Exhausted – One shot
"When the sun goes down all the memories of you, you, you start coming on up…"
The sun was setting as Daisuke, Hikari, Miyako, and Takeru were walking towards the venue.
"Yamato will be so surprised!" Takeru said smiling, as they closed in they could feel the beat.
"Might need another round…
Cause them 90-proof shots I'm shootin' ain't doing that much..."
"How long has it been he's been gone on tour?" Daisuke asked, walking under signs, "almost a yea-" suddenly not listening for the answer Daisuke waived when he spotted Taichi and Sora, running up to meet them. "Traffic was terrible but we're here finally!"
Takeru rolled his eyes and laughed with Hikari and Miyako. "I can tell you're excited." He said when he caught Daisuke. "Taichi, Sora, Koushiro, I'm so glad you could make it, he'll be happy to see everyone, I know it's been a couple years at least for some. I know it's a little far for everyone."
"Hey everyone, we're just glad you all made it safe!" Sora started, "Joe and Iori are stuck but on the way. Mimi's in the bathroom."
"Did anyone tell him?" Taichi asked.
"Absolutely not, or he would've made excuses like he always does lately." Takeru chuckled. He could hear the uneasiness in Taichi's voice, but they had fought about something, they wouldn't tell anyone.
They all started towards the entrance, someone closer opened the door.
"I guess one of us meant it….
When we said we wouldn't need another heartbreak song…
Did you lie right to my face or did your mind just change?…
That spot you chose to hit was on my blindside, baby…"
Daiksuke's eyes widened, "he's already started his set! Come on, let's go!" They all proceeded through the doors, giving up their tickets shortly after entry, the music was booming now, but as the song trailed off Taichi spoke up to the usher scanning tickets, "how much did we miss?"
The man scanned his ticket, "not much man, that was the first one I think. Well, you missed a local band playing a few sets."
They thanked him and entered the dimly lit auditorium, an acoustic guitar strummed as they found a table off to the side but about halfway up, surrounding the dance floor.
"Taichi's paying right?!" Daisuke yelled, Miyako just gave him a look, "I'm just kidding! Sheesh!" He laughed.
"Lately I've been wondering what's been going on…
I've been here before but I don't remember when…"
They all started to settle as they got their drinks and all met back at the table, Mimi had met back up with them. Joe and Iori finally made their way to the table as the second song was coming to an end. It was much closer to what he played as a kid with everyone on their first adventure. It was a surreal melody.
"I've seen inside the Devil's dreams where young men go to die…
And graveyards open up their arms for mothers left to cry…
But just like every other fool, I'll keep marching on…
Because I know that I'll be coming home soon…
And yes I know that I'll be coming home soon, with a soldier's eyes."
Every one of the digidestined were struck as they listened, taking them back to their moments, scared, unsure what was ahead, what they went through. They all knew what he was referring to. Or rather when.
The auditorium erupted after the song finished. Yamato, smiled and waved before immediately changing pace, grabbing another guitar he starts strumming as the girl on bass backs him up.
"Hey hey, yet another close call, it's gonna snowball, my existence is in dire straits…
I'm strapped on a seesaw, they won't take me off, the highs and the lows drive me insane, my heart is racing from the Ritalin I'm taking, I hear voices in my head, they talk to me they say you're crazy, what you doing what you thinking? So sparatic, where ya at? You're so goddamn unpredictable, might miss the second act"
Everyone was enjoying the song, dancing and drinking, laughing at each other. Takeru noticed all the songs were unfamiliar so far, but as that one ended, another more familiar one started.
They were about 45 minutes into Yamato's set, most everyone had a few drinks already and would share stories from the past when it would quiet down.
Iori had been mostly quiet all night, he shared some stories, but kept catching Sora watching Taichi, who was staring off, but quickly brushed it off when she felt him looking, smiling at him he nodded and went back to watching the show.
As the pace slowed and the lights dimmed on the stage, Yamato grabbed an acoustic and began to strum again…
"I'm tired, of holding on to you, it's time to let..
My…
Pride…
Go and learn to love myself again.
I don't wanna wait another…
Day, I've waited long enough…
I'm ready, I can see the sun it's coming up…
There's happiness on the horizon…
I'm hopeful I can see the light…
I've hesitated all my life, but I'm all done."
Yamato on stage, closed his eyes, the crowd felt his pain, someone else knew his pain, he felt bad again, but didn't want to show it.
"I'm done runnin'….from you…
Spent my whole life in your shadow, scared…
Of who I'd…
Be if I…
Said goodbye and I didn't have you here…
I wish you well but I…
Can no longer stand aside…
And watch you sabotage…
The two of us…
I love you to death but I…
Can't spend the rest of my…
Life in this darkness, IIIIIIIIII'm done
I'm done.
oooooo
oooooo,"
Takeru noticed Taichi was looking quite upset now, Sora noticed too, she was more confused looking.
Miyako, Hikari, and Mimi had gone to get refills and refresh they said, they never saw.
Taichi cringed at some of the words.
"Hate seein you cry, but I think it's time…
To let go and say our goodbyes…
Yeah, I'm gonna miss you, but I…
Am not gonna spend the rest of my life…
Runnin'…
From you…
Spent my whole life in your shadow…
Scared…
Of who I'd…
Be if I…
Said goodbye and I didn't have you here..
