AN: I'm so ecstatic to hear that you guys like Mimi's character! Thank you! I also have to mention that I'm really happy to hear from the readers that don't usually reply after writing that little note (it's also nice to know that people read these notes). I really didn't write it with the intention of making people review, it's just that I found it amusing, but I'm extremely happy that some of you guys did, thanks again!
P1nk R41n: It's always so great to hear from people who are just starting the fic! The Wish huh? It sounds familiar. If I haven't read it, I'll be sure to give it a go. Ella Enchanted was a great book and I didn't bother seeing the movie either, hehe. Judging from the commercials, I really didn't like the new spins they added to the already perfect story and I felt that Anne Hathaway was not the best choice for an Ella. Thanks for your review.
Aino Yuy: Your review really made me realize that I probably haven't been detailed enough when it comes to Janine—which I'm very happy that you could point out! I've always imagined Janine to be a few years younger than Sora. Thanks!
JyouraKoumi: Haha, I don't think I made this fic into a Michi. I had no intention of doing so and reading back, I don't think I've really implied it. If you could tell me what gave you the impression, that would be great!
TheLadyKnight: How was your vacation! I love your idea with the whole "Mimi forgot to mention the deadline" thing, but sadly, that is not the way things go. (Though I have to say, that would be a nice, clean, and overall just plain crafty way to end things.) Hm… now I'm going to have to go think about it… I caught myself up with those awesome high school fic of yours! (Greatest, ever!) It was kind of sad to see them end, but also kind of nice. Gotta love closure. Thanks a bunch for your review.
And a thank you to the people who don't usually review, but did so anyway.
I don't do this too often (only when I am moved—I happen to be an occasional sentimental,) but I'd like to dedicate this second-to-last chapter to Chikin Wang who has always been there since… (omg!) the first chapter of Ishida High. Thanks for offering me constructive advice and support.
Disclaimer: Digimon is not mine.
Chapter twelve – Devious Cupid
"Oh Janine, it was the most wonderful thing!"
"Tell me!"
Sora lay on her bed and sighed dramatically, remembering the events from the night before. After Yamato had kissed her very properly, he retied her mask and handed her another invitation for the second night of the ball. It was on a silver piece of paper with the same cursive writing. "Show this to the guards tomorrow night and they'll bring you to the garden. Wait for me," he told her.
Janine crossed her arms and cleared her throat. "I'm still here, Sora."
"Sorry," she blushed and then relayed the story to Janine, who made occasional commentaries when appropriate. Sora had conveniently omitted some of the more intimate moments between the two.
"That sounds so romantic."
"It was magic."
"That reminds me, you still haven't told me how you came in possession of this magnificent dress," she motioned down at the gown in her lap, "those slippers, and not to mention, what happened to your hair and leg."
So Sora told her. By the end of it all, Janine's mouth hung open much like Tai's did and it was clear that her eyes were straining as much as Sora's the night before. "I don't believe it," she gasped incredulously.
"Yes you do."
"Yes I do, only because I can see it and this would be much too cruel a joke. I hope you haven't been telling the story too often."
"Only you and Yamato when he asked."
"How did he react?"
"He kissed me and thanked God."
"How sweet!"
"What about Miyako? What did she say of the ball?"
Janine laughed gaily. "She wouldn't stop talking about it. Joe and I heard her—"
"Stop! Joe and you?"
The brunette blushed visibly and bit her lip. "Well… he was visiting a patient nearby and Lady Inoue actually allowed him to come inside. She was probably in a good mood after hearing Miyako's stories."
"Was it not a little… dark?"
"It was this morning!"
Sora coughed out a laugh. "Oh, I see. Please then, continue."
"Well, Miyako was telling her stories to anyone who would listen. She kept talking about what a great impression she made on the prince, how he remembered her name, how she was sure he couldn't take his eyes off of her, and how his eyes positively lit up at her. Of course, Marianne and I say it's the mask that she wore that was probably half blinding the prince. I swear, when she walked around, I thought a glass had sprung legs."
Giggles filled the air as the two girls slandered Miyako good-naturedly behind her back. "Did she say anything more?"
"The cow wouldn't shut up at how 'beautiful and grand' the ballroom was. I don't think you've mentioned that."
