Written 12.o2.o8

Shouting out to my lovely reviewers: Jillianna, SpiffyCookie, the-lionness, Mrs. Radcliffe 13, crest of music, nickygirl, OMFG-Roach, Waltz Turner, Yamora Love n Friendship, raspberrycharm and TheWitchLady…thank-you ;D

Raspberrycharm (you didn't leave your email! Haha): The fluff will come in the next chp. I'm not sure if you'll consider this chp as fluff…but nevertheless. I hope you enjoy this one. You should read more soratos. There are better ones out there. haha

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My Funny Valentine

Chapter Twelve

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Behind his back, Yamato crossed his fingers wishing for the best. The last seconds of the track diminished into the air and he waited for his verdict. Yutaka nodded his head, Takahashi had a satisfied look on his face and as for his manager…

"Sensational!" Kanji bellowed, praising him with his full and undivided admiration. "That was sensational, Yamato! It's about time you got it together!"

He couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. Kanji was actually praising Akira's composition and Sora's lyrics. Yamato waved his hands in the air, shaking off the compliment and explaining how he had managed to pull it off…but Kanji was already replaying the track on the CD player.

It was then that the concept struck him. "Kanji?" he started. "Would it be alright if Sora did a duet with me in that son-"

"No," his manager snapped before he had the chance to finish his sentence. "It's not possible. It doesn't work like that. I don't want to distribute a song with two lovers."

"But she was the one that practically made it," he protested.

"Sure, Yamato. But it all comes down to me. I'm your manager," Kanji said firmly. "This album is based on the band itself. You can keep your love life out of this…which leads me to your fiasco."

"My fiasco?"

"Would you mind toning it down with your relationship with that woman of yours?" he said with a dismissive look on his features. "The media's already latched on. You need to break it off with her because then we'll lose some of our female audience."

"She's my wife."

"I don't care if she's my stepsister's long lost niece," his manager spoke satirically. "I personally don't even care if you're with her or not. I care about this band. This is my job."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. We get it Kanji," Yutaka muttered, one foot swinging on top of his other and began to shake his feet – obviously wanting to leave the studio as soon as possible.

"Yamato, if it makes it easier. Just break up with her publicly and make a close cover to see her. If she had produced those lyrics to the song you presented…keep her. She's a good screw as well…you know?"

"You're a bastard, you know?" Yamato growled. Takahashi just patted the blond lead singer on the shoulder to calm him down, albeit it wasn't doing much.

"As I said earlier. I don't give a rat's ass about anything but the success rate of this band…how do you think got you here?" Kanji stepped on his cigarette with the heel of his shoe and proceeded to head for the door. His work was done here. He had gained a track that was good enough for their new album.

"Next week one of you had better come out with a new band name," he said dully. "Great job again, Yamato." And then he was out of his vision.

Yutaka didn't bother to wait for the rest, leaving the three other members of the band behind.

"Yeah, I still haven't thought about that. Perhaps we should name our band the Four Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf. The latter is obviously Kanji," Takahashi babbled on.

Yamato grunted in response, his eyes slid at the member behind the keyboard. He sauntered over to Akira. "Thanks Akira."

There was no response. He just sat there staring at the black keys as if it was the first time he had seen something that shade before. Now that Yamato was closer to the keyboardist he picked out things he hadn't realised before.

Akira's face looked thinner and gaunt. As per usual, his eyes were somewhere else…but this time his gaze seemed darker. His lips were dry and his body was shaking slightly. Yamato glanced at Takahashi who was next to him. The bassist gave a shrug, also unaware of the explanation to Akira's sudden change. Hell, who were they kidding…they knew. Whatever Akira was on…Yamato knew it was rapidly getting to him.

"Snap out of it, Akira," Takahashi said, clapping his hands together. Better late than never, Akira blinked and stared up at them bemused. "The meeting's over. Yamato said thanks for the composition."

"Oh."

Yamato exchanged glances with Takahashi again. 'I'll look after him' the bassist said quietly. Yamato nodded and scurried down to the bottom floor of the studio. He rushed out the building and switched on his mobile phone.

Even though the electric guitarist was rather concerned about the band's keyboardist, he couldn't help but feel relieved and grateful for Kanji accepting the song. He had promised to ring up and catch up with Sora to tell her if it would be a success. He dialed her number. Typically, he was welcomed with the monotonous dial down. Seemed like he'd have to go see her. It didn't matter. They had planned to meet each other after the quick appearance at her clothes design company. (Heck, he still hadn't gotten over the fact that she was a designer – international too. That was how his grandmother was aware because Sora's designs had become well known in France as well.)

