Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Something In the Rain ❯ Something In the Rain ( One-Shot )

Something in the Rain

By the Empress of the Eclipse

Disclaimer - Digimon isn't mine, I really, really don't own it but I really didn't mean to offend whoever does own it and please don't sue!

This is Yaoi and Taito. There's also Takari. I have no idea if I got the wedding at the end right because I don't know anything about Japanese weddings and cannot be bothered to look anything up (and wouldn't know where to look if I did!) Sigh. This fic contains mild lime. There's also rape but it's not very descriptive.

A/N This was originally one of my first ever Digimon fics. As I've been reposting them all, I seriously considered re-writing a large amount of this as I know for a fact that it isn't especially wonderful. However, I eventually decided to leave it as a piece of history and have only changed a few little things, leaving the basic format intact. I know it's not my best work, but I figured that it was only right to leave it the way it was written.

~~~

Tai was busy moping when Kari came into the room, wearing a new dress.

"Tai?" she said anxiously "If I wasn't your sister and we were going on a date, would you think I looked good in this dress?"

Tai looked at her.

"Yeah, sure," he said, tonelessly.

Kari sighed.

"Oh Tai," she said gently "Tai, I'm sorry. Was that tactless?"

Tai forced a smile on his face. Kari had known for over three years that Tai was gay. She also knew the object of Tai's desire and normally never mentioned things like this. However, she had finally summoned up her courage and asked out TK who'd said a very emphatic yes and Kari was feeling very nervous and very excited about their date.

"No Kari," Tai said "Don't worry. I think you look terrific in the dress and TK will faint when he sees you."

Kari smiled.

"I hope not," she said "I want him fully conscious, thank you!"

Tai forced a grin. Kari sighed.

"Tai," she said gently "Why don't you tell Matt how you feel?"

Tai promptly buried his head in his pillow. Kari pulled the pillow off his head.

"Tai," she said "I'm sure that Matt..."
Tai interrupted her by singing loudly.

"It may not always be that way. You can't take nothing for granted!" he carolled, somewhat off-key. Kari rolled her eyes.

"All right, all right," she said "Be that way but I think you should say something. What if he does feel the same way and someone else gets him first `cause you were too scared?"

She went out of the room. A few moments later, she was on the phone to some girl requesting make-up tips. Tai rolled his eyes. Kari didn't understand. When she'd asked TK out, the worst that could have happened would have been a no and maybe slight tension between the two. But with Matt...

Tai had never had any inclination from Matt that Matt leant that way or that Matt saw anything in him apart from a close friendship. If he said anything to Matt, Matt might never speak to him again. Even worse, he might tell everyone that Tai was gay and then everyone would hate him.

Sighing, Tai drew his legs up and closed his eyes, trying to decide what to do. Kari was right. What if Matt did feel the same way? His parents were going out tonight and Kari was on her date. He could talk to Matt without fear of interruption...

"KARI!" Tai bellowed "GET OFF THE PHONE! I NEED IT!"

Kari rolled her eyes.

"I'm off!" she yelled back "Phone Matt....I mean your friend."

Tai threw his pillow at Kari's head and dialled Matt's number.

* * * *

Sometime later, Matt and Tai were sitting in Tai's front room, watching TV. Tai kept trying to work out what he was going to say. Everyone was out, he needed to speak, to say something...

"Tai."

Tai looked up. Matt was staring at him, his sapphire eyes filled with slight confusion.

"You said you had something to say," Matt prompted.

Tai swallowed.

"Yeah," he said "Yeah, I do. Matt, this is going to come a surprise but I need to tell you this. I'm....I'm.....I'm, um, gay."

He glanced at Matt, who's face was blank. He decided that he might as well take the plunge.

"And I'm in love....I'm in love with you."

Silence.

`Say something, say something, say something' Tai prayed. Slowly, he looked up.

"Matt?"

Matt's face was still completely blank.

"You...you're....you're what?" Matt finally said.

"I'm gay," Tai said "And I love you."

Silence again. This time when Tai looked up, Matt's face was full of...full of...something. Fear? Revulsion? Tai couldn't tell. But he could see that Matt had drawn away slightly.

"Matt, please don't hate me," Tai said, his voice rising in panic "Please don't. If you don't feel the same way then I'll never mention it again, I'll never do anything about it, only please don't..."

"Don't what?" Matt asked. His voice was rising too "You've just told me you freaking love me for crying out loud! What do you expect me to do?"

Tai didn't say anything, just stared at Matt, his eyes beginning to fill with tears.

"Matt....please...."

Matt stood up.

"I have to go home now," he said, his voice abrupt.

"No! Please! Matt, wait!"

Tai leapt up but Matt had already opened the door and run out into the night.

"MATT! COME BACK!"

But Matt had already vanished. Tai sank to the floor and started to cry. As he did, lightning flashed and thunder banged violently as he sobbed. It was only when the rain started to blow in, splattering on his already soaked face that he closed the door. He then ran to his room, threw himself onto his bed and wept into the pillow.

* * * *

Matt ran blindly then slowly to a walk, unable to believe what he'd just done. The rain drenched his clothes and body but he barely noticed, so wrapped up was he in his own thoughts.

Why had he just run away from Tai? Why had he just treated Tai so horribly? Tai was his friend. So what if Tai was gay? Matt was knew that he himself was gay although he'd never looked at Tai in that way, had reserved his feelings for others less close to him. He didn't have any problems with it at all.

So why had he just run away, hurting his friend so badly? Matt knew that Tai needed support right then. Confessing to anyone that you were gay was difficult as Matt knew from bitter experience. He'd only told a few people and they'd all supported him.

So why, why, WHY, hadn't he stayed and supported Tai? The shock he supposed. But that still didn't give him any right…

Groaning, Matt leaned against a wall and closed his eyes, mentally cursing himself using every nasty word he could think of.

"Well, what do we have here?"

Matt opened his eyes. A guy was standing in front of him, staring at him, he was about eighteen or nineteen. His breath smelled like cheep beer.

"What do you think you're doing kid?" the guy asked, smiling mockingly.

"Nothing," Matt said flatly.

