Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Digimon or any of its characters featured in this fan fiction. This is a non-profitable piece of writing meant for entertainment purposes only.

Here I am yet again with another Digimon fic. I've come to the conclusion that I have way too much time on my hands, even with my final year of school, but you guys reap the benefits of my boredom with another Taichi/Yamato fic. This one is more of a Yamachi than a Taito, but hey, they're both good.

Obviously then, this fic is yaoi. If you don't like that, then leave. If you don't know what it means ... I'm not sure if you should be here then, unless you're willing to give this a try. No flames for my pairing please.

The rating's mostly there because of sexual situations and language. So just beware a bit, thou it's not that bad.

So here it is, a yummy piece of yaoiness for all of you. Enjoy.

Nightingale Nocturne

Everything started as normal days tend to start. The sun rose and woke the birds who started chirping loudly in a the highest branches of a tall, lush and very green tree beside a third floor apartment window thus waking the peacefully sleeping occupant, who merely growled in irritation and turned over in his warm and comfortable bed.

Who needs a noisy ringing alarm clock when you had a chorus of squawking swallows bringing you back to the land of the living every morning?

Swallows are supposed to have beautiful voices, or so some people say. Personally, I prefer the nightingale. Tales and legends have told of its beautiful voice, I'd love to be woken by nightingales, hell I'd like to be woken by crows, anything but those same forsaken swallows! When you have to listen to them every morning after the sun has barely crested the horizon, it tends to sour your disposition somewhat.

Can you tell that's what happened to me?

I used to be a cheerful bright young person until these evil devil birds woke me up as they had done yesterday and the day before and for as long as I can remember living here. But I was feeling especially content this morning right up until I was rudely interrupted from my unconscious state by those ... I'd best not go on too long else I'll never stop cursing them.

Of course you'd be in the same position as me if you'd been dreaming what I was dreaming ...

I was locked in a room with the very (and when I say very, I mean tongue lolling, panting wildly, very fine, sizzling hot … you get the picture) desirable object of my affections and the regular star of my more ... interesting ... dreams and fantasies (and how very 'interesting' they were. There's that word again: 'very', get the picture yet?). No one knew we were there of course, so were could not be interrupted, and then it started to get rather warm. That's when it got interesting. He started stripping, sweat trailing down over those firm tanned pecs as he slowly, tauntingly, removed his shirt, his lust-filled chocolate eyes never leaving mine. He was smiling so mischievously as he slowly undid my shirt then trailed his hands down my sides, sending shivers through me, right up until he reached the waistband of my jeans. He licked his lips so seductively and reached out one hand towards my belt buckle ...

"Yamato!"

Damn it! "What?"

"You're going to be late." I glanced over at my clock and jumped up in shock. With all my fantasising I didn't realise how much time had passed.

"Damn," I muttered repeatedly as I hurriedly pulled on a pair of tight black jeans and soft black leather boots. I grabbed my bag and a short sleeved shirt and rush out to the kitchen. I dumped my bag on the kitchen counter, grabbed some toast and shoved it into my mouth so my hands are free to work on my hair as I rushed into the bathroom.

Hmm, it doesn't look too bad this morning. I suppose that's the good thing about having slightly longer hair, untidiness is a bit less detectable.

I quickly brushed it and ran some gel through it and styled it a bit, finishing my toast at the same time. Am I skilled or what? I brushed my teeth then put my shirt on as I ran out of the bathroom and grabbed my bag from the kitchen along with my keys from by the door, checking my pocket to make sure I've got my wallet as well.

"Later dad," I called out.

"Have a good day," he replied over his coffee and morning paper. "Remember I won't be here tonight or tomorrow night, I'm going on that business trip. You'll have to get your own dinner."

"I've got it covered dad. Have a good time."

"Will do. Bye Yamato."

I dashed quickly out of my apartment building and ran all the way to the nearby park, looking eagerly around for someone. I caught sight of my intended target and smiled evilly.

I've been told quite a few times before that my friends never want me to smile like that at them. It's rather frightening and very disturbing I've been informed.

