Bleed, Chapter 3
Something is very wrong with Yamato, and Taichi's determined to get to the bottom of it. But is the cost of friendship worth it? Taito.
Digimon - R - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 8 - Words: 37396 - Reviews: 33 - Updated: 4-16-04 - Published: 1-11-04
chapter two
Disclaimer: Hey, guess what! Digimon isn’t mine! Isn’t that amazing? Like, totally! I never would have guessed, wow!
Author’s Notes: Well, I’m certainly being productive, aren’t I? But I love writing this story! It’s so fun, and the words are flowing pretty well. I’m just afraid I’ll hit a brick wall >< Please, no. Anyways, this is where the chapters start getting dark, and earning their ‘R’ rating. This chapter has: slightly descriptive rape, child abuse, violence, and some swearing. If you think you can’t read this, turn back now. And don’t bother looking at my other fics if you don’t like that stuff, you won’t find but one fluffy fic. Sorry, but you know, I’m an ANGST author. I like writing dark, angsty things full of twisted and depressing plots that make you want to cry and shoot yourself. That, or huggle Yama to death.
Bleed
by: butterflie, formerly known as Crimson Goddess
Chapter 3:Cheap Shot
“What’s that?”
“Huh? What’s what?”
“That.” He reached up and poked my cheek gently where my uncle had slammed his fist. I winced at the sudden pain even that light touch brought. It must have bruised.
“Oh, I knocked my head into the corner of a cabinet door last night while getting a bowl out. Not used to his house yet. Real stupid of me, huh?” I kept my voice light, though inside I was panicking. What if this kept happening? How would I explain it? I could cover up the others with sleeves and pants, but I couldn’t touch my face. The long sleeves already looked suspicious enough.
But to my relief, Taichi just laughed. “And I thought I was supposed to be the klutz around here! What’s with you takin’ over my job, huh?”
I laughed with him. “I figured it was about high time you retired.” There was a smile behind the words that I didn’t feel.
Just then the last bell rang. Taichi swore and took off running, me following right behind him. It didn’t matter. We were late to homeroom anyways. Another tardy for Ishida Yamato. At least it wasn’t because I’d overslept again. And at least I didn’t have nightmares last night. Though there was a reason for that...
Last night
I sat up in bed suddenly, heart pounding. Did the door just creak? I could have sworn I heard it. I strained my eyes to see, but the room was pitch-black, and I couldn’t make out a thing.
“Wake up, Yamato,” I heard my uncle whisper. If I could have seen him, I knew there would be a devilish grin on his face.
“Oh God, no,” I groaned. “Please, oji, not already.. please..” A few tears started to gather in the corners of my eyes, and angrily I wiped them away with the back of my hand. I huddled up against the headboard of the bed, drawing the covers close around me. “Please, why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“Because you’re such a good boy, Yamato. Such a good, good boy. Just like your father.”
“Did you used to hurt ‘tousan too?”
He merely laughed, and I knew then that he had. Poor dad. But then I was angry at him. If he knew what his brother was capable of, then why did he have me stay here?! I hope to hell it was one of those repressed memory things, and that he didn’t send me hearing knowing what I’d encounter.
Without warning, his hands were on me, and I felt the covers being pulled away from me. I shrieked and cowered down on the bed. “Please..” I begged him. “Don’t hurt me.”
I felt his hands gently caress my cheek, and I ducked out from under his touch.He reached for me again, but I jumped out of the bed and tried to run. He grabbed my wrist and held me tightly, then switched on a lamp beside the bed. I blinked, trying to adjust my eyes to the sudden intrusion of the dim light.
I was thrown back down on the bed forcefully, and his fist slammed down on the same cheek he’d been caressing only moments before. “Don’t you ever run from me,” he threatened me softly. “You care about your own jichou, don’t you?”
Whimpering, a couple of tears slipping down my cheeks, I nodded.
He twisted my wrist. Hard. “Answer when spoken to, boy.”
“Y-yes sir,” I stuttered.”
He smiled, a dangerous smile that filled me with dread. Then he leaned down and kissed me, with enough force to bruise my lips. I gagged reflexively, but I felt his tongue push against my lips, and knew I had to grant him access or be hurt more. I parted my lips, and it took all my will not to bite down on his tongue as I felt it flick around my mouth.
He broke away from me just long enough to pull off my shirt and straddle me, then resumed his brutal assault on my mouth. I felt more tears slide down my cheeks as his hands begin to roam my chest, going lower and lower, lingering at spots he’d discvered turned me on last time. Then his hands slipped down my pants, and touched me, and I flinched away. Immediately his hands were gone from my pants and pummeling me on my chest, hard enough to leave already forming bruises. “I’m sorry oji,” I whispered, crying shamelessly. “I didn’t mean to.”
