A/N: This time I dedicate this chapter to shink a.k.a Anime Master. I call him Grasshopper. XD Thanks for your help, Grasshopper! Also, Aino Yuy, you made my day. :D
And just so a misunderstanding can be cleared up, when I said in the beginning that all characters will have their orginal jobs assigned to them by the animators I did also mean original spouses as well. That means no Koumi or Michi. Sorry, JyouraKoumi.
"Takenouchi Sora! Takenouchi Sora! Do you have a minute to spare for the press? Have you always wanted to enter the fashion world?"
"Takenouchi Sora! Channel 7 news, Iwata Metsuko reporting. What seems to be your inspiration for these fabulous designs?"
"Sora! Entertainment Today, Hasegawa Ruki reporting. Do you have a special someone in your life? The male population wants to know!"
"Please! May I have your attention," directed Izumi Hiroki towards the reporters as he and Sora stepped outside the office building heading home after a long work day.
It had been the next day after receiving the surprising, yet confusing phone call from Yamato. Sora always looked forward to "stepping into her drawing place", her alternative phrase instead of saying work; she always thought the word's use seemed somewhat harsh. Her designs were gaining popularity and had recently began to drive reporters to meet her outside of "her drawing place".
At lunch, the growing-in-fame designer joked with her co-workers that if this continued she'd have to hire a bodyguard just to push her way through the crowds and guide her home – not that she minded answering questions, sometimes finding them to be hilarious. She found the more cooperative she was the more willing they were to let her go before sunset.
There was one problem that aroused today after lunch though. One co-worker seemed to have taken her seriously. That one was Izumi Hiroki. Before Sora could direct her attention to a reporter as usual, he had taken over as her "Dictator Spokesperson Representative".
"Sora will not be answering anything concerning her personal love life. Good day."
"Hiroki!" Sora pulled him aside whispering harshly. She couldn't believe what he just said! Her personal love life? Oh, the press will have a field day with that comment for sure. How would she explain that to her mother?
"Holy smokes, Hiroki! Where do you get off taking over like that?" Sora gave a quick glance at the sudden hysterical press then back at her co-worker when a thought came to mind. "In light of this circumstance they better not get the wrong idea."
"Takenouchi Sora! Have you always had a busy love life?"
"Takenouchi Sora! Is this man the 'man of the hour'? What's his name?"
"Sir! What do you eat for breakfast?"
"Sir! Sir! Are you a boxers or briefs kind of guy? Can you lick your elbow and do a tushy dance at the same time? Do it for the camera!"
"Takenouchi Sora! When's the wedding date?"
Oops. Too late.
Sora's mouth fell open from embarrassment and shock, as well as her face burning red while pictures were being flashed. What could she say to fix this mix up? Wait until she could get Hiroki alone – just wait! She'd show him her tomboy side and quick.
Hiroki held a sheepish grin as he held his hands in the air once more signaling the attention of the reporters to rectify his mistake. The look of anger from Sora somewhat frightened him. "I'm afraid there has been a misunderstanding. What I meant to say was – "
"Excuse me, Hiroki," Sora took courage stepping in front facing the press. She then answered every question she could make out from the buzz of the crowd in order.
"No, I didn't always wanted to be a fashion designer. My inspiration seems to be sitting outside on my balcony in the evening watching the stars with Biyomon eating chocolate. Hiroki is only a co-worker. And I don't have time for anyone special in my life; therefore, there is no wedding date. Any more questions?"
The crowd began to buzz again.
She added, "Let's keep this strictly business."
The buzz died down.
Hiroki took over again guiding Sora to the subway placing an arm around her shoulders. "Alright. Then we'll call it a day. Sayonara."
Sora lowered her head pulling away from his hold when they turned the corner. In a soft, yet firm voice she spoke, "Please don't touch me again."
The thin, dashing man dressed in his best business suit nearly gawked at her reaction. "You are confusing, Sora."
"Me? Confusing?" She wrinkled her nose while descending into the subway entrance. "You're the one who ran to hold the door open then tried to be my –" she stopped short almost calling him her dictator spokes person but thought better of it. She had to correct in a loving manner, not by her tomboyish roots. Grrrr…
She sighed. "Don't do that again."
He shrugged his shoulders. "I was just trying to help."
"I was only joking then."
"A gentleman still helps out when he can."
"And a lady has a choice to accept or deny."