The auburn haired woman blushed and twirled a strand around her index finger. "Well… I was a little preoccupied and really… thinking of how the ballroom looked wasn't—"
"Say no more, girl. If I had a guy that fine, that close, I don't think I'd be looking at the decorations."
Sora's face lit up with a smile at the familiar soprano and turned to face her fairy "godsister" standing at the doorway wearing another dress that was undoubtedly Vera Wang. "Well Janine, even if you didn't believe me before, you'd have to believe me now."
§
"I want to know WHO SHE IS!" Catherine Grant stormed about her mansion halls, throwing a tantrum and yelling at anyone who was unfortunate enough to get in her way. She rounded a corner and found her father lounging comfortably on a large armchair.
"Papa! You must help me!" Catherine whined.
Her father hardly acknowledged her presence. "Catherine dear, you are making too much noise."
"But Papa!"
Lord Grant, no matter how much he loved his daughter, was a proud and honorable man (though at times, that was questionable). True, he was threatening and rude, but he was one man who would not stoop to low levels to get what he wanted. Lord Grant was a man who believed in achievement through one's own strength.
He sighed. "Catherine, why don't you concentrate on stunning the prince tonight? You had a dress picked out, yes? It is time you prepared yourself for the ball."
Catherine fought against the retort that was ready to spring from her lips. Furious and upset she was, it did not cloud her senses and she knew it was time to stop. "…yes Papa," she answered reluctantly with an edge of bitterness and made her way upstairs to her ornate bedchambers. The gown had already been prepared and currently donned the mannequin before her bed. It was made with a low neckline and stylish puffed sleeves, accompanied by a thick strand of diamonds that had been set out for the occasion. Originally, she had planned to wear her hair in another bun, but the events from the night before made it clear to her that the prince preferred hair to be let down. So tonight, she would only adorn her hair with a thin strand of diamonds and set out to dazzle the prince.
§
"Red?"
"No, her hair."
"Right, what about yellow?"
"Too close to last night's."
Janine placed a finger to her chin and glanced at Sora who was wondering why she didn't get a say in what color her dress would be. "Sea green, I think."
"Oh, that'll work!"
As expected, Mimi and Janine got along like old friends, especially after Mimi let it "accidentally" slip that Fate had plans for her and Joe—good plans.
"Don't I get a say in—" Sora started.
"No."
Ruby eyes narrowed. "Janine, don't you have to return to the mansion and help me sabotage Miyako's dress?" she joked.
"Don't worry dear, I'm not the fairy godsister for nothing! I'll have you back at the mansion in literally no time, so feel free to stay until it's dark."
"Where in the world is my fairy godsister?" Janine wondered out loud.
"Oh, we only help the desperate."
"Excuse me!"
An hour later, the darkness claimed the sky and the girls had Sora perfumed and as stunning as ever. She smiled at her reflection in the glass and decided that being the butt of all their jokes had been worth it. Besides, she loved those two to death and a few dozen jokes never hurt her ego, much.
"Well?" Mimi motioned with her hands to elicit a reply from Sora. "What do you think?"
The dress was much different than the one worn the night before with its slimming sea green velvet, wide sleeves, and high waist that was accentuated with silver lace. Sora squirmed a little at first, unused to the tightening below her bosom and the looseness at her waist but she soon grew to love the fashion. "I think you've just proven again why they call you the 'fashion fairy.'"
"I helped too!" came Janine's input.
Sora laughed. "If you can call it that."
"Yes I can, and I will."
Mimi giggled beside her, picking at the soft velvet and flicking Sora's hair occasionally with her wand. "How should the hair go, Janine?"
"Something different than the night before."
"We kept it down last night," said Sora as she recalled the feel of having Yamato's fingers entwined in the strands.
"What about a loose knot?"
"I like this girl!"
The next time Sora glanced in the mirror, her auburn hair was fashioned into the suggested loose knot, anchored in place with a large emerald pin etched with floral designs. Some tendrils escaped the confines and reached down to frame her face. "What do you two think?" she asked the others.
"I think your mother would be proud," Janine said softly, knowing how much the words meant to her.
"Ditto—ah, same."
"Thank you, both of you."
"Let's not get emotional!" Mimi waved her wand wildly, making the other two women take a couple of precautionary steps back. "Sora dear, we need some accessories."
