A/N: I think all my recent ANs have been apologies. It's been a rough couple of months and this was a b*tch to edit, but don't worry, we're nearing the end. I wrote this as a Taiorato chapter just to shake it up a bit. "To Sora" just came out 3 days ago (go watch it), and I totally did not mean for this chapter to be so... related, but here we are. J8919, I missed you! Jyou's story became personal for me last month. I wrote it to make sense of the hurt. Thanks.

Disclaimer: Digimon Adventure and its characters are not mine. Song at the beginning is "Ten Storey Love Song" by The Stone Roses.

CHAPTER 16 – Ten Storey Love Song

When you're so much in love,
You don't know just how much you can stand,
When your questions go unanswered,
And the silence is killing you,

Take my hand baby I'm your man,
I got love maybe enough for two.

Slender fingers traced the bold text on the white envelope: University of Tokyo College of Arts and Sciences. It came early this year (Jyou had been telling her how he received his at the end of the month). It was thin. Was that a bad sign?

A loud series of beeps filled the silence of the room. Sora quickly set the letter aside to check her phone. Her boyfriend's name flashed on the screen. 'Did you get it?' his message read. Typing a brief reply, Sora returned her attention to the source of her anxiety. The envelope lay on her bedspread, stark against the yellow floral pattern.

Just open it, Sora. It's not like you can do anything to change it.

She sighed. Her phone beeped again. 'Do you want to open it together?' he asked her. She hesitated before typing three letters. Letting out a breath, Sora left her room to head to the kitchen to prepare some tea. Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang.

A tall figure was leaning casually against the doorframe, head angled toward her like it usually would as she was more than a foot shorter. He raised his hand in greeting, the corner of his mouth mirroring the movement.

A lot of her classmates found her boyfriend good-looking and rarely kept it as a secret from her. She couldn't really blame them. Yamato was stupidly attractive. She'd busy herself with useless things just to stop staring at those impossibly blue eyes – homework, pouring tea, smoothing invisible wrinkles on her skirt. She swore that whenever he smiled, they got even bluer.

"Hey."

Sora smiled in reply. It was halfhearted, and she was sure he caught that. "I'm being ridiculous, aren't I? I can't even open a stupid envelope!"

The boy's face softened. "C'mere," he said and she immediately complied. His fingers danced along her jawline and settled beneath her chin, tilting it upward.

Her eyes automatically fluttered shut. "Why don't you come inside first?" she murmured. She could feel his breath on her face.

"Sh… later," he whispered.

"But the neighbors…"

A finger on her lips effectively silenced her. His warm mouth pressed against hers in a gentle kiss. She relaxed against him, hands curling around his neck for support.

He pulled away slowly, but placed his forehead against hers. He finally smiled at her with those beautiful eyes of his. "What were you saying?"

Sora's head was not done spinning. She tried to find the right words to express her jumbled thoughts. "I-inside? Um… do you want to..?"

"You're cute when you're flustered."

She blushed a deep red. "You caught me off-guard."

The corner of his mouth quirked in response. To spare her pride, he stepped aside the slightest to give enough room for her to dart past him and into the apartment. He followed closely behind.

"Do you want anything?" the redhead called over her shoulder as she padded into the kitchen. "Water? Tea?"

"Tea is fine."

She filled a teacup with green tea and placed it on the table in front of him. He gave her a grateful smile as he took a sip. Her heart hammered as she noticed an envelope on the table identical to hers. His, however, was sent by the UTokyo Faculty of Engineering.

Sora caught him eyeing her carefully. His smile was replaced by a smirk that she knew was directed at her. "Where's yours?" he inquired.

The teasing note in his voice annoyed her slightly. It was just like Yamato to tease her at such a time. Both her best friends did it, and it always drove her mad. She made a mental note to berate him after their ordeal was over. "It's in my room," she hissed through gritted teeth. "Shall I get it? Or will you?"

His cheeks flushed dark pink at her suggestion, his composure completely evaporating into embarrassment. "You want me to go in your room?!" he asked incredulously.

