Moment, Tai.
or
Drinking Buddies

 

In the dark, dark city, past the dark, dark buildings down the dark, dark street, in the dark, dark terrace, up the dark, dark stairs and in the dark dark office, some authors lived. There was a thin author ("Hello," says Jyou) and a fat author ("I'm not fat, I'm just big boned!" says Herr Mullen).
           "Today, Jyou," said Mullen, "I think we'll do something with Tai and Matt."
           "Not another yaoi!"
           "No, it's about time I got them into some straight roles, hmm? Very well. Pass us some paper, there's a good chap... Right. Digimon is property of Toei and Fox Kids, apparently, and this fiction is property of Herr Mullen. Onward! To the tale!"

Yamato picked up the guitar. Last out, again. What time was it, now? Half nine. Huh. That long? Sometimes, a guy can loose himself in his music... Recently, depressing music. Sad, slow. Open on three notes from the bass; distorted lyric. Bring in guitar. Slowly, raise up a crawling drum beat. Bring in the bass, again, and sing. Softly. Watch them cry through the stage lights. Cry, and scream. Yamato, Yamato... I'm your biggest fan, Yamato....
          He sighed, and put his hand in his pocket. Keys, keys.... Ah, ha. Lights, off. He pulled down the metal cover over the garage door, and locked it at the bottom. Now, home. Train? Bus? Nah. Not tonight. Walk, by the river. Yeah.
          A slow pace. Heel clipping the floor, the other one, then again. Bass at his side, supported by the handle. Heavy, kinda. Other hand in his trouser pocket, fiddling with the tie he'd stuffed in there as soon as school was over.
          Cold!
          ...What's this? When did I put this in here? He took out the harmonica. Well. He stopped walking. Next to the river, below the roads and street. Concrete steps lead up to Odiba transit; bridges in front and behind him. Good metaphor, that. He set down his bass case, and sat on it. He looked over the river. Streetlamps and car lights reflected on the surface. That's nice. He put his harmonica to his lips. A note.
          "Behind us are the bridges that we crossed,
          "Before us are the challenges ahead,
          "And all the while,
          "The water dances in the moon~ light."
          He looked back up at the water, and stood up. Click, click on the pavement. Good shoes, actually. He wanted to see himself again. What he'd become. What he'd been. He stood at the waters edge, and looked over.
          "Did I ever tell you about Cherrymon?"
          "He was the one that made you attack me, right?"
          "Yeah." Yamato looked at Taichi's reflection. "Quiet bastard, aren't you? When did you get here?"
          "I was up there. I heard your harmonica."
          "Ah. Late night?"
          "Yeah. Cleaned the classroom, then got in some football practice in. Just coming home, now, actually. You?"
          "...I've been playing."
          "That song?"
          "Hmm?" asked Yamato, "Which song?"
          "The one just now."
          "Oh, that. ...Nah, I just thought of that."
          "It's good."
          "Yeah?"
          "Better than Run Around. That thing was awful."
          "Heh, yeah." Pause. "It wasn't bad."
          "Yeah, it was! I had to keep myself from laughing!"
          "Jerk."
          "Ah, come on!" Pause. "...Still down?"
          "...Yeah."
          Pause. "How long was it?"
          "...Not long enough."
          Silence.
          Water. The river, just washing by, leisurely, like a sloth tottering over to the next tree from lunch after an eleven o' clock snack.
          "Momentai."
          "What?"
          Yamato shook himself. "I don't know. It's a word; just came to me."
          "What does it mean?"
          "I don't know. From the river, or inspiration, or whatever..."
          Taichi looked into the river. Taichi looked back.
          "Can I give it a meaning?"
          "Sure, if you want."
          "...Look skyward. Keep strong. Courage."
          Taichi gazed into the moon, in that hero-leader pose. Yamato smiled. A few muscles in his cheeks twitching to life. Lips parting, teeth shining like clouds in front of the full moon, scattering, as Yamato began to laugh. A titter, a chuckle, into full blown laughter.
          "Taichi, you are a cheesy bastard!" he cackled.
          Taichi rubbed the back of his head; "Yeah, I know."
          "I ought to get you to write my lyrics! Ha!"
          "...Yamato?"
          "Yeah?"
          "....You're crying, aren't you?"
          The teardrop rolled off Yamato's chin. It diluted him blazer collar.
          "Come to mine, tonight." Said Taichi, extending his arms, and pulling Yamato into a friendly hug. "I don't think you want to be alone tonight. Momentai." Yamato shuddered as the tears came, cloud white teeth clenched, thunder of sobs rumbling.


