Rebuilding the Bridge
Burning the Past
Or something along those lines
Sing sweetly to me
And lull me into sleep
That I may never wake
And you're always here with me
Taichi woke up a little after ten to sounds of laughter emanating from his living room. Rubbing his bleary eyes, he stood at the entry way to the living room. He smiled a bit, watching his sister smiling beautifully and gesturing animatedly as she spoke with Takeru. Taichi watched as Hikari occasionally tucked a strand of her soft brown hair behind an ear, and noticed with distaste the short skirt and skin bearing tank-top that she wore.
Takeru sat opposite of her, in what he claimed was his favorite armchair (though he had stolen it from Taichi himself long ago) telling a story about his last visit to the digital world. The blond boy looked too much like someone Taichi had met with the other day, and when Takeru opened his mouth, Taichi was almost surprised that it wasn't softer or more melodic. Instead, Takeru's voice had grown deeper and starchier. Something inside ached as he watched his sister and surrogate brother growing up.
"Oh hey, Taichi!" Takeru's blue eyes caught Taichi's own, flashing with a sort of curiosity. Then Hikari turned around in her seat and exclaimed a greeting.
"Hey you," Taichi said, grinning. "I wasn't aware that you two were dating."
Hikari turned a sheepish red, saying, "We're not dating." It was said indignantly. "Class 1-B is having a farewell party--it's almost the end of the year, you know--and as soon as Daisuke gets here, we're off to the train station."
"Isn't it a little late to get going?" Taichi's question was not to be answered as the doorbell began to ring. "I'll get that, since I'm on my feet." Taichi ambled to the front door of the apartment, and opened the door with flourish. "Hey Daisuke."
"Taichi-sempai!" Daisuke's cheeks reddened and Taichi chuckled when he realized it was because he was still clad in his boxers. It might have been that, or seeing the goggles he had given the younger boy eons ago still holding up Daisuke's hair.
"It's alright Daisuke. You can look. I'm not completely naked, am I?" Taichi reached out and ruffled Daisuke's hair. "Anyway, did you see my winning shot last night?"
"Hell yeah!" Daisuke got excited at the mere mention of his favorite sport. "And once you leave school, I'll be the one out there scoring all the shots!"
"Daisuke!" Hikari pushed her way past Taichi and threw her arms around Daisuke's neck. "You got the lunches, right?"
Daisuke laughed. "Jun took her sweet time, but she sped up once I bribed her a backstage pass for the Teenage Wolves."
Takeru came out too, and complained to Daisuke, "Hey, and what do I get for my pains?"
"Jun's food, duh," Daisuke said, holding up a plastic bag of bento boxes. "Worth getting picked on by your brother."
Taichi's smile became strained, and he decided it best that he turn and go back inside except that Hikari hugged him quickly. He wrapped his arms around her waist, and turned to her two best friends. Mockingly, he threatened them. "If either of you do anything to hurt her, I will kill you."
"Taichi!" Hikari exclaimed, lightly smacking him with her hand bag. "Let go of me!" He laughed and gave her a peck on the hair.
"Have fun, guys. I'll make sure the apartment is stable when you get back!" He watched the three of them until they were out of sight.
Now that that was over with, Taichi retreated into the house and went to the kitchen to get himself breakfast. He sighed; watching those kids made him feel old. Well, he had the day free; maybe he'd log on the computer and check up on Augumon...
No sooner had Taichi poured milk into his cereal, the door bell sounded again. Forgetting he still looked like he just rolled out of bed, he went to answer it.
"Oh. Taichi." Yamato stood in the doorway, twirling a khaki bucket hat in his hands. "Is Takeru there? I want to give this to him." It was obvious that the blond was looking everywhere but at Taichi.
Taichi cocked his head and repressed a smile at how cute the situation was; once upon a time, Yamato could have cared less for Takeru. But it was obvious now that Yamato was using the hat as an excuse just to spend more time with him. "You just missed him. Hikari, Takeru, and Daisuke should be at the station by now."
"Oh." Yamato stared at the hat in his hands. His lips pressed together in an ironic sort of grin. "Stupid, isn't it? I just realized how much time I was wasting, and now we're almost done with highschool, and... Well, I guess I'm trying to say something, but..." He trailed off again.
Taichi felt a pang. He realized then how much he really did miss his best friend. And he felt naked. Really naked.
"Anyway, sorry for bothering you--" Yamato had been starting to leave when Taichi's hand reached out and gripped his wrist.
"Why don't you come in?" Taichi offered. "We can catch up. And stuff."
Yamato shook his head. "I've got things to do."
He started to pull away, but Taichi gripped Yamato's grip even tighter. "Yama... are you still mad at me?" Yamato finally looked at Taichi, but now it was Taichi finding the welcome mat extremely interesting. "Because if you are, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Forgive me for being stupid, and brash, and not caring about how you would feel. Forgive me for everything, for not being there for you the last few years, for not talking to you, for all of it." Taichi finally looked up, straight into Yamato's eyes. He could feel his heart beating faster, and his mouth getting dry. Suddenly, Taichi was pulling Yamato closer and the musician's eyes widened. And the last thing Taichi said before their lips connected was, "Do you forgive me for falling for you?"
(tbc)