AN: I've realized I haven't thanked you guys for 100 reviews! (I'm only 60 reviews too late, all good, all good.) So, thank you all so so so so so so so much for taking time in your lives to read whatever nonsense I've written and a special thanks to all the reviewers for taking more time from your lives to comment on whatever nonsense I've written. I will never be able to fully express my gratitude.
July edit: okay, no excuses. After all that schoolwork (which paid off, thank God), I couldn't bring myself back into a writing mood with this story. I kept looking at it and thinking, God, this is terrible. There are so many mistakes in it but I've decided to finish nonetheless and just let it stand as a lesson to myself. I'm working to make the remaining chapters worthwhile! A great thank you to all the readers!
ChikinWang – I was actually thinking about Ever After when I wrote that Yamato scene in the last chapter so I'm not surprised you were reminded of the movie. ;) I am very much inspired by that movie. Thank you for reviewing!
Pyrodragon304 – Giving my best estimate, I'd say this fic is ending in about five chapters. I'm really not too sure though, I'm still trying to work things out. Thank you for the wonderful review!
LastRedSeaKin – One of my favorites on FFnet, you're always inspirational. Thank you so much for you review. It was greatly motivating! This chapter is dedicated to you.
Disclaimer: Digimon is not mine.
Chapter Nine – LeavingRaindrops pounded against the windows of the palace and seemed to echo on forever in the silent chamber. Catherine Grant, seated in her most ladylike fashion in a corner armchair glanced at the slowly darkening skies and sighed. She had spent hours in the colossal room that seemed to be anything but comfortable at the moment with the father and son royalty who had seemingly settled on a quiet battle of who could stay silent the longest. Then again, she should have known that bumping into that wretched Sora girl in the halls would result in nothing good for the rest of the day.
A small smirk tugged at her lips and Catherine quietly busied herself with picking out the stray petals that had managed to stay in her luxurious hair. With any luck, that servant girl would have left the palace by now. An involuntarily gasp left her lips as the double doors burst open with an almost ethereal force. Queen Natsuko's silhouetted form stood at the entrance, a scowl on her lips.
After spending the day visiting a longtime friend, Natsuko's good mood was spoiled the instant she returned. "Stop this childish behavior, you're both grown men for goodness' sake!" she growled.
The two men glared, groaned, and sighed before reluctantly looking away and muttering greetings. Natsuko's features softened slightly; she would never admit it, but she found their behavior to be quite amusing. She turned to Catherine in the corner, "Dear, would you—" Are those petals? she wanted to ask, but instead, blinked and continued, "return to your chamber? It's not necessary for you to be in the middle of this."
Not necessary? But I'm going to be marrying Yamato! Despite the ramblings in her mind, Catherine cleared her throat and smiled the same smile she was taught since childhood. "Of course, Your Majesty."
Natsuko waited until the doors clicked in place after Catherine before turning to the two men. King Hiroaki studied the lush carpet in focused concentration while Yamato's eyes roamed about the bookshelves and ceiling, careful not to settle anywhere near his mother. "Enough is enough." Natsuko placed her hands firmly on her hips and turned to her husband with a soft swish of fabric. "Hiroki, stop trying to force our son into a joyless marriage! Aren't you the least bit concerned with how Yamato feels in this?"
"But of course—" The Hiroaki began to protest but was cut short when Natsuko held up a hand.
"Not a word. I asked a question, I do not require an answer. Be glad, Hiroaki, that I have not yet started on the fact that you could take it upon yourself to promise Lord Grant such things without my approval! This is not the concern of a King, but the concern of a mother and father!"
Hiroaki lowered his head in defeat and could be heard muttering something that sounded like, "I didn't promise…" under his breath.
Natsuko touched a hand gingerly to her forehead. "Yamato, I can hear you."
The prince, who had been coughing quietly trying to keep in his amused laughter upon seeing his father get "whipped," immediately silenced. Instead, he let his mind wander to thoughts of Sora and mused with a range of numbers of the amount of hydrangeas that would be waiting for him when he returned to his room.
"We'll hold a ball." Natsuko stated as her eyes found her son's cobalt ones. "Yamato, I hope you'll understand that as unreasonable your father is," a loud grunt was heard, "that it really is time for you to take a wife."
