Jquery select li outside ul?

my code (markup was changed! TNX):

<div class="categories">
  <div class="category">
    <a>category 1</a>
  </div>
  <ul class="subcategories">
    <li class="subcategory">
      <a>subcategory 1</a>
    </li>
    <li class="subcategory">
      <a>subcategory 2</a>
    </li>
  </ul>
  <div class="category">
    <a>category 2</a>
  </div>
  <ul class="subcategories">
    <li class="subcategory">
      <a>subcategory 3</a>
    </li>
    <li class="subcategory">
      <a>subcategory 4</a>
    </li>
    <li class="subcategory">
      <a>subcategory 5</a>
    </li>
  </ul>
</div>

I want to get the text of the category when user click on the subcategory. for example: click on "subcategory 2" give me the text "category 1"