Realizing that she essentially gave her boyfriend permission to enter her bedroom when nobody else was home, her face blushed to match his color. Ever the gentleman, Yamato never dared to even suggest it. They always did schoolwork in the living room or on the dining table. She did go into his room a few times, but only when there were other people around. It was the only space in his apartment that was always clean.

But Sora could be stubborn if she wanted to. Her pride was already wounded when he teased her about her fear of reading her letter. No way was she backing down. Her face still blushing, she puffed her cheeks and nodded at him.

"O-okay, I'll go," he stammered. "Where is it?"

"On my bed."

He ambled over to her room, leaving her alone in the kitchen. She curiously examined his envelope. It was a little thicker than hers… and heavier. Oh no! That definitely meant hers was a letter of rejection.

"Hey, give that back," he joked when he returned, snatching the envelope from her grasp. A pout formed on her lips as he placed her own envelope in her now empty hands. He took a deep breath before taking the seat next to hers. "Okay, let's get this over with."

Together, they tore through the paper. She slid her finger under the flap to pull out the folded sheets inside. Starting with the topmost one, she read. Her stomach began to flip-flop. Not quite trusting her senses, she read again.

"Yama!"

He turned to look at her, alarmed. Then his expression changed. With a shout, he pulled her onto his lap and buried his face in her hair.

Her chest was heaving. Taking big gulps of air, Sora again stared at the letter. Her mouth stumbled over the words as she read them aloud for Yamato to hear. "I got in," she gasped, causing him to tighten his arms around her. She couldn't believe it. After working so hard, things were happening. Everything felt so surreal.

"Wait!" she exclaimed, suddenly remembering that he opened his letter too. "What did yours say?"

His body shook as he handed her his letter. Her brows furrowed as she read the first few lines of text.

"We both got in, Sora. We're going to Todai."

"I thought you wanted to go to design school?"

Sora turned toward the brunette sitting beside her. He was still watching the television intently. On his lap was her acceptance letter to Todai that she and Yamato opened earlier that day. She called him over as soon as her boyfriend left to tell him the good news. Oddly, Taichi's reaction was not as enthusiastic as the blond. "I need to take care of the school when Mama becomes too old," she explained quietly. "I won't have time to do both."

Taichi's eyes finally left the TV program as they settled on her face. The intensity of his gaze made her shiver. "But it's not what you want."

She sighed and looked down at her hands. "It's not that I don't want to take over my mother's duties. I do. I want to contribute to my family's wellbeing. This is my responsibility."

"Sora…" His tone made her look back at him – at his warm brown eyes. "You have the freedom to live your own life. What are you so afraid of?"

What was she afraid of? Disappointment? Rejection? Or… regret?

Sora let out an irritated sigh as she glanced at her watch for the umpteenth time. Her best friend was late, as usual, and she was over his tardiness. Their train was leaving in 10 minutes, but Taichi was nowhere in sight. Sighing again, she turned to her boyfriend, who was thankfully more punctual. His eyes were half-closed in concentration as he listened to the music streaming from his headphones. It almost made her guilty for disturbing his moment of peace. Almost.

She tugged at his sleeve, causing him to immediately straighten up with a concerned look on his face. "Is he here?" he asked as he wrapped the headphones around his neck.

The look on her face was enough of an answer. He quickly pulled out his phone and punched in a number both of them knew by heart. He waited for a few seconds before scowling.

"Let me guess, he's not answering?"

"I'll kill him."

Readily agreeing with his threat, Sora checked the time again. Seven minutes. God, if Taichi missed the train, she would have to go with Yamato alone. That just wouldn't do. Half of the reason they planned this trip in the first place was to explore Kyodai, Taichi's university. "Shall we plan his murder?" she asked with a wry grin.

They waited four more minutes before finally hearing a familiar voice calling to them. Finally. Together, the three friends boarded the Shinkansen bound for Kyoto. Finding their seats proved to be difficult with an over-excited Taichi and a very sulky Yamato. After much bickering, they settled into their respective spots; she made sure she sat between the two boys in case they started arguing again.

Yamato instantly put on his headphones and leaned his head against the window, tuning them out. Sora giggled and turned her attention to her other companion. "Now you've done it. He was in a pretty good mood before you came."

