Evenings

Chapter 13: Meeting, Part 1

A/N: Anyone waiting for me to update "Cross My Heart" or "I Would Lie For You", no worries. I'm touching up the chapters and they will go up soon, likely in a week from posting this.

Thanks for reading, as always :)

"What I wanted to do was sit around and watch all the porn on your computer and maybe squeeze in some game time after that, but no, Dad is insisting on this... whatever he's pulling."

"Not like you would have had time at my place anyway," Jyou sighed, especially at the thought of his best friend rifling through private folders, "My Dad banned you from existence, remember? If he even knew I was here, I'd be on the street..."

"Yeah, sorry about that," the blonde muttered. "Nice to see your arm healed, too."

Jyou nodded. As he glanced around the Ishida apartment, he realized Yamato's last few months of partying had left the place a disaster when usually it was spotless. Hiroaki had apparently lost one jacket under a slew of his work clothes thrown over the back of one of the dining chairs. Yamato's share of bad habits lay nearby: a bottle of a sleep-aid and an empty pack of cigarettes. Jyou had been a bit angry, to say the least, and he almost gave up on the blonde for good, but Jyou had this thing called a conscience and a libido and that drove him more than anything to forgive his friend for his actions, which included something Jyou had wanted to do for years: punch his father, Sho, square in the nose. Mimi had gotten involved, too. She had vowed to "get the old gang back together" since they had drifted so far apart, but that had been failure.

Even as he watched Yamato stare off into space, holding the vacuum cleaner in one hand and the cord he had been unraveling in the other. "Yamato?"

"...sorry?" he whispered. "You... said something?"

"No, but you have been kinda slow unraveling that cord," Jyou pointed out.

"Ah, yeah," Yamato said, then did so and carried the machine across the room. Jyou looked past where the blonde had been standing at the picture of their family- all of them, with a sigh. See, Yamato's father hadn't let his son's promiscuity go unchecked too long and this was some kind of forced therapy that definetly wasn't going to work. If anything, it was going to make things worse. When Jyou had arrived that morning, for example, Yamato had been fairly chipper, probably deciding the entire thing would end up cancelling itself between his parents' busy schedules. Then he started zoning out. He's worried about Takeru, Jyou figured. He's going to see this as an attempt to mend the family again. Next will come the anger... Jyou really was glad he couldn't stay because he didn't feel like watching a father and son, or two brothers, fist fight.

The vacuum hummed on and thankfully, the place was almost clean. Sometimes, Jyou didn't understand his friend's feelings. He would sooner see Natsuko strung up in town square for the vultures before he would speak to her, yet he would go out of his way to clean the place and impress her. Or maybe he was reading too far into it and this was just to ease this strange punishment from Hiroaki.

"Jyou..." Yamato mouthed.

The blue haired man cocked his head. The vacuum was too noisy, so Yamato shut it off.

"Jyou?"

"Yeah?"

"Is there any way you can stay?" he pleaded.

Jyou shrugged. He really shouldn't. He and Takeru had once known each other pretty well, but to say they got along anymore was an understatement since Jyou announced his sexuality to the group during the Digital Eclipse. Hiroaki was a hard read and Jyou wasn't sure if the man was a people pleaser or outright stoic. Natsuko on the other hand... Jyou didn't even want to consider the last time they had technically met, he was taking Takeru as far away from her as he could- to fight Vamdemon nonetheless, but the wording remains. That left Yamato... Jyou had hoped the two would have acted further on what went on in the Digital World, but when they had went through the Gate, there seemed to be too much on Yamato's mind and the boy ignored him. Jyou didn't tread closer and Yamato never said a word. To say they were friends now was pushing it in Jyou's mind. "I really... I really shouldn't."

"I understand," Yamato replied, his voice cracking. Jyou studied the boy's fists, already shaking at his sides.

Why do you have to stand there and look like you're already going to have another mental breakdown? You already had one in front of me over Takeru, I don't think I can handle this, either, but there you are, ready to fall to your knees and cry. Damn it, Yamato, can't you handle anything?

Jyou wasn't sure where his sudden anger had come from. Possibly because this was one of multiple occasions where Yamato called out of the blue, taking the only section of free time from Jyou's schedule, asking a favor. Not that Jyou had any favors needed in return, but why him? "Yamato, I need to ask you something."

The blonde looked up suddenly and his near-tearful expression coupled with shock reminded Jyou of how he looked in the mirror when Princess died. "...why me?"

A smile crossed Yamato's face, "What do you mean?"