“Don’t do it again,” he warned me, then put his hands back where they’d been. He ran his hands up and down my unwanted erection a few times, and I felt his own hardness growing against my leg. I felt so violated, so dirty, but there wasn’t anything I could do. Takeru...
“Take off your pants,” he commanded. Slowly, I did as told, trying to delay what I knew would happen as much as possible. “Hurry up, Yamato,” he said eagerly. He lifted his body so I could slip my pants and boxers down around my ankles. My freed arousal sprang up from among pubic hair, and I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his face anymore.
By now he was so excited that he didn’t much care what I did. He backed up a bit, and lowered his head, taking me in his mouth. I gasped at the cool wetness of his mouth against me, it was so sudden. I tried to will my arousal away, wanting to thwart him at any cost. It didn’t work. Being a hormone-controlled male teenager who’d never willingly had sex before, my body was loving his ministrations, even if my mind was thoroughly despising it.
I began to sob when I came. It was so utterly humilating, having no control over my body, wishing I could be anywhere but here, wishing this had never happened.
“Yamato..” he murmured, as he began to remove his own clothing. “Yamato..”
“..Yamato!”
I started, and looked up into Taichi’s face staring worriedly down into mine.
“Huh?”
“Geez, try to pay attention,will ya?”
I blushed, feeling bad. “Sorry.”
He sighed. “Never mind. Look, homeroom’s over. You better go to second period, or you’ll be late.”
“Right.” I stood. “See you in third then.”
I felt his eyes on me the whole way out of the classroom and down the hall.
+-+-+-+
“Woah, Yamato, what happened to your face?”
Beside me, I heard the blond sigh. He was probably tired of repeating it by now. “I banged my head into the corner of a cabinet, and I didn’t realize that it had bruised until Taichi pointed it out this morning.”
“That must have hurt,” Koushiro said sympathetically.
“I’ve had worse,” he replied truthfully. Then he turned towards me. “I promised the band weeks ago that I’d practice with them during lunch today, because Ratz can’t make it later. Is that okay?”
I nodded. “Sure. Practice hard, Yama!” I wanted to talk to Koushiro anways.
When Yamato was gone, I sat down next to Koushiro and leaned in close. “Did you notice anything funny about that bruise?”
He paused in his typing, and looked up from his ever present laptop. “No, should I have?”
I frowned. “I don’t know. Somehow I just don’t think a cabinet did it.”
“Why not?”
“Come on, a cabinet? And wouldn’t a cabinet be more likely to scratch him then bruise him? There’s something going on with him, Kou, and it’s so close within in my grasp I can almost touch it. But I can’t quite put my finger on it just yet.”
Then suddenly it hit me. “Oh!”
“What?” he asked me, looking confused.
“That’s it..” I murmured. “He started getting strange right after.. and he was so upset when he found he had to go back.. maybe it’s his uncle..”
Koushiro frowned. “His uncle? Whose uncle?”
“That’s it!” I said excitedly. “Don’t you see Koushiro? About a month ago, Yamato had to spend a few days with his uncle because his dad had to go out of town. Right after that, he started acting strange. Remember, he stayed home sick for a few days? And when he came back to school he was all spaced out and blank then. And it didn’t get any better.”
“But why would his uncle be hitting him now?”
“You didn’t let me finish! See, last week Yamato was all upset again because his dad said he had to spend two weeks with his uncle again because he had a business trip that was unavoidable. I couldn’t figure out what was so bad about it, why he was so upset. He looked ready to cry.” I thought for a moment. “He said his uncle was really strict,” I mused. “I thought that was it at the time, but there was just this feeling I had, like there was something more... Maybe his uncle hits him whenever he goes over there.”
Kou gave me a searching look for a long moment, and I began to feel uncomfortable. “What? It’s not like it’s impossible,” I said awkwardly, starting to feel stupid for having mentioned it.
“No,” he said. “It’s not. But a word of advice: Don’t mention it to Yamato. If it’s not true, he’ll be really upset with you. And if it is...”
“If it is?”
He sighed. “He’ll be really upset with you.”
I groaned. “I was afraid you’d say that. So how do I find out, without mentioning to Yamato?”
“You’ll just have to wait for him to tell you.”
“But what if he doesn’t?”
“Then there’s nothing you can do.”
“Bullshit!” I said angrily. “I’m not going to stand aside and let my friend get abused! Maybe that’s what you’d do, but I sure as hell won’t!”
“But you don’t have proof!” he argued. “Look, you don’t even know the guy’s name, do you?”
“Uhh... no,” I replied sheepishly.
“So what were going to say to the police? ‘Excuse me officer, I think my best friend is being abused, because he had one lousy bruise on his face that he swore came from a cabinet door, but I don’t think cabinet doors bruise you, they scratch you. Oh, but I don’t know the name of the guy abusing him, but I know it’s his uncle. But that’s all you need right? So can you go arrest this guy now so my best friend will be so happy and fall in love with me like I want?’”
