Stigma, Chapter 3
[rewrite] [WIP] Yamato stumbles across something he was never meant to see... and now it seems someone may be determined to end his life, at any cost.
Digimon - PG-13 - English - Angst/Suspense - Words: 6885 - Updated: 06-19-06 - Published: 05-07-04
chapter two
Disclaimer: Toei's.
Stigma
by: butterflie
chapter three
[Monday]
Yamato anxiously stared down at the note in his hand. He tried to tell himself that it meant nothing, but he couldn't quite make himself believe it. He'd never gotten anything remotely like this before. It couldn't just be a coincidence now.
He wanted it to be, though. Because it was the safer thing to believe. The easier thing. He didn't want to be watched by a killer. That thought was too scary to contemplate.
"What's that? Another bad test?"
Yamato jumped and dropped the note, turning around to face his scowling father. He started to answer, "N-no, it's just..." but trailed off, twitching nervously as Mr. Ishida picked up the note and read it. His eyebrow raised.
Yamato tried again. "It's just someone's stupid idea of a joke, I guess." He laughed, but it came out all wrong, nervous and tinged with a bit of fear.
"Are you feeling okay?" Mr. Ishida asked him.
"Ah, I'm fine." He snatched the note out of his father's hand, balling it up and marching it over to the kitchen to be ceremoniously dropped in the trash.
"No. No way. I am not going to a band practice that late ever again."
"Aw, come on," Ny wheedled. "Why not? It ran later than that Thursday night and you didn't complain..."
"No," Yamato insisted. "Besides, I have school tomorrow." It was a lame excuse, and Yamato knew it. But how could he tell his bandmates the real reason? That he'd seen something he shouldn't have, and was now a coward? Worse, a coward that was probably being watched and whose life might even be in danger? No one would believe him; it was pointless.
"That's funny, you've never let school hold you back before... aren't you the one saying that music is your future? I thought you only decided to go to high school to keep your dad happy."
"I did," Yamato agreed, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "But you chose to not go to high school, I don't think you realize how much schoolwork I have sometimes..."
Ny sighed. "Well, that's your own doing. Why don't you just quit high school, it's not like you have to go."
"I really don't want to get disowned and kicked out of my apartment, thanks," Yamato said shortly. "Look, we're getting off the point. I'm not going to a band practice that late anymore, Nyusumi. Either reschedule it or hold it without me."
"Fine, fine. I'll see about rescheduling it. I'll call you later," Ny grumbled.
Yamato hung up the phone and sighed, leaning his head against the wall and closing his eyes. He was being stupid and letting everything get to him again. Hadn't he just said Saturday that he was going to stop being paranoid?
But was it really paranoia, considering the note he'd gotten earlier?
Well who said that note was real? It could be just a joke, after all... After all, the only place he'd gone since Thursday was school and the movie theater. And even if he had been standing under a light in that alleyway, it had still been dim and not altogether easy to see him.
Yet he couldn't help it. His mind insisted that it was real. It was far too easy to find out who he was, considering he was in a band fast gaining popularity. His name was starting to appear in articles in magazines, and once he'd even been in the newspaper. Not to mention the television station had done a few live broadcasts of the band's concerts.
Way too easy to learn who he was. He wondered if he was getting a taste of what his future would be like.
The phone rang again just then, and he answered it, figuring it would be Ny calling back with the rescheduled practice. "Hello?"
"Hello? Yamato?" came the hesitant reply.
He stifled the urge to groan, knowing it would only upset his mother. He wondered why she was even calling, they barely got along. They certainly never talked to each, both finding it too awkward. She cared for him, he knew, but not in the way he'd wanted her to. It was hard to get past the feeling of being abandoned. "Yeah?" he asked her, knowing she must want something.
"Is Takeru there? He still hasn't made it home..."
His mind blanked, and then promptly started to panic. Takeru hadn't come home? He was missing? What if...
No. He wouldn't think stupid things like that. He forced his mind to calm, and answered his mother. "No, he's not here. I haven't even seen him since Saturday."
"Do you know where he might have gone?"
Yamato shut his eyes, trying to think. He wished he knew his brother better, but he had no clue what Takeru did on his free afternoons. "A friend's house? Daisuke? Ken? Hikari? Try calling them." He gave her the numbers and asked that Takeru call when he got in, then hung up.
He hoped Takeru would call him soon. He guessed that it was unusual for Takeru to go somewhere and not tell his--their--mother about it, because she had sounded a bit worried. He really hoped his brother was okay and had just forgotten to tell their mother, or was just running late and had figured he'd be back before she got home.