"But—"
"No buts, Yamato. We'll hold a ball where you can publicly announce your bride for the entire kingdom. Make sure that all the ladies of noble birth are invited and," she lowered her tone and winked, "any red headed ladies that you'd like to invite as well. Lord Grant will have to settle with knowing that his daughter was given an opportunity like all the other girls." She turned to her husband, "Really, Hiroaki, this isn't an issue that I should be concerned with. I think this is a compromise. Though Yamato may not marry Miss Grant, he will marry and the question of an heir will no longer be… a question."
King Hiroaki turned over the facts in his mind though there was only one answer that was available to him. If he said no, his wife would no doubt go ahead with the plan regardless, but the idea of a public ultimatum seemed reasonable. He nodded, as if coming to a tough decision. "Agreed."
Yamato grinned widely, rose out of his seat, and hugged his mother. He straightened his jacket and with the same unwavering grin, announced loudly that he had matters to attend to.
When small petals began littering the halls, Yamato had just blissfully assumed that perhaps Sora had gotten a little messy on the way back into the palace until he rounded a corner and came to the pastel field of fallen petals. He didn't need anyone to tell him what had happened, he didn't need to know what happened. The sickening feeling that had begun to form in his chest and was quickly spreading to his throat was all that Yamato needed. In flurry of petals, he raced down the halls, twisting turning this way and that, not caring who was there, and who would meet with an unfortunate end in his path.
Finally, Yamato came to her door and for once in his life, he was afraid to enter a room. It was different than opening the double doors to his father's study for a scolding after he had caused some mischief in the palace. Yamato was afraid of being alone and as he stood in front of the mahogany door, he knew it wasn't what he would see that he was scared of, but rather, what he would not see.
He knocked once, twice, and waited, prayed. He held his breath, knocked a third time and waited. When his mind came to the acceptance that silence was the only answer he'd receive, Yamato slowly, but surely entered the room.
"Sora?" He called out in hopes that perhaps what his gut was telling him wasn't the truth. "Are you here?"
As Yamato's cobalt eyes adjusted to the darkness, he felt his heart slowly fracture at the sight of the gown left behind on the bed. Walking over, he slowly knelt down and touched the heavenly soft velvet. It was what he had mysteriously asked Cassandra to place on the bed in Sora's absence. Crimson velvet, gold hems, and a long flowing skirt, he had put so much thought into it, but she left it behind like it was nothing. Obviously Sora didn't want anything to do with him, she didn't love him the way he loved her.
A small voice inside Yamato's head screamed at him. How could he possibly make such assumptions based on a dress left behind? But to Yamato, it was almost as if she said, "Here, take it back. I don't want anything to do with you."
He sighed, and threw himself unceremoniously onto the pillows, greedily inhaling any scent that would remind him of her. As he moved his hand over the velvet gown, a piece of paper touched his fingers. Yamato shot up, hastily grabbed the paper and narrowed his eyes in a great effort to read in the dark.
§
Sora paused for a moment in the languid town and tilted her face to sky. She inhaled deeply and smiled, it smelled like rain. With a backward glance, she could still faintly make out the palace. It was so hard to leave, so hard to leave him, but she did not belong there. In a distant corner of her mind, Sora always knew she would have to leave as the palace was obviously no place for her if even her own home was hardly welcoming, but God, how much she wanted to belong there, with him.
She smiled softly, remembering the gown that he had no doubt spent a lot of time fretting over. Taking it would have been greedy, impolite, and overall, it would have proved Catherine Grant right. Catherine Grant belonged in the palace, Sora knew, but in no way did that mean she had to listen to her. She hadn't left the palace after a few words from a spoiled young woman, and it pained her to make it seem like she had. Simply, it became apparent to Sora that she did not belong in the palace and it was time she left. Life was no fairytale and though she may love the prince, they weren't meant to be together.
Sora hugged herself with her free hand as the other held her neat bundle of belongings. Selfish as it was, and though she worried to death over the well being of three who had come to be known as her adopted family, Sora had no intention of returning to the Inoues—that much dignity she was set on keeping.