“That was a cheap shot,” I said tightly, clenching my fists underneath the table.
“But it’s true! You want to help him because you think it will make him like you!”
“It is NOT!” I roared loudly, and the cafeteria, previousl filled with giggling girls and lots of people chattering and shouting, went deadly silent. “I want to help him because he’s my best friend, and unlike YOU, I actually give a fuck about what’s happening in my friends lives!”
Then I did something I thought I’d never do. I reared back and punched him, right in the nose. He sat there looking at me stunned, blood slowly dripping from his nose. He didn’t make a move to stop it. Just sat there, staring in astonishment. I picked up my bag and stormed to the cafeteria doors. Then, with a quick bow, and “good day” to the group at large, I left.
Without even realizing it, I sought out the band room where Yamato was practicing, and slipped inside. They didn’t notice me, too busy wrapped up in their music. I watched Yamato sing for awhile, it always calmed me to hear his beautiful voice.
I continued to listen to him, feeling soothed by the words and the sound of his voice, enjoying listening. Already the anger from my fight with Koushiro was fading, and listening to Yamato sing such a song only made me more determined to help him, no matter what was going on in his life. If he was being abused, I’d help him. If I was wrong, and it was something else entirely, I’d still help him. I didn’t care about making him fall in love with me, even if Koushiro thought so. Just having him as a friend was enough. Never want for more. All I wanted was his happiness, and my own be damned in the process.
“Taichi! Long time no see!” I heard suddenly.
I stopped staring at Yamato and looked over at the others. “Hey guys,” I greeted them. I didn’t smile.
Of course, Yamato noticed this immediately. “Something wrong?” he asked, concern evident in his voice.
I tried to smile for his sake. “Oh, nothing. Just a stupid fight with Koushiro. Don’t worry about it.”
“You hardly ever fight with Koushiro. What was it about?”
“It was nothing, really Yama,” I insisted, not wanting him to know we’d been arguing about him. “Just a stupid fight. It’s forgotten now. I’ll apologize later.”
He nodded, clearly not wanting to drop it but doing so for my sake. I was thankful.
He turned to his band. “I know our next concert isn’t for another few months, but would you guys mind if we had another practice in three days? This new song still isn’t quite right..”
Ny and Ratz nodded, but Kenji said, “Oh crap, I don’t think I can make it. Can we do it the day after that?”
Everyone nodded. “Sure. See you guys then,” Yamato replied, as the bell rang. He packed up his guitar and set it back in a corner of the room so it wouldn’t be disturbed, then waved to the guys as he left the room with me. We headed off to our next class.
“So, you apologized to Koushiro yet about whatever it was?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I haven’t seen him since lunch, you should know that. I was thinking about dropping by his house later today, actually. Wanna come with, and maybe get some icecream afterwards or catch a movie or something?”
His face fell, and he averted his eyes. Briefly his hand came up to touch the bruise on his cheek; I don’t think he was even aware of the motion. “I can’t, remember?”
“Oh yeah... I did forget. I’m sorry, Yama. Well, maybe another time, hmm?”
He nodded unhappily. “Yeah, another time. See you tomorrow?”
“Sure. And I’ll make up with Koushiro, don’t worry.”
He just nodded again and continued on down the street towards his uncle’s house, while I turned down the street and made my way over to Koushiro’s apartment.
He let me in when I knocked, but seemed sort of uncomfortable to have me there.
“Oh! Taichi.. hi... come in. Would you like something to drink? Eat?”
“No, thanks Koushiro. I just wanted to apologize about earlier... I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that in front of the whole cafeteria. And I shouldn't have hit you.”
He offered me a tentative smile. “Yeah, well, I went too far, I suppose. I was asking for it. I didn’t mean what I said, really. About Yamato.”
I grinned. “I know. Don’t worry, I’m not mad anymore. Hey, wanna go catch a movie? You pick.” Koushiro has the best taste in movies of anyone I know.
His smile was wider this time, and genuine. “Sure. I know this great new action movie that just came out...”
+-+-+-+
I let myself in with the key my uncle had supplied me, then slipped off my shoes and walked hesitantly to the kitchen. “Tadaima... Oji? Ojisan... are you home?”
“Okaeri, Yamato!” he said, appearing out of nowhere. Well, that’s what it felt like. Almost gave me a heart attack. I jumped. “Oh!”
He smirked. “Did I startle you? Sorry.”