"Oh, I almost forgot." She moved to the old table and picked up the silver chain from where she left it last. "I promised him I'd wear it," she said, not needing to elaborate on just who "him" was.
"But Sora, the emeralds! I had it all planned out too!" The pink haired woman said with urgency. She clasped her hands together and a dreamy look entered her hazel-brown eyes. "It was going to be diamonds with emeralds and sapphires and—"
"Can't you just turn her necklace into one of those with a wave of that pointing stick of yours?" Catching the look in Sora's eyes, Janine quickly added, "Just for the night, of course," and earned a nod.
"Silly me, I forgot." Mimi waved her wand once and the necklace found its way around Sora's graceful neck, she waved her wand a second time and Sora felt the change of weight as diamonds, emeralds, and sapphires (oh my!) rested in its place. She looked closely at the largest emerald positioned at the center and realized that Mimi had thoughtfully engraved it with the heart symbol of her pendant. On her ears hung small emerald cuts lined with glittering diamonds. Her wrists were in the same fashion as her neck: large emeralds, small sapphires, and even smaller—but more plentiful, diamonds. "Now, there's a special rule for this one," said Mimi after she was done admiring her handiwork.
"Yes?"
"That necklace is only temporary, seeing as how I had to work with your original. Temporary magic does not last past midnight, why? Who knows, it's a stupid rule, but it doesn't. Actually, I think it's because temporary magic is just that—temporary. Since midnight is when the new day begins, midnight is also when the previous day ends. So girl, that means that at one minute before midnight, that necklace will turn back into its original form, all clear?"
She nodded, not worried about the necklace in the slightest. "But the dress… everything else stays?"
"Everything else is yours! Of course they'll stay."
"I don't think she's too concerned about it, Mimi." Janine spoke up and stretched her arms above her head. "I suppose it's time to help that cow fit into her dress." She stepped forward and gave her friend a tight hug. "Good luck, Sora, though I'm sure that you don't need it."
She smiled in return. "Thank you, Janine."
"You ready to go?" asked Mimi.
Janine squeezed her green eyes closed and stood before the shimmering woman, fighting the uneasy rattling of her nerves. "I'm ready."
"Don't worry, it doesn't hurt that much," said Mimi cheerfully, just as she waved her wand and Janine disappeared before Sora's eyes.
"It doesn't really hurt, does it?"
"Of course not, and don't worry, Miyako won't be mad."
"Thank—"
"I told you, if you want to thank me, just keep telling me how much you love your dress."
"I love it I love it I love it I love it I love it I love it!"
"That'll do."
Sora glanced down when cool glass formed around her feet once more, realizing that Mimi had just helped her slip on her shoes. "I forgot to tell you, I realized what you meant with saying everyone would notice the slippers."
"It's a nice sound isn't it?" she paused and smiled, clearly knowing something Sora did not. "Your carriage is here."
"You can tell?"
"Of course! What kind of fairy would I be if I could just let things sneak up on me? We'd better hurry down, girl, I'll be here tomorrow night and then, at the wedding!"
They walked down the stairs chatting away about girlish dreams and ignoring Taichi, who was positioned by the door with a sleepy look in his eyes. "I'll expect you home by dawn," he yawned groggily.
"Oh, I won't be surprised if she didn't—"
"I'll be back, don't worry!" said Sora, clasping a hand over Mimi's mouth to keep her from finishing the rest. She gave Taichi a quick friendly kiss on the cheek before turning to Mimi and repeating the action. "Say bye to Kari for me."
"She's almost as excited as you are," he answered with a curt chuckle.
As Sora climbed onto the carriage (after making sure she had the invitation, of course), she heard Mimi's distinctive voice say, "About Takeru, Tai, you should really start getting used to having him around." She turned around as the coachman cracked his whip and laughed quietly seeing her childhood friend standing alone, rubbing the bridge of his nose and looking as if all hell was about to break loose.
§
The thumping of her heart echoed so loudly that Sora was positive the footman could hear it when he helped her off the ivory coach. She took in a deep breath, smiled to the footman, and stepped towards the same guards as the night before. The palace stood even more threateningly than the night before. Sora's heart leapt to her throat when she was close enough to see a familiar lavender haired girl walking into the palace.
