Okay! Here is the seventh chapter to Her favorite color! Or just HFC to make life easy. I'm not really sure if I ever did a disclaimer for this story, so here it is…
I do not own Digimon or any of the characters, but I really really really wish that I did. I do believe that all Taiora fans should own Digimon…yes that sounds nice…chicken rice…do you like mice? Erm….i'm okay…R&R!!!!!!!!!
Her Favorite Color- chapter 7
And that's my story. Well, that's my story so far…
It's been five years since I've been home. Five year have past and the only thing that continues to connect me to my past are the memories, and the few and sometimes brief letters that I send back to my mother, Matt, or Kari. It's been five years, and yet… I have yet to find him…
But Takenouchi's are not known to be quitters. Especially when what we are striving for is something of great importance, as it usually is…even looking for a pair of socks could bring out my families great determination. But my goal is not humorous and slightly insignificant, and I'm sure that you must know that. But I have found my feeling very hard to place and I don't quite understand it myself.
I left the home that held my childhood, and leaving it was such a great sorrow that it takes all my courage and strength to not go back. Looking back on these past years, I don't think that I would normally have been able to make it this far. I have yet to go home for a birthday or for a holiday. I miss those times of the years where all that matters is the happiness of being with the people you love. I think I miss them the most…
If I could do anything over again I think I might have explained myself to the others before leaving like I did. I'm sure that Matt tried his best to defend me, and I'm sure his attempt to clarify the reasons for my actions were sincere, but I don't think that many of them understood, no matter how hard they may have tried.
Kari was very mad at me. She knew that her brother had left because the pain that I had caused him. But in my letters and email to her I explained it. Kari wanted to come with me, and I knew that she was hurting too, but I told her that this was something between Tai and me, and that she still had things, or should I say people, that needed her. She understood quite well that I needed to find Tai, and that I needed to do it by myself. I made her promise not to tell any of the other digidestined about our contact with each other, not even T.K. I know that it's still hard for her, and I want to see her more than anything, but Kari encourages me more than anybody to continue with my "Quest of Love", as she likes to call it.
So here I am. Five years later and I have yet to find one trace of Taichi. My adventures so far have been very exciting. The very first place that I went after searching throughout Japan was south to Australia. From Brisbane, to Sydney and, and then west to Port Hedland, my journey through the continent was amazing. I have been blessed wherever I go to meet some of the most fantastic people. They all understand have understood my situation and one person in particular was inspired by me to write a little story about me in her Magazine. The "little story" got around no sooner had I left from Port Hedland to Madagascar that I received an email from Kari telling me about an article she had read in one of her teen magazines. I quickly bought the magazine and was amazed at what I read. They mentioned that the writer of the article was not able to use me personally to write it, but my friends from Australia were happy to. I wasn't mad, I was actually very happy for myself. I may have become a strange girl who comes as quickly as she came to some, but I knew that this meant I was doing something right. I have been exchanging letters with the magazine and know have my own page were readers are updated every month.
Besides being randomly recognized by people on the streets, I really have enjoyed myself. When I think about traveling like I do, I start to think about school. I have yet to go to college. Not my priority I guess? It sure seems that way, doesn't it? But when I do, and I plan on going, I have decided that even though I don't know what I want to do with my life, above and beyond looking for Tai, as long as I travel, it's fine with me.
I traveled through South America and didn't find him (I didn't think that I would), so I now find myself in New York City. I wish that Mimi was still living here, but after she graduated last year, being away from Izzy for any longer then she needed was not in her day planner. So I missed her by a year.
Yeah. I've been living in NYC for a whole year. I'm not sure why, I never stayed in one town or city for that long before. Maybe it's the people… Nah, can't be that. New Yorkers can be very…er…prudent, if I do say so myself. All except for my two best friends, whom I live and share the rent with, Alyssa Johnson and Mia Kerman.
I recently work in one of those high-class designer stores with Alyssa. She's a designer while I just work in the department of selling things, although I have been known to help her "design" went she has…umm… designers block. Mia works in a bookstore. She mainly works in the café and so we always go there for coffee. She gets free beverages depending on how much she sells. It's a very busy store with many tired customers and Alyssa and I haven't paid for coffee in a very long time.
