Disclaimer: For all the love I have for Digimon, it is not mine.
A/N: Hello guys! Sorry for the wait. As one of you smart readers have guessed, Yamato is inviting our dear Na-chan onstage. Anyways, before we go into this chapter, the song featured in this chapter is 'Too Close' by Alex Clare, but the version I based off is the cover by Max Milner and J Marie Cooper ( watch?v=SYsIYboxQu0 ). Feel free to listen while you read! They're how Yamato and Natsuhi sound like in my head. What can I say, I have a thing for husky voices. Anyways, ON WITH THE STORY!
Yamato took one look at the resigned sigh Natsuhi was heaving and knew he had won. Licking his lips in anticipation, he brought the mic to his lips. "Actually before that, I have an announcement to make." Yamato smirked, sending a few of his fangirls swooning. "Before I was so rudely kicked by my friend, Natsuhi, I was going to say that she isn't just a great drummer but also a great singer."
Natsuhi didn't even bother concealing her anguished groan as 4 heads whipped themselves to stare at her with wide eyes.
"You sing!?" Her fellow band members chorused.
The girl in question didn't bother to answer, not that she had to because Yamato answered for her.
"Yes guys, she sings, very well at that," the blonde repeated to his stunned band members. Ignoring their surprise and the feeling of dread that was rolling off his best friend in waves, Yamato cheerily invited her onstage. "Natsuhi, may I have the honour of singing this song with you?"
The extra dose of cheer in Yamato's voice grated on Natsuhi's nerves and she downed the beer in her glass in one furious gulp. "Like I have a choice," she muttered darkly as she stormed towards the stage. Yamato couldn't help but chuckle at her reluctant form, why she didn't want people to know that she sang was beyond him.
During the amusing (amusing to everyone except Natsuhi) display, the backstage crew had dutifully brought two stools and an acoustic guitar onstage. The newly designated singer grumpily plonked herself onto the chair and adjusted the mic stand to her height. No other words were needed. It didn't matter that they've never sang this song together before, years of friendship and hours of jamming together meant that they automatically knew which verses to take and where to harmonize.
Strumming the first few chords of the song, Yamato could already feel all the bottled up emotions straining to break free. But Natsuhi's presence kept him grounded. He would make it through. He had her.
"You know I'm not one, to break promises." He started.
Their couple ring sparkled under the fireworks. "Together forever?" Sora turned to beam at him. Yamato nodded, "Forever." He promised.
"I don't want to hurt you but I need to breath."
Sora standing next to Taichi, smiling without a care in the world. Sora and Taichi bantering with each other. Sora snuggling up to Taichi. Sora diving after Taichi…
"At the end of it all you're still my best friend."
The memory of the last hug they shared before the campfire flashed in his mind. Yamato allowed himself a small smile. Nothing can take away all their friendship forged through years of adventure together.
"But there's something inside that I need to release."
The walls he so carefully built came tumbling down, and all the pent up emotions came torrenting through, threatening to drown him with all their fury. Then a familiar hand came and pulled him out of his sea of turbulent emotions.
"Which way is right, which way is wrong, how do I say that I need to move on," Natsuhi's shot him a reassuring smile as she joined in, her voice steadying his. 'I'm here for you.' She said through the music. Relieve flooded his system, and just like that, Yamato found his footing again.
"You know we're headed in separate ways," he continued as Natsuhi hung back, she knew this line and this line alone, he needed to sing by himself. He had earned the right, initiating and braving the break up all by himself.
The sudden loss of Natsuhi's voice caused Yamato to glance sharply at his best friend. Obediently, her voice rose to harmonize with his again as the chorus began. "And it feels like I am just too close to love you." The momentary emptiness Yamato felt immediately faded away. Taking comfort in the strength that Natsuhi's voice provided, Yamato closed his eyes and poured himself into the song.
"I can't lie no more, I can't hide no more, gotta be true to myself."
The day of the break up began looping itself in his head again. Having the intimacy that Taichi and Sora shared thrown in his face. The coldness that filled his body when Sora tore out of his arms to dive after Taichi. His resigned acceptance at it all. Yamato barely finished the last line of the chorus before his voice broke. Not trusting his voice, Yamato quickly retreated into the rhythmic strumming of the guitar.
