"Future Forming"
"Well Sora, where do you live?" Matt asked, turning away from watching Tai run off to face her.
Sora face took on a surprised look before stating, "You don't have to walk me home. I'll be fine." Matt shook his head in disagreement and gestured for her to lead the way. Relenting Sora continued her walk home, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
"So, when do you want to work on our project?" Matt asked, walking with his hands in his pocket. Giving off a casual air he did not truly feel.
"Um… this weekend would be fine. How long are you going to be here? We should finish while you are still in town." Sora replied, he must have a concert coming up soon.
"Actually I will be here most of the year, except for a week before Winter Break when I have to go to the States. So anytime except Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after school and Saturday morning would work." Matt replied, he glanced at his watch once more. "How much longer to you house?"
Sora looked back at him, and then forward. "Not much," she pointed toward an apartment building which was across the street. "That is it. So I'll see you later." She then picked up her pace and ran to the apartment building.
Matt watched her leave before turning to walk back the way they had came. Nice building, didn't know she had the money to afford that type of housing.
Sora's POV~
Glancing around the corner, Sora saw that Matt had left before leaving the apartment building. This morning when Tai had come to wait for her, she was visiting a friend. Tai had probably found out where she was from her mother, but other than Tai no one knew exactly where Sora lived and that was the way she liked to keep it.
She ran around the corner toward downtown and entered a flower shop. Her mother's flower shop. "Hi Sora, I'm glad you made it. Would you take over for a few minutes I want to take a break."
Sora nodded but didn't smile at mother as she walked behind the cash register. The flower shop was extremely successful as can be seen by the number of people in it despite there being no special holiday. There wasn't a minute when the shop was actually empty, no matter the season. Her mother had two shops, one here in Tokyo and another in the States. How they were so far apart was hard to explain. Her mother had a seen an ad for a store which was being sold in New York City. After going there to look it over, her mother had bought it with most of their savings. Though the store was successful in New York as well, being close to Central Park and perfect for those honeymoon goers, it was hard to manage. The distance between her mother and the store was stressful. Just last week, her mother had decided she would move to the store in the States and leave Sora in charge of the store here. Though she didn't mind, Sora was fearful she would make a big mistake and ruin her mother's dreams. She had always felt she left her mother disappointed, and she didn't feel like adding fuel to the fire.
"Thank you, come again." Sora cheerfully replied before handing a man his flowers and receipt. Another successful sale.
"Sora, why don't you go home. Emily will be coming in and I'll close the store. Go do you homework and maybe if you have time, you can start dinner?" her mother asked an hour later.
"Yes mom," Sora stated, then added as if as a second thought, "you take care ok?" as she took off her apron.
"I will Sora, now you go and relax a little bit. I can't help feel as if you are a little tense."
Sora walked into a damp and old apartment, which reeked of a smell similar to rotten food. She turned on the lights and looked around. Though her mother and she had tried to make the apartment appear to be a home, it was extremely difficult. Their apartment probably looked the best in the building, but it was no doubt still horrible. Even with the amazing amount the flower shop pulls in. Her mother and she could not afford to live in a nice apartment. Not if they wished to pay for her father's bills. After her parents had separated for the second time something happened to her father. He had always had a somewhat weird personality, with changing moods and everything. But when her parents were together again it was getting better. Yet, when they separated again he had a relapse. The night she had met Yamato he was visiting them at home, leaving the care center for the first time. But upon seeing the condition of the house he went crazy. Getting mad at himself and her mother. That night, she had escaped to seek refuge. Though her mother had reassured him they would move, she had merely given him the address to one of her friend's house. Going to her room, Sora sat down and started on her homework. The wonderful part of her room was its view. It used to be a building, but when that had been demolished it showed the view to the harbor. The view was all that Sora could wish for. After working for an hour, Sora went to the kitchen to start a meal. Her mother won't be back for another hour, but Sora felt it was her duty to start now.
After dinner her mother would go into her temporary office and calculate today's earnings. Sora walked back into her room, but instead of starting up her homework, she picked up a sketch pad. In it were designs for clothing. Her greatest dream was to be a fashion designer, but she didn't tell anyone except Tai. The amount of information that Tai knew about her sometimes worried Sora, fearing he would betray her. But then she would remind herself that Tai woud always be there.
That was her last thought before she drifted off to sleep. She woke up next morning early enough to finish her homework and walk to school. Tai knew better than to walk her to school with Yamato.
"Sora, I want you to look at this." Tai said as he handed her a clipping from a magazine. "I think this would be good for you. Kari found this in Brides." (In this fic Kari is older than Tai) "She has been looking for the perfect wedding gown."
Sora skimmed over the ad, to find that it was a contest of a sort. Tokyo Fashion was looking for new designers and had an application and interview occurring now. They wished for designs to be mailed in and then the ones chosen would be interviewed. Sora's face lit up upon seeing the salary as well, "Tai do you think I could do this?" she asked glancing again at the clipping.
"Sure you can Sor. I know your talent, I've seen your work. Why don't we get together tonight and Kari and I can help you pick. We'll mail it out at my house and if it works out you can tell your mother as a surprise." Tai knew about Sora's constant wish to please her mother.
"Thank you Tai," Sora hugged him close, feeling grateful for having a friend like him. Just then a clearing of throat was heard. Behind them stood Yamato, who had a suspicious glint in his eyes upon seeing the two friends.
"So what is occurring here?" he asked. His perfect eyebrow lifted just a little in a mocking manner. Tai looked over at Sora for permission to speak and when she didn't seem to object Tai smiled and stated,
"Oh nothing big. Just that Sora might soon be the most famous person in Tokyo."
"Oh really?" Yamato asked in the same mocking tone of his.
"Yeah," Tai replied not noticing the tone. "Hey why don't you help us decide as well? Come over to my house tonight. You can join in the forming of a soon to be very famous designer."
Just then the bell rang and Yamato didn't get a chance to reply, but he did sneak a glance at Sora.
"So you wish to be a designer?" He asked when he passed her by to get to class. There was no mocking in his tone, it was sincere. She nodded before looking back down at her feet.
Sora could not concentrate in school and spent most of the day willing time to go by faster. Finally school ended and Sora was the first out. The three of them walked to Tai's house where he got his car and drove Sora home to get her sketch pad. Yamato was left at Tai's after Tai realized Sora wished to keep her living status a secret from him. They returned with three sketch pad, all filled with different designs for a variety of occasion.
Kari found herself looking mostly at the wedding dresses. While the other three perused the other sketches. There was no way someone could deny that they were good. Yamato found some which he took to show his manager for ideas for clothing for his band. Finally the group picked out four designs. One was a wedding dress, suggested by Kari, another was a design for men, suggested by Matt, lastly was an evening gown and a more everyday outfit. Kari had suggested they go for a little in everything to show Sora's talent. Kari took the design and said she would deliver them tomorrow when she went to work. Kari worked in the building next to Tokyo Fashion. Tai then invited everyone to stay for dinner, which Matt agreed and Sora finally did as well after calling her mother.
Anyways hope you like that… suggestions are helpful!