Which is exactly why I do it.

I crept slowly towards the unsuspecting figure and waited until he'd completely turned away from me before I pounced onto his back, squealing, "Taichi!"

"Ack!" Once again I managed to take him completely by surprise and glomped him. "Yamato! Get off me!" He tried his hardest to squirm his way out from under me, but I was attached rather tightly to him. I've had a lot of practice. I felt his sigh and his shoulders slump slightly in defeat under me. "All right Matt, I'll say it."

I grinned. "Goody."

Taichi cleared his throat then recited dully, "Yamato Ishida, the oh-so-perfect man of ice and all that is cool, is a god sent down to walk among us mortals."

"Thank you." I gave Taichi a quick peck on the cheek and hopped off his back and grinned at him. "I liked that one, how long did it take you to come up with it?"

Taichi ignored my cheerful demeanour. "You do you realise you're a sadistic brute."

"I know, I just like to see you squirm." Although I really wish you'd be squirming a lot more often under me. I didn't say this aloud and instead opt to study Taichi's appearance with a grin. "I assume that Hikari helped you chose your outfit today."

Taichi sighed as he looks down at the high necked navy muscle shirt that clung to every curve and crevice on his finely muscled torso and the slightly lighter blue jeans that appeared only a little looser than his usual baggy cargoes. "You can tell?"

"Taichi," I informed him with an exasperated sigh and a roll of my eyes, "you've never put that much thought and effort into any outfit you've ever worn. Obviously Hikari chose it."

Taichi smirked at me and I wonder at his sudden change in thought. "Well, at least I don't leave my chest completely bare." He nodded his head towards me. I looked at him in confusion as his gaze flickered to my chest and I looked down and blushed slightly, doing up my shirt.

"I was in a hurry."

"And yet you still manage to emerge looking drop-dead gorgeous." Taichi grinned. "One of your many unsung talents."

"Oh, a pun." I smirked. "Clever."

"Huh?" Taichi looked confused. Maybe I'm giving him too much credit for some things. I wonder if that mass of fine chocolate hair has somehow affected his brain in a crucial way.

"Never mind. Let's just get to school."

Our school has had this tradition from a few years ago of letting students wear 'normal' clothes for the last week of the school year. It started out as the last day of term, but got extended for the entire week after a few years. Personally, I think it's a gimmick to get kids to actually show up for the last week and it usually works. Then again, I don't really care about why the tradition is in place, I'm just glad it's still there.

Looking over at the divine figure beside me, I reminded myself to worship the wonderful genius that invented muscle shirts, because Taichi looks so goddamn hot!

"Hey Matt?"

"Huh?"

"You zoned out there. Something up?"

I shook my head and smiled reassuringly. "Nothing. I'm just glad that school's almost over."

Taichi nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Finally." He grinned as we approached the hell known as school and once again I thank whoever there is up above that this is the last week and pray that I can at least get through these last two days.

I hesitated slightly before we approach the school. Taichi looked at me in confusion then sighed and looked away. I know he hates this, but I can't help it.

"Matt ..."

"No."

"Please. Just once."

"Tai, I can't."

He sighed and looked away again. "You know Yamato, you're going to have to get over this one day."

"Well seeing as I'm not going to have to get over it soon, I'll keep doing it."

"Matt, I am seriously getting sick of this happening every day."

"Tough, you don't have to hang with me."

"Fine." Damn, I've pissed him off. I looked at him slightly guiltily as he glared. "If you won't act normal around these people, then I wont."

I stared at him in shock. He's never done this before but as he walked away from me I can see that I've finally pissed him off too much with my behaviour. I stared after him then glared. Fine, see if I care.

Oh man, that sounded so second grade.

I suppose it's hard for him dealing with me sometimes and I'm sure I don't make it any easier on him, but I just don't know how to stop. Seriously, doesn't he think that I hate being like this too? Who would want these serious insecurities plaguing them every day?

