sorry for taking me so long! I've been very busy! I took a college entrance test and our periodical tests are coming up. So pls bear with me!

Part Seven: Yamato's daughter

"You're late again."

Yamato scratched his head guiltily. "I'm sorry?" he squeaked.

Their teacher removed her glasses and frowned. "Are you apologizing or are you asking me a question, Mr. Ishida?"

Yamato just smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, ma'am. This would be the last time I'll be late."

"You better stick to your word Mr. Ishida or I would punish you for being tardy. I would notify this to the principal." She warned and pointed to Yamato's seat. "You may sit down."

Yamato walked towards his seat and slumped down. He touched his forehead, massaging it with his fingers, and sighed. Shin didn't sleep well last night. The boy was crying and calling out for him. So in order for his son to be all right, he stayed awake until about 3 in the morning just to see if Shin's well.

"Now, turn to page 68 of your Physics book and try to answer number four of Group B problem. You may each have a partner so it would be easy for you." Their teacher said as she sat down on her chair.

Sora got her book and opened it to the assigned page. She sneaked a peek at Yamato, who has his eyes closed. He looks so tired. Sora traded seats with Yamato's seatmate for a while. She sat down and eyed the blonde boy.

"Yamato?"

"Mmm?" he muttered.

She smiled and tapped his shoulder. "Hey… what's up with you? You're not usually like that."

Yamato slowly opened his tired and sleepy eyes, turning it to see who was talking to him. His eyes widened in surprise.

"Sora?!"

She gave him a confused look and opened her book. "You sound like you just saw me for the first time." She teased.

"No…" he whispered, lingering his eyes on the girl. Then, the words of his son circled his mind. He was staring at his future wife. He blushed slightly. I can't believe she's my wife… he thought, resting his chin on his hand and a smile curved on his lips.

Sora caught Yamato staring at her. So, she turned to him casually and raised an eyebrow.

"Is there something wrong with me that you keep on staring?" she teased again.

He smiled and shook his head slowly, his eyes never leaving her face. "Nope… actually, I'm just admiring you."

She blushed and avoided the glittering blue eyes of Yamato. "Yeah, whatever Yamato. That's really quite hard to believe…" she replied, though she was very much relieved to hear that.

He laughed silently. "Then, why are you blushing if you're not believing?" he asked, amused of the fact that Sora is blushing.

"Blushing is a normal phenomenon for humans…" she replied coolly.

"Humans blush when they hear something that flutters them…" Yamato pointed.

Sora opened her mouth to say something, but closed it when she realized that there was nothing more to say. Okay…he got me on that one… she thought.

"I hate you…" she just said, causing Yamato to smile wider.

"Do you know that the more you hate a person, the more you love him?"

She smiled. "Really? Well, thanks for telling me then. That adds to my knowledge…" She replied sarcastically but in an amusing tone. "We'll we just do the problem?" she said, pointing on the page.

Yamato straightened up and got his book. "Sure. You do the solving, I do the copying!" he exclaimed, totally forgetting that he hadn't got a good sleep last night. He felt as if all tiredness has fade away.

Sora laughed. He turned to her upon hearing the cheerful laugh. That was nice to hear… he thought. "Oh no, you don't. You'll solve, I'll observe." She said, giving him a piece of paper and a pen.

He got it from her without complaining. "Okay. You're just very special, that's why I can't say no to you."

She smiled a little. Why is he so… sweet all of a sudden? She asked herself. She stared at him while he juts down the formulas.

"Are you sure you're all right?" she asked.

He stopped writing and looked at her confusedly. "Of course… why'd you ask?"

"Well… last minute you were all tired and sleepy and the next minute, you're very lively…and…"

Yamato looked at Sora curiously, a small smile appearing on his face. "And?"

She blushed. Romantic, sweet, nice, handsome…she thought. "And so irritating!" she said, laughing.

"What? Me, Yamato Ishida, irritating? I thought you were going to say that I'm very much sincere with my words?"

She tried to look away but his captivating eyes were so mesmerizing that she just stared back.

Yamato blinked, hoping that Sora wouldn't be too harsh on her reply. He just can't help but be straightforward to her. If only he could shout out that he loves her, he could.

"Was everything you said a joke?" she whispered.

He looked away and tried to concentrate on the paper. "No, all I said is true." Yamato said simply.

Shin sat down on the couch and grabbed the remote. Finally seeing a cartoon channel, he placed the remote beside him.

"Shin, do you want something to eat because I'm going to stop by the shop." His grandfather said.

Shin smiled and nodded his head. "Yes please. I want milk and brownies." He said.

Mr. Ishida chuckled. "Don't you want Coke or softdrinks or candies?"

