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The Bishounen Boys

Part 7: "Santa Monica"

By Splash

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Ouch, long wait for this chapter.  I've had so much crap to do, but I really wanted to get some of this out... we all need a little Taito to our daily

lives...

 

This chapter is dedicated to Katie, Paul, Leanne and Chris who amazingly all read this fic... O_O;  Although, one would have to know them (or read my

Livejournal :P) in order to understand why that surprises me...

 

"Santa Monica" is by Savage Garden, and the lyrics have nothing to do with this chapter.  Santa Monica just happens to be my recent American song

addiction along with Drops of Jupiter. But absolutely NOTHING --let alone a song, that could explain the randomness in this chapter... :P  Maybe I'll get

 songs that are actually relevent sometime...

 

Lots of Japanese this time, sorry if it's too much ^^;

Ja ne-"See you later" sometimes shortened to "Ja"

Hen desu ne- That's weird

Yoroshiku- "Nice to meet you" kind of thing.

Yoroshiku onegaishimasu- A more formal form of "Yoroshiku" used when greeting someone in a higher rank than yourself.

Sa- Come on (in this context)

Itai- That hurts

Hanase yo- Let go ("yo" is added to assume a command form)

Doushita?- What's wrong?

Dosukoi- Sumo wrestler exclamation

Urusei-Be quiet

 

There's one sentence I left unattended which will be explained at the end notes. ~_^

 

One more thing.  Yes, I do know what Newton's actual laws of gravity are.

 

****

 

~September 14, 2002~

 

It was a vivid view, that fall day.  The migrating Canadian geese wailed as they flew by, warning the foreign boy below as he wandered through the aging

grass.  He didn't bother to look up, but as their blaring faded away into the distance he was somehow reminded of the doppler effect he learned about in

science earlier that day.

 

" Hmph, how pointless."

 

Re-adjusting his hat, he took in the sight before him, a large patch of decaying trees fraying their feeders onto Yamato's vacant lawn.  His long time

friend stood in front of the unknown face, who was clad with layers.  His long sleeve with a deep hue of blue was partially covered with a short sleeve

tee.

 

A rusted leaf lost its grip on its home and slowly fluttered down.  It hovered and landed point up on Yamato's head, but stammered in the defying wind. 

After some struggle, it tripped and came into contact with Yamato's vision.  Without moment's notice, he gritted his teeth and snatched the leaf,

emitting a small crunch, and tossed it with its relatives in the dispose pile.

 

" De?  What's this about a boy band?" Yamato questioned.

 

As if he had forgotten before, the younger blonde raised his eyebrows and shuffled through his pocket.  With some hunting, he pulled out a sheet of paper

and gave it to the older pair.

 

" A local contest?  I thought you said that your connections would get you past these small fries."

 

" Well, they can't do ALL the work... even though we're starting off small, we've got a great manager and the equipment to make THE best music.  I guess

I meant more on the potential side when I said all that..." Takeru idly tilted his head, slightly shamed at being misinterpreted. " This contest just

happens to be the earliest event to help us get a feel of what live performance is around here.  After that, we'll start tearing the charts."

 

" Are you that confident that you'll even win the local contest?  We just might make it worse," Taichi gave a dry grin.

 

" You guys are in orchestra, right?  You'll do fine.  Plus, you've got other talents that we younger people don't.  We can use that kind of stuff."

 

" I wouldn't apply that to all of the orchestra students..." Yamato nudged a muttering Taichi while trying to keep a straight expression toward Takeru.

 

Takeru looked thoughtful for a moment, then turned his glance toward Taichi. " Can I assume you're the friend Yamato has been talking about constantly?"

 

The brunette in question grinned while a rosy tint smothered itself against Yamato's cheeks. " Constantly?  Why, of course!" he replied good-heartedly,

vision darting towards Yamato for a split moment. " Yagami Taichi.  Yoroshiku."

