Disclaimer:….is it still needed?

The laughter had gone.

He was left alone. In the dark, cold, musty room pervaded with dizzy smell. No way out. No will to move. Just laying here, waiting, dying.

Because he knew they would come back.

They had not done with him yet. They said. He heard that.

He waited to die.

Seek My Heart by Redvind

The only one at the Yagami household that time was Yagami Yuuko. She was surprised when she opened the door and found Ishida Yamato, her son's best friend, almost out of breath, panting hard, but welcomed him in nonetheless.

Around thirty minutes later, Yagami Susumu nearly came running through the door. He got a call from his wife that Yamato had dropped by and had something to tell them. When he asked what it was about, it was the blonde who answered, saying that it was real important that he rather told them both together, and that he should come back home quickly.

"Anata!" Yuuko exclaimed.

"I'm home," he said, panting. "So, what is it that you want to tell us about, Yamato kun?"

The blonde nodded in greeting, as well as in agreement. He gestured toward the living room. Both adults followed him and sat on the sofa close to each other.

"I've found him."

They blinked. "…what?"

Yamato repeated. "I've found him. Taichi." Then he began to tell them about his attempt in research, his talk with Tagamura Ryu, Takashi's and Yutaka's visiting his grandma and, finally, about the photo. To end his story, he showed them the picture that he had held tightly in his hand all the time.

"At the right corner."

Yuuko took it. She stared at it for a mere second, hands began trembling, eyes shaded to tears.

"It's him." Her voice broke slightly despite a smile that slowly climbed up her face. A true, happy smile that never found on her in ages. "It's him. My Taichi. My baby! Anata! Look! It's really him!"

Susumu accepted the picture and looked at where she was pointing. There stood a figure with a bit messy shoulder-length hair. It was quite hard to tell whether it was really Taichi. But something in them drew his attention…something familiar. Maybe it really was him, …then why….

"If it is truly Taichi, why doesn't he come back…or at least make a call?" he commented aloud, confused and almost scared. "Why making us worried? He knows we would have…he doesn't have problems with any of us, does he?"

Their hearts tightened at hearing the questions that they all wondered, but had been too afraid to voice them. There were no answers for them. Silence weighted the tension, shadowed their minds.

Yamato bit his lower lips till it bled. He tested blood on his tongue.

"I will go looking for him." It was no use to waste the time to question and cry. If he wanted the answer, he must go and get it. The sooner, the better. "Tomorrow. I will skip school to look for Taichi."

"Onii-chan…"

Three heads in the living room turned to the direction the faint voice came from. There, at the doorway, stood the youngest Yagami, Hikari, and her friend, Takeru, Yamato's brother.

"Hikari! Takeru-kun! When did you come back?"

"A minute ago, Yagami-san. The door is unlocked. Probably that's why you didn't hear us."

It was Takeru who replied. Hikari, at the moment, could only stare at the other blonde as if she'd never seen him before.

"Yamato-san, what have you just said? About Onii-chan?"

The blonde looked away. He didn't want to tell her. Not yet. Not when there's a chance that the news about Taichi could turn into some kind of prank and break everyone's heart, especially hers.

"Yamato-san!"

The girl bellowed, startled them. Never before had she raised her voice at someone. The blonde could do nothing but gave in. he began to tell her the whole story again. While listening so, the girl's face was calmed and set. The face that only belonged to the ones who had made up their mind.

"I'm going with you, Yamato-san."

Yamato shook his head. "We don't know if it's him."

"But you were so sure that it was when you first looked at the photo."

"It's worth a try. Better than sitting around waiting."

She nodded. "That's why I want to come." And before he interrupted her, she added. "He's my brother, Yamato-san, as well as your best friend. I think it gives us the right to try."

There's a stare contest. Neither of them backed off. Finally, the blonde sighed. "Fine. You can come with me. If that's alright to you, Yagami-san." The last sentence was directed to the two parents. They only smiled.

"Well, it's not like we can stop her now, can we?"