I wish you well but I…
Can no longer stand aside…
And watch you sabotage…
The two of us…
I love you to death but I…
Can't spend the rest of my…
Life in this darkness, IIIIIIIIII'm done
I'm done.
oooooo
oooooo"
As the song ended, Taichi stood up and stormed into the crowd on the dance floor, he looked extremely upset, he did so when Sora was getting her drink from Mimi, she turned back only to see him walking away, she looked around for a few moments but couldn't spot him.
Another song started as Yamato finished, when he opened his eyes he scanned the crowd after spotting a familiar hairstyle. But couldn't pinpoint it before he heard his cue.
His bassist sang "Told me it was over
Told me it ooooover."
He immediately dropped back in character.
"Hoodie on my head, cold breathe in the air…
People walking by like I'm not even there…
Last time felt like a hundred years ago…
I get paid for my pain, long as I can make it rhyme…
But sometimes, I can't tell if it's even mine…"
His voice commanded attention, you couldn't help but listen.
"In case you were wondering…
This is what a sad song sounds like…
It's been playing in my head for my whole life…
It's beautiful and cruel at the same time…
This is what a broken heart beats like…
It's tearing up my chest like a jackknife…
But it gets me through the good and the bad times…"
His bassist chimes in again, "Told me it was over. Told me it ooooover."
"Say it like you love me, say it like you care..
I know that I'm fucked up I don't even care…
When I close my eyes, I swear I can disappear…
It sounds like
oooooo
It's all in my head, lightening and thundering…
oooooo"
As he finished the song, he finally spotted the familiar hair. The face. The one. He was suddenly alone in the room, nothing except him and Taichi. Eyes locked. He couldn't move for a moment, he heard the music start, instead he started a different song than the bassist was ready for, she looked over, caught his gaze and followed along. She looked back at the drummer and they all changed beat. It started as they both kept their eyes on each other's. Taichi argued with Sora about coming, whether or not he even should since they hadn't been talking. 'Damn you both.' He thought.
Takeru assumed Taichi was over it when he seemed upbeat about meeting at the show, but now seeing him storm off, he wasn't sure. He scanned the crowd again, couldn't spot anyone, until he saw his brothers face change as the song ended, he was focused, but on what?
As the bassist started another song she was thrown off as Yamato changed songs mid-start. Takeru was busy looking through the crowd for what his brother was focused on, finally spotting Taichi in the crowd staring right back. 'What is their deal?' He thought.
"Late at night, hit my line, I won't hold my tongue…
Take a ride, be my vice, break my heart of chrome…
Tell me lies, tell me lies, help me break my fall…
Tryna find peace of mind…
I'm exhausted, oh-oh…
Been runnin' circles round in my head, I know…
It was too good to be true, I'm trying to let you go…
Of the past that been haunting, my souuuul…
I'm exhausted, oh-oh…
Been runnin' circles round in my head, I know…
You couldn't be different, so I'm trying to let go oh-oh oh-oh , to let go oh-oh oh-oh…"
Taichi looked like he was almost in tears, Hikari, Miyako, and Iori caught Takeru leaning on a rail watching Taichi as the song came to an end. 'He's not talking about Taichi….is he?' Takeru thought as they walked up and followed his gaze. The song ended, as they first were met with confusion
Without warning Yamato starting his deep blues voice right up, another song, a familiar style again, old, like Takeru was used to growing up. New lyrics.
It started quick.
"I could write a song, I could paint a perfect picture of a sunrise, in an hour or two…
I could fly a plane, faster then the speed of sound, right into space if you want me to…
I could walk on water, make a billion dollars, burn it, then make every single penny of it back again…
I could close my eyes and fight an alligator with both hands tied behind my back and I would wiiiiin…
But I could never find another youuuu…
Another shooting staaaar…
Another holder of my heart, another light in the dark, another love me like you did…
No, I could never find another youuuu…
Another perfect sound…
Another keep me on the ground, another up when I'm down, another way that you move…
No, I could never find another you…"
Even the crowd had figured out the mood had changed with this song, by now all of us were against the rail watching, overlooking the dance floor. It was unfolding way too fast for us to catch on. 'They couldn't have kept it all secret, even from me could they?' Takeru saw the same look in Hikari's eyes when he looked over. Everyone seemed taken aback, but Sora looked hurt…
"But, baby, yeah, I must confess…
I miss my days…
Of ignorance…
Like before
We fell through that digital door…
Life was like a wave, it seemed…
Back and forth…
So carelessly…
Now it's like a storm…
Without you, I'd rather be alooooone…
Cause I could never find another youuuu…
Another shooting staaaar…
Another holder of my heart, another light in the dark, another love me like you did…
No, I could never find another youuuu….
Another reason to believe…
Another heart on my sleeve, another better half of me, another I do…
No I could never find another you…"
The song ended abruptly, before I think anyone could gather their thought, Yamato, still looked in a gaze, almost glaring but soft and sad still, melted some as he watched Taichi's own cold stare change slowly into tears.
They both hid things, they both loved her they both loved each other. They never dealt with that one question, never wanting to hurt anyone's feelings instead bottling them up.
'How did we not see it?'