Keys, keys... Ah. Taichi undid the door, led in and flicked on the lights. "I think everyone's gone to bed. Want something? Drink? Something stronger?"
          "Sake," said Yamato. "My dad's beer has left me longing for some sake," he grinned.
          "Sake it is!" said Taichi, fetching the rice wine and some bowls. "Ah, man!" Taichi looked at his sleeve. Someone had spilt some liquid or other on the counter top. Yamato pulled up a barstool as Taichi took a cloth and started drying the top. "If there is anything I can't stand, it's a dirty kitchen..."
          "I should never have taught you to cook. You've become a total chef. I'll be seeing you on TV soon; "Today, we're going to be making shepard's pie and- if I see you do that with your spoon again, you're out of my studio!" It'll be hilarious, you'll be off air within five minutes due to complains from elderly ladies."
          "Ha, television. The only thing you'll see me doing on television is scoring. It'll be Russia vs. Japan all over again!"
          "Still cheering about that, huh?"
          "Yeah. I'm just sad that England went out to Brazil."
          "Well, they did go on to win. At least you can be happy they lost to the best."
          "Yeah, but we lost to Turkey!"
          "Who also lost to Brazil. After England did, in fact. We lost to number three in the world."
          "Heh, yeah. South Korea did well, too."
          "Did they?"
          "Yeah. Lost to Germany. So, they're the other number three."
          "Wow. Here's to South Korea!" Yamato downed his bowl. "Another, please." Taichi filled him back up, and returned to polishing the counter.
          Silence. More sake.
          "...You gonna make up with Sora?"
          "...Yeah. I have to, Taichi. She's the one for me."
          Taichi nodded. "So, what happened?"
          "...I went too far, Taichi. It's my fault, I went too far...." He began to shake and sob, putting down his sake, leaning both arms on the counter, setting his head down over them.
          "Hey, man, hey..." Taichi stepped 'round and put his arms over Yamato's shoulders. "It's alright. Shush, now, 'kay?" Yamato continued to sob. "...Remember when the Kaizer got Agumon?"
          Yamato looked up. "Yeah?"
          The force of the blow threw Yamato off the stool, which clattered to the floor with a bang. Yamato fell down, splayed across the floor. One final sob.
          "Hiss!" Tailmon blinked. "Oh, it's you two. What happened to Yamato?" She asked hurrying over.
          Yamato stood up. "Nothing. Had too much sake, fell off the stool... you know how it is, eh?"
          Tailmon blinked. "Okay. You'd better get to bed, soon. And don't fall off any more stools, you hear? Hikari and your mother though we were being burgled, or something. You mum ran into my room and asked me check it out; these walls are only thin, so keep it down, 'kay? Night!" She disappeared back down the short corridor and back into Hikari and Taichi's room.
          "...You alright?" Taichi asked.
          "Yeah, thanks man."
          "Don't thank me. It's selfish."
          "What?"
          "You're sitting there moping after the girl I love, Yama. Don't waste your chances, or I'll be down after you and you'll fall off more than a bar stool, right?"
          "...You're right, Tai. As usual. I'll talk to her tomorrow, alright? I'll make things good again. ...Momentai. I'll be leaving, I guess."
          "Nah, don't leave. You can have the sofa again, right? More sake?"
          "Nah, let's just go to bed. Night, Taichi."


Author's Notes.

Just a short one. A character piece, really. I do too much yaoi, it's about time we did something like this! Starts off like a yaoi, though, doesn't it? That's the humour I'm putting in this one, really. That and Run Around. Oh, and "football" is "soccer" to any Americans who may be reading. No-one seems to remember that Japan hosted the World Cup with South Korea in 2002. Football fans like Tai, Davis and Sora would know all about it! Sorry there's no sex. I was intending something, but, like Golden Afternoons, I just felt it would be inappropriate. I'm doing well with these serious things, aren't I? Let me know, leave a comment. Honestly, if you like or dislike my stuff, give me a comment and I'll make it even better! That's what these things are for. Also, I've seen series one through three, now. It's very good, isn't it? I'm afraid I don't really want to do anything with series three, yet. I'm not ready to think of the characters as sexual. See you next time.