Fate: Episode 1 the Unbelievable become the inevitable By: Eternal_Ukyou Notes and stuff: the Digimon characters do not belong to me. I am taking one and only right as a Digimon writer, please do not kill me for doing this to Yama-chan. I personally love Yamato as much as the next person, but I had to do this. Please R & R. All reviews are excepted, even flames. Which will be used to heat House of Pain Stir Fry (tm). Thank you For the uninformed. Matt = Yamato T.K. = Takaru Tai =Taichi Izzy =Koushiro Kari = Hikari All other names remind the same in both the English and Japanese versions of the shows. Warning: Taito, Agust, mush, promises and lies, death. Now, ON WITH THE FIC! ~~~~~~ Yamato lay back on the carpet and sighed wistfully. "Taichi... will you do something for me?" Yamato asked softly, an uncharacteristic hint of seriousness in his usually welcoming voice. "Anything, dude." Taichi was laying on the top buck of his bed, tossing baseball up and down. "If anything happens to me, you'll take care of Takaru, won't you? Even here, in the real world?" He turned over and braced him self on his elbows. "Yea, you bet. But nothing is going to happen to you, I told you before Yamato." Taichi flashed a childish grin at his blonde counter part. Yamato watched as Taichi ran his hand through his soft puff of walnut hair. "Yea..." Yamato sighed in agreement. "I just want too make sure there's someone there to look after him. If something happened to you, I'd do the same for Hikari. You know that." "Yea..." Taichi smiled, sitting up swiftly he smacked his head on the ceiling. "Ow!" He rubbed his head and glare at the ceiling obviously annoyed. Yamato burst out in laughter. "You always do that!!" Yamato laughed so hard tears accumulated in the corners of his azure eyes. Taichi's looked of agitation melted into a warm smiled at his golden hared friend, but he was much more than a friend. He knew it, Yamato knew it, but no one else did. Taichi had to laugh at little too. It was nice to see Yamato smiling and laughing because of him. "Hey, Yama-chan, I'm starving, and I'm not sure I want to chance my mom's pork chop cookies. " He cringed as a well timed crash came from the kitchen. "Agreed, let' go catch a burger. I've got this weird craving for cheery lemonade." He rose gracefully to his feet. "That's one I haven't heard." Taichi leaped from the top bunk and nearly landed on Yamato. "Gomen, Yama-chan." "Come on." He swung the door open. "Miss Kamiya, can Taichi and I go for a walk?" "Sure Yamato, be back in about two hours or your dad will wonder where you went." "Thanks Miss Kamiya!" He turned to Taichi, bright eyed and smiling. "Let's go." Taichi and Yamato walked side by side. Each smiling grandly. "Hey, Yama-chan! I'll race ya!" Taichi took off running. "Hey come back! -Taichi didn't know what I did. And I tried hard to ignore what I've been told, but how could I? The words kept running through my head, the way the nurse told me sadly 'Yamato Ishida, your going to die.' I'm going to die?! How could she tell that to me? I wonder how she sleeps at night? But... how am I going to the others... or Takaru?- Yamato ran after him, laughing calling after him to stop. "Stop Taichi!" He called out, and was able to grab Taichi's arm. The abrupt stop of motion sent Taichi head over heels onto the thick grass. Both laughed as they fell. For Yamato it was like slow motion, watching Taichi pass underneath, seeing his henna eyes glitter in the late summer sun, felling Taichi's soft hair as it brush across his face. How could God let an angel like this slip from heaven? All to suddenly the motion stopped, but the felling went on. Taichi looked up at Yamato, who had his hands firmly planted on either side of Taichi's head and smiled. Yamato closed his eyes and leaned against Taichi's hand as it brushed past his hot cheek.. "I'm going to miss you when I'm gone, Taichi..." He whispered softly. "Where are you going?" Taichi suddenly looked worried. "You'll see." Yamato had to smiled to hide the tears in his eyes. He let his eyes lids open slowly. He didn't care who was staring at the two boys who laid unusually close in the thick green grass. "Yama-chan, you can't leave!!" Taichi warped his arms around Yamato's neck, pulling his body down on top of him. "You can't just leave me now. You have to promise to write me or I'll come over and beat you up!" He held on tight. >>I can't write you from where I'm going... Taichi...<< Taichi saw the sorrow in Yamato's eyes and stopped is playful joking. "What's wrong Yamato?" Yamato could only shake his head. "Don't worry Taichi." He whipped the moisture from his eyes on the back of his hand. "I'll stay as long as I can." "Can I come with you?" Yamato shook his head again. "This time I have to go alone..." -Taichi had no clue what was racing through my skull, he had no idea what was going to happen. I wish I could tell him, but how could I? I didn't know how soon I was leaving... but, he wouldn't understand. I don't want to hurt him any more than I have to. He has to take care of Takaru...