Right now I'm sitting on our porch, recalling the days events. I think things are finally begging to make sense…
******
I just finished helping out a customer who couldn't decided whether to get the black or the red skirt. They were the exact same design, so not really understanding the trauma of picking out a skirt, I tried out my selling skills on her.
"May I suggest buying this beautiful sleeveless top? It's all white and would go wonderfully with both skirts, and I do believe that each combination would bring out the blue in your eyes…"
She looked very flattered and blushed at my compliment, but if I do say so myself, I think it was very clever of me. It must have been perfectly sly because she bought all three. I watched her walk out the huge front doors and thought to myself, She probably wears colored contacts…
"That was indeed tactful of you, Ms. Takenouchi."
"Why thank you Mr. Ward." I replied with a kind smile on my face.
If you didn't realize, Mr. Ward is my boss. He really is a very kind man, considering his money. But he has a family at home that seems to keep both of his feet on the ground. Both Alyssa and I are very lucky to be able to work under him. All of his employees are. We get the best end of the year bonuses. He gave me a stern look that we never usually see.
"I would like to see you in my office for a moment, please."
"Okay…"
I'm not afraid to admit that I was very scared to follow him to his office. I hope he didn't think that what I had just done was a bad thing. I didn't really lie to the woman, maybe her eyes really were blue!
When we entered his office I was surprised to see Alyssa there also. But I was even more surprised to see the drawing that he had upon his desk…
It was a colored picture of an evening dress. Mostly dark blue, the gown had a low neck that had a slight curve to it. Tight but comfortable in the waist, and then sloping down to floor in a very beautiful flow that it made me want to recite poetry right there on the spot, even if I did fail that semester as a sophomore in English. Was it my fault that Shakespeare was very confusing. Although I did enjoy Romeo and Juliet…up until the part where they killed themselves…That was so not romantic…I remember thinking. But the gown was stunning. And I realized why both Alyssa and I were present. I had helped Alyssa design that gown. We had stayed up all night eating cookie dough until our stomach hurts trying to decide the color and length and all those details. I knew we were going to be fired. I had no right to help a designer…
I was brought back to reality when Mr. Ward coughed and then motioned me to sit down. Hesitantly taking my seat I glanced over to Alyssa and noted that she to must realize why we were here. I mouthed an 'I'm sorry' before we turned our attention to our boss.
"I'm sure you must both understand why I have you here, so I want to get to the point as quickly as possible, I have to take my son to a birthday party tonight. But I want to ask a few questions first. Do you both recognize this evening dress?"
"Yes…" we answered timidly.
"This is one of your dresses, right Ms. Johnson?"
"Yes it is, sir." She said.
"Do I have the right to believe that you are not the only one responsible for this?"
"…"
"Well?"
"I didn't mean to Mr. Ward!" I suddenly shouted. "I was just helping her, I didn't mean-"
"I knew you had something to do with this Ms. Takenouchi-"
"I'm sorry-"
"That's why I will be promoting you!"
"It was just a mistake, I di- what? Promoted?!"
"Yes, you heard me correctly. And I have a very important task that I want both of you to do. I am supposed to be sending two of my finest designers to work for headquarters in London, England on the new Ballroom Inc. enterprise. I would like it very mush if you would be the two to go."
"England!" we both said.
I was still in shock over the fact that I had been promoted, and now he wanted us to go to England?! I think he noted the look on my face, and considering tat fact that he is a very sympathetic man, he said,
"I'll give you five days to think about it, but I want an answer as soon as possible. I know you'll be perfect for the job, Sora. I should have done this a long time ago…"
******
"I've always wanted to go to London!" said Mia enthusiastically. "Especially after I read the new Harry Potter! I mean, I know that there probably aren't such things as wizards and witches, and my dream of playing Quidditch will never come true, but a girl can dream…even if I am twenty three."
We were all sitting at a table in the corner of the café and we had just finished telling Mia about my new promotion and our new assignment. She was all for it.
"I only wish that I could come…"
"Mia, Sora doesn't even know if she wants to go yet or not. This is a big change for her, you know."
"Maybe I should go. I haven't been anywhere new in a while. I don't want to get stuck here and regret it. I haven't searched England yet, though he was never one for elegance and manners."
"Huh?" responded Mia.
