Branded variety
Summary: What would it be like if Yamato was a priest and Taichi was a pirate? O.o
AN: It's cheesy, it's fluffy, it's silly, it's romantic… it's TAITO!
New chapter, at last. I'm not completely pleased with this one, but whatever. Hope you'll enjoy it. Oh, and I know the chapter title is retarded, but it was the best I could come up with. I suck P
Warnings: Gayness, violence, language
Chapter 4: Of summer and tears
When Yamato woke up, the rain had stopped. The air was damp and cold, but golden sunrays hit the puddles of water outside the barn, causing bright reflexes that stung Yamato's eyes. He sat himself up, and realised that there was no warm body next to him. Disappointment hit him like a ton of bricks, but only for one second, because he suddenly spotted the brunette, sitting on the grass just outside the barn.
He stood up, gathered his robes and crept closer. Taichi was sitting very still, the sun caressing his face. He looked so innocent, Yamato thought, so very relaxed and… young. Like a teenaged boy and not the ravaging pirate he actually was.
Taichi must have heard his footsteps, because he opened his eyes and mumbled a soft 'good morning'.
"Good morning", Yamato answered and sat down next to him. Memories of the night were still very present, and Yamato could feel his entire body longing for the brunette's touch again.
But he couldn't stay. People were probably looking for him right now; in fact, it was pure luck that no one had found them during the night. The Temple wasn't far away, and now, when the rain had stopped, he knew that it was only a matter of hours before they found him.
"I have to go", he said reluctantly.
"I know", Taichi sighed.
"Will I ever see you again?" Yamato asked while cursing himself for the tears welling up in his eyes.
Taichi shrugged.
"I don't know," he said quietly. "I hope so though. You're quite a something, Yamato."
This made the priest blush, and Taichi laughed.
"I like you. You're not like anyone else I know", Yamato said, and he surely meant it.
Taichi didn't blush; he was probably not the type, Yamato concluded. Instead, he leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on Yamato's lips.
"So… will I ever see you again?" Yamato asked for the second time.
"Absolutely."
"Do you promise?"
"Of course I do. I don't know when I'm leaving, but probably not for another few weeks."
"Will you meet me here the day after tomorrow then?" Yamato asked hopefully.
"Deal" Taichi said with a wide smile.
Yamato returned to a Temple where every single priest was sick with worry. They had thought he was dead. Yamato explained how he had hid under a tree, and they believed him, but couldn't really understand why he had such a wide smile on his face. He told them that he was just happy to be home, and no matter how many times Mimi asked him what was up, he stuck to his story.
Two days later, Yamato and Taichi met as promised in the old barn. They spent the day walking through the forest. Yamato instructed a very eager Taichi about different edible plants, mushrooms and berries. And Taichi succeeded in engaging Yamato in a play fight with sticks, claiming that it was for his own best and that he needed to learn to defend himself. The fight turned into wrestling, and to no one's surprise the wrestling turned into kissing and the kissing led to other things, and soon they were both lying on the ground, sweaty and tired but very satisfied and content.
Every other day, they met in the forest. They talked a lot, played a lot and had lots of sex. It was the happiest time of Yamato's life. He was falling head over heels for the cheery, gorgeous, playful and yet so determined brunette, and somehow it felt like he had known him forever. Trying to picture a life without Taichi became increasingly harder. In the Temple, no one knew what was up with him. He was smiling and singing and reading poetry, or staring at the stars with such longing that it made the other priests wonder if he was losing his mind.
But all good things must come to an end. One evening, when Yamato reached the old barn, he immediately realised that something was wrong. Taichi was leaning against the wall, looking as if he'd seen a ghost.
"What's the matter?" Yamato asked as he got closer.
The pirate looked at him, and the look in those brown eyes told Yamato that he didn't want to hear what he was going to say.
"We received a message from Hammer today. We're leaving. I have to get back to the ship tonight, and then we're going to head north."
"North? How far?"
"I don't know. Far enough."
"But… for how long will you be gone?" Yamato whispered, fearing the worst.
"I don't know", Taichi sighed. "It may be weeks, months… maybe even years."
"Years?"
Taichi didn't answer. He was looking at the ground as if it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen.
"But…"
No more words came out of Yamato's mouth. A tear fell down his face as he realised that he might never see Taichi again.
