Stay Tuned As Life Continues

As Yamato stepped out of the elevator, he made sure to have his key out ready to unlock the door. Once the door was unlocked Yamato ushered his brother in then quickly turned around and locked the door back up. Takeru looked at his brother suspiciously but said nothing.

As the brothers were busy taking off their shoes and jackets, a knock from the door. Yamato stopped, his jacket still hanging off of one arm. He looked at the door, as if he was trying to see through it. Another knock came
from the door but still Yamato didn’t move.

“Come on Yamato open up. It’s freezing out here.” Taichi’s voice called from the other side of the door. Yamato unlocked the door and quickly moved aside as Taichi burst through the door. “What the hell Yamato? Why’d you lock the door? Didn’t you see that we were right behind you?” Taichi shouted at his roommate as his little sister squeezed inside beside him.

“I’m sorry Taichi. I didn’t know you were back there.” Yamato said, he then turned away and tried to finish taking off his jacket in the crowded space.

Taichi knew something was wrong with Yamato, as Yamato didn’t just usually roll over like that. He also knew that Yamato just wouldn’t say what was bugging him unless he pried. So Taichi figured it was his job as the best friend to pry and find out what was wrong and then try to fix it. “Everything alright Yamato?”

“Just peachy.” Yamato answered.

Taichi then knew that something was in fact wrong. Yamato only used that term when there was something wrong, and he was trying to cover it up. “What’s wrong Yamato?”

Yamato shook his head, “Nothing’s wrong.”

“Bullshit, I know something is bugging you, so spill man.” Taichi pushed.

Yamato looked at his brother out of the corner of his eye, “I’ll tell you later.”

Hikari finished kicking her boots off, and figuring their older brothers needed to talk in private said, “Come on Takeru, I need your help moving some things in the living room.”

“I’ll be there in a second Hikari, I need to ask my brother something.” Takeru said.

Yamato turned to his brother, “Go help her Teeks, I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Yamato, you can tell me what’s wrong too you know.” Takeru said.

“Takeru…” Yamato started.

Takeru interjected before his brother could tell him no. “Don’t waste your breath Yamato. Why can’t you just tell me? Is it because you don’t trust me? Or is it because I’m not old enough, or is it because you don’t think I’m strong enough to take what ever it is?”

Yamato closed his eyes and took a breath, it was clear that the evening was no longer going as planned. He should have expected as much, as it always seemed his plans unraveled. Yamato knew that if he told his brother the truth it would only worry him, but he would be angry and upset if he didn’t. “If you really want to know, as Dad was leaving here earlier tonight he met Nancy at the door.”

Hikari gasped at the news, while Takeru just started at his brother in an empty expression of shock.

“What the hell did she what?” Taichi asked.

“She wants Takeru back. Dad thinks he scared her away for now, but he thinks she’ll be back eventually.” Yamato said.

Hikari put a hand on Takeru’s shoulder, “You ok?”

Takeru shook his head. “Why wouldn’t you tell me something like that Yamato? I have a right to know.” Takeru said angrily.

“Because I knew it would make you tense and upset, like you are now. Then you wouldn’t be able to relax and enjoy the party, or Christmas tomorrow.” Yamato said.

“Yamato, I’d rather know that she might be coming and be on edge, than to not know and have her sneak up on me.” Takeru said.

“That’s just it, Takeru. I thought that if I was the one on edge then you could relax and enjoy yourself.” Yamato answered back.

Takeru shrugged off his friend’s caring hand and stepped closer to his brother. “But you were going to tell Taichi! You weren’t afraid that he would get all defensive as well and not enjoy the party?” Takeru countered.

“That’s different.” Yamato stated.

“How so? Is it because he’s older than me? Manlier than me? WHAT?” Takeru shouted.

“It’s none of those.” Yamato answered.

Takeru shouted back, “Then what is it?”

Without realizing it, Yamato had raised his voice some, “Well not meaning to sound like a broken record but, I’m your older brother and I love you. And I care a whole hell of a lot about what happens to you, so I’ll try my damnedest to protect you from whatever the world has to throw at you, regardless of what may befall me.”

Takeru just stood there looking at his brother, not saying anything. The air was still tense as they all stood still in the hallway. Eventually Yamato had had enough of being stared at from the others. “You know about it now, so whatever. I’m going to go take a shower.”