"You remember, Mia. The whole reason for why Sora is here in the first place, so far away from Japan. She's been looking for…that guy for the past five years. You know… 'The One That Got Away'…?"
I had told them about Tai, of course, but I never told them his name. I never told anybody his name, just pictures and stories.
"Oh, right. Greg."
"Greg?!" I replied, bewildered.
"Well, you never told us his name, so I figured that I would name him myself, just so I wouldn't get confused."
Sometimes I worry about her. But I think her books keep her as sane as possible.
"Yeah, well," I said "I really want to find him, but I'm not sure…. It's just been such a long time."
"Do you think he still thinks about you as much as you think about him?" asked Alyssa.
"I hope so…"
"Oh…this is making me very sad, guys. Look, we just got this new book in. I read it today during all of my spare time. I couldn't put it down! It's the most beautifully written thing I've ever read! If you do go to London, you can read this on the plane."
"What's it about?" I asked gloomily.
"Well, it's an autobiography about this authors childhood, and his best friend and all that they went through growing up together. It's so cute! I swear you'll like it Sora. He has the best memory ever, because he has such great detail and you really feel like you can feel his emotions. It's that or his best friend, who was a girl, was very important to him, because he's, like, in love with her…sigh."
"What, is this some old dude that just wrote down all of his memories because he's slowly slipping away into insanity and wants to write it all down before he dies?" mocked Alyssa.
"No….it's actually written by a guy our age. It's very sad, actually, he never really gets to tell her how he feels. Of course he never says her name. It makes me think that he's so heartbroken he can't even write are speak her name…"
I listened to Mia as she continued on about this book. It reminded me of my life. I guess I'm not the only one…
"So what's his name?" asked Alyssa "If he comes here for a book signing you guys could set me up with him, he seems very mature. And I think it's sweet for a guy to write about something so intimate and important to him."
Mia took out the book from her bag a looked at the cover.
"Hey, Sora! I think he's Japanese, too. We could set you up with him instead."
"Gee…thanks." I said.
"Taichi Kamiya. Sounds sexy."
Time froze. Could this be him? Had I finally found a hint to finding him? My heart was beating faster than I ever felt it beat. I snatched the book away from her and held it between my hands.
"Her Favorite Color, by Taichi Kamiya."
Tears rolled down my cheeks for the first time since I left home. Since he left me. All the feelings that I had kept inside myself about giving up and just going back to Japan leaked out of my eyes. This was exactly what I had been searching for. This had brought me to New York, and brought me these friends, and this job…my job…
I would have to quit my job so I could look for Tai again. Now that I had the hope and desire to see him, no matter the pain or the strife, I knew I would be okay. But the promotion is the best thing that has happened to me yet. I did miss traveling so much, and I missed Taichi more…What would I do?
"You okay Sora? What's wrong?" asked a concerned Mia.
"This is him. Taichi Kamiya. Mia…It's Greg."
"Whoa…no…fucking…way."
"Yes fucking way. I'm finally gonna see him…"
"Where does he live?" asked Alyssa, tears almost falling from her eyes as well.
I opened the book to the back, where the bio's of authors usually are. There was a picture of him…his hair was cut and I smiled at it, kind of missing the unruly mess, but it was still sort of big, and spikey. The picture was colored, and I looked right into his eyes. The same chocolate brown that I loved. And his smile. I saw the sadness, but I also saw the strength… I took a deep breath and read the paragraph underneath it:
Taichi Kamiya was born in Japan and lived there until he graduated from high school. He plays acoustic guitar and plays shows when he is not writing. This is his first novel. He lives with his two black Labs in a flat in…
I looked up from the page to the two pairs of eager eyes of my best friends. They began to smile when they saw the smile that was now on my face. I haven't smiled like this in a long time.
"You'll never guess, where he lives…"
"WHERE?" They both said, getting stares from the other people nearby in the bookstore.
"Alyssa…We are definitely GOING to London!"
******
Ironic…isn't it?
"If I could find you now, things would get better. We could leave this town and run forever…"
Did you get it? I hope so, I don't know how much easier to make it. That last little part was from the song "ocean Avenue" by Yellowcard. I really think that this chapter is my best so far. I'm very proud of it… what do you think? I need to stop typing because I need to go watch Inu Yasha and Blue Gender! Please Review!!!
~dorkiss