"Alright then. We better get ready for tomorrow. Let's meet at the train station at 10. Does it sound good?"

"Wait a sec, Takeru." The blonde interrupted. "Who says you can come?"

"Oh, come one, Onii-san!" the younger blonde smiled despite his brother's glaring. "You don't think you can leave me out after I heard all of this, do you? Of course I will go with you. I want to help, too."

Again, a stare contest. And Yamato lost, again, obviously. Partly because he knew that Takeru could be stubbornly determined when he wanted to (Takeru did take after his brother, after all) and partly because he understood his feeling…of helplessness. He would have jumped into the chance, too, if Yamato were him.

He sighed. "Fine."

Takeru hi-fived with Hikari, smirking.

"But no one more. got it?"

The younger blonde lifted his hand. "Got it. Not a single word. Especially not to Daisuke-kun."

Hikari realized. "Right. He would have come for sure if he heard about it."

They talked about plans and so a bit more. Then the two brothers stayed for dinner as Yuuko invited them. By the time they left, things had been all set. Yuuko would call their school for them, Yamato would tell his father after he got back and Takeru would tell his mother that he would stay at Yamato's.

"Ne, Onii-san…"

"Hmm?"

"What would you do if it's really Taichi-san?"

Yamato thought for a bit. "Hug him, probably."

Takeru made a sound as if disbelieved.

"I would!" Yamato laughed, almost disbelieved himself. "Then I will kick his ass for making us worried like that!"

Takaru joined his brother's laugh. "Now this sounds like you."

"Good afternoon, Ikuma-san! What would you like to have today?" the brunet greeted the doctor loudly as he stepped inside. The older man smiled warmly at him.

"Hito knows what to get me." He said while the boy led him to a table. Mamoru nodded, smiling, then turned to the kitchen and shouted.

"Nii-san! Ikuma-san is here!"

Noises of kitchen utensils falling down loudly told them that Hito already knew. Ikuma raised an eyebrow at the boy who was grinning a little.

"Hito-nii is trying to make his so awesome recipe and needs to concentrate. He told me not to make a loud noise, though."

The man chuckled as the shop owner stomped out of the kitchen, looking pissed. He walked straight to his so-called brother and pitched his cheeks. Sharp.

"I thought I've told you…"

Mamoru made a face and tried to struggle away from his grip. Succeeding, he struck his tongue out.

"But we've got a costumer and you need to service him right now." He gestured to Ikuma-san who watched the brotherly screen with great amusement. "Besides, I'm getting bored. The last costumer has left an hour ago. I wonder where they've gone to."

"Away from you, I presume?"

"Hey!" Mamoru cried, then pouted cutely. Hito chuckled, irritated forgotten, and patted his brown head until the younger boy shifted and smiled.

The shop owner nodded at the older in greeting. "The usual, right, Ikuma-san?"

"Right."

"Are you going to stay for dinner, too? You're off the work?" he went back to the kitchen, preparing the older man's meal.

"I'm never off works. Anyway, while waiting, I'm going to see how Alice's doing with the puppies."

"Puppies…puppies! Ah, I almost forgot!" the brunet suddenly exclaimed. "I have to buy more milk powder and dog food and such. Why don't you remind me?" he whined, the last sentence directed to his so-call brother.

The man simply shrugged, like it wasn't any of his business. Mamoru ran around, taking his work apron off, picking up his wallet Hito gave him and the shopping list. He gave it to the older man to see. "Is there anything else you want?"

After checking a brief second, he said. "Soap and toothpaste and washing powder. A bit heavy, but you'll manage it, right?"

He ignored Mamoru's pouting face.

"I'm going now!" the brunet called over his shoulder. Ikuma was waving and Hito said. "Be careful, though!"

They watched until they boy was out of sight.

Chuckling, Ikuma said. "He looks better and better everyday, doesn't he?"

Hito rolled his eyes, but he was smiling. "I guess."

The older man turned to him. "I've not noticed it before. But I think I heard him call you 'Hito-nii'."

