Chapter Twenty-One
0000000000000000000000000
A woman sat on a beautifully decorated room full of velvet and gold trimmings. She was looking outside her tall-glassed window and out into the open night sky.
"Tell me, Tommy…" she started as her eyes wandered around the window.
"What is it, Yula?" Tommy asked as a man stood beside her chair.
"Is the night sky full of stars?" she asked with a small smile.
Tommy looked out the window and opened it. He slowly returned to Yula's side and knelt down beside her and held her hand into his.
"Yes. There are tons of stars here, Yula. Maybe even thrice than what we have back at Europe." Tommy replied.
Yula smiled wider. "I wish I can see it. I really want to see the stars again, Tommy…"
"You could, sis. Of course you could. After all, we're in Japan now… we'll find a doctor for you…" Tommy said.
Yula's smile slowly disappeared. "That's what I fear too, Tommy…"
Tommy looked at his sister in an odd manner but quickly patted her hand. "Everything will be alright, sis. Believe me." He said, assuring.
Yula shook her head slowly. "I want to believe that, Tommy. But… there's something inside of me telling me that… that when I have my eyesight back… I might… I might get hurt… I feel as if there's something bad that will happen once I can see everything. And actually… know the truth…"
Tommy didn't know what else to say. Truthfully, he too, was scared for his sister. He knew that his sister had gone through a lot of pain and maybe, regaining her eyesight was a bad idea for her. He knew that once Yula gets her eyesight back, so will her memories… and when that happens, there's a great possibility that she can remember Taichi. But then again… Maya might go after her.
"Facing the truth is always better than hiding."
Tommy turned around to see Lee, Takuya and Takato by the door to Yula's room.
"Lee…" Yula said with a smile.
Lee, Takuya and Takato walked towards Yula as Tommy stood up.
Takuya put his hands on top of Yula's shoulders.
"Don't be afraid to know the truth, Yula. Once you know it, everything will be alright." Takuya said.
"You…think so?" Yula asked, uncertain.
"We know so." Lee answered.
Yula smiled.
"You mean… I'll be actually happy and free that way?" Yula asked.
"Yes." Takato said.
"But… attaining happiness and freedom is always hard, Yula. You have to know how to be strong and stand up for what you know is right." Lee added.
Yula laughed. "I know that, Lee. And I know you guys will be there for me always, right?"
"Of course." Tommy said happily as he gave Yula a big hug and the other three brothers gathered around her.
0000000000000000000000000000
"She's back."
"Who's back?"
"That damn bitch who stole Tai away from me!"
"Who? You mean, Sora?"
"Yah… she know calls herself Yula."
"But I thought you killed her already."
"I thought I did. She actually survived the whole ordeal and somehow lived through it."
"Wow. What a woman. I always admired her, you know."
"Then why don't you get her?"
"Hmmm? Hey, why not? I mean… is she still the fiery one?"
"I can't guarantee you that. The accident left her blind… and I think she lost her memory as well."
"That's even better. Then she won't recognize me at all."
"So… will you go after her?"
"I always liked Sora. She was always the rebellious fiery type. I love her eyes though… they show so much passion and love. I bet she's great in bed."
"Not as good as me, you idiot."
"You? You can't even pleasure your dear Taichi enough to forget her."
"Shut up."
"That means something too, you know."
"I said shut up."
"Getting feisty, I see… well… we have a deal. I'll get the girl; you'll get the guy. Fair enough?"
"Of course, you idiot."
"And oh yeah, since we're in this little partnership, could you stop calling me an idiot and actually call me by my name, Maya?"
"Fine, fine. We have a deal, alright Jyou?"
"Good."
00000000000000000000000000000
"Taichi, what are you doing?" Yamato asked as he saw Tai pacing to and fro in the guest lobby in the hotel.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Taichi shot back.
"…Getting nervous?" Yamato asked.
"WHAT!? What do you mean? Me? Taichi Kamiya? THE Taichi Kamiya? Get nervous!?" Taichi asked sarcastically.
He walked another two steps and whirled around to face Yamato.
"Yama, help me. I AM nervous." He pleaded.
Yamato couldn't help but smile.
"Just… be you, Tai."
Taichi and Yamato turned to see Mimi.
"Hey, Meems." Taichi greeted as he decided to sit in one of the chairs.
"I can't wait to see Sora again." Mimi said as she held Yamato's arms.
"I'm sure she's changed. We hadn't seen her for such a long time already." Yamato said as he sat on the chair opposite to Tai's.
"What do you think should I say when I see her?" Taichi asked.
"Say hi?"
Taichi stood up almost immediately when he saw the familiar face of Takuya.
Ryo was actually with him.
"Hey guys! I guess you still remember Takuya?" he asked.
Everyone nodded.
