Hmm, next chapter. I should warn you now, there's only one chapter and an extra after this. I can't remember what else I was going to say. **shrugs** Oh well.

Disclaimer: Must I really say this every chapter? Tai owns Matt, I own the lyrics and everything else I've mentioned before. The only thing digimon related I own is an old digimon coloring book I found today. ^^ Everything else goes to their respective owners.

Que the angst. O.O

Chapter 9 – Faithfully

The room was unusually stuffy. Drops of sweat would randomly make their way down his face and fall onto his paper making watermarks on his notes as he scribbled away trying to listen to what the teacher was saying. But it was so hard to concentrate on the composition of rhetoric when the room was so uncomfortable. Yamato cursed himself for choosing that day to wear a long sleeved shirt even if the material was light. He'd already unbuttoned as much of the top collar as he could before an indecent amount of skin would be showing only respectable in porn movies. However, no matter how good stripping down to his birthday suit sounded right then, he really didn't want to make that kind of movie, which would be what undoubtedly happened with the fluffy brunette sitting beside him.

Taichi wasn't listening, he never did. He was playing with a sheet of paper folding it in different angles, the tip of his tongue hanging out of his mouth in concentration. Yamato envied him, how comfortable he seemed to be in only a yellow tank top and black shorts. He looked like a bumble bee, Yamato mused observing his boyfriend. Suddenly, the brunette broke into a huge grin of victory and revealed the precious piece of paper he had been fiddling with. The blonde quirked an eyebrow at what looked like a paper frog and watched as Tai pressed down on the back end of the frog making it hop to Yamato's desk.

Yamato looked down at the frog that was now covering his notes. On its back was written 'OPEN ME'. The blonde sighed and began the complicated procedure of undoing the folds. He hoped whatever was inside was important because he was missing a lot of very important notes trying to undo the paper frog. As soon as he saw what was written inside, Yamato crumbled the paper. 'YOU LOOK HOT, WANT TO GO AT IT AFTER CLASS' – what kind of words were those! The blonde threw the crumpled message back to his boyfriend annoyed and turned his attention back to the front of the classroom to try and take notes on the teacher's lecture.

That's how Tai had been acting for the almost past two weeks. Every moment he got he was trying to jump or seduce him into bed and Yamato was becoming annoyed with it. Since their first date, he hadn't allowed them to go any farther than what had happened that night. He felt that if he was to give in a second time, he would be giving everything to the brunette, and no matter how much he did love Tai, he couldn't give him everything until he knew exactly where the other stood. So far, it still seemed all the brunette felt for him was friendship, lust, and a slowly (extremely slowly) a development of likeness. It was driving the blonde crazy, but he was willing to wait it out for Tai. By Saturday, Tai would know his true feelings and Yamato would see whether they crashed and burned or blossomed from there.

Yamato had yet to tell Tai about his concert half hoping that if he waited long enough, the brunette might have other plans and not have to come and listen to the song he'd wrote for him. He knew he was just being nervous, but he just couldn't bring himself to hand over the ticket he had gotten for his boyfriend. Yet, no matter how much he put it off, Yamato knew that Tai had to be there, it was important.

Finally, the class ended and Yamato and Tai headed to his house, a routine they had been doing since they started dating. The brunette immediately fell into the recliner and switched on the television. Yamato rolled his eyes as he made his way to the bedroom to put his stuff away before coming back out.

"What are you watching?" he asked going to the kitchen and getting a bag of popcorn for an afternoon snack.

"Don't know yet," answered Tai flipping through channels.

When the microwave beeped out that it was done, Yamato pulled out the popcorn bag and poured it into a bowl before sitting on the arm of the recliner. He took one of the fluffy white cornels and popped it into his mouth licking his lips afterwards to get at any speck of salt or butter that got stuck there.

"Hey, let me have some," Tai said reaching toward the popcorn bowl.

Yamato smirked and pulled the bowl out of his reach.

"Hey!" Tai exclaimed going after the popcorn again.

Laughing Yamato lifted the bowl above his head. "No, no, no, Tai-chi. Only people who don't come into other people's homes and leave their stuff on the floor get a snack. Bad little boys like you don't get anything," he teased reaching his other hand into the bowl and popped another cornel into his mouth.

The brunette growled making Yamato smirk in satisfaction. He liked the face Tai made when he felt he was being unfairly punished, his chocolate eyes looking in the opposite direction and those pale pink lips set in something between a grimace and a pout. And there was always a tint of pink on his cheeks, hardly a blush, but still there. As Yamato was admiring this face, he didn't notice the hand that had snaked around his waist until he was abruptly pulled into the brunette's lap.

