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-Colors in Autumn-
-Chapter Ten-
[heart of gold]

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Where could it have gone?

Sora could have sworn that she locked her desk drawer before she left on Friday evening. That was part of her routine, even pulling on the drawers to make sure they didn't open after she turned the key.

Her face started to numb and she tried to take in sharp breaths, but suddenly she felt as though she was losing air, and she could only hear the sound of her panicked breathing, her heart rate increasing-

Calm down, Sora.

It had to be somewhere. She stood up from her chair, looking around at the other girls sitting at their desks. The green-haired neighbor was already looking angry. The other girls looked tense and just as distressed as she felt, although, at least they didn't lose their portfolios.

When she turned to look to Aki, she saw her with a calm air about her, but she also looked anxious. Knowing Aki, she was hiding what she truly felt—the fact that she was nervous about getting that promotion that all the girls in the room wanted.

"Hey, Sora?" Aki caught her looking her way, and approached her desk. "You okay, doll? I've never seen you this way."

"Aki…" Sora took another deep breath. "It's gone. My portfolio is gone. I swear, I locked my desk. I don't know where it is. You didn't see anything weird on Friday before you left, did you?"

Aki looked confused. "No. I was the last one here and watched everyone leave. I don't think anything like that would've happened."

"...Shit," Sora muttered, wanting to hold her palms to her eyes, but stopped herself, remembering the mascara.

"Ladies!" Dora-senpai announced, wearing her usual hair and business garb. "Presentations will begin in ten minutes. The bulletin board will have the listing of the order of presentations which will be fifteen minutes, each. You will be presenting to me and two other judges. You are to remain at your desk until all the presentations are complete, and then we will announce the promotions after deliberation. Let's hope you all are ready."

As Dora-senpai disappeared into the conference room, Sora rushed to the bulletin board, faster than the other girls who hurried behind her. She couldn't gauge how the order of the list was decided, but she saw that her name was seventh, out of the ten girls.

Sora breathed in and let out another huff, this time breathing to get the frenzy out of her system. She couldn't give up because of a lost portfolio, not with six other girls presenting in front of her. That gave her about an hour and a half—an hour and a half to try to put her ideas together into something. She already had a decorated poster board in niche of her desk and the wall next to it, and she worked on that portfolio long enough to know her ideas, her sketches, her colors, all by heart. She could finish two sketches in that amount of time, even though her portfolio had seven; but she knew exactly how to create the two that would speak the best to her fashion theme.

Aki sighed. "Wow, somehow, I got second," she said.

"Good luck, Aki," Sora said, giving her a quick hug before darting back to her desk. She grabbed the receiver of her desk phone, holding it against her ear with her shoulder as she dialed her contact in the fabrics department. A male voice answered the phone.

"Ichigo," Sora said as calmly as she could, as she brought out her sketchbook and colored pencils, her regular pencil already in her hand, drawing light curved lines on the paper. "I need a favor."

"Ooh, Sora, honey, I've never heard you this tense," he said. "Whatever you need, I've got it for you."

"Do you remember my 'natsu'?" she asked. It was her code word for the fabric she asked him to order for her for the portfolio.

"I could never forget. I still have plenty of that, but it's just a matter of finding it. It's always chaos finding things over here."

"I've got an hour and a half, so I need you to bring whatever you can find up to my desk as soon as you can."

"You got it," he said, then his voice sounded further away from the phone as he shouted. "Oy! We've got a code teal! Find the 'natsu' fabric and get it to our girl, pronto!"

Sora kept her eyes on the sketch, but her eyes furrowed. "Code teal?"

"That one's just for you. We'll make it work. Good luck up there—Kisses!"

Sora continued her drawing, erasing the gray graphite and retracing with colors, ensuring the sketch to look as neat as possible. Along the way, she heard Aki scream in delight as she walked out of the conference room, alerting Sora that Aki must have had a great presentation.

