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In Sora's message, she had told Leon that the visit to Japan would be for at least a week and at most two.
A month passed by.
Leon was unnaturally quiet during that time.
In the wake of the festival, he and May had returned triumphant, though only May was proud of the win between the two of them. Others congratulated them, Kalos gave them a bonus for the holidays and had Mia set up a special show with the "Demon Spiral" in it.
May was ecstatic; she didn't even notice that Leon wasn't paying attention to her.
IN
Leon was in his dressing room getting ready.
He found his thoughts preoccupied over Sora's extended stay in Japan. With the New Years' Eve show he didn't have the time to go to Japan even if he had wanted to go and find her. However, performing was not the only thing that kept him from jumping on a plane despite his lack of Japanese speaking skills.
Why hasn't she returned my calls?
He had only left two messages, especially when the two weeks were turning into three. After that, he had not left anymore. He left one too many already—he was surprised that his pride allowed him to have left that second voicemail—but the situation was odd. When Kalos had briefly announced her continued stay in Japan during a meeting, Leon did not push himself to leave a third message.
Leon adjusted the horn on the top of his head. As he slipped one glove and then the other, he faintly recalled her slender fingers brushing his forearms as she took them off.
I do not understand.
Had he misread her emotions back at the hotel? Did she feel like he pushed her that night or something else along those lines?
Was his nefarious title keeping her away?
He frowned then; unsure of what to do or how to feel.
IN
Across the ocean in the apartment of the Naeginos, Sora blankly watched TV as Yume sat on her lap with a bottle in her mouth. She reached into her box of strawberry pocky and sucked on the treat.
Her aunt peeked into the living room, a light frown on her face as Sora and Yume seemed to be sucking on their items at the same pace. It would have been funny except that it was odd to see Sora doing normal teenager things such as lounging in front of a TV and snacking on some chips.
That was never a good sign.
Ever since she was a little girl, her aunt had a hard time getting Sora to just sit down long enough for her to do the young girl's hair or even to get her to color in a book for five whole minutes.
Sora was energetic; this lethargic teen seemed surreal.
IN
Some commercial was on, but Sora barely noted it.
Her aunt's soft voice had her attention. "Sora-chan, is there something wrong?"
Yume, seeing her mother looking at the redhead aka 'the big sister', tilted her head to look up at Sora. She gurgled around the rubber tip of her bottle since she was not old enough for speech, but still sensing that something was up with the adults.
Sora blinked down at the round face looking up at her.
Even Yume's worried about me.
She hated to be upsetting the rest of her family, but she was in a strange mood. Her friends had come over four days ago for the New Year visits. It had been nice to see them again and they had helped with her feelings regarding the stage.
However, she was still upset with herself regarding Leon.
Unknowingly, her face downturned and her eyes watered a little. Her aunt came over to sit next to her. While Sora wasn't her biological child, over the years, she hardly even recalled that fact.
"My little bird," she cooed, using her nickname for her adopted daughter as she brushed her hand along Sora's bangs in a soothing manner, "I'm here for you still."
Sora's lower lip slightly trembled.
She hugged Yume to her, burying half her face behind the round head and short hair. "It's not something," Sora said, her voice slightly muffled, "that I can easily explain."
The older woman looked at Sora, gauging her next words.
"You don't have to," she finally settled on, "if you're not comfortable."
The teen relaxed her somewhat tight hug on Yume, who had been fussing a little at the hold. When the toddler stretched her arms out for her mother, Sora handed her over. Her aunt settled Yume in her arms but quickly returned her attention to the teen.
"Sora-chan," she addressed, catching the girl's attention before she settled for the continued lounging in front of the TV, "I don't think you're meant to live with clipped wings."
Sora started at that.
"Whatever the issue is, I'm sure you can work it out. Just keep trying." Her aunt stood up. "And when you need to rest, you can always come back here."
Sora watched as her aunt and mother figure took Yume to go take a nap. She grabbed a pillow and held it tightly. Keep trying…Maybe, just maybe, she could redeem herself somehow.
But it wasn't going to be easy, not that that's ever stopped her before.
IN
Days later, Policeman Jerry stood in the airport, waiting for a familiar redhead to finish going through security and getting her roller suitcase.
A big grin broke out on the burly man's face when Sora appeared.
"Sora!"
She let out a half smile as he came and hugged her. "Thanks for coming."
"Anything for you! It's been far too long!" Jerry laughed, "Now you can reclaim your spot as the leading lady!"
"Yeah," she said half heartedly.
If Leon will even want me to be...
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AN: I chose her aunt's nickname for Sora since her name means "sky," and she's a energetic person, so a flying animal sounded good to me. :P
I'm getting really busy again. I'll try to update when I can.
Thanks for reading and being patient!