A/N: *reads reviews and laughs in writing chair*
You guys are just too coolbeans!

And I dedicate this chapter to Soramon! Maybe after reading towards the end she'll forgive me. *puts on chibi face giving peace sign* :D

I placed this note on the last chapter when it was to be posted here instead. Sorries. Read the now correctly placed a/n. I ready that it is in Japanese culture that dating is frowned upon/strongly discouraged until after high school. Therefore, teenage dating is uncommon. For this to happen, both teen's parents must give their approval, which, thereafter are under strict rules of do's and don'ts from parents. Imagine the fun possibilities one could have with writing this.

"And am not sure if…uh, to keep…Hello? Yamato?"

Puzzled, Sora took the phone away from her ear and stared at it as if it had an answer to the sudden operator voice. Did she say something to offend? That wasn't at all like the man she once knew. Perhaps brushing up on the foreign language would prevent further accidents.

A sudden thought entered her mind: Should she return the call? Her heart pounded rapidly as she slowly searched the phone menu of the last received call. That was funny…He used Taichi's phone? But…Wow. If Taichi knew that he was here then there was a possibility that nearly everyone else learned as well. Then again how could everyone not by the big news channel special they had on yesterday with an interview with the famous blonde Japanese astronaut which she made sure to get off of work early to watch and record.

The next question that raced in her mind was would everyone respect her decision of separation and privacy from Yamato? In other words, would Taichi show him where she lived? Taichi did allow Yamato to call after all. He better not. But then again…

Her fingers played softly on the number pad pondering her next decision. She closed her eyes and suddenly hit the dial button holding her breath. The light pain in her stomach began to resurface.

Nothing. Only a busy signal.

She scrunched her eyebrows, curiosity and stubbornness becoming the cause, as she pressed redial. The same result occurred. Yet for some unexplainable reason the rising-in-fame fashion designer couldn't hang up. Gently, she placed the cell phone on the floor while she laid down on the living room couch in her cozy apartment listening to the repetitive signal.

If anyone knew the definition of love, Sora did. Yet the one thing that had crushed it and swept it into a small box tucked away in a hidden corner was her decision to never stand in her former boyfriend's way of success – whatever the cost may be.

"I've never meant to hurt you, Yamato. I'm so sorry."

Sora buried her head in a throw pillow sobbing her soul out, her mistake ringing loudly in her ears engulfing the entire apartment until the pain in her stomach began to intensify. Immediately, her body scrunched into a fetal position trying to catch her breath. This was the last time she would allow the pain take over her and so quickly. If Jyou refused to believe her, then she'd find the cure herself.

"Let me see if I've gotten this straight," Hida Iori spoke holding a hand palm side up while repeating what he understood with a face of disbelief.

"You want me to book a flight to Hawaii this evening for two in the names of "Wolfie" and "Hot Bird", teach them the hula so they can blend in and mingle with the locals, buy them a canoe counting as a present and something they can do to pass the time, get them toe socks with "those smiley faces" incase the weather changes suddenly, then buy you three extra large pizza and one large sundae to replenish all the energy that took you to think this plan through?"

The best lawyer in all of Japan bowed, backing away slowly with a nervous laugh when a nod from the second person was his only reply. "Forgive me, but with all due respect I say leave this case to them to work it out. Excuse me."

Taichi groaned, frustrated walking over to the food table once more. First, he was restricted from the best food fight this park could have seen and now Iori refused to see his brilliancy. It could have worked – really! It could have!

Fine then. He'd find someone else to help initiate this plan.

"Operation Hot Stuff," the Ambassador of the Digital World spoke to himself settling with his decision while that famous boyish grin resurfaced.

Yes, if something had to be done he had to do it himself. Let the games begin.

"Sora!" Yamato yelled into the receiver when the realization of the battery dying in the most inopportune time had hit him.

He dropped the phone in bewilderment and disbelief to the grass. Pregnant? His Sora…Pregnant? All of the sudden the twenty-seven year old couldn't breathe. That wasn't possible. That wasn't her. No…nonononononononononono.

Married. She had to be married! Yamato whipped around grabbing the shirt of the first person his eyes laid on. "Koushiro! Koushiro, please! Please tell me she's not married!"

"M-married?" Koushiro blinked confused. "Why would she marry?"

Yamato gasped. Not married? Well, yes, good. She wasn't married, but with child.

"Yamato?" Taichi cautiously walked back over after snapping out of his mental plans, retrieving his cell phone from the ground waving a hand in front of his friend's face with concern – which was turning a pale white.

"You!" Yamato growled pushing his friend forcefully away. "You think this is funny?" he responded directing the question towards the cell phone. "Charge the damn phone!"

"Big brother," Takeru rushed in to interrupt. The last thing his brother needed was to get into a pointless fight. "She's not married. What happened? What did she say?"

