AN: Yes yes, I do realize I've changed Mrs. Takenouchi's personality a bit, but hey hey, my story right?
Thank you all of your wonderful reviews and everything. Thanks to those who helped with the parent's names, but since I've already written it, I'll just use the names I gave them. Objections anyone? I'll use the names in future stories though, thanks. One last thing, anyone know what Sora's mom's name is?
Disclaimer: Digimon = not mine
Recap: Sora walked to the woman and bent down. "…Mom?"
Chapter XXII –
Yamato sat on the couch adjacent to Sora, careful to leave a good amount of space between the two as Sora caught up with her mother.
"Mom! You didn't say that you were coming here!" she exclaimed with a smile.
"I wanted to surprise my daughter, that's all. It is after all, Christmas." Mrs. Takenouchi said with a kind smile.
"Did you get my present? I sent you something!"
Holding up her wrist for her daughter to see the gold bracelet that dangled there, the older woman laughed, "Don't worry, dear. It got to me in time and I love it very much. It's beautiful."
"I'm glad you like it."
Mrs. Takenouchi sighed and held out her arms to her daughter. "Now come give your mother a hug, I've missed you, Sora." The girl smiled in her mother's arms and closed her eyes, trying to embed the moment in her mind. Sora's mother pulled away and spoke softly, "If I remember correctly, there was supposed to be a key under the mat."
Sora colored lightly and looked down at her feet, suddenly finding her socks interesting. "Well you see, mom…"
"I'm sorry Mrs. Takenouchi, I have the key." Yamato answered, moving a bit closer to Sora.
The woman smirked and observed the blonde. "I thought as much. So Sora sweetie, who is this handsome young man that you've kept a secret from your mother?"
"What? I- he-" Sora stuttered- something she rarely did.
Yamato smirked and turned to face the older woman. "Hello Mrs. Takenouchi, my name is Yamato Ishida."
The name clicked in the Mrs. Takenouchi's mind. "Ishida? You don't mean…"
"I'm Headmaster Naizen Ishida's son."
Sora's mother gave a happy chuckle before turning to her daughter, "Sora! Dating the headmaster's son?"
"I… uh…we're…" the auburn haired girl attempted and finally gave up, still looking down at her socks.
Her mother broke out into laughter. "Dear, dear, my Sora at a lost of words? What has the world come to?"
The blonde who had been observing the two stood up, dusting himself off. He smiled at Sora who looked up at him when he moved. "I should get going, it is late…"
"Oh nonsense, why don't you spend the night?" Sora's mom offered.
"Mom!" The auburn haired girl said immediately. It wasn't that she didn't want Yamato to stay, but she knew that she probably wouldn't hear the end of it from her mom if he did.
"Thank you very much, Mrs. Takenouchi, but I'll have to take a rain check." Yamato winked at Sora suggestively. "I only live a block away."
"A block! My, it's fate!"
"OKAY mom, I think Yamato needs to get home. I'll take him down." Sora said quickly as she grabbed her boyfriend by his hand and dragged him out, hearing her mother's laughter follow her all the way.
Once in the elevator the blonde took his chance and hooked an arm around Sora's waist, drawing her in for a kiss. "If you wanted to be alone with me, you could have just asked. No need to drag me out."
The auburn haired girl smiled apologetically, "I want you to know that I would like it if you stayed, but then my mom would never stop."
He chuckled and took her hand, leading her out of the elevator when the doors opened on the first floor. "Well you know, I was kinda hurt…" he said, feigning sadness.
Sora smiled, knowing that he was just joking and touched his cheek softly. "Another time." With that, she kissed him on the cheek quickly and caught the closest elevator going up.
* * *
"Okaaaaaaaaaasan!!!" Sora exclaimed in her native tongue, the moment she set foot back into the house.
"Yes dear?" Mrs. Takenouchi called back from the living room where she had been waiting patiently for her daughter.
The red head entered the room and sat down on the sofa, making a soft 'poof' sound. "That wasn't necessary."
"What dear? I was only trying to get to know your boyfriend better, since you didn't say a word about him."
"Okay mom, I get the idea, what do you want to know?"
A dangerously mischievous gleam flashed through Mrs. Takenouchi's eyes. "Everything, dear. Everything."
Sora leaned back on the couch, prepared for a long talk with her mother. "Well… he's amazingly sweet, charming, not to mention he's smart-"
"Start from the beginning, dear. When the two of you first met."
The girl sighed and nodded slowly, knowing that her mother would never let it go if she didn't agree. "Okay, it was the first day of school for me and I went to my first period class…"
Half an hour later…Sora grabbed the glass of water on the coffee table and furiously drank from it. Her throat was getting hoarse from telling her mother almost everything the couple had done together. "Okay mom, what do you think?"