If she did not return to the mansion, or the palace, there was only one other place. By the time she traveled from the town's edge to the butcher's shop, a light drizzle had begun. She knocked on the old oak door once, twice, and waited impatiently. She knocked a third time, this time with more force, waited for two seconds before relentlessly pounding on the door with her fist.
Sora was well soaked through by the time Taichi finally came to the door. It swung open to reveal a disheveled and yawning Tai. "Uhe shoph if clo—" he stopped mid yawn and stared at the woman standing is his doorway looking most displeased, wet, and undeniably seductive. "Sora?"
Crimson eyes narrowed as she stepped into the shop without an invitation and pushed Tai aside before slamming the door shut firmly behind her. "Sorry to disturb you, Taichi."
He chuckled and held up his hands in defense. "Hey, hey, I work hard, these people drive me insane, I need my rest, ya?"
"Of course."
"Though, you could have just come in through the back."
"…shut up, Tai."
A comfortable silence settled between the two as Tai took the bundle in Sora's hand and gently pulled her into a soft embrace. Her mood changed, Sora gladly returned the friendly gesture. "I'm sorry, Tai. I didn't want to burst in on you so suddenly—"
He pulled away and patted her firmly on the head. "Not another word, stay for as long as you like. Hell, stay forever if that suits your fancy."
Sora blinked.
Tai grinned. "I figured, since Janine came by a few weeks ago and asked if I knew where you were. I see you're still limping."
"Firstly, don't pat me on the head, I'm not some animal. Second, my limping has gotten much better, thank you; and third," She smirked, "I guess you're not so dense after all, Tai."
"Yea, yea, are you going to come upstairs or not? Not too pleasant with you ruining my floors."
Sora quirked a brow and then softened into a gracious smile. "Right behind you." After reaching the last step, Sora sighed and did a quick scan of the living quarters. The hardwood floors were worn and creaked beneath their weight, but held firm; the small windows were well cleaned and accompanied with homey curtains; the furniture was old, but well polished. "Hasn't changed much in over a decade," she commented lightly.
He shrugged, "I like it like this, just the way they left it."
"Me too."
"Tai? What's the racket?"
They turned to face the nine-year-old girl who was still rubbing the sleep from her eyes by the doorway. Taichi walked over to where his sister stood and knelt down beside her. "Hey Kari, look who it is," he whispered.
The little girl stopped rubbing her eyes and focused on the womanly figure standing in the darkened room. She blinked. "Sora?" came her timid voice.
Sora grinned widely and leaned over, extending her arms to the girl she always considered a sister. Hikari ran over without a second thought and wrapped her arms around Sora as tight as she could.
"Sora, Sora! You stopped visiting and I thought Tai did something to make you mad again. I know he does some things that are kind of daft but we missed you so much!"
Sora tilted her head back and laughed at the child's words while stroking Hikari's short coffee colored hair. "I haven't been away for that long, Kari!" she leaned down and added, "And Tai may be a little lacking of common sense sometimes, but that wouldn't stop me from visiting you."
"I heard that." Tai's deep voice came from the doorway. He stood with his arms crossed sternly over his chest. "Don't you think you should be drying off? I don't want any of you girls to be getting more diseased than you already are."
They stuck out their tongues at him simultaneously in reply.
Taichi narrowed his eyes playfully at his sister. "Go on now, you little monster, get to bed. You can talk to Sora in the morning." With a gleeful cheer, Hikari gave Sora another hug and ran off to her small room in the corner. "You. Room next to Kari's. Get dry, get rested."
"Yes sir. Understood." Sora replied jokingly. She picked up her parcel from the floor and gave Taichi a small wave before entering the narrow room.
"Oh, and your hair looks good short. Good night, Sora."
§
Prince Yamato, for the past month, you've shown me more kindness than my stepfamily has for the past decade. You've already become the prince of my heart. You will be a king the people will surely celebrate. Thank you. Yamato lay on his bed, reading and then rereading the letter that Sora had left behind. White sunlight bathed the room, but he was in no mood to rise from his position. The letter was painfully short and she had simply signed it as Sora. She offered no hidden explanations for her sudden leave or any hints that she had even acknowledged the gown.