- "I let you go alone last time Yamato and it almost split us all up!" Taichi took a firm grasp on Yamato's shoulder. "I won't let you go." Taichi held on tightly, pressing their bodies together. Yamato closed his eyes to shut out the hot tears that where forming there. "Taichi... stop... your making this harder than it has to be. You can't come with me and if there is any way to stop me from leaving... well... that would be great, but you have to understand... I can't stop it. I feel as helpless as you do..." "I only feel helpless because you won't tell me, if you tell me I can get the others and we'll all help! We're a team, friends, best friends." "No! you can't tell the others, especially Takaru, I don't want him to know yet." Taichi was totally stunned. "Yama-chan." Taichi saw the pain, sensed the distress. "Gomen..." He laid his lips on Yamato's, he hung there, ignoring the gasp from passers by. "Come on let go back to your house." -I was scared, I didn't understand what was going on! Why was he leaving? And why couldn't the others know? I wasn't sure what to say to him, what could I do to get him to talk to me? I hate to see that look in his eyes when he just feels helpless. When we where in the digiworld, when something happened to Takaru, that same look come into his eyes. He acts so brave but he was just as scared as the rest of us.- Taichi closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall, he let the music of Yamato's harmonica envelope him, it's so soft sounding tonight, as if expressing the hopelessness Yamato felt in his heart. Neither boy heard Mr. Ishida open the door. He stood there for a few long moment watching the two boys who sat opposite each other on the floor. He hadn't really send to Yamato play in a good long time, so he savored the few, all to brief, moments. "Hello Taichi." He said as Yamato pulled the harmonica away from his lips. "Hello Mr. Ishida." Taichi smiled and watched Yamato rise and embrace his father. This came as a shock to Taichi, he had never seen Yamato go out of his way to show affection to his father. "Hello Yamato." His father smiled with pain in his eyes. "How are you feeling today?" "I'm ok, is it alright if Taichi stays here tonight?" "As long as him mom says it ok." He flashed a smile at Taichi who took off running out of Yamato's room to use the phone, leaving Yamato and his father alone. "Dad... is there anyway to prevent this?" he father put his big hand on his son's shoulder. "Their doing everything they can, all we can do is wait, for now." His father arm's where around him again. "I'm sorry..." Yamato didn't say anything for a long time. "I love you." His said barely audible and buried his face in his fathers shirt. "Everything will turn out alright, Yamato." It was then Taichi's voice shattered the silence. "Mr. Ishida, my Mom wants to know if she can talk to you.!" "I'll be right there!" He called, then turning back to Yamato he spoke one last time. "You should tell Taichi, I'm sure he'd like to know." Then he went to get the phone, -TELL HIM?!?! Dad! How am I supposed to do that? I don't think he understands how hard this is for me. I sort of regret not telling him about Taichi. But... should I? Or should I let that feeling remain a secret? Oh! This is so confusing! I can't hardy stand this... I can't believe this is happening to me.- "Look!" Yamato perched on the window sill and pointed up ward at the star studded heavens. Yamato laughed through his nose as Taichi nearly fell trying to get to the window in time. "Wha-?" He slipped on the floor and fell. Yamato couldn't help but laugh. "Baka." Yamato cover his mouth Taichi glared at him evilly. "Grhaa!" He grounded and stood. "What was it?" "A shooting star, that's all." "Did you make a wish Yama-chan?" Taichi came up behind him and wrapped his hands around the boys shoulders. Yamato nodded. "I did." "What did you wish for?" "I wished that they find a way to let me stay." He looked up, locking eyes with Taichi. "No one is watching..." "Go ahead, Yama-chan." Taichi smiled softly. Yamato was always like this, he always asked before he became gentle and loving. He was always afraid of coming on to strong and making Taichi nervous or uncomfortable. Taichi closed his eyes and felt Yamato's hands on his face, then Yamato's lips pressed against his cheek. "Taichi..." The words slipped over his soft lips. "I..." He paused and left a moist trail of kisses down his cheek, leading to him ear. "I love you Taichi-chan." -Right then I was afraid it would be the last time I'd ever get to mumble those words under my breath. I never wanted him to forget me. I couldn't bare the though of leaving him all alone, but I knew I'd have to go soon. There was something inside of me and it eating me from the inside out and there nothing I could do to stop it. I-... for once in my life... I'll admit I'm scared. Me, Yamato Ishida, the fearless, with the undamageable pride and gorgeous hair, is scared out of him wits. I don't know what I'm going to do. I wonder what it's like to die.