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Fortuna	By : Kali Category: Digimon > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 10779 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon: Digital Monsters, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 3
- 4
- 5
Kali
Notes:� I apologize again for the wait.� Some things came up in life and I wasn�t writing or updating much of anything.� So sorry!� Anyway, I have been writing much more lately
and now I�m ready to do some posting!�

Warnings:� Yaoi, adult
language, adult situations, and probably WAFF enough to give one cavities.

Disclaimer:� *checks*� Nope.� Still don�t own
it!� Go jump in a swamp, lawyers.

Pairings:�
Taito!� *squeals*� And DaiKen, Takari, and mentioning of Joe/Mimi, Izzy/Miyako.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 04

�� Go get your stuff, Takeru.�� I said as we entered Mom�s apartment.� �An don�t forget
your toothbrush this time.� I�m not
lending you mine again if you do forget it.��
I�d invited him to come stay at Dad�s in the
elevator.

�� He rolled his eyes at me.� �Yeah, yeah.� Come on, Kari.� Keep me company while I pack.

�� Sure!�� She followed him with a smile.

�� Takeru had mentioned that Mom had
gone off on an assignment for the newspaper for a couple of days though she�d be back tomorrow, and so we were in an empty
apartment.� It was my third home, after
all.� If I wasn�t
bunking at Dad�s, I was either at Taichi�s or here, ever since Mom and I had
begun to make tentative steps toward getting to know each other and forgiving
each other for past issues.

�� It had always been
my little brother�s fondest, most fervent wish that we could all be a family
again.� Happy.� And in a way we�d
done that � even if we didn�t live together.�
It worked for us.

�� I led Taichi and Sora into the
living room to wait, and gave Taichi an encouraging nudge.

�� Hey�Sora?�� He fidgeted and sat heavily on the sofa.� I curled up beside him, tucking my feet under
myself and leaning on the arm.� Sora took
the armchair and gave us curious looks.

�� What�s up, Taichi?� Yamato?� You both look like you�ve got bad news for
me.�

�� No.�
It�s not like that.�� Taichi
glanced at me then sighed and stared at the coffee table while he spoke.� �See�it�s about Mom and Dad��

�� He gave her an abbreviated version,
leaving out most of it but enough to make his point.� Sora was frowning deeply in concern, and I
could see she could tell just how bad it really was for him and Hikari at home
� reading between the lines, as it were.

�� Taichi�s coming to stay with me for
a while, starting tonight, Sora.�� I
added after a moment of silence when my best friend stopped talking. �But�we
don�t know if leaving Hikari behind with their Mom and Dad is a good idea.�

�� Hikari had suggested asking you if
she could come stay with you after spring break, at least until we�ve worked
all this out with our parents.�� Taichi
slouched in his seat dejectedly.� �I
didn�t want to impose on you or your mom like that, though, so I said to hold
off asking, but now��

�� Imposition?� Yagami Taichi don�t you pull that bullshit on
me.��
Sora got up and crossed over to him, kneeling on the floor in front of
him and taking both his hands in hers.�
�You know anything you need I
would be happy to help you with.� And I love Hikari, too.�
If I had a little sister, I�d want one like her.�� Sora gave him a fierce stare that dared him
to say another word about it.� �Of course
she can come stay with us.� My mom will be thrilled.�

�� Taichi smiled slightly, looking
vastly relieved.� �Thanks, Sora.�

�� What can I tell my mom as to why
she�s coming to stay?�� Sora asked,
seriously.� I know you don�t want the
whole world knowing or interfering so I�ll ask what you want me to tell her so
that I don�t accidentally say more than I should.�

�� He nodded and pulled his hands away
to push himself more upright in his seat again.� I relaxed a little, having unconsciously
tensed up when she�d taken his hands in the first
place.� I had a fleeting moment to
realize I didn�t like her touching him � which was odd
since I didn�t care before.� Or did I?� I didn�t have time to mull that over before Taichi was
speaking again.