“Um, no, it’s okay...” I said. It was happening just like before. He was acting as if nothing had gone on last night, as if he was still my same uncle from when I was little, and we were happy, and there wasn’t anything going on. He was acting as if the threat on my brother’s life meant nothing, like I could just brush it and last night aside and go on as normal, still adoring him and respecting him the way I used to. Well, I couldn’t. The night he broke me, he’d shattered my trust in him forever. My uncle wasn’t the same man I thought he was eleven years ago.
“Did you have a good day at school?”
I nodded. “Yes.” No. Not really. It was hell, if you want to know the truth.
“What did you do?”
“Oh, the usual. Went to classes, lunch, more classes.” At least I guess that’s what I did. My brain had sort of been running on auto-pilot these past weeks. Most of the time, I was barely aware of the school and class around me, my mind always kept focusing on past events, events that happened only in the dark of the night. I only had a few flashes of memory of what I was doing in school. Most of them consisted of Taichi calling my name. And band practice, though I kept getting lost in my thoughts then too. The band was actually starting to get a little fed up with it; it was affecting our practices...
Suddenly I realized my uncle was still talking. “...on your homework, okay? And don’t you dare come out until you're finished!”
Homework? Shit, I forgot to ask Taichi if we had homework!
“Ano... oji? May I call my friend Taichi? I forgot what my homework assignments were...” I said timidly.
Stunned, I put a hand up to my nose, and felt the wet red blood beginning to drip out. I was bleeding. He’d just hit me.
Without warning, his hand swung out again, and struck me hard in the stomach.
“Oof!” I doubled over, clutching onto my stomach, the pain in my nose forgotten as the pain in my stomach overwhelmed it. Then he kicked his foot out at my legs, catching me in the shin. I fell down and cowered down on the floor, whimpering from both a mixture of pain and fear.
“I’m sorry Oji...”
“Sorry? You say you’re fucking sorry?” He aimed another swift kick at me, hitting me in the side of the head. “Don’t tell me you’re sorry, you little bastard! I fucking told you the last time you were here, I was going to put up with the disobedience shit! And now, look at you!” Several more kicks to my stomach. “You’re bleeding all over my floor! You little asshole!” A sharp kick at my back. I cried out.
“You’re pathetic,” he sneered. “Clean that shit up off my floor. And don’t you bleed again. When you’re finished, call your friend and get your homework. But remember, one word.. and Takeru..”
I nodded. “I won’t tell,” I whispered, as he stormed out of the house. I dragged myself to my feet, ignoring the lancing pain shooting up and down my body. I watched from the side of the window as my uncle climbed into his car and drove off. I knew from previous experience he wouldn’t be back for hours. But I didn’t dare disobey him.
So I set about cleaning the floor as best as I could, trying not wince, pausing when the pain became too much for me. Eventually I got it cleaned up, and went into the bedroom I was staying in while I was here. I wanted to take a hot shower, hoping it would soothe my aching muscles, but I needed to call Taichi first. I just hope I don’t break down...
With shaking hands, I picked up the phone from the cradle on the nightstand beside my bed, and dialed Taichi’s number correctly on the third try.
One ring... two rings.. three.. four.. five...
Come on, come on, pick up, please Taichi!
Finally the phone was picked up, and I about cried in relief.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Yagami? This is Yamato, is Taichi there?”
“I’m sorry Yamato, he hasn’t come in yet. Shall I have him call you back later?”
“No,” I muttered. “No, that’s okay. I’ll just catch hm in school tomorrow. Thanks.”
“No problem,” she said warmly. “Have a good day.”
Fat chance, I thought as I hung up. I had only one other person I could call before I was screwed over. I reset the phone and dialed Koushiro. Unfortunately, I didn’t even get an answer.
Great. They must have gone out together somewhere, the way Taichi and I do after we’ve had a big fight. I replaced the phone, a sour expression on my face.
Trying to shake off the fear I felt approaching, I went to take a shower, hoping my uncle wouldn’t beat me too badly when he found out I couldn’t do my homework.
Chapter 3 finale
Author’s Notes: This chapter’s a little shorter than the others... Hmm.. sorry. But I wanted to go ahead and get it out, because there were some things I wanted to say. Forgot.. Oh! I’ve had an old livejournal that I had no use for, so I figured out what to do with it. I’m turning it into a fanfic journal, and I’ll post pieces of stories and parts of chapters and stories I plan to put on ffnet. So it’s sort of like a sneak peek =P The address is http://www.livejournal.com/users/celestial_wings, and it’s a friends-only journal, but it’s not that hard to get a livejournal, now that they’re free. If anyone’s interested. There was something else too, but damned if I remember what it was.. Oh, if anyone has any good angsty Taito stories to recommend, I’d appreciate it! Still something else.. oh well. Maybe next time, I guess.
