this mean he likes me as more than a friend?" Matt's thoughts seemed to take him flying away and make him jump in joy. But just when he was about to touch the sky, something harshly pulled him back.

But…

"What if I only misunderstood? What if I'm mistaken?" He didn't want to have his wings cut off now that he was so high up. Now he wasn't sure if he really wanted to hear the answer that Tai would give him. Meanwhile, Tai was thinking that the silence wasn't helping one bit, and with out even thinking it, he decided for the answer to everything: Denial.

-"I... I didn't say anything."- Stupid! It was surely a stupid excuse but every little thing Tai could think of right now was helpful, one way or another.

-"But I heard you, you said something."- Matt protested, hoping that Tai would answer what he wanted to hear. Still, trying not to look desperate, he didn't want to be thinking wrongly and ruin everything.

-"You must've been dreaming Matt, I haven't said a word."- Tai replied nervously as he looked everywhere but into Matt's eyes, he hated lying to the blue-eyed beauty, only this time he just had to do it.

But Matt could be everything but a fool.

-"I know I heard something, what did you say?"- He asked again. He was still not convinced and Tai was acting so strange that Matt suspected he was lying. The way that Tai avoided Matt's eyes only supported and somewhat encouraged the blond's suspicions, yet he had still no proofs. Besides, he was sure that his tanned friend would never do that to him.

They had swore to have no secrets between them, although, Matt hadn't really kept that with honesty. Why shouldn't Tai do the same thing? No, Tai had to be honest… he always was… wasn't he?

Tai, meanwhile, remained silent.

He knew that he couldn't fool the blond, yet was daring to try. He had no intentions of reveling himself yet, and if he did... it would be only if it was absolutely necessary and with no other desperate choice. And this wasn't that time, he could escape... somehow. He had to escape… He just had to.

-"I forgot to tell you! I think it may rain tonight!"- Tai said casually, trying to change the subject. Now Matt was sure that Tai was lying, he always changed the subject whenever he felt tense or nervous about something. The blond frowned, Tai wasn't going to get away from his questions, and he had to answer whether he liked it or not.

-"Don't try changing the subject Tai; you still haven't answered my question."- The blond said as his eyes were fixed on Tai's. The other boy just smiled nervously.

-"But I already told you I didn't say anything…"-

Matt sighed, Tai was never like this, he was hiding something… That was for sure!

-"Are you being honest with me Taichi?"- Matt asked seriously, and Tai knew, by the very fact of Matt using his full name, that he wasn't even thinking on leaving things like that and also that he didn't believe him one bit.

-"... Yes ..."- Tai flinched, he just hated lying, especially to his blond friend. Matt noticed it, and Tai noticed that Matt noticed. This only made Tai more nervous, what was he going to do now?

-"I don't believe you"- Matt said simply. That pushed Tai's brain cells to maximum; he HAD to think of something and FAST.

He was running out of ideas and Matt was surely running out of patience. Tai was sure that Matt would find out, he always did in the end. He was scared, better say freaked out that Matt could somehow discover his little secret. He wasn't sure how could he take it. Let's face it, Matt was a very complicated person, he freaked out over many, many things; and Tai wasn't sure he wanted to risk it all... over nothing.

He knew, that he stand no chance at all, and he wasn't going to waste his only way to being close to the very object of all his desires and fantasies, in short: Yamato Ishida.

-"Taichi... I'm waiting for your answer."- The blond was still waiting for Tai to answer, even when he had already answered, that wasn't what Matt wanted to hear. He somehow, knew that Tai was not being sincere. I mean, he wasn't crazy! He had heard Tai say those things, and the fact that Tai denied it only made his curiosity raise to the top. Why should Tai lie about something like that?

There was only one answer, and Matt was hoping that Tai would just say it. Right there, right now.

But Tai, had picked what he believed (according to his judgement) to be the right card. He thought that it was the best way out of the situation and he just HAD to get out of that dead end on which he had fallen. Because the price for staying there much longer could be Matt's friendship, and he wasn't going to give up Matt's trust just because he let his feelings peek out for a second.

The blond beauty was the best thing in Tai's life, that was for sure, and he couldn't lose him. Not now, not never.

-"Tai..."- Repeated the stubborn blond.

Tai sighed, well, he had to do it. Even when he didn't like it one bit, he had to say it.

-"All right, I did say something."- Tai finally said, and at the very end of this sentence, Matt's eyes sparkled with hope. –"I called you beautiful, but don't get me wrong Matt. It's not that I'm gay or anything, gosh no! I said it because of all the fan girls that you have. Although, I don't know really why they chase your skinny figure. "- Said Tai as he smirked at his own joke.

But Matt was no where near laughing; his hopes had fallen from the very top of the sky towards the floor, crashing on it with all their might. Though even when his heart had cracked, something still wasn't convincing the blond, something was not right in Tai.