The brunette still avoided his gaze. But as Yamato desperately reached out and touched his cheek, he suddenly gave in and wrapped his arms tightly around the blonde.
"I'm so sorry, Yamato", he whispered into his ear. "But I have to go."
"I know. But I wish you could stay."
Yamato couldn't resist any longer, and the tears began to flow freely down his face.
"I will be back" Taichi whispered. "Some day, I'll come back to you."
"Stay alive. Promise that you'll stay alive."
"Yamato…"
"Promise!"
"Okay, okay, I promise."
"Just tell me one thing", Yamato whispered as they parted. "Is Taichi your real name? Because I would like to know if any of the stories I'm told of captured or dead pirates concerns you."
Taichi suddenly looked very uncomfortable, which caused Yamato to frown.
"What is it?" he demanded.
"Well… Taichi is my given name. However, no pirate keeps his given name."
"So what do they call you then?"
"Rockhound."
Silence.
Yamato suddenly realised what had been stirring in his brain this whole time. He realised why he had recognised the story about Hammer rescuing Taichi from Newsgate.
"You… you…" he stuttered.
The blond shook his head and gathered his thoughts.
"The stories say that you're his son," he finally blurted out.
"Well, they're wrong. They're often wrong."
Many stories found their way into the Temple. Stories of knights, of distant countries, of fair princesses and of pirates. Hammer was a legend who figured in almost every pirate story. He was one of the three pirate lords ruling the Eastern Ocean. And in the stories of fierce battles and ravaging, another name that was always mentioned was Rockhound, Hammer's son, the youngest and most skilful of all.
Yamato stared a Taichi.
"It's impossible", he finally said.
"Why?"
"Because… because you're not like that at all. Are you?"
"Like what?"
"Those tales describe you as one of the most dangerous people in the country, on your way towards becoming the youngest pirate lord in history, people fear you."
Taichi merely shrugged.
"My only natural talent", he joked.
But Yamato was in no mood for jokes.
"But you're not like that at all!" he protested.
"And you're not like a priest at all!" Taichi sighed. "You don't act as a priest around me, and yet, I'm fairly convinced that when you sit there watching your hangings or perform your rites to please the Lords, you're nothing like you are now. There can be more to people than meets the eye, Yamato, didn't you say so yourself last night? Just because I'm a pirate, that doesn't have to mean that I'm some sort of evil monster. And you're not a god just because you're a priest. Don't you agree?"
Yamato was quiet for a few seconds before nodding reluctantly.
"So", Taichi said quietly. "Do you hate me now?"
Yamato thought of all the things he had heard about this Rockhound, how he had single-handedly hijacked one of the kings ships, how he had burnt down the Hillside prison, how he had once kidnapped the general of the king's army.
And then he looked at Taichi, with the warm brown eyes and off-centre smile and melodic laugh, who was currently eyeing him expectantly. Small butterflies fluttered stubbornly in his stomach.
"How could I ever hate you?" Yamato whispered with a small smile, and Taichi laughed with relief and wrapped his arms around the blonde.
They stood there for a few minutes, and then the brunette broke free.
"I have to go", he said.
Yamato nodded quietly, trying desperately to ignore the ache in his heart.
"I love you", he whispered before he could stop himself.
Taichi froze. He stared at the priest for what felt like years before he answered.
"I love you too, Yamato. We'll meet again soon."
Yamato nodded again, took a deep breath and watched as Taichi turned around and walked away and disappeared among the trees with one last glance over his shoulder.
The best summer of his life slowly came to an end. As the trees lost their leaves and the flowers died, Yamato felt lonelier than he had ever felt in his entire life. The other priests noticed his sudden mood change, but couldn't get him to tell them what was wrong. He wasn't singing anymore. He spent most of his time standing in the highest tower of the Temple, gazing at the ocean. No one knew what he was looking for, but they decided to let him stay up there, because that was the only time he looked content. He performed his priest duties as usual, he was worshipped by the whole nation as usual, but there was a sadness about him that never quite disappeared. Even when he smiled at something Takeru told him or laughed with Mimi, the sadness shone through his eyes.
The weather grew colder, and still, there was no sign of a big black ship on the horizon. Yamato spent most of his days looking for that ship, but for every day he lost more hope. And as the first snow fell, he finally gave up and cried.