VII
On the walk to the park, Daisuke found himself, to his delight, walking next to Miss Takeru. Koushirou was walking with Sora, Jyou with Hikari Ken with Mimi and Taichi with Miss Ishida, which left Miss Takeru with him. This suited him just fine of course.
"So, how long have you been in London?" he asked politely.
"Oh, I was here for a month before the season started," she answered, looking straight in front of her, which allowed Daisuke to look at her as much as he wished, "only my aunt decided she wished to go to Bath, for her health. We stayed in Bath for two months and did not come back until the night before Lord Kido's dinner party. My aunt realised that I had basically missed the season here, though I was in Bath and went to all the social events there, and she was quite upset. I do not mind however, it is just wonderful for me to be here. I wish Yamato did not have to run away to experience it."
"So, um, do you have any suitors?" Daisuke asked, praying that she would answer no.
"Oh no!" she laughed unashamedly, "My aunt thinks that I an being too fussy, however, I do not like anyone who could have been a suitor. I do not mind if I do not get engaged this season, it is better than being engaged to someone whom I do not like."
Daisuke laughed at that comment, whilst secretly wishing that she would like him.
"Why do you laugh so?"
"It is only that you sound much like Taichi's sister. That is exactly the reason she gave me for refusing me, -"
"Oh, I am sorry for bringing this up, it must have hurt you greatly!" she exclaimed, quite guilty.
"Do not be. I have quite gotten over it now. Anyway, you and her would probably make great friends."
"I do hope so. She has been so very nice to my sister, as have her whole family."
"Daisuke, hurry up!" came a distant call.
"Come, we should catch up to the others, they have already reached the area." And with a smile, he held out his hand.
She took it, gracing him with a beautiful smile, agreeing with "We must not keep them waiting."
++++++++++
Taichi saw Daisuke and Yamato's sister talking in the distance.
"You know, Ken, Daisuke may be correct after all." Indicating the talking couple.
"So he may, good for him."
"At least he is over my sister now and I do not have to be in the middle of two conflicting sides. It is most annoying to have a pretty sister."
"I would not know, I do not have one."
"I know, I know."
"So how has life been with Miss Ishida?"
"She is a sweet girl and very helpful to my mother. I do not know about this father of hers however. We have heard no sign of him and I worry for Yamato."
"So when have you started calling Miss Ishida, Yamato?" inquired Ken, with a half-curious, half-knowing look on his face.
"Since she told me to. We are suppose to be cousins after all. It would not do to call her Miss Ishida." Taichi replied. "It is also not what you think."
"If you insist."
"I do."
"Ken!"
"Yes, Hikari?" Ken addressed his sister who was making her way towards them.
"Come here and settle a dispute Koushirou and I have about Purcell's music."
"Sorry Tai, duty calls." said Ken, getting up.
Taichi watched as Ken followed Hikari to where she was sitting before. He saw that Yamato was sitting by herself and so approached her.
"Do you like music, Yamato?"
"Oh yes." She replied looking up. "I was listening to Hikari and Lord Izumi discuss Purcell's music, it was most interesting."
"Do you play?"
"Yes. It was one of the only things that father made me learn which I actually enjoy."
Taichi saw that she looked very happy when she talked about music.
"Then you must play for us sometime, and of course, you may play on our pianoforte. How are you enjoying London?"
"It has been simply marvelous!" she replied genuinely. "Your mother, sister and yourself have been more than kind to me, as have all your friends and I could not have enjoyed myself more if I tried. I am sincerely glad that I did run away. However, I am afraid that my father might be getting closer to finding me."
"Do not worry about that. Now I know Hikari, with the help of my mother, is planning a coming out party for you, which they have neglected to tell me about. Perhaps you know. How many people should I be expecting?"
"Oh, please tell your sister that she need not bother herself! She would not listen to me and I am already grateful for what you have done."
"Nonsense. Of course you should have a party. The only thing I am worrying about is the size of this party, which Hikari will no doubt tell me the day before, when it is too late to stop people coming."
"At least we agree on one thing." his sister inputted. "However, you are correct in thinking that I would not tell you, nor will Yamato." That was directed at Yamato. "You may expect a large party and I expect you to dance the first dance with Yamato. That is all I am telling you." With that, she left Taichi alone with Yamato again.
"Well, would I be able to have the pleasure of having the first dance on the evening?" Taichi asked.
Yamato blushed and answered, "Yes."