"Nothing, are you?" the guy said. He snickered "You shouldn't lean against a wall in a neighbourhood like this kid. People might get the wrong idea."

"Thanks for the advice," Matt said, turning to leave. The guy grabbed his arm.

"You don't walk away from me when I'm talking," he said, sounding threatening.

"I walk away when I like," Matt snapped "Get off me!"

"Aw," the bloke said. He raised his voice "Hey guys, come see what I've found out in the rain! Thinks he's got attitude!"

Matt looked around at the group of people who were now surrounding him. Most of them were holding cans of bear and they were obviously all drunk. A slow feeling of fear was beginning to slide though his body.

"Maybe we'll beat that attitude right out of you," the guy said threateningly.

Matt swallowed, fear clogging his throat.

"You're drunk," he said "Let go of me."

The guy swung him round, banging him into the wall. Matt gasped, seeing stars. One of them kicked his legs from under him and Matt smacked the ground hard. He yelped in pain.

"Hey, we let go of you blondy," the man said "Did what you asked!"

Matt tried to get to his feet but a foot landed in his ribs, sending him sprawling again.

"Maybe he wants more than that!" someone yelled "Attitude still going strong.

The world began to blur around Matt as the guys kicked at him, sending him rolling across the pavement. He tried to yell but as soon as he made a noise, one of them kicked him hard enough to break ribs.

"Make another noise and we'll cut your tongue out!" one of them said. Matt froze in terror as the silvery knife blade flashed by his cheek.

"Please don't," he whispered "Please let me go, please..."

"Look at his hair!" someone yelled "He's obviously a fucking fag isn't he, with hair like that!"

Matt tried to stand again, desperate to be able to defend himself. Someone kicked him again, knocking his breath out. Then he felt some of them grab him, hold him down against the pavement and someone cutting at his trousers and Matt knew what was going to happen to him and tried to scream again but this time the knife actually cut into his cheek and he didn't dare make another noise even when the most excruciating pain that he'd ever felt in his whole life began ripping though him. It felt like someone was shoving a knife inside him, over and over and over again, making him long to scream, to make the pain stop but he didn't dare and he didn't even know why anymore, just knew that making a sound would be deadly, would kill him. When a cry of pain tried to force its way out, he clamped his mouth shut, knowing that sounds were bad, could kill him. His brain was swimming and the world was blurring as the pain continued, on and on and on, like swords cutting away his insides. The others were taking their turns now, having their own fun with him. Then something slammed into the side of his head and darkness rushed in, safe, painless darkness.

And all the time, the rain fell.

* * * *

Kari twirled in, soaking wet, her head in the clouds. She'd just had her very first kiss and it felt wonderful, even though the crazy woman who lived upstairs had thought they were stalking her and had thrown a bucket of water over them.

"Just as we were saying how lucky it was that we missed the rain," she muttered. Then she yelled "Tai! Tai I'm home!"

Nothing. Puzzled, Kari opened the bedroom door. Then she gasped.

Tai was hunched up on his bed, crying violently. His hair was plastered to the sides of his face, his face was blotchy and his pillow was soaked in tears. He had obviously been crying for hours and was making strange gulping, gasping noises.

"Tai!" Kari gasped. Rushing over, she leapt up onto the top bunk, kneeling beside him "Tai, what's wrong? Has something happened, has someone died?"

Tai couldn't say anything, just kept sobbing and gasping. Kari hugged him close to her, trying to soothe him.

"Tai, please tell me what's the matter?" she said.

Then it hit her.

"Tai," she said softly "Did you tell Matt tonight?"

Tai's sobs turned into violent howls of anguish. Kari hugged him again.

"Tai, please try to calm down or the neighbours will be over thinking we're being murdered," she said "Now breathe."

Tai slowly gulped in air, his body still violently shaking. Kari patted his head gently. Realising that she wouldn't be getting any sense out of Tai tonight, she began to sing to him, a nursery rhyme that their mother had always sung to them when they'd been little and had nightmares. Slowly, Tai began to stop sobbing and relax into her. Kari kept singing until his eyes were closed and his breathing was reasonably steady. Then she carefully untangled him from her and carefully climbed down. She took her own pillow and put Tai's head on it, then drew his covers over him. Then she went out, closing the door. Then she dialled the Ishida's number.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Mr Ishida?" Kari said, making her voice sound polite "May I speak to Yamato please?"

"I'm sorry," Mr Ishida said "Matt's not here right now. He went to Taichi Yagami's house and hasn't come home yet."

Kari blinked.

"Mr Ishida," she said "This is Kari Yagami. Matt's not here. I think he left ages ago."

There was a pause.

"Oh," Mr Ishida said slowly "Do you know where he is then?"

"No," Kari said "I was phoning because...because he left something here and I thought he might need it. That's all."

"Right," Mr Ishida said "Well, thank you Kari."

Kari put the phone down, frowning. Tai had obviously been crying for hours. His pillow had been truly drenched when she'd picked it up. So where was Matt?

* * * *

Light was cutting though his safe dark haven. Why were they trying to hurt him? Why wouldn't they leave him alone?

"Was there no form of identification on him?"

"Nothing. I think he's waking up though."

"Hello?"

The light made him open his eyes. Someone was staring down at him.

"What's your name?" she asked "Who are you?"

Who was he? Who was he? Sound....making a noise was bad, would kill him...What was his name, who was he?

"What's your name and phone number young man? If you tell me, I can bring your parents here..."

Parents? Who were his parents, who was he, what was his name? Sound....mustn't make a noise or he'd be hurt....

"He's losing consciousness again."

Darkness....

* * * *

Kari opened her eyes to the phone ringing. Instantly she stood up and looked at Tai. He was still fast asleep. She could still see tear streaks on his face and his hair was glued to his face. The phone hadn't woken him.

"Kari? Tai?"

Kari looked at her mother.

"Tai's sleeping," she said "What is it?"

"Maybe you should wake him up," her mother said "I've got bad news."

"What is it, what's happened?" Kari asked.

"Just wake Tai," her mother said. She went back into the living room.