See, I have this weird image problem, I hate people thinking certain things about me. Thus I avoid public humiliation and I try to avoid public mention at all, though this is becoming more difficult as my band is becoming more popular.

I'm known as the cool, anti-social 'don't mess with me or you will regret it' kind of guy. Not in an extremely terrible sense, I don't go round bullying kids or anything like that. In fact, I try to stop that as much as I can. My younger brother used to get picked on back when we used to live together, so I really don't like bullies. No, I'm popular, but in the way that people wish they were popular.

What I wouldn't give to escape into obscurity though. You have no idea how socially conscious you have to be to retain that image. See, if I had these problems and I was simply anti-social, I wouldn't care as much. But people like me, or my image anyway, now I have to keep it up because I don't know any other way of doing things.

Taichi hates it. He doesn't see why I care so much about what people think of me. He just doesn't understand, he's a jock, no one cares if he acts stupid and does certain things. But if I acted stupid and got attention through joking around, things would be a bit different.

That's about the only thing he doesn't understand about me though. Even so, he usually accepts that as one of my quirks.

One of my many quirks.

I love him so much, in so many ways. He's my best friend, my lifeline, my link to reality (not to mention the object of my sexual fantasies, but right now, that's beside the point). He does so much for me, puts up with so much. I guess he deserves a break from me every once in a while.

I don't think there's anyone who cares for me more, or who I care for more than him. With the possible exception of my family and Gabumon. But I think of Taichi as family anyway.

Speaking of Gabumon ...

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my personal mini computer, or, as Koushiro fondly dubbed them, 'D-terminals' (is it just me or does that guy need a few more hobbies?). Just as I thought, he'd sent me a reply. I grinned as I opened the message. It's a video message.

See, the cool thing we discovered about those weird TV's in the digital world was that they could be used much like computers in many ways. All one of our digimon had to do to contact us was go to one and stand in front of it and a message was sent almost immediately to us.

Getting a message to them was slightly harder. They had to check in with Gennai every few days to see if we'd mailed them. But the cool thing was, if we were at our home computers at a time when they tried to send a message we could instigate a live visual chat.

I hadn't actually heard from Gabumon for a while so I'd gotten a bit worried. His message reassured me though. He was actually out helping Augumon with something in his area and had been away for a while, hence the reason for not seeing me in a while.

Hearing the bell ring, I closed the D-terminal after Gabumon's message finished and quickly grabbed my books from my locker then walked to my first class for the day, knowing that it would be a long one.

* * *

I sat with my usual crowd at lunch today.

I could see Taichi over on the other side of the cafeteria. I had so pissed him off. He looked furious and he had been snapping at everyone that came near him. Very unusual behaviour for one of the most popular people at school. Everyone was starting to wonder if he had snapped or something.

Of course I hadn't been much better, but then, people expect me to be pissy sometimes. But I think I was worrying everyone when I started to play incessantly with my food, creating a swirl of mess on my lunch tray.

"Urgh, Yamato, please, either eat that or throw it out, you're going to make me puke." Urinto, a guitarist in my band, was starting to turn a bit green at the edges.

"Sorry," I muttered and move the tray away.

"Is something up?" Ji, our rhythm guitarist, asked me.

"No."

"You sure? You're even weirder than usual."

I sighed and look around. "Do you think I'm too image conscious?" They looked surprised at my question.

"Uh ... don't we have to be?" Seiyo, our drummer, asked.

I shook my head. "Just forget it guys. I'm in a weird mood today." I got up and dumped the contents of my tray in the nearest bin, then started walking towards the exit of the cafeteria. I knew they were sharing glances between themselves and I wonder whether it will be Urinto or Kiromi who comes after me to find out what mine and Taichi's fight was about this time.

I heard booted footsteps hurry to catch up to me as I leave the crowded mess hall.

Looks like it's Kiromi. I think Uri's getting a little annoyed with my moods. He's probably my closest friend in the band, but he gets annoyed with me rather easily, and I him at times. I don't think that Ji or Seiyo would have any idea how to deal with my moods properly. Ji gave it a try one time and the result was us almost getting arrested.