With ten minutes left, as Sora finished shading in her second sketch, Ichigo showed up with her fabric, wrapping three of the different colors around her neck as though they were scarves.

"I could only find these," he said apologetically.

Sora got up and gave him a hug. "These are enough."

Ichigo, with his dark short hair and side swept bangs, scrunched his face as though he was going to cry and he covered his mouth with his hand.

"You're going to wow them, no matter what you do. Remember me when you're famous," he said.

She chuckled at that, which calmed her nerves in turn. They kissed each other's cheeks before Ichigo went back down to his floor. Using her final minutes, Sora, took out her decorated poster board from the side of her desk and pasted the sketches onto them. She wrapped the red-orange fabric around her waist, keeping the blue-green and fuschia fabrics around her neck, then walked down the aisle past the other girls' desks. Sora didn't know where Aki was, but her attention was turned to the green-haired girl who had just burst out of the conference room, sobbing as she ran out.

Sora tried to breathe her nerves away as she approached the conference room, her heart beating fast, though walking tall with her poster board under her arm. The overall appearance wasn't half as good as what she prepared for, but she was ready to showcase everything she had for the promotion she had been waiting for.

She entered the conference room, smiling as soon as she saw the faces of the three judges sitting a few feet before her. She met eyes with Dora-senpai who sat in the middle and nodded at her with her usual expressionless face. To her left was a smiley, older man in a business suit—Shiro-san, the operations manager who was Dora-senpai's manager, and, to Dora-senpai's right—

Sora stopped in her tracks, though, luckily it was at the center of the room, where she was supposed to stand, anyway. The third judge was none other than Okamoto Haru, founder of Haru, Inc., herself. Haru-sensei nodded at Sora with a soft smile, and Sora bowed at all three judges in return, admiring Haru-sensei's youthful appearance, her trademark short, light brown fluffy hair, and her cotton-candy pink turtleneck jacket she was known for.

"Thank you for allowing me this opportunity," Sora said, surprised at how calm and confident her voice sounded. She put her poster board on the easel in front of her, the backside of it facing the judges at the start. She noticed Dora-senpai's stare did not change, however Shiro-san's smile appeared less wider than it did when Sora first walked in.

You got this, Sora, she thought to herself, knowing she had her presentation dialogue memorized. With her hands up as she talked, she started off by introducing the idea of traditions in the olden days, and compared it to fashion trends throughout the years.

"Believe it or not, I was a bit of a rebel when I was younger," Sora admitted to the judges with the smile of embarrassment that came to her naturally. "I was always into jeans and any t-shirt that looked sporty. I was a tomboy, and I hated traditions, and I ignored the trends. It drove my mother crazy…"

She expected a few laughs at this point, but the panel was dead silent. Haru-sensei remained quiet, Shiro-san was now frowning, and Dora-senpai still had the same face, but Sora wondered if she could look any more stern.

She had to keep going.

"But, as I grew older, I became more open to the idea of traditions from my mother. My best friend, Mimi, introduced me to the latest trends. And, as the years flew by, my love for both tradition and trends had grown. Today, I am excited to share with the ideas that spark my inspiration that brings both sides together. It's my take on what I believe is on trend, while staying in line with a well-revered, Japanese tradition-"

Sora paused, noticing that Dora-senpai raised her hand.

"I've heard enough of this, Takenouchi. I must say how ashamed I am to admit, I expected much more from you today."

Sora was confused. "I'm sorry, Dora-senpai. I'm not sure what you mean."

"Well, I had been given the impression for as long as you've worked under me that you were going to walk in with more than just three pieces of unrefined fabric and a small poster board with whatever minimal sketches you can fit. Furthermore, I'm afraid what you are attempting to show us now is something we have already seen today."

Sora dropped her arms to her sides, feeling the color draining from her face.

"Y...You're joking, right?" Sora asked, knowing full well that Dora-senpai was never one to be humorous at any given time.

