Whoa, Thought Sora, This place is HUGE.

Sora entered a large corporate building, housing a very important firm. Though places like this were not uncommon in L.A. With the fourth-largest economy in the world, California had incalculable amounts of businesses that placed themselves there.

Sora took in a deep breath as she entered. She couldn't miss this chance.

"Hello," wheezed the dowdy, forty-something receptionist, "Is there something I can help you with?"

"Uh, yes. I'm Sora Takenouchi? I'm here for a meeting with Mr. Garcia? I think he's a C.E.O. here?" Explained Sora, "Could you tell him I'm here?"

"No, I can't," Hissed the dreary-looking woman, "But his secretary can. Go up to the 20th floor, take a right, and enter Room 334Y. You can't miss it. Tell her who you are, she can help. Her name is Miriam."

"Oh. Okay. Uh… where… what… the elevator—"

The secretary answered Sora's question by pointing violently at the elevators placed 20 feet away from them.

"OH. Uhm… Thank you!" Said Sora weakly, and she skittered over to the elevator and violently punched the "up" button.

Sora let out a sigh of relief once inside the elevator. Calm down, She told herself, This place may be a little drab, but its nothing you can't fix.

Sora entered Mr. Garcia's office. Unlike the rest of the building, which was brown and dated, Mr. Garcia kept his office very modern looking. The doors that Sora had entered through were tinted glass, and Miriam, the secretary, sat at a sleek black Formica desk. Sora brushed some stray strands of her scarlet hair out of her face, and walked up to Miriam.

"Oh, hello," Greeted Miriam in a sweet voice, "Can I help you?"

"Uh, yes, Are you Miriam?" Asked Sora, and seeing the woman's head nod, continued, "Yes. Hello. I'm Sora Takenouchi. Mr. Garcia asked me to come see him? He said he wanted to update his company's 'look'."

"Ah, yes. Right on time! It's nice to meet you!" Said Miriam, getting up to shake Sora's hand, "Come with me."

Sora followed Miriam down a hallway, on the right of Miriam's desk, to some more large glass doors. Miriam opened one and poked her head in. "Mr. Garcia? The interior designer you wanted, Sora Takenouchi? She's here! You want her to come in?" She asked politely.

Mr. Garcia was on the phone (rather loudly), so instead of saying yes, he nodded "yes", and Miriam let Sora enter his personal office, and she sat down in front of Mr. Garcia.

Mr. Garcia said goodbye (rather angrily) to the person he was taking to, and cut the conversation short by slamming the phone down on its cradle.

"Sorry Miss Takenouchi. I was just talking to my wife about our daughter. She's been getting into trouble lately. So, you've seen the inside of Heron Industry's California branch. Nasty, isn't it?" Asked Mr. Garcia.

"Well, yes… but frankly, it can be fixed," Explained Sora.

"Oh really? I know you may not have any ideas yet, but I'd like this place to get updated. Looks much too late sixties. I'd do it myself, but I've no time. As you can see, I did my own offices. Looks nice, huh? I'd like the entire place to have that same… "feel". Miss Takenouchi, do you think you could do that?" Inquired Mr. Garcia.

"Well, of course! I love what you've done… classic, yet modern. I have a feeling it will not go out of style for many years! The last thing you need is a dated building!" Agreed Sora.

"I'm glad you understand. Now, about—"

Mr. Garcia was interrupted by the sound of Britney Spears yelping "Oops, I did it Again".

"My… cell phone!" Squawked Sora, reaching back into her handbag. She frantically pulled it out, hoping to silence the oversexed pop-star.

"H-hello?" Muttered Sora into her cell. Who could've figured out her number? Only her mom and a few close friends knew it…

"SORA!OMG HOW ARE YOU?" Shrieked a high-pitched female voice.

"ACCCCKKK!" Cried Sora, and held it several feet away from her head. Even so, she realized that Mr. Garcia could hear EVERY word the voice was shouting, and she immediately canceled the call.

