Group Dynamic

By EntreriRose

"Yamato?" Gabumon tugged on the leg of his human's khaki pants.

"What's up, G-man?" Yamato looked down, stopping to let the others pull ahead of them

"Why're you so mean to her?"

Yamato blinked his deep blue eyes at the curious creature. "Mean to who?"

"Maelyn. Don't get me wrong, but I think you actually like making her mad at you."

"Yeah . . ." Yamato said, shoving his hands deep into his pockets and starting to hike again. "So what if I do?"

"That's cruel Yama. Don't you think you're hurting her feelings? It's her first time her and she's probably scared and confused. Why don't you try to take it a little easier on her?" Wise little Gabumon scrambled to keep up with Yamato's long strides.

"Whatever," Yamato grumbled. Why was he suddenly coming under fire? Did it really matter how he felt about the girl? Maelyn annoyed him, with her superior music talents and outgoing personality. And she had hit him, in front of all his friends. Why shouldn't he hate her?

"Lunchtime!"

Yamato was pulled out of his thoughts as he nearly walked into his little brother Takeru.

"Umm . . ." Taichi looked around, already assuming the position of leader. "Jyou, Mimi; you guys go fishing. Sora and I will find some fruit. The rest of you can build a fire or something."

A soft growl echoed in Yamato's throat. He truly hated Taichi at these times, despite their close friendship. He was so arrogant, simply naming himself leader and keeping Sora to himself. His fists clenched, Yamato stormed down to the nearby lake; he need to be alone.

�

She was the strangest thing Maelyn had ever seen, even stranger than the other digimon in their group. Shinimon was completely purple, from the top of her two leathern wings to the bottom of her clawed feet. Even her long, forked tongue was more lavender than red.

"You know, purple's my favorite color," Maelyn said, trying to break the proverbial ice.

Just as she had done the past four hours, Shinimon only looked up at her and smiled in appreciation.

"Give it time," Ken whispered in Maelyn's ear. "She's as new at this as you are." Maelyn turned and smiled at the pale, lanky boy. She didn't understand him just yet, but she felt the gentleness of his nature. She already liked him.

"Well, Shinimon," she said, looking back to the coy little dragon. "We better go get washed up for lunch."

The two, in an awkward silence, made their way down toward the lake.

�

Soft, soulful music filled the air as Yamato skillfully manipulated the old, worn harmonica that he always kept in his pocket for luck. He needed it now, needed the notes to soothe him into blissful oblivion.

A quiet laugh caused the young musician to open his eyes. Across the lake he spotted Taichi swinging a joyous Sora in his arms. His cerulean eyes narrowed, the seed of jealousy in him germinating as he watched his two best friends at play. But then his heart nearly snapped in two when he saw the supposed girl of his dreams kiss his best friend deeply.

Yamato glared at Taichi throughout the whole meager meal, unnerving the wild haired leader. Consumed by fantasies of tearing out his throat, he only grumbled in reply to whoever asked his opinion on where they were to go next.

"Geeze, what's your problem, man?" Taichi finally demanded. "You'd think you're pissed at me or something."

"Maybe I am, you back stabbing jackass!"

"What?" Taichi seemed thoroughly perplexed.

"Don't play innocent, Leader Boy," Yamato spat contemptuously. "I saw what you did; despite the fact that you knew I wanted the same thing, you stole it away from me!"

Sora gasped to the side, turning red with shame.

"Yeah, but you also knew that I had my eye on the same thing," Tai said evenly. "I'm sorry if I hurt you, but . . ."

"Oh shut up you stupid shmuck!"

"What did you say?" hissed Taichi.

"Hey! Guys, please don't fight!" Gabumon and Taichi's digimon, Agumon, tried futilely to interject.

It was too late; Yamato had already leapt across the short distance to tackle Taichi.

�

Maelyn watched the two wrestle across the ground, each finding their punches connecting solidly. What the hell was going on? She wondered. No time to ponder; Maelyn knew that he had to break them up before one or both of them were seriously hurt. It didn't even matter to her that they were both significantly larger than she was, she still approached the fray without fear.

�

Ignoring the pain spreading through his body, Yamato threw himself at Taichi with every ounce of rage he contained. He felt cartilage snap as the blood of Tai's nose oozed over his balled fist.

Taichi cried out, scrambling away to Sora, who desperately tried to stem the blood flow.

Yamato didn't turn after him, so consumed with his own ire. He trembled visibly as adrenaline surged through his veins; he longed to punish Taichi some more. A hand gripped his shoulder tightly. Yamato assumed that it was Tai coming back in for more. Spinning around, he launched another deadly right hook. Again, it made a solid connection on his opponent's face.

All of Yamato's fire left him when he heard her cry out and saw her crumpling to the ground in a broken pile. Bright green eyes stared up at him, filled with anguished tears. Yamato felt as though he too would cry.

"M-Maelyn," he stutters. "I . . . I thought you were Taichi . . . I . . ." Yamato shook his head in shame and sprinted off into the forest, Gabumon quick to follow. He had struck a girl, one that he hated, but that was beside the point. Yamato just wanted to run, to find whatever dark hole he could so he could curl up and die.