"He does."

"A new family member, hmm?"

The sound of chopping vegetable was the only thing to hear for a moment. Hito didn't reply, Ikuma didn't expect him to.

"Would it be alright?"

The younger man didn't answer that. "He's staying here." He simply said. "For the time being."

The doctor observed his expression, like he was trying to find the answer he's looking for. Then, he nodded.

"He's not the only one getting improved, it seems."

After the meal Hito led the older man to Alice's little family. They all looked healthy, one being licked clean and others sucking down milk. Ikuma asked him what their names were, but Hito didn't give them any. Because, he said, he couldn't keep them all and would have to give away. He would prefer the new masters to name them rather than doing it himself.

"The sense of family. Maybe."

They talked a bit more before the bell rang, meaning someone goy in the café. Both men went downstairs and were greeted by a group of Hito's long term costumers and young friends.

"Hey, Hito-san!"

"What are you guys doing here? I thought I've heard that you all were going to the carnival."

"That's right. So we come to have early dinner and make your life a bit more complicated."

Hito grunted. They were about fifteen people here. "Fine. Write your order on a paper and give it to me."

"Haa? Why would we need to?" a girl looked from left to right. "Hey! Where's Mamoru-kun? Shouldn't he be here and give us a smile?"

"Aww, Saori-chan, so cute! Everyone knows you have a crush on him. Why don't you ask him out tonight?"

The girl blushed brightly. "Shut up!"

Hito sighed. "Mamoru went to shopping for me so there's no one to take your order. Now, what do you like to have?"

Loud noises of talking and laughing boomed out the café. Ikuma ended up having to help Hito serve orders; some of them helped themselves.

"Speaking of Mamoru," the boy teasing Saori earlier suddenly said. "There're some people looking for him in town."

Hito and Ikuma went rigid. No one noticed.

"Oh, I met them, too. Two boys and one girl, right? Both boys have blonde hair. They are so cute!" another girl said. "Too bad the taller one wears sunglasses and a cap, but still, he looks cool."

Another boy picked up the conversation. "Were they really looking for Mamoru? I heard they called the boy in a picture they're carrying Taichi. Could it be someone who looks alike?"

Hito turned to the boy. "Picture?"

The boy nodded. "Yeah. They showed me. It's a picture of some tourists, their friends-I guess, and in a corner there is Mamoru…or at least I think it's him. So when they asked, I told them it's Mamoru and he lives here. They looked crushed, though."

"Maybe they aren't looking for Mamoru, then?" his friend stated.

He shrugged. "Don't know. Could be, could not."

After paying for meals, the group went on their way, leaving two men having trouble thoughts.

"Could it be…" the older man trailed off. And Hito cut it midway with the same sentence the boy said earlier. "I don't know."

Ikuma shook his head. It seemed that things had started to put themselves back together…so soon, much, much too soon.

The shop owner didn't say another word. He just carried all dirty dishes to the kitchen and begun to clean them, scrubbing them all. And scrubbed, scrubbed, scrubbed until the bell rang again and three figures step in his café. Two boys and a girl.

The second hand on the wall clock walked another strep. Its sound echoed through his head. Louder than any thunderbolt he'd ever heard.

He couldn't decide. Really, really couldn't.

It sure took a long time already, but still…

Standing here with two cans in both hands in the food sector of a local supermarket, Mamoru kept looking from one can to another, scanning and comparing all compositions and nutrients on the labels. Both brands seemed just as good. He couldn't say one was better than the other and that made him hesitate. He gave a big sigh, thinking how he should solve this little-turn-big problem.

Then, as mystery as it came, he put both cans into the basket, smiling. See, it's not that hard; if he couldn't choose, he'd have to just take them both. Easy!

So he came back happily with his decision, smiling when he put the door to the kitchen opened.

"I'm back! With all things ordered, sir!"

Hito, turning from his food making, smirked and played along. "Well done, solider. Now I need you to put your apron on and serve these to those enemies over there right away. You got it?"