"Hello, Takuya. I'm Mimi, remember?" Mimi asked.
Takuya nodded. "Yes… and I'm happy to see you're well." He replied.
"Let me introduce to you my brothers. This is Tommy, our youngest. And this is Takato. My other younger brother, Lee is with Yula. They're on their way already."
"What!? She's already on her way!? …. Uhm, Yamato! What should I say!?" Taichi asked, already panicking.
Mimi and Ryo laughed.
"Be cool, Tai. It's not like Sora's gonna remember you or anything.' Ryo said.
Taichi piped down a little and sighed. "That's what I'm worried about. If Sora doesn't remember me, then… how will we actually talk?" he asked.
"Let me help you there. I am, after all. Her brother, right?" Takuya said.
"You're going to help me get close to Sora?" Taichi asked.
Takuya looked at Taichi and said, "At first, I didn't like you… not even one bit. But seeing that my sister is actually happy with you, that's enough for me. So, I'm doing this for her. Not for you."
"Fair enough." Taichi said as he looked at Tommy.
"You don't like me either, huh?" he asked.
"Well… Sora used to tell me how rude and disrespectful you were to others…" Tommy said.
"Bleh, so you don't like me either." Taichi said.
"And you were actually kind and loving to her. So I guess that evens it. I actually think you're a nice guy." Tommy said as he walked away.
Takato followed.
"She's here." Takuya said.
Taichi stood at where he was standing to see Sora actually come towards him. Lee held her in her right while Takato and Tommy were behind her, talking with her.
In Tai's eyes, Sora was more beautiful now. Her hair, still in its dark orange shade fell up to her shoulders. Some of her hair was tied up and small bangs fell down in the sides. Her velvet red gown that extends down to her ankles made an even bigger impact. The dress gives way to each curve and still, Taichi loved her eyes.
Only… it wasn't as bright as it was before…
"C'mon." Takuya called to Taichi to meet Sora.
Taichi took a few steps ahead but stopped.
"What are you doing, Tai? Just go!" Yamato said.
Taichi nodded and walked just behind Takuya.
00000000000000000000
"She's beautiful."
"Shut up, Jyou. I am way more beautiful than her."
"Oh really?" Jyou asked as he stepped out from the shadows.
"Come back here!" Maya said as she pulled Jyou back into the wall they were hiding.
"Do you want Mimi to see you?" she hissed.
"Oh yeah. I forgot about her." Jyou said absent-mindedly.
"Be serious, will you! If you want to get close to Sora, try talking to her.. ALONE."
"I'll have my own ways…" Jyou said as walked away.
"Where are you going?" Maya asked.
"Back home, where else?" Jyou replied.
"What?! Aren't you going to even go into PLAN A?" Maya asked.
"Plan A? what's that?" Jyou asked.
"Whatever you planned on doing!" Maya said angrily.
"I can't do anything but wait. Obviously, Sora has already gotten everyone's attention…. Even mine… I can't just jump out of there and say hi, you know." Jyou said as he walked off.
True enough, Sora's entrance called every man's attention towards her.
For Sora was a goddess in the midst of the mortal men.
0000000000000000000000000
"Yula, " Takuya called to her as he approached Yula.
"Takuya. I was wondering where you were…" Yula said.
"I met one of my…close friends…" Takuya said as he kissed the hand of his sister.
"Close friends? Could I meet them?" Yula asked excitedly.
"Why, of course, my dear sister." Takuya said with a smile and gave each of his brothers a wink.
Lee smiled as he saw Takuya stepped away and revealed Tai.
"This… is Mr. Taichi Kamiya." Takuya said as Tai stepped forward.
Tommy gave Taichi a thumbs-up for some encouragement and Tai nodded.
"It's… a pleasure to meet you, Yula." Tai said, trying to sound formal and friendly as possible.
"Hello, Mr. Kamiya. My name is Yula… it's a pleasure to meet you." Sora said cheerfully and with a smile.
Tai blushed and looked at Sora's brothers, who were all staring at him.
"Uhm," Tai started to say.
"Hello, Yula. It's nice to finally see you once more."
"Ryo?" Yula asked, uncertain.
"You bet, it is." Ryo said cheerfully as he stepped in together with Yamato and Mimi.
"Congratulations, Ryo. I wish I could see Rika in her wedding dress, but addressing my state, I cannot." Yula said with a smile.
All of her brothers looked at Yula, then to Ryo who meekly smiled. "I'm sure you'll get to see a wedding dress, Yula. Much less, wear it too." Ryo said as he looked at Tai who looked away.
Yula nodded.
"Oh yes, I would like you to meet one of my best friends, Yamato Ishida, and his wife, Mimi."
"Hello, Yula."
"I'm enchanted to meet you, my lady."
"Hello, and I am enchanted as well to know you…" Yula said with a grin.