Slowly, Kari reached up and shook Tai. He whimpered and opened his eyes.

"Mum wants to talk to us," Kari said.

Tai wiped at the dried tears on his face.

"Mum?" he said, scrambling out of bed. They walked into the living room. Their mother beckoned them over the couch and pulled Tai down on one side, Kari on the other.

"I was just phoned by Mr Ishida," she said softly "Matt never came home last night after he was over here."

Kari heard Tai give a little whimper. She bit her lip.

"Matt's in hospital," Mrs Yagami said softly "He was found and brought in with no identification on him but Mr Ishida phoned everywhere checking if Matt was there. He's very badly injured."

Kari stared at her mother in horror.

"What happened?" she whispered.

Mrs Yagami swallowed.

"He was attacked Kari," she said gently "We don't know who by or why they did it but...."

On the other side of her, Tai suddenly gave a horrible scream. Twisting away from his mother, he buried his head in the cushions, sobbing hysterically.

"Tai!" Mrs Yagami gasped "Tai, please, it's all right! He's going to be fine!"

"Nooooo!" Tai howled "Nooooooo! I'm sorry Matt, I'm sorry, oh no, this is my fault, I'm sorry, oh no-hoooo!"

"Mum," Kari said "Mum, could you give me a few moments with Tai alone. Please?"

Mrs Yagami frowned but she knew her daughter and knew that there was obviously something going on that she didn't know about. She got up and left them alone. Kari sat down next to Tai and shook him gently.

"Tai," she whispered "Tai, Tai, please stop crying like this. You'll get ill if you carry on like this. It's not your fault and I'm sure that Matt's just fine. Now please stop crying like this, I promise that it's going to be okay. I swear."

Slowly, Tai's sobs dwindled and he lay quite still on the couch.

"Now, go and get dressed," Kari ordered "Wash your face and brush your hair. We'll go and see Matt."

"He won't want to see me," Tai whispered "He hates me, he hates me."

"I don't give a flying fuck if he wants to see you," Kari said, swallowing anger. How dare Matt have hurt her brother like this? "You want to see him, therefore we are going to see him. Now go and get dressed."

Tai stared at her. He hardly ever heard Kari swear and he'd never seen her look so cross. Slowly, he got up and went into their room. Kari went over and got her mother.

"Mum," she said "We need to go and see Matt. It's very complicated and Tai should be the one to explain but you have to trust me."

Mrs Yagami did. She knew her daughter. When they were all ready, she drove them down to the hospital where Matt was.

* * * *

TK sat on one of the hospitals horrible orange chairs which looked perfectly comfortable until you sat in them, then re-moulded themselves so however you moved, you had some part of orange plastic digging into some part of your anatomy. Oddly enough, he was glad of the distraction. At least he could focus on something else, rather than what was happening to Matt.

Just the thought of Matt made him want to be sick. When the phone had rung in the early hours of the morning, he'd somehow known it was something awful, that something was going to ruin the happy mood he'd been in after his date with Kari. His mother had wanted to leave him at home but he'd refused and had been in the hospital for hours now, swapping chairs every now and then, hoping to find a better one and distracting himself. He'd been alone ever since, his parents were with Matt. TK wasn't allowed in yet apparently. TK thought that his parents just didn't want him upset. It wasn't working.

"TK?"

TK looked up. Kari was standing over him. Tai was standing behind her, his face white as milk.

"Kari!"

He leapt up and threw his arms round her. She hugged him back. TK could feel tears building up in his eyes.

"Don't you start crying," she whispered "I've already ruined about three outfits with salt!"

TK gave her a wobbly grin then looked at Tai again. He looked really wretched.

"How's Matt?" he whispered.

TK swallowed again, making his tears retreat.

"I'm not sure," he said, his voice catching "Mum and Dad won't tell me."

Tai slumped down. TK glanced at Kari puzzled.

"I'll explain another time," she murmured. She gaze his hand a gentle squeeze. TK smiled at her gratefully. He sat down again, wriggling a little, trying to get comfy. Kari sat next to him.

"Do the others know?" she asked.

"Dad phoned everyone he could think of," TK said "Sora's going to come later but the others are waiting for news, I think."

Kari nodded. The three sat there, waiting.

"What happened to him?" Tai asked suddenly "Mum said he was attacked but..."

"He was attacked," TK explained "We don't know who by but they....he had broken ribs and a big gash on his cheek and some other stuff and they'd...they'd...."

"They what?" Kari asked softly.

"They raped him," TK said softly.

Then he burst into tears, the horror and rage at what had been done to his brother pouring out of him in a torrent. Kari hugged him tightly as he cried. Behind her, Tai put his head in his hands and TK got the distinct impression that he was crying too.

* * * *

"Matt?"

"Matt?"

Matt. Who's Matt?

His eyes opened again. The light pieced his brain.

"Matt! Matt, how do you feel?"

Questions. Sound. Can't answer. Mustn't make a noise....

"Why isn't he saying anything?"

"He's severely traumatised. We do not know the full extent of his injuries until he speaks to us."

"Could he be brain damaged?"

"We don't think so. However, it's impossible to tell. We think it's just the trauma making him silent. Try to make him talk. Bring in his brother and friends, get them to talk to him."

"I'll go and get TK and any of the others who are there."

"Matt? Matt sweetheart, say something. It's us, you're safe now."

Were they friends? He wasn't sure. His parents? Were they? Or were they trying to trick him, wanting to hurt him? Who was he, who were they, what was happening to him?

"Matt?"

A child's voice, small, timid.

"Matt, how are you feeling? The doctor says you aren't talking."

A face. Small, blonde, deep blue eyes. Who is he, did he know him?

"Well, I guess the doctors are right this time. But don't worry, everyone always said that I could talk enough for the two of us anyway. Kari and Tai are here to see you too and Sora's coming soon and as soon as the others hear you're awake, they'll be coming too."

Kari? Tai? Did he know them? Or were they enemies?

"Everything'll be okay Matt, you'll see. No one's going to hurt you, not while I'm here. And I won't go, not until you want me to. I'll miss school and everything! Please don't worry Oniichan, you're safe now. And Kari and Tai'd like to speak to you now."