- "Yamato..." Taichi smiled and ran his fingers through Yamato's drooping locks. "I... I love you, I don't want you to go..." "Neither do it." A long sigh, Yamato lay his head against Taichi's chest. "Neither do I..." Yamato savored every moment Taichi's hands where in his hair, ever kiss that was laid upon him, every gentle touch. He may never have this chance again. But all this thinking was making him tired and he soon fell asleep, curled up in Taichi's lap. -It was so weird. I'd never seen him like this before. He seemed so afraid, so weak. He looked like I felt. Yama-chan didn't resist when I pulled off his pants and covered him with a blanket, like I thought he would. He didn't say a word while I ran my hands through his hair, something was wrong. Very wrong.- "Yama-chan..." Taichi whispered to Yamato's sleeping form. "I wish you'd tell me where your going..." Fate: Episode 2 the truth revealed. By: Eternal_Ukyou Taichi pushed the front door open and closed it swiftly as cold wind forced it way in behind him. "Taichi!" It was his mother, she had a firm grip on Hikari's hand, both looked as if they'd been crying. "Watching soaps with Hikari again?" he laughed as he took off his shoes. "Oh! Taichi your taking this so well I'm so proud of you!" He was suddenly in his mothers arms. "Wha? What cha'ya mean 'taking it so well'? What's going on?" Taichi looked from the eyes of his mother to the tearful eyes of him sister. "Mr. Ishida talked to us last night." his mother paused. "It's alright Taichi... we're right here for you... everything will be ok..." Then, after laying a motherly kiss on his forehead, she went off to cook something. -WHA?? I'm suddenly VERY lost! Why is everyone crying? Did my fish die or something. Even Hikari is crying, she hardly cries anymore...- "Hikari..." Taichi squatted down so that he could look at her. "I'm- I'm- I'm," She kept taking sharp, jagged breaths. "I'm so sorry." She threw her self into Taichi's arms and it was like a flood barrier broke down. "I-I know your gunna miss him." He was still confused but held his sister in his arms. "I know you love Yamato and- and- and," she could hardly force the words out. "Now he's going to- going to-" it was like something snapped in Taichi's head. 'You can't go with me where I'm going.' Screamed in his scull. "He's... he's..." the shock and realization set in almost immediately. "What's wrong with Yama-chan?" He shook his sister, she looked up with pain in her childish eyes. "He didn't tell you, Taichi?" Taichi shook his head. "He wouldn't tell me what was wrong." He sniffed back a few tears. "He just kept asking me If I'd take care of Takaru and that he was leaving soon." Taichi covered his face with his hands. After the shock came fear, now he was scared... he was loosing Yamato and he hadn't even known it. He was going to lose forever, the most important thing in his life, Yamato. "Why didn't he just tell me?" "Mamma say everything will be ok." "How can it be ok if Yamato is dying??!" He bit his lower lip and released his grip on Hikari. "Tell mom I went to Sora's house." He slid into his shoes, not bothering to tie them, and ran out the door. -I don't remember what was running through my mind, except that Sora was still mad at me. I hoped she wouldn't turn me away. She had once told me I could come to her if I needed help, so I was. I think I clocked a little kid in my mad dash, but my emotions wouldn't shut up long enough for me to apologize.- Taichi banged on Sora's door. "Hold on!" Sora called irritated, then swung open the door, phone in her hand. It appeared to her that it had begun to rain and there was Taichi, hunched over, soaked, panting, and dripping. "What do you want Taichi?" She sneered and crossed her arms across her chest. "Sora..." he stood up, she saw the pain in his eyes. "You remember you said if I ever need someone I could come to you?" he coughed a little and looked at her. She would agree he defiantly looked pitiful. -At that moment I was skeptical. Taichi never needed me for anything! But I saw that look in his eyes, this was evidently no joke. It scared me to see tears running down his face. But I couldn't help but thinking 'why me'? He just sat and sobbed for a while before he said anything and he didn't cringe when I put my arms around him, but the news he brought changed that that very quickly.