-and rain
Chapter Four: She Thought Of Him
A/N: I don't own Digimon or Gathering Blue.
Taiorafan: In this chapter, things are a lot better for Sora!!
Kawaii-Q: An artisan is like a carver. Someone who works with wood :)
KaguyaEvenstar: Yup, Yamato is sort of like Jamison and Tai is Thomas! I'm glad you like it!
Litanya and Kim: Thanks for your reviews. I'm so happy you like it
The past few days had been the most eventful, and horrible days of her life. First, her mother died, then she was faced with a life or death hearing, and now she is held captive in her bed for three days!
She yawned sleepily as she sat up in her cozy bed. She had a restless night. Images of her mother and Tomiko flashed through her dreams. She tried very hard to resist the tears she yearned to shed, she knew once she started, they would never end.
She chose to focus her attention on something else. Very carefully, she brought out her hurt leg, and removed the red bandages. Red, she feared that color. It was the color of blood.
Her ankle was still a little blue but it had signs of fading, and the cut mended leaving behind a small scar. She set the bandages aside letting the injury breathe some fresh air. She turned her head to let the morning sun dance across her face.
What would she do today? She had to remain in bed for at least three days. I could work on the robe…. But what is there left to work on? All the loose threads have been removed, and I don't have any colored threads with me. She sighed heavily. If there was one thing she hated, it was being bored.
A soft knock on her door broke her line of thought. Finally, some company! "Come in," she called from her bed. The door cracked open, he quietly stepped inside her room.
"So, how are you feeling?" He asked with his hands behind his back.
"Fine, I guess. It doesn't hurt as much, but it's still sore." She told him.
He nodded, "I got something for you," he said. He brought his hands out front and in them he held a long wooden stick that had very elaborate carvings on them. "Seeing as how your other one broke, I thought you could use it. I made it last night." He blushed slightly as he handed her his gift.
"Wow Tai, it's so beautiful!" She exclaimed as she stroked the delicate carvings. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he smiled.
"Sorry to interrupt you two, but its time for breakfast!" Mimi said cheerfully as she bumped open the door carrying two trays. "Are you eating here Tai?"
"Uhh…" He looked hesitantly at Sora.
"Yes, he is," she finished.
"Okay, there you go. But when you're done, its back to work. Except you Sora, you need to rest. Sensei will be up here a little later to check on you. Did you sleep well?"
"Yes," she lied.
"Good, well I have to go tend to the other guests. See you two later," Mimi said.
They ate quietly. It was an awkward silence. Sora couldn't take it, she knew after they had eaten, she would be left alone and worst of all bored. She decided to make use of the time she had with someone, even if was Tai, wisely.
"So, Tai, how long have you been here?" She asked him.
"Ever since I was young." He told her. "My mother died giving birth to me, so it was just my dad and me. He showed me how to carve. Then, during one of the hunts, he was killed by beasts. I was maybe four or five at the time. I didn't have anywhere to go, so I took whatever I could and ran. Then, one of the Keepers found me, and took me in."
"My father was also killed while hunting. But he died before I was born. My mother raised me up until a few days ago." She said softly. What a great way to start a conversation. She wanted to change the subject. "So you're pretty familiar with everything around here."
"Yeah, I guess. What did your friend bring you?"
"Huh? Oh, I completely forgot!" Sora reached over for the basket T.K. had brought for her. She removed the cover and took out a box. In it she found several colored threads, which she had dyed with her mother. She also found her basket made from river grass, which contained her dried medicinal herbs, her mother's assortment of needles and pins, and the silver locket her father had given to her mother during their wedding.
She smiled, "I'll have to thank T.K. when I see him again." She clasped the locket around her neck. She heard the work bell ring from the bell tower.
"Well, I'd better go. I'll stop by again during lunch. I know you'll be bored without me," Tai smirked.
Sora rolled her eyes playfully, "Thanks Tai."
He gave a curt nod and left. She sighed as she returned her gaze out the window. She felt happy. Even though her mother passed away recently, she smiled at the thought of her parents being reunited once again. Someday she would join them, but for now, Sora felt content.
She took out her new walking stick and stroked the carvings. She thought of Tai. She thought of his goofy, lop-sided smile. She thought of his strong arms carrying her to bed. She thought of his skilled hands, chiseling away at a block of wood and transforming it into a work of art. She thought of his warm eyes, comforting her numb heart. She thought of him, and smiled.
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The door creaked open and in walked a small yellow-haired boy. He crept up beside her bed.
"Sora, are you awake?" he whispered. His friend stirred in her sleep. He cleared his throat and tried again. "SORA, ARE YOU AWAKE?" He yelled.
She shot up from her bed. Startled, she looked around her room.
"Down here," the boy called.