Popcorn flew everywhere and the bowl flew out of the blonde's hand. He became annoyed knowing that he'd have to clean the mess up, but his frown quickly turned into an amused smile tittering on a full out laughing fit when he saw where the bowl had landed.

"Hey, who turned out the lights," Tai exclaimed, the popcorn bowl now covering both his fluffy hair and his face. Yamato tried not to laugh, but he couldn't help himself. "Hey, it's not funny."

"I know, but (laugh, laugh) you should really see yourself (laugh), Tai," he said bursting out in laughter.

The brunette said nothing and his expression was hidden behind the plastic of the bowl.

Once Yamato had calmed down, he reached out one hand and lifted the bowl so he could see his grimacing boyfriend. Smiling, he leaned up to Tai and placed a kiss on his lips before replacing the bowl over his face. "It's looks cute," he said blushing.

Tai pushed the bowl so that it wasn't covering his face anymore and smiled at Yamato. "Well, you look cute too with all that popcorn stuck in you hair," he said picking out one of the cornels and popping it into his mouth. "Actually, it looks like a bunch of popcorn fell into a cotton candy machine turning it all yellow that then got stuck to your head."

Yamato frowned, "Yeah, well, you've got a bowl on your head."

Taichi laughed and removed the bowl putting it over Yamato's head instead. "Now you have a bowl on your head." He lowered his face and kissed the blonde boy in his lap.

Yamato removed the bowl on his head and let it roll to the floor without breaking the kiss. They sat there for a few heated minutes before breaking apart for air.

"You want me to help you clean up?" Tai offered.

"Would you really help, you hate housework," Yamato shot back.

"I've got to learn sometime, right."

"Hmm," Yamato said snuggling into the brunette's lap, "in a few minutes."

Tai shrugged and wrapped his arms around Yamato's waist pulling him closer. He lowered his head so that his mouth was right next to the blonde's ear before saying, "Have I ever betrayed you before?"

This question startled Yamato and he thought for a minute, "No, at least not of your own will as far as I can remember."

The brunette suddenly hugged him tightly. "I'll try to be faithful to you, Matt."

"Haven't you always," Yamato said becoming embarrassed.

"I was never faithful to any of the girls before," admitted Tai.

This came as a shock to Yamato. He didn't think the simple minded fluffy headed Tai was capable of cheating. "You cheated."

The blonde could feel Tai shake his head. "No, but I wasn't faithful."

"What do you – ?" Yamato started asking, but right then, Tai's cell phone started to ring.

He picked it up and nodded to the voice on the other line. "Okay, got it."

"My coach," answered Tai.

"Oh." Yamato looked away. He figured this was a better time than any to ask about the concert. "Hey, Tai, on Saturday…"

"Hey what time is it," Tai interrupted.

"Uh, four I think."

"Crap, I've got to go, sorry, the coach called to say he needed to see me at the field at four thirty," the brunette said moving Yamato off his lap so that he could get up. Once ready, he leaned down and placed a quick kiss on Yamato's cheek. "What were you saying about Saturday?"

"I…n-nothing," sighed the blonde curling up into the recliner. "See you."

Tai grinned before waving and heading to the door. "Bye."

Yamato took in a deep breath when he heard his front door shut. He wouldn't see Tai tomorrow, he had practice and no classes with him. If he was going to ask, he'd have to ask the next day before he went to dress rehearsal. Tomorrow was Thursday, that meant Tai would only have a one day's notice. Well, it was better than letting the song go to waist.

Speaking of the song, he still needed to finish tweaking it.

"No matter the distance

And forces of resistance

I will come running your way

Leaping through fire

Hiking through cold

I will travel through the great unknown

Just to look into your chocolate eyes

Dirtied with tears of fear

You've yet to shed

Because..."

"I believe in love

The kind that comes without

Shouts of warning

The kind that we share

Bare and hidden

Behind your chocolate eyes"

Yamato let the last word ring listening to the way it sounded with the last remnants of the bass. Once all sound had died, he opened his eyes and smiled before turning to the instrumentalists of his band.

"What do you think?" he asked.

Sephyr walked out from behind the keyboard. "I liked it. It's nice and fast pace at the beginning, but comes to a slower sweet last chorus at the end."