"What you have been explaining to us this whole time has already been presented, word for word. You haven't shown us the other side of that board, but if we didn't stop you, we would be having a repeat showing of kimonos."

Sora stopped herself from collapsing to the ground. She didn't want to believe it then, but she had to. Someone broke into her drawer, and used her portfolio as their own. She looked down at the floor, her hands balled into clenched fists.

"I am truly, terribly disappointed in you, Sora," Dora-senpai said. "Trying to steal another's work as your own. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"It was stolen from me," Sora whispered, her voice trembling.

"Excuse me?"

"It was stolen from me," she repeated, her voice louder with the trembling anger rising. The promotion didn't matter to her anymore—she already knew she was out of consideration for it. All that mattered was that she needed to convince Dora-senpai, and the other two judges, that it was her work they saw earlier. "Dora-senpai, you know my work ethic, you know my style and the colors I like to put together." Sora then went over to her poster board, detaching the colored sketches and running over to Dora-senpai to show her. "I would never steal from anyone. My work is my own."

Sora noticed Haru-sensei observing the sketches and appeared to want to say something, however Dora-senpai held the sketches in front of Sora, tearing them both into pieces right in front of her.

"Dora-senpai-!" Sora exclaimed in shock.

"Your work is a sham," Dora-senpai said. "I am sorry, but I cannot watch you insult another's hard work and creativity while you claim it as yours. Your work ethic, your style, your colors… I knew you were too good to be true, after all."

"You have to believe me…" Sora's eyes stung with tears as she looked over to Shiro-san's disappointed stare, and Haru-sensei's sad gaze.

"Needless to say, you're out of the running for the promotion," said Dora-senpai. "You might as well pack your desk up. And you should apologize to Aki-chan, as well."

Sora stared at Dora-senpai in shock.

"Aki-chan…?"

"She presented a marvelous portfolio, even shared a heartwarming story about bonding with her mother, and how she dedicated this proposed collection to her. Who knew you were so cold-hearted, Takenouchi."

Takenouchi Sora... Cold-hearted...

Sora left the room without another word, too angry to even speak. She stared at the ground in front of her, feeling all eyes staring as she walked down the aisle to her desk. She brought out the bookbag she kept at her desk, and began to dump the items into her bag. She didn't keep too many personal items in there. The sketchbook and packs of colored pencils were hers, but who knew if she was going to use them anymore from this point on.

She cleared the top of her desk, her hand falling on a framed picture of her friends, and another of her together with her mother…

What was she going to tell them all?

"Well, this can't be a good sign."

Sora stopped as she put the second picture frame into her bag. She turned in her chair to see Aki, her arms crossed on her chest, her smile unapologetic, her face no longer the friendly face that she had grown to trust.

"The judges seemed to love your portfolio," said Sora, trying to hold her composure.

"Getting it done was easier than I thought," said Aki, her smile now taunting to Sora. "Like I said, Sora. I've got my ways to get ahead, so I used them. You made a mistake in trusting someone like me, because it's so good to see you crumble."

Sora kept her stare on Aki, but her jaw clenching. She realized then, what emotion Aki hid earlier—It was of her cruel satisfaction of Sora's loss for her gain.

"I was told to apologize to you," said Sora, zipping her bag and standing up to face her.

"So you should. For wanting to try to be me."

"Oh, no," said Sora. her fists now clenching again. "It's for ruining your pretty face."

"Excuse m-"

Sora threw her fist at Aki, directly hitting her square in the nose. Aki cried out as she fell to the floor, covering her face in her pain.

"Admit it, Aki!" Sora yelled at Aki as she writhed on the ground. "Tell them all what you did!"

"I did nothing wrong, you cold-hearted bitch!" Aki said through her whimpers. "You're just making the day even worse for yourself!"