He shook his head and smiled. "No, Grandpa. Mommy said that softdrinks aren't good for kids. And my daddy said milk is good for the body coz it has lots of calcium." Shin said, making Mr. Ishida laugh. This kid's quite good… he thought.

"Calcium, huh?"

Shin nodded. "Uh-huh… I read in one of Yuki's books that calcium makes bones strong and the body healthy."

Mr. Ishida approached the kid and smiled, patting the little boy's head. "Your mom and dad are right. I'll be back in a short while."

Ding!

The tinkle of the bell echoed inside the bustling flower shop. Another customer entered, adding to the queue of waiting people by the counter.

Mrs. Takenouchi sighed and wiped her perspiration. There are way too many people… she thought.

"Thank you sir." She said, handing the wonderful basket of flowers to the young woman.

"Oh, thank you. I bet my mother would love this!" she squealed and falls out of the line.

"I'll have a dozen red roses please." The next customer said.

Mrs. Takenouchi nodded, but her mind was set on the cashier. "I think I didn't gave the right change to the young lady…" she murmured, counting the money.

Yukino noticed that the young man was getting impatient so she roved her eyes, looking for the red roses. Finally seeing it, she ran towards it and got 12 roses, holding it one by one. She bit her lip when the thorns prick her fingers, but she didn't whine or made a sound.

"Excuse me but I ordered for a dozen roses ma'am. I'm sorry if I'm really impatient, but my girlfriend's already leaving." He said calmly.

Mrs. Takenouchi tipped her head up in surprise and apologized at the young man. "I'm sorry… you see – "

"Here are the roses, sir."

The two looked down and saw Yukino, cradling the dozen roses. Mrs. Takenouchi smiled and got the roses from the young girl. All the roses were fresh and were very beautiful indeed.

"They're nice choices, Yukino. Thank you…" Mrs. Takenouchi said as she got a pink paper and placed the flowers there. After cutting the thorns and arranging it, she tied a white and pink ribbon by the end. Finally she handed it to the young man.

"I beg your pardon. I was just confused." Mrs. Takenouchi said.

The young man smiled. "I understand, ma'am. Your store is one of the best." He said, then left.

Mrs. Takenouchi looked at Yukino. "Thank you. You're such a sweet girl."

Yukino smiled a little, then collapsed down on the floor.

"Yukino!"

Sora felt something weird had just happened. So, she rubbed her shoulders, having thought it was only the chill of the air.

"Are you all right?"

She looked at Yamato and smiled. "Yeah… I just felt… strange…" she whispered.

"C'mon. Let's sit down for a while." Yamato said, guiding Sora to a bench by a tree.

They both sat down there, silent. Sora stared down at the green grass below them and thought for a while. Yukino…

"Are you cold?" he asked in a soothing voice.

Sora shook her head. It was windy, but she felt it wasn't because of the wind. It was something…different.

"I don't get it…I feel so weird…" she said.

Then, an arm rested on her shoulder gently. She turned around and looked at Yamato.

"Yamato…"

"You might be cold…" he whispered.

Since he was staring on the other side, she finally had a chance to stare at him for good. Why was he like this? He suddenly turned charming and sweet in one snap of a finger. She couldn't help it but to think that she's falling for him. But she can't… they're friends… very good friends. There's just that barrier that she cannot simply break.

She smiled. At least Yamato's showing his side, unlike the past when he thinks he's too cool to let other people meddle with his life. She like him to be open, so that he wouldn't bottle up his problems to himself.

"How's Shin?" she asked, breaking the silence.

Yamato turned to her and smiled. "He's fine." He answered. She noticed that his eyes were a little troubled.

"You look confuse…"

He blinked and laughed. "Oh, sorry about that. I was just thinking…"

Sora smiled. "And what would you be thinking?"

He brushed up his hair using his other hand. "Have you ever wondered about the future?"

Sora looked away and looked at the shadow of the leaves of the tree, swaying with the wind. "Not often… have you thought about your future lately?" she said without looking at him.

"Yeah. I'm going to finish studying and find a decent job and…"

"And?" Sora asked when he didn't continue.

He suddenly laughed. "Have a family, have kids and buy a house by the beach or something…"

Sora smiled. "That's nice. I don't know what would my future be like. Am I even going to start a family after I find a steady job?"

Yamato stared at her in disbelief. "You don't want a family?" he said, a little down.

"It's not that. Of course I want one… but I feel that I wouldn't be a good mother… or wife…"

Suddenly, she was pulled in an embrace. She was so surprised that she didn't know how to react.

"Don't say that…" he whispered against her ear. "You're a nice person and I bet you'd be a good mother."