Hiroki stepped aside allowing her to pay her subway fee first, then continued to follow quite intrigued. "Then if this gentleman were to ask a certain lady to lunch the next day would she accept?"
The auburn hair woman stood in the waiting area intensely watching the never-ending pitch black hole to spit out the train at any second. She couldn't bear to look this man in the eye nor believe what her ears had heard. Yes, he was an attractive, fine-looking young man, but looks were deceiving and her heart wouldn't open to just anyone.
A feeling of relief washed over her in the long wait of silence when her ride arrived. She turned quickly to relay what was in her mind before the transportation would leave without her. Perhaps by addressing him in third person he'd get the cold message to stay away.
"As I told the press the same will be told to this fine gentleman: Hiroki is only a co-worker and I don't have time for anyone special in my life."
"Huh," was his reply in more of a thoughtful and analyzing tone.
And to Sora's surprise he boarded on the same train. Couldn't this guy take a hint?
Wonderful.
She turned in her seat towards him while the train took off somewhat annoyed. "Don't you have to go west?"
"Today I go north," he flashed a winning smile. "Thanks for asking."
She shook her head flustered. "No, that wasn't–Rhetorical–I mean–Oh, never mind."
He laughed nudging her lightly with his elbow. "No, Sora. I am not following you home. This is concerning a business proposition, if it'll put the mind to ease. I respect when a lady makes clear to back off."
A light pain in Sora's stomach region bean to resurface. She did her best to disguise her discomfort by giving a small nod.
"But if I may give a compliment," he implied leaning in lingering his sentence while awaiting approval. He received a hesitant nod then finished his sentence. "You are confusing, Sora; a confusing wonderment."
Butterflies; my how they could flutter under the strangest predicaments. She decided she had enough of this man and so stood to her feet taking the handrail closest to the door while doing her best not to cringe from the increasing pain in the stomach region. The last thing she needed was to be confused. Besides, she wasn't ready for a committed relationship.
Is it…this one? No, no. It's gotta beeeeeeeeeee – this one! Ack! It's not working! What to do? Hit the computer. Hit the computer!
"Taichi, Koushiro will be upset when he finds out you messed up his computer."
"It's not working, Agumon! What am I going to do?" Taichi panicked now punching every key on the keyboard.
Hitting the computer didn't seem to work. Pity. The computer had froze revealing information that he knew Koushiro wouldn't have wanted anyone else to see.
"Quick! Go stall Koushiro! Don't let him come in until I think of something."
Agumon ran towards Koushiro's office door facing the living room in Koushiro's home-run business until he stopped to turn around scratching his chin with a claw thinking of a solution.
"Why don't you just double hit his computer this time?"
Taichi seemed to look at his Digimon friend as if he was the miraculous answer to all of life's questions. "Agumon, you're a genius!"
The screen turned blue. Of all possible outcomes!
"Ack! No way! Agumon!" he turned to the dinosaur Digimon enraged. "Look what you did!"
"Huh? What I did? You were the one that hit it."
"Yeah, but you said to!"
"Taichi! What did you do to my computer?" Koushiro spoke rushing to his computer's aid while pushing his computer illiterate friend way when overhearing the argument. "Great! Now I'll have to reboot."
"I was just trying to surf for stuff for Operation Hot Stuff and then that came up."
The computer software entrepreneur's face burned red trying to shove his friend away to gain access to his PC. "There are only two possible outcomes of getting the blue screen: Either a virus has attacked, which is not likely seeing I've upgraded to the latest and best antivirus this world has to offer, or you hitting it. Taichi! I said move!"
"Wait, let me help – oomph – Hey! Don't push – oomph – me – oomph – I was just – oomph – trying to – oomph – Koushiro – oomph – Stop pushing – oomph – I should have gone play soccer!"
In entered Miyako, co-partnership with Koushiro, leaning against the bedroom post watching the argument with amusement as she crossed her arms. She turned her head to the small orange dinosaur with a grin. Agumon filled in the blank for her.
"He hit the computer."
"Why?" she asked puzzled.
"He couldn't find anything good for Operation Hot Stuff and then a picture froze on the screen."
"This is what happens when my co-partner calls it a day and invites a friend over."
Agumon looked at her quizzedly. She explained her comment.
"I told Koushiro before we started this business that rule number one would be not to allow any persons bearing the name of Taichi or Daisuke within the premises of the office room; at least not until we can buy a real office. See what happens?"