Taichi rolled his eyes at the blond. "If he's going to be like this the rest of the trip, he's sleeping in your room."

Sora flushed at his hopefully empty threat. "Are you crazy? Do you want my father to kill us?!" she hissed, punching him in the arm.

Her violence earned her a laugh. He playfully waggled his eyebrows at her. "I know the real reason I'm here, Sora, is to be your chaperone. I will defend your honor, I swear on my life, but only," and he cuts off abruptly just to put more emphasis on his next few words, "If really you want me to because, really, there's nothing wrong in wanting Yamato-kun. Everyone wants him!"

She quickly hit him again, harder this time, causing the boy to yelp in surprise. "Shut. Up. Ya. Ga. Mi!" she huffed as she punctuated each syllable with a punch.

"Yamaaaaaa, she's abusing me!" Taichi whined while flailing his arms to catch the taller boy's attention. If Yamato heard him, he was doing very well pretending he didn't. His attention remained on the passing scenery outside the window.

"At least tell me you brought snacks!" Taichi managed to gasp in between her attacks.

Sora exhaled noisily through flared nostrils. Feeding Taichi entailed buying a lot of food. While she did buy several snacks while waiting for both of her friends at the station, she wasn't really sure if they were nearly enough to satisfy his appetite.

"I made bento," Yamato's voice unexpectedly piped up from his side, confirming that, indeed, he was only pretending to ignore his squabbling friends. He dug into the large paper bag he brought with him, producing three boxes neatly tied up in a dark blue patterned cloth.

"Yesssss!" Taichi grabbed his and promptly started shoving food into his mouth.

Sora giggled as her boyfriend's face twisted into a look of disgust. She took her own box from his outstretched hands. "Thank you." She beamed at him causing him to lightly blush. "Do you want some green tea? Or a latte?" Yamato peered over her shoulder as she opened her own bag of snacks.

"Latte," he whispered, his warm breath tickling her ear.

The rest of the trip ensued without much fanfare. Taichi was almost immediately asleep after eating, softly snoring beside her. To her right, Yamato face was buried in a book.

"Guide to Kyoto?" she inquired, reading the English title with some difficulty.

He smiled at her. "There's a museum of traditional costumes 20 minutes from the station. Wanna go there first before Kyodai?"

She curiously examined the colorful pictures he pointed out to her. The kimonos did look exquisite. She had never been to a costume museum before…

Two-and-a-half hours later, they were exiting the station. First on their schedule was lunch at Taichi's insistence. As predicted, Yamato's bento was barely enough to curb his midday hunger decided on ramen, and headed to the lane of ramen stalls inside the Kyoto station.

She quickly called her father to tell him they had arrived. 'Let's have dinner together,' he had eagerly offered, his happiness evident in his tone. Sora learned how to read her father's emotions through his voice. His work, unfortunately, required him to stay in Kyoto for extended periods of time, leaving her and her mother to their own devices in Tokyo. Every night, Sora would content herself listening to her father's voice over the phone. To spend this weekend with him and her two best friends was the perfect way to celebrate the end of the series of college entrance exams.

After finishing their meal, the trio headed to the Costume Museum that Yamato was talking about. The location was a nondescript building along Horikawa Dori, but inside… Oh! Sora felt like she had been transported to another world. The exhibits were of different scenes associated with Japan's Heian period – each tableau comprising of life-sized dolls in elaborate costumes depicting a scene from the bygone era. Her personal favorite (she stayed behind while the two boys went on ahead) was of Lady Tamakazura practicing ikebana. While the flowing emerald green, red and white robes on her doll took center stage, Sora could not help but notice the little details – the bouquet of flowers in her hand, or the gold accents on the lacquered wooden boxes.

My frustrated passion is like the reflection of the flares, floating on a river of tears, burning beneath the surface.

She wasn't sure why, but something stirred deep in her heart. It was a seemingly simple feeling which slowly grew into an aching pain. Her hands went up to catch the tears falling from her eyes.

Now that summer has come, the mosquito smudge smolders in the doorway. How long must my passion burn like that muffled flame?