"And I presume you have already met, Tai?" Ryo asked.
Yula nodded.
"I still have another friend coming, and his name is Kouji. Unfortunately, he and his family will be coming late since they will be coming from Paris." Ryo explained.
"I see. I hope I get to meet them, Ryo." Yula said with a curtsy as she started to walk off.
"wait!" Taichi called.
Yula looked towards Tai.
"Uhm… I…. Uh… You see… Well," Taichi tried to find some words to say, but unfortunately found none to say at all.
"What he's trying to say, Yula. Is that he wished to accompany you for a while. You see, Lee, Takato, Tommy and I have some business acquaintances that we would like to talk to. And we told Taichi here, to accompany you for a while. Will that be alright with you?" Takuya asked as he held his sister's shoulders.
Yula looked from her right, to Lee. Then to her left, to Tommy.
"We'll be fast. We promise." Lee said.
Yula smiled. "It's alright… you can go on ahead…"
00000000000000
Taichi held Sora's hand as he guided her towards the gardens in the hotel.
"I'm sorry if I became a bother to you, Mr. Kamiya…" Yula said apologetically.
"No, no, no. it's no bother at all… and… well,"
"yes?"
"Would you please call me Taichi? It's… kindda uneasy for me to kept calling me Mr. Kamiya. Or better yet, you could call me Tai." Taichi said with a smile.
He remembered the old times when Sora used to call him Tai and it really made him happy.
"Tai?" Yula asked as Taichi guided her to sit in one of the benches.
"Yes." Taichi said with a nod.
Yula smiled. "Tai. I like the name…" she said thoughtfully as she looked upwards and into the night sky.
Taichi fell silent for a while, not knowing what else to say. He leaned back unto a bark of a tree just beside the bench and looked at Sora.
'I finally get to see you, Sora… although you might not know me… or even remember me at all, I swear… I'll bring you back to my arms… whatever it takes…'
Taichi smiled…
"Tai?" Yula asked.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"What's… what's Japan like?"
"Japan…? Well… it's… it's this." He said as a soft breeze flew by them.
"I like it." Yula said as she giggled.
"It feels great, doesn't it?" Taichi asked.
Yula nodded. "It feels perfect, Tai." She replied.
"What's England like?" he asked.
"…not like Japan… I feel to sad and cold there…" Yula replied.
"Why?" Taichi asked.
"I feel… rather lonely there. But please don't misinterpret, my brothers take very good care of me… but sometimes, I just feel so alone… as if… there's a big part of me missing…" Yula replied.
Taichi sighed, "I know what you feel. It's like a big empty hole, right?"
"Exactly." Yula said with a nod.
Both of them fell silent for a while.
"Why don't we visit each other, then?" Yula asked.
"Visit each other?" Taichi asked.
"Yes. You could come to my place and I could come to yours…." Yula said.
Taichi thought for a while. "I could always go to your place, Yula. You don't need to go to mine…"
Yula frowned.
"It's because I'm blind… right?" she asked a bit hurt.
"well… no!" Taichi replied.
But then added, "well, yes. I'm… I'm quite worried for you… I don't want you hurt…" Taichi said, his cheeks almost flaming up.
He didn't know why but his attitude towards Sora was changing. He wasn't bossy and pushy like before. Instead, he was passionate and he lets his emotions take hold of him instead of his mind and thoughts.
He was being open with his feelings…
"You… you're worried about me?" Yula asked.
"Of course, I am, Yula. After all, we're friends now. Right?" Taichi asked.
Yula stood up from her seat and smiled at Taichi.
"I'm happy that we are, Tai. I really am…" she said as Taichi grabbed her hand and guided her off to walk.
"What made you come to Japan, Yula?" Taichi asked.
"I attended this wedding and also, my brothers are looking for a doctor for me to get my eyes operated."
"That's great then, you finally get to see."
"…I'm afraid to…" Yula confessed.
"Afraid? Why? Aren't you happy that you get to see again?"
"I'm afraid of what I see. What if… what if I'm not pretty at all? Or… I'm really fat and…"
"Yula…" Taichi said exasperatedly with a smile.
"Hm?" Yula asked.
"You're beautiful, believe me." Taichi said with a smile.
Yula laughed, "Is that a compliment or a description."
"A compliment and a fact." Taichi replied.
As they passed by the gardens, Taichi saw some flowers.
"Wait here." Taichi said as he let go of Yula's hand and rushed towards the pitch to pick one flower and hand it to Yula.
Yula held it in her hands and felt the flowers.
"It's… a peony?" Yula asked.
"A white peony… only Japan has that kind of flowers." Taichi said.
Yula smiled.
"Thank you…" she said.
"My pleasure, Yula." Taichi replied.
00000000000000000
TBC