As Yamato stood in the shower feeling the warm water spill over his body, his thoughts drifted to the small spat he had just had with his brother. He let out a groan at his own stupidity and hung his head. “Just had to find a way to fuck tonight up didn’t you?” Yamato asked himself quietly. Once he felt that he had spent enough time in the shower, Yamato got out.

After Yamato got changed and redid his hair he went out to the kitchen. He saw his brother sitting at the table, a cookie with a small nibble missing from it laid in front of him. Yamato sat down next to his brother. A couple moments went past as the brothers sat there, speaking to each other without saying a word. Eventually Yamato deemed it time to use words, “I’m sorry Takeru, I should…”

“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have gotten angry, I know you were just looking out for me and trying to save my Christmas. So why don’t we forget about all of it and enjoy the rest of tonight.” Takeru offered.

“I’d like that.” Yamato said standing up. He then tussled his brother’s hair, “Now finish your cookie, or else you don’t get your last gift.”

Takeru smiled at his brother and quickly finished his cookie.

It wasn’t much later that the guests started arriving. As Sora and Mimi entered the apartment they shoved their bags of gifts into Taichi’s hands and then started to oh and ah over all the decorations. “Oh look at that!” “Look at how it sparkles!” “Look at all the Santas!” “Is that mistletoe?”

Jyou arrived next, however his entrance wasn’t as graceful, as he wound up falling down with his gift’s at Taichi’s feet when the door was opened. “Sorry. I was using the door as a brace, so when you opened the door I
kind of fell.” Jyou explained picking up the gifts.

“I sure hope none of the gifts are fragile.” Taichi joked as he helped his friend pick up the presents.

“Some are, but I made sure to double wrap those in bubble wrap. I think they should still be fine.” Jyou said.

The next to arrive were Ken and Iori. Taichi couldn’t help but chuckle at Ken’s knitted reindeer sweater. Ken blushed as he entered. “Nice sweater Ken.” Taichi teased.

“Thanks, my grandma made it for me.” Ken mumbled, while blushing some more.

There came a shriek from down the hall, before Ken found Mimi grabbing at his sweater. “That sweater is so cute Ken. Where did you get it?”

Ken blushed some more as Mimi drug him to the living room to pry the information from him.

“You know, it’s still Christmas Eve Taichi. You can still get coal in your stocking.” Iori chided as he walked past the older digidestined.

Time went past and still Koushiro and Yutaka hadn’t shown up. While it was unlike them to be late, everyone was sure they would be showing up eventually. So the party started, the Christmas music was turned on and the food was free to consume.

While the friends sat around and snacked and joked with one another, there came a knock from the door. But with loud laughter coming from everyone after a joke from Taichi, it was impossible to hear. Soon they started to bang on the door. When that didn’t work Yamato’s cellphone chimed, but it too was drowned out by laughter. It wasn’t until a couple minutes later that it rang again as a voicemail, was the phone actually checked. Yamato’s face ran pale when he heard the message, he launched himself off of the couch and to the front door. He quickly unlocked the door and swung open the door, there he saw Koushiro and Yutaka locked in a passionate kiss. He watched as their lips moved over each other, and as their tongues struggled for dominance. After standing there a beat, Yamato cleared his throat.

Yutaka broke the kiss and looked at Yamato, “So you also get your kicks from being the voyeur?” he teased Yamato as he walked in.

“What is he talking about?” Koushiro asked Yamato walking in too.

Yamato just rolled his eyes, “He’s trying to be a smartass.”

As the three entered the living room, was when Mimi asked the question. “What took you two so long getting here?”

A large grin grew on Yutaka’s face, while Koushiro turned a deep red. “Well, after the concert we ran back to my apartment so I could change. Well in the middle of changing, it dawned on me that I didn’t have any clothes on. So then…”

“That’s enough Yutaka, any more and poor Jyou will faint and Mimi will die of blood loss from a nose bleed.” Sora said.

The party then resumed again, this time with all members in attendance. Stories of previous Christmases were shared amongst friends, providing joy from the tales of magical Christmases of old, such as Sora’s story of curling under a blanket with her mother and cups of hot chocolate while watching the snow fall gracefully from the sky. As well as some somber, but no less touching stories, such as Iori’s last Christmas with his father.