Taichi's voice calling out her name snapped her out of her daze. Quickly wiping her tears on her sleeve, she took a deep breath and ran to rejoin him and Yamato.

"Kyodai looks a whole lot like Todai," Sora mused out aloud.

Taichi turned to her in mock outrage. "Only it's a hundred times cooler! Forget Todai. Let's all study here. Kyoto's amazing!"

"It's also very far away," Yamato pointed out. "There's no way in hell I could leave Dad alone in Tokyo for that long. He'd die from starvation."

"Or get buried under piles of dirty laundry," Sora added with a giggle. "Come on, let's look for Taichi's building." She linked her arms with both boys' and pulled them in the direction of the famous Kyodai clock tower. They sauntered along the tree-lined walkways, pointing out interesting-looking buildings. They finally arrived at a three-storey building with a curved roof.

"Is this it?" Taichi asked to no one in particular.

Yamato chewed on his bottom lip as he regarded the sign in front of them. "Faculty of Integrated Human Studies," he murmured thoughtfully. His eyes suddenly lit up. "Hey Sora, isn't this your dad's building as well?"

"Yes." Recognition dawned on her face. She had been here years ago, when she was still a child. Her mother brought here there one summer for the Gion Festival. She recalled wearing a bright blue yukata, and walking hand in hand with her father underneath a canopy of lanterns while the delicious aroma emanating from the night food stalls lingered in the air. It was one of the moments with her father that she deeply treasured.

They found Takenouchi Haruhiko's office with little difficulty. Upon entering, Sora's gaze fell on the familiar figure hunched over his desk. He immediately straightened up upon realizing his daughter was there. The lines around his eyes deepened as his face broke into a wide smile. "Sora!"

Forgetting all sense of decorum, she launched herself straight into his outstretched arms. She missed him so much. She, like her mother, had tried to be so brave. Oh if only Kyoto were a short train ride away…

"Let me look at you," her father murmured, holding Sora's shoulders firmly. His eyes glazed with tears as they flew all over her face. It was then that he noticed the two boys at the door. "Ah, Taichi, Yamato, welcome! I hope you had a good trip?"

"It was fine, Papa. Taichi behaved."

The man gave the teen a pleased look. "Sora told me about your plans to attend Kyoto University. I think you made a fine choice."

The corners of Taichi's mouth turned up. "Unlike these two…" he said, smirking at Sora. She shot him a glare.

"Oh?" Haruhiko's returned to his daughter. His eyebrows were raised in genuine curiosity. "Have you decided what university to attend? I heard from your mother that you were accepted into Tohoku and Handai."

"Um…" she blushed, glancing at Yamato who was looking back at her proudly. "Actually… University of Tokyo also accepted me."

"Really? Well I cannot say I'm not surprised." Pride was evident in her father's voice. "Congratulations, Sora! I'm so proud! We should celebrate tonight."

"Yamato too, Papa," Sora laughed, falling again into his embrace. "He got accepted into the Faculty of Engineering at Todai."

"I am in the company of geniuses!" Haruhiko exclaimed with twinkling eyes. He took Sora's hand and led her to the door where her friends were wearing matching grins. "Come Taichi, I will give you a tour of our faculty. Then, dinner! How does sukiyaki sound? Or sushi?"

Her best friend didn't even need a second to think. "I think both sound great!"

The four of them burst into laughter as they walked out into the hallway.

Their Kyoto trip was a large success. Taichi (with Yamato) found a few housing options for his next few years in the city. Sora, in the meantime, was able to spend an entire morning with her father. He took her to the Kinakakuji Temple with its famous golden-leaf exterior. That afternoon, they met the two boys at Shosei-en garden with its beautiful sakura trees. After visiting one more Buddhist temple and stopping by the market for an early dinner, they boarded the Shinkansen bound for Tokyo.

Taichi collapsed in his aisle seat and immediately fell asleep from exhaustion.

"Yama…"

"Hm?" Her boyfriend looked up from his phone to glance at her. "What's up?"

"Thanks for coming with me," she said with a smile. "I'd thank the idiot too, but he's in a coma right now."