The guards exchanged looks and waited patiently for her silver invitation. When Miyako turned, disco ball mask and all, Sora managed to suppress a gasp. A hand flew to her mask, checking self-consciously to see if it was still intact. The dark and glimmering color complimented her dress better than it had the night before and Sora cracked a smile at the guard who took her invitation, feeling a little more confident than she did a few minutes ago.
She didn't know why the nervousness was suddenly so overwhelming, even more than the night before. But last night, she had come in hopes of seeing Yamato; tonight she came with the knowledge that he held her heart firmly, as did she, his. What if something happened tonight? What if she embarrassed herself? What is she embarrassed him? What if he realized that he had made the wrong decision? What if he didn't want her?
"Uh… miss?"
A deep voice snapped her out of her brooding, and Sora smiled at the guard who stood before her, obviously waiting for her to follow. So much for embarrassing herself.
He laughed at the string of apologies she offered and bowed. "It's not a problem, if you will, please follow me," he said with such light-heartedness that at the back of her mind, Sora found herself thinking if all the guards were so friendly, she wouldn't have a problem living at the palace.
She fell into step behind him as the guard, a tall man with soft dark brown eyes, led her around the palace, through another gate, pass a few tasteful archways, and maneuvered expertly through a small maze of tall green hedges before finally coming to a familiar pond surrounded by looming willow trees on the far side. To Sora's right stood a proud sculpture of something with wings she couldn't quite make out. It occurred to her that on the opposite bank, Yamato and her had once enjoyed each other's company on a stone bench. The side she currently occupied had been covered in shadows the last time.
The guard bowed again, "His royal highness asks that you wait for him here. I will inform him that you have arrived." With that, he left her in the shadows.
Sora hugged herself as shivers ran up and down her skin. She sat down on a stone bench by the base of the sculpture and gazed across the pond. It was odd to see the same spot Yamato and her had relaxed comfortably at from a different view. She smiled and closed her eyes, imagining the two of them across the pond in the bright daylight, playfully flirting with each other. She could smell the same honeyed aroma from across the glossy water.
Soft arms circled around Sora's shoulders, pulling her into a warm embrace as something sweet and velvety rubbed against her nose. She smiled with her eyes still closed and gently touched the hand holding the flower.
"It's red this time," he whispered against her ear.
Sora's skin tingled on hearing Yamato's baritone voice and she peeked an eye open at the dark colored rose that lingered before her, remembering he had given her a white one when they sat on the opposite end of the pond. She took the stem into her fingers. "What, only one?" she joked as she twirled the flower in the air and leaned in closer to Yamato.
His body shook with laughter. "The whole garden is yours when you become my queen." He held her closer, expecting her body to tense at the mention of becoming his queen and was immensely pleased when she only warmed to his touch.
"So… you're not about to marry Catherine Grant?" she asked tentatively. Even though it was without a doubt that Yamato had no intentions of doing so, she wanted to hear the words from him.
"Lady, if I am, would I have just spent an hour telling my mother how much I've fallen in love with you?"
"Perhaps…"
He laughed again and leaned closer, burying his head against the crook of her neck. "Never." His warm breath tickled and brought out giggles from Sora, which abruptly changed into shallow breaths as Yamato ran his lips butterfly-light along her velvety skin. "Did I tell you what a vision you are tonight?"
She let out a breathy laugh, relishing in the sensation of having him so close. "My prince, I doubt you can even see me in the darkness."
"I told you, I can always see you. And you are more beautiful by the days."
"Silver ton—" Sora's words were cut off as Yamato placed his lips gently over hers. One of his hands moved from her shoulder to trail across her side and rest just above her hip. He turned her slowly to face him and she obliged more than willingly.
The rose slipped from Sora's fingers as her hands moved of their own accord to entangle in his thick golden hair. When she did so, she heard Yamato inhale sharply and press against her with more urgency.
The kiss may have started with enough innocence, but just as the night before, it grew more passionate, hurried, and wanting with each passing moment. Sora felt him run daringly across her lips as they parted for a brief moment for breath and gladly offered an invitation. His tongue teasingly grazed across her teeth before reaching further in. Who would have guessed the prince—inexperienced as he claimed to be, could be such a damn good kisser? Her left arm had subtly moved again to lock itself around his neck as the other lingered in his famed mass of hair.