Once the stories were shared the music was turned up, and the coffee table was moved to make room for dancing. As ‘I’ll be Home for Christmas’ came on the stereo, Yutaka drug Koushiro over to join the already slow dancing Yamato and Takeru.

“Hey Jyou, care to dance?” Sora asked standing in front of him.

Jyou mentally cursed the timing as he had just taken a large bite of fruit cake. So instead of speaking with a full mouth he just nodded and took a quick swig of coffee and hoped that it would help the fruit cake go down. He then stood up and took Sora by the hand and joined the others on the dance floor.

Hikari walked over to the group of remaining boys who were hiding out in the kitchen surrounding the food. She looked over the boys, Taichi quickly grabbed up a sandwhich and Iori suddenly felt the urge to pour himself another punch. She then turned her focus to Ken. “I’d love to dance with you Hikari.” He said, he then took Hikari’s hand and led her back to the dance floor.

“I am not going to be the only one not dancing!” Mimi shouted as she left the living room marching towards the kitchen.

Taichi and Iori looked at each other. Taichi then looked down at his feet. “Oh look my shoes are untied.” He then crouched down to ‘tie his shoes.’

Mimi then marched over to Iori and practically picked him up to bring him back to dance with.

It wasn’t long though until Iori caught a break. After one of the more romantic songs were over she saw that Yamato and Takeru had made their way under the mistletoe. She watched as the two brothers lips touched softly at first before getting harder. Just when she thought her Christmas wish had come true, she caught something out of the corner of her eye. It seemed like the two blondes weren’t the only ones to have found themselves under the mistletoe. Yutaka and Koushrio were under its kissing powers as well. Mimi couldn’t believe her eyes. She would look at one couple then quickly turn her attention back to the other, then back again. Eventually she backed up a few steps so she could watch both couples kissing at once. While Mimi was drinking in the very hot scene in front of her, Iori realized that he was free from dancing, and then promptly left the room.

As the night wore on the dancing continued, strange dance moves shown, partners switched, and toes stepped on until everyone decided that it was time to open up gifts. They all then went and grabbed their various presents and exchanged them all. Once all the gifts were correctly delivered they sat around in a circle, small piles of presents piled up around them.

The sound of tearing paper filled the apartment followed by sounds of thankfulness and joy. Thank you’s were exchanged amongst everyone. But in the midst of all the happiness a gloom fell upon a handful when a knock from the door came. Yamato and Taichi exchanged warning looks, asking each other silently who would answer the door, but they were surprised when Takeru stood up.

“I’ll get it.” He said with a small smile on his face, trying to hide the other emotions he was feeling.

Yamato looked at his brother, the worry on his face however wasn’t even hidden in the slightest. “Are you sure?”
Takeru nodded, then worry on his face showed. Yamato saw his brother drop his smile, causing his own worry to increase. So he stood up to follow his little brother.

When Takeru saw that his brother was following him to the door, he felt the worry within himself subside a little. The brothers looked at each other, trying to find the strength to open the door. Yamato closed his eye and whispered a wish under his breath as he reached out and unlocked the doors and opened the door. There standing in front of them stood the woman that they were hoping wouldn’t bother them, there in front of them stood their mother.

“What do you want?” Yamato asked.

“I’m here to see my sons on Christmas Eve.” Nancy said.

“Well now that you’ve seen us you can leave.” Yamato said right back.

“That’s not a very nice thing to say Yamato. Now are you going to be polite and invite me in, after all it is Christmas.” Nancy asked.

Yamato thought about slamming the door closed and locking it back up, but before he could act on those thoughts his brother answered, “Just for a minute.”

Yamato stepped aside and let Nancy in. Nancy walked down the hall way a bit, noting all the decorations. “My my, isn’t this a nicely decorated place. So festive!”

Yamato didn’t say anything in response. He didn’t really feel like talking to her, even if it was just small talk. So he walked passed her and down the hall closer to the kitchen.

Nancy noted the silence from her oldest son, so she turned to her youngest. “Takeru, it’s Christmas. Why don’t you come home with Mommy, and we can celebrate it there.”

