Summary: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." Tai/Taichi is a courtesan while Matt/Yamato is a writer. Drugs, sex and Yamachi in a tale based off of Moulin Rouge.
Ratings: T (PG-13)
Characters/ Pairing:
Yamato Ishida starring as......Christian
Taichi Yagami starring as......Satine
Disclaimer: Sadly, I own neither Digimon nor Moulin Rouge, however, I will borrow Digimon, seasons 1 & 2 characters and the Moulin Rouge plot for my purposes.
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn
is just to love and be loved in return."
Moulin Rouge
By splintered
(with quotes and lyrics from Moulin Rouge)
For Yamato, the morning after and the many mornings and nights that followed was like waking up and living in a fairy tale. He was the pauper that found himself a prince, or the prince who found himself a princess. Every day and every night, he followed Taichi around the Moulin Rouge. They laughed and they loved, sharing more than stories and "poetry." To put it simply, how wonderful life was now that Taichi was in the world...
But of course, every Cinderella or Snow White has her share of evil stepmothers, and Taichi had his.
--
Jyou—better known as the Duke—was a tall man with an unstable, nervous demeanor. This usually led others to see him smaller than he was. Nonetheless, the Duke was a powerful man—rich in money if not in fans. And in many ways, he was like a spoiled child who always got what he wanted. With this in mind, Jyou had yet to hear a businessman or a servant refuse him. Jyou threw frightening tantrums when he didn't get his way. So when the normally nervous blue-haired man entered Sora's office for a business dealing on the Moulin Rouge, he expected no surprises. However, both the Duke and Sora got much more than they bargained for...
"The Moulin Rouge in a tent will cost a fantastic sum of money, Sora," Jyou began in response to Sora's proposal. The red-head had requested the Duke's presence and although the Duke received many special offers, the Moulin Rouge—or more specifically, the "Sparkling Diamond"—sparked the Duke's interest. "May I call you Sora?"
The redhead nodded, complacent if she got the money from this bargain. Running the Moulin Rouge was a long time dream of hers, just as Taichi had always had dreams of becoming a star. However, "diamonds" cost a lot of money and Sora under tight financial circumstances; Sora now needed money to run the Moulin Rouge.
"So in return, I will require a contract that...um..." Pleased with Sora Takenouchi's satisfied nods, and ravenous to form a little offer of his own, the Duke continued, "...uh...buying Taichi to me exclusively. Naturally, I shall require some security. I shall require the deeds to...um... the Moulin Rouge," he reasoned.
"But Duke," the redhead interrupted him. Although Sora knew that the Moulin Rouge needed the Duke's money, she was a little uncomfortable in releasing her prized possession. Taichi was truly a star and no other man or woman or beast but Sora should have sole possession of him. Taichi belonged to everyone, the brunette had proved time and time again. Sora remembered what happened the last time someone wanted her "Sparkling Diamond." Taichi had almost gotten killed in that kidnapping. If the Japanese police didn't show up when they did...Sora couldn't imagine the horrors that would have followed.
"Please, don't think that I'm naïve, Sora," Jyou interrupted her thoughts. "I shall hold the deeds to the Moulin Rouge and if there are any shenanigans, my manservant Warner will deal with it in the only language that you underworld show folk understand. Taichi will be mine! Don't think I am crazy..."
But despite Sora reluctance to release Taichi in the hands of the Duke, she also knew that there was no other way she could acquire the funds for the Moulin Rouge. And Taichi knew more than well enough that a courtesan's job was never easy.
The Duke, seeing Sora's hesitance, shared his own similar sentiments about ownership. "I JUST DON'T LIKE OTHER PEOPLE TOUCHING MY THINGS!"
"I, uh, completely understand," Sora signed over the papers. As much as she hated handing Taichi over to the Duke, the show must go on!
"Now that we have an understanding, it would appear that, uh, you have the means to turn your precious Moulin Rouge into a theatre," Jyou replied pleasantly. "I shall woo Taichi over dinner tonight."
"Yes, the show would go on, but Taichi would not attend the supper that night..."
"Yamato," Taichi sighed deeply as he lightly trailed his fingers around the blonde's bare chest.