Frustrated, Yamato crumpled the paper in his fist with a groan, and cast it aside to the far corner of the bedchamber. He stared at the ball of paper and could have sworn that it too, was staring right back at him, willing him to pick it up, smooth it out, and place it neatly in his drawer as a piece of Sora he would keep forever. He was going insane, unable to stop thinking of her glossy auburn hair and eyes of dark crimson, but he would be damned before he listened to what he thought the ball of paper was telling him to do. So instead of picking it up, smoothing it out, and placing it for safekeeping in his drawer, Yamato picked it up and hastily stuffed it into his pocket. He crossed his arms, feeling satisfied with his actions before a knock at the door startled him.
"I said I don't want any break—" he barked.
"Dear, it's your mother. Open the door, Yamato."
Obediently, he let his mother in and returned to his bed where he sat down with an "oof," supported his elbows on his knees, rested his head in his palms and pouted.
Queen Natsuko laughed. "Back to being a child, I see." She sighed softly and with a rustle of fabric, sat down by her son, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "I was told this morning that our guest had left? As I take it, you were not informed of her decision, were you?"
Yamato sighed loudly and ran a hand through his tousled hair. "I thought she was happy here, I thought maybe…" she liked me. "I wanted—"
"It's okay dear," Natsuko cooed as she wrapped her arms protectively around her son. "A girl like that will make a wonderful queen one day. I dare say I'm old fashioned, but I do believe that you cannot escape love so easily."
Yamato laughed at his mother's romanticized view of life, but a part of him held onto the idea with hope. "I want to find her," he simply said.
Natsuko's features lit up with mirth, "The ball is in two weeks. I'll be eagerly waiting to see my handsome son and the woman he'll choose to be his wife. Don't be late, dear, your father expects us to dine with him tonight." She stood and glided smoothly to the door. "Did you see the petals in the hall? The oddest thing, I think Miss Grant had some petals in her hair as well."
§
"How many?"
"Two."
"And you, Takeru?"
"Two please." The little boy answered, holding up two of his fingers for the auburn haired woman to see.
Sora gave the two a fond look before turning to collect the eggs from the basket, "Kari, would you run downstairs and ask that brother of yours how many eggs he'd like?"
"Yes Lady!" Hikari replied eagerly and hurried off downstairs to where Tai was currently "feeding the animals" as he liked to call it.
A regretful smile found its way onto Sora's lips at the mention of the pet name Yamato had used to call her. It always sounded so sweet and loving when it came from him, unlike the cruel mocking tone Catherine Grant was accustomed to using.
"Sora?"
Takeru's voice broke Sora out of her momentary reminiscing and she turned to the boy, blinking rapidly. "Yes TK?" she answered.
The boy giggled playfully, "You've stopped moving!"
"Oh you're right!" She turned and bowed her head politely with a smirk tugging at her lips. "My apologies."
Takeru lifted his hand and waved it at Sora's direction, dismissing the matter. She couldn't help but laugh. "Do people do that in the palace?" he asked curiously.
Sora patted the boy on the blonde mop he called hair and put a finger to her chin in thought. "Actually TK, the King and Queen were both very kind people."
"And the Prince?"
She smiled. "And the Prince most of all."
"Sooooooooora!" came a sweet girlish voice from the stairs.
"Kaaaaaaaaaaari!"
Hikari peeked her head in through the doorway and grinned. "There is someone here to see you."
Sora's eyes widened in surprise, but that quickly changed to delight as a familiar young woman walked into the room. She ran forward and lunged at her.
"Sora Takenouchi! I have been looking everywhere for you!" Janine exclaimed after they pulled away. "Where have you been? We were so worried about you!"
"I'm sorry Janine, I'm so sorry. Believe me when I say it." Sora whispered with her head bent down.
Janine scoffed. "Stop that, you know I can't stand it." She paused and smiled at Sora, taking the moment to finally observe her best friend standing in the middle of the narrow kitchen, wearing a simple pastel yellow dress and a wide smile. She was fondling with Takeru's dirty blonde hair again and with the light filtering through behind her from the single window, it was both calming and beautiful. It was strangely fitting to see Sora in a simple dress in the kitchen, and a young blonde boy at her side. "Takeru, is it?" Janine asked.
He nodded casually. "Yep, but you can call me TK, everybody does."