- "He's-he's going to die, Sora, Y-y-y-yama-chan is going to die..." Taichi kept his face covered by his moist gloved hands. "what?" Sora was taken back in disbelief. "His dad told my mom. He's sick... and so far no one knows how to cure it." Taichi felt Sora's arms slip around him, she kept her eyes closed as the hot hears wouldn't spill out "Taichi... I'm so sorry. I know you two where close..-" "Sora, I love him!" his body seemed to contract on itself, pulling his knees to his chest. Sora was utterly shocked, everything swirled around her, she never thought this would happen to some one she knew. And such a good friend. That hurt her, but what Taichi had just blurted hurt more. He was curled up in a ball on the window seat and all he wanted was to make it stop hurting. She knew that was just the initial shock, how would it be when it was Yamato's time to leave? "Taichi!" she half yelled, standing swallowing her own tears, "Stop crying! You think this hurts you what about Mr. Ishida and Takaru! What about me? What about Yamato? All you can do is cry?" -I don't know if Sora understood how much that hurt. I didn't know what else to do but cry. I felt so scared, I couldn't imagine life with out Yamato.- "Hay Dad!" Yamato called put. "Takaru's here!" He rushed to the front door to meet his brother and Mom. Takaru came running at him at high speed. Yamato squatted, arms out stretched and caught Takaru right out of one of his flying leaps. "Onii-chan!" Takaru hugged his brother tightly. "Hey, Takaru!" Yamato smiled as he returned the hug to his little bother . "Been taking good care of Mom for me?" "Uh-huh!" His childish innocents was enough to give a dentist cavities. "Good!" He hugged his brother a little tighter, the released him and walked over to his mother. He stood before her, straight, like his father would have. "Hello Yamato." She smiled and after a long uneasy pause, embraced her son. "I'm proud of you, you seem very brave." The stern look on Yamato's face remained, he glanced over his shoulder to assure himself that Takaru wasn't listening. (which he wasn't, he was laughing and hugging their father) "Have you told Takaru yet?" "No. I though he might take it from you better than he would from me." His mother looked as worried as his father did. Yamato sensed it and hugged her, tightly. "Alright... Mom... I love you." "Takaru, come here." Yamato called from his room, seconds later Takaru came bounding in with half a cookie in his hand. "Hai, Onii-chan?" He climbed up on the bed next to Yamato. "I need to tell you something, but you have to promise me something first." "What Yama-chan?" he leaned against his brother side and nibbled on his cookie. "You can't tell, and you can't cry, ok?" "Ok" "There something..." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "There something inside of me and it's going to make me very sick, very soon. Takaru, the doctors think I might die like Uncle Kojiro." Yamato closed his eyes. "What do you mean? You can't Yama-chan!" Takaru let go of his cookie and took hold of Yamato's arm. "You and I are supposed to go to Okinawa in summer, and- and you said you teach about girls and how to cook with old green lunch meat!" His breaths became short and scared. "Who's going to take care of me? What if we go back to the digital world, what will I tell Gabumon? No Yamato!" Takaru was as shaken by the new as anyone, but Yamato wrapped his arms around his brother and held him in his lap like he used to when Takaru was much smaller. He remembered a night when they where small and their father had yelled at Takaru in rage at their mother. Yamato held his in his lap till he fell asleep. The tiny body... it had always been his job to look after Takaru. To explain why his parents fought, why they where being ripped away from the one and only home they knew, and from each other. He had done his best to be the best big brother, the big bother Takaru could brag about. He had done everything but it still wasn't enough to stop Takaru's tears. "Takaru, you promised not to cry." The sadness in Yamato's eyes made Takaru bite his tongue. "Please, every one else is scared, I am too. But I need you to be strong for me." He held Takaru's head close to his chest. "Taichi promised me that he'd take care of you, alright?" -Oh, of all the bad timing, it had to be then. I'm trying to tell Takaru to be strong and not to worry, then POW! Tragedy strikes!