Ah god. So much for a timely update. I actually lost my laptop and the updates for all four of my stories so it's taken longer than expected to get this up. Thankfully, however, I got my precious back, so we're finally up and running. I'm sorry for making everyone wait, but better late than never! Oh reviewers, there are so many of you! I had no idea this story would be so well liked, but thank you so much! You guys blow my mind.

Disclaimer: alas, I still don't own it. I just like to make the characters do stuff. (thumbs up) thank you again, to all my reviewers for being so patient.

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Changes

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"Alright, so I'm sure you're eager to hear about the new facility, so I'll fill you in on the details first-"

"Why can't Tai come?" Matt blurted out, completely unaware that he'd said the thought aloud until six pairs of eyes turned to look at him. Beside him, Daisuke had a sly smile on his face. Miyako looked taken aback.

"I've already told you, Dr. Koushirou evaluated each of you and determined who would be fit to-"

"That's total bull and you know it" Dai glared. "You guys won't even give him a fair shot! He's totally fine when he's medicated and he's never acted up but you're too scared to even give him a chance at being a normal kid!" "That's right!" Sora added, resting a reassuring hand on the brunette's shoulder. "If anything, Tai winds up calming down the other kids before you even have to."

Yamato was quiet, watching the therapist take all this in. She looks pretty pissed off. I don't even know how many times we've cut her off. I bet she'll explode any minute now.

The group was obviously tense, an aura for frustration and anger hovering in the air, waiting for the woman's response. In truth Matt had no idea what the others were arguing about. From what he'd seen, Tai seemed like a perfectly normal guy, how could he really be sick enough that he'd have to be hospitalized for the rest of his life?

"You have a good point," Miyako said quietly, taking everyone by surprise. Well, that's definitely not the response I was expecting. And glancing at the startled faces around him, he knew he wasn't alone. "So, I'll make a deal with you." She said simply, pushing her glasses back up the bridge of her nose, "Sit here, listen to the rules, and go to bed without a problem, and I'll bring it up to Dr. Koushirou. Agreed?"

Her face was stern, but there was an undeniable trace of compassion in her eyes, and the blond could all but see the glimmer of hope pass through the group around him.

There was a thoughtful silence, and Ken brushed his fingers gently across Daisuke's hand before the boy answered.

"Ok, Deal."

"Alright then." The woman smiled, crossing her legs and resting her hands on her clipboard. "As I said before, the building is only a few miles from here, so if there is an emergency, staff is permitted to send any patient right back here if necessary. It's a closed hospital, so the only students will be other adolescent psychiatric patients from various hospitals. Since it is a hospital they are required to keep you under surveillance, so you will be assigned dorm rooms.

You will only be permitted to attend classes that meet your grade level. There will be mandatory therapy sessions once a week, as well as weekend visitations. It's important that you understand that you will be given a great number of privileges. You will have your own bathrooms, you'll be able to shut your door, you can have your personal belongings back, and you can eat in a cafeteria. You will also have day trips every two weeks where you will be paired off and permitted to be on your own."

Holy shit. When she said there'd be privileges, she wasn't kidding. Matt was floored. It was almost like getting his life back.

"Now the specifics will be discussed with you once you're admitted, so for now you're finished. I'll have you guys go back to your rooms to pack, tonight will be your last night in Kyoto Hospital, so just remember your promise and try to behave."

With that, the woman stood and opened the door, motioning for them to leave. The group stood slowly, as if in a daze. Excitement and fear and worry and relief and anxiety- everything was suddenly so overwhelming.

This is my last night in this place. I'm free.

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Eight-o-clock found Matt in his room, sitting at the desk and staring out the window. His belongings had long since been packed and sat in two paper bags in the corner, the contraband, he was told, would be returned to him in the morning.

"I'd tell you to get some sleep, but you wouldn't be able to anyway," Tai laughed. The brunette boy was laid sprawled out in the other bed, idly tossing a soccer ball into the air and catching it just before it could hit him. "Always the hardest. Last nights suck." Wait-what? Something about that sentence caught Matt's attention; though he hadn't even noticed it the first time Tai gave him this warning.

"Always? You mean you've gotten out before?"

Tai blinked obliviously, "Huh? Oh well yeah, it's not like I live here."

Yamato was thoroughly confused. "But how many times have you been in here? And why do you keep coming back? Are you suicidal or something?"

Tai laughed outright, not realizing the other boy was serious.

"How many times have I been admitted? God I don't know. On and off for the past two and a half years." "What! Two and a half years!" Matt was nearly shouting, throwing the other boy so off guard that he forgot the catch the ball before it pegged him in the face. "Ow!" Tai rubbed his head, chucking the ball across the room angrily. "Stupid ball."

"You must have a thing for hitting faces with stuff. My face- the door, your face- the ball." Tai laughed, sitting up lazily and hunching over. "Yeah I guess," Brown eyes looked up to see Yamato facing him, obviously unwilling to let the subject change.

"So?"

"So what?"

"So why two and a half years!" Matt demanded, frustrated by the boy's feigned absentmindedness. Tai heaved a sigh, running a hand through his hair and tucking his body further into his hoodie.