He ignored his brother. With tears streaming down his face he turned to face the rest of the group which had huddled around just as confused. With the last ounce of breath he could utter before breaking down he asked, more like ordered, with a booming voice.

"Who here else knows about Sora's pregnancy?"

A hush silence with astonished faces were his answers. Great. No one else knew. This time he yelled his frustration to the air. "Why won't anyone tell me where she lives!"

Everyone lowered their heads in shame.

Yamato stood there staring holes in everyone, his mouth open like a fish in amazement of their loyalty to Sora. How could they after seeing her bizarre behavior just let her keep hiding – Yes! That was it! She was hiding from him. Why, after all these years?

Like a zombie, the blonde pushed his way through aimlessly walking wherever his subconscious would lead him. The yells of others were like the faint background on the outside. The outside world was not responding to his ears. He had entered his own world like so many times when he was younger.

Before long, he found himself staring back at the swing set, just inches away from the seat Sora sat in on their very first date they had together a year after he gave her a friendship ring. Sitting on the ground, a memory, one very dear to him that he allowed to roll in his mind ever since landing in America, played back in his mind.

Yamato & Sora's First Date

Two teens walked side-by-side on a Saturday evening in a comfortable silence after a day's worth of spur-of-the-moment events. They each agreed to not plan how to spend their first date. As a result they spent the whole day in fun houses, raided antique stores to find the unthinkable just to laugh at it and take pictures, walked across the beach, then attended a movie – an accident for sure since they both had to run out in the beginning of the movie when a certain spiky red head spotted Yamato creating a mad mob after him and into the streets just to touch him.

Each panting after nearly escaping the rush and somewhat blushing from remembering the whole day they slowly made their way across the park towards home. Sora's mother set the firm rule of her daughter having to be home by five-thirty when courting. Yamato's father set his firm rule for his son to be home by five-fifty, enough time for each to get home. Each parent after a long discussion with the other had come to an agreement that both teens must be home no later than the exact time and not a second later. If such irresponsibility should take place both parents would announce that the relationship had ended. No questions asked. Simple as that. After all, they were only seventeen and still in high school – an unacceptable age to courtship in their culture.

Sora broke the silence with a small chuckle. Yamato cocked his head to the side intrigued. This was interesting. They both stopped walking as he asked what was funny.

Her eyes sparkled brighter than the sun as she explained her reaction pointing to the playground set.

"One time when we were seven, Taichi bet that I couldn't slide down the slide backwards, head first into the dirt without screaming like a girl. If he won, I had to ride on the spinning merry-go-round until I threw up yelling "I like to fart for fun!" and do his spelling homework for three weeks and throw boogers at the teachers."

"And if you won?" Yamato smiled having a feeling of who won the bet.

"And if I won he had to lay on the swings on his stomach while making the swing turn in circles until he threw up yelling "I'm a girl! I wear diapers!" and hang a barbie doll from his school bag telling people who ask that "girl toys were cool" for three weeks."

Yamato laughed. "No way! That's why he had that! Everyone thought he was sort of "weird" for a while."

Sora couldn't resist joining in the laughter. "I couldn't bear watching my best friend go through the humiliation, so I let him off the hook after three days."

"Hey, what are best friends for, right?"

The auburn hair teenager paused in her speech rethinking on what she almost said in response to his comment. A grin ran across her face as she playfully slugged the rock star on his right arm. "You're my best friend too, Yamato. And what makes it even more special is that I know you feel the same way in this relationship."

"Nah," he teased turning away trying not to blush to no avail. "You're just beautiful."

Her cheeks turned a rosy red from the hidden compliment. "Watch it. I might dare you to do a dare."

A daring look countered her statement. "I'm gamed. Bring it on."

Sora slowly nodded her head as a smile tugged on her lips while it seemed she searched his eyes with shock.

"Alright, Superman," she laughed raising an eyebrow. "I dare you to try to jump farther than me off the swings."

Yamato placed his hands in his pockets flashing his rock star smile accepting the challenge as he began to walk backwards towards the playground. "An easy one? Why do I suddenly feel offended? Takenouchi Sora, eat your heart out."

This time Sora punched her boyfriend on the arm harder as she zoomed off passed him yelling, "Don't let that ego get too high, flirt! I'd hate to bruise a musician."

Both teens grabbed a swing, each landing farther than the other losing track of time. It wasn't long after when they both called it even – regardless of Sora's farther landings.

Yamato sat on the next swing beside his girlfriend resting his head on the swing chain taking in her inner beauty. For years they were friends regardless of the known fact that Taichi and Sora were inseparable. Never had it bothered him before. And now that she shared a special time with him it felt as if she allowed him to be part of her most inner circle too. It may have sounded corny to anyone else, but to him it felt…yes, it felt nice. Very nice.