Yamato returned her smile and gestured at his shoulder. "You can take a nap if you want. I'll wake you guys up before our stop."

"Thanks," Sora whispered, leaning against his shoulder. Her eyes fixated on their intertwined hands on his lap until her vision grew hazy and sleep took over.

She woke up somewhere between Kanagawa and Yokohama with only half an hour left in their journey. Noticing Yamato had also fallen asleep, she very carefully plucked the headphones off his head and placed it on her own. Soft music from an unfamiliar foreign band filled her ears. Bopping her head to the beat, Sora opened a small sketchpad and started on a design loosely based on one of the traditional kimonos she saw in Kyoto. She was so engrossed in her activity that she didn't notice the two heads peering over her shoulders.

"Stop breathing down my neck," she hissed at her friends, tearing off the headphones. "I can smell your dinner from here."

"It's never stopped you from sticking your tongue in his mouth," Taichi coolly interjected without missing a beat.

Yamato's blue eyes narrowed in a glare. "Do you want to die?" he growled.

Before either of them could act on that, Sora quickly extended both arms on either side of her body to prevent any physical fights from erupting. God, being with these two in public was exhausting. She was seriously going to reconsider any future long-distance trips with her best friends after this. "No killing, please Yama. And Taichi," her eyes traveled to the other boy sitting beside her. "Stop being an idiot."

Taichi crossed his arms over his chest with an indignant huff. Muttering darkly under his breath, he turned his attention to Sora's sketch on her lap.

His staring unnerved her. It was one thing to show her friends her flower arrangements, but her designs? They were boys, for goodness sake. She did not expect them to understand the flow of fabric as it draped the female form, or how shades of color complemented different skin tones. "So… what do you think?" she queried after a few seconds. Her eyes were still narrowed suspiciously at her best friend. He seemed to be in an irritable mood since leaving Kyoto.

"It's good." Taichi's reply was strangely nonchalant, matching the quick shrug of his shoulders. "I'm stupid with art though. I don't think I can give you anything helpful. Yamato's the artistic guy."

Both eyes turned to the musician who huffed in mild exasperation. "I'm a bassist in a band, Taichi. My knowledge in clothes is equal to yours."

"But you dress so pretty all the time!"

"What? I don't-"

"Forget it, Yama," Sora sighed, cutting him off, quickly regretting the decision to ask for their input. "It's a silly drawing." She looked at the kimono design one more time before turning to a fresh new page. She took a slow, deep breath and started to sketch again. The sound of her pencil against paper calmed her down as she worked.

After a long pause, Yamato let out a sigh, and placed his hand on her arm. "Nothing you make is silly, Sor. We were just messing around. Can I have another look at it?"

"I'm working."

"Please, Sora? We're soooorry," Taichi wheedled.

Suppressing the urge to smack them both, Sora shoved the pad into Yamato's lap before folding her arms in a huff. She allowed a few seconds of their eerie silence before deciding she had enough.

"That bad?" She tried to joke, cringing immediately at how pathetic she sounded.

"It looks familiar…" Yamato mused, still regarding her drawing with intense concentration. "Is this from the exhibit from that museum?"

She was not expecting him to be that perceptive. Her face flushed heavily at getting caught. "It was a scene from 'The Tale of Genji.' Something in that tableau… it spoke to me." It felt weird actually discussing this part of her life with them – her designs, where she got inspiration from. Although her best friends were aware of Sora's interest in drawing people, she never talked to them about how much she loved it, how much it gave her happiness.

"Have you heard back from Bunka?"

Sora whipped her head toward Taichi, who was eyeing her with a curious look on his face. Please, not this conversation again…

"You sent your application?" Yamato asked. "Wow, so that means you actually told your mom."

Sora mentally groaned. Defending her decisions in front of Taichi was hard enough. Her bull-headed best friend always found a way to get under her skin, to make her second-guess herself. But with Yamato tag-teaming him? She might as well wave the white flag of surrender.

"You didn't though, did you, Sora? You sent it anyway without her knowing."

"What? Why? You know your mom would support you either way!"