 

" Yoroshiku onegaishimasu," Takeru said, nodding respectively.  The trio spoke casually for several minutes, with Yamato and Taichi rattling off about

their wonderful school system with perfect sarcasm.  Takeru spoke mainly about the other Japanese people in his grade, Daisuke's somewhat queer brashness

and Ken's contemptuous stillness.  Their personality contrasts were quite amusing if one witnessed them in person, actually.

 

" Okay, we'll try it," Yamato stated out of the blue.

 

" Huh?"

 

" The band, I mean.  What time is your next meeting?"

 

Takeru's already bright face lightened up even further. " Tomorrow at noon, actually.  Just come after lunch or something," he said, lifting his watch to

his face. " Oh, I need to get going.  I've got another 'shopping spree,' with okaasan to go to.  Ja ne."

 

Yamato and Taichi bid their farewells, but didn't spend any extra time dwindling. Not long after, they went back to their raking. " I'll have to convince

my mom to let me go.  She has this thing about not letting me do any social activities two days in a row unless they're completely about my academics."

 

Taichi carelessly bent an arm behind his head to itch something the wind had irritated. " Wow, my parents are just the other way around.  They'd jump at

any opportunity for me to become popular.  They're more than half the reason why I joined the soccer team.  Why are your parents like that?  Hen desu

ne..."

 

" I wouldn't be surprised if they really DID want me to be anti-social.  But that's only ONE of their faults..."

 

" Yamato..."

 

Yamato blinked heavily and looked up at Taichi. " What am I saying?  I shouldn't be troubling you with my problems.  You should go home, you've done too

much for me already." He turned to focus on the ground, but was forced back by Taichi's hand on his cheek.

 

" I'm not leaving yo-... I'm not leaving, Yamato," he murmured, taking another step forward to catch a firmer grip of Yamato's unusually soft flesh.   "

You're going to have to do a lot more than that to get rid of me."

 

Unable to think of a reply, Yamato simply stood rigid on the cool fall ground.  He'd already opened up to Taichi more than he ever did to anyone in his

past.  It was always the same thing from person to person; none of them knew anything about the blonde, not even Takeru.  Hell, Yamato had never even

cried in the presence of anyone except Taichi...

 

' How does he do that?...'  It scared him that he adored every movement Taichi made, every vibration that sounded his concern for Yamato.  He could have

told him then.  After all, it was the perfect time.  No one else was around... but then again, he spent a great deal of his time with Taichi.  Confessing

after such a long time would be uneasy to him.  How many times had he passed up the opportunity?  Fearing the possible events that would follow if he

addressed the issue, he held himself back.  The issue that had plagued him ever since his breakdown...

 

In attempt to avoid the situation once more, he absorbed himself in the presence of the exquisite firey leaves surrounding them.

 

...What the fruck?  Leaves aren't exquisite...

 

What the heck was he doing?  His eyes narrowed droopily. ' Something still seems to be missing. Maybe it just isn't the right time..."

 

The awkward stillness tensed Taichi's position, so he smiled affectionately, then released his hold on Yamato. " Sa, these leaves aren't going to rake

themselves, you know."

 

Yamato nodded solemnly, ignoring the pain that was enveloping him.

 

Nothing else could be more forlorn as Taichi at that moment, as he continued the job at task. ' Not ready yet, na?  I'll still be waiting when you are,

Yama...'

 

****

 

~September 15, 2002~

 

Taichi's hand hovered over the brick wall of the hallway for a moment. " There's something about this place..." He sweeped his hand between the cracks,

flowing like running water through them. " Vivid and stunning..."

 

Yamato whacked him companionately on the head. " Don't get poetic on me right now.  Come on." He yanked a bushel of his messy brunette hair.

 

" Itai naaaaaa!  Hanase yo!" Taichi lashed out on the other, causing the blonde to form a surprised expression.

 

The expression quickly reversed to hurt, although the brunette had not intended for Yamato to see it.

 

" Taichi?" he said cautiously. " ...Doushita?"

 

Taichi shook his head briefly before resurrecting his usual smile. " Nothing, really.  Guess I just overreacted."