He stuffed his phone into his back pocket and smiled when he saw the familiar limousine drive smoothly next to the pavement where he was standing on. As soon as he hopped in Jyou greeted him with the normal polite etiquette he had always possessed. It had been a while since he had seen the medical student.

"Where to?"

"4-6 Marunouchi. Soar for the Sky designs. Do you know of it?"

"Off course I know of it," Jyou shook his head. "That place is where most of the topnotch brand stores are."

Yamato nodded, just as Jyou swerved the large vehicle into the opposite route it had come from. He smiled again. Kanji had let the band off for the day. He was meant to catch up with Taichi, but he was busy with work. Takeru had the same excuse. Nevertheless, Sora wanted him to tell her ASAP whether Kanji would like the song they were working on the night before. She told him to meet her at her workplace and that she wouldn't take long before she was let off the hook as well.

Since she had done him the humungous favour, Sora made him cook him dinner that other night. His grandmother had managed to brag to Sora that he was a 'good chef,' that Sora was interested to critique his prepared meals. She got his approval and boasted that she should cook for her every night. He laughed.

"What are you laughing at? You've fallen for her…haven't you? I don't blame you. She's amazing."

Jyou hadn't bothered to conceal the window between the driver's and passenger's seat this time…so it surprised that he asked him out of the blue.

"Who?" Yamato played along, dumbfounded.

"You're hopeless," Jyou rolled his eyes, snickering. "You're here."

"Thanks Jyou," he stepped out. "I won't bother you for a bit. You've got those critical exams coming up, don't you?"

"Yeah."

"Good luck, man," Yamato said. "You'll do fine."

"Let's hope so."

As the limousine zoomed off, he caught sight of where he was. The road he was on was filled with a string of well-known extravagant classy and expensive branded stores. The footpath was congested with mainly females shopping and the occasional male accompanying by carrying their shopping bags. Although he conceded that he had quite a large amount of money, he never bothered when it came to brands. Sure, he made sure his musical instruments were the best out there…but clothes. He really didn't understand how women could be bothered. All he had to do was pull on a pair of slacks or jeans and a shirt and he was off. Off course, women had to make everything seem difficult. Then again, he was a guy. He had no idea how the female mind worked.

He then focused on the building Jyou had dropped him off at. In sleek black glossy letters 'Soar to the Sky' titled the building. Like the other stores, it was surfaced out to be rather modern and elegant at the same time. It was a moderate size but as his neck tilted upwards he saw that there were quite a number of stories – presumably the business and main office side to Sora's brand label. The glass doors slid apart as he went into the store.

"Sir? How are you today? Are you interested in purchasing anything?" was what he was overwhelmingly introduced with questions as an introduction by one of the saleswomen.

He shook his head, smiling politely. "I was actually looking for the main office."

She blinked then nodded her head, lips scrunching up in thought. She lifted up her left arm and curved her hand inward. "It's in that direction. Exit that way and you shouldn't miss it."

He gratefully thanked the woman and schemed his way through the racks of clothing. Like the salesperson had said, he didn't miss it. Well, it wasn't exactly hard to miss. There was a clear distinction from the store and the company's main office.

The first thing he noticed was how polished the ivory marble ground was. He swore that he could almost see his own reflection on the floor. He quizzically stepped around on them with interest until another person interrupted him.

"You're Yamato, right?" a voice echoed.

He thought the place was empty, but evidently it wasn't. He wasn't sure who had spoken since he couldn't find anyone there. He then took note of a splintery looking wooden ladder situated on the other side of the foyer that contrasted from its whole surrounding.

"Up here," the voice revealed itself again. His eyes trailed up the ladder to see yet another woman. He observed that she was multitasking - holding a petite paintbrush in between her fingers, a palette on the other and managing to maintain a steady balance on the last step of the ladder with fearless expression on her face.

"Uh…"

"You're looking for Sora, right?" she asked rhetorically once again.

"Yeah, I am."

She was now slowly pacing down the steps, some of her lilac shaded hair slipping out of her black beret. She advanced towards him and shook his hand. "Well hi. Sora's been talking about you for a while now. I'm Yolei." She adjusted her hat and gave a toothy grin. "I'm not really in the right clothing right now. My apologies. This isn't really a formal greeting."

"It's fine," he laughed, seeing that she was wearing a checkered red and white art-smock. "It's nice to meet you." From just conversing a little with her, he already knew that they'd get along. She was a bright friendly type…sort of reminded him of his brother, just (perhaps) less conniving.