Her mouth flew open when she saw the information Taichi had a feeling Koushiro didn't want anyone to see; the picture Agumon was referring to. "Good Lord! Koushiro?"
The "prodigious" red-hair man freaked as one hand flew to cover the screen, the other raced to grab hold of the mouse removing the picture from the desktop. "How in the world do you perceive pasting a picture of when I was young unclothed in the bathtub signing would assist the capabilities of this business? Huh, Taichi? How?"
Taichi winced. "You don't have to be so touchy."
Miyako scooted in sitting on the floor unable to resist the temptation. "Just why would you have baby pictures stored on your work computer instead of your personal one?"
"Uh…" Koushiro rubbed the back of neck. If he was an anime character he may have even sweat dropped. "Ever since I gave Mom my work email she's been emailing me pictures. Guess she must miss me."
She turned to Taichi. "And you, what's this about Operation Hot Stuff?"
"My plan in getting Yamato and Sora together," he said rather nonchalantly.
"Right…" It seemed best not to ask for details on that. "And that would include freezing Koushiro computer?"
What was it? Now the whole world was against him? Man, governing the digital world was a chinch compared to the scrutinizing here. He reacted defensively.
"I didn't do it on purpose! I was trying to find that stupid internet button to get information. What? What? Don't look at me that way! So what if my finger slipped and that picture came from nowhere! Look, this is getting so ridiculous it's like I'm almost hearing my cell phone ring. Who said for you to keep those pictures there in the first place? It's not like I wanted to see your birthday suit. Oh, so you still think I snooped, huh? Fine! Go – "
Agumon pulled the cell phone off his partner's belt clip and handed it to him interrupting. "That's because it is ringing, Taichi."
"Oh."
Well! How about that? He answered the call as if the heated defensive speech had never occurred. "Hello? This is Taichi."
Koushiro and Miyako both slapped their foreheads.
"Hi, honey! Yeah, I'm off…Huh?...Here at Koushiro's…" Instantaneously he held the phone away form his ear from the yelling on the other line then answered when it was safe speaking quickly before hanging up. "I won't be home late for the eighth time this week. It'll be the tenth. But I'll come home with roses and I'll wash the dishes you said to do yesterday. Bye!"
He groaned facing his friends ready to leave. This battle wasn't over. "No offense, Miyako, but wow, can you, wives, make us, husbands, guilty."
She held up a victory sign calling out after him as he left for home. "Don't think of it as defeat. Just do what my husband, Ken, would do: Make it easy and just give in. Good luck!"
"If it's a boy," Yamato spoke softly, more to himself than to Takeru (who was busily typing a new portion of his latest adventure Digimon book sitting on the floor Indian-style, his back against the front of his apartment couch), laying sprawled out on his brother's couch throwing a small hand beanie bag in the air and catching it continuously, "I'll buy him a bass guitar when he's older. I'll put him in any sports he wants. We'll move to the country and I'll build him a tree house. Yeah," he nearly whispered. "I would have liked a tree house."
Takeru tilted his head pausing from his typing to save his entry. It seemed as if his brother didn't see the other side to this. He turned his head asking cautiously, "Suppose when you confront her about the baby – "
"You're right," the older blonde's sudden realization slapped him as the hand beanie bag hit his chest. He forgot to catch it. "It may be a girl. What should I do for a daughter, lil' bro?" He turned to his side propping his elbow as to support his head on his palm. "Teddy bears are okay, right?"
Takeru chuckled instantly forgetting his point. "I'm sure they are."
Yamato's eyes widened. "Yeah, but what if later on she turns out to be just like Sora when she was young? What do I do then?"
Takeru closed his laptop turning to face his brother trying to search for words of reason to say in this manner – regardless of the fact that his mind had gone blank. "I guess, uh, well now, let's see…Well, why not buy her a skateboard and build her a tree house too? Sora's maturity in that level may not have come until later but look at how she blossomed. She turned out fine."
Yamato stayed quiet, reasoning what was spoken in his mind for a moment. As if in approval he rested comfortably on his back once more returning to the continuous throwing in the air hand beanie bag. A soft smile crawled as he revealed a secret while staring at the ceiling.
"I know where she lives. I found her phone number too."
Takeru looked astonished.
The Astronaut smirked keeping his steady gaze at the ceiling. "I don't care what they say about private addresses or unlisted numbers. The internet is such a resourceful place."