That is a long story for another time.

Sei's good at lightening the mood of any situation ... except when I'm pissed off. He's tried almost everything he knows and it doesn't work. I think last time he was ready to kill me almost. Which is saying a lot. Seiyo rarely gets annoyed with anything, much less a person. That fun-loving attitude of his isn't put on and it takes quite a lot to piss him off. Sort of like Taichi. They get along better than the others in my band, being so similar in nature and temperament.

Kiromi's the only one who really tries any more, and I must admit, he's a bit more successful than the others. I think because he actually listens to me. Uri just hands out advice once I give him a brief overview of the situation. However, it doesn't always work.

I'm kind of glad that it's Kir following me, so I turned slightly and wait for the lanky raven-haired bassist to catch up. He looked at me cautiously as he does so and I shrugged.

"So you got duty."

"Guess so," he smiled.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

"So what do you want to know?"

"Do you want to sit down first?"

I shrugged and headed outside. I always think better outside for some reason. We headed over to the fields and sat under a nearby tree overlooking the soccer field. "So shoot," I told him. "What do you want to know?"

"What happened?"

"Tai and I had a fight obviously."

Kiromi nodded. "About what?"

"He thinks I'm too image conscious. Only this time instead of sighing at me and shrugging it off as one of my many quirks, Taichi got peeved and walked off. I haven't talked to him the whole day." I slammed my fist frustratedly down on the ground. "What really gets me is I know he's right. I am too image conscious, but I can't change that easily. Besides, there's two days of school left, less now seeing as it's lunch. Why should I bother trying now anyway?"

Kiromi nodded, his straight black hair moving with his head and falling in his eyes. "Well, I think that Taichi's right also." I looked up at him sharply, not expecting this from him. Usually Kir just lets me talk it out and reach my own conclusions. He smiled at me, his dark brown eyes glinting slightly. "But sometimes being image conscious isn't that bad. Though in your case, it can get a bit much. Seriously Yamato, you could go one day without styling your hair, or wearing more colour."

I blushed slightly. "It's just a me thing to do Kir. I can't help it.'

"You can, you just don't want to. Why don't you try letting loose a bit sometimes these holidays?"

"See that's the thing, when I'm around Taichi I'm so different. I think that's what bugs him most, that I act so natural around him alone, but not around anyone else, not even you guys or my friends. I still manage to put on a mask of some kind, even without meaning to."

"So you do push us away a bit." Kiromi looked away, I think he was slightly hurt by the revelation.

"Kir ... I'm sorry, but Taichi's the only one who I really seem to act normal around. Even my brother isn't around enough for me to act so loosely around."

Kiromi nodded and we sat in silence for a short while as we both thought things through.

"I remember what you told me about your family and I think I understand a bit why you act the way you do." I looked at him curiously. "I think you're afraid of people leaving you. You only really seem to trust in the fact that Taichi will be around all the time. He's the only one who's proven to you that he will stay with you through thick and thin and you only let your guard down around him."

I take a deep breath then exhale sharply, my shoulders slumping slightly as I thought about this.

It made sense, it would explain why I act the way I do at times. I am afraid that people will leave me, I guess it's left over insecurity from my family's divorce. Even around Takeru, I keep my guard up a bit, afraid that he'll be taken away again. But Taichi ... I know he'll stay with me, no matter what. Even if he's on the other side of the world, I know he'll come back to me, he'll keep in touch, make sure I'm all right. Seriously, he's done that.

Once, he went to go visit Mimi for a month in America. I freaked out, but never told him how I felt. But at the airport, I clung to him and wouldn't let go. He offered to stay if it would make me feel better. By then I'd realised what an idiot I'd been and let him go, telling him he'd better get on the plane or I'd kick his ass. Every night he contacted me, either by phone, or by email. He sent three letters to me. I knew then that he was something more than a best friend to me, he was too close and caring to be just a friend.

I think that's when I started to fall in love with him.