Japanese guide
Tadaima - I'm home
Okaeri - Welome back
Jichou - Second born son
Ano - Um, Well
Oji/Ojisan - uncle
'tousan/Otousan - father
Otouto - little brother
chapter four
Digimon - R - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 8 - Words: 37396 - Reviews: 33 - Updated: 4-16-04 - Published: 1-11-04
chapter two
Disclaimer: Hey, guess what! Digimon isn’t mine! Isn’t that amazing? Like, totally! I never would have guessed, wow!
Author’s Notes: Well, I’m certainly being productive, aren’t I? But I love writing this story! It’s so fun, and the words are flowing pretty well. I’m just afraid I’ll hit a brick wall >< Please, no. Anyways, this is where the chapters start getting dark, and earning their ‘R’ rating. This chapter has: slightly descriptive rape, child abuse, violence, and some swearing. If you think you can’t read this, turn back now. And don’t bother looking at my other fics if you don’t like that stuff, you won’t find but one fluffy fic. Sorry, but you know, I’m an ANGST author. I like writing dark, angsty things full of twisted and depressing plots that make you want to cry and shoot yourself. That, or huggle Yama to death.
Bleed
by: butterflie, formerly known as Crimson Goddess
Chapter 3:Cheap Shot
“What’s that?”
“Huh? What’s what?”
“That.” He reached up and poked my cheek gently where my uncle had slammed his fist. I winced at the sudden pain even that light touch brought. It must have bruised.
“Oh, I knocked my head into the corner of a cabinet door last night while getting a bowl out. Not used to his house yet. Real stupid of me, huh?” I kept my voice light, though inside I was panicking. What if this kept happening? How would I explain it? I could cover up the others with sleeves and pants, but I couldn’t touch my face. The long sleeves already looked suspicious enough.
But to my relief, Taichi just laughed. “And I thought I was supposed to be the klutz around here! What’s with you takin’ over my job, huh?”
I laughed with him. “I figured it was about high time you retired.” There was a smile behind the words that I didn’t feel.
Just then the last bell rang. Taichi swore and took off running, me following right behind him. It didn’t matter. We were late to homeroom anyways. Another tardy for Ishida Yamato. At least it wasn’t because I’d overslept again. And at least I didn’t have nightmares last night. Though there was a reason for that...
Last night
I sat up in bed suddenly, heart pounding. Did the door just creak? I could have sworn I heard it. I strained my eyes to see, but the room was pitch-black, and I couldn’t make out a thing.
“Wake up, Yamato,” I heard my uncle whisper. If I could have seen him, I knew there would be a devilish grin on his face.
“Oh God, no,” I groaned. “Please, oji, not already.. please..” A few tears started to gather in the corners of my eyes, and angrily I wiped them away with the back of my hand. I huddled up against the headboard of the bed, drawing the covers close around me. “Please, why can’t you just leave me alone?”
“Because you’re such a good boy, Yamato. Such a good, good boy. Just like your father.”
“Did you used to hurt ‘tousan too?”
He merely laughed, and I knew then that he had. Poor dad. But then I was angry at him. If he knew what his brother was capable of, then why did he have me stay here?! I hope to hell it was one of those repressed memory things, and that he didn’t send me hearing knowing what I’d encounter.
Without warning, his hands were on me, and I felt the covers being pulled away from me. I shrieked and cowered down on the bed. “Please..” I begged him. “Don’t hurt me.”
I felt his hands gently caress my cheek, and I ducked out from under his touch.He reached for me again, but I jumped out of the bed and tried to run. He grabbed my wrist and held me tightly, then switched on a lamp beside the bed. I blinked, trying to adjust my eyes to the sudden intrusion of the dim light.
I was thrown back down on the bed forcefully, and his fist slammed down on the same cheek he’d been caressing only moments before. “Don’t you ever run from me,” he threatened me softly. “You care about your own jichou, don’t you?”
Whimpering, a couple of tears slipping down my cheeks, I nodded.
He twisted my wrist. Hard. “Answer when spoken to, boy.”
“Y-yes sir,” I stuttered.”
He smiled, a dangerous smile that filled me with dread. Then he leaned down and kissed me, with enough force to bruise my lips. I gagged reflexively, but I felt his tongue push against my lips, and knew I had to grant him access or be hurt more. I parted my lips, and it took all my will not to bite down on his tongue as I felt it flick around my mouth.
He broke away from me just long enough to pull off my shirt and straddle me, then resumed his brutal assault on my mouth. I felt more tears slide down my cheeks as his hands begin to roam my chest, going lower and lower, lingering at spots he’d discvered turned me on last time. Then his hands slipped down my pants, and touched me, and I flinched away. Immediately his hands were gone from my pants and pummeling me on my chest, hard enough to leave already forming bruises. “I’m sorry oji,” I whispered, crying shamelessly. “I didn’t mean to.”