"What are you going to do," the younger one asked joyfully, practically jumping from the floor.
"Win her back. What else?"
"Yeah, you said that last night then disappeared, but how? Have you thought out how?"
"When she gets home. What time is it?"
"Six-forty pm."
Yamato shot to his feet running to the spare bedroom only to return with shopping bags of items. He sat down beside his brother emptying the mounds of contents to the floor. "As a soon-to-be uncle I thought you'd like an input on what I should give as a gift, like as an acceptance gift to say that I'm okay with this."
"Yamato," Takeru stared at the object as if they might jump at any second. "These are baby toys."
He raised an eyebrow. "I'm aware of that, genius. Help me pick. I wasn't sure if just one was enough, or if I should bring several, or if all was too demanding – And I, in no way, want to seem demanding."
Takeru looked at his brother with a solemnly face. He tried to confront his brother with the question he tried to ask earlier before being interrupted. "I hate to be the pessimist in this situation but I think I should bring this up. Suppose when you confront her about the baby and you proclaim your love for her, she turns you down? Then what?"
A heavy silence hovered over the room. Somehow those words seemed to have suck all air out of his lungs.
Slowly, the Astronaut fell to his knees grabbing the toys, placing them back into the bags. He hadn't thought about that. Should he rethink how to approach her? His mind wandered to that one dear memory in the park again. Her voice was ringing in his ears so loudly and clear as a bell.
"Get up, you emotional Superman. You might tear your cape."
Takeru frowned. His brother was in his own world again. Hey! What was he doing?
"Hey! Where are you going with that? Big brother? Yamato? What's gotten into you?" He ran after his brother who had grabbed a belonging of the younger self, out the apartment with the widest smile plastered on his face that he could be confused with the Cheshire cat.
Too bad for Hikari; for in the mist of raising her fist to knock on the door a blur object swung the door open bumping past her and into the closing apartment elevator. "I'll buy you a new plant! Superman's off to save the day! See ya! Sorry, Hikari!"
Hikari blinked as Takeru slipped an arm around her shoulders watching the mad blonde. She cupped her hands yelling jokingly even if he wouldn't be able to hear through the metal. "Make sure you don't bump into any airplanes while you're at it, Superman!"
'Who could that be?' Sora thought as she spat out toothpaste into the bathroom sink, rinsing her mouth out and snatched her night robe placing it on before answering the door.
Two deep, crystal baby blue eyes stared back with intensity, almost with uncertainty. Her breath was taken away. Dang it! How come those eyes, that look, always seemed to do that with her? And yet, during the mutual silence something seemed missing; something she promised to do –
"Mommy!" a young girl of about six years rang happily as she skipped from behind the man swinging her arms around Sora's knees.
The young woman looked to the man again somewhat bewildered from this new development.
"Sorry," he apologized somewhat embarrassed. "I tried talking to her about that last night but she seems to have gotten it in her head that you're Haruko."
Babysitting! That's right! She had promised her next door neighbor, Suzuki Ritsuo, that she'd baby-sit his daughter, Suzuki Keiko for the next couple of days. But where the girl got off calling her Mommy, was beyond her. She had previously seen a picture of the deceased wife and mother and had come nowhere close to her beauty, or so she thought.
"Honey," Ritsuo kneeled down to his daughter prying her away, "This is Ms. Sora, not Mommy. Remember our talk about where Mommy went?"
Keiko crossed her arms with a puckered brow. "She didn't went to heaven. She came back."
Oh, boy. Did Sora have it now. "It's fine," Sora spoke in a caring manner understanding the situation. "I'm sure she'll realize later. Get going. This may very well be your next big break."
"Mm…" Ritsuo rethought the situation disapprovingly. "I don't want her to live in a fantasy world. Don't let her call you that."
"Mommy! I'm gonna go look at your picture books again, okaies?" The girl happily skipped on in through the apartment making herself feel at home.
"I'll work on it," she smiled giving her friend a hug. "Take care. Call me on my cell for anything."
"Same right back."
"Mommy! Why's this boy gotta doll on his school bag?" Keiko waved the picture taken out of a photo album of Taichi suffering the loss from one of their well-known bets hanging his head while holding his schoolbag in the air for the shot. "Is he weird?"
Sora blushed. If only Taichi was here. Dear, dear. "Okay, so one week?"
