Okay, I think that this is gonna be the first in a really long series so, in order to understand most of this, pretend that Sora doesn't have a dad. Also, it helps if you're in the mood just for something strange. Well, I think that's it—sorry to anyone who gets confused! I'll try and make a prologue or something soon! ^_^

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Throwing on her thickest and warmest coat, Sora Takenouchi slowly opened the front door of her tiny, yet comfortable apartment to let the autumn air wash over her. She took in the deepest breath her lungs could hold and exhaled, already feeling refreshed from the crisp, cold air she knew and loved.

Autumn had always been the best time of year in Odaiba for taking walks and Sora, always being rather smart, had decided to take advantage of it. As she slowly closed the door behind her and locked it, rather than taking the elevator, Sora decided she might like to walk down the stairs. The elevator was always far too cramped and stuffy, it always deprived her of the fresh air her lungs had chosen as their 'air of choice'. The stairs, however, not only let her breathe the needed air, but also provided her with a rather sufficient workout that she felt she so desperately needed.

She hummed to herself as she trotted lightly down the steps, not exactly able to place the tune on her lips. As far as she knew, the song had never had any words, but it was one she had known for as long as she could remember.

Before she had realized it, she had approached the last two steps, the same two she had sworn, since she was little, never to touch. Thinking to herself, she skipped the cursed steps with surprising ease, recalling the childhood tale of the two monsters that lived underneath the stairs, only coming up to eat small children who happened upon their steps. Sora, being nearly fifteen now, had learned that this had only been a tale told to frighten and mystify young minds, such as hers had been not very long ago. None the less, habit had always kept her away from those steps, just as habit had kept her away from many other things.

"Hey, Sora!" a voice suddenly greeted from behind, taking the young orange-haired girl by surprise. Knowing the only way to find out who the speaker was, was to turn around, she did so, and found a pair of icy-blue eyes as her reply.

"Yamato!" she said excitedly, recognizing her long-time friend, "What are you doing here?"

The blue-eyed boy blushed at this as long strands of his golden hair covered his face.

"Uh…Actually…" he muttered, obviously having trouble with what he wanted to say. Sora, noticing this, attempted to encourage him.

"Yamato, you can tell me anything, you know that!" She offered a smile to the boy, who blushed even harder at her kind words. Finally, he let out a long sigh, and shook his head.

"Ah, it's nothing," he said, putting the subject aside, "Would you like to go for a walk with me, Sora?" The orange-haired girl thought about the offer for a moment, though she really needn't have done so. The boy continued to look imploringly at her, "It's a beautiful day out," the boy commented, glancing sideways at his friend who, in turn, gave him a wry smile.

"It is a beautiful day," Sora agreed, "And it would be a pleasure to walk with you, as always." The blond boy grinned and tried to hide the look of triumph on his face. To Sora's surprise and delight, the boy offered his arm to her, but not without a very gracious bow first. She giggled softly and took the offered arm, and they began to follow the sidewalk.

"So, where to, madam?" Yamato asked, putting on his most formal voice. This caused the girl to go into a fit of giggles, which she could hardly control. Seeing her friend acting so different always put her into a strange mood, a mood she liked. After managing to get her laughter under control, she replied to his question. "Any where's always fine, as long as we stay outdoors. On a day like this, I'd have a fit if we were to stay stuck inside."

Yamato nodded his head knowingly at her comment. "It's the same for me on days like this. Fall is my favorite season and I feel obligated to spend every moment I can basking in its glory."

"Fall is my favorite season as well," the girl agreed, while Yamato shot her an odd look.

"Funny," he said dryly, "I'd always pictured you as more of the summer type. I never pictured you as the one for cold weather. What makes this season more special to you than any of the other seasons?"

In return for his comment, Yamato received an odd stare from his brown-eyed friend, who shrugged her shoulders and replied, "I should ask you the same thing." She abruptly released his warm arm from her grip and focused her attention on her feet. Her friend sighed audibly and shoved his gloved hands into his pockets.

"I apologize if I offended you at all," he said a unenthusiastically, almost monotone, "If it at all interests you, I've always loved fall simply because it brings along with it this feeling that I always find…almost irresistible. I realize how corny that must have sounded…What about you? Why do you like the fall?"

Sora took a moment to think about this. In reality, she had never really thought about an exact reason as to why she loved the season. It had always just been her favorite, no question. It was as if instinct had told her to like it from the beginning, and the love for it had become simple habit. Yamato coughed impatiently, momentarily bringing her away from her thoughts.