Britney began to sing her catchy pop-song again, and Sora hurriedly turned off her phone to prevent the singer from chanting her song one again.

"If you plan to work on our building, may I suggest a less… frivolous ring tone?" Asked Mr. Garcia, "We cannot afford any sloppiness. Remember I am being gracious as to hiring you… especially you being so young…"

"Don't worry Mr. Garcia. I… I will never be as slipshod in the future as I was now," Promised Sora, "I-I have a job, though?"

"Yes," Said Mr. Garcia, covering his face with his hands, "You can go now."

Sora rushed out of the building, letting the cool November air envelop her figure. She got the job. She was to redecorate the inside of Heron Industries! This job was HUGE! It would put her on the map as an interior designer for years to come! If this went through, she'd at least double the amount of customers she had… and to think, she almost didn't get the job… all thanks to Britney…

Sora grabbed her cell phone to change its ringer. Once it was set on "Nokia Tune #4", she believed it was boring enough to be professional. Sora then remember what was the cause of all this.

That caller… who was that? Thought Sora.

She looked it up in the "recent calls" section. 555-7843.

"Hello?" Chimed a voice at 555-7843.

"Uh, hello? You tried calling me before? Who… what did you need?" Asked Sora.

"What… I did no such… OH MY GOODNESS? SORA! DARLING! HOW ARE YOU?"

"Uh, I'm… okay? Who… are you?"

"GASP! YOU DON'T KNOW? Cant you tell? Its me, MIMI! Mimi Tachikawa! HEL-LO? I talked to you like, every day? In High school! We were like, BEST FRIENDS! I called you, like, about 6 months ago! To check on you, Dearie! Did you get my message? I left you quite a few, I think..."

Yeah, about 50! That I IGNORED…on purpose…, Thought Sora.

"No-no… Mimi… I never got them…" Lied Sora.

"Really? Good thing Tai gave me your celly!" Laughed Mimi, "But no, really Sora, we gotta talk, cause I have the BEST. IDEA. Ever!"

"What?"

"I'm gonna hold… A HIGH SCHOOL REUNION! I saw this special on MTV, and after I finished crying I just HAD to call you!"

"Uh… what do I have to do with your MTV obsession?"

"Well DUH! You're gonna help me plan it!"

"I am? NO! No, I'm not Mimi. Well, I could… when is it Mimi?"

"This weekend..."

"Oh, no I can't," Said Sora sincerely, "I have to start on a new job. It's really exciting, actually… wait, why are you holding this party so soon? I mean, don't you want to give the guests time to figure out if they can come or not?"

"Silly Sora. I told them MONTHS in advance. This isn't some silly High School bash where everyone gets drunk or stoned. Its an adult dinner party! Only 100 people. I just need someone to help me decorate the place!"

"Oh. Where is it?"

"Oh. That. Uh. Um. Well, you see… itskindasortaatyourplace…"

"WHAT? YOU'RE HOLDING A PARTY AT MY HOUSE? At… at…my house…my house?" Spazzed Sora.

"Well, don't have a conniption. I'll be over at your house in 10, so we's can talk about it, okay?"

"…uhummishlkjasdfko;jfklj;gjioreahsd"

"You would've never said yes unless I insisted like this. Don't all go to pieces on my, mmkay? I'll see you soon!"

Sora snapped back into reality.

"MIMI! NO! I AM NOT GOING TO DO THIS! MIMI! Mimi? Hello?" Cried Sora into her minuscule phone, then realizing that Mimi had hung up.

Meaning Mimi was going to be at her house in ten minutes.

Sora sprinted to her car.

One terrible worry-ridden car ride later…

Sora turned madly onto her driveway, pulling her car to a screeching halt. She stopped for a second, and rested her head on the steering wheel. Time to think.

