Author's Note: I've been busy. I do apologize. ::bows:: Yesterday was Valentine's Day, and it's like my life is confusing Eros with Eris, but I digress. Then again, my Valentine's Days are ALWAYS like that (sadly). I kneed someone. No, not in that lovey-dovey way, but…okay never mind. Don't ask. I didn't say anything.
Back to the story, I would like to take a moment to say that I am not promoting drinking and getting drunk. (There's a certain part in the story.) SPOILER! There's someone who is faking the stupid, drunken state.
--XoX—
'Wait. Mimi…she's the woman I truly love?'
Yes, that's true, Yagami.
Surprised, his eyes shot open, and saw a blonde on one knee.
"Yagami Hikari, will you marry me?"
"Of course, I will!"
Oh my God, this could not get any worse. Taichi inwardly groaned, and Sora and Mimi gave their harmonious ohs-and-aws. Yamato obediently handled the camera from Mimi and snapped a picture of the newly engaged couple.
His sister, Taichi always believed, was not a woman.
He groaned as the memory played again in his mind's eye—each time more painful than the last. Maybe he should find a life consultant…there was such a thing as a life consultant, right? His sister, his gosh-darn younger sister, was getting married. She was engaged to Takaishi Takeru. But she's not ready to be married. She wasn't a woman. Giving another exasperated sigh, he concentrated on his shot.
Yagami Taichi was practicing archery, a fine art if your focus wasn't too shabby. He always loved to shoot arrows at a target ever since summer camp. There was a matter of wondering who the target was. Nevertheless, he needed good aiming…in some way he could be in control.
Alas, he finally accepted that he was in love with Mimi. But here were the kickers:
If he and his friends did not cooperate with the tour guide, then the tour guide—that manipulative jerk he was—would call the tabloids and Hizeki Miki's identity would be revealed. Plus, those same tabloids would probably celebrate and declare Tachikawa and Ishida as a couple.
He needed to monitor the goings-on for his dear, little sister, who was not a woman—never will be and never shall. Hikari, he concluded, was too young to get married…
His parents would call soon and rejoice now that both their kids were engaged. He wanted to avoid them and their call because he wasn't in love with his fiancée.
Sora…what would he ever tell her? "I'm sorry, but I love your best friend," he'd say, "Friends to the end?" Yeah, he was sure it wasn't that simple. Undoubtedly, Yamato would probably give him another hook for breaking Sora's heart. God, he still had that stupid bruise.
Last but foremost, he was afraid.
Yes, Yagami Taichi, the courageous one, was afraid to be sincere.
--XoX—
Ring! Ring!
Someone was calling the Ichijouji's residence, but no one was answering… The caller had dialed the number three times now…
Ring! Ring!
No answer…the call would be forwarded to the answering machine.
"You have reached the Ichijouji's, but we aren't home right now. Miyako is going to the delivery room and is delivering a baby when you hear this message… Don't ask how I'm doing this—"
A muffle was heard in the background and then Miyako shrieked, "KEN ICHIJOUJI, GET YOUR BUTT OVER HERE! GET ME TO THE HOSPITAL NOW!"
"—so you can dial us on the cell phones although they might not let us use—"
"KEN!"
Another shuffle was heard, and then a innocent voice said, "They won't let us use the cell phones because of the frequencies, so if you wanna reach us, you can find us in the Odaiba Central Hospital! I'll be a big sister now!"
A close friend of the Ichijouji's gave their message: "Hey guys! It's Hikari! Oh, I can't believe the twins are on the way now! I'll make this quick though… I'M GETTING MARRIED! TAKERU AND I ARE GETTING MARRIED! We'll see you when we get back from our trip! I can't wait to see the—"
The message ended abruptly, for the answering machine was worn out from the call-back message. At least, it got the gist of the caller's message.
--XoX—
"You what…?" asked Takeru, perplexed.
His fiancée had such a decisive mind that was probably worth worrying about. Having called everyone's parents, she was well on her way to preparing another joyous and beautiful engagement party—this time for herself. Of course, Takeru was still worried about Taichi's thoughts about this, especially since…it was quite clear now: Taichi and Sora would not last.
That much was certain, especially because some pop star was singing in his sleep. Ironically, he could not sing in his sleep.
Sora was growing happier and happier as time passed, as if Valentine's Day and Christmas collided. Taichi, however, was sinking deeper and deeper into grouchiness and despair.
"Hikari, have you been looking out for your brother?"