She waved a hand at him in response, signaling that she was trying her hardest to think. Delving deeper into her thoughts, she suddenly recalled a certain memory. It was very blurry, yet she could just seem to remember…it was the autumn, she was certain it had to be, for the leaves were golden and they surrounded her. However, it seemed to be nighttime, for the stars were playing in front of her in the sky. They sparkled for her, just for her, it seemed, and she loved them for it. She spun in a circle and closed her eyes, and when she had stopped spinning, her finger had landed on the one, brightest star in the sky, and she smiled. She'd make a wish on it, the same one she always seemed to land on every night, her special star. Her wish was the same as always, something she'd wished for as long as she could remember—she wanted a father. Her father, the one her mother rarely ever spoke of, yet the girl knew she was deeply in love with. The star would reply with a twinkle, almost she could hear it say deep in her heart that, maybe someday…

"Yoo hoo!"

Sora was brought abruptly back to reality by Yamato's hand waving furiously in front of her face. She blinked hard, trying to figure out what had happened. Apparently, from what she could see, she had just about fallen off the edge of the sidewalk and into a large, deep puddle, before Yamato had snapped her back.

"Thanks," she said breathlessly to her friend, "I guess I just kind of spaced out for a bit."

The boy nodded to his friend with a concerned look in his eyes, though he tried his best to hide it. He shoved his hands in his coat pockets again, deciding to resume his walk. Sora stood behind for a bit, watching her friend as he nearly disappeared around a corner without her.

"Yamato! Wait, up!" she called after him as he turned to face her. The look of concern that had been in his blue eyes was replaced by one of pure friendliness. Once she had caught up to him, he offered his arm to her again, trying his best to play the part of the perfect gentleman. Sora took the offered arm again, this time more grateful for the warmth that it was bound to provide her.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Sora hadn't thought it would be possible, but she had ended up spending the entire day with her friend. They had wandered aimlessly the entire day, only stopping to get some lunch (which Yamato had so graciously paid for.), and now.

They were in the park now, long after the sun had hidden its shining face, to be replaced by his sister the moon and her children, the stars. Sitting on a park bench, they gazed at the stars together, sitting close to conceal what small bit of warmth was left between them.

They had talked of many things that day; it had been unusual and rather awkward whenever a silence lapsed between the two of them, so immediately a new conversation would spring up, and they would feel at ease with each other again.

But, only now, a silence had come between them, each of them deep into their own thoughts. They could hear every sound around them; every drop of moisture that fell off the leaves, the low whistle of the cool wind as it rustled the fallen leaves. Sora could even hear the slight clinking sound as Yamato fingered whatever was in his pocket. She ignored these sounds; however, pushing them back into her mind until she could only hear the one thing she had been intent on.

It had been a long time since they had last spoken to her and she, them. They were not at all angry with her, though. Stars can live for millions of years, they explained to her in her heart. We can wait longer than you think. Besides, it really hasn't been that long—a season or two?

Sora almost laughed at hearing the stars again, but remembered that Yamato was sitting next to her and kept silent.

It has been a very long time, in my heart, The girl responded silently, A few seasons is a long time for a human.

We understand, Dear Child, the stars said, then Sora could suddenly feel their gaze shift from her, to the blond-haired boy beside her. Who is this with you? They asked excitedly and began to sparkle. We've never seen you gazing with anyone but your mother!

Sora smiled to herself and could feel her cheeks burn. He is a friend; his name is Ishida Yamato.

Is he nice? By human standards, at least?

Of course! The girl replied matter-of-factly. Why would I choose a friend who wasn't so? Yes, he is very kind and loving, even to your perfect standards. I'd love you to talk to him, but I don't think he would have the ability to communicate with your kind. I'm sorry…

Don't worry about a thing! Her friends reassured her. Any friend of Sora's is a friend of ours, for sure!

Thank you…Sora replied, when her conversation was suddenly interrupted by the sound of Yamato's voice.

"Sora…" he said, a note of hesitancy in his voice. Sora took no notice of this, however. She was too occupied with being angry with him for cutting off her conversation with her friends. A little voice suddenly poked her in the back of the head, after a moment, telling her that he didn't know what he had interrupted and that it didn't matter anyway; it was fall now, so she could talk to them every night for as long as she wanted. No big deal.

"Yes, Yamato?" She responded, letting out her small bit of anger in one, short sigh. She suddenly noticed how red her friends usually pale face had gone, as he continued to finger the thing in his pocket nervously.

Sighing with sudden resolution after taking moments of thought on a very impatient Sora's time, he looked his orange haired friend straight in the eye and pulled out whatever had been in his pocket—Sora guessed—the entire day.

She gasped when he presented it to her, realizing after several moments of staring that what she was looking at was a purple, velvet box, about he size of the entire length of her hand.

"Wh-what's this…?" she meant to say, yet her words became lodged in her throat to come out as only a croak. She could almost feel the heat coming from the boys maroon colored face as he opened the velvety box to reveal something that made the girl's heart nearly skip an entire beat.