-"But why did you deny it when I asked you?"- Asked Matt all of a sudden.

-"Oh! C'mon Matt! What was I supposed to say? Face it Matt: You freak out over everything! You would've probably thought that I was a damned gay and kicked me out and never spoken to me again. How was I going to know you were gonna listen? I was talking to myself, 'cause I was jealous of all the chicks you can have and I cannot. C'mon Matt, you know me better than anyone, I'm a woman preferring kind of guy; I'd rather be eaten by Garurumon than dating guys... It's just so sick and so freaky the very own thought of it"- Finished Tai and took a deep breath as he faked an attack of goosebumps.

But he didn't just finish talking.

He finished with all the hopes that Matt could have now or ever about talking with Tai about his feelings. He finished with all the possibilities that Matt could dream with or imagine of being close to Tai in a more personal and private way. His feelings had become the ball in a very fast home run sent towards the next town. Now he was sure he would NOT feel better and that having Tai there was REALLY a bad idea. How was he going to avoid getting his feelings for Tai discovered when his heart was so smashed up that he couldn't think of anything else than dropping right there and cry it out so it would stop hurting.

He faked a smile towards Tai and kept on with his act.

-"Yeah! How could I be so stupid? You? Gay? Hahaha something quite funny..."- He said, but not with all the enthusiasm he wanted to. His heart was broken, no more tiny hopes or visits to dream land with Tai. It was all just bullshit.

Tai wouldn't change his mind, not a chance. He would not even accept him as a friend if he ever learned about Matt's feelings. He had said that quite clearly.

"It was sick..." Those had been his words. So to Tai, Matt was a sick person... what a comforting thought.

Meanwhile, Tai wasn't enjoying his words either. He felt bad for saying those things about himself. But Matt was Matt; nothing would ever take him away those precious moments spent with the blond. Even if they were only friends, he was glad that at least they were something. He couldn't ask for more, he just couldn't.

The problem was that it seemed that the thought of Tai being gay had disturbed the blond a lot, for he seemed rather uneasy when he asked Tai to repeat what he had said.

"Goodbye romantic dreams with Matt, thanks to whom? Mr. Big Mouth Yagami of course! How could I be so stupid! Now I can't even suppose that I might've gotten a chance in the future, because now I'm sure I WON'T have ANY!" Tai angrily thought. He was so stupid; he could've been busted just for thinking out loud! He should've been more careful.

Both boys fell silent.

And it was the type of silence you just can't stand but you feel so uncomfortable that you just can't break it. Neither of them knew what to say, Matt didn't feel like talking and Tai was trying to think a smart comment for the moment. Not even whistling seemed a good option. Finally, with a lot of effort, Tai said something. Stupid yes, though it was something to start with.

-"Can I take a soda out of the fridge?"- Asked Tai, although he had never asked for one. He knew he could take whatever he wished from the Ishida's kitchen.

-"You don't even have to ask for one, you know you can."- Matt answered seriously, as he avoided Tai's gaze. Tai just nodded in response, not knowing what else to say to keep the conversation. He entered the kitchen and took out the soda, even when he really wasn't thirsty; he just wanted to get away from Matt's presence for some moments. He placed the soda can gently on the floor, leaned on the kitchen wall, sighed deeply and placed his hands on his face.

-"So stupid..."- He whispered, face still covered. He was really ashamed of himself, but most of all, sad. He uncovered his face, sighed again and forced up a smile. –"Things are as they have to be... I can't complain… I mustn't complain."- He muttered before leaving the kitchen.

When he returned to the sofa, he sat down and kept up with the silence. Matt was just the way he was before Tai left, just a few moments ago. The blond was looking at the floor thinking if he could hold back the tears that stung in his eyes. Tai again, broke the silence.

-"I'd offer you some, but I believe you aren't up for drinking any more soda for a while."- Tai said, trying to be funny. He knew the blond was thinking of what he had said and he didn't want Matt to be getting any ideas about those comments. He placed the soda can on the small coffee table and sat down on the love seat, while Matt kept sitting on the couch.

-"Yeah..."- That was all that the blond replied. But before Tai attempted any more conversation, a knock at the door brought both boys down to reality.

-"I'll open, you keep resting ok?"- Said Tai as he walked to the apartment's door. Matt just nodded in response. Before opening, he let out a long sigh again, and tried to relax himself.

Behind the door, stood TK and Kari.

-"Hey Tai! Good to see you came to look after Matt, I was worried about him."- Said TK with a smiling face. -"So where's the sick blonde?"-

-"He's resting at the sofa."- Tai said as he moved away to let them pass. TK walked to where his brother was, and Kari entered the apartment in silence. Once Tai had closed the door, he turned to see his little sister smiling weirdly at him.