“Don’t do it again,” he warned me, then put his hands back where they’d been. He ran his hands up and down my unwanted erection a few times, and I felt his own hardness growing against my leg. I felt so violated, so dirty, but there wasn’t anything I could do. Takeru...
“Take off your pants,” he commanded. Slowly, I did as told, trying to delay what I knew would happen as much as possible. “Hurry up, Yamato,” he said eagerly. He lifted his body so I could slip my pants and boxers down around my ankles. My freed arousal sprang up from among pubic hair, and I closed my eyes, not wanting to see his face anymore.
By now he was so excited that he didn’t much care what I did. He backed up a bit, and lowered his head, taking me in his mouth. I gasped at the cool wetness of his mouth against me, it was so sudden. I tried to will my arousal away, wanting to thwart him at any cost. It didn’t work. Being a hormone-controlled male teenager who’d never willingly had sex before, my body was loving his ministrations, even if my mind was thoroughly despising it.
I began to sob when I came. It was so utterly humilating, having no control over my body, wishing I could be anywhere but here, wishing this had never happened.
“Yamato..” he murmured, as he began to remove his own clothing. “Yamato..”
“..Yamato!”
I started, and looked up into Taichi’s face staring worriedly down into mine.
“Huh?”
“Geez, try to pay attention,will ya?”
I blushed, feeling bad. “Sorry.”
He sighed. “Never mind. Look, homeroom’s over. You better go to second period, or you’ll be late.”
“Right.” I stood. “See you in third then.”
I felt his eyes on me the whole way out of the classroom and down the hall.
+-+-+-+
“Woah, Yamato, what happened to your face?”
Beside me, I heard the blond sigh. He was probably tired of repeating it by now. “I banged my head into the corner of a cabinet, and I didn’t realize that it had bruised until Taichi pointed it out this morning.”
“That must have hurt,” Koushiro said sympathetically.
“I’ve had worse,” he replied truthfully. Then he turned towards me. “I promised the band weeks ago that I’d practice with them during lunch today, because Ratz can’t make it later. Is that okay?”
I nodded. “Sure. Practice hard, Yama!” I wanted to talk to Koushiro anways.
When Yamato was gone, I sat down next to Koushiro and leaned in close. “Did you notice anything funny about that bruise?”
He paused in his typing, and looked up from his ever present laptop. “No, should I have?”
I frowned. “I don’t know. Somehow I just don’t think a cabinet did it.”
“Why not?”
“Come on, a cabinet? And wouldn’t a cabinet be more likely to scratch him then bruise him? There’s something going on with him, Kou, and it’s so close within in my grasp I can almost touch it. But I can’t quite put my finger on it just yet.”
Then suddenly it hit me. “Oh!”
“What?” he asked me, looking confused.
“That’s it..” I murmured. “He started getting strange right after.. and he was so upset when he found he had to go back.. maybe it’s his uncle..”
Koushiro frowned. “His uncle? Whose uncle?”
“That’s it!” I said excitedly. “Don’t you see Koushiro? About a month ago, Yamato had to spend a few days with his uncle because his dad had to go out of town. Right after that, he started acting strange. Remember, he stayed home sick for a few days? And when he came back to school he was all spaced out and blank then. And it didn’t get any better.”
“But why would his uncle be hitting him now?”
“You didn’t let me finish! See, last week Yamato was all upset again because his dad said he had to spend two weeks with his uncle again because he had a business trip that was unavoidable. I couldn’t figure out what was so bad about it, why he was so upset. He looked ready to cry.” I thought for a moment. “He said his uncle was really strict,” I mused. “I thought that was it at the time, but there was just this feeling I had, like there was something more... Maybe his uncle hits him whenever he goes over there.”
Kou gave me a searching look for a long moment, and I began to feel uncomfortable. “What? It’s not like it’s impossible,” I said awkwardly, starting to feel stupid for having mentioned it.
“No,” he said. “It’s not. But a word of advice: Don’t mention it to Yamato. If it’s not true, he’ll be really upset with you. And if it is...”
“If it is?”
He sighed. “He’ll be really upset with you.”
I groaned. “I was afraid you’d say that. So how do I find out, without mentioning to Yamato?”
“You’ll just have to wait for him to tell you.”
“But what if he doesn’t?”
“Then there’s nothing you can do.”
“Bullshit!” I said angrily. “I’m not going to stand aside and let my friend get abused! Maybe that’s what you’d do, but I sure as hell won’t!”
“But you don’t have proof!” he argued. “Look, you don’t even know the guy’s name, do you?”
“Uhh... no,” I replied sheepishly.
“So what were going to say to the police? ‘Excuse me officer, I think my best friend is being abused, because he had one lousy bruise on his face that he swore came from a cabinet door, but I don’t think cabinet doors bruise you, they scratch you. Oh, but I don’t know the name of the guy abusing him, but I know it’s his uncle. But that’s all you need right? So can you go arrest this guy now so my best friend will be so happy and fall in love with me like I want?’”