Another voice, lighter.

"I hope you're feeling better soon Matt. You'll have to talk or you won't be able to sing again and your legions of fans will be so disappointed!"

Sing? He could sing? No, no, sound, making a sound was bad.

A different voice.

"Matt?"

There was something about that voice, something different... Made him think....

"Matt, I'm so sorry. This is my fault, I know. I'm so, so sorry. Please forgive me."

Why was the person upset? Was it a trick?

No. He knew this voice. He might not know anything else, but he knew that voice. It was a safe voice, a kind voice.

Was it safe for him to make a noise?

"Matt, I'm so, so sorry. I know I scared you, I'm sorry I said what I said, I didn't want to ruin our friendship."

Friendship. Friendship. Were they friends?

Only it meant something else friendship, a different meaning, something that he needed to know about...

The Keeper. He was the Keeper of Friendship.

"Come on Tai. I think we should leave TK and his parents alone with Matt now."

Tai. Tai. His friend. Matt. His name?

"I'll come back Matt. I will. Just hang in there, okay?"

A hand touching his, gentle, warm. Tai. Safe. Could he make noise...?

"See you Yamato. Just rest and I'll be back soon."

Matt opened his mouth and began to scream.

* * * *

Tai nearly fainted. He'd just been standing there, about to leave when Matt began to scream, a strange, high-pitched, almost unearthly scream which carried on and on, not stopping.

"Matt stop screaming, stop screaming!" he yelled. Matt's parents had both leapt up and Mr Ishida had run to get a doctor. TK and Kari were crouched away from the bed, watching in fright as Matt twisted around, his eyes wide as he screamed.

"Matt!" Tai yelled. He struggled to hold his friend down "Matt please stop screaming, please stop! It's okay Matt, it's okay! I swear it's going to be all right, I promise! Matt, please! Stop, stop, it's okay, please stop!"

The doctors were beginning to stream in now. Someone pulled Tai away from the bed and they were all ushered out.

"I didn't mean to upset him," Tai whispered.

"Don't be silly," Mrs Takaishi said "You've done a good thing, made him speak. I'm sure it'll all be fine now."

"I think we should go home," Kari said "You'll phone if anything happens?"

"Of course we will," TK said. He hugged her and then Tai "Thanks Tai. You've got him to make a noise, that's all that matters. Soon he'll be his old self again!"

Tai shrugged and then they slowly set off for home.

* * * *

TK sat in the waiting room again until his mother came in, her face pale.

"TK," she said softly "Matt's talking again."

"Can I see him?" TK asked instantly.

"Yes," Mrs Takaishi said "But TK - there's a problem."

"What?" TK asked.

"When those....those `people' attacked him, they hit him very hard on the head," Mrs Takaishi explained "Matt has amnesia. He doesn't remember who he is or who any of us are or anything about his life."

TK stared at her. How was it possible? How could one knock on the head erase Matt's entire life?

"He remembers some things," Mrs Takaishi said, trying to reassure her son "He remembers how to talk, how to read and write, everything like that. It's just the personal memories which he doesn't remember."

TK clenched his fists. In a way that made it worse. Matt didn't remember him, had no idea who he was. Why had those people done this to Matt?

"You can go and talk to him TK," his mother said "Try to remind him about his friends and everything but don't push it. Don't get too upset if he doesn't remember anything. The doctors say it's likely to take time."

TK crept into the hospital room. His brother was lying there, silent again. His head was turned away from the door, his fists clenched on top of the blankets.

"Oniichan?" he said uncertainly.

Matt turned to him, his eyes wide.

"Who are you?" he whispered.

TK stared at him.

"I'm your younger brother," he said "I'm TK."

Tears were beginning to trickle down Matt's face.

"I don't know you TK," he said "You aren't familiar. You could send anyone in and say they were my brother and I wouldn't know."

TK swallowed, trying to force the pain that was building in his chest back down again. Matt was sobbing violently now.

"And who am I?" he asked "Who am I?"

"You're Matt," TK said "You're Yamato Ishida, Matt to everyone. You are the Keeper of Friendship and one of the Digidestined. And you are my brother and I love you, even if you don't remember me."

Matt stared at him.
"Keeper of Friendship," he said "Yes. I remember that. But what is that? Who am I? Why can't I remember? What happened to me? Who am I?"

His voice was rising hysterically now and TK quickly shushed him, clambering up onto the bed and wrapping his arms round Matt. His brother lay still, unresponsive.

"Do you want me to tell you about the Digidestined?" TK asked "You might not remember but maybe I can help? Anyway, it makes a great story."

Matt looked at him. TK stared back, trying to make Matt understand.

"Try," Matt whispered "Tell me. The Digidestined."

TK began to tell him about the events six years ago which had changed all their lives, his, Matt's, Tai's, Kari's and there other friends, Sora, Mimi, Izzy and Joe. Matt listened silently, his face blank. TK was beginning to despair of anything even jogging his memory slightly until he mentioned Puppetmon. Matt suddenly stiffened all over, his jaw clenching.

"Matt?" TK said.

"Puppetmon," Matt said.

"Uh huh," TK said "He kidnapped me to play with."

"Yeah..." Matt said slowly "And...."

Matt was struggling, the memory obviously working it's way to the surface "Had...to....defeat...Tai...."

TK just listened, letting Matt talk. He remembered that all right. It wasn't something that he was ever going to forget.

"Fighting...." Matt said slowly "Then....the light....the voice....Kari...."

"Yes!" TK squeaked "Yes, that's right!"

"Flying...." Matt said.

TK nodded, watching his brother intently. For a second he though Matt would remember properly. Then Matt shook his head.

"It's gone," he said softly "I can't....I can't see it any more."

"Well, that's okay," TK said brightly "You remember something, and that's good. The doctors thought it would take ages. Do you want me to carry on?"

Matt nodded so TK cheerfully chattered on, telling Matt everything he could remember. When he'd finished the Digidestined, he went onto other things, meaningless little things, like Matt's thirteenth birthday where Matt and Tai had started a jelly war and destroyed the wall paper. He only stopped when he realised the Matt was asleep. TK carefully got off the bed and looked at Matt. He felt that some progress had been made. Instead of the terrified, tense look, Matt looked a little relaxed and he had a small smile on his face.