 

A small, discrete door with the dark area in the far back was only indicated by a sliver of yellow tape Takeru had slapped on there.  Taichi discovered

that there was no doorknob and attempted to push the portal, but it wouldn't budge.  He gave it a heave and a ho, and even a dosukoi, but his efforts

were still fruitless.  The door was like a sleeping rhinoceros, stubborn and... just plain weird.

 

Yamato offered to help, and did so even when the other refused.  Still nil.  Still a rhino.  They wondered whether this was some kind of inane joke. 

With a silent transfer of nods, they backed to the other wall and lunged forward simultaneously, planning to tear away the entry.

 

As soon as they made contact with the door, something seemed-- wrong.  All of a sudden, there was no resistance.  What they expected to hold them back

became nonexistant.  Gone, spent, zip.  The rhinoceros turned into a dead VCR.  Obsolete just like all the other ones.  Make way for the DVD.  Welcome,

and enter the world of the new and improved being, the mighty zebra.  More sleek, more graceful, brighter colors (away with the monotone gray!), and

better sound than the rhinoceros.  Sorry, rhino, DVD's are in.

 

But once in motion, still in motion, as Newton's laws go.  Or something to that effect.  The duo clattered on the floor on the other side of the door,

the heavy impact blurring out their senses to dull out the pain that followed.  All Taichi could think about was why it was so difficult before.  They

couldn't possibly overestimate...

 

" Yamato, never took you as the type who preferred to be on bottom.  How's it like down there?"

 

Takeru's voice brought them back, as they realized their promising position was quite the sight.  They scrambled to upright themselves, scaring off the

dust on their sleeves and smiling coyly at the audience.

 

" I like them already..." said a deep voice in the corner of the room. " Where did you find them?"

 

Taichi and Yamato glanced around and spotted the tall man who appeared before them.  He introduced himself as Ross, their producer.  He was a full foot

taller than everyone else in the room, everyone being the five boys and Mrs. Hake, who supervised their progress.  It was her actions that brought

negative consideration out of Takeru. ' She's just cashing us in,' he had noted, ' Just like she's hit an oil goldmine.'

 

" I've already told you, I've known Yamato ever since I was a little kid," the smaller blonde replied.

 

Eyes closed, Yamato held back a laugh. " Omae wa mada hanatarekozou."

 

Takeru's eye twitched. " Urusei..."

 

Puzzled at the conversation, Ross felt the need to keep himself occupied.  He spoke to Taichi for a while, exchanging more introduction and then finally

getting down to the point. " All right, let's see what you've got."

 

" Guh..." Taichi blinked at him, " How?"

 

Ross took a step back, surprised to be asked such a simple, yet stupefying question. ' Well, they aren't cocky, that's nice...' However, he still felt

that they would be able to think of something to show off.  Taichi remained confused, getting no response and absolutely clueless as to what he should

do.  He peered over to Yamato, and although the blonde didn't show it, he seemed to be in just the same state.

 

Fearing a bad first (or second) impression, Takeru suggested that they sing an American son they both knew.  They went through the list of the bands they

knew, even going through some of the female ones.  But at each turn there was some type of objection.  One wouldn't know the band, didn't know any of

their songs enough to sing them, or just didn't feel like singing them at the time.  Someone, be it Takeru or Ross, was about to throw a tantrum at the

neverending debate, but in the knick of time, the duo finally chose a song...

 

" But on the telephone line I am anyone, I am anything I want to be,

I can be a supermodel or norman mailer

And you wouldn't know the difference

Cuz on the telephone line I am any height, I am any age I want to be,

I can be a caped crusader or space invader

And you wouldn't know the difference... or would you?"

 

There was a complete silence.  Ken had stopped staring at the walls, Daisuke had woken up from an unwanted doze, and there was some hint of a smirk on

Takeru's lips.  Mrs. Hake was once again shaking, but attempted to hide it by creeping into the shadows of the walls.  Taichi and Yamato were facing each

other, staring as if... if...

