Theladyknight: (grins) When I wrote about that part, one word about Yamato flashed through my head and it was – stalker. But believe it or not, things go on roller coaster ride in the chapter…
KoumiLoccness: Thank you for your review. In one of the later chapter, there will be a little bit about Koushiro and Mimi. Although as a Koumi fan, it's more likely that you won't like it.
Windedlove: You review gave me great courage to finish this chapter. Thank you for your encouragement!
Aino Yuy: I will tell you this much, I don't know how will the story end and I don't know much about what going to happen later on in the story. But I will try my best to finish this one off…and then I will go back and try to finish my other stories. I won't make any promises but I will try my best. (Golly, I think I sounded like a politician then and there)
Yurikitsune: Yes, I know that sounded a little awkward. But after years of training myself to write in long hand for formal essays and such, it became a habit and old habit dies hard.
Calare: The rain is always good for something. Especially in where I live where there is a drought. Water is much appreciated and valued.
Disclaimer…
Takeru and Hikari walk out hand in hand and everybody swooned about how cute they look together and what a great couple they are. They looked at each other adoringly and decided that they will do the disclaimer together.
"Eili-chan wanted everyone to know that she doesn't own Digimon." Takeru started first.
"She would also like everyone to know that this is merely fanfiction and will not be used in anyway that will yield profit." Hikari continued and beamed sweetly at everyone.
"Yamato would also like to add that he thoroughly enjoyed Harry Potter and encourages Taichi to read it as well." Yamato suddenly appeared on the stage and smirked at Taichi.
Taichi made a rude gesture to which everyone gasped, "dream on blondie. Dream on."
Chapter Two – Come Clean
It was interesting how the night turned out. She detested his help earlier on and he, although astonished by her beauty was not pleased with her either. Somehow, somewhere along the way, they achieved an understanding and found that they enjoyed each other's companionship.
He listened as Sora poured her confusion and sorrow. Although all he could do was nod gravely and walk beside her, as it wasn't his place to talk and offer condolence and solutions, but merely for that, Sora was grateful.
Yamato studied the girl when she finished her story and wallowed in silence. He found that she was like a caterpillar. A caterpillar wrapped in its cocoon, preparing to become a butterfly.
It was foolish and did not quite make sense, but she laughed when he told her the theory, and for her smile, he was willing to let his ego suffer just a little.
"So if I am a caterpillar; as you so nicely puts it, what are you then?" Her eyes twinkled with mischief and he knotted his brows to think of an animal that would suit him as well as to please her.
There was a huge silence and she spoke first.
"Wolf."
"Pardon?"
"The wolf. You are like a wolf." She repeated and grinned. "They beautiful mysterious eyes, the roguishness, aloofness sometimes but fiercely protective of your clan…even your hair is styled like the fur of a wolf."
It was only then that Yamato noticed the condition of his hair. They've lost their volume and lay lifelessly in patches around his head due to his hair gel.
"Don't you dare make fun of my hair!" He was a little bit peeved. He was trying to cheer her up and she mocked his precious golden locks.
She must've sensed his protectiveness and territorial-ness over his now damaged hair as she patted him on the head and them completely messed it up.
He growled and decided to mess up her hair as revenge. Yet she seemed to know his intention and stuck out her tongue at him and avoided his hands with efficiency.
A childish gesture and it prompted them to a very childish game of cat and mouse. Laughing and giggling along the streets and caused many pedestrians to either avoid them or stare at them in shock.
They decided that the best part of the game was when they had so much fun; they ran past his humble abode without even noticing it. They laughed over the idiocy and decided to call it truce for the moment so that they would not miss it again.
Sora was pleasantly surprised at the situation of Yamato's home, for she would never in her life believe that a guy's living room could be so clean. However, her ideas quickly changed when she realized that state of the kitchen and his bedroom and she shot him a quizzical glance.
"Let me get this straight. The living room is the only room you actually bother to tidy up?"
Yamato smiled sheepishly.
"Actually, that's the room that none of us uses. You see, my father is never home long enough to enjoy the living room and I have my own TV in my room and basically can shut myself in there for hours."
"Right. So…is it safe to sit on the sofa? It doesn't have mould does it?" Sora jested. Yet in secret, she wondered about the lack of femininity in the setting of the room.
Yamato seemingly saw the question in her head and answered her before she could raise that subject.
"My parents are divorced." He stated emotionlessly but didn't look slightly uncomfortable. "They have been for the past eleven years, but my mum comes here often enough to check on me and wash my dishes for me."
"Oh!" Sora was dazed. She pondered how any one could take the separation of their parents so detached and she prompted for him to go on.
However, Yamato simply smiled and handed her a towel and a change of clothe.
"The shirt is mine and the jean is my brother's. He's smaller than I am, you might just fit."