- Yamato felt an ungodly pain race through his body. "Takaru..." Yamato hunched over and wrapped his arms around his midriff. "Go get daddy!" Fate: Episode 3 Prayer By: Eternal_Ukyou In a waiting room on the Third floor of a hospital 7 children sat in a circle around a small coffee table strewed with magazines. Takaru had perched himself in Taichi's lap, and Hikari was nested in Mimi's lap who played mindlessly with Hikari's short hair. Each child's face was different, Taichi was distressed, Takaru held back tears, Mimi seemed to hide her fear, Hikari was dozing off, Sora was holding her hat in shaking hands, Koushiro was hunched over his laptop and Joe seemed utterly lost. Mr and Miss Ishida sat on chairs on opposite sides of the room, while the rest of the adults sat and talked idly among them selves. Several passers-by smiled and pointed at the children and mattered. 'How sweet.' Or 'they must be very close friends.' Finally Taichi broke the silence between his friend and teammates. "I've been wanting to get something off my chest." Everyone looked up. "What is it?" Joe asked pushing his glasses up in the bridge of his nose. "I promise Yamato I would take care of Takaru... but...I can't do it all by myself." Every one smiled. "oh course we'll help, we're a team aren't we?" Sora volunteered the words. "That alright, right Takaru?" "Uh-huh! Now I have six bothers and sisters!" he was momentarily excited but it didn't last long. Taichi's mom (who, for the purposes of this story call Karen, because I don't know her name) turned to Koushiro's parents (who I will call Yoshi and Usagi.) "Isn't it sweet?" Karen sniffed back a tear. "Yea." Usagi smiled a little. "Their all so very close. Their all taking it so well." She clung to her husband's arm. "It's so very touching. What are they doing now?" Taichi was the first to speak, "God... if there is a God... please keep Yama-chan safe... because I love him." Taichi ignored the small gasp from Sora. "Please take care of Yamato we all feel very helpless right now because there nothing we can do," Sora followed suit, trying to keep her voice even, an attempt that failed. "God, do me a favor, make Yamato get better... if you do, I promise to take him shopping." Mimi pressed her eyes closed, behind her Mr. Ishida stifled a laugh. "Yamato has always been an important part of out team, he keeps us all in line and always makes us laugh about his hair arrogance. We need him, don't make a perfect team then brake it." Koushiro tried hard to keep it short and in laymen's terms. Then Joe stepped in, an unusually strong hint of confusion in his voice. "Yamato is a great person with wonderful hair. I've never said it before but I -sorta- admire him. When we where afraid or unsure, he was brave and encouraged the whole group, and he and Taichi make a perfect team, don't take that away." "God, Taichi loves Yamato... do it for him." Was all Hikari could say. "Please don't take my Onii-chan away from me, he promised to teach me about girls and we're supposed to go on vacation together. A-and help me keep my promise." It was then Mr Ishida rose. "God, protect my son from what has fallen upon him, Yamato is the only person I have and I love him. Do it for me, from his mother, for Takaru, for the team..." Miss Ishida had to put in her two cents in as well. "The day I found out I was pregnant with Yamato was the day my life changed forever, things weren't going well and it was then I realized I was going to have a little boy, I knew I had to get my act together and I did. I did everything I could to make sure Yamato had a proper upbringing. I just want to keep my little boy lord." a touching scene indeed. It made page two of the news paper the next day. "Taichi, look!" Joe dropped the morning news, open, in the sleeping boys lap. He sat up, careful no to wake Takaru who was curled up at his side. Wearily he read the head line. "'Children pray to save dying friend.'" He rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Wow, we made the news!" "Yea." Joe smiled a little. "I bet Yamato would love to see this. Who ever it was wrote down everything we said" Taichi lifted Takaru and laid him down. "And Taichi..." "Yea?" "I wanted to tell you we all agree that.. your a great leader." "Thanks." Taichi smiled. "Is he awake, Yama-chan I mean?" "I think so, his parents where in there earlier." Joe took Taichi's place on the couch next to Takaru. "Thanks Joe-kun." He jumped up and fixing his hair, went over to the desk where a nurse sat, "Can I see Yama-cha-" "Oh, your the cute little kid from the news paper! Course ya can cutie!" she chewed her gum and twisted her acrylic nails in her highly teased hair. "Room 131" she smiled and Taichi was off down the hall. He stopped in front of the door and slowly pushed it open. "Yama-chan?" he said softly as if not to shatter the sterile whiteness of the room. "Taichi... ohayo!" Yamato sat up a little, Taichi tried very hard to ignore the IV and other appliances that were attached to his body "Look!" he held out the news paper for Yamato to read. "You guys really did that?" "Just for you. And Takaru didn't cry at all." He stood next to Yamato's bed. "We're