Janine smiled. "TK it is. Sora told me the greatest stories about you, Tai, and Kari."
Takeru's features brightened with childish delight. "Really? What stories? I want to know!"
"Maybe another time, for now, there are more important things at hand." She turned her attention to Sora, with a hand on her hips and an indescribable glint in her emerald eyes. "Now, are you going to tell me how your hair became so fashionable and where you were for almost an entire month?"
"Sora was at the palace!" Hikari yelled out cheerfully.
Sora only bit her lip, offered the best smile she could and busied herself with drinking tea.
"The palace!" Janine gave a small amused giggle. Whilst Sora was gone, at times they would make up wild stories as explanations for her disappearance. One of the more popular situations was that Sora and Prince Yamato had planned to elope and he had stolen her away quietly from her room. "Please Kari, do continue."
"The Prince saved her on his white horse and they fell in love!"
Janine burst out laughing as Sora blanched and choked wildly. "Kari!" She managed to cough out while she supported herself by the kitchen table.
Sensing that perhaps she said something that did not please Sora, Hikari slowly began moving towards the doorway. "'Tis true!" she defended loudly, "Sora had a glazed look in her eyes when she spoke of him. Just like Mama when she thought of Papa before she went."
The auburn haired woman frowned ever so slightly at the idea of being compared to a woman on her deathbed thinking about her deceased husband, but to her horror, the idea of her thinking about Yamato in her very last moments held a hint of appeal. Dear Lord, she always knew that Kari rarely missed anything, but this was simply frightening. Sora cleared her throat and gave Hikari a little playful glare that sent her running off with Takeru close behind. "All right Janine, sit down."
Janine laughed gaily as she pulled out a worn chair and sat down with her basket set neatly aside. "Remember, I want to know everything, right down to the feel of his lips. You did kiss, did you not?"
"No, but I'm sure it would be heavenly," Sora said before her mind could register the words.
"I knew it! You are in love with him!"
"Yes, yes!" Sora threw up her hands. "Now are you going to let me tell you what happened, or will you sit there and draw your own conclusions?"
"Oh no dear, I prefer to draw my own conclusions when I'm alone at the mansion," she said matter-of-factly and gave Sora a quick wink. "Tell me!"
Smiling, Sora pulled out a chair facing Janine and seated herself. "I've told this story so many times today, I'm beginning to think I should write it into a book," she mumbled and then turned to her friend. "Where do I begin?"
§
Catherine hummed happily to herself as she walked down the empty corridors of the palace. She had just learned that the dreadful Lady Takenouchi, or so she claimed to be, had seemingly left the palace the evening before. She smiled to herself, pleased to think that her words had affected the other woman enough to force her to leave. Making her way to her bedchamber, Catherine quickly entered and closed the door behind her. She placed a hand on the strong mahogany and her other hand lingered on the handle, taking a moment to give herself a satisfied smirk.
"I've been waiting for you."
Catherine gasped and whirled around in the direction of the husky baritone voice. Her mouth fell open at the dangerously handsome blonde, leaning casually against one of the bedposts, arms crossed and head tilted with a lazy smile. A hesitant giggle came from Catherine as she made her way slowly across the room to where Yamato stood. She placed a hand carefully on his chest and gently pressed her well formed body against his, a tacit invitation. "If I had known you were here, I would have returned sooner," she whispered.
The Prince smiled lazily and moved his hand up Catherine's elbow in one swift stroke to her hand. She licked her lips and leaned forward, eager to taste his lips but was instead alarmed when Yamato's smile changed into a scowl and he torn her hand away from him in obvious disgust. "Miss Catherine Grant, pack your belongings."
She stared at him with wild distress written clearly on her attractive features. "My Prince? I—"
He ignored her easily and stalked towards the door. "You have until sundown. Leave; you have outstayed your welcome."
AN: Wow, that took a while didn't it? I'm sorry, I sorry! I actually rewrote the first three pages of this chapter about three times before I could stomach it, and no, that's not me being modest. It was appalling. I'll be busy for the next couple of days, but I wanted to get a head start on the next chapter before I posted this one up, so that way, hopefully another lapse where no one knows whether I'm alive or dead won't happen.
It always amazes me when people continue to read and review my stories. Thank you!