When the phone rang the third time, he jumped, not expecting it so soon. "Takeru?" he asked when he answered it.
"No," came the grumbled reply. "You should get caller ID."
"Ah, sorry Ny..."
"Practice will be tomorrow afternoon, after you get out of class. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine. See you then, Ny."
The phone never rang a fourth time. By eight he couldn't stand it any longer, and dialed his brother's number. The relief he felt when he heard Takeru's voice answer was so overwhelming, he almost cried. "Takeru," he croaked out, and cleared his throat. "You're home?"
"Yeah, I got home about two hours ago, why?"
His brother sounded confused, and Yamato realized their mother had probably never told Takeru to call him. "Ah, it's nothing... Mom just called here earlier looking for you. Where were you?"
"That's--" Takeru sounded sheepish now. "Well, I was in Tamachi. At Ken's."
"Oh," Yamato said knowingly. He tried not to think about how strange he found it still. "Well, I'm glad you're okay." I was worried. He didn't speak the words aloud, but he didn't really need to. They both knew he meant them.
[Tuesday]
"You're going to be late if you hang around any longer," Mr. Ishida pointed out.
Yamato bit his lip, glancing towards the front door briefly. "I know," he muttered. He didn't want to go. He didn't want to leave the safety of his apartment. But he couldn't very well tell that to his father.
"So then is there a reason you're still sitting there?"
"Not really." He should get up, go get his bag and leave. But instead, he just continued to sit there.
"Now, Yamato. You're not skipping school."
Reluctantly, he got off the couch and went to retrieve his bookbag. He walked down the hallway as slowly as he possibly could, wanting to put it off as long as he was able. He could feel his father's eyes on his back, watching him. He wondered what his father made of his strange behaviour. Hell, he didn't even know what to make of it himself. He wasn't sure why he was so reluctant to leave where anyone could be out there watching...
Well, okay. But he still didn't like feeling scared and anxious. But he also knew he didn't have any choice.
The walk to school seemed to go on forever in Yamato's mind, although he knew that in reality it wasn't any longer than it normally was. In fact, it was probably a shorter amount of time than usual. He walked fast and kept his head down to avoid catching the eyes of anyone who might be watching. He didn't look up until he was near his destination, relieved when he saw the gates of the school come into view.
Perhaps the note really had been a joke. He couldn't imagine who would find it funny, or why someone chose to slip it in his mailbox, but maybe it really was just a sick coincidence.
Right. Like he really believed that. Someone was out there, and they were watching. That thought was enough to make him wish he could stay inside his apartment forever and not have to come out. Be a recluse. Forego his education, and his rock star career. Abandon his friends and family. All for the sake of feeling an illusion of safety.
He shook his head at himself and his stupid line of thought. It'd never work. He'd be miserable for the rest of his life, and that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted fun and excitement, and the comfort and security of being surrounded by friends and family that loved him. He wanted to make music. He wanted to grow up and get married and have children. He wanted to make something of himself, and hiding out from a murderer was not in his plans for the future. He could have that life if he tried hard enough. If he kept quiet, perhaps the murderer would realize he wasn't going to tell, and leave him alone.
Of course, then he'd have his conscience gnawing on him for years and years, and he hadn't really planned on that, either. He wished there were a clear choice in this mess. But he knew that whatever he decided, he'd never fully be satisfied, and would never fully feel safe again.
It also went without saying that he'd regret it for the rest of his life.
He amuses himself by following the boy in the morning. Waiting outside the boy's apartment building and then following behind him as he walked to his school was far too easy. He's always stalked his victims beforehand, and not one of them ever realized it, or sensed his presence.
But it's different with the boy. After he decided he'd toy with him, it took next to nothing to dig up his apartment address and send him a little reminder. He is sure the boy found it. He'd spent the whole walk with his head down, but he hadn't missed the nervous darting of the boy's eyes as he'd stepped out of his apartment building onto the sidewalk. No doubt about it, the boy knew he was watching.
He is going to have a lot of fun with Ishida Yamato.
He spots the boy leaving the school again, and straightens up from where'd been leaning against a tree. He curses softly. He hadn't realized it was that time already. There is no way he'll be able to get over to the younger brother's school and follow him home.
Perhaps it is better saved for tomorrow though. He can follow the younger brother from the beginning of his day, learn his routine. If he is to scare the boy into keeping quiet, it is necessary to have some leverage. He will just have to run the risk of it sending the boy in the opposite direction, which he thinks is unlikely anyway. If the boy was going to talk, he would have done so by now.
And the boy hasn't said a word.
He smiles; he won't get caught. He's invincible.