++++++++++
On the walk to the park, Daisuke found himself, to his delight, walking next to Miss Takeru. Koushirou was walking with Sora, Jyou with Hikari Ken with Mimi and Taichi with Miss Ishida, which left Miss Takeru with him. This suited him just fine of course.
"So, how long have you been in London?" he asked politely.
"Oh, I was here for a month before the season started," she answered, looking straight in front of her, which allowed Daisuke to look at her as much as he wished, "only my aunt decided she wished to go to Bath, for her health. We stayed in Bath for two months and did not come back until the night before Lord Kido's dinner party. My aunt realised that I had basically missed the season here, though I was in Bath and went to all the social events there, and she was quite upset. I do not mind however, it is just wonderful for me to be here. I wish Yamato did not have to run away to experience it."
"So, um, do you have any suitors?" Daisuke asked, praying that she would answer no.
"Oh no!" she laughed unashamedly, "My aunt thinks that I an being too fussy, however, I do not like anyone who could have been a suitor. I do not mind if I do not get engaged this season, it is better than being engaged to someone whom I do not like."
Daisuke laughed at that comment, whilst secretly wishing that she would like him.
"Why do you laugh so?"
"It is only that you sound much like Taichi's sister. That is exactly the reason she gave me for refusing me, -"
"Oh, I am sorry for bringing this up, it must have hurt you greatly!" she exclaimed, quite guilty.
"Do not be. I have quite gotten over it now. Anyway, you and her would probably make great friends."
"I do hope so. She has been so very nice to my sister, as have her whole family."
"Daisuke, hurry up!" came a distant call.
"Come, we should catch up to the others, they have already reached the area." And with a smile, he held out his hand.
She took it, gracing him with a beautiful smile, agreeing with "We must not keep them waiting."
++++++++++
Taichi saw Daisuke and Yamato's sister talking in the distance.
"You know, Ken, Daisuke may be correct after all." Indicating the talking couple.
"So he may, good for him."
"At least he is over my sister now and I do not have to be in the middle of two conflicting sides. It is most annoying to have a pretty sister."
"I would not know, I do not have one."
"I know, I know."
"So how has life been with Miss Ishida?"
"She is a sweet girl and very helpful to my mother. I do not know about this father of hers however. We have heard no sign of him and I worry for Yamato."
"So when have you started calling Miss Ishida, Yamato?" inquired Ken, with a half-curious, half-knowing look on his face.
"Since she told me to. We are suppose to be cousins after all. It would not do to call her Miss Ishida." Taichi replied. "It is also not what you think."
"If you insist."
"I do."
"Ken!"
"Yes, Hikari?" Ken addressed his sister who was making her way towards them.
"Come here and settle a dispute Koushirou and I have about Purcell's music."
"Sorry Tai, duty calls." said Ken, getting up.
Taichi watched as Ken followed Hikari to where she was sitting before. He saw that Yamato was sitting by herself and so approached her.
"Do you like music, Yamato?"
"Oh yes." She replied looking up. "I was listening to Hikari and Lord Izumi discuss Purcell's music, it was most interesting."
"Do you play?"
"Yes. It was one of the only things that father made me learn which I actually enjoy."
Taichi saw that she looked very happy when she talked about music.
"Then you must play for us sometime, and of course, you may play on our pianoforte. How are you enjoying London?"
"It has been simply marvelous!" she replied genuinely. "Your mother, sister and yourself have been more than kind to me, as have all your friends and I could not have enjoyed myself more if I tried. I am sincerely glad that I did run away. However, I am afraid that my father might be getting closer to finding me."
"Do not worry about that. Now I know Hikari, with the help of my mother, is planning a coming out party for you, which they have neglected to tell me about. Perhaps you know. How many people should I be expecting?"
"Oh, please tell your sister that she need not bother herself! She would not listen to me and I am already grateful for what you have done."
"Nonsense. Of course you should have a party. The only thing I am worrying about is the size of this party, which Hikari will no doubt tell me the day before, when it is too late to stop people coming."
"At least we agree on one thing." his sister inputted. "However, you are correct in thinking that I would not tell you, nor will Yamato." That was directed at Yamato. "You may expect a large party and I expect you to dance the first dance with Yamato. That is all I am telling you." With that, she left Taichi alone with Yamato again.
"Well, would I be able to have the pleasure of having the first dance on the evening?" Taichi asked.
Yamato blushed and answered, "Yes."
++++++++++