“That was a cheap shot,” I said tightly, clenching my fists underneath the table.
“But it’s true! You want to help him because you think it will make him like you!”
“It is NOT!” I roared loudly, and the cafeteria, previousl filled with giggling girls and lots of people chattering and shouting, went deadly silent. “I want to help him because he’s my best friend, and unlike YOU, I actually give a fuck about what’s happening in my friends lives!”
Then I did something I thought I’d never do. I reared back and punched him, right in the nose. He sat there looking at me stunned, blood slowly dripping from his nose. He didn’t make a move to stop it. Just sat there, staring in astonishment. I picked up my bag and stormed to the cafeteria doors. Then, with a quick bow, and “good day” to the group at large, I left.
Without even realizing it, I sought out the band room where Yamato was practicing, and slipped inside. They didn’t notice me, too busy wrapped up in their music. I watched Yamato sing for awhile, it always calmed me to hear his beautiful voice.
I continued to listen to him, feeling soothed by the words and the sound of his voice, enjoying listening. Already the anger from my fight with Koushiro was fading, and listening to Yamato sing such a song only made me more determined to help him, no matter what was going on in his life. If he was being abused, I’d help him. If I was wrong, and it was something else entirely, I’d still help him. I didn’t care about making him fall in love with me, even if Koushiro thought so. Just having him as a friend was enough. Never want for more. All I wanted was his happiness, and my own be damned in the process.
“Taichi! Long time no see!” I heard suddenly.
I stopped staring at Yamato and looked over at the others. “Hey guys,” I greeted them. I didn’t smile.
Of course, Yamato noticed this immediately. “Something wrong?” he asked, concern evident in his voice.
I tried to smile for his sake. “Oh, nothing. Just a stupid fight with Koushiro. Don’t worry about it.”
“You hardly ever fight with Koushiro. What was it about?”
“It was nothing, really Yama,” I insisted, not wanting him to know we’d been arguing about him. “Just a stupid fight. It’s forgotten now. I’ll apologize later.”
He nodded, clearly not wanting to drop it but doing so for my sake. I was thankful.
He turned to his band. “I know our next concert isn’t for another few months, but would you guys mind if we had another practice in three days? This new song still isn’t quite right..”
Ny and Ratz nodded, but Kenji said, “Oh crap, I don’t think I can make it. Can we do it the day after that?”
Everyone nodded. “Sure. See you guys then,” Yamato replied, as the bell rang. He packed up his guitar and set it back in a corner of the room so it wouldn’t be disturbed, then waved to the guys as he left the room with me. We headed off to our next class.
“So, you apologized to Koushiro yet about whatever it was?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I haven’t seen him since lunch, you should know that. I was thinking about dropping by his house later today, actually. Wanna come with, and maybe get some icecream afterwards or catch a movie or something?”
His face fell, and he averted his eyes. Briefly his hand came up to touch the bruise on his cheek; I don’t think he was even aware of the motion. “I can’t, remember?”
“Oh yeah... I did forget. I’m sorry, Yama. Well, maybe another time, hmm?”
He nodded unhappily. “Yeah, another time. See you tomorrow?”
“Sure. And I’ll make up with Koushiro, don’t worry.”
He just nodded again and continued on down the street towards his uncle’s house, while I turned down the street and made my way over to Koushiro’s apartment.
He let me in when I knocked, but seemed sort of uncomfortable to have me there.
“Oh! Taichi.. hi... come in. Would you like something to drink? Eat?”
“No, thanks Koushiro. I just wanted to apologize about earlier... I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled at you like that in front of the whole cafeteria. And I shouldn't have hit you.”
He offered me a tentative smile. “Yeah, well, I went too far, I suppose. I was asking for it. I didn’t mean what I said, really. About Yamato.”
I grinned. “I know. Don’t worry, I’m not mad anymore. Hey, wanna go catch a movie? You pick.” Koushiro has the best taste in movies of anyone I know.
His smile was wider this time, and genuine. “Sure. I know this great new action movie that just came out...”
+-+-+-+
I let myself in with the key my uncle had supplied me, then slipped off my shoes and walked hesitantly to the kitchen. “Tadaima... Oji? Ojisan... are you home?”
“Okaeri, Yamato!” he said, appearing out of nowhere. Well, that’s what it felt like. Almost gave me a heart attack. I jumped. “Oh!”
He smirked. “Did I startle you? Sorry.”
“Um, no, it’s okay...” I said. It was happening just like before. He was acting as if nothing had gone on last night, as if he was still my same uncle from when I was little, and we were happy, and there wasn’t anything going on. He was acting as if the threat on my brother’s life meant nothing, like I could just brush it and last night aside and go on as normal, still adoring him and respecting him the way I used to. Well, I couldn’t. The night he broke me, he’d shattered my trust in him forever. My uncle wasn’t the same man I thought he was eleven years ago.