But the song had to go on, and with a knowing glance, Natsuhi swooped in to cover for him.
"You've given me more than I can return," even though it was her voice, this was Yamato's song. If there was one thing Natsuhi was good at, it was understanding the blonde, channeling Yamato, she let his emotions bleed into her voice. "Yet that's so much more that you deserve."
Despite the melancholy that plagued him, Yamato couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corner of his lips as he rejoined her for the second half of the verse. What would he do without Natsuhi? He knew Natsuhi didn't agree with the lyrics. Their many arguments whenever Yamato insisted that Sora deserved more than he could give was testament to that. But here she was, lending him her voice to vent his emotions.
Emptying yourself to become a vessel for someone else's emotions was hard though, and eventually, Natsuhi's own feelings leaked into the song.
"And it feels like I am just too close to love you."
It was a completely different interpretation of the lyrics. Not one of love long-gone but one of unrequited love. It was hard, being so close to the one you loved. It was ironic, truly. She was the closest person to Yamato, but because of that, his love was the only thing she can't have.
The sudden pain that filled the song alarmed Yamato. This pain tasted different from his. Instead of a dark bitterness, it was almost coppery… 'Irony,' Yamato realized a few seconds later. He wanted to tell her it wasn't true, that she no longer have to carry the burden of unrequited love on her shoulders anymore.
The switch from lead to harmony was seamless, so seamless Natsuhi almost missed it. Instead of her voice supporting Yamato's it was the other way round now. The warm tones of Yamato's voice took on a comforting quality. She allowed herself to revel in the musical equivalent of a comforting embrace before breaking out of it.
Shooting Yamato an apologetic glance, Natsuhi returned the leading melody to him. This song wasn't about her, it was about him. This was his soliloquy. Pushing her own feelings to the back of her head, Yamato's emotions once again took the reins and their voices came together one last time to tell the heart-breaking story of a romance that was never meant to be.
The reverb of the guitar hung in the silent hall, its occupants still processing the emotional roller-coaster they were just put on. To her side, Yamato's eyes were closed and she knew he was still emotionally choked up from his little cathartic exercise. Then slowly, the crowd broke into thunderous applause. Natsuhi bowed in gratitude and Yamato calmed down enough to whisper a heart-felt thank you. The silence returned again once the applause died down, with nobody knowing what to do with the melancholy that hung in the air. Several more sensitive members of the audience were still busy dabbing their eyes.
A sense of déjà vu washing over her, Natsuhi took over the situation despite it not being her concert. "Ahem, shall we sing something happier? Requests anyone?" The awkward silence continued a few moments more and a member of the audience finally obliged.
"La La, by The Cab!"
Inwardly, Natsuhi let out a relieved sigh. That song was definitely happy enough. She replaced the mic on the mic stand and hopped off her stool. That seemed to snap the rest of Teenage Wolves back into reality as they quickly ran through the cords for the song. Personally, Natsuhi wanted to give her best friend a few more moments to collect himself, but the show must go on. Seeing as coddling wasn't her thing, she kicked Yamato non-too gently in the shin.
"Break a leg," she quipped and turned to walk off stage, only to be stopped, unexpectedly, by Ryo.
"One more song?" The other vocalist asked.
Natsushi shook her head, "One song was more than enough." Besides, it wasn't polite. It was their concert, not hers, plus she was basically stealing Ryo's role.
"I insist," he said, and jerked his heads towards Yamato.
Confused, Natsuhi turned to look at her best friend and understanding dawned on her. Yamato had the word 'stay' written all across his face. Natsuhi chuckled inwardly, all he had to do was ask. But she knew he wouldn't. Yamato knew he had already overstepped his bounds by asking her to sing that one song with him. So despite his personal wishes, he wasn't going to selfishly ask her to sing another.
"The bassline for this song is crazy complicated, I won't be any good for harmonizing," Ryo added.
It was only a partial lie and it wasn't in her nature to abandon a friend in need. "Sorry," she apologized. Ryo chuckled and waved her off, but not before chucking the mic in her face. With a resigned sigh, Natsuhi took her place on the stage, subconsciously avoiding the spotlight that remained stubbornly focused on her.
A short but complicated bass riff immediately took all the attention off her.
