Stay Tuned As Life Continues

Yamato awoke with a start, as he heard his brother cry out. His eyes were still blurry with sleep but as he looked at his brother, his noticed that his eyes were closed in sleep, but tears were still finding their way through them. Takeru began tossing around in the bed while crying out. Yamato wrapped his arms around his brother and held him close to him. “Takeru wake up. It’s just a dream. Wake up Takeru.” Takeru’s eyes opened and the shouts stopped, but the tears kept coming. He wrapped his arms around his brother and pulled them together even closer. “It was just a dream Takeru. Just a bad dream.”

“It was so horrible Onii-chan.” Takeru sobbed.

“It was just a dream Takeru. You’re awake now, and I’m here. It’s all okay.”
Yamato assured his brother.

Takeru looked into his brother’s eyes, “It was so real though Yamato.”

Yamato wiped away his brother tears, “It’ll be okay Takeru.”

Takeru squeezed his brother tight. Yamato gently rocked his brother until he fell
back asleep. Once Takeru was asleep he soon found himself back asleep as well.
Yamato had just found his way back into a deep sleep with pleasant dreams when he heard it. Another scream.

Yamato woke up and saw and felt that his brother was squirming again. He quickly picked his brother up in his arms again and woke him up. Takeru was sobbing violently, worse than before. Yamato tried wiping away the tears that were streaming down his little brother’s face but it was no good as they kept coming.

Yamato knew that whatever his brother was dreaming was upsetting him. And the only way to help him was to figure out what he was dreaming about. “What did you dream about?”

Takeru squirmed as he remembered his dream, tears still streaming down his
face. “It was awful.”

“I know Takeru, but you have to be strong.” Yamato said.

Takeru cried for a bit before answering. “It was just a dream. I’ll be fine.”

“Otouto-chan, you’ve woken up twice screaming and crying. Whatever you’re dreaming is awful, and the only way I can help you is for you to tell me what you dreamed about.”

Takeru tried telling his brother about his dreams, but his sobs were too heavy to understand most of the words. But the three words Yamato distinguished told him all he needed to know. The words were, “Monster”, “Angel”, and “Died”.

Yamato didn’t know what to do as he sat in his bed holding his sobbing brother in the middle of the night. If Takeru really did dream what he thought he did, should he tell his brother the truth, that it was more than just a dream, that it actually happened? Or should he just try and assure him that it was only a dream and try and get him back to sleep? Yamato didn’t choose either one, instead he just focused all effort into making Takeru comfortable. This time when Takeru fell back asleep, Yamato didn’t lay him back onto the bed, instead he just wrapped the blankets around them and held him in his arms. A few hours later the sun began to rise. Although Yamato was comfortable holding his peacefully asleep brother, he felt the lack of sleep through out his body. Knowing he couldn’t fall asleep, he decided a cup of coffee would be the next best thing. As he started to shift from his position, his brother woke up.

Yamato looked down upon his brother’s face. All the tears had long since dried, but the eyes from which they left were still swollen and red. Takeru’s warm blue eyes, which typically were filled with love and compassion now held such great sorrow, that it pained Yamato to look into them.

Takeru on the other hand looked up at his older brother and saw the worn out expression on his face. He saw how the bags under his eyes pulled at his face. He also saw the concern that Yamato had for him.

Yamato gave his brother a little smile and said sleepily, “Good Morning.”

Takeru rubbed his eyes and tried to stretch in his brother’s arms. After he was done stretching he nestled back into his brother, “Good Morning.”

Yamato held onto his brother a little while longer, glad that he could still give him at least some comfort. “I was just going to get some coffee, go back to sleep.”

Takeru shook his head, “Stay with me please, Onii-chan?”

“Alright Otouto-chan.” Yamato answered back.

And so Yamato held the curled up Takeru in his arms, the blankets still wrapped around them. But not long after, Yamato felt himself starting to nod off again.
After shaking himself awake a couple of times, he had had enough. “I’m going to go get some coffee Takeru. I’ll be right back.” Yamato then let go of his brother.

Takeru sprang to life, “Yamato wait!”

“I’ll be right back, I just need some coffee.” And with that Yamato stood up and quickly walked out of the door.

