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Shi-chan: I'm soooooooorry! I had intended to write a Gundam fic, but I got ahold of this song by the Teenage Wolves, and then, and then...gomen nasaiii!

Opening the Door to the World
~By Shimegami-chan
Music: "Tobira ~Door~," (Yamato and the Teenage Wolves) from Digimon

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I will write something GW as soon as I finish this fic...

"Yamato, are you okay? You've been acting weird all night." Taichi crossed his arms and tipped the chair back on two legs, giving his best friend a hard look. "You're so quiet."

Ishida Yamato shrugged his slim shoulders, tightening one of the strings on his guitar. "Nothing's wrong with me. Why would it be?"

Yagami Taichi quirked an eyebrow. "You don't seem very excited about this concert. Don't you guys have a new single?"

"Yeah." If anything, the mention of the peice made Yamato look even worse.

"Yamato..."

"I'm fine, Taichi. I'm just worried about the new song. It's...just a little off. You know?"

'A little off,' was a huge understatement on Yamato's part. The freshly-composed peice had been written by Yamato himself, and it was the first song that he'd ever written and played in public. It sounded okay, when he sang to his thoughts and accompanied only on his own guitar. Gabumon had approved of the song as well, when he had shyly played the single for his digimon for the first time. Gabumon would appreciate the music, he knew, and he of course approved. Taichi, who had a beautiful voice but was slightly tone-deaf, had read the sheet music over with care and given Yamato his wholehearted support. The other guys in the band were thrilled with the peice, especially the lengthy piano accompaniant, and couldn't wait to get out there and play it for the first time.

But Yamato couldn't help feeling that something was missing. And he couldn't figure out for the life of him what it was.

"...Yamato? Are you listening to me?"

"Sorry, Tai. I think I'm just a little out today..."

Taichi nodded understandingly. "I'll leave you then, and go sit with Hikari and the others. She and Takeru are probably already here."

"Right." Takeru had been excited about his big brother finally writing and singing a solo for the Teen-Age Wolves. "Say hello to my otoutochan and Hikiari-chan, too."

"Sure thing." Taichi moved to the door of the dressing room, throwing a last look at Yamato. "Good luck, friend."

"Thanks." The door shut gently and Yamato was left alone with his thoughts and his guitar.

He plucked out a few chords, staring at the clean white ceiling and mouthing the words to the song he had so labouriously written.

An unidentifyable uneasiness suddenly comes
It's always targeting the two of us
Second-hand knowledge and useless common sense
Surround us both

If you feel down everyday like that
Why not go to Kyoto?
Rather than keeping up this facade of not-knowing
Let's watch on to see our truth
But this one thing I won't surrender:
My pride hidden away inside my heart...

Someone knocked gently on the door, drawing Yamato away from the music. "Come in." He blushed and continued staring at the ceiling, not wanting to admit that something was wrong, even to Taichi. "Back so soon?"

"Yamato?" The voice wasn't Taichi's at all.

Yamato dropped his gaze to meet his visitor's. "Kaasan. Sorry, I thought you were someone else."

"Taichi and Takeru sent me up here," Takaishi Natsuko admitted, closing the door behind her. "I wanted to wish you good luck, and tell you that the other boys are warming up now."

"Right." Yamato liked to warm up his voice by himself, when he could. "Thanks."

"Yamato..." His mother came a little closer, and sat down on one of the amps. "Are you okay?"

"Why? Did Taichi tell you something was wrong?"

"No. You just look...sad. I haven't seen you in a while, Yamato...I missed you." Natsuko gently tucked a stray peice of blonde hair behind Yamato's ear.

The two could have been mistaken for twins if they had been closer in age: Yamato had inherited his mother's deep blue eyes and blonde hair, and their faces looked very alike. Yamato and Natsuko resembled each other more than either did with Takeru. Natsuko's eyes held the same sorrowful look that her son's did at that moment.

"I missed you too, Kaasan." Yamato admitted.

Natsuko's face relaxed and she gave the boy a hug, squeezing his shoulders. "If something's wrong with you, you can tell me. I'll do anything I can to help."

His cheeks pink, Yamato glanced at the sheaf of papers on the table beside him. "I'm just worried about the concert, mama." It had been a long, long time since he had called her that. Natsuko blinked in surprise. "We have a new song and I'm a bit nervous."

"Oh, Yamato." Natsuko smiled. "I'm sure you'll be wonderful. You've sang in lots of concerts before."

"It's a solo, and...I wrote it." Yamato stared at the floor. "I can't tell if it's any good or not. I sang it for Gabumon and Taichi read it, but I don't know. I'm not satisfied with it."

"May I see?" Yamato handed Natsuko the stack of sheet music. "Tobira. Door."

Scanning through the music, Natsuko cleared her throat and began to sing.

Run on for no one else's sake
Because it's better than stopping
Breathe in that clean air, and face that brilliant ocean
Oh keep on running keep on running
Find out your reality

There is no time to hesitate before this new door
So run and fly towards it
And throw that door open

I'm sure that you can do it

Yamato closed his eyes as her voice sang each note clear and true. It was obvious where his musical talent had come from. Natsuko's soft soprano lulled his aching head and soothed his worries, just as its owner had done when he was five years old and innocent and without a care. Natsuko had taught him to love music all those years ago. The blonde teen smiled serenly, remembering when he was a small child and still amazed with the beauty of the world. He lifted his guitar and hummed gently, joining in the song. It seemed beyond perfection, now. What had been wrong with him? The words, the music...everything was right when Natsuko was there to help. Everything was all right with the world.

An invisible uneasiness enveloped you
Your eyes straying away
Shaky confidence, both of us so different from usual
As we trembled

Look on for no one else's sake
Because it's better than giving up

Search for the true answer
Oh keep on running keep on running
Find out your reality

The door to the new world has no key
So have confidence and go forward
And throw that door open

I'm sure you'll be able to find it

A sharp knock brought the session to a close, Takeru sticking his head inside the door. "The others are ready to go on stage, Oniichan. Good luck! Mama-san, it's time to come down now. That song was really nice, are you playing that one tonight?"

"Yeah," Yamato whispered, nodding.

"Great! Good luck!"

Natsuko gave Yamato a hug and kissed his forehead lightly. "You'll be wonderful, Yamato. I know it." Then she and Takeru hurried out the door to reclaim their seats before the show.

Yamato hugged his guitar to his chest and stepped out of the dressing room before making his way to the stage where the rest of the band waited. He took his place at the microphone and put on a brave face as the spotlight hit him, trying to stir up the crowd. "Hey everybody! Welcome to the show!"

The rows of people cheered and roared, and Yamato caught a few whistles coming his way. He quickly picked out Taichi, Natsuko, Takeru, Koushirou, Hikari, Jyou, Sora, and even Mimi right up in the front row. Takeru and Taichi always managed to get the best seats, he reflected. "Is every body ready for the Teen-Age Wolves? You'd better be!" The crowd went wild. "Our first song for the night is one I was supposed to save for last, but I think we need a little boost. This first one's called 'Tobira,' and it's going out to Takaishi Natsuko tonight, from me. Thanks for being there for me. Okay, guys! Let's do it!"

Run on for no one else's sake
Because it's better than stopping
Breathe in that clean air, and face that brilliant ocean
Oh keep on running keep on running
Find out your reality

There is no time to hesitate before this new door
So run and fly towards it
And throw that door open

I'm sure that you can do it
I'm sure that you will make it through...

And in the front-row-center seat, Takaishi Natsuko smiled with pride.

Shi-chan: Thanks to Animal Morpher from Megchan's message board for finding these lyrics for me. ^_^