* * * *

Tai was sitting on the window ledge, his legs drawn right up to his chin, staring out of the window when Kari came in with some crisps. She looked sadly at her brother, remembering the last time she'd seen him look like that. She'd been eleven. He'd been fourteen.

Kari could remember what had happened as though it had only been yesterday.

"Tai? What's the matter Tai?"

"Nothing Kari. It doesn't matter."

"Tai, please tell me what's wrong. You've been like this for ages. I'm worried about you."

"Kari, do you know what being gay is?"

"Yes. I am eleven you know. I'm not stupid."

"Tell me what it means."

"It's boys who want to be with other boys rather than with girls."

"Yeah. Kari....I think I'm gay."

"Oh. Is that all?"

"It's enough."

"Why are you upset Tai? There's nothing wrong with it, is there?"

"Kari, you're only little. You might not understand..."

"I'm eleven. I'm not little. I might understand."

"Well...okay. There isn't anything wrong with being gay. But some people think that being gay is wrong. They'd hate me."

"So?"

"So, those other people might hurt me. Or maybe even you or our friends because of it. Kari, you must promise that you won't say a word to anyone, ever. Not until I've told them."

"Okay. I promise."

"Good girl. Not even Mum and Dad?"

"I promise."

"Thanks Kari."

"No problem Tai."

Now Kari understood why her brother had been so afraid to even tell her. However Matt had reacted...

"Tai?" she said.

Tai turned and looked at her.

"How do you feel?" Kari asked.

Tai sighed.

"He hates me," he said dully "He'll never speak to me again. I made him scream."

"That was a good thing," Kari said "Everyone says so Tai. I'm sure Matt won't hate you for that."

"He ran away," Tai whispered.

Kari scrambled up so she was sitting next to him.

"Tai," she said "What happened last night?"

Tai swallowed and pressed his face into his knees. Then he told Kari everything. Kari sat there listening. By the end, Tai was crying again.

"Why Kari?" he wailed "Why did he run away from me?"

Kari shook her head.

"The shock?" she suggested "Tai, Matt's your friend, I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you..."

Tai sobs increased again and Kari wrapped her arms round him. She could hear the phone ringing in the hall and her mother answering it.

"Tai, please stop crying," she said "If Mum comes in here, you'll have to tell her everything. Anyway, you're getting me all wet again."

But Tai kept sobbing and Kari was beginning to run out of ideas. She'd been trying so hard to soothe him but she didn't know what to do. Maybe she was younger than she'd thought she was.

"Oh Tai," she whispered "Tai, I'm sorry."

"Tai? Kari?"

Mrs Yagami leaned into the room. She blinked when she saw that Tai was sobbing in his sister's arms but she assumed that he was upset about his friend being so ill and thought nothing more of it.

"That was TK," she said gently "He said he'd tell you if there was any news."

"How's Matt?" Kari asked.

Mrs Yagami swallowed. She wasn't looking forward to telling her children this.

"Matt has amnesia," she said gently "He doesn't remember anything about his life, his family or his friends."

Tai drew away from Kari and stared at his mother. The first feeling that shot though him was relief. If Matt didn't remember, then they were still friends...

Then reality kicked in. Matt didn't even remember that they were friends, or that they'd ever even been friends.

Tai sank his teeth into his tongue to stop the tears flowing. The pain and tangy taste of blood managed to distract him long enough for him to focus on his mothers words.

"TK wants all Matt's friends to come, to try and jog Matt's memory," Mrs Yagami explained "I'll drive you if you'll go."

Kari nodded instantly.

"We'll go. Just let Tai wash his face," she said.

Mrs Yagami turned to leave, then turned back.

"TK said to warn you that Matt may be very irritable," she said "He's in considerable pain, as well as confused and terrified. Will you be okay?"

"Yes," Kari said firmly.

About half an hour later, they were all sitting in Matt's hospital room, along with the other Digidestined. Matt was looking at them all uncertainly.

"I don't remember anything," he said softly "You're....you're all strangers."

"That's okay," Sora said "We weren't expecting miracle cures. We just wanted to see you."

TK grinned.

"That's Sora," he said helpfully "That's Izzy, that's Joe, that's Mimi, that's Kari and that's Tai."

Tai looked at Matt. Matt just looked at them unhappily.

"Talk to me," he said "Tell me about stuff....anything....maybe it'll help."

TK looked at them. Sora began telling Matt about school. Tai couldn't help wondering why anyone would pick school as a subject to talk about but Matt listened interestedly. Tai just watched his friend, wondering if Matt would remember what Tai had told him, if he'd realise that this was all Tai's fault....

He suddenly caught his own name and tuned in to what Sora was saying.

"....so Sakanna asked Tai why he wouldn't come to the movies with her, and Tai said that there was no way on Earth that he'd go out with anyone who looked like a fish!"

Tai winced at the memory. He'd felt mean about that for ages. But Sakanna had kept on asking him out even after he'd said no over a hundred times and he'd resorted to drastic measures and told her she looked like a fish in front of everyone in their algebra class. Everyone had cracked up and Sakanna had never asked him out again. Instead, she'd turned her attentions onto Matt, much to both Matt and Tai's irritation.

"I still feel guilty about that," he said aloud.

"Well, she does look like a fish," Matt said.

Everyone turned to look at him. Matt blinked.

"I think she looks like a fish," he said uncertainly "Of course, I could just be thinking about a fish with two legs and long curly blonde hair."

TK giggled.

"I expect you're thinking of Sakanna," he said "I think she looks like a fish too."

"I like her," Joe said startlingly.

"You have bad taste," Tai told him.

"I do not have bad taste!" Joe snapped huffily "Sakanna's very pretty!"

"Maybe but have you seen her fashion sense?" Mimi asked, looking fairly huffy herself "That girl obviously dresses in the dark."