"Shut up!" she snapped, making the two boys jump in their seats. She glared at her boyfriend first, only because he was supposed to be on her side. Then, she shifted her glare to Taichi. "I already told you that I'm not going to Bunka."

"Why not? You always draw people and kimonos and I dunno… clothes? You love this stuff. Why not make a career out of it?"

"It's not part of the plan," she gritted out with much difficulty. A pulsating headache started to form on her left temple. Sora closed her eyes and pressed her fingertips to the area, massaging it. "I've been thinking about this all year. I want to succeed my mother as iemoto."

"But you love drawing!"

"I love my mother!" she cried. Realizing how loud her voice had become, her hand flew over her mouth. Tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.

"Sora…" Yamato's voice was as gentle as his hand on her shoulder. "Neither of us is doubting that. We just want to know why this is upsetting you so much. If you've already made your decision to attend Todai, why are you angry at us for bringing up Bunka?"

"Because… because…" she trailed off into silence and tears. Taichi's arm snaked around her back, resting also on her shoulder, on top of Yamato's hand. Before she knew it, she was crying frantically into her hands. Both of them remained surprisingly quiet as she heaved huge sobs.

"I-I… I want to help my mother…" Sora blubbered semi-coherently. "It is our family's responsibility to preserve the traditions of Ikenobo. My mother is the only one of her generation who trained under my grandmother. I'm her only child. No one else can succeed her."

Such was the life of an iemoto – to have the future planned out for as early as the days in the womb. It had always been a source of anxiety on her part because Sora developed a mind of her own during her elementary school years. Rebelling against her mother's strict upbringing, another influence of growing up under the traditional and rigid iemoto structure, drove a wedge between mother and daughter. It took a few years after her realization before they were able to repair what was once broken. Since then, it had always been Sora's promise to open her mind to her mother's teachings.

Ikebana turned out to be not as bad as she thought. There was a spiritual quality to the art that she had never experienced before. She thought that she could practice it for the rest of her life, yes, maybe. And pass it on to her future children when the time came.

"But it's not what you want…" Taichi insisted.

"You don't know what I want!"

Strong arms firmly grabbed at her shoulders and pulled. It felt like time had slowed down as her vision shifted from Taichi's concerned face to the front of Yamato's navy blue shirt. Glancing up for a split second, she caught him direct a frown at their brunette friend before settling his gaze on her. The fire in his eyes died in an instant.

She buried her face in the soft folds of his shirt.

"It's okay. We don't have to talk about this now."

"Stop coddling her, Yamato!"

"I'm not-"

"You're just as bad as she is!" Taichi interrupted, actually sounding pissed at him. "If she doesn't face this, she never will. And you," he gritted and she was sure that the rest of his words were directed to her now, "Will live the rest of your life regretting not telling your mother about Bunka."

There… there was that word again – regret. It was one of her most dreaded feelings, but one she experienced on an almost daily basis.

"Taichi, stop it!"

"Why, Yama? You know I'm right!"

"Just shut-"

"You don't know," she muttered, her voice, although soft, cut through the beginnings of another rebuttal from the stubborn blond still holding her. Her mind was reeling from her emotions and her thoughts crashing into one another, forming a messy storm. "You don't know what it's like to grow up with my family. It's nothing like what you have, Taichi. Mama wanted to be an elementary school teacher. She was going to study education when she entered Kyodai, but her older sister, the iemoto heir, died. She had to give up her dreams for a greater cause. Mama never regretted it. Mama was happy serving her family. And I am too."

Yamato's hands found their way to her hair. His fingers tangled in the messy strands, applying gentle pressure to her scalp, presumably to calm her down.

"It's not always about doing what you want, it's wanting to do what is right. I can choose to be upset about inheriting the school and be miserable the rest of my life. Or accept it…" her voice trailed off uncertainly. Regret. Don't regret, Sora, just do.

"Or accept it, and learn to be happy," Yamato finished for her.

She lifted her eyes long enough to give him a wobbly smile of gratitude. His hard gaze softened as he pulled her to him once again. The skin of her scalp tingled with the feel of Yamato's lips grazing the area in a soft kiss. "We get it. We're sorry," he murmured, "For pushing you today."