Sora accepted the clothing graciously yet, she looked doubtful. "Do I want to rely on their hygiene?"
Yamato pouted. "Come on. The house isn't that dirty! It is just…messy…"
"And unhygienic!" Sora finished his sentence for him and grumbled a little, "especially the kitchen. God! Don't you ever clean at all?"
Yamato laughed.
"Serious, you sound exactly like my mother!"
"Your mother? If I am your mother, I would've spanked some senses into you and forced you to clean up after yourself."
"Oh, Spanking! Kinky…is that what you wanted to do with me?"
"Yamato!" Sora reproached and blushed at his playful comment as she quickly went into the bathroom and locked the door behind her, "I am just going to change out of my wet clothing." Her mumble was barely heard over his maniacal cackle outside.
Yes, he just loved teasing her.
Yamato was still chuckling when he changed into a fresh set of clothing and came back from the kitchen with two mugs of hot chocolate.
Sora lounged comfortably on the sofa and was flipping through the channels with such focus, Yamato almost felt guilty to disturb her.
Nevertheless, her gaze drew away from the television set and focused on him as he handed her a mug. To which she took a sip and closed her eyes and savored it.
"Um, it's delicious. You really know how to make a good hot chocolate. It's sweet, rich and slightly bitter, just like you." Sora opened her eyes and smiled.
He would've swoon his heart missed a beat when she said that. It was as if she was intentionally flirting with him.
He gave a shrug and tried to act cool. "It's just an ancient recipe from Aztec. Using dark chocolate as base and add some cream to enrich it at the end."
"Aztec! Where did you learn stuff like that!"
"Well, if you watched enough of late night cooking shows, you learn to pick up a few interesting tips here and there."
"Late night cooking shows…so what are you doing up that late anyway?" Sora winked suggestively and tried to tease him.
Just as he was about to tease her back, the shuffling of keys drew his attention to the door and a moment later his mother entered the room boisterously with a loud bang from slamming shut the door.
"Yamato my darling!"
Yamato gave Sora an apologetic look. He sighed as he placed his mug down onto the coffee table and just as he did, a petite woman with emerald green eyes and styled short chestnut hair waltzed into the living room.
"Yama-chan! You wouldn't believe what beautiful day today has been. I just have the most wonderful news!"
He rolled his eyes at his pet name and tried to sound interested. "Yes, mom. What happened today?"
Meanwhile, Sora tried to suppress a wave of giggles. Yama-chan! She totally didn't see that coming.
It was then Yamato's mother noticed of the guest in the room and gave Yamato a look of accusation.
Yamato fidgeted and tried to overcome the awkwardness in the room with introductions. Yet he was a step too slow, for his mother has already extended her hand and smiled warmly.
"I am Natsumi Takashi. Yamato's mother."
Sora shook Natsumi's hand gently and smiled back.
"I am Sora. Yamato's um…" She paused and looked to Yamato for suggestions, unsure where she stood between friends and acquaintances.
Natsumi glanced at the youngster and grinned. "Yamato's friend? Girlfriend? Lover? Heavens forbid, femme fatale?" She offered 'helpfully' and made Yamato glare at her.
"Actually, I was trying to decide between acquaintance or friend." Sora laughed. She found the woman extremely amusing and her self at ease talking to her.
"Well, my son invited you back to his humble abode. That means you are at least a friend and possibly someone he fancies very much."
"Mum!" Yamato blushed and was embarrassed at his mother's bluntness. He faked a few coughs and tried to change the subject. "What were you saying about earlier? Something good has happened?"
"Come on Yama-chan, admit it. She is sweet, homey and pretty, exactly the type of girl you go for right? I mean; she is wearing your t-shirt." There was a slight pause before Natsumi rambled on. "You guys weren't doing something naughty were you? I know you are 18 and all and when I was your age…"
"MUM!"
This time, it is Sora's turn to blush. What was she thinking before, that Natsumi was easy to talk to? Right now, all she wanted to do was dig a whole and climb into it and stay there for the rest of her life.
Of course, she had no idea that Yamato was thinking the exact same thing.
"I know. I know, I am probably embarrassing you…"
"No duh!" Yamato cut in and earned himself a glare from his mother.
"…But my heart is swelled with joy! I hope right now, everyone in the world is happy and in love!" Natsumi threw her arms around her son and kissed him on the forehead – to which Yamato pretended to gag and earned another glare from his mother.
"You know the man I am involved and has been for the past three years?"
Yamato nodded. "The guy I told you that you would have no future with?"
"Yep that one! Well, his has finally divorced his wife and we are getting married! Isn't that exciting!"
Natsumi squealed and her smile, so happy and infectious, Yamato and Sora found no trouble to smile with her.
"Congratulations mum."