"Yeah well, there's more to a girl than just her looks," Joe said.

Matt frowned. Girls....someone had told him something about girls. Or had it been about boys? Matt couldn't remember.

Mimi and Joe were beginning to get into an argument. Izzy and Sora were trying to pacify them both. Kari and TK were watching, giggling. Only Tai was still watching Matt. He gave Matt a small smile.

"How are you anyway?" he asked.

Matt shrugged.

"I'm not sure," he said "Everything hurts."

"I'm sorry," Tai said.

"You didn't do anything," Matt said.

For a second he saw a strange look flicker over Tai's face. Then he smiled again.

"No, I guess not," he said "So, any memories yet?"

"Not really," Matt said "I remember punching you once or twice."

"That could have been anytime," Tai said with a snort "We were always fighting!"

"TK told me about the Digital World," Matt said "I wish I could remember it."

Tai tried to imagine having forgotten everything about his life. It was impossible. He shivered.

"Will you two please stop arguing?" Sora's voice cut in "You're upsetting Matt!"

"Oh, they aren't," Matt said calmly "Go on."

Mimi and Joe seemed reluctant to continue in front of everyone but they flashed each other `this will not be forgotten' looks'. Everyone looked at Matt.

"Don't stare!" Matt snapped "I feel like I'm in a zoo!"

"Well, your attitude certainly hasn't changed much," Sora said with a smile.

Matt stiffened with a sharp intake of breath. Everyone looked at him.

"Matt, what's wrong?" Tai asked, reaching for his friends hand. It was cold in his grip. For a second, Matt looked like he might start screaming again. Then he shrugged.

"I don't know," he said "Nothing I guess."

Before Tai could say anything else, a nurse entered with dinner. Everyone looked at Matt's tray in disgust.

"What's it supposed to be?" Matt asked the nurse. She looked slightly surprised, as though Matt shouldn't have needed to ask.

"It's tomato soup, ham and salad with potatoes and vanilla flan for pudding," she said "Enjoy."

She left the room. Matt looked at his food.

"That's not tomato soup," he said bluntly "I don't remember tomato soup very well but this isn't it."

"I think it's coloured water with green stuff sprinkled in," TK said, peering at the soup.

Matt hopefully opened the carton of vanilla flan.

"It looks like slightly melted plastacine," Tai said, resisting the urge to shove a finger in.

"It looks like cat vomit," Matt said bluntly. He pushed the tray away from him "What price some real food?"

"If you eat your salad and potatoes, I'll go and find you something," Sora promised.

Matt sulkily ate the ham and potatoes (he wasn't touching that salad!) while everyone else sampled the soup and the vanilla flan.

"It doesn't taste like vanilla," Mimi said.

"That's because it's carefully cartoned up cat vomit," Matt said "I have to get out of here, I'll go mad. I'll never remember anything here, I'll just go demented!"

"I'll ask the doctors," TK promised as Sora arrived, her arms full of things that she'd brought from the shop. The nurse came in to collect the tray eventually and stared at it.

"Didn't you like it?" she asked.

Matt opened his mouth but Tai cut in.

"Matt wasn't feeling very hungry," he said, smiling innocently at the nurse.

She went out. Matt made a rude gesture at her back.

"Does anyone like that food?" he asked.

"Maybe someone with no taste buds!" Joe said.

"That's scientifically impossible," Izzy said.

Matt rolled his eyes and leant back against the pillows.

"Are you tired?" Kari asked "Do you want us to leave?"

"No," Matt said "Just...keep talking."

Matt wasn't sure why but he felt safe around this group, sure that they would look after him while he rested. He dozed off listening to Joe and Mimi arguing again, this time over weather the vanilla flan was more like custard than jelly.

* * * *

Matt sighed. He'd been home for several weeks now and he still didn't remember anything.

Well, that wasn't quite true. He remembered some things. He remembered that he played the guitar and he sometimes played the harmonica. He remembered the time TK had painted the cat and knew without a doubt that TK was his brother. He could remember most of his childhood up to age eleven and could even remember some of his time in the Digital World. He just didn't remember every much after his twelfth birthday.

Except that jelly fight. Almost as soon as he'd stepped into his house, Matt had remembered that jelly fight. His fathers outraged shouts that Matt should have known better while Matt stood there, dripping jelly was an image that still lingered.

"Matt! Tai's here!"

Matt smiled. Tai was always coming to visit. After TK, Tai was the person most often there, more often than Matt's father was. Matt didn't really understand it. Even though he didn't exactly remember much, but he was sure that Tai hadn't been there so much before he'd lost his memory.

But it didn't mind. He liked Tai being there. Tai's cheery presence always cheered him up, always comforted him.

"Hey Tai," he said.

"How's it going?" Tai asked.

Matt shrugged.

"I still don't remember things," he said softly "Practically everything after my twelfth birthday's a mystery to me."

"Well, it'll take time," Tai said reassuringly.

Matt shrugged.

"Tai," he said suddenly "TK and Kari are going out, aren't they?"

"Yes," Tai said.

"Do I have a girlfriend?" Matt asked.

There was a pause. Glancing round, Matt was surprised to see a strange look on Tai's face. Something like misery and pain...

"No," Tai said "I don't think you have a girlfriend."

"Do you?" Matt asked.

"No."

Matt frowned. He wasn't sure why he was asking Tai these questions, just felt sure that there was something important about them.

"Does Kari not like me?" he asked suddenly.

"Of course Kari likes you," Tai said "Why shouldn't she?"

"She gives me this strange look sometimes," Matt said "Sort of angry-sad look. You use it too."

"I don't!" Tai protested.

"Yes you do!" Matt said "It's because you feel sorry for me isn't it? Or because you know something that you won't tell me?"

"No!" Tai said "No, it's nothing like that! I don't know what you're talking about!"

"Liar!" Matt yelled "You know exactly what I mean Tai! You know something don't you? Something that you won't tell me. Why?"

"It's nothing!" Tai protested "I don't know anything, I swear!"

"Yes you do!" Matt screamed, suddenly filled with a wild, irrational anger "You're a liar Taichi! You know something, you do, you do! Why does everyone keep lying to me? Tell me the truth!"