all trying to be optimistic." He took Yamato's hand in his. "We need you. You cement the team together." Taichi leaned over and laid a kiss on Yamato's warm forehead. "Who else is still here?" "Me Hikari, Takaru, Joe and Sora. Koushiro had to go home but he'll be back soon and Mimi said something about the 'some ol' green tank top every day' and went shopping." He laughed a little. "We're all scared Yamato." "So am I. I feel so helpless, all I can do is lay and watch myself fall apart. If it were anything else I could beat it up or ignore it, but this is different. I can't do a thing about it. I feel bad for hurting all you guys, I can say 'don't worry about me' but it would be pointless, ne? "We can't help it Yama-chan, your our friend. You've always been there. But what I don't understand is why didn't you tell me earlier?" "I didn't want you to worry." Yamato put his hand on Taichi's face. "I just want you to know I love you, we'll be together again soon enough. I'm not afraid of dying anymore, as long as I know you won't forget me." Yamato bit his quivering lip. "How could I? Yama-chan, koibito, I love you..." a signal tear slipped room his eyes. "We all do." "Yea." Both Takaru and Hikari stood just inside the door way. "Onii-chan... we all love you and we're all worried about you. I'm sure Gabumon would say he loved you to if he where here." "Mrs. Takenouchi went to get food." Hikari smiled a little "She should be back soon." Hikari walked up behind Taichi and took a firm hold on his shorts. "Yamato..." she looked at him with big, childish eyes. "You have to get better ok?" she seemed so juvenile, but Taichi knew this was just how she was when she was confused. Taichi wrapped his arms around her. "Everything is going to be alright, you said so your self. We can't give up hope right?" -I saw the fear in her eyes. Taichi, Hikari and especially Takaru. I felt bad, I promised him so much and now... it's all over. There was one ray of hope left and it, too, was quickly fading. The pain became worse by the hour. It became excruciating by night fall, that when things got worse...- -... Yamato was throwing up and he had became feverish. I panicked! I just sat outside the door and listening to him sob because it hurt so bad. Nurses and doctors where rushing in a out, exchanging clip boards and strange looks. I kept trying to look inside but bodies blocked the view. Oh, Yama-chan... Gomanasai!- "Taichi..." It was Sora, she approached carefully. "Taichi, come on." She held out her hand. "You don't need to listen to that, we're going to play cards." she spoke softly in such a way she sounded like a concerned mother. "I can't Sora, I'm have to wait..." Sora only sighed at these words and sat next to him on the cold tile floor. "He'll be fine, I'm sure of it." She took his hand. Once she had read a book like this. "As long as you and I hold onto out hopes, as long as we believe..." "What is believing going to do when Yamato's dying..." Taichi ripped his hand from her grasp. "Taichi! Taichi... I'm doing my very best to make this as easy as I can for you... I know it's hard for you. It's the same for all of us, but did you even think about the rest of our feelings? You probably wouldn't believe that Joe is near hysterics and Mimi is still gone shopping. They need you Taichi, their your leader. If your strong, the team will be strong, Please Taichi!" Sora pleased, the needed to be lead. Last night had lifted every one's spirits, that need that again. "Alright Sora." He rose to his feel and whipped the tears from his eyes. -I didn't know what else to do. Sora was right, I have to lead them... I have to be strong and be the leader they expect me to be even though I'm crying inside. I couldn't help Yamato and I couldn't help myself but I could help the team. I went to Joe, who was sitting on the couch with Takaru and Hikari snuggled up on either side of him, one of Joe's hands on each child's back. Koushiro too, had fallen asleep, using his laptop as a pillow. Mimi and Mrs Tachikawa where still absent.- "How is he Taichi? What's going on?" Joe wanted to know. "Not so hot..." he sat down next to Joe and the sleeping children. "Oh..." "Sora said you need some encouragement. I'm sorry Joe, I don't have any to give." He laid his gloved hand on his friends shoulder. "I understand Taichi." "Aregato Joe-kun." Fate: Episode 4 Release By: Eternal_Ukyou Taichi was scared. He just kept holding Hikari and saying. 