“Did you have a good day at school?”
I nodded. “Yes.” No. Not really. It was hell, if you want to know the truth.
“What did you do?”
“Oh, the usual. Went to classes, lunch, more classes.” At least I guess that’s what I did. My brain had sort of been running on auto-pilot these past weeks. Most of the time, I was barely aware of the school and class around me, my mind always kept focusing on past events, events that happened only in the dark of the night. I only had a few flashes of memory of what I was doing in school. Most of them consisted of Taichi calling my name. And band practice, though I kept getting lost in my thoughts then too. The band was actually starting to get a little fed up with it; it was affecting our practices...
Suddenly I realized my uncle was still talking. “...on your homework, okay? And don’t you dare come out until you're finished!”
Homework? Shit, I forgot to ask Taichi if we had homework!
“Ano... oji? May I call my friend Taichi? I forgot what my homework assignments were...” I said timidly.
Stunned, I put a hand up to my nose, and felt the wet red blood beginning to drip out. I was bleeding. He’d just hit me.
Without warning, his hand swung out again, and struck me hard in the stomach.
“Oof!” I doubled over, clutching onto my stomach, the pain in my nose forgotten as the pain in my stomach overwhelmed it. Then he kicked his foot out at my legs, catching me in the shin. I fell down and cowered down on the floor, whimpering from both a mixture of pain and fear.
“I’m sorry Oji...”
“Sorry? You say you’re fucking sorry?” He aimed another swift kick at me, hitting me in the side of the head. “Don’t tell me you’re sorry, you little bastard! I fucking told you the last time you were here, I was going to put up with the disobedience shit! And now, look at you!” Several more kicks to my stomach. “You’re bleeding all over my floor! You little asshole!” A sharp kick at my back. I cried out.
“You’re pathetic,” he sneered. “Clean that shit up off my floor. And don’t you bleed again. When you’re finished, call your friend and get your homework. But remember, one word.. and Takeru..”
I nodded. “I won’t tell,” I whispered, as he stormed out of the house. I dragged myself to my feet, ignoring the lancing pain shooting up and down my body. I watched from the side of the window as my uncle climbed into his car and drove off. I knew from previous experience he wouldn’t be back for hours. But I didn’t dare disobey him.
So I set about cleaning the floor as best as I could, trying not wince, pausing when the pain became too much for me. Eventually I got it cleaned up, and went into the bedroom I was staying in while I was here. I wanted to take a hot shower, hoping it would soothe my aching muscles, but I needed to call Taichi first. I just hope I don’t break down...
With shaking hands, I picked up the phone from the cradle on the nightstand beside my bed, and dialed Taichi’s number correctly on the third try.
One ring... two rings.. three.. four.. five...
Come on, come on, pick up, please Taichi!
Finally the phone was picked up, and I about cried in relief.
“Hello?”
“Mrs. Yagami? This is Yamato, is Taichi there?”
“I’m sorry Yamato, he hasn’t come in yet. Shall I have him call you back later?”
“No,” I muttered. “No, that’s okay. I’ll just catch hm in school tomorrow. Thanks.”
“No problem,” she said warmly. “Have a good day.”
Fat chance, I thought as I hung up. I had only one other person I could call before I was screwed over. I reset the phone and dialed Koushiro. Unfortunately, I didn’t even get an answer.
Great. They must have gone out together somewhere, the way Taichi and I do after we’ve had a big fight. I replaced the phone, a sour expression on my face.
Trying to shake off the fear I felt approaching, I went to take a shower, hoping my uncle wouldn’t beat me too badly when he found out I couldn’t do my homework.
Chapter 3 finale
Author’s Notes: This chapter’s a little shorter than the others... Hmm.. sorry. But I wanted to go ahead and get it out, because there were some things I wanted to say. Forgot.. Oh! I’ve had an old livejournal that I had no use for, so I figured out what to do with it. I’m turning it into a fanfic journal, and I’ll post pieces of stories and parts of chapters and stories I plan to put on ffnet. So it’s sort of like a sneak peek =P The address is http://www.livejournal.com/users/celestial_wings, and it’s a friends-only journal, but it’s not that hard to get a livejournal, now that they’re free. If anyone’s interested. There was something else too, but damned if I remember what it was.. Oh, if anyone has any good angsty Taito stories to recommend, I’d appreciate it! Still something else.. oh well. Maybe next time, I guess.
Japanese guide
Tadaima - I'm home
Okaeri - Welome back
Jichou - Second born son
Ano - Um, Well
Oji/Ojisan - uncle
'tousan/Otousan - father
Otouto - little brother
chapter four