�� Just�tell her that we�re having
problems with my parents, but don�t get into details, and that I had to leave
for a while but didn�t want to leave Hikari there alone.� And stress that I don�t want anyone to get involved
yet, that I�m trying to work it out.�

�� Sora nodded.� �Sure, Taichi.� I won�t say anymore
than that.� Mom won�t
do or say anything, either, unless you ask her to.� I can promise that.�

�� I know.� Thank you, Sora.�

�� She waved away his thanks.� �Anything to help, remember?�

�� Takeru and Hikari returned shortly
after, my little brother holding a back-pack in one
hand and Hikari�s hand in the other.

�� I got my stuff!�� He declared cheerfully.� �Shall we go?�

�� Yeah.�� Taichi, Sora, and I rose and we all headed
for the door.

�� Hikari�� Taichi said quietly as we
stepped onto the elevator.

�� Yeah, Taichi?�� She looked up at him, her smile fading away
into seriousness at his expression.�
�What�s wrong?�

�� When we get home, you and I are
going to pack up some stuff � enough for a week or so, at least.�

�� I�m already mostly packed to go to
Miya�s tomorrow.� Why?�

�� I watched Taichi reach out and brush
the hair out of her eyes gently and willed my strength to him.

�� I�m going to move to Matt�s
tonight, Kari, and Sora said you can come stay with her tonight � and after
you�re done at Miyako�s, too.�

�� She looked around him at Sora, who
nodded in affirmation, then back to her big brother.� �Okay.�
Um�thanks Sora, but�why?�

�� I don�t like leaving you alone to
deal with Mom, Kari.� She�s�not going to
be happy when I tell her I�m leaving tonight, and you don�t know just how
difficult she�s really been lately.�

�� Hikari frowned as we left the
elevator and began walking toward their apartment complex.� �I know she�s been a little overprotective
lately and that she�s been hounding you for a lot of things, but...�

�� That�s because I�ve been deflecting
her away from you.�� Taichi looked away,
shoving his hands in his pockets and kicking at a stone on the sidewalk.� �She didn�t want you to go to Miyako�s at all
but I threatened to let Meko use both our cell phones
as cat toys if she didn�t let you go.�

�� Hikari was torn
between a giggle and a scowl.� Meko, their pet cat, loved shiny things and tended to swipe
them and use them for toys � and usually the feline would abscond with the
items outside and lose them some place.

�� Is it really that bad,
Taichi?�� Takeru asked, looking very
unhappy at the idea.

�� Well, you may just see for yourself
when we get there.�� Taichi�s expression
darkened, and I moved up to walk a little closer to him in silent support.� �She won�t be happy, and I can�t deflect this
time.� I don�t have it in me anymore.�

�� It�ll be alright, Taichi.�� Sora tried reassuring him.� �With all the rest of us there, she probably
won�t do much.�

�� We can hope.�� He mumbled, but no loud enough for the others
to hear.� Standing as close as I was, I heard, and I gave his shoulder a brief
squeeze.

�� No matter what, Tai, I�m here with
you.� Takeru and Sora,
too.�� I whispered.� We were approaching his building, and under
my hand, I could feel the tension in him increase.

�� Why didn�t you say anything
earlier, Taichi?�� Hikari wanted to
know.� She didn�t
sound angry with him about it, but her tone was on the annoyed side.� �Maybe I could have helped somehow.�

�� I didn�t because�because I hoped it
was just a phase that would pass.�
Because when I realized it wasn�t
a phase, I didn�t want her ruining your hard-won happiness.�� Taichi paused outside the building and faced
her, hands in his pockets.� �And because
I�m your older brother and I was trying to protect you, whether or not you
really needed it.� I�m sorry, Kari�it�s
just what I do.�

�� Oh, Tai�� she sniffed and slipped
into his arms, hugging him tightly for a long moment.� When she let him go, she clasped his hand and
squeezed as she spoke � and for one brief second, I had an image of them as
their younger, pre-teen selves when I�d first gotten
to know them flash across my memory�s sight.

�� We�ll go up there, and we�ll get our
things as quickly as we can, and then we�ll leave.�� Hikari declared decisively.� �But most importantly we�ll be together.�

�� Taichi smiled softly and very gently
tucked her hair behind her ear.� �You�ve
grown up on me, Kari.� Sometimes I have
to remind myself of that.� You know I�m
proud of you, right?�

�� I know.�� She replied with a brilliant smile.