"Hmmm," Yamato comfortably murmured to Taichi's finger-light touches. If he could stay like this forever...
"Can you feed me more of your poetry?"
"Anything for you, Chi," the blond replied as his brunette angel continued to massage him. Yamato was sure that this is what heaven must feel like.
"...or the following night."
"...and so the penniless sitar player captured the beautiful courtesan in his lips," the blond reenacted his play, claiming Taichi's lips for his own. In turn, Taichi parted his lips, granting more access and allowing Yamato to deepen the kiss.
"Are you sure this happens in the play?" Taichi giggled as he felt the blonde's warm breath tickle his throat. "Yamato!" the brunette squealed as the blonde began biting his neck.
"Of course, it doesn't," the blond hungrily replied. "Do you think I'll let the penniless sitar player kiss my beautiful courtesan?"
Taichi mewed in reply as he snuggled into the blonde's warm arms. Later, Taichi found himself sprawled against pillows and sheets. His clothing became a discarded bundle on the red carpeted floor as he spent another night with Yamato.
"The greatest thing you will ever learn is just to love and be loved in return."
The brunette hummed happily, remembering the warmth of Yamato's body pressed against his. Sora, observant as always, noticed the glow of color that crept upon Taichi's normally pale skin. He's blushing, the redhead realized. Like a virgin...touched for the very first time...
He looked so pretty with a little color on his cheeks—more lively and animated, and not as sickly as he had been looking a few days before. Perhaps he had finally recovered from his fall the other day... Of course, that blond writer...what was his name again? That writer would tell her that love was the best medicine.
"Did you meet the Duke last night, Taichi?" Sora asked, a knowing smile hidden behind her seemingly innocent question. If the Duke made him so happy, then maybe it was okay...
"No, why?" her boy answered her question with another question as his honey brown eyes widened in surprise.
He might look a bit livelier, but he still looks so fragile... Sora's perceptive eyes absorbed Taichi's open eyes. For a moment, those eyes were brimming with honesty and innocence and warmth, before that hard bitterness and clarity and hurt set in.
"I'm sorry, Sora," he easily lied, the actor that he was. "I forgot. I was...I was so busy practicing that I lost track of time."
"Don't apologize to me, Taichi," Sora replied tiredly. "I expect you to tell that to the Duke. He's been trying to catch you for days. And you know how important the Moulin Rouge is."
"I'm sorry, Sora," he replied sheepishly. His head hung down in shame and his whole frame seemed to sag a little. Sora almost felt like she was scolding an innocent puppy when apologies kept escaping his lips.
"I know, Tai, but the Duke said that he wants you."
"For try as the Duke may, it was almost too easy for the young writer and the lead actor to invent perfectly legitimate reasons to avoid him."
"I'm sorry, Duke, but I can't go out with you tonight," Taichi told when Jyou brought him a bouquet of roses. "I don't have all the lines quite right yet and I need Yamato to help me." The writer just stupidly nodded by her side.
Meanwhile, Jyou growled to himself in frustration. He hated how that stupid writer was "Yamato" and he was just "The Duke." He hated how she fawned over him as they rehearsed the lines. Still, he tried to be patient for her. "But you can always practice tomorrow," the Duke had offered kindly. Jyou tried to be nice. He brought her roses everyday among other more expensive gifts, but only to be refused in favor of time with that blasted writer.
"But Duke, we have to get this part perfect! I need practice. Please, Duke? Can we postpone the date until a later time?"
Jyou was not a patient person by anyone's standards, but he was patient enough to go by the brunette's whims. The Duke tried to understand Taichi's obsession for perfection. He really did, but he was obsessed with Taichi and it was infuriating to him that his brunette beauty spent more time with that cursed writer than with him.
--
Horny and frustrated after days of the beautiful courtesan's evasion, the Duke waited by the gates of the Moulin Rouge. Not a good combination, Sora later learned when the Duke showed up in her office with an angry sneer on his face.
"If I don't meet with Taichi tonight, I am canceling the deeds to the Moulin Rouge!" he boldly spat in Takenouchi's face.