Mrs. Takenouchi looked at her daughter and smiled, "He's a wonderful young man, and if I didn't know better, I would say you've fallen for him, Sora."
The redhead blushed darkly, "All right mom, I meant what is your opinion on Yamato?"
"He's quite handsome… I wish I had your fortune when I was young. Well dear, from what I've just heard about him if they're all true, he's practically perfect."
"Yeah mom… it kind of scares me."
"Why sweetie?"
"I'm afraid… I mean he's so perfect… I'm afraid that I won't be able to match up to him and he'll find someone better…"
"Nonsense! My Sora not good enough?! I've never heard such ridiculous things!" Getting up from the sofa, Mrs. Takenouchi grabbed her luggage nearby and brought them into the guest bedroom on the first floor. Stopping at the doorway, she turned to Sora. "I'm happy for you Sora, I really am, but don't get too attached."
"W-what?" the auburn haired girl stammered.
"I don't want to see you get hurt, dear." After seeing her daughter nod in understanding, Mrs. Takenouchi turned back to her room, "I'll be taking my shower now, Goodnight, sweetie."
"Night, mom."
It had been a while since Sora dreamt about Garudamon and Weregarurumon, but that night, they returned. The great bird and the wolf were in the desert for days, the temperature switching quickly from the heat of the day to the chill of the night. They found a patch of green in the desert, beautiful green, emerald green. Green grass, green trees, and even the water reflected the green of the surroundings, but in a clear crystal color. Then it disappeared, a mirage. [AN: I hope no one thinks about this dream too much…]
The beautiful auburn haired girl awoke in bed, her silken strands sprawled out around her. A faint aroma of breakfast lingered in the air and Sora rose immediately out of bed, her hunger getting the best of her. Quickly taking a shower, the girl raced down the stairs and into the kitchen, to find her mother standing before the stove.
"Ohayo Sora." Mrs. Takenouchi greeted when she heard her daughter enter the room.
"Morning, Mom, couldn't sleep?" Sora guessed as she scanned over the many plates of food that were displayed on the table.
"I believe the Americans refer to it as 'jet lag'. And the food on the table isn't only for the two of us. Someone else will be joining us this morning."
"Who?"
"A certain blonde and blue-eyed boy who lives a block away." Her mother teased.
"WHAT?!"
"Oh Sora sweetie, don't you want your boyfriend to come?"
"Uh yes, but I don't understand just how you know."
"I invited him."
"…and just how did you do that, mom?"
"Over the phone." Mrs. Takenouchi replied casually, tucking in a strand of dark gray hair behind her right ear.
"…can you repeat that?"
The older woman laughed at her daughter's disbelief. "Don't worry dear, I didn't call him up or anything, I don't even have his phone number and I'm sure you've memorized it by now so there's no point in looking for it, and I'm not even going to bother with speed dial- god knows I can't understand technology. He called his morning asking for you, and I said you were sleeping, so I offered him breakfast later on, he said he'll be coming by at around 11?"
Sora glanced at the clock, which read 10:45am. Speechless, the girl simply looked at her mother and then down at her plate.
Mrs. Takenouchi finished cooking and turned off the vent. Taking off her apron she made her way to her daughter and took a seat beside her. "Sora dear, we have to talk."
Panic arose in the auburn haired girl instantly. Talk? Not. Good. "Yes mom?"
"I want you to move back to Japan with me."
Sora's eyes widened at the request. "…what?" she whispered.
"Dear, I'm worried about you constantly when I'm there. I know you've made some friends here and I understand that it'll be terrible for you to change schools but do you know how worried I am about you? I want you with me, Sora."
"But mom, can't you see I'm fine? I've got great friends here. I can cook, I clean, I study, do you know that Tai and Kari are here too?"
Mrs. Takenouchi smiled at the mention of Sora's childhood best friend and his sister. "That's wonderful Sora bu-"
"Mom, no… I can't."
"Just think about it Sora, I'm leaving in a week, before school start again. Please sweetie."
"I'm sorry, mom. I'm doing great here, and I miss you too, but you have nothing to worry about. I can take care of myself mom, and I can't just leave everyone behind…"
A silence passed between the two before Mrs. Takenouchi spoke up once more. "It's because of him, isn't it?"
"…who?" the auburn haired girl replied, feigning confusion.
"Sora dear, look at me, I understand." Taking her daughter's hand, Mrs. Takenouchi continued, "I can't force you to come, and I see that there's most possibly no way that I can persuade you either- at least not when you've fallen for him."
"I am not in love with Yama, I just… like him…" That's right, Sora, just keep telling yourself that. She thought sarcastically.