"You really like him, don't you?" Kiromi asked once my silence had gotten too much for him. I looked over at him in shock. "Taichi, I mean. You two act closer than family at times."

I blushed slightly. "Does it bother you that I do?"

He grinned and shook his head. "No way. Don't you remember any of our parties Matt? Obviously none of us have a problem with having serious relationships with other boys."

I laughed at that. It was true. People, especially drunk teenagers, are very strange creatures. My band members and myself have probably made out more with each other and our other friends than with girls. "True, it would be rather hypocritical." I sighed again as I heard the bell ring for class. "Kir, can you just keep this between us? I'd like to tell Taichi in my own time."

"Sure. Just, at least promise me you'll make things up with him before school ends?"

I nodded. "I was planning to once I had time to think things through." I smiled at him. "Thanks Kir, you're a great friend."

He grinned and shrugged it off with a wave. "Oh, I bet you say that to all the guys with pretty faces."

I laughed at him. "You bet I do, you gorgeous thing." We got up, still grinning and moved off to our next classes.

* * *

Luckily, I had my next two classes with Taichi.

Even luckier, I was sitting right next to him in both.

Unfortunately, he still wasn't talking to me and was refusing all of my attempts to talk to him, ignoring me to the point of ridiculousness. It was obvious even to the teacher by now that we were fighting and Taichi was ignoring me. Luckily, again, considering it was the second last day of school and now last period, the teacher didn't care and just let every one else talk between themselves and do whatever they wanted.

Exhaling frustratedly, I shrugged and gave up. "Fine, if you don't want to accept my apology, then don't."

"Hmm? Apology?" Taichi snapped out of his 'daze' of ignoring me. "Well in that case I might listen to you."

I glared at Taichi. "Oh, so now you talk to me."

"If you're apologising. Truthfully I would have liked a 'Taichi, you were right and I was wrong', but I'll be satisfied with you groveling on your hands and knees begging for my forgiveness."

"Well I was going to say that, but now that I know you want it I'm not going to."

"What?" Taichi pouted. "You're such a meanie Yama."

"I know, but you love me for it."

"Got that right."

"Tai!" I blushed slightly. "Fine, if you don't want your apology ..."

"No, no, you go ahead. I'm wanting to hear this."

I cleared my throat dramatically. "I'm sorry."

"And ..." he prompted.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "You were right and I was wrong and I am eternally grateful that you have pointed my errors out to me. Satisfied?"

"The delivery could have been better, but it will do for such a piddly little thing."

"Piddly little thing? You were refusing to talk to me for most of the day!"

"You deserved it."

"You should be used to me and my moods by now."

"Yeah, like I'll ever get used to these mood swings of yours. You're so unpredictable Yamato."

"That, among many other things, makes me unique."

"Unique my ass. You're a fucking psychopath."

"What? Name one incident when I acted in a manner reminiscent of a psychopath."

Taichi looked at me in amazement. "How about that time you tried to kill me and all your friends a few years ago?"

"I was possessed by an evil cherry tree. And besides, I only tried to kill you, no one else."

"Same thing and you were not possessed."

"Fine, I was manipulated by an evil cherry tree."

Taichi thought that over and nodded. "I'll concede that, though from what I hear, you didn't take much manipulation before you acted."

I grinned. "Maybe I was just finally sick of you bossing me around and decided to act, given enough incentive."

"You were the only one with a problem, no one else complained."

"I was the only one who dared to stand up to your tyrannical ways! The others were too scared."

"Do you seriously think Hikari would have taken any shit from me if it wasn't sensible and for the good of the group? You know my sister, she would have put me in my place if I was out of line."

I thought this over with a glare, knowing he was probably right. "Shut up, you're just trying to make excuses for your bossiness and stubbourn nature."

"You're calling me stubbourn? That's rich, coming from you Ishida Yamato. You're the very definition of stubbourn and mule-headed."

"What? Don't call me that."

