Chapter Twenty-two

"Lady Sora, there's a visitor waiting for you at the pavilion." A maid said as she entered Sora's dimly lit room.

Sora stretched her arms and yawned as she sat up.

"Huh? A visitor? This early?' she asked as she rubbed her eyes.

"Yes, Lady…" the maid answered as she walked towards Sora and opened the curtains.

"And he's very handsome too…" the maid added with a smile.

"Handsome? What do you mean? A visitor for me?" Sora asked, surprised.

"Yes, My Lady… I think he said his name was Kamiya… oh, that's right, his name is Taichi Kamiya…" the maid said as she helped Sora stand up from the bed.

"Taichi? Tai's here…? Now?" Sora asked, disbelievingly.

The maid laughed, "Yes, My lady… he's waiting for you downstairs. When did you meet him?"

"Last night." Sora answered.

"Last night? My, isn't he fast…?" the maid said as she guided Sora to the vanity table and started combing her hair.

"You're mistaken, Ms. Kawaguchi. He must be here for a business with Takato or Lee. After all, he's their… business associate." Sora replied with a soft voice.

Ms. Kawaguchi, who was in her mid-sixties, gave a curled up smile.

"I don't think so, my lady. Basing on what he's wearing and what he's been saying to me, I think he's here on a promise courtesy visit." Ms. Kawaguchi said.

"Promise courtesy visit? …oh!" Sora said with a bright smile.

"He promised to me last night that he'll come visit me so I wouldn't be that lonely and cooped up here in the mansion." Sora added with a great big smile.

"Wow, a mean of his words… that's good." Ms. Kawaguchi said.

"Stop it already, Ms. Kawaguchi. Ta and I just met and besides, he won't be interested with someone blind like me…" Sora said doubtfully.

"Don't judge it on how it looks my dear. Taichi… Taichi might be someone more than what you think." Ms. Kawaguchi answered.

"What do you mean by that?" Sora asked, confused.

"What I mean is that Taichi might be someone who can actually make your sorrows and sadness go away… the one you've been waiting for?"

"as bleak and as dim it may seem, I don't agree with you, Ms. Kawaguchi. Tai… Tai deserves someone better than someone like me… I know he does… even if I just met him yesterday, I feel that he's someone really special and important for me to have." Sora said.

"Pseh! Don't worry about that too much, my Lady. Just go down and talk to him… after all, he did promise that and you did agree to that."


"I think so too, big brother. I mean, this doctor is fully experienced with these kind of things… I'm positive that he may be able to cure Yula."

"I don't think we should just jump into the conclusions, Tommy. We have to be really careful and checking on him first."

Taichi looked away from the teacup he was looking to the voice that had caught his attention. By the rear end of the garden were Takuya and his brothers, all sitting and having their breakfast.

"Hey!" Taichi called as he stood up from the chair he was sitting and walked towards them.

"Well, hello Taichi. I see you're here early. What brings you here anyway?" Takuya asked.

"I came to visit Sora." Taichi replied.

"This soon? You guys just met last night!" Lee said with a smile.

"Well, last night, I did some sort of promise her that I'll be here to accompany her." Taichi said.

"That's great!" Tommy said happily.

"I know! You can stay at the mansion for the day. I'll tell Ms. Kawaguchi that you'll stay for lunch and dinner! That way she can prepare!" Tommy added as he hurriedly walked in the mansion.

The brothers looked at each other.

"It seems Tommy's the one who's excited of having you stayed here, Tai. Not Yula." Lee said, in a joking manner.

Taichi just nodded and looked away.

"Tai?"

Taichi looked up to see Sora directly in front of him. She was wearing a white sundress and her hair was kept neatly in a white bandana.

"Morning, So- Yula!" Taichi greeted as he stood up from his seat and walked towards her.

"Morning to you too, Tai." Yula said with a big smile.

"You're pretty early today." She added.

"A promise is a promise." Taichi said as he held Sora's hand.

"C'mon! I want to show you something!" Taichi said as he pulled Sora away from her brothers and back to the pavilion where Taichi sat first.

"You know, we have to accept by now that once Yula regained her memory and her sight, she'll inch away from us." Takato said.

"I could live with that." Takuya answered.

"Me too, just as long as she's happy, I'm fine with it." Lee answered.

Takato smiled sadly. "I'll really miss her…"

"Takato, Yula is Sora and Sora is Yula. She's still our sister whatever name she uses… remember that, will you?" Takuya said as he stood up from his seat and went back in the mansion.

He and Tommy bumped into each other but Takuya didn't say another word.

"Is something wrong with him?" Tommy asked.

Lee just smiled.

"Think of it as our big brother getting jealous." Lee answered.


"sit here." Taichi said as he let Sora sit on the grass in front of the pavilion.

"Wait a minute, okay?" Taichi added as he walked up the steps of the pavilion and took a basket sitting near the table.

He opened it and pulled out a gift he had prepared for Sora.

"What is this, Tai?" Sora asked as she felt the soft and tingling feeling on her hands.

"Guess." Taichi said with a smile.

Sora hung her head but soon found out what it was when it started to move and…bark.

"It's a dog!"

"Or more precisely, a puppy…" Taichi said as he sat beside Sora and admired her fingers as it twirled and played with the small Pomeranian dog he bought for her.

"What dog is it?" Sora asked with a smile on her face. Joy, written all over it.

"it's a Pomeranian dog… a black one…" Taichi replied.