Yamato's arm that had been gently applying pressure on her hip was wrapped around her waist, pushing her into his chest as his other hand reached up to release her auburn locks before moving down to trace her neckline and finally rest against her neck with his thumb running across her jaw line.
Sora's senses were clouded over with only thoughts of his touch, his familiar sandalwood scent, his lips, and the discreet little noises he made deep in his throat. In the back of her mind, a danger sign had been hung but she paid it little notice. Finally, they pulled away and Yamato let out a hearty laugh. He placed a kiss tenderly on her cheek and brought his hands down along her arms, slipping under her wide sleeves and lightly touching the delicate skin on her forearms.
The redness of his ears made Sora smile coyly and she found she could only love him more. Their eyes locked and in the dark, she could still make out the deep blue that possessed anything that dared to capture his stare for too long. "You pulled off my pin. Mimi is going to be mad."
"Don't wear your hair up, I want to be able to touch it." A moment's silence passed and Yamato called out for a guard. The same man who had led Sora to the garden returned, this time holding two oil lamps. He bowed and placed one by the foot of the bench before retreating to his post in the distance—or at least Sora hoped it was in the distance. She didn't want any witnesses to their "friendliness."
"Don't move," came his command and even her blood ceased flowing. Yamato leaned forward and fingered the elaborate necklace around her neck.
"I wore it, like I promised I would," said Sora, suddenly a little tentative of how Yamato would react.
He only smiled. "Mimi?"
"Mimi. It'll change back at a minute before midnight. Think of it as a magical clock that only tells the time once."
"I do think I'm completely under your charm already, Lady. Do you think any more magic is needed?"
Sora laughed. "It wasn't—"
"I love you."
She blinked, her dark eyes flaring a hint of gold with the lantern casting a muted glow. It was a startling confession, but not surprising in the least. Sora's heart burst with eagerness to reciprocate. "Yamato, I lov—"
"No!" He reached over to place a hand over her lips and received a bewildered glare. Yamato chuckled. "I want you to surprise me." She still looked confused, but the glare was gone when he removed his hand.
"Surprise you?"
"Yes! I don't want you to reply to me with a, 'I love you too' I want… I want you to say it when I don't expect you to."
"You're lucky you're the prince. I wouldn't plot out my 'I love you's' for just anyone, you understand."
He laughed and ran his fingers through her hair once again. "Lady Takenouchi, I did not think that your love could be bought."
"It depends on the buyer."
"Oh?" he raised a brow. "And how many buyers are there?"
"Hundreds, thousands!" Sora teased, leaning closer to her prince.
"And, how many are you willing to sell to?"
"Just one."
"Who, may I ask, is that devastatingly lucky man?"
Smiling impishly, Sora decided to keep the game going just a little longer until she got the kiss that was lurking close by. Her gaze shifted to his lips. "He happens to be the richest of them all—"
He leaned in and kissed her fully on the lips.
"—and he can kiss like no other."
"What more?" Yamato pressed.
"I suppose he does make me weak in the knees."
"You? No."
"Perhaps he even has the ability to make me swoon."
"Unheard of."
"I can't stop thinking about him, and…"
"And?"
Sora pulled away and crossed her arms. "I'd say that I love him, but he has asked for me to surprise him!"
"How inconsiderate!"
She sighed wistfully. "But he's lucky that I love him so. I will just have to conjure up my wittiness and think of ways to charm him instead."
"He will love you even more for it."
"It would only be right."
Yamato threw back his head and laughed loudly before standing and taking Sora's hands. "Come with me."
"Where?"
"Everywhere."
"If you insist." She stood after him and watched as he picked up the lantern and lifted it above their heads. "I thought we were going somewhere."
"Look first."
Sora raised her head and peered up at the previously shadowed sculpture. Upon closer inspection it occurred to her that it was a very young man with wings, holding a bow and arrow with a long quiver stuffed with additional ornate arrows of the same kind.
"It's Cupid," Yamato whispered.
"Cupid," she echoed.
"A small man that runs around and fires arrows that make innocents fall in love."
"He sounds devious."
