Yamato Ishida.
Taichi frowned and returned his gaze to the street below. Yamato had told him not to go anywhere that day, because he was planning on coming over. Taichi's parents and little sister would be away at the mall all day, and Yamato had said it would be an opportune time for the two to talk.
What he wanted to talk about stumped the brown-haired boy.
In fact, in the short few years they had known each other, a number of strange things had happened between the two that had stumped Taichi. Like the way his heart beat faster whenever Yamato smiled at him, or the way the sunlight glittered just so on his honey-blonde hair. The way he loved it when Yamato was near and hated every second they were apart. Taichi was quite confused about his friend, but he was even more confused about himself. He had examined just how much he cared about Yamato, and was utterly shocked by what he had found. It was true though; Taichi did feel for his friend in a way that was a bit more than just friendly. And through his newfound feelings he began to notice a lot more of things about Yamato. Taichi had to admit he was attracted to the boy. Though they were nearing 17 and Taichi's body was beginning to fill out and look more like a man's, Yamato had remained as lithe as he always had been. The blonde boy's face had only gotten more narrow, his eyes more almond-shaped. Once at one of Yamato's concerts, Taichi had overhead a giddy fangirl name him as "bishonen". The name fit. Bishonen describes a beautiful and deadly male warrior whose looks are almost indrogenous. And while Yamato wasn't necessarily a warrior, he certainly was deadly. He had, after all, captured Taichi's heart. To him, Yamato was the most lovely creature on God's green Earth.
Of course, Yamato seemed to be as nearly as confused as him about a lot of things. There were times that Taichi caught Yamato staring at him from across the room. The other boy would promptly look away, but there was always a slight pink flush dotting his usually pale cheeks. There was also the way Yamato always found little ways of touching him, like brushing past him in the school halls, or patting his shoulder, or ruffling his hair. And Yamato always was smiling when they were together, even more than he did when he hung out with Takeru.
So Taichi had begun to wonder. Did Yamato feel the same way as him? While a secret part of him dared hope this and was estatic at the very thought, there was another part of Taichi which was terrified, terrified and ashamed of it, of Yamato feeling that way. Taichi was almost afraid to be alone with his friend anymore, though if he were afraid of Yamato or himself, he did not know. All he knew was that he wanted to see Yamato, talk or no talk. He missed Yamato almost painfully, even though he had just seen the other boy a few days earlier.
And that was why he was standing on his deck doing nothing, though the warm sunshine and the fresh air beckoned to him.
The pull of his heart, however confused, was stronger.
His doorbell buzzed, snapping Taichi from his half-daydream. For a brief instant panic and ecstacy and something else flitted through his mind at the same time, leaving him temprorarily dazed. Then bell buzzed again, and he stumbled to the door to open it.
Yamato stood in the doorway.
"H~i," Taichi squeaked, then he cleared his thoat and started again. "Hey, Matt."
Yamato's didn't show that he had seen Taichi's slip-up, but his azure eyes twinkled. "Hi, Tai," he responded. After a few minutes had passed, he coughed. "Uh, Tai?"
"Yeah?"
"Can I come in, or should I stand out here the entire time?"
Taichi realized he was blocking the door. BAKA!! "Oh sure, Matt, come on in." BAKA BAKA BAKA! Taichi laughed in embarrassment and stepped out of the way. As Yamato stepped into the apartment, Taichi noticed he was dressed differently. Gone were the baggy T-shirts and loose jeans the blonde boy had taken to wearing. Today he wore a nice pair of khakis and over that a sweater and a jacket, though the temperatures outside were in the seventies. Was it just Taichi imagination, or did Yamato seem a little...nervous? "You said there was something you wanted to talk to me about?"
Yamato blinked and look away. "Aa."
"Well, what is it?"
Yamato opened his mouth a few times, then glanced inside the apartment. "Maybe after a snack?"
Taichi didn't know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. "Oh sure!" He smiled and motioned Yamato to the table. "You must be starving after walking all the way here! And don't worry, Mom went to the store yesterday, so we have a lot to spare." He opened the refridgerator. "Now what do you want?"
Yamato waved his hands. "Oh it doesn't really matter; anything will do!" He grinned and shrugged.
Taichi pulled out two servings of instant ramen. He held them up for the other boy to inspect. When Yamato nodded his agreement, Taichi pulled off their lids and popped the food in the microwave. Then he took a seat across from his friend and waited.
Seconds lagged into minutes as they sat, neither speaking. Taichi looked at the blonde boy from the corner of his eye. Yamato seemed incredibly interested in his hands, which were crossed on the table in front of him. He risked a glance at Taichi, then snapped his gaze right back to his hands, cheeks pink. After a few more moments, Taichi decided he couldn't stand it anymore.
"I..." they both started at the same time. Taichi and Yamato both blinked and looked away, and this time Taichi blushed right along. Yamato cleared his throat and began again.
"Tai, there's something I've been meaning to tell you, but no time has ever seemed right."
Taichi's heart began to thunder in his chest like a caged animal.
Yamato fiddled with his hands a little more. "And well, Tai, I've decided to tell you now. Because the truth is...The truth is that I...that I--"
The microwave beeped, making both boys jump.
Yamato blinked, trying to regain his composure. Something within Taichi was screaming hysterically, both in fear and in excitement.