Later, Sora delivered the news to Taichi. "This is the last straw," she sternly told the brunette. "If you don't meet the Duke tonight, the Moulin Rouge is in trouble. The Duke is expecting you in the tower at eight."
Taichi briefly nodded, an unsettling feeling setting in the pit of his stomach. He was supposed to meet Yamato tonight as well...
Feeling a bit lightheaded, he had avoided Yamato after play practice that day (much to the blonde's confusion) and he had avoided Sora after that morning's encounter. Now, it was nearing eight and Taichi was getting ready for the Duke. He wasn't well, he knew. He had known for ages that he was dying... But he couldn't fail Sora...or the Moulin Rouge...or Yamato. So many people depended on him. Sora...Yamato...
"How could I know that the most last fatal tryst... That a force darker than jealousy and stronger than love had begun to take hold of Taichi."
Horrible. I look horrible, Taichi thought as he stared at himself in the mirror. Dark circles clung under his eyes, accented by his pale skin. He wondered how anybody could want him, even as Yamato whispered sweet nothings in his ear and the Duke brought him roses each day. I look horrible...horrible... Death clung to his image in the mirror. He looked like a living zombie, Taichi decided. His burnt sienna hair fell limply against his face and his face and body looked too thin. Sickly. Horrible.
His shaky, unsteady fingers applied powder foundation to his skin, as Taichi hoped to cover up the monster he had become under flashy lights and dramatic stage make-up. Still, the make-up only accented the jaunting contours of his face. I'm too thin, he realized as he studied himself. But then again, he had lost a lot of weight recently, and he hadn't really been eating properly in a while. But while it hurt to eat, it hurt a hell lot more to breathe...
If I should die this very moment
I wouldn't fear
Taichi grabbed onto the dresser when the first wave of nausea began and the world began to spin in and out of his vision. And then the coughs came—violently and suddenly—as he surrendered to his knees.
For I've never known completeness
Like being here
His frame racked with coughs and he tried to use his arms to steady himself on the cold hard-wood floor. Blotchy colors flooded his vision, as his slipped in and out of consciousness. His head throbbed and his eyes watered when he felt a coat of wetness on his cheeks.
Wrapped in the warmth of you
Loving every breath of you
It's red, Taichi realized, as he wiped the sticky substance with the back of his hand. The strong scent of iron set off a new wave of coughs as Taichi gasped, struggling for air. Feeling time slow unbearably...
Why live life from dream to dream
And dread the day...
When Taichi Yagami finally passed out on the cold hard-wood floor, he welcomed the comforting darkness with memories of Yamato. But while the clock bells chimed eight times, the Duke was met with more unwelcome news.
TBC?
Author's Notes: Wow, it has been a while since I last updated this--almost a year! But hopefully, this chapter is worth to wait! Thank you always for reading, and I hope you'll drip by with a review! I would sure appreciate any thoughts, questions, or concerns you may have. Thanks again for all your favorites, alerts and comments!
Faith1: Thank you for the correction! Moulin Rouge is a good movie, and I'm glad you stopped by and took a chance in reading this although you're not convinced the two worlds gel! I do hope you do continue reading and tell me what you think! Any constructive feedback is always welcome! ^_^
sugar-wolf: I'm glad you liked how the last chapter ended and I hope you like this chapter as well...although I probably didn't update soon enough for you liking. ^_^; I'm glad you finally saw the movie though!
Chandra: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! I just hope that I can do both the movie and pairing justice!
Pinkfurball: Thank you! I do hope you eventually get to see Moulin Rouge because it's such a great movie. Although I probably didn't update soon enough for your liking...this chapter is longer than the last one, if that's any consolation?
Courage Sun: Well, I updated...even if the "soon" part was kinda questionable. I'm glad you liked the last chapter though!
Sandylee007: Yes, they are adorable! *more blushing as Yama hugs Tai possively* I'm glad you liked the last chapter and I hope you like this one too! Although I probably didn't update soon enough, I updated. That's what counts, right? *gratefully takes chocolate chip cookie* Thank you!
Again, thank you for reading. I really do hope you will stop by with a review (although I can't promise any timely updates--I'll try!).
--splintered