-"So tell me Tai... did you skip classes to come here?"- Asked Kari smiling that weird smile of hers, when Tai kept silent she giggled and continued. –"Don't worry, I won't tell our parents, I just wanted to see how love sick you are."-

Tai's face flushed several shades of red immediately after hearing the comment and he quickly hushed his sister hoping that a pair of blond boys were totally oblivious to their conversation.

-"You know... it's really disgusting to see all the love goo flowing from you once you're inside this apartment. I wonder how you can avoid getting caught with those starry eyes you put once you see him; he must be really dense... Or very stupid."- Kari finished smiling evilly.

-"Hikari Yagami quit it right now! They could hear you! Besides, he almost caught me just a few moments before you guys arrived! But I escaped for a hair; I don't want you to mess it up! I had to lie to him, you know I hate it. So quit it!"- Tai demanded. Kari looked at his older brother, what exactly had he said to their sick friend? His brother wasn't a smart talker, he'd probably messed up more than what he had tried to fix. And by the look on his face, he had messed it up big this time.

-"What did you do?"- Kari asked, now serious. Tai looked down; he knew Kari would get angry when he told her he had lied about his feelings. She had been bugging him about how love is important, and that Matt had the right to know blablabla... in small words, she had been pushing him off to spill the beans.

-"I... I thought he was asleep so I called him beautiful, but it turned out he wasn't asleep; so when he asked me what I had said, I denied first. But when he didn't believe me (and it was rather obvious that he would not believe me) I told him I... I was saying it because... well, because of all the chicks he had chasing him and I didn't."- He paused, and looked down. Now he was sure his sister would reaaaally get angry. –"He asked me why I denied it, and I... well I... freaked because Matt would reject me if he found out about me. So I… I told him I didn't want him thinking that I was gay or anything. That I was straight and never would change. Because gay people were... sick"- He finished, and as he had expected, a slap answered him.

-SLAP-

-"You jerk! Why did you say that? That's so awful! Didn't you..."- She stopped; she had promised TK that she'd be silent, and she had promised Tai that she wouldn't interfere. She sighed, what a mess had her brother just made. –"All right, it's your feelings we're talking about. You have the right to say whatever you please... about yourself. After all, the only one fooled here is you."- And with that, she stormed off to the living room, hoping to find Matt in a better state than what she expected. Tai just followed behind her, rubbing his hurting cheek.

But as this happened at the doorway, a partially similar scene was being held at the living room…

Once TK reached the living room, he instantly knew something wasn't right. His brother was so lost in his thoughts that didn't even noticed that he had arrived. Something had happened here, that was for sure. Actually Tai had the same weird face once you thought about it, he too seemed kinda lost. But he wasn't going to get answers from the brunet; only his brother could tell him what was going on.

-"Hey you sick blonde, what's with the long face?"- Asked TK as he sat down in the couch, next to his brother. It was only then, when Matt noticed that there was someone next to him. He turned and saw TK looking strangely at him. "Crap, he knows I'm sad… I can't tell him anything or I'll brake down crying." Matt thought as he looked away.

That was the answer TK was looking, he knew something had happened with Tai and he knew it had to do something with the way his brother felt about him. So, in order to get answers, he had to get rid of Tai. Kari would help him with that; she always knew what to do and when to do it.

Just as he thought about it, Kari and her brother entered the room. TK lifted his face to meet Kari's gaze so he could wordlessly let her know something was up, but before he attempted any kind of look he realized by the look on the girl's face that she already knew it. And she seemed rather unpleased with it, probably she had already told it to Tai. You could tell easily just by the way Tai was gazing down, with a guilty look in his face. Also, there was a red spot in the brunet's face, fingers impressed in his skin.

So it was certainly a bad thing.

Kari didn't go around slapping people just because, and especially not her brother. Then there would be no need to tell her to leave. And it really wasn't necessary.

Kari just waved Matt hello and then waved goodbye, saying something about having chores to do. She grabbed Tai's wrist before he could protest and exited the apartment. The door was shut behind them and silence took over the place.

Matt kept looking away and TK only sighed.

-"Ok Matt, so tell me… what happened?"- TK asked softly, Matt's eyes flickered with emotions and a few seconds later he crumbled down sobbing into TK's shirt, pulling it softly.

-"It's over! It's all over! He just stated things quite clearly! It's all over! It's all hopeless…"- At first, TK didn't really understand what was he talking about, but as soon as his brained turned on he pulled the strings and got the picture.

-"Why do you say it? Did Tai say something to you?"- TK asked softly as he caressed Matt's shoulder hoping he could soothe the other boy. Matt nodded in his brother's shirt, and sobbed harder. –"What did he say Matt? Tell me or I might not understand what happened, and I'll not be able to help you sort things out."- TK explained, in that soft way you explain a small child. Matt nodded in response and rubbed his eyes, flipped back to his original position in the couch (before TK arrived) and nodded again.