While Yamato was making his cup of coffee he heard someone enter into the kitchen, he turned expecting to see his brother, instead he saw Taichi standing there in his pajamas rubbing his eyes. “Is everything alright? I thought I heard screams throughout the night?”

Yamato shook his head, “Takeru didn’t sleep well, he had a few night terrors. The good news though, is I think he’s getting his memories back, but the bad news is he got the worst possible one back first.”

Taichi’s eyes shot open, “You don’t mean, when he lost Angemon do you?”

Yamato nodded, “Out of all the memories he could have come back, he dreamed of that. You remember how bad his night terrors were after that happened when he was a kid. And now he’s having them all over again.”

“How is he doing now?” Asked a very concerned Taichi.

“He’s awake, but he didn’t get much sleep. The only time he had actual peaceful sleep was when I held him.” Yamato answered. “He’s also real clingy again, just like after he lost him.”

“You should get back to him then. I’ll bring you the coffee when it’s done.” Taichi offered.

Yamato nodded and left the kitchen to return to his brother. As he entered into the room he saw Takeru sitting upright clutching a pillow in a death grip. As
Yamato got closer he could hear Takeru’s quick breathing. Yamato quickly gave his brother a gentle shake, to hopefully snap him out of the beginning of a panic attack. Takeru just looked at his brother and said, “Don’t ever try to leave me again.”

As Yamato sat down and took Takeru back into his arms he said, “I’m sorry, but I was only gone a couple of minutes.”

“I don’t mean like that.” Takeru began to sob, “I’m just glad you’re here.”

Yamato just looked at his brother and smiled. “Of course I’m here.”

Takeru grabbed a hold of his brother, “I know.”

Yamato sat back down on the bed and curled up under the blanket, he pulled his brother close to him once again. As Takeru snuggled closer to his brother his crying softened but didn’t stop. The fact that it didn’t stop altogether didn’t get past Yamato. “What’s the matter Takeru?”

“Nothing.” Takeru answered.

“Takeru, I know something is bothering you. Is it your dreams?

“It’s nothing.”Takeru groaned.

“Is it Mom?”

“Nothing.”

“Well then is it school, Dad, Me, Us, What?” Yamato asked.

“I said it was nothing.” Takeru answered.

“Takeru, I can’t help you if you…”

“I SAID IT WAS NOTHING!” Takeru shouted as he pushed himself away from his brother. “You don’t want to talk about a few things, and we don’t. So I think it’s only fair that I can choose things not to talk about as well.”

Yamato didn’t answer, he knew that his brother had a valid point. It wasn’t fair that he could hide things, while he expected his brother to tell all. “I’m sorry Takeru. I just wanted to help, but you’re right. I won’t force you to tell me if you don’t want to. Now please go back to sleep, you didn’t get much rest last night.”

After a few brief protests, Takeru eventually curled back up in his brother’s arms and drifted back to sleep. It wasn’t much longer that Taichi brought coffee to Yamato, and joined him in watching the small blonde sleep, and protecting him the best they could.

Hours later after everyone was awake and after breakfast had been eaten, Takeru told his brother that he should return to their father’s.

“Alright, I’ll grab my stuff and take you over there.” Yamato said standing up.

Takeru shook his head, “I’ll be fine, just going to go there and start on homework. It’ll be nothing too exciting.”

“If you need help with anything call, then I’ll call Jyou or Koushiro and find the answer out for you.” Yamato joked.

Takeru didn’t laugh, “I should be fine.” After a few more words were exchanged,
Takeru left. Leaving Yamato with an uneasy feeling in his gut, his brother had been acting weird all morning, and he had a feeling it had to do with more than just the dreams he had had. There was another piece to the puzzle, but Yamato didn’t have a clue to what it was.

***

Hiroaki leapt out of bed and ran the short distance to his son’s bedroom. He flung open the door and saw hisyoungest son thrashing on the bed and screaming.
Yamato had called him and warned him about Takeru’s night terrors, but he didn’t realize how bad they really were. He sat on the bed and picked his son up into his large arms, and began trying to comfort him.