A beat. She imagined her boyfriend trading silent glares with Taichi to pressure him into apologizing as well. She'd do it too, when both of the boys were in an argument and only one (usually Taichi) had enough sense to apologize. "Yeah, we're sorry," her best friend finally acquiesced.

They transferred two more times before finally reaching Odaiba. Taichi went on ahead as his apartment was in the opposite direction of theirs. It was past ten o' clock when they got back to her apartment. Yamato hung back as Sora tried to open the lock.

"Will you be all right?" he finally asked her. His voice was low and very soft. If not for the complete silence, she would have missed what he said.

Sora avoided his eyes as she answered him. "I will be. I'm just really tired. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Okay." The boy reached for her hand and traced five letters into her palm. 'Sorry.' It was enough to soothe her residual irritation against him. He made those tiny circles with his thumb after, while his impossibly blue eyes locked with hers. She could never stay angry with him for too long. Even Taichi. They always found a way to sneak back into her good graces. She just loved them both too much.

He pulled her in with his eyes and his hands, hands that skimmed across her cheek to brush her stubborn bangs away, down her jaw line, and across her parted lips.

"Good night then?"

Then, without breaking his gaze on her, he lifted her hand, and barely touched the inner surface of her wrist to his lips. It's enough to light her on fire. He pulled her in again, closer, until the distance between them disappeared. She let him whisper his good nights and I love yous into her hair and skin, with his breath and his fingers burning her, branding her.

"I-I should go…" Sora barely heard herself saying because it was all breaths, sighs and the way he mumbled her name over and over.

He heard her though. "You should." With a sigh of regret, Yamato released her. Sora's back hit the wooden door with a soft thud. It felt cold. Without him, she felt cold. She gave him a small smile, one that she hoped gave him enough reassurance that she had forgiven him for prying.

"Thank you, Yamato. I'll see you tomorrow."

He raised his hand just as the corner of his mouth tilted upward. With a small wave, he was gone.

She turned back to the unopened lock, not before realizing she dropped her keys on the floor. Blushing slightly upon remembering what Yamato had done to make her do that, she fumbled at the lock with her trembling fingers.

"Oh good, you're home," her mother called out from the living room when she entered. "How was your trip?"

"We had so much fun," she replied, walking over to her to give her a hug. "I told Papa about Todai."

The smile on her mother's was immediate. "He is very proud of you, darling," she told her. "As am I."

"Thank you, Mama." Sora kissed her cheek, picked up her bag from the floor and headed for her room. "We already had dinner with Papa earlier. I'm going to bed now."

"Sora?" The urgency in her mother's voice made her stop in her tracks.

Sora turned to face her mother. "Yes, Mama?"

"I just want you to know," she hesitated as her eyes darted around the room before settling on her daughter's own, "You can tell me anything, okay? Anything. I'm your mother, and I love you. "

Sora's eyes widened as she saw a white envelope dangling form her mother's fingers. A horrible feeling started to grow in the pit of her stomach. "What is that?" He mother needn't answer though. Somehow, she already knew what the envelope contained.

Her mother walked briskly to her side of the living room. Silently handing her the envelope, Sora stared at the words printed on the back: Bunka Fashion College.

Oh no! "Mama, I can explain!" she cried.

Toshiko grabbed both her hands. Cold – her hands felt eerily cold. "Fashion school? You never told me you were interested in fashion."

While Sora developed the skill to read her father's tone, her mother's true emotions still eluded her. Was she angry? Did she feel betrayed? Was it just her imagination, or… did her last statement sound almost accusatory? "I-it's just a hobby, Mama. There was an ad in the newspaper so I applied. It was a whim. I don't really want to go."

"Are you sure? Your course in Tokyo University is completely different from this. Maybe you just don't realize that this is more than a hobby…"

"It's not!" The horror only settled in when she realized her mother looked perplexed at how rudely she interrupted her. "I'm sorry!" Sora begged her, wringing the poor envelope in her hands. "I-I didn't mean to interrupt. I just… I love ikebana! I love the flower shop and the school! This is all a silly mistake."