"Why do you ask me instead of Taichi or Koushiro? Or anyone else?" Jyou pleaded. "Why me?"

Yamato sighed. He still loved the boy, that was true, but he knew it was too late to express things now. After everything with the Dark Masters and the busy schedules that hindered them until he and Sora started dating... it was just too late to tell him that. So, what am I going to tell him? Ah. I know. "We're friends, Jyou. That's what friends do, right?"

Jyou blinked. How could the blonde remember word-for-word what he had said that day? The day Yamato's crest glowed. "Uh... right!"

"I'm really glad you're here, but I understand you've got a life to live right? I don't know why Dad thinks this is going to magically fix everything... doesn't he know I just really, really like getting laid?"

Jyou squirmed a second. Or, you know, he sees what the rest of us see. You're hiding something. I don't even think you know what it is you're covering up. And do you have to be like that? So damn psuedo-shallow? I can't stand it! "Yamato, maybe your Dad has a point..."

"What?" the blonde snapped.

"You and Sora. It's because of your mother, right?" Jyou insisted. God, Kido, stop pushing him away... But this needs to be said. Someone has to.

"If it was, what does it fucking matter now?"

So, that's a yes, then. Figures. You're just trying to prove you can handle a relationship, then. But look at you, one night stands have nothing to do with love, Yamato. I don't even blame you for not knowing that. "I may be out of line here."

"Really? Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"Yamato, don't get angry with me. I'm trying to help you."

"Don't bother. This isn't going to work, whatever the Hell you have to say isn't going to work, and nothing has ever fucking worked!" he barked, throwing the vacuum to the ground. "Now, will you just fucking leave?"

Jyou sighed. He had said what he needed to say and maybe it would sink in, but he doubted it. He did have to be going before his father returned and noticed he wasn't locked up like the prisoner he was. "Take care, Yamato."

"Yeah, whatever," the blonde breathed, walking Jyou to the door. Jyou slipped on his shoes and stepped out. Yamato slammed the door shut and as Jyou walked away he heard a loud thud against the wood- likely the blonde punching the door. Better than my face, I suppose, Jyou thought, letting his hands fall to his sides as he walked. I didn't get to say, though, that you need to want to help yourself... but maybe he'll figure that out on his own.

Yamato ran a hand over his face and growled, trying to calm himself. He hurried to pick up the vacuum and put it away, then sat at the couch and waited in silence. Minutes passed by slowly and all he could do was fume over Jyou's words. Who cared if he was right?

A knock at the door and, "Niisan?"

Takeru... Yamato's hand trembled. They hadn't spoken since Mimi's gathering and before that weren't speaking at all. "Come in."

Takeru stepped inside. Yamato found it odd that Natsuko wasn't with him, but he wasn't going to ask. He was too distracted by Takeru's neat form of dress and the rosary around his neck. "Mom's on the way," Takeru noted simply, "I wanted to talk to you anyway."

"Oh, really?"

"...did you think at all about what I said to you before?" Takeru questioned, placing his shoes near the door. He strolled over, inspecting the place. "At least cleaneliness is next to Godliness," he breathed, but he showed dissatisfaction on his face. "Are you keeping yourself clean?"

Yamato grimaced. His brother had changed so much in the last few years. Losing the Digimon had been difficult for all of them, but for Takeru, Yamato felt he took it the hardest. All this Godly bullshit Natsuko had once tried shoving down Yamato's throat, too, was Takeru's cloak. This is what Jyou was saying, Yamato thought. But I don't care. I'm alone now, so what does it matter what I do to myself?

"You're not talking to me?" Takeru insisted, sitting next to him.

Yamato flinched at his touch, old feelings never going completely away. "I don't know what I can say to you to make you approve of me, now."

"It's never too late to believe in something greater, Yamato," Takeru said. "The devil's infected you. I've seen it before. You're easily manipulated. But if—"

"Takeru, stop, please. Talk to me like you've got a damn mind of your own for once."

Takeru glared, "I'm just trying to help you."

Oh. My. God. Would all of you motherfuckers stop saying that?! Yamato seethed, leaning further away from his brother with crossed arms.

About this time, talking erupted from the other side of the door, drawing the boys' attention. Their parents entered.

"I don't think this is going to work, Hiro-"

"It was Takeru's idea..." Hiroaki started. Yamato glared at his brother, but Takeru's eyes were too focused on his mother who was struggling to take off her shoes. She had grown tired and depressed and now she was on medication for it. It helped with the pessimism, but it didn't help the overwhelming fatigue. She was suffering from a small cold, too. "I see you two have already started talking."