Takeru woke up slightly, as he felt his father pick him up. He felt as the pain inside of him only softened, not disappear like it had when Yamato had held him. After all these were different arms, but Takeru did take comfort through the fact that at least now the arms he found himself in, hadn’t tried to leave him like others had. And with that thought Takeru went back to sleep, to dream of angels and demons once more. And about how easy it was to lose someone who is very dear to you.

*****

“Your brother is really worried about you.” Hiroaki said to his youngest son pulling a piece of chicken from a take-out box.

“I know.” Takeru said, looking down at a mostly baron plate as he tried to push a pile of rice around it.

“Then why don’t you let him talk to you? He’s called me at least twice a day, everyday this week, to check up on you.” Hiroaki stated as he grabbed another box and pulled some fried vegetables out of it and quickly dispatched them.

“I haven’t wanted to talk to him is all.” Takeru answered, still pushing that pile of rice around his plate.

Hiroaki stopped eating, “Is everything alright between you two? Did something happen?”

Takeru just stared at the rice on his plate.

“Takeru did something happen?” asked the concerned father.

Takeru let out a large sigh, “Why did he do it Dad?”

Hiroaki leaned forward, “What did he do Takeru?”

Takeru’s eyes began to flood with tears. “Why did he have to try and kill himself?”

Hiroaki leaned back into his chair, overwhelmed the question. “That’s not a question for me to answer. You’d have to ask him yourself.”

“I know.” Takeru answered. “I will tomorrow. I’m going to bed now.” Takeru then stood up from the small table and left to his bedroom.

“Make sure you take your pill.” Hiroaki reminded his son.

“I’m taking it now.” Takeru hollered back.

A few hours later Hiroaki found himself once again holding his hysterical sleeping son. The medication the doctors had given him didn’t do much, if anything. So he did what he did every other night that week, he just held his son close and hoped that the terrors would soon pass.

******

Takeru stared at his cellphone, still not sure if he did the right thing. Perhaps he could call back and tell him to forget coming over. But the knock from the door suggested that he was too late. And the sound of the door opening only confirmed it. His brother was there to talk.

Takeru sat in the living room awkwardly while trying to gain the nerve to talk to his brother. Yamato on the other had to talk. He had to hear the sound of his brother’s voice; he had to know he was okay. That is when the topic of Takeru’s sleep came up.

Yamato looked at his brother, his eyes were bloodshot and had large bags underneath them. Takeru as a whole looked exhausted, like someone that hadn’t slept in days, which he really hadn’t. “Dad says you still haven’t been sleeping well. Are you still having that dream?” Yamato asked.
Takeru nodded slightly.

Yamato took a deep breath, “Listen Takeru we need to talk.”

“I know.” Takeru said softly. Silence filled the room for a few brief moments, until Takeru spoke again, “I’m sorry Yamato.”

Yamato raised an eyebrow slightly, “What is there to be sorry for?”

“Last week when I stayed the night at your apartment, I did something I shouldn’t have.” Takeru continued.

Yamato just sat there waiting for Takeru to continue.

“I’m sorry because I betrayed your trust. I shouldn’t have looked but I did, I needed to know. No, I had to know. So when you fell asleep I…” Takeru ended there, not wanting to continue, but he found his eyes were locked on Yamato’s arms.

Yamato waited a moment waiting for Takeru to continue, but finding that he wasn’t going to, began to give up hope of finding out what was bothering his brother.
That was when he noticed that his brother had been staring at a him, and not just any part of him, it was his arms. It was then that Yamato understood what his brother was talking about. “You looked at my arms.”
Takeru nodded slightly.

“Why did you do it Takeru? Why couldn’t you just leave it well enough alone?”
Yamato asked slightly aggressively.

“I’m sorry that I had to find out that way, but I knew it was going to be the only way I would be able to find it out. You were keeping it from me Yamato, I just left a place where everything was kept from me, I didn’t want that all over again.”

Yamato didn’t say anything back to his little brother. He was too busy thinking once again what people had told him before, that he was no better than his mother. Which only made Takeru’s comment hurt worse.

“What I’m not sorry about it that I found out. You’re my brother and you’re supposed to be even more than that to me, so then why wouldn’t you tell me something like that?” Takeru asked.

“I was protecting you.” The words seemed to come out naturally from Yamato’s mouth.

Takeru objected “Who says I need protecting? I sure as hell don’t. So there has to be another reason.”