"Oh, Tai! I love it!" Sora squealed happily as she raised the pup up and it gave small barks of happiness.

"What shall we name it?" Sora asked happily and excitedly.

"Well, I know the fact that it's a guy… so… you name it after all, it's yours." Taichi said as he looked at Sora with awe.

Under the sun, Sora was glowing. This was a different Yula from last night. In her eyes, Taichi could see happiness and joy that he never saw the night before.

"Hmmm… that's hard. Why don't we make the name together?" Sora asked as she turned to Tai.

Tai suddenly blushed for getting off guard, looking at her so intently.

"Uh, sure…" he said meekly as he scratched his head from the back.

"How about Taichi?" Taichi asked with a small laugh.

Sora gave a chuckle.

"Tai, I don't think it would be proper to call our dog with your name." Sora said.

"why not?" Taichi asked, pleadingly.

But also blushed when he heard her say, 'our dog'

"Well.. I wouldn't want to call Taichi, Taichi since you're Taichi and not Taichi." Sora explained.

"But you're already calling it Taichi!" Taichi said with a laugh.

Sora turned quiet and pouted.

Taichi laughed louder.

"admit it! You like the dog to be called Taichi, Sor!" Taichi remarked as he laughed louder.

"I do not." Sora insisted.

"C'mon, Sor. I know you'll miss me even if we just met." Taichi tried playing around.

"You wish, Taichi Kamiya." Sora said in pout as she crossed her arms and looked away from him.

Taichi arched a brow at her but smiled evilly next.

He moved closer to Sora and suddenly started tickling her.

"Taichi Kamiya!" Sora screamed as she laughed.

"Yes?" Taichi asked innocently.

"Stop…tic-tickling m-meee!" Sora laughed as she tried to push Tai away.

"Not until you say I'm forgiven." Taichi said.

"No way!" Sora laughed back.

Taichi continued his assaults.

The little dog suddenly started barking at him.

"Hey, you should be on my side… I'm the one who brought you…" Taichi said as he stopped tickling Sora and looked at the dog.

"Taichi knows who to listen and who not to." Sora said as she started to stand up.

"Huh? Of course I know who not to listen and who not to." Taichi answered, confused.

"Aaaw, aren't you just adorable!" Sora squealed in delight.

"Of course, I am!" Taichi said proudly.

"I wasn't talking to you, silly. I was talking to little Taichi here…" Sora said as she leaned down and little Taichi started licking her fingers.

"Him?"

"Well, you did say I should call it Taichi…" Sora said playfully.

"I take it back… this is too confusing on my part." Taichi said.

"Great! Then I'll call him Taichi! Right Taichi!" Sora said as she looked at the dog that barked happily back.

"No fair! My name has its own copyright!" Taichi said disbelievingly.

Sora started to walk towards the house.

"Hey Sor! C'mon, listen to me, will 'ya?" Taichi asked as he ran after Sora and held her hand.

Sora looked at Taichi.

"…huh? what?" Taichi asked.

Sora smiled back and just led Taichi in the house.

"You did say you know how to cook, right?"


"RYO!"

Ryo lay flat on the bed, not moving.

Rika pouted.

This wasn't the wedding she had planned.

"First, I carried him back to our room since he was too drunk. Second, he wouldn't even talk to me for the whole night. Third, he didn't even compliment at the negligee I bought specially for last night and fourth, he isn't awake yet!" Rika screamed angrily as she got up from bed and walked towards the window.

"Some wedding night this turned out to be." She mumbled.

But then, sighed.

"Ryo… is Ryo…"

suddenly, string arms wrapped around her waist.

"Miss me?" a voice asked.

Rika knew it well enough to pout.

"Good morning." She muttered angrily.

"Morning, sunshine." Ryo said as he rested his head on Rika's shoulders and kissed her neck.

"Did you have a good night's sleep?" he asked.

"Never been better." Rika replied, still with her angry tone.

She was being sarcastic to irritate Ryo.

"Great. That means we can begin our honeymoon now." Ryo said as he twirled Rika to face him and gave her a sweet and passionate kiss.

Rika was too surprised to act had her eyes open and gave Ryo a big pound on the head.

"Honey, what did you do that for?" Ryo asked as he held his head in pain.

Rika looked straightly at him.

"That's for not asking permission before kissing me that hard…" Rika replied as she held Ryo's shoulders and kissed him.

When the kiss ended, "What was that for, then?" Ryo asked, licking his lips.

"For being my husband." Rika answered with a sweet smile as the two shared another kiss together.


"Where's Taichi? Did you see him, Mimi?" Yamato asked as he arrived home that afternoon.

"he's still not back from Sora's house." Mimi answered.

Yamato laughed.

"I feel as if Taichi's trying to court Sora again…" Yamato said.

Mimi smiled. "That's exactly the point."

"I just hope he's doing okay." Yamato said.

"You know Taichi, Yamato. He'll survive."


"Mr. Kido, someone's here to see you."

"Let him in."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Kido."

"Good afternoon. And what can I do for you, sir?"

"I want to ask if you're ready to do an operation any time soon…"

"Oh, that depends. Who is it?"

"It's my sister, Yula… she's been blind for years now and I really want her to get better. I'm Takuya by the way."

"Oh… I see… let's see what I can do."

"Thank you for your consideration, Mr. Kido. I know you're a busy man."

"That's alright. Just call me Jyou…"


So? What do you think of it? Suspense, huh? Anyways, review please! Thanks!


TBC