-"I… heard Tai call me beautiful; he thought I was asleep, but I wasn't so I heard him. When I questioned him, he said that he hadn't said anything. But I'm not crazy, I was hearing him, he said so! He called me beautiful! I kept questioning him about it, arguing that I had heard him. Finally, he admitted it, but he claimed that it was because of all the fan girls I have! Saying that he was jealous of me, can you believe it? I mean it's so senseless… I just can't…"- He stopped to get some air, and TK looked at his brother with a confused face.

-"But why would he call you beautiful for that? I mean what for? You don't call someone beautiful if you're jealous, I mean, on the contrary you call names at the person or make fun of him, or I don't know. It's not a common thing you know…"- TK stated and Matt agreed with him, but still, Tai had said it, quite simple and quite clearly. He knew Tai wouldn't lie on something like this… he just wouldn't… would he…?

-"Tai wouldn't lie to me about something like this; we said that there would be no secrets between us. So, that sums it up for me, he has to be telling the truth… I mean… you get it; he's not interested in me or my feelings. He sees me just as his best friend, nothing more."- Matt said sadly, as if he actually believed his own words. TK, on the other hand, was obviously not thinking the same way.

-"I don't know Matt, if I'm not mistaken you have secrets from Tai. And don't give me that look because we both know what I'm talking about."- He said as Matt raised his head to protest. –"You haven't been completely honest with him, you haven't told him about the way you feel for him. I think that it would be fair enough if he did the same with you. And it's understandable if he IS holding it back, what he said is actually very true: You DO freak out over SO many things, maybe he is just scared of your reaction… just the way you are of his. I'm not implying anything; I'm just stating the facts."-

Matt kept silent after that, what TK was saying actually made a point. It could be that Tai was just afraid of his own reaction, maybe he had never really made any obvious moves to actually let the brunet suspect any other affection besides friendship. But what was he supposed to do? He wasn't a girl to be making love letters or poems to declare or imply his love for Tai. I mean, he could be sometimes too un-manly in his way of speaking or acting (as Tai used to say), but it were just a few this and that. Mostly made to bug Tai and upset him, but that was it. Besides, Tai couldn't feel the same way, it was impossible… it just couldn't.

They are so different one of the other, Tai being such a charmer and a sport freak. He's the one who would love to go on playing soccer on a mud-filled camp loving the feeling of dirt and sweat on his skin. While Matt, on the other hand, was more reserved and a musician, who would never in life place a foot inside a soccer field or even get mud in his shoes. But maybe watching Tai play wouldn't be that bad at all… maybe he would remove his shirt and look drop dead gorgeous right there, just as he always did.

-"Hey! Snap out of it! I'm talking here!"- Yelled TK, Matt was dazing off again. –"You know Matt, I can't really understand why haven't he discovered you, it's so obvious you're thinking of him! Your mouth is semi-open and your eyes are starry. It's disgusting!"- TK said smirking. Matt smiled to his younger sibling and blushed. –"Now, talking seriously, what are you thinking? Don't you think it's time to tell him? I think you might have a chance, for what you already told me that happened today… I mean, he might me lying to you. Would you risk it all in one small chance?"- TK asked him, already knowing the answer.

-"Of course not! I'm not going to waste my friendship with Tai over my whirling pool of hormones. I can hold them back you know…"- Matt said angrily, of course he would not! He wasn't crazy!

TK smirked at the comment; he had been waiting for this.

-"Then maybe it's better this way, if you don't have the guts to talk to him about your feelings then you wouldn't have the guts to show them to the world if you ever got a chance with him. And in the other hand, if you aren't brave enough for that then you just don't deserve him. You would only hurt him because you would cower at the world (as I've already said) and hide yourself. Yeah, you're right Matt, its better this way."- TK said smirking and marking every key word as much as possible. It was a high applied technique that getting Matt angry always made him do what you wanted him to do. It's called inversed psychology or something like that… It didn't matter, because the minute that TK stopped talking, he realized he had made the impact he wanted to make. Matt's pride was raising and so were the red shades of color in his face.

-"I'M NO COWARD!"- Stammered a raging Matt, who did TK think he was talking to? –"I'm not afraid of showing my feelings to the world. I just don't want to lose Tai ok? I couldn't bear with it, but you're right! If I can't talk to him about my feelings I don't' deserve him, besides, if he really is my friend he's gonna have to accept me even if he turns me down!"- Matt yelled as he stood from the couch. –"And now bug off Teeks, I've got a lot of planning to do!"- And with that he stormedoutofthe living room, leaving a smiling TK behind.

Once Matt left, and once he was sure that he wouldn't be heard, he sighed.

-"Oh well, I told Kari I could convince him… I hope Kari did the same…"-

Hope you like it, the next chapter of "Missing You" is just about to be done, I just have to check some things and it'll be done. Reviews would be nice.