He pointed to the only table occupied at the moment. Mamoru's eyes followed. It seemed that Ikuma-san had gone to play with Alice already.

"Yes sir!"

They both laughed.

"You know that the enemy thing is a joke, right?" the older one asked, making sure.

The little one shrugged. "Of course. We watched too much TV anyway."

So the brunet carried the drinks to the customers with a usual, bright smile on his face. When he reached the table, he gave out a usual speech. "Sorry to make you wait. Here you g…"

The speech was left unfinished as one of the customers, the seemingly oldest one wearing a cap and sunglasses, sprang up from his chair. Not to mention that the other two were looking at him with shocked expression. The man took his sunglasses off in almost disbelief. The eyes stared at him. Hard. Wide.

So blue…

Mamoru suddenly felt uneasy. "Er…sorry. So these aren't your order?"

A deep frown appeared on the other face. He was getting angry, the brunet could tell.

The guy almost shouted, bitterness filled in his voice. "What are you playing at?"

Yup, definitely angry. Mamoru turned around, ready to go back to the kitchen and yell at his so-called brother for making wrong drinks and correct them. "I see. Sorry about that. I'll go make the new ones right away…"

A hand grabbed his wrist, stopping him mid-step. An angry glare caught him off grand.

"What do you think you are doing? No, forget it. Have you had no brain at all?"

The brunet was frightened, eyes wide opened. He felt his hands shaking. He just wanted to go away and make it right…why so angry? Couldn't this man see that he didn't mean to do it wrong?

Please let me go.

It repeated in his head.

Don't touch me.

When that hand tightened and tugged him forward, Mamoru lost the drinks and screamed.

A heartbroken scream alerted everyone; the three strange customers, Ikuma and Alice, and Hito. He rushed out of the kitchen as fast as he could to gather the brunet in his arms meanwhile trying to sooth him.

"Mamoru! Mamoru!"

It's no use. Mamoru was still screaming against that board chest. And Hito held him tight. The sound was muffled but they could hear something broken inside. It hurt. Painfully hurt.

This journey was anything but pleasant. They decided to leave early, so that there would be more time to search for the brunet, which meant they had to rush packing for the trip and plan where to look first. Then the excitement of finally getting a clue mixed with nervousness of what had happened to him kind of kept them up half of the night.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow we will find him. Tomorrow he will come back. Tomorrow. Tomorrow…

The lack of sleep and the tiredness slowly weighed down their excitement. On the train they had discussed the situation; they would go to the shopping street and ask the shop owners about Taichi. That would be their first lead. And hopefully it would bring them to where Taichi was…

But it seemed luck wasn't on their side. After three hours of riding on the train, and almost five hours of asking random people, they got no clue of where the brunet could possibly be. No one knew Taichi. Now the three didn't know what to do. Exhausted, they went to a park and rested for a while, discussing about what's next.

"Could it be that he wasn't here anymore?" Takeru sighed, taking a sip of his soda. He looked at Hikari who hadn't touched her hamburger. Finishing his, Yamato threw the wrapping paper away. He knew that this searching wasn't going to be easy, of course, but it was more complicated than he thought. So asking around with a little bit of photo wasn't much of a help.

But there's no other way.

"Probably we should try a bit more. If the sun set and we've not got a clue, I call we've done for the day."

So they finished their quick meal and went into more stores. They even tried asking some passing people, be it local or tourists.

Luck wasn't on their side, they assumed, when they ran across a group of teenagers. One of them even said the boy in the photo wasn't Taichi…

"This guy?" the boy took a goo, long look at the picture he's given. "He looks familiar, though…Hey, isn't it Mamoru?"

"Mamoru?"

Another boy walked up to them, looking at the picture over his friend's shoulder. After a while, he nodded. "Yeah, at least I think it's him. Why are you looking for him, anyway?"

Yamato lifted his hand, expecting them to return the only clue they had. When the boy did, he safely put it back in his pocket. "He's a friend of mine. And his name is Taichi."