Elementary age kids were kicking a soccer ball nearby, nearly missing the two, waking Yamato out of his thoughts; out of space and back down to earth. He checked the time. Yikes.

He frowned. "I have to ten minutes to get you home. Let's get going."

"No," she pleaded. "Just a little longer."

"But, Sora, we don't want to –"

"Please?"

Once more he rested his head on the swing chain consenting to her plea. She did only live three minutes away from there. Staring into her eyes with such softness as if searching her soul he dared to ask a question, one that would alter both their lives from then on.

"What is it?" she asked in a near whisper somewhat amused but also unaware that she too was imitating his same actions.

He began somewhat unsure how to word the question. "If…Well, if I ask you something would you answer truthfully?"

Sora nodded in a silent agreement.

"Imagine yourself ten years from today. How would you picture your life? I mean, besides your tennis career. Would you have a family? What would you come home to?"

Sora's heart pounded against her chest. This was deep. It wasn't everyday that Yamato would open up so, and just lately, each time he had been with her, each question was deeper than the other. She thought carefully before answering.

"Between you and me I've taken a liking to fashion design. For some reason it's so – oh, what's the word?" she racked her mind until the right description came. "Exhilarating! Designing kimonos, watching new and creative dresses be drawn and knowing one day I'll design that is exhilarating. Oh! And the country," she exclaimed. "I want a home in the country away from all busy traffic and noise."

Yamato watch her fall silent biting her lower lip as her gaze fell to the ground. In a gentle voice he pushed her to continue. "And what more?"

"Marriage means for a lifetime, right?" her voice became shaky, her gaze remaining downcast.

"Yes," he answered firmly.

"…Then that's what I want: A house in the country with a loving husband and a family. That does still exist, doesn't it Yamato?"

He gently cupped her chin with his hand softly raising her head so that she was eye-level to him. "You bet."

An uncontrollable smile overcame Sora. "What's in your future in ten years?"

He brushed aside the fallen hair in front of her eyes as he answered. "Whatever may happen during the day I want to be able to come home to my family, greet my wife with a kiss, sit my kids on my lap, listening to all their wacky stories for that day, wrestle with the dog, compliment my wife on the dinner she cooked, read the kids bedtime stories, then kiss my wife goodnight."

His tone became husky thinking of the past. "It's moments like those that show what your soul desires. I don't want to be like my dad and take some of those things for granted. He's a good dad, but still…Understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes," she answered back firmly just as before, wiping away emotional tears.

Yamato's heart leaped. These new never before felt feelings aroused within. And before the blonde seventeen year old could register what he was doing there he knelt in front of this auburn hair beauty holding her hands.

Before he could say anything Sora gave a quick nervous laugh. "Get up, you emotional Superman. You might tear your cape."

He ignored her comment. "If I ask you another question would you answer truthfully?"

Taking a deep breath in, he went in for the plunge. "I know we're still young and still have things we want to accomplish…I mean, with our parents' approval of course…Uh, what I mean to say…Sora? Would you consider marrying me after college graduation?"

The future fashion designer sat in her swing lost for words.

Yamato wasn't sure how to interpret her facial expression. His palms began to feel sweaty as he thought to clarify the future proposal. "I promise I'll do the real deal after graduation if you just say you'll consider it."

His voice became small in an almost pleading tone as he still couldn't make out her expression. "I'm in love with you, Sora."

A hand flew to cover her mouth overcome with glee as she joined him on the ground hugging him. "I'll consider." She loved him. But for now it was best to wait for another time to say it. "We have to go. I hope we're not late."

Yamato smiled brushing the backside of his hand against her cheek. "I might kiss you."

Sora froze, widening her eyes fairly nervous. "I may not know how."

He grinned leaning in tenderly pressing his lips against hers until she responded. This was one moment etched into their hearts from then on; a vow each silently pledged to wait for the other.

Present Day

Yamato stood to his feet, his strength within renewed. He made a vow and he intended to see it through. Maybe Sora made a mistake. She couldn't have loved the child's father. No way. He knew Sora. She guarded her heart with a steel fence.

He sighed. Either way, he would be proud to be that child's own father. If he wanted to resolve whatever happened in the past, he'd have to win her back.

Yamato's eyes widened with, surprisingly, joy in this sudden revelation. That's right! He'd have to compete with this guy and win her back somehow! Maybe it wouldn't be too much of a struggle. After all, when recalling the phone conversation she didn't seem at all upset with him, just shy.

Ishida Yamato took off in a sprint to his brother's apartment keeping the vow he made to Sora close to his heart. He was going to become a teenager again. He was on a mission to win Sora's heart once more and possibly become a father.