Takeru just looked at his mom, she didn’t sound upset. She sounded almost like she usually did, pleasant and happy. But something was different. “Mom I don’t know…” he said.

“Come on Takeru, It’s Christmas. A time for forgiveness and new starts. A time for families to be together.” Nancy interrupted stepping a little bit closer to her son.

Takeru nose tingled as the smell of his mother’s breath hit it. Her breath smelt heavy of butter but there was something else he wasn’t really sure about as the overwhelming smell of the butter hid it so well. “But our family isn’t together Mom. It broke up a long time ago, and it keeps breaking up. If you want the family
together, then Dad and Yamato are coming with me too.”

Nancy’s nose wrinkled at the thought, she then gave a slight laugh. “Please, I wouldn’t let either one of them into my apartment.”

Both Takeru’s and Yamato’s eyes grew as the words came out of their mother’s mouth, as neither one could believe they had heard her right. Surely she wasn’t crazy enough to have said that while in Yamato’s apartment standing a few feet away from him.

“What was that?” Takeru mumbled, still in disbelief.

Nancy looked right into Takeru’s eyes. “You heard me, and you know what I’m talking about. They’re both just using you to get back at me Takeru, like the monsters they are. They’re both cold hearted thieving people.Your brother’s so called feelings for you…”

“shut up.” Takeru muttered

“…are just made up. He’s just made you think that there is a connection between you two to split us up. He could really care less about what happens to you…”

“Shut Up.” Takeru said a little louder.

But Nancy kept talking, “…He doesn’t love you. Has he ever told you that he loves you? And have you said that you return his love? No, I’m sure you at least haven’t. Because deep down you know that whatever confused feelings you have for him aren’t really there, they’re just brainwashed ideas that were implanted into your head…”

“SHUT UP!” Takeru screamed.

“What did you say?” Nancy asked slightly taken aback, as well as trying to cover the anger in her voice.

“I said to shut up!” Takeru shouted again. “How dare you say that? You don’t know anything about Yamato and me. And how dare you call them monsters, you’re the only monster I know. I hate you!”

“You ungrateful little brat!” Nancy said. She then raised her hand and swung it. Her hand smacked Takeru’s cheek, and as it continued onward, her fingernails dug into Takeru’s skin tearing it as they left.

When Yamato had first start to move his plan was to force his mother out of the door, but as he got closer he saw something that changed his actions. He saw the one person he truly loved reach their hand up to their cheek. He saw them touch the warm red liquid that flowed from the wound. He then saw their expression as they saw the damaged caused by one that they had loved. So when Yamato saw this, instead of forcing his mother out, he slammed her against the wall and held her there.

“What is wrong with you?” Yamato screamed into his mother’s face. As she fought against him is when he smelt the buttery smell that came from her mouth, but he also identified the other smell that was hidden beneath it. It was the smell of alcohol. He had the answer to his question, he know knew why she was even crazier than normal so he continued.

“Don’t you ever touch Takeru again you hear me!” Yamato growled as he slammed her against the wall again. “YOU HEAR ME?” He was about to slam Nancy against the wall again when he felt a hand on his shoulder, and he was pulled off his opponent. He was about to attack the person who did so until he saw looked into the angry brown eyes of his best friend.

“Get out of here NOW” Taichi barked at Nancy.

Nancy pushed herself off the wall, and walked past her injured son as she walked to the door. Before she left though, she turned back around and looked right at Yamato. “I hope you have enjoyed your time with him Yamato.” She then left, slamming the front door behind her.

Yamato didn’t pay attention to the words his mother said, as he had already turned his focus to his brother. Takeru was still looking down at the blood on his hand. Yamato looked at his cheek and saw the blood trickling out of the cuts. He walked over to his brother and put a hand on his shoulder, “Your safe again Teeks. Now let’s go get you cleaned up.”

As he went to lead his brother to the bathroom, he saw all of their friends standing in the hallway or poking their heads out of the door ways. He just ignored them and guided his little brother away from everyone.
Once Yamato got his brother into the bathroom he sat his brother on the edge of the bathtub. He then grabbed a wash cloth, got it wet and applied to his brother’s cheek. His brother winced a bit, but didn’t say anything.
“It’ll be ok Otouto-chan.” Yamato said taking his brother’s hand in his.