�� He looked up at each of us, ending
with me, and I gave him a solemn but from nod.�
I could see the grim determination in his molten brown eyes, and I hoped
he could see in mine that I would stand up for him if he needed it.

�� Taichi turned and led us indoors,
moving to the elevators purposefully.� It
was silent on the way up.� I don�t think Sora knew what more she could say, and I don�t
think Takeru knew what he could say
at all.� But
he�d be there for Hikari, guarding her as he always has, no matter what.

�� We filed into the apartment
quietly.� As we removed our shoes, Taichi
glanced at his sister and gave her a nod.�
She nodded back, and after breathing deeply in preparation, she raised
her voice to call out, �We�re home, Mom!�
Dad!� in a cheerful voice that was obviously false but
a damned good attempt to pretend.

�� I heard footsteps hurrying from the
living room and their mother appeared in the doorway to the kitchen from the
entrance of the apartment.� �Hikari!� Taichi!� You�oh.�� Mrs. Yagami
stopped immediately upon seeing Sora, Takeru, and I.� I watched as she visibly swallowed back
whatever she was going to say to her children and put on an even more false
cheeriness than Hikari�s tone had been.�
�Hello, kids.� I didn�t know you
were coming over tonight.�

�� Don�t worry.�� Taichi grunted, bracing himself by crossing
his arms and planting his feet.� �They
aren�t staying long.� Go on, Kari.� Takeru and Sora can help you while I talk to
Mom.�

�� Okay.�� Hikari, in a
uncharacteristically meek way, obeyed without another word, taking my brother
and Sora with her. Sora hesitated at the hall entrance way,
glancing over her shoulder.

�� You sure,
Taichi?�� She asked.

�� Positive.�� Taichi said in steely determination.� Her eyes flicked to me, and I waved her
away.� She gave me a nod and disappeared,
trusting me to take care of him � as if I wouldn�t.

�� What
is going on, Taichi?�� Mrs. Yagami asked,
and I could practically hear her teeth grinding with the effort to remain
collected and calm in front of me.

�� I�m leaving, Mom.� Tonight, I�m moving
in with Matt for a while until I get a job and can afford my own place.� And Hikari is going to stay at Sora�s.�� he bravely stared
right at her as he dropped the news on her, and I shifted anxiously,
anticipating her reaction to be unpleasant.

�� You�re what?!� No you are not!�� Mrs. Yagami ground
out, stepping up close to him until she was nose to nose with her son.� �I forbid it!�
You have been insolent, inconsiderate, disrespectful, and disobedient
for weeks now Yagami Taichi, and I will not stand for
it!� You will kindly ask your friends to
leave, and you will go to your room!� You
are grounded, young man, until��

�� He cut her off.� �No.�
I am not, and I will not.� You
listen to me, mother, because I�m not repeating myself
again � we are leaving until you realize we are not little children that
require your extreme over-protectiveness and the way you�ve been smothering
us.� We are leaving until you begin to
treat us like the young adults we are, with the respect that we deserve in
return for the respect we�ve always had for you.�� Taichi�s hands dropped to his sides and
fisted, showing just how tight his control on his temper was � yet leaking out
in his voice despite that.� I moved to
lean against the wall next to him, not touching him but close enough that he
knew I was there.� Mrs. Yagami�s eyes
flicked to me and I watched her unflinchingly when she glared.

�� What have you said to my son that
has drove him to this?�� She demanded in a clearly angry and blameful
tone.� �He�s always around you so you
must have done or said something!�

�� There was a very
distinct, very threatening warning growl that came from my best friend,
and I winced for her sake.� No one � no one � threatens any one of his
friends, not even his own mother.� Taichi
would and has gone from relative calm and control to rage
and vengeance in the blink of an eye when that happens.

�� Don�t you dare blame Matt or any of
my friends for this.��
He snapped, warm brown eyes flashing and running solid, stone-cold
granite in fury.� �Don�t you dare.�

�� Okay�time to leave.

�� Taichi.�� I stepped between them and faced him,
grabbing him by the shoulders and forcing him to look me dead in the eye.� �Let�s get your stuff and get going,
alright?� We still have to walk the girls
back to Sora�s and it�s getting late.� You hear?�

�� I watched him gain control and reign
in his emotions before I let him go, then followed him to his bedroom, pushing
past his mother to do so.