"Well, my mother—being the romantic that she is—put the statue here. Look, it's lantern holder." He demonstrated by hooking the lantern to the end of Cupid's bow.
"I suppose it's useful…"
Yamato laughed. "Not one of my mother's better ideas, but I wanted to show you nonetheless. I'm going to keep a lantern here from now on, always lit, to remind you that I love you."
A smile lit Sora's eyes and suddenly, even the odd sculpture looked beautiful. She'd have to ask Mimi if she had heard of this Cupid. "I'd much rather you tell me yourself that you love me. Everyday."
"Making demands of your own now, I see." Yamato's eyes shone mischievously as he pulled her closer to lean down and whisper, "I can show you everyday too."
The blood rushed to Sora's cheeks and she looked down to hide her growing grin. "Where did you want to adventure to?"
"Remember I once told you that there's a passageway here that leads out of the palace gates?"
"Yes?"
He smirked with boyish glee. "Wouldn't you like to go search for it?"
Surprisingly, Sora's excitement matched his own with the thoughts of hidden passageways and she nodded eagerly.
They left the lantern hanging from the end of Cupid's bow where it could give off a decent amount of lighting. Sora ran her fingers across the growing ivy on the walls surrounding the small oasis. "Yama, is there any poison ivy in the garden?" She asked hesitantly, drawing her hand away from the glossy leaves.
"Not that I know of."
"Oh, good." They glanced over the ivy in silence. "Where do we start?"
"Stay here, I'll go to the other side and if either of us should find anything, call."
"Yes, your highness," Sora teased.
After Yamato left and she was left on her own to inspect the crawling ivy, a thought hit Sora like a tidal wave. While searching for secret passageways, she finally realized what Janine had meant when she said, "You've really learned how to live, Sora." Living wasn't merely just breathing, eating, and sleeping, but rather, feeling. It had been more than a decade since Sora felt so alive. With Yamato, every moment was an exhilarating adventure; every breath was a gift.
During the years spent serving the Inoues, she had forgotten how it felt to feel pure bliss, love, even sadness and pain. Being whipped was hardly anything to compare with how much it would hurt if Yamato were to be taken away from her. Janine, Marianne, and Sam's love was so unlike his unrelenting onslaught of affection. He made her breath hitch, her heart speed, and her mouth sore from the smile that wouldn't leave her lips and over activities.
"Did you find anything, my heart?" Yamato's voice came from the other side of the Cupid creation.
His voice, instead of drawing Sora out of her daydreams, only made her blush further with memories of how his lips had felt against her own. "N-not yet, Yama."
"Pity, I was hoping that it would be dark in there. We could—"
"I should hardly like to have my virginity taken away from me in an abandoned passageway," said Sora, giving up and walking towards where the blonde leaned casually against the statue.
He cast her a feral grin. "Let's not be bashful, Sora love."
"The only way I'd let you do something like that is with marriage—"
"That's perfect! You know I have every intention of doing so." A frown suddenly marred his features.
"What is it?"
"Take off your mask."
"Again? But wouldn't it be unfair to the other women?"
"What other women? There is only you. Come, I want to kiss you."
"You've kissed me just fine with the mask on."
"I was too overcome with my desire for you."
"What, now you are not?"
"Now it is even stronger than before."
"But—"
"There is a lantern now, I want to gaze upon your loveliness."
"Will you always charm me like this in the future?" Sora asked, but even as she said so, her hands reached to the back of her mask to pull at the silver ribbons. A moment later, Yamato's hands smoothed over the skin beneath her eyes and his lips touched hers with surprising innocence.
"I don't think I can stop myself from charming you for as long as I live," he wooed against her lips after they parted.
"We never found the passageway."
"We have all the time in the future."
"What were we looking for exactly?"
He laughed and shrugged, "Mother said it was something of stone…" They exchanged glances at his words and Yamato slowly pushed off from the Cupid statue to stand up. Without a word, he lifted the lantern from its resting area and walked around the base, inspecting everything he could with his free hand.
Sora stared up at the statue and noticed an arrow that seemed to come loose from the others in the quiver. She climbed onto the stone platform to level with the quiver and timidly shook the arrow. It came loose and she pulled it further out of the quiver as far as it would go. A low humming sound came from beneath the statue and in another instant the entire base had spun away to reveal stone stairs leading down to nowhere.