Taichi started to get up to take the food out, but Yamato reached across the table and grasped his arm to keep him in place. "Please, Tai," he said softly. "If I don't get this out now I may never have the courage to do it again." Taichi's heart went on strike at the contact and skipped a few beats. Yamato let go of his elbow almost immediately, but Taichi's skin still burned as though the other boy had laid a hot poker on it. Yamato clasped his hands together tightly. "Because the truth is that--"
"Oh the food will get cold, Matt!" Taichi interrupted suddenly. He hated himself for it, but he wasn't able to stop. "I'm sure whatever it is can hang on until we eat!"
"But Tai--"
"Oh come now, it can't be that important!"
"But Tai!"
"You're the one who wanted to eat anyway!"
"BUT TAI!!" Yamato reached forward and grabbed Taichi's hands, shocking the brown-haired boy from his nervous stalling. The blonde kid pulled Taichi towards him forcefully, across the table and placed both of Taichi's hands upon his chest. Taichi gasped when he felt something, no, two somethings, that definately didn't belong there.
Yamato had breasts.
"GAH!!!" screamed Taichi. He leapt away and snapped both hands over his nose. "You...you're a...a...!!"
Yamato looked down, her cheeks aflame. "Yeah, Tai. I'm a girl."
The next thing Taichi realized was that he was on the ground and Yamato was standing above him, fanning his face with a book. "Please tell me I'm dreaming, Matt, but it just sounded like you said you were a girl."
"I did."
Hello darkness.
When Taichi woke up again, he was laying on the couch with a cold cloth across his forehead. He looked around the apartment and spied Yamato by the window, gazing out with troubled azure eyes. He sat up slowly. Now that Yamato had removed the jacket, he could plainly see through the clingy fabric of the sweater the shape of the two somethings upon her chest that his hands had covered earlier. Now that he thought about it, Taichi realized that it hadn't seemed all that bad to touch them...Taichi quickly shook those thoughts from his head and brought and hand up to his nose to make sure it didn't start bleeding again. That would have been the last thing he needed, for Yamato to think he was a pervert. Of course, Yamato did have a really nice figure, and his...her long blonde hair tumbled so well over her shoulders.... "Matt?" he called softly.
Yamato stiffened. "Yes?" she answered, just as soft.
"What I'm wondering...is why?" Taichi was racking his brain t come up with a solution.
Yamato sighed. "Because Mom wanted a little boy." She crossed her arms, hiding her breasts from Taichi's view, much to his relief...and disappointment. "Mom wanted a little boy and I wanted Mom happy, so I tried to become one. Then TK was born, and she didn't have to put up with me anymore, so she left. I would have stopped it then, but the guise was so easy to fall into and TK looked up to me as a boy... I don't know, it just felt like...like as a girl no one wanted me, and as a boy I could be anyone's friend." She glanced at Taichi, eyes sad. "And now, judging from your reaction, I'm afraid I was right." Yamato looked at the floor.
Taichi shook his head slowly. "But Matt, that's just not true at all!" Yamato's gaze came up in surprise. "It's not true!" Taichi said again.
Yamato blinked. "Tai?"
Taichi stood and crossed the room to where Yamato stood. "Because, girl or no, you're still Matt, and you're still my friend!"
Yamato stared at him in disbelief a few moments, then blinked a few more times, eyes suspiciously damp. "Well good," she whispered gruffly. "Because I wasn't planning on letting you off that easily."
Taichi laughed and placed his hand behind his head. "Actually," he started without thinking, "I'm almost kind of relieved, because this means I'm not gay!"
"HUH?!"
Taichi slapped both his hands over his mouth. BAKA BAKA BAKA BAKA!! TAICHI NO BAKA!! He glanced up, to where Yamato was staring at him with her mouth agape and her eyes as wide as saucers. He waved his hands desperately. "I mean, what with you being a girl and all...I mean! That's not what I mean! I mean, that you know you're my friend, and I...well! You know!" He laughed a few times and couldn't stop, though the situation wasn't really all that funny.
Yamato opened her mouth and closed it again a few times, then swallowed. "Tai, do you have...feelings for me?"
Taichi felt like pounding his head into concrete. He blushed and observed his twiddling thumbs. "Well, you're my best friend, so of course I like you..." He shuffled his feet anxiously. "I mean, who wouldn't? You're funny and smart and....pretty..." His cheeks were on fire! "And of course I'm attracted to you--" But Taichi wasn't allowed to finish his sentence, as Yamato's arms were suddenly around his neck and her lips were suddenly pressed upon his own.
Yamato pulled away again almost immeadiatly, and Taichi's eyes were having a little trouble focusing. She put her face into the nape of his neck.
"Tai," Yamato whispered, her breath hot upon his neck. "I'm in love with you. I have been since the day we met. But I've been afraid. Afraid that you would never love me as a girl, but sure that you would never love me as a boy! I didn't know what to do! I was so confused about so many things..." She drifted off, face still pressed into his neck.
Taichi felt something break lose within him and fly through the roof. His heart thrummed so hard that it ached. "Matt.." he whispered. "You..." Taichi swallowed and gritted his teeth in determination. "Matt, I love you too. I was afraid too. And horribly confused about my feelings."
Yamato looked up, azure eyes meeting chocolate. "We're in the same boat, you and I," she stated.
Taichi laughed. "Looks like it."
Yamato smiled. "But I can't think of anyone else I'd rather sail with."
Taichi grinned. "Me either....Yama-chan."
Yamato laughed and moved to kiss him again.
~*~owari~*~