�� In the bedroom � where Sora and
Takeru were watching Hikari pack up what she felt she would need for a while
(she and Taichi still shared a room, even though there was one spare room in
the apartment one of them could have claimed)- I saw that Taichi really did
have most of his things packed.� And for a teenager, he really didn�t have all that much
stuff.

�� You nearly ready,
Kari?�� He asked her in a gentle
voice, though somewhat strained.� He went
to his desk and began clearing off his school stuff and what not into his
school bag.

�� Yes.� I didn�t have much else to pack that I hadn�t
already for Miyako�s.�� Hikari replied,
pretending she didn�t hear the tone at all.� She zipped up her lone suitcase, picked up
her school bag, and allowed Takeru to take her one other piece of luggage � a
small canvas carry-on suitcase.� �I�m
ready!�

�� At that point
their mother pretty much barged in, blocking the door.� �I forbid you to leave this apartment!� The both of you!� Hikari, put those
bags down this minute!�

�� Now I�d had
enough.� Even Hikari was beginning to
look like she wanted to slap her mother.�
I laid a hand on Taichi�s arm before he could say a word, taking charge
myself.

�� Keep packing, Tai.�� I said firmly.� �Sora, you and Takeru take Hikari
downstairs.� We�ll be right there and
we�ll meet you outside.�

�� Sora nodded, and when Mrs. Yagami
refused to move out of the way, we were all reminded of just how tough the Child of Love could really be when provoked.� Quite firmly and insistently, Sora pushed the
woman aside so Takeru could escape with Hikari, and before she released Mrs.
Yagami she spoke in a low, warning tone I�d rarely
heard her use.

�� Mrs. Yagami, if you ever want to
repair the damage that�s obviously been done to your relationship with Taichi
and Hikari, you will take my advice: you will let them go, and give them the
space they need � that you need, too � to calm and figure the situation
out.� You know where they will be, and
that they�ll be safe, healthy, and out of trouble, and
for now that will have to do because this time you really have no choice.�

�� Then Sora was out the door and gone.

�� Taichi�s mother stared after her in
shock.� I don�t
think she�s ever had anyone talk to her like that before.

�� Taichi and I took advantage and
grabbed his two bags, one suitcase, and one box of belongings, somewhat roughly
pushing our way past Mrs. Yagami who just stood there
stunned.

�� We stopped in the porch area to slip
into our shoes and when we looked up she was there,
tears in her eyes but an expression that was hard and almost hateful on her
face.

�� If you leave, Taichi, don�t come
back.� You obviously have no respect for
your own mother, to allow someone you call a friend to speak that way to me, and
to ignore me when I have expressly forbidden you to do something � and dragged
your sister into it!�

�� I could not believe she just said
that.� I felt Taichi stiffen beside me,
and I turned to him in dire concern � just in time to see all hope of fixing
things and the knowledge that he was completely on his own hit him.� Hard.

�� Come on, Tai.� Hikari is waiting for you.�� I directed him out the door with a gentle
shove and turned to glare with all the iciness of my patented, full-blown
Ishida Yamato death-glare.

�� I never in a million years would
have believed you could be so blind, callous, and cold, Mrs. Yagami.� I think you had better re-think the entire
situation and look at how you�ve been handling your children the last little
while, because you just lost them.�� I
paused, letting that sink in.� �They
loved you.� But
you have smothered them with your fears and paranoia.� You have no one to blame but yourself.�

�� I left her standing there, slamming
the door behind me.

�� Taichi was standing at the elevators,
leaning forward with his head buried in his arms which
rested against the wall.� I hurried over
to him and dropped the bags I carried.

�� Hey.�� I murmured, slowly curling an arm around his
shoulders from the side.� �You going to be alright, Tai?�

�� I�I don�t know.�� I could feel his whole body shudder under the
weight of his emotions.� �I�Yama, what just happened?�� He raised his head and looked at me, pleading
with his eyes to tell him it wasn�t true.