Mrs. Takenouchi smiled sympathetically, "So you do know who I'm talking about. Sora dear, I'm still staying for the week, so anytime if you change your mind-"
"I'm sorry mom."
The woman sighed dejectedly but looked up at her daughter with pride, "Such a brave girl. Stay independent, Sora. Just… don't get hurt. You have so much more ahead of you, remember, you're only in high school, you're still young." Reaching a hand up to lightly cup her daughter's cheek, the moment was interrupted by the ringing of the musical doorbell. "That must be him, dear. Go get the door."
Sora smiled and nodded while standing up and smoothing out the creases of her clothes. Walking smoothly to the door, she opened it with a grin and faced none other than her boyfriend. After receiving a kiss immediately, Sora took Yamato's hand and walked with him back into the kitchen.
"Good morning, Mrs. Takenouchi." The charming blonde greeted.
The older woman looked up from where she sat at the table and beamed at the boy. "Good morning Yamato. Please, have a seat, we're all practically family here."
The singer grinned widely and took a seat across from Mrs. Takenouchi, leaving room for Sora to be seated between them. Looking down at the display of food, Yamato inhaled deeply, "Wow Mrs. Takenouchi, this looks great, I see where Sora gets her culinary skills from."
She laughed genuinely, glad that the boy her daughter had chosen was so charming. "Why thank you, Yamato dear. Please, let's begin."
* * * * *
The breakfast meal was quite social, filled with laughter and comfortable questions. Standing up when the three had finished their food, Mrs. Takenouchi smiled at the two. "Okay, since I cooked, it's only fair for you two to clean up," she winked at Sora and walked off, quietly laughing at their stunned faces.
The auburn haired girl sighed softly and stood up, reaching to pile the plates and bring them over to the sink. "Here, let me help." Yamato offered and reached for the plates as well, purposely brushing his hands over hers in a very obvious manner.
Sora laughed, "Yama, if you're going to flirt, save it for when things can't break. If I drop a plate, you're so dead, mister."
Her boyfriend grinned and kissed her cheek, "Okay okay, I can take a hint. How nice of you to offer to do all the clean up work, Sora. I'll just be going to the living room with your mother now," he said quickly before the pretty girl could protest, and in a flash, was out of the kitchen.
Laughing quietly to herself, the auburn haired girl got to work on washing the dishes.
"Hi Mrs. Takenouchi." Yamato greeted and took a seat on the sofa across from the woman.
"Oh, Yamato? I thought you were going to help Sora clean the dishes."
"Er… yes…" His aquamarine eyes darted from side to side before he motioned to stand.
Mrs. Takenouchi laughed. "Don't worry about it, dear. Sora is wonderful at cleaning dishes. I'm glad that we have this opportunity to talk."
Yamato smiled politely at his girlfriend's mother.
"I asked Sora to go back to Japan with me." Mrs. Takenouchi said matter-of-factly.
Panic immediately flooded all of Yamato's senses. Back? To Japan? "But but, that's halfway across the world!" he blurted out. No. He had to stay with Sora, he couldn't let her leave; yes, it was selfish, but he… loved her too much.
"She refused."
"…really?" The blonde asked, trying to hide his rejoice.
"You wouldn't by any chance know why, now would you?"
"Uh, absolutely no idea…"
Mrs. Takenouchi smiled comfortingly, "Yes you do, it's because of you, Yamato. She doesn't want to go back because she wants to stay with you."
Silence. Then, "…er… I'm sorry."
"Don't be. Just don't hurt her."
"You have my word, Mrs. Takenouchi. Honestly, I think I've fallen in-"
"Okay mom, I'm done with the dishes." Sora announced as she walked into the living room, sending Yamato a playful glare.
"Oh wonderful, dear, where are you two planning to go now?" her mother asked, as if she already knew that the young couple had made plans.
"We were thinking about ice skating." Yamato replied, getting up and standing beside Sora.
"Sora's quite the skater, did she tell you?"
"Mom-" the girl protested, but was cut off by Yamato.
"Oh really, this I've got to see."
"Have her home safely." Mrs. Takenouchi requested as Sora and Yamato put on their coats.
The blonde smiled, "You have my word."
AN: oh wow, that took a long time! I'm so sorry! especially to Kat. Truth be told, I didn't update since I had a fever and I got insanely addicted to Final Fantasy XI, everyone, go out and buy it!!!
Thank you all so much for your wonderful reviews, and thanks to the people who read "Seven Days" as well. *bows to the readers, thank you thank you thank you thank you!
p.s. I didn't bother revising the chapter since I was just trying to get it up so badly. Tell me if there's something I should change, plz.