"It's still pretty embarrassing. I've praised your band for such a long time. Has Sora even mentioned me?"

"Oh…I think she has," he said, recalling Sora saying that she had a friend that highly regarded his band with posters plastering her room like wallpaper. His eyesight lingered behind her. "What were you doing?" There were splashed of colour where she had been. Whatever she was creating wasn't finished yet, but it already looked magnificent.

"You caught me in the middle of decorating one of the walls. I already etched a design on the wall…now it's just about stroking the walls a blue-y pastel…since her label is practically named after the sky. But then again…the sky could be different colours," she spoke as if she wasn't breathing in between. The woman sure had a lot to say. "I was meant to have gotten this done a while ago…but so much things have come up. I didn't realize it would become so busy with the launch in France…and the launch in Tokyo. It's been really insane."

"So you're pretty close to Sora?" he pondered his thought aloud.

"I'm her secretary. I know, it's hard to believe since I'm dressed like this," Yolei laughed. "Guess she hasn't really said much about me to you, huh? With Sora…she's always so quiet about her life. Sometimes for certain things you want to know about her…you've got to ask her directly."

"How'd you meet her?"

"We attended the same art college. She was studying clothes design, while I was more on the 2d art painting scene. Somehow we got along," she said, eyes sparkling as she remembered how they met. "Sometimes you've got to follow someone that you know who will make it into the marketing world…then you sort of become their follower. Not everyone that is or was part of the art college becomes successful in the future. We can't all become famous…nor can we all get a career in the real world. But I knew Sora was an exception. I had faith in her."

"Why?"

"There's this immediate attraction you gain from meeting her. She's just different, you know? From the beginning you know she'll be successful. For as long as I've known her she's always been so determined with whatever she wants to do. Not to mention…she's also unbelievably talented. Something rare these days, you know?"

"Yeah," his throat felt dry. The more he got to know Sora…the more she seemed far out of grasp. There still were so many things he didn't know. Somehow her friendship with Yolei made him strangely jealous. Maybe he would get Sora to tour him around the store and show off her designs later…

Yolei continued, "So when she asked me if I wanted to join her on her journey…off course I accepted her proposal! She's great at everything she does."

They talked for a bit more, though it was more one sided on Yolei's part. That woman could chatter on and on non-stop. She finally remembered that her palette paints would dry up if they were exposed any longer. She told him to take a seat, telling him that Sora would be there soon and switched on the plasma screen for something to keep him occupied. He shrugged back, comfortably on the leather sofa as if he were home, flicking through the channels.

There was nothing really on so he decided to wait for the evening news to air. Suddenly in the middle of a commercial there was suddenly loud noises echoing from outside of the building. He exchanged glances with Yolei who also was distracted from her brush strokes. When the flashing began, he already knew. He jumped off his seat and headed towards the closest window he could find.

Outside there was a combination of eager interviewers and roaming paparazzi snapping photos in comparison to the harmless female shoppers that he had seen earlier. In the middle of the throng he caught sight of her. Even from far he could see her biting her bottom lip. She looked equally stressed and flustered as she would once in a while brush her fringe away from her face. It was then he noticed that her brown eyes almost seemed…teary?

"My God," Yolei was now behind him looking at all the people. "She hates this sort of attention. She's never been really good at this public speaking thing. She likes being prepared when it comes to this stuff. I've got to go and-"

"Don't," Yamato said. She looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I'll go. I have a feeling that this little bombarding is linked with me as well," he said, pushing her slightly aside. "I'll do it." Her mouth was open to object, but gave a curt nod.

The sliding doors opened as he strode towards them and immediately felt the cameras snap at his direction. "Ishida?" "It's Yamato Ishida?" "Your husband?" "Is this lady your wife, Ishida?" He inwardly groaned when he remembered that he wasn't wearing a disguise that day. He recovered, noticing that it didn't matter if his identity were revealed because it was bound to happen either way if he were to help her.

He avoided the questions being thrown at him and shaved his way in between the people. Security was already there, though they did little assistance. He promptly let his arm slip around her shoulder. She could feel her tension slide off a bit, but he could feel her still frightened. She hates this sort of attention…Yolei's words repeated in his head. "Calm down. Relax," he said from the corner of his mouth. "I'll handle it."

He smoothly stared at the media. There was no way one could beat them. Yamato had learnt that already. The only way to get by was to elicit their game back at them. At times it was fun, at times it was painful…either way, he had mastered this.

"…true you're married? There are rings on both of your wedding fingers."