�� I did the only thing I could.� I pulled him roughly into my arms and hugged
him hard.� I closed my eyes against the
harsh sob that was muffled by my shoulder where Taichi
buried his face and wrapped his arms around me so tightly I almost could
breathe.� But
air was unimportant to me just then.� I�d stop breathing if it meant eliminating even an ounce of
Taichi�s pain.

�� I held him for a good while, letting
him vent that pain through tears.� But I knew the others were waiting for us, so I left one arm
around his waist and tenderly threaded my fingers through his wild mane of
hair.

�� We have to go, Tai.� You need to pull it together for a little
while longer, okay?�
For Hikari.��
I murmured into his ear.� �You can
do it, Tai.� I�ll be there to help you,
ever step.�

�� He nodded against my shoulder
jerkily and after a minute inhaled a deep, shuddering sigh before releasing me
from his vice-like grip.

�� Taichi shook himself and nodded
again.� �I�m okay.� I can do this.� Let�s go, Yama.�

�� I was so proud of him for that.

�� I reached out and gently wiped away
his tears from his cheeks then pushed the elevator button.� �You can.��
I agreed.� �It�ll all be fine,
Tai.� In the end, everything will all
work out somehow.�

�� He leaned against the elevator wall
as we descended and chuckled a little.�
�I think you�re channeling Takeru, Yama.�

�� I smiled and shrugged.� �Maybe.� It�s been known to happen.�� I sobered and asked quietly.� �What will you tell her, Tai?�

�� He closed his eyes and sighed
tiredly.� �The
truth�eventually.� Maybe not tonight, but soon.�
I just don�t feel up to dealing with it right now.�

�� I don�t blame you.� And I�m sure your
sister will understand, Tai.� She loves
you.�

�� He smiled,
a genuine Taichi smile.� �Yeah.�

�� And I knew
he�d be alright.

�� The others were waiting for us just
inside the doors of the lobby area.� I
met Sora�s inquiring, concerned eyes and gave her a near imperceptible shake of
my head.� She must have understood
because her face fell and she draped a protective, caring arm around Hikari�s
shoulders as she tried to pretend things weren�t as bad
as they were for the sake of the Child of Light � and the Child of Courage.

�� Well, I think it�s high time we al
got going!�� Sora steered Hikari toward
the exit, leading the way.� Takeru picked
up the stuff he was carrying for Hikari and hurried after them with an easy
smile.� I knew he would take care of
Hikari so I devoted myself to keeping an eye on her older brother.

�� Come on, Tai.�� I tilted my head at him and gave him my best
reassuring smile.� �We�ll drop off the
girls and head home.� I don�t know about
you, but I�m exhausted.�

�� Yeah.�� Taichi agreed and we followed
after our siblings and Sora at an easy pace.� He glanced at me as we walked.� �How are you feeling, Yama?� Still okay?�

�� I blinked.� �Hey, man, I�m fine.� Like I said, Too
much ice cream last night and roller coasters don�t mix.�� I looked over at him, wishing my hands weren�t full.� �For
once, Taichi, don�t worry about the rest of us, alright?� It�s okay to worry about yourself sometimes,
too.�

�� He sighed.� �I know.�
I can�t help it. �It�s what I do.�

�� I chuckled a little.� �We know, fearless leader.� And we wouldn�t have you any other way.�

~~~~~~~~

�� We dropped Sora and Hikari off at
Sora�s place.� Hikari knew something was up
because she hugged Taichi so hard I thought I could hear his ribs cracking.

�� Phone me whenever you want to,
Hikari.�� He said, rubbing her back
soothingly.� �Anytime.� And try not to give Sora and her mom a hard
time.�

�� Taichi!�� She scolded him, coking back a laugh that was
full of tears.� �I wouldn�t!� And you phone me anytime alright?� For anything.� I�ll
see you soon, too.�

�� Of course.�� He kissed her on the cheek and gently pushed
her toward Sora.� �Go on, now, Kari.�

�� Good night, guys.�� Sora gave us a short wave.� �Don�t worry, Taichi.� I�ll talk to mom
about it and everything will be fine.� I�ll
call you tomorrow, alright?�

�� Yeah.� And thanks again, Sora.�� Taichi waved back.� �I owe you big for this.�

�� No, Taichi.� You don�t.� Good night!��
She went inside before he could complain or disagree further.

�� Takeru stretched and yawned,
glancing at me.� �You sure you don�t mind
me coming over tonight, Matt?� I could
come some other time�� his eyes flicked to Taichi then back to me.

�� I thought about it briefly and
sighed.� �It�s your home, too,
Takeru.� I can�t kick you out if you want
to stay, but��

�� Hey.� I totally understand!� I don�t mind, Matt.�� He grinned at me.� �I wouldn�t mind having the house to myself
for a night or two anyway.�� Takeru
leaned closer to me as we walked behind Taichi � lost in thought � to keep him
from hearing.� �Besides, I think Taichi
needs some time to unwind and stuff after tonight.� I�d just be in the way, and he wouldn�t let
himself show how much this is affecting him around me.�

�� Sometimes I forget how observant and
intelligent my baby brother really is.�
He can often see and recognize things in people they can�t
in themselves, and in this case he was bang on in his assessment of our
goggle-headed leader (even if he doesn�t wear the goggles anymore).

�� I nodded and murmured back, �Thanks,
Keru.� I�ll
make it up to you, I promise.�

�� He waved that away.� �Forget it.�
What he needs right now not one of us can give him � except you.� So do what you�re best at, Matt, and take
care of Taichi where he can�t � or won�t � do so for himself.�

�� Before I could ask exactly what he
meant by that first part, he hiked his bag over his shoulder and jogged up to
Taichi to glomp him � just a little, since he was
still carrying that box.

�� I changed my mind, Taichi.� I think I�ll come
stay at Dad�s some other night, so I�ll say good night here and head home to
Mom�s, okay?�� Takeru hugged Taichi
awkwardly, avoiding the box.� �Things will
work out, so don�t give up.�

�� You don�t have to�thanks, Takeru.�� Taichi cut himself off at the determined look
on my brother�s face, thanking him instead.�
�Just�thanks.�

�� No problem.� �Night, guys!�� He waved and left us at the corner, heading
for his building that was just down the street.

�� Well, a couple more blocks and we�ll
be home.�� I announced cheerfully,
crossing the street and forcing Taichi to hurry after me.

�� Hey, Yama�he didn�t have to go back
to your Mom�s, you know.� I wouldn�t have
minded him being around.�� Taichi
frowned.� �Was it something I said?�

�� I rolled my eyes.� Sometimes you�re completely clueless, Yagami.� I shook my head at him.� �No, Tai.�
He just felt you might need some time so he�ll come later this week or
some other time instead.�

�� But�I�� he snapped his mouth shut,
avoiding looking at me directly.

�� What?� Spit it out, Tai.�

�� I�don�t want to be an imposition.�� He mumbled, looking down hard at t he top of
the box, appearing to be somewhat ashamed.�
I scowled at him, a little annoyed even though I knew he would feel that
way.

�� Yagami Taichi, do not ever say that again.�� I ordered.�
Startled, he stared at me.

�� But��

�� No.� You are never ever an imposition on any of
us.� Not ever.� And especially not on me.� So kindly refrain from
insulting me, if you please.�� We were
approaching my building, and I marched toward the lobby doors, shoes sounding
loud against the pavement of the sidewalk as each step accentuated my words.

�� Taichi trailed after me,
chastened.� The elevator ride upstairs
was quiet, in a companionable way.�
Besides, I was sure the Child of Courage was mulling over things in his
head.� He had a lot to think about.� Truth be told, so did I.� My
brain was still trying to wrap around the things that the fortune
teller alluded to that afternoon � and the things I was coming up with
on my own.

�� I loved him.� Of course I did.� My best friend, my leader � of course I loved
him.� But now I
wondered if that love had grown to be something else, something more.