Chapter 3 fin
chapter four
Digimon - PG-13 - English - Angst/Suspense - Words: 6885 - Updated: 06-19-06 - Published: 05-07-04
chapter two
Disclaimer: Toei's.
Stigma
by: butterflie
chapter three
[Monday]
Yamato anxiously stared down at the note in his hand. He tried to tell himself that it meant nothing, but he couldn't quite make himself believe it. He'd never gotten anything remotely like this before. It couldn't just be a coincidence now.
He wanted it to be, though. Because it was the safer thing to believe. The easier thing. He didn't want to be watched by a killer. That thought was too scary to contemplate.
"What's that? Another bad test?"
Yamato jumped and dropped the note, turning around to face his scowling father. He started to answer, "N-no, it's just..." but trailed off, twitching nervously as Mr. Ishida picked up the note and read it. His eyebrow raised.
Yamato tried again. "It's just someone's stupid idea of a joke, I guess." He laughed, but it came out all wrong, nervous and tinged with a bit of fear.
"Are you feeling okay?" Mr. Ishida asked him.
"Ah, I'm fine." He snatched the note out of his father's hand, balling it up and marching it over to the kitchen to be ceremoniously dropped in the trash.
"No. No way. I am not going to a band practice that late ever again."
"Aw, come on," Ny wheedled. "Why not? It ran later than that Thursday night and you didn't complain..."
"No," Yamato insisted. "Besides, I have school tomorrow." It was a lame excuse, and Yamato knew it. But how could he tell his bandmates the real reason? That he'd seen something he shouldn't have, and was now a coward? Worse, a coward that was probably being watched and whose life might even be in danger? No one would believe him; it was pointless.
"That's funny, you've never let school hold you back before... aren't you the one saying that music is your future? I thought you only decided to go to high school to keep your dad happy."
"I did," Yamato agreed, feeling a bit uncomfortable. "But you chose to not go to high school, I don't think you realize how much schoolwork I have sometimes..."
Ny sighed. "Well, that's your own doing. Why don't you just quit high school, it's not like you have to go."
"I really don't want to get disowned and kicked out of my apartment, thanks," Yamato said shortly. "Look, we're getting off the point. I'm not going to a band practice that late anymore, Nyusumi. Either reschedule it or hold it without me."
"Fine, fine. I'll see about rescheduling it. I'll call you later," Ny grumbled.
Yamato hung up the phone and sighed, leaning his head against the wall and closing his eyes. He was being stupid and letting everything get to him again. Hadn't he just said Saturday that he was going to stop being paranoid?
But was it really paranoia, considering the note he'd gotten earlier?
Well who said that note was real? It could be just a joke, after all... After all, the only place he'd gone since Thursday was school and the movie theater. And even if he had been standing under a light in that alleyway, it had still been dim and not altogether easy to see him.
Yet he couldn't help it. His mind insisted that it was real. It was far too easy to find out who he was, considering he was in a band fast gaining popularity. His name was starting to appear in articles in magazines, and once he'd even been in the newspaper. Not to mention the television station had done a few live broadcasts of the band's concerts.
Way too easy to learn who he was. He wondered if he was getting a taste of what his future would be like.
The phone rang again just then, and he answered it, figuring it would be Ny calling back with the rescheduled practice. "Hello?"
"Hello? Yamato?" came the hesitant reply.
He stifled the urge to groan, knowing it would only upset his mother. He wondered why she was even calling, they barely got along. They certainly never talked to each, both finding it too awkward. She cared for him, he knew, but not in the way he'd wanted her to. It was hard to get past the feeling of being abandoned. "Yeah?" he asked her, knowing she must want something.
"Is Takeru there? He still hasn't made it home..."
His mind blanked, and then promptly started to panic. Takeru hadn't come home? He was missing? What if...
No. He wouldn't think stupid things like that. He forced his mind to calm, and answered his mother. "No, he's not here. I haven't even seen him since Saturday."
"Do you know where he might have gone?"
Yamato shut his eyes, trying to think. He wished he knew his brother better, but he had no clue what Takeru did on his free afternoons. "A friend's house? Daisuke? Ken? Hikari? Try calling them." He gave her the numbers and asked that Takeru call when he got in, then hung up.
He hoped Takeru would call him soon. He guessed that it was unusual for Takeru to go somewhere and not tell his--their--mother about it, because she had sounded a bit worried. He really hoped his brother was okay and had just forgotten to tell their mother, or was just running late and had figured he'd be back before she got home.
When the phone rang the third time, he jumped, not expecting it so soon. "Takeru?" he asked when he answered it.