I'm cold-hearted…

Sora looked up and around her again as she wrung the hand that punched Aki, Dora-senpai was out of the conference room now, with her hands on her hips. Shiro-san was behind her, with his look of utmost disapproval, and Haru-sensei…

Sora threw the three pieces of colored fabric off of her and against Aki on the ground. She grabbed her purse and her bookbag and stomped through the aisle, not caring about the startled and disapproving stares on her as she passed by.

"Don't even bother firing me," Sora said angrily to Dora-senpai's stern gaze. "I quit."

She stormed out, the anger still on her face as she walked into the elevator and as it made its way down to the lobby. Of all the worst things that could happen, of all days it could, it happened when she least expected it, from someone she least expected it from.

It was a fall she didn't think she would ever had to prepare for.

She was seething as Aki's face appeared in her mind, talking about how 'cutthroat' the fashion industry was. How could she not have seen it then…?

The elevator door opened, and her friend Ichigo walked in as Sora walked out.

"Sora, what happened?" he asked with a frown.

Ichigo's concern melted her anger away, and her throat closed up, with more tears waiting to burst from behind her eyes. She bit her lip, shaking her head as she looked away from him.

"I appreciate all you've done for me," she said through her quiver, walking away from him, even as he held the elevator door from closing to call her name.

She had to get out of this building. Out of the business sector. Out of downtown. It was only approaching noon, but she wanted to get on the train to be as far away from this place. When she walked down the steps, she struggled to keep a straight face, holding down her emotions from exploding. The string of her purse hung onto her shoulder, and she clutched onto her bookbag against her chest, because at least it was something she could keep holding onto, and it gave her the feeling that at least not everything was just taken away from her.

"Ma'am?" she heard in front of her, and Sora stopped. She recognized the young woman standing before her. The formal outfit with the skimpy skirt, the neat hair bun, the baby face with the heavy makeup, not with a look of mockery, but a look of worry…

Sora walked on, speeding up her pace. The train station couldn't come soon enough.

It was the longest train ride home. Her eyes were already watering, but luckily, no one around her bothered to ask why. Then, as she walked up to her front door, she noticed a piece of paper taped to it, reminding her that rent was due this week.

Her heart couldn't sink further than it already had. She walked through her door and closed the door behind her, walking out of her shoes, and dropping both bags before walking further in.

Rent was due, and she had just lost her job.

How was her apartment already this cold?

Sora dragged her feet on her way to the thermostat to turn the dial, slipping off her skirt, her top, her stockings. The heater didn't turn on.

Cold-hearted, they said…

She tried going into her kitchen, turning the kettle on to heat up the water. She stared in her kitchen drawer at her collection of tea leaves, coffee grinds, and cocoa powder. Any of these could warm her up, but only for so long. None of them could turn back time and take away the coldness that fell upon her, just like that.

The kettle clicked off as the water boiled, but Sora walked away from the kitchen, leaving the drawer open. It was still cold with the three blankets she crawled underneath in her bed, but it didn't matter anymore. The only warmth she felt then was from the tears finally escaping her eyes as she rested against her pillow, because she felt that that was all that was left for her to do.

Sora stayed in bed the rest of the day, letting herself cry as much as her heart could take. She watched the light of the sun dim her room as it set into the evening, and she didn't even bother turning the lights on. What was the point, anyway?

She left her phone in her purse the whole time, but had no desire to pick it up to check it. Nothing that anyone could tell her would change anything now. She wanted to be left alone, and she hoped that staying silent sent that message across.

It was only a few hours into the evening when she found out that it the message failed, as she heard a banging against her front door.

"Sora! Sora, open this door!"

Sora kept her eyes open, recognizing his voice. His demanding voice that implied how stubborn he was, and that he wouldn't listen to any message of hers, anyway. She remained silent, and buried her face in her pillow.

His rapping never stopped.

"Sora, please! You haven't answered your phone. Everyone's worried about you..."

"Go away, Tai!" she yelled, muffled through her blankets.

"Please, Sora. I've been worried about you all day. At least show me that you're alright."