�� We got off the elevator and I led
the way to my apartment door, unlocking it and letting us in.� �Home sweet home.�� I commented lightly, flicking on the light
switch.� �Let�s see�how about we put your
stuff in my room for now, and I�ll find the spare futon and bedding for you.�� I glanced over my shoulder at him as he
followed me down the short hallway to my room.�
We put his stuff down in one corner of the room, next to the closet, and
I tried to remember where Dad and I had stashed the spare futon and everything
the last time we�d cleaned.� �I�d put you in Takeru�s room, but it�s a
mess yet from the last time he stayed over, and I think Dad�s still got his
office temporarily set up in there.�� I
apologized.

�� Don�t worry, Yama.� I don�t mind being
on a futon on your floor, or the couch or wherever.� I�just really appreciate that you�re letting
me crash here.�� Taichi fiddled with the
tie on his track-pants, staring at the floor.

�� I huffed and dropped my hands onto
his shoulders to give him a slight shake.�
�Hey!� What did I tell you
before?� Don�t even, Tai.�

�� He looked up at me and nodded in
apology. �Yeah.�
Sorry, Yama.�
I�m trying.�

�� I nodded and looked around, studying my room and contemplating what could be
moved, cleaned up or thrown out to make room for him.� I began cleaning my room, making space on the
floor to put the futon.

�� Who knew Meticulous Matt would have
such a messy bedroom.�� Tai commented,
watching me in amusement.

�� Ha.�
Ha.�� I dusted off my hands.� �There.�
Now, let me go search for that futon and bedding.�� I moved out of the room, thinking aloud.� �I think it�s still in Takeru�s room��

�� I found it rolled up in the closet
in that room.� Taichi helped me set it up
and I dropped pillows and blankets on it for him.

�� Well, all set until Dad gets back
and cleans all that junk of his out of there.��
I yawned and stretched lazily.� �I
don�t suppose you�re hungry after that huge meal we had at the restaurant, but
do you want anything?�

�� No.�
Thanks anyway, Yama.� But, could I use your shower?�� He asked.

�� Of course.� Towels�� I slipped out and fetched a couple
from the hall linen closet.� �Here you
go.� While you�re doing that, I�m going
to clean up my mess in the kitchen.�� I
handed him the towels, our hands briefly brushing and setting off little warm
thrills over my skin.� I fought not to
turn pink and hastily retreated.� �Yell
if you need anything else, Tai!�� I
called over my shoulder.

�� I went through the motions of
tidying and filling the kitchen sink with hot soapy water to do my dishes, all
the while muttering to myself about my stupid, hormonal reactions to
Taichi.� He didn�t
need me to drool all over him, especially right now.

�� I scowled at the dishwater and
scrubbed vigorously with unnecessary force.�
Why oh why did I have to figure this out about how I felt now?�
When I can�t do a damn thing about it without
feeling like a heel and that I�m taking advantage somehow?

�� I heard the water turn off in the
bathroom just as I unplugged the sink in the kitchen.� I would just let the clean dishes air dry
tonight.� My brain � and my body � just
needed to shut off for a while.

�� Walking back into my room, I stifled
a yawn and dug out something to wear to bed.�
I usually just slept in my underwear, but that wasn�t a good idea anymore.� I was in the middle of changing, my shirt on
the floor and my pants undone and hanging off my hips, when Taichi walked into
the room.

�� Holy Angemon�in a towel and nothing else.

�� Dripping little droplets of water
everywhere like crystal shards.

�� I made myself dizzy turning around
so fast, trying to hide the blush and the non-friend-like expression
I�m sure was on my face.� �H-have a good shower?��
I inquired lamely.� I failed
miserably at sounding nonchalant about it all.

�� There was a pause, then his reply came in a slightly puzzled tone of
voice.� �Yeah, thanks.� I forgo my clothes when I went in there.� Uh�� I could hear him shuffling through his
suitcase, and grabbed the tank top from my bed, slipping it on hastily over my
head.

�� Something wrong?�� I asked, giving him a glance over my
shoulder.� He was staring at me, and for once I couldn�t read his expression.

�� I was going to ask you that,
Yama.� You�ve been acting strange since
this afternoon � since about the time you came out of the fortune teller�s
booth.�� Taichi tilted his head at me,
studying me closely.

�� Uh oh.� Now what was I going to do?

~~~~~~~~

Kali Notes:� Thanks everyone for reading!� And for your
patience with my lack of posting�� I hope
you all enjoyed this chapter!� Please R/R!!!!

Relevant Episodes: ��Season 01, episodes 31-33 (Meko steals Hikari�s digivice
during the hunt for the eighth Child).
- 3
- 4
- 5
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