Ritsuo swung the travel duffle bag that was placed on the floor over his shoulders. "That's the plan." A look of concern washed over his face as he took one last look at his occupied daughter. "But if she gets out of control –"
"Go!" she urged grinning, pushing him a way. "You'll be late."
"Bye, Daddy!" Keiko waved happily from the couch. "Mommy? This boy looks like Daddy. What's his name?"
Sora closed the door from behind her joining her new guest down memory lane. It had been years since she dusted her photo albums. Gently, the fashion designer took hold of the album placing it in her lap as her eyes began to water. Of all albums this girl had to pick this one; this moment-filled book.
She swallowed a lump forming in her throat putting on a cheerful manner as a light pain in the stomach region began to form. A mental note was made to make an unannounced visit to Jyou's later this week.
"This is a very special boy –"
"Why? Is he sick?"
Startled, Sora just sat there looking at the innocent girl, both blinking.
Keiko spoke revealing a rare side besides her happy-go-lucky side. "Mommy had leukemia. She was sick for a long time then went away. He has leukemia, huh?"
"Uh…No."
"Sure," she rolled her eyes. "Daddy told me that too. And look what happened to her."
"Um, no, no, honey. He's not sick."
Keiko crossed her arms challenging her superior with such innocents. "Then why's he so special?"
Sora hung her head trying to shield her amusement. So this was what her own mother meant by kids asking so many questions. She placed a hand over her stomach lightly patting it then looked up to answer the girl's question. "Because he's my best friend."
Keiko wrinkled her nose not believing her. "A little boy is your best friend? Mommy, did anyone ever tell you you're strange?"
She laughed. "You silly goose. He's a grown man now." With a second close look she noticed a truth to one of the girl's earlier comments. "Come to think of it Ritsuo does look a lot like Yamato."
"Nah. My dad's got's black hair and got's more meat."
Sora's eye's widened trying harder to hold that laughter in. Were all kids blunt? Was she, herself so blunt?
Keiko turned the page and pointed to a photo with Taichi, Sora and Yamato, all three posing for the photo, Sora being in the middle, as they hugged happily sitting in an ice cream parlor. Hikari had taken it and gave everyone copies. This was a year before Yamato left.
"Hey. There's that weird doll boy again. He got's older. What's with his hair? Can he keep his wallet in there? Is it something like the black hole? If you mow it will it grow back the next day? If you put your hand inside could you find a bird's nest?" She couldn't help it. All that was playing in her mind was all the funky stuff this guy could hide in there.
Sora raised a brow teasing. "Watch it. He's my best friend too. Besides, I heard if you keep downing a guy that means you like him."
"Eeeeeeeewwww!" the six year old jerked away from the adult horrified. "Whose side are you on!"
That did it for her. She couldn't hold her laughter any longer. When all cooled down more pictures were shown, histories were shared and more blunt comments were given. They had moved on to another moment-filled book when one picture struck a chord.
Keiko stuck a tongue out in disapproval. "Bring Taichi to my Little Rika Hair Salon Studio and I'll have his hair pretty in no time."
"Aw, Keiko, this was his wedding day. Lighten up."
"Yeah? Then where's the bride?"
Sora paused. "With the guests of course."
"Did you like Taichi? Like, like like Taichi?"
She nearly choked. This was getting a little too personal. Kids were so advance these days. "Why are you asking that? Is it so wrong to take a picture with my best friend on his special day?"
The little girl did her best impression of trying to act wise beyond her years. She pushed out air through her mouth rolling her eyes. "Right. It's just you two in a romantic time," she dramatically stated, "under the stars with no one else around."
Sora shook her head followed by a small sigh. She closed the book, regardless of the little girl's protest and placed it on a high bookshelf out of arm's reach. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the photo. All it was was two big heads scrunched together cheek to cheek with wide smiles and, yes, under a dark starry night. The party was held under an open-sided tent, but they were probably no more than ten feet away.
Keiko gave up her protest and returned to the living room switching on the television. There was something special about that moment. She bit her lower lip hugging her arms rethinking that night. What was it he asked? Oh, yes. That's right.
Tai's Wedding Day
"Dance with me," the tall, wrinkled tux groom whispered in her ear.
She turned around wondering where he popped up from. She thought he was lost in the mounds of people on the dance floor. "But your wife –"
"She's fine," he insisted as he took her hand in his leading her away from the wedding grounds and into the open starry field. "I want one last dance before this night is over with my best girl." They both began to slowly dance as he softly hummed the song that was playing from a distance – horribly off key, but with good intentions.