'It's alright.' Everyone was scared. Later that night Yamato passed out, Taichi was been there watching his friend sob. He reached out and stroked Yamato's tear enhanced face, trying to calm his shaking body. Yamato had his arms whapped around his stomach, and even in his unaware state, his face was pinched with pain. "Yamato..." Sora was sitting nest to Taichi watching Yamato with Takaru in her lap. He held his and Sora's hats in his tiny childish hands. "Please.." Sora closed her eyes and shook her head. "Onii-chan." Takaru sniffed a bit and then buried his face in Sora's shirt. "Sora." Taichi muttered. "Hai?" Her solemn eyes met Taichi's sad black eyes. "I'm... scared... last night, when Yamato was crying.. he-he told me to tell you to never give up hope and never forget truth. He told me to tell Takaru that he loves you very much..." Tears well up in his eyes again. "Hikari, Yamato said to never lose faith in me, no matter what happens, big brothers are always the best," He smiled a little. Sora put her hand over her mouth. "Yamato, you can't die!" she demanded. "You can't! I won't let you!!" Had she been in the digitalworld she would have had a bit more back up. "We love you Yamato, Gabumon loves you too... what would we tell him if you die?" Tears formed in her eyes "Yamato-kun!!" -I don't know what come over me just then but I wanted to get up and strangle him and get it over with. The more this was dragged out the more it hurt all of us, especially Joe... I didn't understand it either, but that's just Joe for ya. Takaru was being so brave, he was trying hard to not cry. He was stronger than all of us. I admired him for that.- Takaru got out of Sora's lap and stood at the edge of the bed. "Yamato, mama said Uncle Kojiro died cuz he wasn't look at right, am -I- Looking at you right?" -I was scared, Yamato was my brother and I loved him... I didn't want him to go away with out me... every one was crying but I couldn't. You should never break a promise (Especially to a girl, Yamato told me that ~_^ ) I have to be strong... please Yamato... you have to be strong too.- Night and day passed slowly. The digidestined came and went at there parent's request. But Takaru and Taichi stayed stubbornly watching and waiting avidly. The week seemed to go on forever, but neither where willing to give up. Some where around Friday Miss Ishida and Miss Kamiya commented on their childern's behavior. "Karen." Naoka (which will be Miss Ishida's first name cuz I don't know what is it!) spoke up softly. "Huh?" Miss Kamiya looked up. "I want to apologize..." "For what?" Karen inquired. "Putting your son through this." She glanced at Taichi who was asleep in a folding chair with Takaru asleep in his arms. "It's not your fault Naoka." Karen laid her hand on Naoka's shoulder. "I'm not happy about losing my son, but it hurts to know he's hurting Taichi and Sora and Joe and everyone else." She covered her face with her smooth hands. "I guess saying 'don't cry' would be silly. I'm not saying you should be happy either But I... I never knew my son was so strong." It was true. Taichi did his best to keep the team together and hopeful. Every chance he had he went and sat with Yamato and talked to him even as he slept. Takaru had also become a permanent attachment to Taichi's body. Always holding his hand or sitting in his lap, even when they ate Takaru would nestled himself in Taichi's crossed legs. "I've never seen Takaru so clingy to Taichi before." Karen pointed out. "Me either." Naoko sniffed and whipped her moist eyes on her sleeve. "Hikari..." Miss Kamiya turned to her daughter who was nearly asleep on her feet. "Do you know why Takaru is being so close to your brother?" Hikari rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Well Yamato made Taichi promise to take care to Takaru... because he knew Taichi would do it..." she yawned and leaned against her mother's leg. "Oh!" Karen put her hand over her mouth. "That's so sweet..." "That's just liked Yamato." This time Miss Ishida made no effort to whip away the tears that steamed down her face. "He always made sure that everyone was taken care of. When we went to see him the first thing he asked Takaru was if he had been taking care of me. But now... we can't take care of him..." She turned her head away. "Miss Ishida." Hikari tugged on her skirt. "Taichi said we have to believe, it will be ok..." "Yama-chan." Taichi stroked Yamato's cheek with the back of his hand. "Mimi got you a new shirt, she said you have to get better so you can wear it. She decided black was your color. Joe... apologized for what, I'm not sure. Sora said you not allowed to die, and if you do, she'd kill you. Koushiro hasn't really been around, I'm sure he wishes you well. Hikari has been taking care of your mom so you don't have to worry about her. Takaru's been very strong... I've been keeping a good eye on him from you." Taichi leaned back in the chair and smiled at his sleeping friend. "Your going to be happy where your going." "T-Taic-" Yamato's eyes opened slowly "-chi." "Yama-chan!" "What... Are you... doing? "Talking to you." His brown eyes tiled giving his face a remorseful look. "How