Tai's face was pale, he was shaking all over.

"No!" he cried "No Matt, I swear, I swear! I don't know anything, truly, Matt, please don't yell at me, I don't want you to hate me, please don't..."

I don't want you to hate me...

Tai's voice, pleading, desperate; "Matt, please don't hate me, please don't. If you don't feel the same way, I'll never mention it again, I swear, just please don't..."

His own; "Don't what? You just told me you freaking love me for crying out loud! What do you expect me to do?"

"Matt...please...."

"I have to go home now."

"No! Please! Matt, wait! MATT! COME BACK!"

"Matt? Matt?"

Blinking, Matt stared at Tai's anxious face.

"You just zoned out for a minute there," Tai said, looking relived "Are you okay?"

Matt blinked. The anger had drained, leaving confusion and exhaustion.

"I'm fine," he said uncertainly "I'm fine Tai. I'm sorry I yelled at you. I just wasn't thinking straight, that's all. I've gone paranoid. I don't hate you."

For a second, he saw that expression on Tai's face again, the pained expression. But then it was gone and Tai was grinning.

"Thanks Matt," he said "That means a lot."

As Tai kept speaking, Matt ran over the strange conversation that he'd remembered.

`...told me you freaking love me...'

Did Tai love him? He was fairly certain Tai didn't love him. And why....

Matt buried his head under the pillow. It was all too confusing. If only he could remember properly!

`...told me you freaking love me...'

Was it a bad thing if Tai loved him? Why would he hate Tai?

"Tai?" he said.

"Yes?" Tai said instantly.

"Would you stay the night?" Matt said "Dad's going to be late and I don't want to be all alone. I don't know why but I need someone here tonight."

Tai blinked, startled by the odd request. He looked at Matt. Matt stared back, his blue eyes pleading and vulnerable.

"Okay," he said "I'll phone home and ask."

Matt nodded and leant back against the pillows. It wasn't a lie; he was nervous. But he wanted to talk to Tai properly, find out more about what was going on, what Tai wasn't telling him.

* * * *

That night, Tai and Matt were sitting on the couch watching TV. The scene for Tai was unhappily familiar. The last time he'd sat with Matt like this, he'd told Matt the truth and then....

He swallowed and blinked at the TV. Then he noticed that Matt was staring at him.

"Tai?" he said "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," Tai said, then realised that he had tears on his cheeks "Just something in my eye."

"Oh," Matt said. He turned back to the TV, then suddenly shivered.

"It's cold," he muttered.

Tai went and found him a blanket. Matt barely noticed it when he draped it over him, just stared vacantly at the TV. It was a weather report. Apparently, it was due to thunder later.

"Thunderstorm!" Tai said "Cool! We can tell ghost stories! I know this great one about a girl who..."

Tai's voice trailed off. Matt was saying nothing, his eyes looking slightly too big for his face.

"Matt?" Tai said.

Matt blinked.

"Yeah," he said "Ghost stories. Cool."

He looked at Tai.

"Let's go and make some popcorn," he said abruptly.

* * * *

It was quite late when the thunder abruptly cracked. Both boys were in bed and sleeping but the thunder woke Tai up. He rushed over and looked out of the window. The rain was coming down in sheets and the lighting was spectacular.

"Wow!" he whispered as lightning flashed "This is some storm!"

He watched for ages, fascinated. Then suddenly, he heard a terrified whimper.

"Matt?"

Turning, he stared. Matt was curled up in a ball, shaking violently.

"Matt!"

Tai rushed over. Matt stared at him.

"The storm..." he whispered "Tai, make it stop, I'm frightened, please make it stop..."

Tai pulled his friend into his arms and cradled him.

"I'm sorry," he said "I can't make it stop. I may be great but I don't control the weather."

"Please!" Matt sounded almost hysterical "Stop it, stop it, help me! They're coming, they hurt me, they hurt me!"

Tai stared, confused. Why was Matt so terrified? It was only a storm.

`It was raining like this on that night' he though suddenly `Of course!'

"Matt," he whispered soothingly "It's okay, you're safe, you're safe..."

There was a particularly loud crash of thunder. Matt screamed, a loud high petrified scream. Tai clung to his terrified friend, trying to soothe him.

"They attacked me," Matt gasped "They attacked me and hit me and I couldn't escape and they hurt me and the rain, the rain..."

"You remember," Tai whispered.

Matt trembled in his arms.

"There were so many..." Matt whispered "So many, and I couldn't get away!"

Tai sat there, stroking Matt's hair, feeling tears building up. Now Matt remembered, it would only be a matter of time...

"And you..."

Tai looked down at Matt. Matt's eyes were huge in his white face and tears trembled in them.

"You did tell me you loved me," Matt whispered "Just before....you told me you loved me."

Tai slowly loosed his grip on his friend and backed away. Matt stared at him.

"Yes I did," Tai whispered, tears creeping into his own eyes.

Matt said nothing, just stared at him. Slowly, Tai stood up.

"I'll go and sleep in the other room," he whispered defeatedly.

This was it then. He'd gained some weeks but now it was time to accept that he and Matt weren't friends anymore.

"Tai."

Turning, he looked at Matt.

"Please don't leave me," Matt said, his voice trembling "The thunder...I'm so scared....please don't leave me...."

Slowly, Tai sat down beside Matt. To his surprise, Matt clutched at him again, burying his head in Tai's shoulder. Tai slowly wrapped his arms round him and gently rocked him.

"I couldn't make a sound!" he howled suddenly "I couldn't speak, they'd have killed me! I was so afraid!"

"Shhhhh," Tai whispered "Shhhhh, don't worry, my Yama-chan. I'm here, I'll protect you..."

Slowly as Tai whispered soothing nothings, Matt relaxed and slept. Tai tried to loose Matt's grip but as soon as he did, Matt whimpered in fear. Tai gently lowered him to the bed and curled up next to him, pressing against his friends thin body. Slowly, his own eyes closed and he too slept.