Sora felt her eyes watered. "I don't think I'm like that…"

"That's just it. You keep thinking of the bad side…Be an optimist. You're such a loving person. That's why I'm…" he said softly.

Sora looked up at him. "You're what?"

Yamat smiled at her and hugged her tighter. "Nothing…" he whispered.

"Mom! I'm home!" Sora said, dumping her bag on the couch. "Mom! Yuki-san!" she said again.

"Sora! We're up here!" she heard her mother yelled. She shrugged and made her way to her mother's bedroom.

"Hey Mom!" she greeted, opening the door. As soon as she entered, she gasped. There was her mother, sitting on a chair beside the bed. And on the bed was Yukino, a towel placed on her forehead.

Sora quickly rushed to Yukino and held her little hand. "What happened?!" she asked hysterically. "Why does her hand have little cuts?!" Sora asked, touching the small cuts on the palm of the blonde kid.

Her mother hushed her. "Sora… she collapsed when we were in the flower shop. I rushed back here while carrying her. I also called the doctor and he said that Yukino's body and mind are exhausted. It looks like Yukino's dreams are totally ruining her…"

Sora sighed and brushed Yuki's blonde hair. "Oh, I should have stayed with her. Maybe if I was here, she'd be – "

"Sora… it's all right. All Yukino needs is plenty of rest." Her mother told her.

Sora frowned. "What about her dreams? She's really frightened about it."

He mother shook her head and looked at Yukino.

"I don't know honey…" her mother whispered.

Ding! Dong!

Her mother stood up. "I'm going to answer that. Why don't you go downstairs and fill the bowl with cold water?"

Sora nodded and got the bowl. Her mother went downstairs, followed by Sora.

Mrs. Takenouchi went to the door and opened it, while Sora went to the kitchen.

"Why Yamato! It's a surprise! Come in!" she said, stepping back so Yamato could enter.

Yamato smiled. "I'm sorry to bother you. But I forgot to give Sora her book. I carried it."

"You may go to the kitchen. She's there. I'm just going to clean up this place." Mrs. Takenouchi said.

Yamato nodded and headed to the kitchen and saw Sora pouring water in a bowl. He stared at her for a while, then she turned around.

"Oh! Yamato! How long have you been there?" she breathed out. Yamato chuckled. "Not too long… What are you doing?"

Sora frowned. "Follow me. I'll introduce you to the kid I'm taking care of."

Yamato shrugged and followed Sora upstairs. Sora looked at him, and Yamato opened the door.

Sora quietly stepped in and Yamato closed the door gently. He turned around and his eyes widened.

Sora sat down on a chair beside it and took the towel resting on the little girl's forehead. "Yamato, come here."

Yamato walked towards her and sat down on the bed, staring at the girl.

Sora sighed and, after dipping the towel in the cold water, she placed it back on the girl's forehead.

"She's the girl. Her name's Yukino Ishida." Sora whispered, brushing Yukino's soft blonde hair.

Yamato stared at the blonde girl with sadness. "How is she?" he asked, touching Yukino's hand.

Sora shook her head. "She's really sick. I'm so worried! I knew I should have stayed here and take care of her."

Yamato smiled and reached for Sora's hand. "Don't worry about it."

Sora smiled a little. "I'm just so worried. She's always been special to me. I'm going to be so sad when her parents come to pick her up."

"Sora! Can you come down here for a minute?"

Sora replied a yes and stood up. "I'll be back in a short while." And with that, she exited the room.

Yamato's eyes softened and he sat closer. This was his eldest child, Yukino. She looks so tired and very pale.

"That's my girl…" he whispered.

Her eyes opened slowly. "… Daddy?"

Yamato's heart skipped a beat. "Yukino-san…"

She closed her eyes again. "Daddy…" she whispered.

"Shh…" he whispered, taking the towel and dipping it on the cold water. "Go to sleep, Yukino. Your mother will be back in a short while…"

"Daddy… are you back in our house?" she said, her eyes still closed. Yamato bit his lip.

"Sleep Yukino, it's not good for you to speak too much."

Yukino nodded and continued her sleep. A small smile curved her lips. Yamato smiled, then Sora stepped into the room.

"How is she?"

Yamato smiled and stood up. "She's all right. I better go, Shin's waiting for me."

"He's staying in your house again?"

Yamato nodded. "Yeah. Here's your book." He said, giving it to her. She got it and stood up.

"Should I walk out with you?"

Yamato shook his head and tuck a strand of red hair behind her ear. "No need. You better stay with her. Good night Sora."

Sora smiled. "Good night also."

They both stared at each other, then Yamato exited the room. After Yamato's exit, Sora flopped down on the bed.

He's way too sweet to be a friend… she thought, blushing.

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