did God let an Angel like you slip from heaven?" Yamato tried to smile, tears in his verdant eyes. Taichi swallowed hard and trying not to cry himself, he wasn't sure what do say. "The same way he's going to take you from me, carelessly." Taichi rose and stood over Yamato. "Taichi-chan." Yamato took his arm. "Stay with me" Taichi couldn't help but smirk a little and pulled his shoes off. "You always know what to say Yama-chan." He crawled up and laid down in the bed (even though he knew he wasn't supposed to) next to Yamato and covered his body in a gentle embrace. Yamato felt to scared to say anything as he lay in Taichi's warm arms. "Gomen... Taichi-chan," he closed his eyes. "I'm just scared... I know this is very unlike me." "It's alright, I'm scared too." He squeezed Yamato. He looked so pale, his hair dull and limp, an IV tube running up his arm. He was so thin, so frail looking. "Everyone is." Taichi closed his eyes and tried to hide the tears that ran down his hot face. "Don't cry..." "I can't help it, I love you Yama-chan." "I love you to Taichi, more then I could ever say. Never forget me, promise?" "It's a promise Yama-chan." -Yamato held on so tight to me as if he knew it was coming soon. You never realize how good something is till it's gone and I already knew this was the best I'd ever had. He was all there was in my life and now he was leaving, fate is cruel.- It was later that night it happened. Taichi was asleep with Yamato in his arms, when the steady * beep beep beep * of the heart monitor dropped to nothing. Taichi was ripped from his gentle sleep and he hit the cold floor. "Wha-?!" Nurses and doctors rushed about. "I need you to please leave young man." A nurse asked Taichi nervously. "What's going on?" he began to shake, hearing the flat drone of the heart monitor. "I'm sorry." she dropped her gaze to the floor. "No..." He shook his head violently. "NO! Yama-chan!" His knees buckled and he hit the floor. "No... this can't be..." "Please." The nurse bit her lower lip. Taichi stumbled to his feet and out of the room. "Mom.." he groaned softly. "Taichi!" Miss Kamiya came over, her face covered with worry. "He's dead mom..." Taichi said softly. "We- we we're sleeping and-and-..." he choked on his words as his mother hugged him reassuringly. "Let me tell Takaru, ok?" "Alright Taichi..." She kissed his forehead. "I want you to know... I'm very proud of you." "Takaru." Taichi hoisted the boy up into his lap, his eyes red and filled with silvery tears. "I need to tell you something." "He's dead, huh?" Takaru lowered his head. "Yea. He died this morning while we where sleeping. I'm sorry Takaru." His face was all red now, tears laden in his eyes. But Takaru remained dry eyed. "Mommy said Yamato went to heaven and that he would be happy there cuze he could always watch over us. And she said no matter where I go, he'll always be with me." "Yea, Takaru, he's going to be very happy." Taichi saw the door from Yamato's room open and he shielded Takaru's eyes as they pushed the bed out of the room with Yamato's hallow shell out, a sheet coving his body. The digidesitned where hugging each other and Miss and Mr Ishida, all crying, and reassuring each other that it would be alright. Except Takaru. "Good bye Onii-chan, wait for me ok?" ** seven years later ** "Hikari, wait!" Takaru slung his back pack over his shoulder. "We can't be late, you know if we are Mrs. Knight will rip off your arm and beat you with it!" "I'm coming Hikari!" Takaru called back to his impatient friend who stood in the entryway. He looked in the mirror before he pulled his hat on. Takaru paused a moment. -Everyday I look more and more liked Yamato. I'm kinda glad, because I look in the mirror and I know that he's watching me from heaven. Taichi said the pain will eventually go away, but I will never stop missing or loving my brother. He was everything to me.- On a small tombstone a paper chin hung, made of soft pink laminated paper each scribbled with the last words for their deceased friends. Yama-chan, I will always love you. Wait for me ok? I'll be there soon. Taichi. Onii-chan, Thank you for everything you ever did... thank you for being my brother I hope I can be just like you. Takaru. Yamato, You where a huge part of our team, you where the glue. You will wait for us won't you? so we can be a team again right? Sora. Yamato, Good-bye, I'll take care of Gabumon for you, I promise. Mimi. Yamato, I'm sorry it took me so long to say, but I've always admired you. Please watch over all of us, thank you. Joe. Yamato, Send me e-mail, alright? Koushiro. Yamato, I will always love you, you will always be my son. Thank you for changing my life forever, thank you for always being strong and being a man, and most of all for being you. Your mother. Son, I love you. Dad ~**OWARI**~