"Mmhmm," she answered. She twirled around and sat on the stone bench that stood next to the water amid the Japanese gardens. The lady laughed with a melody and remarked with equal charm, "I think your brother should talk to my brother because your brother knows my brother and—"
The blonde placed a finger to hush her. "How do we know Taichi won't punch Yamato?"
"That, Mr. Takaishi, is why I've scheduled an appointment for Mimi, Sora, and me. Since there are a couple of engagements now, they're letting us use the hot springs for free. You and Taichi and Yamato can do whatever you like…" Hikari glowed with another grin. "But first—we have to find Mimi!" She jumped up, but he gently clasped her hand and laced his fingers with hers.
Surprised, she stepped back, a light flush rushing to her cheeks.
"You aren't going anywhere."
"Takeru…" she whined.
Silence stopped her, and she finally agreed, "All right, I'll stay with you."
Takeru got up and looked at her with all the love in his heart. "No more scheming—at least until the end of the week…" he said sternly, "…got it?"
She nodded, but the corners of her mouth twitched until she burst into laughter and hooked her arms around his neck.
He smiled and kissed her on the cheek…for all the love in the world.
--XoX—
She tucked her auburn hair behind an ear and hummed to a tune she never really knew…a song she never fully learned…a melody so beautiful she could feel the rush of adrenaline beating in her heart. She bathed in the warm sunlight as its rays lit the golden hues of her red hair. Abruptly, she laughed to herself and twirled to the rhythm of the music stuck inside her head.
Who was she thinking about? It was simple: Ishida Yamato.
No fan girl of his would love him as much as she did. They would never know how his eyes could dance whenever they see something so beautiful. No fan girl of Yamato would ever see how wonderful a person he truly is.
And yet…she wondered why she felt so confused.
"Sora, what are you doing?" Mimi asked, pacing towards her friend. She pulled her sunglasses back atop her head. Her eyes sparkled with sharpness and the genuineness that only Mimi would ever hold. "I've never seen you this giddy before…" The girl paused and twirled a strand of chestnut hair. "In fact, I haven't seen you this happy for…I don't know how long…"
Feeling the glances of suspicion, Sora piped up, "It's nothing!" She offered a smile, but it was a flat-out blissful smile.
Mimi winked and gave her friend a playful grin. "I've known you for too long."
"W—what do you mean?" Sora raised her hands in defense. "What are you giving me that look for?"
Mimi shrugged her shoulders innocently and said, "I understand. You'll tell me later." She turned to the side and watched the second hand tick on her wristwatch: 1…2…3…4…
"Uh…Mimi…?" Sora asked. "I…don't think…I—"
Ring! Ring! Mimi's cell phone went off. She automatically flipped it open said, "Hello?"
Sora kicked her shoes against the gravel, still thinking about what she was supposed to say…
"Mimi! Is that you? God, your voice is so beautiful even in the blasted music!"
Her shoe separated the stones and sifted through more gravel as her mind was looking for a way out of this predicament.
Was he drunk? Mimi shrieked, "Michael! Where the heck are you?"
Club music covered the other side of the line, and Michael piped up, "L.A., BABY!"
"Michael, you have a shooting tomorrow morning! Wait, what time is overseas?"
"It's…uh…I can't…" Loud music filled the silence followed by a few muffles… In the background, Michael was asking the bartender behind a counter what the time was… "…This moron says it's like…two past two or something… What are you up to, gorgeous?"
"Michael! Get out of there this instant!"
"Aw, come on…I've been here for ten minutes…"
"Michael!"
"I'm just playing, Mimi… I didn't mean to scare you." Michael cleared his throat, and continued, "I was just experimenting with voices that we'll be rehearsing tomorrow. I'm at a birthday party, but I'm leaving now."
"You had me going there. So are you cast as some drunkard?"
"No," he laughed, "you'll have to wait and see. How goes everything in Japan? Have you stolen the groom yet?"
Sora stopped and she paused. The smile slowly faded, and her heart twisted and turned. Impulsively, her head shot up and eyes focused to Mimi. The words floated in the air and threw Sora off.
"Sora…" Mimi said.
"Why did you—?" Sora started, but she had no words to express. Suddenly, she laughed and said, "Do you wanna know what's funny?"
Mimi snapped her cell phone shut and listened intently.
"…I…love Taichi…but the thing is…I don't…" Sora confessed. "…Did you know that Yamato and I kissed?"
Mimi shook her head.
"We did… I went to your apartment, and I found Yamato. The funny thing was I was trying desperately to avoid him, and then I find him answering your door. Isn't that funny?"
