The morning light was weak, but the group was already awake, and headed toward the lake for their baths. It went by uneventfully, Mimi containing her salacious feelings for Sora, because Hikari was there. the boys and girls met up afterwards, and continued walking, although they didn't get far before they noticed something odd.

"Have any of you guys noticed that there's footprints in the ground", Jyou asked, looking down.

Taichi's shoulder's sank, "Great, we've probably been here already. What a waste..."

Koushiro squatted down and studied the prints in the ground for a moment, "Hmm, I don't think these are ours", he said, looking up to make sure everyone was following him, "You see, there only seems to be two sets. If it was us there would only be six. Well, twelve counting our Digimon."

"It's Yamato...and Takeru", Taichi said, looking out at the great expanse of land.

Sora could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks, 'Shimatta!', she said to herself, 'Please, oh please don't let us find him. I need this time to be with Taichi'.

"So they should be around here somewhere. Let's split up and look for them!", urged Jyou.

"Alright, good idea", Taichi said, brightening up since this change of events. "Uhm, Hikari and Jyou, you come with me. Sora and Mimi go with Koushiro".

Mimi's heart leapt at this chance. She hoped that maybe something would happen between her and Sora. Koushiro just liked the fact that he'd be paired with two pretty girls...

Taichi had an alterior motive in splitting up the group. of course he had to take his imouto with him, but he knew if they found Yamato and Takeru, Jyou could be expendable, and he could be sent out if Taichi needed to talk more personally with Yamato.

So the two smaller groups separated, and walked off to search for the missing boys. Neither group were sure if they would find them, or what they might encounter in the forest.

______________

Bandages wrapped around his chest and sparingly on his arms, Yamato held up the finished spear. If Gabumon couldn't always be there, he didn't want to be vulnerable. He felt bad enough after being attacked the night before. The tip of the spear sparkled in the high afternoon sun. It gave Yamato his sense of power, a surge of confidence, but it could've been static.

"What are you going to use that for?", a small voice behind him asked.

Yamato froze, then realized it was only Takeru, "Just...for protection...in case".

"Yamato you've been scaring me lately. What's wrong?", Takeru asked, eyeing the dangerous-looking spear.

The older boy hesitated, then realized he had been holding a lot back from Takeru. He used to tell him everything, but now...he was so distant. What had happened to him? How had he gotten so cold?

Yamato sighed, "Okay, there are a few things I should tell you".

They sat down in the cool grass, Takeru looking attentive. Yamato sighed. He was about to tell his little brother all of the deep secrets that have been bothering him for the past few weeks.

"Takeru...Taichi and I have had sort of a better relationship than being just, uh, friends. We, uhm, liked each other...a lot. And I think being away from him is what's making me feel odd. I...I miss him. But I still don't want to admit I'm wrong. Besides this...loneliness, there's worrying about us living on our own, and my own fight to protect myself. I...I feel like hell", Yamato said, the stinging of tears in his eyes.

Takeru put his small hand on his brother's bare shoulder, "Gomen nasai. Patamon and I must be causing all of your worrying".

"No...no, I didn't mean it like that. If anything, you two have been what's keeping me going. I have to watch out for you, you're my little brother", Yamato said, raising his eyes to meet Takeru's.

"Arigotou niisan", he said softly.

"Now come on. Let's find something to eat".

________________

"Do you really think we'll find them, Taichi?", Hikari asked, catching up with her brother and leaving Jyou lagging behind.

"I don't know. I'd like to, though", he answered.

"So, you like Yamato?", she asked rather abruptly.

"What?!?", he asked, turning to her. "I mean...what would give you that idea?"

"Taichi", she said, "Don't try to lie...I know".

He sighed, "You don't think I'm weird...do you?"

Hikari giggled, "Well you've always been weird. Don't worry though, I'm alright with this".

"Well that's a relief. But remember, its a secret. Please Hikari, don't tell anyone."

_______________

'I wonder if Taichi still thinks I like him..., Sora wondered to herself, then sighed, 'Cause I do'.

She caught Mimi's eye for a moment. She looked like she was staring at her. "Weird", she thought.

________________

It was late at night but Taichi forced Jyou and Hikari to keep searching. Their feet hurt and they were tired and hungry, but no one disobeys a leader. Taichi felt a burning in his chest, a feeling of soon being reconnected with the boy he loved. He could sense Yamato's aura nearby and everytime the wind blew by, it was like he could feel him. He shivered, although he wasn't cold. He just thought about how badly he wanted Yamato to hold him, to kiss him with his warm lips...he would've done anything for it, anything.

Taichi was starting to feel a little faint, the scenery laid before him was starting to blur. He saw about sixteen moons and the stars were feathering around the edges so much that soon the entire sky was a silvery white. He fell down in a daze, his small body hitting the ground with a soft thud.

When Taichi opened his eyes again he saw a deep haze of cerulean. He heard a pulsing sound radiating through his ears. He didn't know where he was, and normally would've panicked, but a strange calm overwhelmed him. Through the navy plasma he saw the outline of Yamato's body, tall and thin. He only caught it for a moment, until he plasma turned into a deep cerulean liquid. He hung in the midst of it; the liquid was numbening his body. He kept remembering Yamato's face in the thick haze, a sad, angry face, that showed his inward scars and the pain that was ravaging his body. He could hear him crying out from somewhere, but he couldn't move...couldn't do anything.

__________________

Yamato froze midstep, as he felt a pang of something painful in his heart.

"Yamato! What's the matter?", Takeru asked, becoming afraid.

The older brother rubbed his chest, breathing heavily, "N-nothing. I'm ...alright. I just...just...nevermind", he asked softly.

"Niisan, I know that it isn't your body that hurts", Takeru said in a voice well beyond his years.

A wind shook the treehouse, and it sounded like a thousand tiny voices, all clamoring for their chance to speak, and to be heard. Wayward leaves blew through the savannah, not knowing where to go, where they would be taken. The sky sparkled, an array of tiny lights, dancing their own little dances through the richly dark night.

Email the author: JamiE

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