 

Ross gave one nod and then clapped his hands together, making a snapping noise that startled everyone. " Good.  Let's work up a song for the contest,

shall we?"

 

****

 

~September 18, 2002~

 

Sun rays glimmered onto Taichi's sleeping face, stimulating a small cringe between his pores. Another rigorous morning was on its way...  After conjuring

up the will to rouse, he gave one long stretch with his arms and groaned mentally as the bed creaked from his movements.  His first thought... Lunch that

day would be French toast sticks with sausage.  Eck.  True as it was, the only thing that motivated him to even wake up to the new day was a certain

blonde vision that prodded his mind at every available moment.

 

It also happened to be right there with him as he walked down the path towards the school, speaking flippantly on the subject of the annoyance of

telemarketing.

 

" There was this one guy who called us at about four in the afternoon asking for my parents," he went on, " I told him to call back in a couple hours,

and he started going about saying, ' oh, so you want me to call during dinner time so you have an excuse to get off?  Is that it?  So you don't LIKE

being called during dinner time!  Oh, I see...'"

 

Taichi chuckled lightly. " I haven't seen that on you before, Yamato," the brunette mused, creating a perfect excuse to observe him, full body from head

to pert ass-er, toe.  Yeah.  Lovely... shoe-covered toe...  He was clad with a very casual black sweater that seemed to outline his more attractive

features...

 

Yamato took Taichi's head shaking as an opportunity to release the blush he had been holding back. " My mom bought me some new clothes a few days ago..."

 

Taichi slapped his palm on the other's shoulder. " See?  Not everything you have are hand me downs."

 

Remembering that certain scenario earlier, Yamato hesitated from any further comment.  He remained tree-formed for several moments, trying to keep a

nonchalant face at the heat near his neck.

 

The cello player observed this and fished around his conscious for something to relieve the tension.  " It looks good on you.  I like it."

 

...Pickles.  Wrong word choice, Yagami.

 

Either which way, it was something... Taichi brought his hand back into his pant pocket.

 

" Arigatou..." The blush on Yamato's face was more than apparent now, but Taichi assumed it was because he wasn't used to hearing such compliments. 

Himself, he had lost track of all the fan screams he had received for his soccer playing.  Speaking of which, he needed to get a waiver form to finish

off his physical education credits...

 

On extreme coincidence, Yamato asked, " How's soccer?"

 

Amusing how those two words could fit so well with his thoughts.  Readjusting the weight on his shoulders (he always wondered how Yamato could stand

carrying his violin to and from school so often...), Taichi shrugged as the pair continued their stroll. " There's some really nice players in this

school, but I haven't gotten to know them yet.  They haven't really spoken to me."

 

" Why not?" Yamato queried, although he probably knew the answer already.

 

Taichi slowed his pace on the sidewalk, delaying the arrival to the school that was in clear sight in front of them.  He then stopped altogether,

bringing an intrigued look on Yamato's face as he followed.  He got one long blank look from the brunette before they continued on the path again.

 

' Heh,' Yamato thought, ' HE knows that I know...the difference.'

 

****

 

Tsuzuku...

 

****

 

I warned you about the randomness..

 

Mm.. much shorter than I wanted, but I did cut out a lot of parts that were incomplete that will be in the next chapter instead, so expect the next one

to come a little faster... hopefully. ^_^;  Life has been tough.

 

Anyone interested in getting an Mp3 of Savage Garden's Santa Monica can request it to be sent to their streamload account (http://www.streamload.com)

along with other requests, check my site for a full list.

 

Omae wa mada hanatarekozou-You're still a snotty-nosed kid.

 

Omake: Check out the profile section that has been recently completed, with pics for all 5 Bish Boys ^_^  http://www.dreamwater.org/gottaito/fics/TBB.htm

 

Some inspirational reviews would be sugoi... (awesome, spectacular, excellent, super, extravagant, any other synonyms... okay, now I'm just wasting

word-count numbers -_-) for they will motivate my muses to conjure up the next chapter if you so wish it. ^_^

 

Splash

http://gottaito.cjb.net