"Sora…" Mimi started again.
"I wondered why he was at your apartment… Nonetheless, we had coffee and we went to the park nearby…and we kissed…"
Mimi bit her lip and glanced down… How could she tell Sora that she loved Taichi?
"I'm sorry that I wasn't honest and that I haven't confided in you… I didn't know what to say…"
"Sora, don't say sorry."
"Right, I'll just say it here and now: I wish you could've told me that you still had feelings for Taichi."
"I didn't want to accept it. I don't think—"
"You don't think he loves you, Mimi?" Sora looked at her friend in little doubt. "Yeah, it doesn't take much for someone blind to realize it…"
Mimi gulped, choked with tears.
"But I can't break the engagement."
--XoX—
He shot another arrow and it hit the tree behind the target point, missing badly. It was the worst shot, and Taichi knew it.
"Man, I'd hate to see what you could do when you're actually paying attention," Yamato said smoothly.
"It's not like it matters."
"To you it obviously doesn't."
"I don't care. I can't kill it."
"You know, I've been meaning to ask you what happened on yours and Mimi's date. Did something go wrong? I talked to Koushiro…"
"Koushiro practically knows everything."
"It doesn't take a genius to know what's in front of you."
Yamato fixed an arrow onto a bow before he said, "She loves you, but apparently you don't deserve her."
At that, he shot the arrow, directly hitting the target.
He left his idiotic friend wondering. When would Taichi learn? Then again, he wondered what was thicker—the hair or the skull. 'Jeez, what could get worse?'
In the next hour, Yamato found himself face to face with both his parents, who were divorced and had been since Takeru was small. His parents were proud of their sons, and they felt as though they couldn't have anything less. Still, it was hard to face them when they were together. He could sense the slight tension between the two of them; however, that matter was silent.
"Hey Mom," he said with a solemn nod, "and Dad."
Mr. Ishida ruffled his son's hair. "I hear your brother has recently got engaged."
"Where is Takeru, Yamato?" asked Ms. Takaishi. She was the type of mother to worry about her sons. One could tell by the wrinkles that pulled whenever she smiled. Her gray hairs were tucked behind her ear. Her stance was passive, but in the motherly type of way. "I've wanted to see him in the past week now. I always knew Hikari was the one for him."
"What about you, Yamato?" asked his father.
'Don't make them worry.' "I'm pretty set on my career…"
He led them to the lobby of the resort and text messaged Takeru quickly.
What the heck was going on?
"Yamato!" called a bright voice.
Another voice echoed through the lobby: "Mom! What are you doing here?"
"Mimi!" called Mrs. Tachikawa.
Yamato's eyes were popping out of his head now… It was apparent that someone—most likely Hikari—called all the parents together.
He watched Mrs. Tachikawa embrace Mimi in the expression of bliss, but if one was paying attention, you would see that her mother was telling her something…
Maybe it was just some stuff, he concluded.
God only knows what would happen if…
Sora's father and mother entered the lobby as well followed by Hikari and Taichi's parents.
Inwardly groaning, Yamato shoved one hand in his pocket and the other running through his hair.
--XoX—
FLASHBACK
The rush of adrenaline sent a blush to her face, and her heartbeat quickened by the moments passing. She never felt this before in the room, let alone in her whole life. A presence entered the room, and she understood that she may never fully understand what it was.
And neither would he.
He entered in the refrain of her song, and she almost forgot about her song.
What was so different about him?
It took all her might to break eye contact, and she won the karaoke contest because Yamato was too late and she was just too good.
After the congratulations, she slipped out of the recreation center and sat on the deck for the canoes. She pulled her scrunchie out of her hair and let the waves of curls fall over her back. The cool, night air brushed her skirt up her thigh, and she automatically kept the fabric down.
Koushiro said behind her, "You know, you've been acting a little weird."
"It's nothing. I don't want to talk about it."
"Talk about what?" asked Koushiro.
"I don't want to talk, Koushiro."
His footsteps creaked against the wood and stopped once he reached the end.
"If you don't want to talk, then I'll tell Taichi that you're too tired."
If her head turned any faster, she would've snapped her neck.
"Mimi, didn't you say you didn't want to talk?"
"Yes…"
"Well?" asked Koushiro.
"I don't want to talk about it."
--XoX—
They came face to face with one another, but neither said a word.
Each could see that they didn't love each other in that special way.
Finally, coming forward, Taichi said:
"Sora and I aren't getting married."
She agreed, and that was that.