He simpered arrogantly. "Why are you even asking that question? Why else would we have rings on them?"

"Since when have you been married? How did you meet?"

"We've been married for quite some while. Proves how slow some of you can be," he smirked. He heard her giggle softly against his ear. He allowed one of his hands to clasp onto hers. He felt her fingers thread into his. He looked on forward, even more determined for what was next to be shot at them.

"Mr. Ishida, don't you find it strange that you have become acquainted with her just around the time of her fashion debut?"

"Actually, we met each other a while before. She's been good friends with my best friend…that's how we met," Yamato replied with a half lie.

"How about the release in Tokyo. We know that you're branch has been a success in France…when do you plan to launch this, Ms. Takenouchi…or should I say Mrs. Ishida?"

There was a pause. "I can't answer this one, Sora. You've got to help me here."

He squeezed her hand, hopefully giving her the support and courage to respond back to the meddling crowd.

"Mrs. Ishida," she corrected, sucking a deep breath of air in then exhaling. Only he could feel the quiver in her voice when she spoke. "Soar to the Sky has plans to properly launch it here in a couple of weeks."

Just as another journalist was about to shoot another query, Yamato saw Jyou's head stick out of his limousine. "Forgive us," he bowed his head. He gripped onto Sora's wrist as they made a run for the vehicle. They shut the doors and the flashes of the light discontinued since the limousine's windows were tinted.

"You're our savior, Jyou," Sora announced. "My heart is still beating."

"Yeah, man…how'd you know?"

"Live coverage," Jyou snickered.

"Great," Yamato groaned. He knew that somewhere out there Taichi and Mimi were guffawing their brains out. He could also picture his grandmother was probably showing off to bystanders that he was their grandson. He turned to her. "Hey, shouldn't you be thanking me more?"

Her lips pursed, "Thanks."

"You're not good at that whole public thing, are you?"

"Honestly…I don't know how you can do it. You've got to give me tips on this."

"Well…you adjust. It's not something you learn overnight. You do need to especially now you're becoming more famous."

"Okay," she said quietly. "So…"

When he didn't reply she stared at him bluntly as if she was waiting for some snide remark from his end.

"What?" he asked.

"You're not going to ask a favour back?" Sora said. "This is how it's always been between us. I'll do this …if you do this for me."

"Sort of like a business relationship?" Jyou couldn't help but add. He caught Jyou wink at him from the rearview mirror. It was then he looked he was aware he still was holding her wrist. He carefully took it off, hoping she wouldn't notice it.

"Exactly," she concurred. "So, Matthew? Decided yet? What's it going to be this time?"

He chuckled at her teasing tone as he contemplated. It was then he remembered something he had almost forgotten. It was darn lucky he had remembered it.

"Tomorrow night."

"Tomorrow night what?"

"My parents and grandparents want to meet you tomorrow night. It'll be a getting-to-know-them for dinner. Hikari and TK will be there too."

"Another one?" she said. "Your lot seems to enjoy these family functions."

"It's going to be formal, so wear your snazziest outfit you own…or designed, in your case," he informed, stirring away from her comment.

"Don't worry. I'll pull off something good."

"I know you will," he said automatically. He wanted to slap himself on the face when he picked up that he was unconsciously flirting. Whenever he was with her it felt like he was prone to it.

As they passed through a number of streets, she poked him on the shoulder.

"You didn't tell me how it went with our composition. Did they like it?"

"They loved it," he grinned. "All thanks to you." He went into full description of Kanji and the other band members' reaction to the track (though he excluded his manager's crude remarks that were aimed at her).

The limousine halted and he watched her get out of the car. They had thought against going out for a coffee as they had planned since they knew that there were paparazzi still at their backs.

"You got yourself a date, huh?" Yamato rolled his eyes at Jyou who just shuffled his eyebrows in amusement.

"Pick you up at 6?" he called after her. Sora's back was already facing him and his auburn hair glistened fiery in the sunlight. She didn't bother to turn around and lifted her hand in the air, giving a wave with the back of her hand. "I'll take that as a yes."

He chuckled again.

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(a/n) I guess it was sort of eventful and non-eventful at the same time. The next chapter is obviously going to have more sora x yamato action. I just want to stress that I'm not getting them to be together 'straight-away'…there's still some time that needs to surpass and also some barriers they have to cross. It's been dragging so far…but right after the next chapter…the real story will begin to unfold. Thanks for staying in tune with this story so far. Again, the next chp should hopefully be posted within this fortnight.

Thanks for your never-ending support. Lots of love

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