Sora laughed and cried, hugging this man tight. This was her Taichi. Was she ever going to miss their times together.
"Sora," he began, "I almost backed out tonight."
"What?" She pulled away gasping. "How come? You love her. You named three sandwiches after her that you invented then whacked a guy in the street because of a cupcake he was holding all in six seconds."
He gawked. "How was I supposed to know it was his? I thought he took it from her."
"I was there. She wasn't eating any."
"So? He should have given it to her!"
She chuckled hugging him once more dancing. "What changed hour mind?"
A silence passed before he spoke in a husky voice. "I didn't want to live the rest of my life knowing I allowed my soul mate to slip away. Some people get second chances. I'm one of those."
Utterly confused, she chose to remain silent. What second chance? "I'm glad you made it, or I'd have to track you down and give you a good beat down."
Out flashed that famous, boyish grin of his. "Visions of your furry did play a big role."
"Why, thank you!"
"No, thank you!"
Yagami Taichi pulled away holding out his right pinky, this time in a serious tone. There seemed to be an urgency, some sort of need. Whatever it was it put a twinge of fear in Sora. She couldn't pinpoint a recent time they made a pinky promise. Others may have seen this as childish. But for them this meant a lifetime pact.
"Make me two promises, Sora. Don't ever forget this. One, we still will forever be best friends. That means whenever we need to talk we can pull the other aside, no matter at what time in the night, or drop everything – whatever it is – and work things out. This event won't change us. Two, don't let your soul mate slip away. When you find him hold on tight and don't let go for nothing."
At first the auburn hair soon-to-be-fashion designer searched her friend's eyes for the meaning of these promises. It wasn't everyday a pact like this was made between these two. He must really mean it.
Taichi held his pinky out a little closer insisting. "You must do me this honor."
Sora gave a nod hooking her pinky with his. "I promise."
He gave a firm, silent nod back. Both stood there as if trying to figure out the other's thoughts from what just took place. Then from nowhere he pulled her close tipping her, that boyish grin resurfacing as he waved his eyebrows. "So then we also agree the first person he meets is me, then your mom. If I don't approve then he isn't good enough for my Sora."
She raised a brow, half kidding. "Says you and what army?"
"Oh, I'll hire five if it comes to that."
Sora shook her head chuckling. "I care a lot about you too, Taichi."
"Huh?" He blushed.
Did she just catch him off guard? He let go of his hold fumbling on words rubbing the back of his neck. If it wasn't because this was his night she would have slugged him one on the arm for acting stupid. Good 'ole stupid Taichi.
Awe, what the heck. Why not?
After Taichi finished rubbing the sore area, she took his hand leading the way back to the party. "I want a picture of this moment. Let's go get my camera. I left it on the table."
He stopped her taking a disposable one out of tux pocket. "No need. Here's one," then pulled her in the cheek to cheek pose that would end up in her special moment-filled book.
Present Day
"Mommy," Keiko tugged on Sora's robe pulling her out of the past. "I've been trying to talk to you."
"Hmm?" she looked down to her eye-level somewhat agitated from the disturbance.
"There's that guy that looks just like Daddy from the pictures at the door."
Her breath slowed to a stop, the heart began to stomp harder, and eyes widened with a twinge of fear, as she slowly raised her head only to meet Ishida Yamato standing at the open door way with the same shared look plastered on his face holding what seemed to be a plant.
Neither could muster a word.
Keiko threw her hands in the air. As far as she was concerned these people were messed up.
"What's wrong with you, Mommy? Didn't you hear him knock'n at the door? Didn't you just say you two are best friends 'cause he's special? I give up." She sauntered back to the couch turning the television back on. "When you two want to grow up, lemme know. I'll pull out my Little Rika Psychiatry Couch and Notebook and help things get better."
Yamato seemed nervous looking at the little girl who was watching tv, then back to Sora.
"Yamato," Sora finally greeted in a softly manner. The increasing pain in her stomach region subsided.
At the sound of her voice he suddenly realized what he held in his hands. It was quickly tossed to his side. Unintentionally, it was flung too far as it fell over the balcony and landed on a stray cat. The cat's screech was heard in the background. Both adults ran to look over the balcony, their eyes scanning for the victim as Keiko skipped merrily to the kitchen for a snack.
So much for that borrowed plant idea.