Sora sat up on her bed, taking note of the sound of worry in his voice. She realized that she had been wearing only a bra and her panties the whole time. She knew she looked a mess, but as she put on an oversized shirt and sweatpants, maybe letting Tai see her would at least ease his mind a little bit.

But when she opened the door, she saw him in his casual plaid over shirt and jeans, his already anxious stare worsening the moment he saw her.

"Geez, Sora, what happened?" he asked.

"I don't want to talk about it right now," was her response as she turned from the door, and Tai followed her in.

"You're a mess, Sora."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"It's cold in here - Sora, you're cold…"

Tai took her arm just under her shirt sleeve, which stopped her from stepping away. His palm was warm against the chill she felt from the room around her.

"The heater's broken, for some reason. Just my luck, isn't it?"

She heard herself speak. It was as though the kindness in her voice had left her.

"Sora… I've never seen you this way."

She turned to Tai, confused at his statement. Surely, she had a meltdown as serious as this before. She closed herself off from her friends for a few days, even as they offered to help her. She didn't lash out, but she told them all to leave her be, and let her drown in her own sorrow. How could he not have seen her like this, for as long as they've known each other-

It occurred to her then, the longer she looked at him. The only other time she had a meltdown like this, was right after their breakup.

"You weren't there the last time," she said, her tone icy.

Tai no longer looked worried, but his expression now heated. "Why the hell are you bringing this up now, Sora? I came over to check on you, and, geez, just look at yourself right now!"

"I don't have to, Tai!" Sora yelled back, her tears bursting with her shouting. "I already know! My mascara is dripping down, my hair is tangled and frizzy - I look like a wreck! I dropped my bags and let everything spill, the kitchen is a mess, the heater's broken, It's fucking freezing but what does it matter?!"

"Sora…" Tai appeared calmer, but his worried expression returned.

"You probably already figured it out. I didn't get the promotion. I lost it. I lost the promotion. I lost my job. I'm going to lose this apartment, too. So I'm sorry, Tai. I'm sorry if this bothers you! I'm sorry for acting so… so…"

Sora plopped onto the couch, the word that haunted her all day appearing in her mind.

"Cold-hearted…" she admitted quietly, letting fresh tears fall onto her lap. She didn't hear Tai say anything at first. She expected to hear his footsteps walk further away, and out the door to leave her be, especially after how she was treating him.

But she heard him approach the couch, and she felt him sit beside her, his arm falling around her shoulder.

"The Sora I know could never be cold-hearted," he said, softly and gently. "She would rant about feeling cold, sure, but she's always got a heart of gold."

"I don't feel that way," she said, crying as he rubbed her back. "Everything is just so cold right now. Like it's never going to change."

"Right now, maybe…" Tai pulled her toward him, and she found herself crying into his shirt. "But, you're Sora. You'll always find a way to get away from the cold."

She felt guilty, soaking his white shirt with tears and smudging the remainder of her mascara residue on it. But somehow, his soothing words, the warmth of his embrace for her as she cried, only made her want to believe in him.

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A/N: Writing this chapter killed me. Killed me. My heart broke for Sora.

Okamoto Haru is based off of the Persona 5 character, I really only changed her last name XD (she loves coffee, so she's my fave girl). And Ichigo - strawberry strikes again! eeheehee...

Soooooo if you haven't seen it already, go check out Colors in Christmas for some Taiora fluff. It's all in Christmas past but I wanted to get away from the drama for a bit. Maybe read that one after this, to lift your spirits up.

Thank you all who are following and favoriting this story. The reviews too, I love reading your words! And so far, Aladdin is the winner as Tai's fav. I was running through the other Disney males. I was eyeing Hercules. But Aladdin is carefree and he will fight for what's right, and you know what else? He'll fight for LOVE. :D

*cackles* anyway. Thanks for the birthday greetings! And to all of my readers - Y'all are like a steaming hot mug of a hazelnut latte on a chilly autumn evening. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. Sorry if I was the cause of your sadness today xx

..Stay warm..