"No," came the grumbled reply. "You should get caller ID."
"Ah, sorry Ny..."
"Practice will be tomorrow afternoon, after you get out of class. Is that okay?"
"Yeah, that's fine. See you then, Ny."
The phone never rang a fourth time. By eight he couldn't stand it any longer, and dialed his brother's number. The relief he felt when he heard Takeru's voice answer was so overwhelming, he almost cried. "Takeru," he croaked out, and cleared his throat. "You're home?"
"Yeah, I got home about two hours ago, why?"
His brother sounded confused, and Yamato realized their mother had probably never told Takeru to call him. "Ah, it's nothing... Mom just called here earlier looking for you. Where were you?"
"That's--" Takeru sounded sheepish now. "Well, I was in Tamachi. At Ken's."
"Oh," Yamato said knowingly. He tried not to think about how strange he found it still. "Well, I'm glad you're okay." I was worried. He didn't speak the words aloud, but he didn't really need to. They both knew he meant them.
[Tuesday]
"You're going to be late if you hang around any longer," Mr. Ishida pointed out.
Yamato bit his lip, glancing towards the front door briefly. "I know," he muttered. He didn't want to go. He didn't want to leave the safety of his apartment. But he couldn't very well tell that to his father.
"So then is there a reason you're still sitting there?"
"Not really." He should get up, go get his bag and leave. But instead, he just continued to sit there.
"Now, Yamato. You're not skipping school."
Reluctantly, he got off the couch and went to retrieve his bookbag. He walked down the hallway as slowly as he possibly could, wanting to put it off as long as he was able. He could feel his father's eyes on his back, watching him. He wondered what his father made of his strange behaviour. Hell, he didn't even know what to make of it himself. He wasn't sure why he was so reluctant to leave where anyone could be out there watching...
Well, okay. But he still didn't like feeling scared and anxious. But he also knew he didn't have any choice.
The walk to school seemed to go on forever in Yamato's mind, although he knew that in reality it wasn't any longer than it normally was. In fact, it was probably a shorter amount of time than usual. He walked fast and kept his head down to avoid catching the eyes of anyone who might be watching. He didn't look up until he was near his destination, relieved when he saw the gates of the school come into view.
Perhaps the note really had been a joke. He couldn't imagine who would find it funny, or why someone chose to slip it in his mailbox, but maybe it really was just a sick coincidence.
Right. Like he really believed that. Someone was out there, and they were watching. That thought was enough to make him wish he could stay inside his apartment forever and not have to come out. Be a recluse. Forego his education, and his rock star career. Abandon his friends and family. All for the sake of feeling an illusion of safety.
He shook his head at himself and his stupid line of thought. It'd never work. He'd be miserable for the rest of his life, and that wasn't what he wanted. He wanted fun and excitement, and the comfort and security of being surrounded by friends and family that loved him. He wanted to make music. He wanted to grow up and get married and have children. He wanted to make something of himself, and hiding out from a murderer was not in his plans for the future. He could have that life if he tried hard enough. If he kept quiet, perhaps the murderer would realize he wasn't going to tell, and leave him alone.
Of course, then he'd have his conscience gnawing on him for years and years, and he hadn't really planned on that, either. He wished there were a clear choice in this mess. But he knew that whatever he decided, he'd never fully be satisfied, and would never fully feel safe again.
It also went without saying that he'd regret it for the rest of his life.
He amuses himself by following the boy in the morning. Waiting outside the boy's apartment building and then following behind him as he walked to his school was far too easy. He's always stalked his victims beforehand, and not one of them ever realized it, or sensed his presence.
But it's different with the boy. After he decided he'd toy with him, it took next to nothing to dig up his apartment address and send him a little reminder. He is sure the boy found it. He'd spent the whole walk with his head down, but he hadn't missed the nervous darting of the boy's eyes as he'd stepped out of his apartment building onto the sidewalk. No doubt about it, the boy knew he was watching.
He is going to have a lot of fun with Ishida Yamato.
He spots the boy leaving the school again, and straightens up from where'd been leaning against a tree. He curses softly. He hadn't realized it was that time already. There is no way he'll be able to get over to the younger brother's school and follow him home.
Perhaps it is better saved for tomorrow though. He can follow the younger brother from the beginning of his day, learn his routine. If he is to scare the boy into keeping quiet, it is necessary to have some leverage. He will just have to run the risk of it sending the boy in the opposite direction, which he thinks is unlikely anyway. If the boy was going to talk, he would have done so by now.
And the boy hasn't said a word.
He smiles; he won't get caught. He's invincible.
Chapter 3 fin
chapter four