Yamato temper flared up and he snapped, “It’s because I’m ashamed about it alright. I fucking hate the fact that I did it. I hate the fact that I still have the damn scars. I hate myself because of it all. I fucked things up like I always do. You happy now? Is that what you’re looking for?”

“I’m sorry.” Takeru groaned.

Takeru’s apology made Yamato realize just how bad his snap had been, and the words he had just said. “Don’t be Takeru. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have kept it from you and I’m sorry. I did it because I just couldn’t bear the thought of living in this world without you, especially when I was the one who caused it.”

“For the last time it was just an accident, no one is to blame for it. So stop blaming yourself Yamato, because no one else does.” Takeru responded.

Yamato and Takeru both sat there, unsure of what to say. It wasn’t until Takeru’s cellphone began ringing that the silence was broken. “Hi Dad…bad news?...uh huh…uh huh…why would they send in a blank tape?...I don’t know either Dad..So what time are you…we’ll try and leave some food for you, but no promises…No Yamato is over…I can ask him…Yes we did…no we didn’t…no we…Sure Dad whatever you say…I won’t Dad…Don’t you have a time slot to fill…Alright talk to you later…Love you too…Bye bye.”

Yamato raised an eyebrow at his brother.

“One of the shows went missing, so Dad has to work late again.” Takeru explained.

“Let me guess. He wants you to ask me, if I’ll make dinner.”

Takeru gave his brother a grin, “You’re good.”

After cooking a meal of beef steamed vegetables and rice, the two blonde brothers sat down and ate, making sure to leave enough for their father when he returned home from work. It wasn’t much longer that Yamato noticed his brother starting to nod off at the table.

“You need to get to bed Takeru. You’ve almost fallen asleep into your dinner three times already.” Yamato pointed out.

Takeru gave a large yawn, and then with drooping eyes said, “I’m fine Yamato.”

“Teeks, you are not fine. Now let’s get you to bed.” Yamato said, standing up from the table and walking over to his brother. Yamato helped his brother up and to the bedroom.

“Alright Takeru, there you go. I’m going to go now so you can get some sleep.”
Yamato said leaving his brother alone on the bed.

Takeru gave his a slight grin, “But Yamato. It’s awfully late, are you sure you should be trying to get back this late at night? Besides, Dad is working late, and I don't want to be here all alone.”

Yamato gave his brother a smile as well as a slight laugh. “You’re good, you know that?”

“Just like my Onii-chan.” Takeru responded.

“Fine go take a shower. I’ll wait here.” Yamato said.

Takeru made his way out of the bedroom and to the bathroom. A few minutes later he returned wet and clean and in a pair of boxers and t-shirt. “Your turn.”

Yamato didn’t leave right away of course. He was too mesmerized by the beauty in front of him. Takeru noticed the way his brother was staring at him so he laid down on the bed and stretched out. He looked at his brother and gave him a grin.

Yamato was still too entranced with his brother to move, and Takeru’s new actions weren’t helping. Takeru looked down at his shirt and began picking at things on his shirt that Yamato couldn’t see. Takeru then looks up, and gave a chuckle at the spaced out look his brother had. “How’s that shower going?”

Yamato didn’t answer, for he didn’t even hear what his brother had said.

“Earth to Yamato. Come in Yamato.” Takeru said snapping his fingers.

Yamato came to life, and began to blush at the realization that he had been caught staring. He left the bedroom and went to take a cold shower. However by the time he returned, he found his brother asleep on top of the covers. Yamato gently moved his brother so he could tuck him in. Yamato crawled into the bed beside his brother. It was once again a tight fit but they both fit in the small bed. Yamato kissed his brother on the forehead, “Goodnight Otouto-chan. I love you.” Yamato then wrapped his arms around his sleeping love and soon fell asleep too.

***

Hiroaki unlocked the door. He had spent close to 20 hours at his work and was now glad to be home. As he walked through the door. All he heard was silence, it but him on edge. There hadn’t been a quiet night in the apartment in a week. Takeru’s night terrors had put a stop to any and all quiet that once filled the apartment at night.