"Does everyone else feel the same?" Yamato asked looking each band member in the eyes. They were silent which made the blonde feel nervous. "If you really don't like it, you can say so."

"It's really deep," Amanda said. "It's cool though."

Lacey came bouncing over to Yamato. "It makes you stop and think if you really feel that strongly about your guy."

Yamato just shrugged. Every word in the song he felt for Tai, but he wasn't about to admit that to his band, though they probably already knew. Satisfied that he wouldn't have to write a whole new song, he turned his to his director and manager sitting in the other room watching the performance and held out a thumbs up.

The producer pushed a button allowing his voice to enter the practice room. "It's good, I just have a few critiques on the singing that we can work on after a five minute break."

Everyone sighed in relief and started for the door.

"I'm excited about tomorrow just because of that song, good job," Lacey said as she past by Yamato slapping his butt on the way.

Yamato's eyes widened at the sudden pain and rubbed his abused bottom a little wondering how such a small girl could slap that hard. He hoped he was never on the receiving end of a full frontal face slap by her. Looking around, Yamato noticed everyone else had already left the practice room and started heading out himself. As he was walking down the halls, he started to hear a familiar voice and turned down a hallway only to find Sephyr and another person Yamato couldn't see in one of the conference rooms. Sephyr looked like she was about to strangle whoever she was talking too; her hands were balled into fists at her sides and she was gritting her teeth as if to keep from exploding. Just incase she did explode, he decided it was best just to observe from behind the door. Why was he 'observing' in the first place? Well, incase he had to run for help, plus he'd never seen Sephyr actually blow up on someone. The girl was never really one for fights.

"You can't do that," yelled Sephyr to the other occupant of the room.

"I'm not going to stop with my plans. I can't help the way I feel," said a voice that sounded familiar to Yamato's ears. "I can't just sit back and watch him take what I had wanted in the first place."

"You're an idiot, Logan. Just leave it alone."

Logan? Logan was there? Yamato wondered what the other blonde college student was doing here.

"I've been going along with you up until now, but I never thought it'd get this serious so quickly. I could deal with what happened that one night, but they're dating now. What do you want me to do?"

It sounded to Yamato that Logan was having relationship issues. He hadn't been aware that there was someone Logan liked. Who was it?

"They're in love, Logan. Just leave them alone, please," begged Sephyr desperation in her eyes.

Yamato heard a growl before Logan yelled. "He doesn't love him!"

"Quit lying to yourself, Logan. You may have a crush on him, but you've seen the way they look at each other. Don't be blind," growled Sephyr, her soft voice suddenly going down a few octaves in anger.

"I'll be blind if I so wish. Why won't you take my side, Sephyr, I'm your brother-in-law."

"They're my friends, you can't make me choose between the two."

So, it was someone Sephyr knew, that fact interested Yamato even more.

"You're wrong about them, Logan, please see that before you do something to break everything that pour boy has worked for." Yamato thought he saw tears in her eyes as she begged her brother-in-law.

"Shut up, Sephyr, I'm going to destroy their relationship before it can get any farther. I wanted him first, that much I know. I wouldn't have asked him to come hang out with us if I'd known they knew each other!"

"Logan, ugh, you're just going to be hated for this, you know. You ruin every relationship you have because you're always stealing your partners."

"YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME!" screamed Logan and Yamato thought the whole building would be able to feel his fury.

Suddenly, Sephyr's voice grew dangerously low and icy as if every word she spoke was laced with icicles sharp enough to puncture a heart through its ribcage. "If you touch them, I swear you'll be the one left cold and crying. I won't allow them to get hurt."

"And why is that, Sephyr?" Logan asked, amusement in his voice. He didn't seemed afraid one bit, while Yamato on the other hand was shivering from the coldness in her voice. He couldn't imagine what it was like to get the full out blow of it.

Sephyr's voice was sad and quiet when she answered, "Because he's like me."

Logan laughed. "You should get back, I believe your rehearsal is starting."

Oh shit, no matter how much Yamato wanted to stay and finish hearing this juicy conversation, practice really was about to start up again and he had to be there first. And, if he stayed any longer, he felt he might freeze to death by the ice of Sephyr's anger. Yamato decided that the girls in his band scared him.

Yamato had his hands stuffed in his pocket fingering the ticket he was suppose to be giving to Tai. It was Friday after the blonde's only class for that day and he was headed over to Tai's dorm room. This was the last chance he had to invite the brunette to the concert where he would sing his true feelings to the boy. Other than the frequent fingering of the ticket in his pocket, no one would have thought he was nervous, but truth was Yamato felt as if he might pee his pants at any moment. His heart was racing like crazy and he kept playing the worst scenarios over again in his head.