"The next request is La La, by The Cab, I've always wanted to perform this song live, but because the bassline for this song is quite tricky, I never could sing and play it at the same time. Thankfully Yamato-senpai is here to lend us his vocals. Natsuhi-san has also kindly agreed to stand in for the harmony. So, please enjoy, La La!" Ryo shouted with a flourish.
The crowd let out another round of cheers (with Takeru and Mika's table being the loudest) when they realized Natsuhi would be staying for another song. The band took that as the cue to kick off the song.
Natsuhi watched Yamato jump around the stage to the upbeat song, gloomy aura gone without a trace, and was both amused and relieved. She sometimes joked that instead of blood, Yamato's veins pumped music. Growing up with his taciturn father, Yamato was never the most expressive of people. He was however, only human and needed an outlet. He found music. The only time Yamato was ever honest with his feelings is through music. Every song he sings reflects a certain emotion or story within him, and because of that, Yamato's moods were also easily influenced by music.
As if sensing her gaze, Yamato turned to look at her, their eyes meeting, and smiled. Had Natsuhi been any other girl, she would have been reduced to a blushing, spluttering mess. Fortunately, Natsuhi wasn't just any other girl, as such, she was able to reply with a smile of her own (aka what most people would call an imperceptible upward curve of the lip). Inwardly however, Natsuhi thought her heart would give out from how fast it was beating.
Somehow, having Natsuhi onstage with him boosted his confidence. Turning his attention back to the audience, Yamato couldn't resist the urge to cause some mischief. Mind made up, he bounded to the edge of the stage, in front of the mosh-pit, and pulled one of the unsuspecting fans onstage. Immediately, the crowd went wild, their screams threatening to overpower the sound system. The remaining members of the Teenage Wolves and Natsuhi exchanged wry grins. What was Yamato up to this time?
Slinging his arm across the girl's shoulder, Yamato tilted his head downwards so that his eyes were at eye-level with the fangirl and sang. "Baby you could be my favourite lullaby…" More screams erupted from the crowd at that. Overwhelmed by the closeness of her idol, said fangirl buried her face in her hands shyly as her frame shook from the excitement of the experience. Yamato clearly enjoyed the effect he had on the poor girl, because he stepped up his game and got down on one knee and serenaded the blushing girl as the chorus came up.
"What would you do if I told you that Ia la la la loved you." The poor girl's legs almost gave out, sending her tumbling into the waiting arms of one blond heartthrob.
Natsuhi didn't know what came over her, perhaps Yamato's mischievousness was contagious. Donning a confident smirk that would put even guys to shame, Natsuhi sauntered up to the unsuspecting pair and shoved Yamato away. Slinging her arms possessively around the girl, she tilted the girl's chin to face her own and repeated the line Yamato just sang. The crowd's screams grew even louder, and the poor fan's face grew even redder. Recovering from shock, Yamato shook his head in amusement at his friend's antics. He wanted to see how far Natsuhi would take things, but the lead singer also knew that his fan was going to pass out if Natsuhi and him kept up their teasing, and so the pair dutifully escorted her back into the audience.
That didn't mean that the game was ending, not by a long shot. As verse 2 began, Yamato changed directions and moved towards the tables where his brother sat. Knowing that his brother could take a joke or two, he took Hikari's hands into his as he sang to her, mirth dancing in his eyes. Not wanting to be outdone, Natsuhi strolled to the very same table, but not before grabbing a rose from the out-stretched hands of one of the clamouring fans. Stopping right in front of Hikari, Natsuhi spared a second to smirk at Yamato before stealing the next line in the song. "I'm not like the other boys, cause with you I've got no choice…" Yamato scoffed at her insinuations but let her offer the digidestined of light the flower, which the girl accepted with the soft blush.
Having seen enough, Takeru possessively reclaimed his girlfriend, pulling her into his lap and shooed his brother and sister away. Unable to conceal their amusement, Yamato and Natsuhi looked at each other and broke out in wide grins at the same time as they ran back onstage for the chorus.
"What would you do if I told you that I la la la la loved you, do if I said it tonight?" Natsuhi sang, the humor of the situation was definitely not lost on her; she knew exactly what Yamato would do because she had in fact told him that she loves him.