"Taichi?" the boys looked at each other, seemingly to think the same thing. Then they turned their gaze to the trio. "No, that guy's no Taichi. His name is Mamoru."

"He's come to live with his brother for a while. The café was over there." he pointed at the way directing to the beach.

Another boy in the big group called, saying it's time to get going. Yamato thanked them, then turned to the other two. They were pretty much speechless.

If it's not Taichi…then they would come here for nothing.

"Maybe…" Takeru spoke up faintly. "Could it be it's someone who looks alike?"

He didn't dare to say more than this. The looks on Yamato's and Hikari's face said they didn't want to say at all. Hesitated, he managed a try.

"Well, it doesn't mean that there couldn't be two looking-alike people at the same place. So why don't we go ask someone else? Come on, it wouldn't hurt to go talk to this guy either, right? He may have heard something about his look alike."

The other two looked up at him from their spot, smiling a little at the faint hope. And that's what they did. They kept asking until sunset, exhausted both body and mind. So far there's nothing.

Unfortunately or not, they weren't far from a café. It's right at the beach.

"At least there'd be something to eat and we can talk what we will do after this. Let's go." Yamato led the way, leaving Takeru and Hikari on his trail.

The café's not fancy; it's just simple and comfortable. When they stepped in, the clock on the wall echoed in greeting.

They sat, ordered and waited. Words were rarely exchanged between them. It's like they wouldn't mind being in silence. That, until…

A waiter brought their drinks, a very familiar—way too familiar- bright smile on his face.

They couldn't believe this.

It had to be him. It just had to. Because there's no other with that look, that smile. Though the hair was a little longer and limp around the face, the eyes were the same. Scratch that those boys said it's not him. Scratch that a look-alike person. It couldn't be anybody else.

…Taichi….

They sat there, stared and stunned. Smiles and tears of joy reached their faces, before they were ripped away by a simple speech.

"Sorry to make you wait. Here you g…"

Everything crushed down on them. The ground even seemed like shaking.

Yamato sprang up from his chair. He took his sunglasses off in almost disbelief. The eyes stared at him. Hard. Wide.

The waiter, noticing their expression, suddenly felt uneasy. He paused, then tried slowly… "Er…sorry. So these aren't your order?"

Something bitter stuck his throat. What was this? Was it a kind of game for the brunet?

"What are you playing at?" he yelled angrily. Thankfully there were no other customers around. Or even if there were, the blonde probably didn't care anyway.

The waiter winced. "I see. Sorry about that. I'll go make the new ones right away…"

So he was retreating? Yamato wouldn't allow that. He grabbed the brunet's wrist, stopping him mid-step. He'd never felt this angry.

"What do you think you are doing? No, forget it. Have you had no brain at all?"

He wanted to say more, to yell at him how stupid the brunet was, how worried they felt, how the brunet had hurt them so much. But words suddenly dried in his throat.

The brunet was obviously frightened. His hands were shaking. His eyes, what had stopped him at the first place, almost begged to be let go, wide, scared and blurred. Yamato had never seen this look on his friend's face before since he knew him.

…what's wrong?

So he tightened hand and tugged the brunet forward. The waiter lost the drinks and screamed.

A heartbroken scream alerted everyone. A man who took their orders rushed out of the kitchen as fast as he could and gathered the brunet in his arms. He called, a bit louder over the broken scream. A slight fear buried under his voice.

"Mamoru! Mamoru!"

It's no use. The boy called Mamoru was still screaming against that board chest. The man held him tight.

The three could only stare, rooted in their spot, until the cry died down, until Mamoru was taken out of sight.

They didn't know what to think anymore.

TBC….

Red: Alright. An excuse here. It's been a while. I'm so sorry. I did try to write this, but there's also sometime that I just…couldn't. I've got a job now, and it sure would take most of my time…I did wish I were still in studying…TTwTT So please don't expect any update. When it comes, it will…that's all I can say.

And thousand thnaks to anyone who's still waiting for this story. I'm really grateful.