"I'm schizophrenic." He said, shifting awkwardly. "And I'm fine when I'm medicated, it's just that my mom doesn't want to pay for the pills because she wants to make my dad to take care of it. So being in the middle of a big messy divorce and all, they're using my mental health to get back at each other." Tai yawned, ruffling his hair in what Yamato assumed was a nervous habit.

"So, when they both refuse to pay for it, I lose it and get shipped here. It'll be ok once I'm eighteen though, cause then I can get the meds myself, so it's really just a matter of-"

"You're schizophrenic?"

Matt stared incredulously. There's no way. There's no fucking way.

Tai blinked owlishly. "Well, yeah." The blond shook his head in disbelief, straddling the chair and leaning forward. "So like- you hear voices and think everyone's out to get you?"

Tai looked disgusted.

"Oh god no. I'm not a paranoid schizo, that's totally different." "Ok then, so give me an example."

The boy looked thoughtful for a minute, chewing on his thumb absently. "Well, I think the most memorable time was getting admitted when I thought I was Jesus. That was pretty weird." Whaaat? Yamato stared at him blankly before snickering. Tai pouted. "Hey now! I really thought I was Jesus!"

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11:15

"Checks." The door opened and shut, the boys inside ignored it. "So did you wind up talking to Dr. Koushirou again?" Tai hugged his pillow, resting his head on his arms. "Yeah, but I don't think it really made a difference. It was really nice of you guys to try though."

Matt pulled his blankets up, squinting to see the boy in the bed across from his. "For what it's worth though," Tai said softly, nearly mumbling, "I'm glad you guys are getting out, and I'm going to miss you."

Miss me…he'll miss me.

"Dai's going to be really upset" Matt said lamely, trying to put his own feelings into words. Tai sighed, shifting to get more comfortable. "He'll get over it. He has Ken for company and besides, how many chances like this do you get, ya know?"

The blond felt his heart sink and swallowed the lump in his throat. "Try to get some rest" Tai said gently. "They'll be waking you up early." Yamato felt his eyes sliding shut, exhaustion taking its toll. "Tai?" he murmured. "Hm?"

"I'll miss you too."

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"Yamato."

The blond jerked awake, startled by the insistent hand on his shoulder. There was a nurse leaning over him and he blinked in confusion. "Get up and grab your things. The bus is here."

Fucking god. There is no way its morning. It's still dark outside. What time is it?

Yamato tossed the covers aside, looking around groggily for a clock. Five am. Five-o-clock in the damn morning. How do they expect- "Hurry up Ishida. You'll miss your ride." The nurse pushed, handing the boy a paper bag. "Here's your contraband. Grab your shoes." The boy fumbled around, feeling vaguely like he was still dreaming as he tried to balance three bags while sliding shoes on.

Standing in the doorway, Yamato took one last look at the small room he'd known as home, hoping to find Tai to say goodbye, but found the bed empty. Fucking fuck where's Tai? The bathroom door was shut. Of all times to have to pee, he picked now. Matt opened his mouth to speak but the nurse shoved him out the door, ushering him down the hall and leading him through a series of security doors. A bus sat out front, the engine still running while Miyako stood at the door talking to the driver. On seeing the boy, she smiled.

"Good morning Yamato, go ahead and grab a seat." Matt was half-asleep and too dazed to managed a respectable glare. He plodded up the steps only to find Jyou, Sora, Mimi, Daisuke, and Ken all sitting in their pajamas and watching him expectantly. Feeling a little self-conscious, Matt looked down at his checked pants and raggy t-shirt before running a hand through uncombed hair and taking the nearest seat.

Behind him, Dai was all but climbing over his seat. "Well?"

Matt swallowed hard and didn't look up, unable to say the words that no one wanted to hear. The bus driver climbed on.

"Oh hell no. I'm not leaving without Tai." Daisuke growled, jumping up as Ken grabbed his shirt. "Dai don't-" "Where's Miyako! She said she'd talk to him!" The boy sounded frantic and it was worrying the others. "Dai calm down" Mimi insisted, grabbing the boy's shoulders. "You're going to get us all in trouble if you don't calm down" Sora pleaded. Daisuke would hear none of it, screaming at the top of his lungs. "I don't give a damn I'll yell all I want! Where the hell is Tai huh! Where is he!"

"Jesus Christ I'm right here now shut up will ya?"

Standing in the stairwell clutching two paper bags was Yagami Taichi in an oversized sweatshirt and plaid pants, looking decidedly exhausted and annoyed. "Think you yelled loud enough? Damn, I bet my ears are bleeding."

Seven shocked and utterly amazed faces stared back at him as the boy shuffled towards Yamato, looking at him with a lopsided smile. I don't believe it. They're letting him come. "Mind if I sit here?"

"Alright driver!" Miyako announced, climbing in and swinging the door shut. "it looks like we've got everything, so lets move out!" Matt looked from the woman smiling slyly in the front seat, to the laughing group behind him and the brunette currently falling back asleep on his shoulder.

Ok. Maybe he could become a morning person.

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So there you have it, the reason Tai's hospitalized. I'd love to hear what you guys think, any and all reviews are spectacular. aaaand, oh, oh! Is that some shonen-ai action going on there? I think it is! Hang tight guys, it'll take me a little bit to update, since I have to rewrite it all, but I'll try to update as soon as I can.