Once at Tai's door, Yamato stopped and took a big breath before reaching his hand out to open the door. He stopped before he could turn the handle. There were voices inside. Yamato pressed his ear to the door and listened. Maybe he should have opened the door, or maybe he should have knocked, but the past was the past and he would forever regret listening to the words he heard coming from the door.

"He doesn't love you, Tai, can't you see that," said a familiar voice muffled by the closed door.

"What are you talking about?" asked another voice, one Yamato would know even if a ten inch thick wall of brick separated them – Tai.

"You should just stay away from him, you know you're not serious about it either," insisted the other voice.

Yamato could hear ruffling noises and immediately his heart jumped into his throat.

"You don't know that. How did you even know about us?" Taichi's voice sounded hysterical as if the words of the other occupant of the room was making him nervous. "You've got no say in this."

"Yes I do. You don't love him, so break it off before it goes too far. You wouldn't want to ruin your guys' friendship, right?"

There was the sound of someone falling and Yamato jumped. What was happening.

"Why do you keep saying that?"

"Because you don't deny it. Just admit it, you don't love him, and he doesn't love you. You two are just playing around. If you love him then spit it out right here right now in front of me, Yamato's not here so you don't have to be shy."

They were talking about him. Yamato waited patiently for Tai's answer; but felt his heart drop when the brunette didn't reply. Of course he'd known Tai wasn't' in love with him, but it still hurt to have the truth lingering like this in front of him.

"I don't have to admit anything to you," growled Tai.

"Oh, we'll see about that," said the other.

"Wha-what are you doing. Hey, get off me. Logan!"

Logan! Immediately, Yamato pulled the door opened roughly and ran into the room stopping a few feet into the room. He froze at the scene being played out in front of him.

Logan was on top of Tai planting sloppy kisses on his face and lips. The brunette's eyes were scrunched closed pushing on the blonde American's shoulders. And then he moaned. Whether it was a moan of pleasure or displeasure, Yamato didn't care. He was angry and embarrassed and heartbroken all at the same time.

"Faithful my ass!" he screamed at the two boys on the orange sheeted bed before running out of the room and down the halls.

"Matt!" two voices called after him, but he paid them no mind.

Once outside, the blonde stopped to catch his breath. He needed to calm down and think. Why had he been there in the first place? Suddenly, someone grabbed his arm and he pulled away.

"Matt," said a fluffy haired brunette who was out of breath as well.

"You jerk!" Yamato yelled, his emotions getting the better of the cool mask he always tried to wear.

"Matt, calm down, let me explain," said Tai trying to reach for the hysterical blonde.

"No, I don't want you to," stated Yamato stubbornly. He looked around himself nervously before stuffing his hands in his pockets. That's when he felt the ticket. Oh, yeah, the ticket.

"Here," he said stuffing the ticket into Tai's hand. "This is a ticket to the concert I'm warming up for tomorrow night. I thought I could trust you, but I'm not so sure about that after today. If you're just playing with me, Tai, I don't want you to hear me sing. Don't screw with me unless you're serious."

The brunette looked into Yamato's blue eyes in confusion before they suddenly became hard. "If you want me to tell you how I feel then make up your own mind on how you feel, Matt! You're the one who is always uncertain about things. Maybe Logan was right about you."

Wham! Yamato's fist connected with Tai's face causing him to fall to the ground. The brunette sat on the ground stunned for a few seconds before Yamato reached a hand out to help him up. Yamato's blue eyes were cold and serious as he looked straight into Tai's as he helped him up.

Venom and betrayal in his voice, he said, "I know exactly how I feel, and it didn't take a punch in the face to realize it." Then, he left.

One thing was for sure, it wasn't only the girls in Yamato's band that were scary when angered. However, even with that amusing thought floating in the back of his mind, Yamato couldn't help the depression building up inside of him. If Tai didn't come hear him sing tomorrow, then that would be the end of everything, relationship and friendship both. He couldn't handle being alone again. He didn't want to feel that lonely bitterness he had had before Tai had come into his life. Once again, he would be stuck in an unending rain never to see his sun again.

Okay, next chapter might take a little longer because I have to write the rest of the song, heh. And I know you guys are reading this, so please review, it makes me happy and gives me the engery to write this. ^^

-- Zee ;)