Yamato could sense his friend's amusement as she sang the chorus, seemingly to him. Standing before him, mirth dancing in her eyes, it was the most unguarded he has ever seen her. It almost made him wish that he had a camera so that he could document this instance forever. 'I love her,' he realized once again, this time with more conviction.
With that thought in mind, Yamato knew what he had to do, what he wanted to do since hearing the pain in her voice in the previous song. Making sure to keep the mood light, Yamato took a step towards the drummer and let the lyrics fall from his lips. "What would you do if I told you that I la la la la loved you."
Music was the only place neither of them could lie, and so despite his joking demeanour, Natsuhi could still sense the underlying sincerity in his question. Yamato could see the beginnings of a blush starting to form on the girl's face and wondered if he had gotten through to her. He had obviously wondered too soon however, as the next moment, her blush was mercilessly squashed by denial, and she sang back, changing the lyrics subtly.
"I know you la la la lie." She stuck her tongue out playfully at him, there was no way she was falling for that trap.
Sighing to himself, Yamato backed off with a resigned smile. He should have known it wouldn't be that easy to take-back his initial rejection of her confession.
The stage lights that were pulsing in a myriad of colors unanimously turned to warm gold, flooding the stage gold as the song approached the interlude. The sudden change in lighting reminded Yamato of another scene that was similar bathed in gold light, where rock music was blasting in the back drop. Except instead of the roaring of the audience, it was the roaring of the winds on the open field that accompanied them.
Blue met silver and looking into Natsuhi's eyes, he somehow knew that she was thinking of the same drive along the sunrise as he was. Harmonizing each other was practically second nature to the pair, and as their voices overlapped, Yamato wondered for the first time if voices could feel lonely. Somehow, the songs always seemed fuller, richer, stronger whenever he sang with Natsuhi, and he didn't just mean that musically.
"Like a symphony."
Yes, Yamato thought to himself, exactly like a symphony. Their voices kept building on top of each other to match the rising crescendo of the interlude. Anyone with eyes could see the visible connection between the two as they sang. Finally, the interlude exploded into the final chorus and the two of them broke apart, grinning as they motioned for the crowd to sing along.
Neither the audience nor the band received any reprieve however as just as La La ended, the band immediately transitioned into the opening of Uptown Funk. Natsuhi who had no chance to leave the stage resignedly stayed on for one last song, though to be honest, she was having too much fun to complain. Trading looks, the band mutually agreed that this would be the last song for the night.
"On behalf of the Teenage Wolves, thank you guys so much for coming today, I speak for everyone when I say that I will never forget tonight. This is our last song for the night, Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars. I want to see everybody jumping and singing along, nobody's leaving this place until they've used up every last shred of energy. Is that clear!"
The agreeing cheers from the crowd was deafening.
Natsuhi dutifully followed the rest of the band backstage as the concert came to an end. Picking a comfortable spot in the dressing room, Natsuhi plopped herself down and waited for Mika and the rest to arrive with her things.
"The crowd's only just started leaving, so Takeru and the rest will probably take a while," Yamato said as he toweled himself off. Natsuhi nodded understandingly, it wasn't like she was in a rush anyways.
"So Yama…" Taki draped himself across the blonde's shoulder. "Since you won't come back to us, do you think we can steal her instead?" The keyboardist asked, half joking.
"I second that motion!" Takashi piped in.
"As long as she doesn't steal my spot," the drummer, Yusuke stated.
Yamato chuckled good-naturedly. "If you can convince her, you can have her," he answered, knowing the outcome.
"So what do you say Natsuhi-chan, would you like to debut with us? I'm sure the label will agree after your performance tonight" Taki asked.
Just as Natsuhi was about to politely decline, Yamato let out an incredulous shout. "IS THAT MY SHIRT!?" He pointed accusingly at the drenched white cloth that hung around Taki's shoulders.
The keyboardist examined the article for a moment and nodded, "Oh yea, it is. Here you go."
The murderous aura that was leaking from Yamato did not go unnoticed and the rest of the band gathered around to see how the situation would unfold.
"THAT'S MY SHIRT YOU JUST WIPED YOURSELF OFF WITH!" Yamato thundered.
"Ooops? Sorry?" Taki apologized half-heartedly.
Natsuhi, who knew of Yamato's temper turned to look at Ryo, "Is he always..?"