Hiroaki made his way to his sons’ bedroom. He cracked the door open slightly and saw the reason why Takeru was so quiet. He saw his sons, both asleep with their arms wrapped around each other. He opened the door farther so he could enter. He walked over to his sleeping sons and pulled the blankets up, kissed them both on the forehead and left the room.

***

Yamato opened the door to his apartment, and there in front of him stood a happy and healthy Takeru. Takeru gave his brother a large smile, before handing him a small duffle bag. Yamato happily took the bag and brought it to his room. His brother found his way to the kitchen and began making himself something to eat.
After dropping his brother’ s bag in the bedroom, Yamato went back and found his brother settled in the kitchen. “So how did your last test go?”

Takeru looked up at his brother, his mouth full of a sandwich. “Iph wiff fie.” Or as an empty mouth would say, “It went fine.”

Yamato understood what his brother said, after all he had been best friends with Yagami ‘Mouthful’ Taichi for years. “That’s good to hear. Got any big plans for the break?”

“I don’t know. Hang out here mostly. The flu is really taking its toll on the tv station, so Dad has to put more hours in, and Dad is already putting more hours in to keep all the Christmas programs flowing smoothly.” Takeru answered.

“Think the station will last a month once Dad retires?” Yamato asked.

Takeru shook his head, “Not a chance.” Both brothers laughed a bit before going on with possible things they could do during the Christmas/winter break.

After a while, Hikari and Taichi walked through the door sending a cold breeze whipping through the apartment. They talked as they took off their coats and shoes. “I can’t believe you went and forgot your paper.” Hikari said to her older brother.

“ Well it wasn’t the first time, in fact I do it so often, I just email a copy to myself. So don’t worry Hikari I still turned it in.” Taichi responded.

“If you had just put the paper in your bag like I told you last night, you wouldn’t have forgotten it.” Hikari said as she walked down the hall.

“Please Hikari, nobody takes their bag to a final. So even If I did put it in my bag, it still wouldn’t have made it to campus.” Taichi countered following his sister.

The rest of the conversation took place in Taichi’s room away from other ears.
Takeru and Yamato soon found themselves on the couch watching such memorable Christmas Classics as, Terrance the Christmas Pickle, The Fruitcake that Ate Christmas, Satan Santa’s Zombie Christmas Party and let’s not forget Dragon v. Ninja: The Christmas Special.

Late that night as Yamato was getting ready to crawl into bed next to his brother
Takeru stopped his brother. “Yamato, you know you don’t have to wear that long sleeve shirt to bed anymore.”

“It’s fine Takeru.” Yamato said as he continued into bed.

“No it’s not. I’ve seen how you pull at it in your sleep. You can’t sleep comfortably in it, so either take it off completely or wear a t-shirt.” Takeru said.

Yamato raised an eyebrow a bit, and gave him a slight grin, “You’re not just trying to get me undressed are you?”

Takeru began to blush slightly, “I hadn’t thought of it like that, I just want to see you comfortable.”

Yamato turned off the lamp and the room became dark. Takeru could barely make out the figure of his brother taking a shirt off. Once Yamato was settle into bed, Takeru leaned over to his brother and gave him a quick kiss. “Goodnight Onii-chan.”

“Goodnight Teeks.”

With their arms wrapped around each other, and their warm bodies pressed up against each other, not only out of the need to be close to one another, but also to combat the storm that was brewing outside.
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Author's Note: And that was Chapter 27 folks. I have a few ideas of how I would like to end this story. But we're not quite there yet. Still have a few other things that I would like to address. So don't fret, Life still continues.

This chapter reminds me of channel surfing. or better yet, watching a movie and just fast forwarding through all the boring parts to get to the good scenes. Or something like that. Don't really like that last little bit... This chapter would have been up first thing this morning but I had to reevaluate it. Still don't really like it but it's staying.

As always please Rate and Review. and once again a big THANK YOU to Kiba and Sykes. It is always such a great pleasure reading your reviews. Now to answer Kiba's question. I am working on the the Koushiro x Yutaka story. But it's taking a while because I have an ending in mind but it's hard to think how that will come about. wait....while typing this up some thoughts came that might just speed up the process of writing it. So if everything goes smoothly this week, I should have the first chapter up by this time next week.

Until next time, have a great life, may peace and fortune smile upon you, and may the forces of evil get lost on the way to your house.