A knock came from the door. “It’s Jyou. Is Takeru alright? Want me to come in?”

“Want Jyou to take a look at you?” Yamato asked his brother.

His brother just closed his eyes and gave a barely noticeable nod.

“Come on in Jyou.” Yamato said.

Jyou came in and squeezed next to Yamato. “Ok Yamato, go ahead and remove the cloth and I’ll take a quick peek.” Jyou gave Takeru a quick look over. “Well it doesn’t look too bad, just some painful scratchs. I’ll get him patched up and he’ll be fine.” Jyou said. He then turned to the medicine cabinet and opened it. “Ummmm…Yamato. Your medicine cabinet is kind of…empty.”

“What do you need? I still have some stuff in my room.”

“Some gauze will do nicely.” Jyou answered.

Yamato stood up, “I’ll be right back Teeks.” He said before he left the bathroom. He then came back with a handful of gauze patches and tape.

Jyou quickly bandaged Takeru’s face and stood back up. “That’ll do. He’ll probably only need to wear that for tonight. I’ll leave you two alone now.” Jyou said.

“Thanks Jyou.” Yamato said. As the oldest digidestined left the bathroom, Yamato joined his brother on the edge of the tub. He put his arm around his brother, “How are you doing.”

Takeru clenched his eyes shut and shook his head a little, as tears started to leak from his eyes. Yamato pulled his brother close to him. “It’s alright Takeru. She’s gone, she won’t hurt you again.” His words didn’t seem to help as the tears still came from his eyes, but even more than that he began to sob too.

Yamato then started to rub his brother’s back trying to comfort him, “I’m here Takeru. It’s ok.” However the tears still flowed from Takeru. And once again that night Yamato found himself thinking that he was a failure. Not only had he allowed harm to come to his brother, but now it seemed that there was no way he could comfort his brother as well. So he sat there holding his brother, wishing that there was more he could do.

It was about an hour later when the brother emerged from the bathroom. And even then did they just go straight to Yamato’s bedroom. Yamato pulled the sheets back on the bed as his brother slowly stripped down. When he was ready, Takeru crawled into bed and Yamato tucked him in. “I won’t be gone long. But I’ll be in living room or kitchen if you need me. Ok?”

Takeru nodded, his eyes still red and swollen from crying.

Yamato left the bedroom and walked to the living room. When he got there he saw that was empty, only a few presents were on the floor. And only three bodies filled the seats. “Where’d everybody go?”

“I hope you don’t mind Yamato, we sent them all home.” Taichi answered.

“We thought that you two wouldn’t really feel like partying afterwards.” Hikari explained.

“How’s Takeru?” Yutaka asked.

“He’s fine just a few slight cuts, but he’s still really shook up about it though.” Yamato answered.

“Anything I can do to help?” Hikari asked.

“I don’t think so. He’s in bed now. Maybe some sleep will do him good.” Yamato said.

There was brief moment of silence amongst everyone. Yamato glanced at his watch, “Hey Taichi, you better hurry if you don’t want to miss the bus.”

“Actually Yamato, Hikari and I decided that we would just stay the night here, and go home tomorrow sometime.” Taichi responded.

Yamato shook his head. “There’s no need to. Nancy’s gone now and I doubt she’ll be back anytime soon. Besides, Takeru wouldn’t want you two to miss out on Christmas morning at your parents, just to stay here.”

“Yamato, we all know that my parents would understand that…” Taichi said.

“Taichi, just go on home man. There’s no need…”

“It’s really no burden, we can stay…”

“There’s no need to when…”

Yutaka decided he would settle it. “Alright, I’ll stay over here then. Cause it’s not like I have place to go to tomorrow anyways.”

Taichi and Yamato looked at him. “Are you sure?” Taichi asked.

“Yes I’m sure. No go run along you crazy kids, before you miss your bus.” Yutaka said with a smile.

Taichi and Hikari reluctantly got up and gathered their things. As they were walking towards the door they stopped by again and gave Yamato hugs. “Merry Christmas. And if you need us for anything, don’t hesitate to call.” Taichi said.

“I’ll call if I need you.” Yamato said, “Merry Christmas, and tell your parents Merry Christmas from Takeru and I too will you.”