"It-its' a necklace," the boy muttered, stating the obvious, for indeed, it was a necklace; a most beautiful one, at that. It was all silver—everything was silver, the long chain, the trim around the pendent. The actual pendent was not silver, but a dark, almost silky color that almost perfectly matched the same sky they had been watching that whole night. It was all in the shape of a heart that, to Sora's delight, was almost exactly like her crest of love. In the center of all that beautiful glory was a single diamond, that seemed to sparkle as bright as her beloved stars. After observing it for as long as her eyes could stand, the girl carefully removed the necklace from it's box so she could feel it in her hands, make sure it was actually real.

To her amazement, it was.

"Yamato…" she breathed, surprised to find that there was actually air remaining in her lungs. "This must have cost you an absolute fortune! I can't accept this…"

Shaky hands suddenly took the precious piece of jewelry from her grip and slowly moved behind her, to place it around her neck.

"You're right, it did cost me quite a lot," the boy quivering voice sounded from behind her as he put the tiny clasps together at the back of her neck. "But it was worth it, if only to see that look on your face. I wish I would have thought ahead and brought a camera, but I wasn't really planning on actually going through and giving this to you."

He finished tying the necklace and took his seat beside her again, trying his best to avoid the girl' s searching eyes.

"But, Yamato, why—" the question caught in her throat as Yamato gave her a mysterious-looking glare.

"Do you really have to ask?" he said icily, "Why can't a guy just make a kind gesture these days without being questioned? Why can't anybody just ever accept anything without ever making me feel like a complete criminal? I bought you a necklace, is that okay?!" All this had come out far more harshly than he had actually intended, and more to reassure himself rather than bring his friend close to tears, like he had accidentally done.

"I'm sorry, Yamato," the girl apologized, her eyes stinging with an oncoming flood of tears. "It's so nice of you to do this, I shouldn't need to say anything, should I?" she tried to sniff back the flood, but to no avail. A few tears had begun running down her cheeks even before Yamato had time to react, and when the few tears turned into a flood, all the boy could think of to do was take the crying girl into his arms and try to calm her down; calm himself down, as well.

"Sora, I'm so sorry," the boy said in calmest voice he could produce in his nervous state. "I was just so scared and everything when I gave the necklace to you, I got kind of nervous when you started asking questions. If it really means anything to you, I'll explain why I got it for you if you stop crying."

The girl did as she was asked, but did not move from the warm comfort she had found in his arms. The boy didn't really care; he actually rather liked the feeling of having her in his arms. It gave him a sense of warmth and security that he was certain she could feel as well. He gave a long sigh before he chose to speak again.

"Actually, it was about three months ago that I saw the necklace," he started, noting the sudden silence that surrounded him and put a strange feeling at the bottom of his stomach. "I was out to go get something for my dad, I can't remember what, when I saw that shop window. For some reason, the curtains in the window and the whole feeling that place seemed to put out attracted me in there; I completely forgot what I was supposed to do. I simply stumbled in there, probably looking pretty stupid. That place had a certain type of aura that seemed to put a spell on me, or something. All I can remember once I got in there is seeing the necklace there way in the back, almost buried under a whole pile of other stuff. It didn't have the box, but was in a type of display case that had been shoved way back and forgotten. The store clerk asked me what I was looking for, and I said that I had wanted to look at the necklace. He didn't say anything, just nodded and took it out for me to look at. Immediately I knew that it was perfect for you—I didn't know why. So, I saved up for a while, not really knowing that I was actually going to go through and buy the necklace until today."

Sora was surprised to hear him stop there—she had expected something much different.

"Yamato?" she said, making sure it was alright to talk after such a long story. He loosened his grip around her a bit to look her at her properly.

"Sorry that was so long," he apologized, blushing, if it were actually possible, harder than ever. She smiled weakly at him, clutching tightly to the new treasure that hung around her neck. He attempted to return her smile, but failed, and instead looked as if he were about to be sick. In his eyes, however, Sora could see that he was happy that she had accepted his gift, no matter how reluctant she had seemed.

They sat in silence for a very long time after that, occasionally looking away from the night sky to glance at each other, only to look away again at the sight of the others eyes on them. Sora noticed once as she glanced side long at her friend that his azure-blue eyes perfectly reflected the stars and moon, and she became lost in them. For maybe a few seconds, she managed to tear her gaze away from his blue eyes to study his other features. Her eyes skimmed over his face and lingered for a moment on the pale, golden hair on his head, only to realize that, within a second, her gaze was back on the pale night sky reflected in the boy's eyes. Her gaze only stirred when she could feel a strange kind of itch that almost seemed to be inside her head.

It's impolite to stare like that: your eyes might pop out all over and make a mess on that boy of yours!

Sora smiled and looked up to the sky, realizing quickly that her friends, the stars, had come back to talk to her. Sorry, she said quickly, knowing what the stars had said to her had only been a joke to greet her. Have you been watching this whole time?