"Yes," Takeru said. "He's belligerent as ever. I don't know how you deal with him."

I don't, Hiroaki thought, helping Natsuko with her other shoe. He held her and helped her to the recliner to sit. Yamato's eyes flared towards his father and they exchanged angry glances. "Yamato, talk to her."

Natsuko raised her head weakly. She smiled at the sight of him- something that turned Yamato's stomach, but he straightened up. He was better than her, better than anyone in the entire room. He pursed his lips, though, refusing to speak. Natsuko's smile faded quickly, but she did her best not to cry, looking at Takeru.

"Yamato!" hissed Hiroaki.

"Hello," the son breathed.

"Yamato... thank you for doing this," Natsuko said, shifting her hand from one knee to the other. "It's very important to Takeru."

"Anything to oggle me in person, right?" Yamato snapped with a smirk that chilled the room.

Natsuko flinched and sat back in the chair. Hiroaki growled as Takeru grabbed his older brother's sleeve, "I brought you here to explain yourself to your family and God, so do it."

"I don't have to hand myself over to some diety," Yamato hissed.

"Better than handing yourself over to lust and pride!" Takeru barked.

Yamato grasped Takeru's collar, pulling the boy to his face and looking him in the eyes. The blonde had sickenly dreamt of this many times and pushed his brother away.

"Yamato, what Takeru is trying to say is that we're concerned about you. I know I'm not always there for you, but you can always turn to us if you need anything."

Yamato took in his father's words and tried to be civil for a moment, "What I do with my life is none of your business."

"As long as you're under my roof it's my business," Hiroaki ordered. The entire thing came out so awkward between his lips.

"Why do you insist on worrying them?" Takeru asked.

"It's not my fault they care about me—" Yamato started, but realized what he had said. He turned away a moment. He felt Takeru's hand on his back and shrugged it away.

"We all love you, Yamato, despite whatever it is, for whatever reasons, that you don't love yourself," Hiroaki said, looking to Natsuko. She was still staring at her hands, because if she looked up, Yamato was likely to start screaming at her, or talking about her like she wasn't there. "So, just promise us that you'll do better."

"...the draft of my novel's almost done, Niisan," Takeru urged, taking his brother's hand. "I... really want you to read the ending and let me know what you think."

"...yeah," he replied, happy just to hear his little brother's voice and not the horn of God for five seconds.

"...I'm sorry, everyone. I didn't mean to make you worry," Yamato breathed. Hiroaki noted how he looked just like his mother, the two of them sitting, staring at their clasped hands, unsure of what to do. Trust had long since broken and neither of them- no one in that room, really –knew what to do to fix it. Maybe it couldn't be fixed. Yamato tried to give a good reason for his behavior, but it really boiled down to the things Jyou had pointed out to him and he couldn't say that.

"Come on, I brought a copy of the book with me," Takeru insisted, standing, tugging on Yamato's arm. The entire thing felt like reliving a memory and he smiled, going over to the front door and waiting as Takeru dug through his bag for his manuscript.

"Yamato," Natsuko started, holding back tears.

For a second the blonde turned to her and didn't feel resentment, "...what is it?"

She didn't look up at him, that was the only way he had managed those three words at all. "I... I want you to do something great with your life."

Yamato made a quiet noise that was as much of a confirmation as she was going to get and for a small moment she could smile. She had fully expected him to stand up and start accusing her, do something melodramatic like toss his shirt at her with some equally as humiliating comment to go with it, and then storm out. But somehow the four of them managed, for one afternoon, to at least tolerate each other's prescence. Natsuko thought that maybe things would get better, but she could only hope for him, not herself. He would never forgive her, not that she wouldn't keep trying.

The two brothers talked a moment in hushed whispers and Takeru hurried to Yamato's room to plug in his laptop. "I didn't mean to leave the manuscript at home.. I got sidetracked self-editing..."

Yamato laughed and followed him, not bothering to look at his parents. Hiroaki was already half way through a cigarette when he turned to Natsuko. "That's the only time I see him happy. A shame they're growing apart so quickly..."

"Yamato pushes people away. What can you do?"

"He made so many friends. I don't understand," Hiroaki replied.

"People change," Natsuko whispered.

Yamato leaned over his younger brother's shoulder, "...an astronaut, really?"

"What?" Takeru chuckled, turning around in the chair.

"Isn't that a little random?" the blonde laughed in disbelief.

"Not really... when we were kids, you loved space," Takeru sighed. "Remember that solar system you built? You even included the moons. Not just our moon, but all those moons no one gives a damn about."