"I call I as I see it." Taichi smirked and I glared at him, too annoyed to come up with something to retort back. He smiled in satisfaction and leaned back in his chair. "Yama, you know, you've acted more natural in public just then than you ever have in all the years I've known you."

My eyes widen and I looked around, not believing that I could have forgotten about the class. They were staring at the two of us in astonishment and amusement. I blushed and ducked down in my seat.

"Tai, how could you?"

He grinned. "This was much better than an apology."

"I'll bet it was," I muttered darkly.

"Seriously Yama, you'll thank me one day."

"Sure, when I'm publicly humiliated and laughed right out of school, or some other very exposed public place."

He sighed. "Yama, not everyone cares what you're doing at every moment of the day. You're more than image conscious at times, you're completely paranoid too."

"I like being the way I am."

Taichi shrugged. "I suppose it is a life. Just because it's not mine doesn't mean I should criticise."

"Exactly."

"I said 'should', not 'can'. Just because I should doesn't mean I won't."

I groaned. "Can we do this another time? I just apologised and you're already thinking of new ways to improve me."

"Sorry. Maybe tomorrow." He grinned evilly and I glared at him.

"You're not my best friend, you're an evil fiend from hell come to torture me."

"Yes, yes I am."

I couldn't help laughing at him as he said this with a completely straight face. If nothing else, Taichi's able to get me to laugh like no one else can. It's another trait I love about him.

What am I talking about, I love all the traits about him.

"Hey Tai?"

"Mmhmm?"

"I really am sorry," I said quietly, not looking up at him. "I hate fighting with you and I know you're right. I am going to try to get over my insecurities, but it will take time Tai."

I think he was taken aback by this admission from me. "Yama ... I was just a bit annoyed this morning. You don't have to change just because of something I said."

"Look, if it was anyone else, I'd agree with you, but your opinion means a lot to me Taichi, and your friendship even more. I'd hate to loose you over something so stupid. Besides, I've been meaning to do some self-improvement for a while. You just gave me an excuse."

Taichi grinned. "Only if you want to Yama."

"I do. I want to be less insecure. However, don't expect me to change completely over night."

Taichi nodded. "You know, it means a lot that you'd listen seriously to something I say, even in anger."

"I listen to everything you say Taichi, even some things you're not even aware I hear. Isn't that what best friends are for?" I smile and he grins back.

"Yeah."

The bell rang then, signaling the end of the second last day of the school year and Taichi and I got up, friends again, and walked out of class, talking of inconsequential things that would only interest and amuse us, being such close best friends.

I saw Kiromi in the hall and I grinned as I passed him, sending him a thumbs up and he smiled and shook his head. I knew he was happy for me and I was thankful for his help. It was a good kick in the butt that I needed dearly.

Aren't friends great?

* * *

I was laying on my bed, staring up at the poster riddled mess that was my ceiling, the flickering dull light from the candles I'd lit around my room the only source of light for me in the dark night. Unsurprisingly I was thinking of Taichi and our relationship, or lack thereof, depending on what sort of relationship you think of.

There was one day left of school, then it was altogether possible that we wouldn't see each other for a while. Taichi had told me his parents were considering taking their family away for a trip for a month. It was going to kill Taichi, having no one to hang with and play soccer with (in the case of his other friends. I wouldn't be caught dead playing soccer).

I think I was starting to border on obsessive where Taichi was concerned. I'd been apart from him for a span of hours and it had killed me and made me want to hold tight and never let go. Think of what a month would do to me. He'd been away for a month before and it damn near killed me. Now, my feelings for him were even stronger, so would be my feelings of separation and loss, according to logic. I hate logic. I just didn't want him to go, not now, not when I really needed him around to help me out.

As I drifted off to sleep, I recalled the rest of the day with a smile, or the parts with Taichi at least. One thing in particular caught my attention and made me feel very warm inside.

He called me 'Yama'.

To Be Continued …

AN: Hope you guys all enjoyed the first part to my new fic. Next chapter is a rather interesting one, but I'll wait for you to read before I say any more. Trust me, you'll like it.

Laters.