"Sora, what is happening with you? This isn't like you at all."

"I'm sorry!" Her outburst stopped Toshiko in her tracks. "I'm so sorry! I never meant to hurt you." Sora thought she had run out of tears from earlier, but her eyes were stinging again. No… she promised herself she would be strong when facing her mother. Yet faced with her then, her resolve crumbled. It was always like this with her.

When Sora felt her mother's arms circle around her, every last bit of strength within her vanished. She crumbled into her mother's embrace. As they clung to each other, shaking, Sora realized her mother was crying too.

"Have I done you wrong, Sora? Did I say something to make you think that I am upset with you?"

"I-I… just…" She tried gulping down her sobs, but they kept bubbling out of her throat. "I want you to be proud of me."

"But I already am, my love. You've grown into a fine young woman. A mother could not be more pleased." There was no mistaking the sincerity in her mother's tone this time, bringing comfort to Sora's heart. They remained silent for a while, as Toshiko tenderly stroked her hair while humming a tune. It was one of the lullabies she used to sing to her when she was small.

"So tell me about this hobby. Is it drawing, or fashion or-?"

Sora gave her mother a watery smile. "I like designing things – tradaitional clothes," she said, already feeling her heart grow a little lighter as bits of her confession tumbled out. "I thought maybe I could apply in Bunka just to see if I'm good enough. But I've thought about it a bit, and I want to be an iemoto even more. It means a lot to me too, and to you, so that's what I decided. I'm sorry, Mama. I won't keep secrets from you anymore."

Toshiko nodded slowly, while gently brushing her bangs off her forehead. "I don't mind that you did not tell me right away. I understand that you were scared. My only wish, Sora, is for you to live your life without any regrets. You have always been more than capable to do whatever you want. I'm just worried you will look back and wish you did something else."

"Like you?" she asked her quietly. Guilt again resurfaced and settled at the pit of her stomach. It felt heavy, twisted and bitter. "Did you regret becoming an iemoto – having to change your plans for the future? Did you regret having me?"

The light of the room shone in her mother's widened eyes. Her father told her once that it was her mother's eyes that initially drew him to her. The color was so peculiar – like blood and sunsets. They were university students then when he first met her, and he was immediately smitten.

Toshiko's eyes were full of love as she gazed at her daughter. "Oh Sora…" she sighed while holding her close. "If there are two things in life that I can never regret, it's loving your father and having you. You have made me the happiest mother alive. Of course I don't regret having you."

Why, for even a second, did she ever doubt her mother's love for her? She was already taught this lesson before, back when she was an awkward 11-year-old with frequently scraped knees and a passion for football.

"Now, shall we open it? Let's see if this Bunka College is any good in recognizing your talent." Her mother's fingers tugged the envelope from her grip. She was wearing a small smile now after their heart-to-heart talk.

"Okay." The slight waver of her voice betrayed her nervousness at the prospect of finding out if she had been accepted… or not.

With one arm still around Sora's shoulder, her mother carefully ripped the side and shook out the folded sheets of paper. They simultaneously held their breath as she unfolded them.

The top line was her name. Underneath was a single word: Congratulations. There was more in the succeeding paragraphs, probably the required paperwork and whatnot, but she didn't care to read them just yet. She looked up to see mother smiling proudly at her. "See? You are more than capable. I am so proud of you. Congratulations, Sora!"

It felt good to be told she was enough, but after seeing her mother so happy and proud… it felt even better.

A/N: Todai/UTokyo = Tokyo University, Kyodai = Kyoto University, Handai = Osaka University, Shinkansen = Japan's high-speed train, Tamakazura = a character from The Tale of Genji, Ikebana = Japanese art of flower-arrangement, Iemoto = grandmaster of a school of traditional Japanese art, Ikenobo = an old school of ikebana

Passages in the museum scene (the lines that made Sora cry) are from Kokinwakashu, an anthology of ancient Japanese poetry.

Thanks so much for reading my fic. I'd really appreciate a review. Feedback means so much to me. Takeru will round this up next chapter.