"This incorrigible? Yea. He's got a few screws loose up there." The bassist explained and Natsuhi hmmed contemplatively.
"What am I going to wear now!?" Yamato demanded almost exasperatedly.
"You could always just go home shirtless." Takashi couldn't help but pipe in. A deadpanned glare from Yamato shut him right up.
"You can still wear it," Taki pointed out, as if it was the most logical thing in the world.
Yamato looked at the now ruined shirt that he held gingerly in between his fingers and back at this friend, "Wear something that's drenched in your sweat? No thank you." Shoving the shirt in one of the plastic bags lying around, Yamato sighed. It was still summer, maybe it wouldn't be that cold…
The blonde was broke out of his thoughts when he noticed a piece of clothing sailing towards him. Catching it, he realized it was Natsuhi's shirt.
"I didn't sweat much," she stated curtly, completely unbothered by the fact that she was sitting in a roomful of hot-blooded men in nothing but a crop top and shorts.
For a moment, nobody knew how to react, but a crude wolf-whistle from Taki snapped everyone out of their respective shock. Yamato immediately rose to defend her honour but a pointed glare from those piercing silver eyes shut the keyboardist right up.
Sensing Yamato's reluctance, Natsuhi added, "I've got a jacket in my bag, I can wear that."
At that admission, Yamato released the breath he didn't know he was holding. Somehow the idea of Natsuhi's body being on display bothered him. He obediently put on the shirt and noted how it fit him perfectly, as most of Natsuhi's oversized shirts do. Grumbling mentally at how the shirt looked better on him than it did on her, Natsuhi wondered if Yamato knows that she intentionally buys clothes that are in his sizes just so she could justify stealing his shirts when he's over.
Yamato stepped out of the shower only to find Natsuhi on the balcony with two cans of beer. Smiling to himself, he made way to join her.
"I put your shirt in the wash along with mine," he reported dutifully and helped himself to the chilled beverage.
"Keep it," Natsuhi said as she took a sip of her own beer.
"Really?" Yamato asked, taking a larger sip of his own beer. He has been pestering her for that shirt for a while now. She has yet to give in.
"Why, you don't want it?" She questioned.
"Of course I want it!" Yamato all but shouted.
"Then keep it," she stated matter-of-factly. "You look good in it," she whispered barely audibly.
Yamato nearly choked on his beer at that admission. He knew that they both knew he was good-looking, but it was never something she ever talked about because she knew he has enough people complimenting him about his looks. That and it made him uncomfortable. The unexpected praise left Yamato flustered, and floundering, he chugged the entire can of beer in one-shot.
Out of habit, Natsuhi's hand shot out to grab the can, but then stopped short.
"What's wrong? Not gonna check my can for leftover beer this time?" He teased now that he knew where the habit came from.
Natsuhi stilled for a moment, embarrassed. She should never have told him. Then after a moment, she passed him her beer, "You can have mine."
Her lack of comeback told him that he had won and he accepted the drink from her. No one said anything for the longest of moments, but the sudden cold breeze caused Yamato to notice just how much of his best friend was pressed up against him. It was a small balcony, the only way it could accommodate both of them side by side was if they sat, shoulders and knees touching. Funny how he never noticed the intimacy until today. Pressing the can to his lips, the words 'indirect kiss' echoed in his head. Glancing at Natsuhi's lips, he suddenly found himself wondering how kissing her would feel.
"Yes?" Natsuhi turned to face him when she noticed his lingering stare.
The lips that he so desperately wanted to kiss were now only centimetres away from him.
"I want to kiss you." The words tumbled out unchecked.
Natsuhi faltered for moment.
"That's the beer talking." She said after a moment, her voice carefully void of any emotion.
"I want to kiss you." He repeated more firmly this time.
Panic crept into Natsuhi's normally piercing eyes. "Don't," she choked out.
"Don't what," Yamato asked, voice teasing, a smile playing at his lips.
"This, don't do this," she bit her lip.
It only made them look more inviting to him.
"What do you mean by…this?" Yamato let his voice drop several octaves as he leaned in.
Instinctively, Natsuhi tried to lean away, but it was a small balcony, she didn't have far to go.
"Confusing me, stop confusing me," she bit out, hoping to sound threatening or at least frustrated. But the words came out laced in an odd mix of fear and hope.