Outside, the storm ended. The moon came out, illuminating the dark streets, pushing away the shadows.

* * * *

Matt woke up in the morning feeling safer than he had in months. Tai's arms were wrapped tightly round him, his faced buried in Matt's hair. Matt blinked. He could remember things. There were a few blanks but mostly, everything was in place. Including the exact events of that night....

Matt trembled violently and pressed closer to Tai who mumbled something and pulled his tighter into his embrace. Matt closed his eyes again. This was so warm, so nice. He didn't want to leave Tai's arms, wanted to stay there forever.

Why had he run away from Tai? He loved Tai, he knew he did. So why had he run away? If he hadn't, he never have been hurt, never have upset Tai, never have forgotten his life, his brother, his friends...

Matt suddenly realised that he had tears on his face. He must had got Tai damp because Tai muttered something and opened his eyes.

"Matt?" he said groggily.

"Hey Tai," Matt said "Sorry I woke you. I just..."

Another sob came out and he shivered. Tai hugged him and muttered something soothingly. Matt clung onto him, sobbing.

"It's all right Yama-chan," Tai whispered "It's all right."

Tears still trickling down his face, Matt looked up. Tai stared down at his friends face. So white with such beautiful blue eyes, like sapphires embedded in white quartz.

Without even thinking about it, Tai leaned down and pressed his lips against Matt's own.

Matt was startled. Tai's lips were warm against his and they tasted sweet against his. Uncertainly, he put his hands on Tai's shoulders, wanting to pull him nearer.

Misinterpreting Matt's gesture, Tai pulled back.

"Sorry," he whispered "I'm sorry Matt, I didn't mean to....I'll go."

He stood up and turned to leave.

"Tai, wait!" Matt gasped. Jerking upwards, he clutched Tai's arm. Tai turned.

"Don't go Tai," Matt whispered "Don't leave me."

Tai stared at his friend. Carefully, Matt pulled him back down onto the bed and kissed him desperately. Startledly, Tai remained still for a second and wrapped his arms round Matt and pushed him back against the mattress, his hands entwining themselves in Matt's hair. Matt pulled him closer and ran his hands over Tai's back. Uncertainly Tai pulled back.

"Matt," he croaked "If we....we might wind up....are you sure...?"

Matt simply nodded his head and pulled Tai back into his arms. Pushing all doubts away, Tai wrapped his arms round Matt again and kissed him as though he'd never let go.

* * * *

TK carefully unlocked the door and walked in, Kari cheerfully walking after him.

"I'm pretty sure I left it here," he said.

"It's the last time I lend you my Chemistry book," Kari said "Leaving it at Matt's house. Honestly."

"I was here with Matt!" TK said indignantly "I needed to study and look after my brother. I have a busy life!"

"I'm teasing!" Kari laughed. TK stuck his tongue out at her.

"Matt?" he called "Tai?"

"It's very quiet," Kari said "I wonder if they're still sleeping?"

"Maybe the storm woke them last night," TK suggested "It sure woke me!"

Kari walked over to Matt's room and opened the door a crack. TK saw her freeze. Then her shoulders began shaking slightly.

"What?" he asked walking up.

Kari tried to push him away and close the door but TK saw. Tai and Matt were curled up in bed, completely naked and fast asleep.

"Jeepers!" TK yelped as Kari closed the door.

They looked at each other. Then, by mutual agreement, they ran out of the apartment and didn't stop running until they reached the park. Then they collapsed on a bench. Kari started laughing.

"Did you know?" TK asked.

"I've known about Tai for years," Kari said, stifling her giggles "He's been watching Matt for years, moping. I always knew that they'd get together. What about you?"

TK shrugged.

"Well, I wondered," he said.

Kari smiled.

"Good old Matt," she said "It's been a rocky road but they've finally made it."

TK grinned.

"I just hope they wake up and get dressed before Dad gets home," he said "I don't think Dad would be ready for that surprise quite yet."

Kari went to a pay-phone and dialled the number. Eventually, Matt sleepily answered.

"Hello?"

"Matt, it's me, Kari," Kari said "I've got a message for you two."

"You have?" Matt said.

"Yeah," Kari said, struggling with laughter "You and Tai may need to get dressed before Mr. Ishida comes home."

"WHAT? How did you....?"

Kari put the phone down on Matt's yells. Catching TK's eye, she couldn't contain herself. She collapsed in hysterical laughter again and this time, TK's laughter joined hers.

* * * *

* Nine years later *

"TK, stop fidgeting!" Matt whispered "You look like an idiot."

"I can't help being nervous!" TK whispered back "This is my wedding you know!"

Matt tried not to sigh and wondered why he'd agreed to be TK's ring bearer.

"Yes, I know," he said patiently "But it's not like Kari's not going to show. You've been steady for nine years and friends before then."

"Steady," TK said "Yeah." He frowned "But there was that time we fought over the movie. We broke up for..."

"Three and a half days," Matt said "Three and a half days off nine years. For Christ's Sake, stop panicking. You've been going out longer than me and Tai!"

"Not much longer.." TK began but Matt cut him off.

"She's coming!"

Kari floated up, smiling. TK relaxed considerably and Matt smiled. He barely listened to the service. It didn't matter much anyway. As far as Matt was concerned, marriage wasn't about little slips of paper and a fancy party. It was about love and commitment and could just as easily be done at home with a couple of other people there.

"Sour grapes!" TK had said when Matt had told him this.

Well, it wasn't like Matt could ever get married. The law didn't let gay people marry. But he and Tai didn't need rings to show how much they cared. All they needed was each other.

Although Tai had given him a ring. It was gold and embedded with tiny sapphires.

"It makes me think of you," he'd said.

Matt remembered being incredibly flattered. He always wore that ring now, always.

"You may kiss the bride," the vicar said.

Matt smiled as his brother and his boyfriends sister kissed. Something about the Yagami and Ishida families appeared to call to each other, to form long lasting relationships, for better, for worse, in sickness, in health, till death did them part.

Maybe it was just something in the rain.

The End.

A/N I know, I know sappy. And bits of it are unbelievable. But hey, I've improved! *laughs*