The Yagami siblings both nodded and walked out the door. Yamato and Yutaka sat in the living room in silence for a while. Yutaka then stood up and grabbed a bag and started putting things in it, “You owe me big, you know that?”

Yamato gave a quiet laugh, “I know. Thanks for doing that, I know they would have stayed here if you didn’t.”

“Well if you two need me I’ll be at my apartment. So if the She-Bitch comes back, you guys can always hide out over there.” Yutaka said.

Yamato walked over to Yutaka and gave his friend a large hug. “I don’t deserve a friend like you.”

“I know, that’s why I charge by the hour.” Yutaka joked, only getting a huff from his friend. “Merry Christmas Yamato.”

“Merry Christmas Yutaka.” Yamato answered back. He then watched as the last of his friends left the apartment.
Leaving Yamato alone in the living room with just his thoughts. He sat there a little bit longer, thinking about how the night had started wonderfully and had ended so sourly. He then stood up and turned all the lights off and made his way to his room.

He entered his bedroom and looked at the person lying in his bed. A smile crept onto Yamato face as he saw how peaceful the blond beauty before him looked. Yamato stripped down to his boxers and joined his brother in bed. He leaned over and kissed his brother’s forehead. “Goodnight Teeks, Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas Onii-chan.” Takeru said back.

Yamato jumped slightly, as he thought his brother was asleep. “How are you doing?”

Takeru rolled over so he was facing his brother fully. “Fine I suppose. Thanks to you.”

Yamato let out a huff. “More like no thanks to me, I shouldn’t have let her through the door.”

“It’s not your fault Yamato. I shouldn’t have talked with her, it’s my fault. I don’t know what would have happened if you weren’t there.” Takeru paused a moment, before starting to sob again.

Yamato put his arms around his brother and pulled him close to him “What’s wrong?”

“I hate it when she’s right, but she was. I haven’t told you that I love you. And there’s so many reasons why I should, but I haven’t. I mean you’ve done so much for me, and I haven’t done jack shit for you. You’ve helped me remember so much, you’ve given me a place to stay, and now you’ve given me a night I will always cherish. But yet,I still haven’t told you I love you.” Takeru sobbed some more.

Yamato held his brother close to him, “You don’t have too Takeru. I enjoy doing all that for you. Besides you’ll say it in time.” There was another pause, and Yamato yawned, finally feeling how late it was. “Now go to bed
Teeks. We’ll finish talking about it in the morning.”

The two brothers then settled back down in their bed. Yamato then leaned over and gave his lover a slight kiss. “Goodnight Otouto-chan I love you.”

Takeru then snuggled up to his brother, “I love you too, Onii-chan.”

“Takeru, don’t feel like you have to say that, just to make me happy.” Yamato said.

“But I do love you Yamato. Tonight has made me realize that. I’ve been trying to sort my feelings out for awhile, but all the while somehow I knew I loved you. But tonight everything was sorted out for me. I love you Ishida Yamato, my one and only, my Onii-chan.”

“I love you too Ishida Takeru, my everything, my Otouto-chan.” The two brothers fell asleep in each other’s arms, comfortable in each other’s loving embrace. Where earlier that night a dark evil force had tried to break the love of the two brothers, the strength of their love in one another on that Christmas Eve shone through. The strength of love of come through to bring the happiness back to one of the most magical times of the year. With peace and love restored back in their hearts, their heads dreamed of sugar plum fairies, jolly old fat men in red suits, and all the fun they could have the next day.

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Author's Note: There it is Chapter 30! YAY! Can you believe it? I sure can't.This story was only supposed to be what....10 chapters, if that. I'll attribute that to the wonderful people that leave me reviews. You folks keep me going. So THANK YOU so much to those people that review, like Eternalrest and Sykes. Oh and Kiba, definitely Kiba.:D A big Thank YOU to Kiba for the all support through the past few months.

Now to address the chapter itself. As you may have noticed, in the last chapter Yamato uses the surname Ishida for his brother instead of Takaishi. You also may have noticed that Takeru and his mother are the closest people anymore. So the change in surname is just to emphasize that point more. Just thought I'd toss that out there, to explain myself.

Well have fun, till we meet again next. As always please Rate and Review.