Why are you SO FREAKING worried? Sora's mind asked her angrily, just say 'no'. OKAY? Its not like its HARD, okay? Calm down. Don't freak out. Don't be angry at Mimi. Invite her in for coffee. Catch up on things.

Sora stared out the car window, staring directly at her house, hoping to waste more time by daydreaming…

Sora just loved her house. Owning a home at her age of 21 was a BIG thing… bigger than most people could dream of before 25. It wasn't huge or anything, just a typical California Ranch… small and flat, one story home with a decent backyard. But it could be… somewhat lonely. Sora sometimes wished she could come home… to somebody or something. Maybe she needed something like a roommate or a dog or cat or something…

"SORA! SORA! ARE YOU TRAPPED IN YOUR CAR OR SOMETHING?" Cried an outside voice.

Sora stepped tenderly out of the car, bracing herself for a bone-crushing hug. Which worked quite well…? Sora didn't have anything seriously damaged. Not BADLY, anyway.

"SORA! My goodness, I missed you so! Are you alright? You looked so AWFUL in the car my goodness!" Cried Mimi, who, after coming out of nowhere, attacked Sora with a hug.

"Mimi… hey… your hair… its different," Wheezed Sora from the clutches of the hug. Mimi's hair was the same honey-brown it had always been, but now it had been merged with highlights of red and a vibrant pink.

"OH YEAH!" Squealed Mimi, releasing Sora from the hug, "I LOVE IT. My boyfriend loves it, my agent loves it, my mother loves it… and now you love it! My life is COMPLETE!"

"Oh yeah, its… the best…" Said Sora, forcing a smile.

"I KNEW IT! I have a sense of knowing things, you know? At least my agent says so… Ooooooh! Lets get out of this cold! I'm freezing here!" Wailed Mimi, clutching her arms against her chest to diffuse some of the cool air whipping up against her.

"Oh, yes, lemme get my keys out," Muttered Sora as she fumbled with her purse.

The door to her house let out a small click as Sora opened her front door. The female behind let out a low gasp as it swung open.

Sora was an interior designer, and, naturally, her house was designed with professional expertise. It looked like a picture out of a JCPenny ™ catalog, but less cheesy and more classy. All the furniture inside was made of wood, stained to a deep color, the wood floors matching the stain on the items atop it. The pictures that adorned the walls were sensible and simple, and the entire place was filled with accessories, ones that only added to its sense of chic.

"Sora… this will be PERFECT for the party," Mimi said breathlessly.

STAY CALM.

"Mimi…no. No. I'm not gonna to that. I don't care if you've invited 100 people. You have to call them all and tell them no. If anyone shows up, I'll send them away. If they won't leave, I'll call the police. I'm a professional now, Mimi. No time for anything else," Commanded Sora, amazed at her calmness and assertiveness.

Mimi did not do as Sora expected, which was to get angry, or throw a fit, or give a pouty face, or any combination of the three. She merely made a beeline for Sora's kitchen, and sat down in a chair. Sora sat down across from her, and stared at the woman.

"Mimi, I'm sorry, I just can't. Don't be upset!"

"I'm not upset that way! Nonono! I just wanted to help you dearie, you can be so dastardly BORING! I only wanted to help! Come now, as I told you, this is a serious reunion party! Nothing more! Plus, you could talk about that new job of yours at the party! Make a statement! Say, "I'm important, but I can have fun too!" Exclaimed Mimi.

Sora liked the idea of professionalism.

"Okay, okay, I'll help you. I've always wondered what happened to our High School friends, anyway," Mused Sora.

Mimi laughed.

"Oh my! Without me, do you even realize how boring you are?"

WOW.

I'm so sorry I took awhile to update. Parents, school, friends, the usual excuses. I'm glad you've hung around to read this though.

Next chapter: Yamato's return to L.A.

(Oh, and if you're wondering about my California obsession… its cause I live there . SoCal rockzers my boxzers, yo.)