She could hear their vibrant star laughter; the kind of laughter that only stars could do to lift your heart. No the entire time, necessarily, they said falsely, although we did see the boy give you that thing around your neck. We think you called it a neck-something?

A necklace, the girl replied, a slight redness creeping onto her cheeks. She twisted the necklace chain around her fingers, becoming shy for a moment.

He's very nice, just as you said. We wish we could communicate with him.

Sora smiled at her friends and nodded understandingly. Yamato, noticing this as he glanced over at her, wondered to himself. He'd always found his friend quite a mystery, just as he did now as he watched her nodding and smiling up at the sky. He looked up to where she was looking, and noticed, for the first time, how bright the stars were—unnaturally bright.

Shaking his head to rid it of any strange thoughts, something struck his mind without warning. He recalled the conversation he'd had with her earlier that day, and the fact that she'd never answered his question suddenly began to bather him. He sighed and decided that he would bring up the subject again.

"Sora," he said quietly, and could see that the sound of his voice had startled the girl, as if he'd interrupted something. She averted her attention away from the sky, giving her blond haired friend a smile that sent shivers up his spine, though he didn't know why.

"Yes?" she responded, giving him her full attention as he leaned back into the bench, putting his hands deep into his pockets.

"Do you remember the question I asked you earlier today, when I asked you why you loved the fall so much?"

Sora recalled the memory perfectly, without having to search her thoughts for it. She nodded and blushed a little, wondering what her friend might have to say about it.

"Well," Yamato said, raising his eyes to the trees around them, "you never answered my question. I asked what you loved about the fall, and you kind of spaced out for a little bit, then never answered my question."

Sora was only a bit surprised at what her friend had said. She hadn't expected him to remember something as unimportant as that, and I took her a few moments to respond. Stating up at the sky, the stars shined at her, almost telling her what she should say. She hadn't ever really given any thought to the matter; her love for the season had almost always been kind of an instinct, almost.

She noticed the look of impatience creeping onto her friend's face as he waited and, without thinking, the boy's blue eyes had forced her into a response. "It's because of my father," she replied, not exactly sure of what she had just said. Brows furrowed in a genuinely concerned expression, Yamato believed that that was all he was ever going to get out of her about the subject. He knew that Sora's father was "gone", and he did not feel like bringing anything else up.

Glancing at his watch, Yamato gasped. Sora raised and eyebrow at him as she looked down at her own watch—it was nearly midnight!

"Sora," Yamato said, a hint of urgency in his voice, "I think I better take you home. I don't want your mother to worry."

She nodded in agreement, thinking for a moment about what might greet her when she got home. Knowing her mother, Sora guessed there must have been at least a hundred police men out searching for her. She sighed and rose from the park bench she had been sitting on, as Yamato offered her his arm. She took the offer with a warm smile to her friend, and he blushed almost unnoticeably. Fingering the new piece of jewelry that hung limply around her neck, she and her blond-haired friend started on the short journey home.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As the orange-haired girl opened the door to her apartment, she was surprised to realize that it was completely deserted. Her mother was no where to be seen or heard. Where could she be…?

"Everything okay, Sora?" A voice said quietly from the doorway. Sora spun around to face Yamato. She nodded a yes and hugged him good-bye, thanking him again and again for the wonderful day and the beautiful necklace, promising, as the blond-haired boy left, that she would never take it off. Sora noticed the boy's cheeks go pink as she shut the door behind him, and she smiled with satisfaction.

Returning her thoughts to her mother, Sora quickly scanned the house for a note of some kind. After a few minutes of searching, however, Sora decided that there was nothing to be found.

"How strange…" Sora thought aloud, "Mom never goes anywhere without telling me first."

Knowing that just wondering where her mother had gone would do her no good, Sora thought it best to simply go to bed. She was sure her mother would be alright; if she weren't, she would have felt it, somehow. She'd always had a strange kind of connection with her mother, one that only got stronger as they became closer.

She quickly slipped on her pajamas and climbed into her bed, fatigue suddenly creeping over her. She hadn't realized how tired she had been earlier, with so much on her mind. Although she still had thoughts spinning around in her head, they were becoming fewer by the second, and her tired brown-red eyes began to close. The last thing she could remember before slipping into the peaceful arms of sleep was the feel of the necklace chain against her skin. At the thought of Yamato she smiled, and drifted slowly into dreams.

* * * * * * * *

Well, what does everybody think? I've finally decided that this will indeed be the first of several other parts in my pathetic series. I probably should have written a prologue before writing this part; it probably would have made a lot more sense, huh? Sorry if I confused anyone. I'm such a crappy writer, I'm surprised I even bothered to put this up. But, please be kind and review. Should I give up this story right here and focus on something else, or should I hurry my lazy arse with the next part? Please help me out by telling me! ^_^