"And you know what the best thing is?" Natsumi backed away from her son and waltzed towards the door.
"He is right outside of the door and he wants to meet you! Let's me present to you, Hatori…"
The door opened and Sora found herself face to face with a regal middle-aged man of auburn hair and hazel eyes. Her father.
"…Takenouchi!"
"Daddy?"
"Sora?"
The two of them burst out unanimously and Natsumi found two words flashed through her head while Yamato only had one. They were respectively "oh dear!" and "shit!".
The other two of course, were not thinking at all. Mr. Takenouchi stood dazed as Sora rushed past him and ran out of Yamato's place.
Yamato, seeing that it was still raining outside and that Sora had left impulsively without an umbrella, ran out after her.
It was another ten minutes before Hatori regained his senses and sank down onto the floor.
"That's didn't go well at all. Did it?"
"Nope. I think it was a nightmare that went horribly wrong." Natsumi sank down beside him and both of them were troubled.
Sora didn't go far before Yamato caught up with her and drew her into his embrace. Sora struggled and screamed; yet he held on until she sagged against his chest and her scream turned to muffled sobs.
"I don't understand why life keeps on playing cruel jokes on me." She told him between her sobs. "It's like a roller coaster ride that kept on going up and down and around and around and it just wouldn't stop."
Yamato grimaced at her imagery of life. Personally, he would've called her day a one-way ticket to a bottomless pit.
"You know, when I first heard of my mother's lover – your dad. I was so jealous and angry that I thought he was nothing but a low life scum who was trying to take my mother away from my brother and me." He told her after a momentary pause.
Sora, surprised to hear his confession, forgot about her sorrows momentarily and looked up at him.
"You know, I never told anyone about this." Yamato smiled bitterly at his memory. "To this day, I am still ashamed of my once murderous intent towards your father. But I soon realized that he made my mother happy and for that, I should be grateful. It was an uncomfortable process, but I learned to accept him."
It was the longest and the most meaningful thing he said the entire night, but it cheered her up and gave her new directions in life.
She mustered some strength and pushed herself up.
"Are you saying that I should be optimistic to look forward to tomorrow and stop being a selfish bitch?" She asked with a smile and her eyes shone with brilliance.
"No, all I said was that I learned to stop wallowing in self pity." He smiled back and the two of them looked at each other knowingly.
"Are we going to stand here all day or are you going to walk me home?"
"You must be psychic, I was thinking the exact same thing!" Yamato feigned a gasp and took out his umbrella.
"Brilliant! Now you take out the umbrella. It's not going to be much use, I am already drenched and the rain is just about to stop." Sora threw her hands into the air and rolled her eyes. "So typical of a guy!"
Yamato chuckled and gave her a playful shove. Sora chuckled too; being with Yamato seems to bring out the best and the worst in the most truthful her.
Hand in hand, the two of them took the long walk back to Sora's apartment on the other side of the town.
The two of them lingered in each other's presence a little longer even if they've already reached the entrance to Sora's apartment. Neither of them wanted the night to end, yet it was drawing near midnight and Yamato still have a long walk back to his home.
They sat on the steps in silence, next to each other yet each in their own thoughts.
The mystery in the silence was alluring and Yamato uneasy with such situation quickly tried to change the atmosphere. "A penny for your thought?"
"In the darkness you are my light.
In desperation you are my hope.
In cowardice you are my courage.
In pretensions, you are my sincerity.
In this ethereal universe, I rely on you,
My knowledge in the world of lunacy.
Yamato. My friend, my love,
My knight in shining armor. "
Sora whispered to him before she gave Yamato a kiss on the cheek and fled.
Yamato stood there stunned as one of his hands touched the cheek she kissed. He would've sworn that his heart stopped then and there. That was a penny well spent!
Well, that's done! I think everyone notices that I have this problem of creating stories more than 2 chapters. This is the second chapter and let's sees how far this story can get.
Yes, I am sure everyone probably noticed that the title of this chapter is from Hilary Duff's Come Clean. I have to admit, I hated almost all of her songs until I saw the remake of Come Clean's MTV on the Footy Show where a bunch of blokes with hairy arms, legs and chest reenacted the scenes and dramatized everything. From then on, I became addicted to the song. Strange eh!
The other songs involved in the making of this chapter are respectively Exodus by Hikaru Utada and I Talk to the Rain by Yuki Kaijura from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle. Hikaru Utada's new album was a bit disappointing but I rather liked Exodus, it had a really exotic feel to it. There's nothing need to be said for I Talk to the Rain. Firstly, it is composed by Yuki Kaijura and all her songs are heavenly and have this enchanting feel to it and secondly, it's from Tsubasa Reservoir! It has wonderful music and it is about Sakura and Syaoran! What more does a girl want?
Eiliriel