"Holy—"
"You searched a decade for this?" Sora laughed and she took Yamato's hand, jumping down on her glass slippers to peer into the abyss. She pulled away. "Do you want to go down?"
He stepped forward and flashed her another smirk. "Scared, milady?"
As a matter of fact, yes. "No."
"Then what are we waiting for? Your prince will be here to protect you should anything happen."
Trusting him, she followed closely down the stairs and barely noticed the change of weight around her neck as her necklace turned back into the silver crest of love her mother had left behind. Feeling a little less brave than usual, Sora took Yamato's hand tightly in hers.
The lantern cast a gloomy glow against the stone walls of the passageway, but the tunnel was surprisingly… uninhibited. Despite the old, mucky scent, there were shockingly few creepy crawlers scurrying along the path. Yamato swatted at an offending cobweb with the lantern and gave Sora's hands a reassuring squeeze before continuing.
"Yamato?"
"Yes?"
"Can I tell you I love you now?"
His laugh seemed to brighten the dim passageway. "Not now, love, there's not enough room to kiss you." Yamato slowed his pace as they came to another set of stairs that apparently marked the end of the tunnel—a dead end.
"This is a cruel joke," Sora said, her fears long forgotten.
A small stone piece caught Yamato's eyes. "No look," he motioned to the stone candleholder on the wall with a few cobwebs hanging from the base.
"I hope this one is easier fathom."
The only reply was a slow shifting of stone as Sora and Yamato were pushed out into fresh air. They turned and realized that a piece of the wall had spun in a complete circle, bringing whoever was in, out, and vice versa. The couple stood at the back of the palace by the brick wall that ran the perimeter.
"This could be dangerous," Sora noted. "You won't know who can get in."
"Can we get in?"
She shrugged and began pressing the bricks. A short while later, the two found themselves back in the dark tunnel.
Yamato cleared his throat. "That was… interesting."
"Oh wait!" Sora exclaimed and reached over to twist the stone candelabra.
"Yes, love?" Yamato asked when they stood outside the walls once more.
A glint flashed in Sora's dark ruby eyes and she grinned. "Yamato Ishida, I love you."
He rushed forward and pressed his lips against hers with unleashed passion. Sora felt her senses blur all over again as she wrapped her arms around his neck and played with the short strands against his nape.
"Are you surprised?" she asked after they parted and she retied her mask, feeling a little self-conscious outside the palace.
Yamato gave her a sly look. "Not in the slightest bit."
"I'll take it back then."
"Don't do that, you'll have the rest of our lives to surprise me."
They slowly made the way back to the garden where Yamato finally realized that the necklace had returned to its original form. He handed her another invitation after he brought Sora to the palace gates. This time, the fancy piece of paper was decorated with glimmering gold. "Tomorrow, I ask you formally to marry me at the stroke of midnight," he whispered against her ear. "My mother asked for you to wear white. She says she wants to see how you'd look as my bride."
Sora's skin darkened considerably to rival her hair and she lowered her head, suddenly shy. She murmured once more of her affections upon climbing into the cozy carriage and left Yamato to watch with a love struck look written clearly across his handsome features as Sora's ivory coach disappeared from view. A moment later, a striking pink coach followed.
§
Miyako seethed in the back of her carriage, watching the prince affectionately touch and whisper to the woman with auburn hair. On the first night, it had dimly struck Miyako that the lustrous color was familiar, but it couldn't have been the same. She had crudely cut Sora's hair the night she no doubt permanently wounded her leg. Then why was it, that a voice kept screaming that it was Sora? Could it be?
She just spent the night with Catherine Grant by her side, waiting for the prince to arrive. Instead, he only appeared for a brief moment and the rest remained a mystery until she showed up. The woman in shimmering sea green velvet climbed into the ivory carriage. There was no way Sora could afford such luxuries, but suddenly, it didn't matter who this woman was. As the carriage started, Miyako yelled a command to her coachman to follow.
AN: We're at the end! I haven't started chapter 13 yet (oh my, 13 chapters, creepy, yes?) and though I have most of it planned out, bits of it keep altering. I have absolutely no idea how long it will be, but I can say that I will have it up before the end of August.
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