"It's confusing me too," Yamato reached out to trace her bottom lip with his thumb. She shivered at the touch but didn't move away. "You didn't mind this on the balcony the last time."
Despite the fear, despite the confusion, Natsuhi laughed. Closing her eyes, she dredged up the last bits of her denial and clung to it. "This isn't a game Yamato," she sighed.
"I never said it was," he stated softly, but firmly.
"I'm your best friend, not your rebound," she pleaded, voice breaking.
Yamato could sense that her resolve was wavering. "You're not my rebound, I promise." He looked at her, blue eyes shining with all the sincerity that he could muster.
Natsuhi sucked in breath, could she believe? "I'm not drunk enough for this," she protested weakly.
Yamato chuckled, knowing that she had given in. "Well I am," he shifted so that she was sandwiched between him and the wall.
"You'll regret this in the morning," she tried one last time even though she knew her resolve has faltered.
"So you won't?" He quipped. Natsuhi turned her head away from his as she scoffed indignantly.
"We will regret this in the morning," she amended, lips quivering.
"I can live with that," he stated. And just like that, the last of her resistance crumbled, and she let him lean in all the way.
The kiss started off innocent enough, just a simple press of lips against lips. But this time, Yamato gave into his desire of wanting more. He pulled the girl into his lap, arms wrapping around her waist possessively as his tongue darted out to taste the lips he has been coveting the all evening. All coherent thoughts left Natsuhi's mind when she felt Yamato's tongue against hers. They were definitely going to regret this tomorrow, but as she buried her hands in Yamato's hair, she realized she couldn't bring herself to care. The innocent kiss morphed into a full-on make out session and only came to an end when the need for air became too great.
"Wow," the two of them breathed out at the same time, their foreheads against each other. They stayed that way for a moment, just enjoying the lingering intimacy. No words were necessary, they both knew nothing was ever going be the same after tonight. There was no going back.
A stifled yawn from Yamato broke the moment, and Natsuhi stood up, pulling the sleepy blonde with her. "Come on, lets go to bed."
Yamato had to blink twice to make sure that he wasn't hallucinating, but he wasn't. Natsuhi was smiling, a genuine, warm, contented smile. A burst of warmth bloomed within him, and he couldn't help but smile back at her. He let her lead him back into the house, the coldness from the cans a stark contrast against the warmth of Natsuhi's fingers against his own.
Yamato returned to the bed after trashing the empty beer cans, only find that Natsuhi had fallen asleep during the brief moment he was away. A chuckle escaped his lips, so much for talking about what just happened. But it was funny, he mused, all the tension and awkwardness that had been building between them had all but evaporated. It only served to validate that this, whatever he had with Natsuhi was right. Absently stroking the sleeping girl's hair, Yamato made a decision. He was going to do things right by her. But that meant he had to tie up some loose ends first.
"Wait for me," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
A/N: *waits for squeals* Yup, it has happened, they kissed. BUT THIS IS NOT THE END. Enjoy the peace and fluffiness while it lasts guys...Yes, this means there's trouble looming over the horizon. Come on, you guys don't seriously believe that I'm just going to let them get together like that right?
Anyways, THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR THE REVIEWS! They've been my main motivation as I wrote this chapter. Actually the previous chapter and this chapter have been months in the making. Remind me to never write songfics again, I spent so long choosing and researching songs. I literally have a YamatoxNatsuhi playlist. That's what you get when you have two tsundere main characters. *sigh*
One of our lovely readers asked if Natsuhi's digivice is gonna make another appearance, I already answered in a PM, but I figured I might well answer it here so everyone knows. As tempting as it is, this fic is mainly a story about Yamato, Taichi, Sora and Natsuhi's relationship, the digimon elements are just a decoration. The whole digital world chapter wasn't even planned when I started writing this, it just sort of...came up, although it is personally my favourite arc in this story. I will admit that I played with the idea of developing this into a digital world adventure fic but I really don't have the patience for it. (Especially when I have a whole throng of other fics waiting for me to finish) BUT, both Beelzemon and the digital world will be making a cameo soon, both in the upcoming chapter and in the epilogue.
Once again, thank you for all your support, I hope you've enjoyed this chapter. Reviews always make my day, so keep them coming! =P
Much love! 3