"Oh, it's you T.K., and yes, I am awake… now," She said. She was glad to see her young friend.
He laughed. "I heard about last night. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine now. Sensei says I can't get out of bed for three days though," she sighed.
"Oh, that's too bad. Here, Sensei told me to give you these," he said handing her a cloth sack.
"What is it?" Sora asked curiously as she peeked into the bag.
"Bandages, for your foot. I see you got your things," He said pointing to the basket.
"Yes, thank you T.K." She smiled down at him warmly.
"Anytime Sora." T.K.'s stomach let out a lour growl. "Got anything to eat?"
She laughed. "No, but Mimi will be here anytime with lunch. There is always more than enough food, I'll share it with you."
"Thanks, so is this your new home?" T.K. asked as he inspected her bedroom.
"It sure is. So, do you like it?"
"Yeah, it's pretty big compared to the burrows back home, but doesn't it get kind of lonely? Living here, all by yourself," T.K. asked.
"No not really, I'm usually too busy during the day. Plus Tai is just down the hall, and Mimi and Joe come to check on me every once in a while, and now you're here keeping me company."
There was a tap on the door. "I'll get it!" T.K. said as he opened the door. "Yes?"
Tai looked down at T.K., "Uh… is Sora here?"
"Yes."
"…So can I come in?"
"I don't know, let me check." He closed the door, "Sora, some guy with a big brown mop on his head is asking for you."
"It's Tai, let him in T.K." She laughed
He opened the door, "Yes, you can come in."
"Sorry about that Tai, this is T.K." Sora said.
"Nice to meet you," Tai said bending over to shake the boy's hand. T.K. eagerly shook Tai's hand and quickly stood by the door, waiting for more guests.
"Mimi should be bringing lunch soon, so I thought I'd stop by." He said as he pulled up a chair and sat beside Sora's bed.
The bell tower rang twice, signaling a lunch break for the workers. Immediately afterwards Mimi brought two trays piled with food to Sora's room.
"Should I bring an extra, for your friend?" Mimi asked.
"No thanks Mimi, he'll share from me." Sora said handing T.K. a roll from her tray. He sat on the floor and chewed hungrily.
"What did you do after I left?" Tai asked.
"I guess I dozed off, then T.K. came and woke me up," she said, tossing her hungry friend an apple. T.K. smiled, his cheeks bulging with food.
"I told you, you would be bored without me," Tai smirked.
Sora laughed. "So what did you do Mr. Artisan?"
"I did what every artisan would. Carve."
"I know that! But what did you carve? Why are you here?"
Tai raised his eyebrow, "what do you mean?"
"Like, I am here because they need me to work on the Singer's robe, what are you here for?"
"Oh, I repair the Singer's staff. After this year's Harvest, the Warden says I have to make a new one. Termites have been getting into the old one."
"Make a new staff? That would take forever!" Like the robe, the staff was decorated with scenes from the past. But the staff wasn't for the people as the robe was. The robe was for the people to follow, as the story of their world was being sung. The staff helped the Singer sing the long versus of the Song. He would run his fingers across the patterns and remember.
"It will take a lot of time. Each carving has to be exactly identical to the original. But it's what I have to do to keep my place here. What about you? The robe must be pretty hard too."
"It will be. I haven't really worked on it yet," Sora said. Tai looked up from his tray. For the first time, they locked eyes. Chocolate met crimson. He gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, you'll be great," he said warmly.
"I hope so," she said softly.
After lunch, Tai returned to his work, and T.K. went back the village. Sora decided she would work too. After all, she wasn't granted a second chance to just sleep and eat all day. She took out the robe and the box of threads T.K. brought. There weren't very many left, but enough for her to get started. Once her leg healed and she was able to walk, she would go to her new dyeing shed and color some more.
She started the repairs at the bottom of the robe, which told the story of what her world was like before man. Green lush fields, animals roaming freely, and peaceful scenery. She matched each shade of green perfectly and began to re-sew the ancient grass.
Sora worked on the bottom scene all afternoon. By the time three bells rang, she was only half way done with that same landscape. Three bells meant that work for the day was over. People would return to their burrows and sit with their families.
Family. Her mother had been her only family member. And now she was gone. And now Sora's family was gone. She didn't mind living with just her mother, but she envied those who had big families. Those who had both parents and siblings.
It comforted her to know she wasn't the only one. There was someone new in her life, someone whose life experience was far worse than her own. That someone new would soon come to her room and they would eat their evening meal together. That someone new would keep her company, and instill happiness back into her distressed heart. She thought of him, and smiled.
A/N: Done with Chapter 4!! Thank you so much for your reviews!! They really help me! I hope you guys are enjoying it. Keep in mind this is my first fic, so let me know if it totally sucks! Lol!
~Rainy