Disclaimer- Nothing of Prince of Tennis belongs to me. The characters which you don't recognise belong to me, as well as the storyline.
A/N- Read on, hopefully the story brings a smile to your face. :) Reviews and constructive criticism are appreciated, but please, no profane language! thanks in advance;)
And I present to you,
Tulips of Fortuity-
It was a beautiful morning. An azure sky filled with clouds, the subtle blowing of the wind bringing about a hint of hope. She smiles a wistful smile, knowing quite clearly what she is hoping for. It has been four years now, four years since she's laid eyes on them. The emails and phone-calls started out regular, becoming increasingly scarce over time. And by the second year, some form, any form of communication was already a privilege she had to hold on to in order to make it last for months on end.
It wasn't anyone's fault. She realized that, and acknowledged that sometimes, time and effort just weren't enough, and it is true sometimes when people say, "It just couldn't be helped." Time does have this strange effect of numbing things; the cottoning of feelings and the acceptable hollow quality to our lives.
As she gazed into the flowers displayed in the shop window on her right, as she takes in both the vibrant and the somewhat duller colors of the many flower bouquets, she knows that the past four years hasn't just been all dreary and lackluster days. It's just that the languid years of waiting seem long and monotonous as compared to the sparkling days of their school years.
But in a way, she has been more than blessed. Even though the people she desires to be with most weren't there to share her life with her, she has a team of people still with her. Some of them have left like the ones she hopes for; either to pursue their intended vocations or to dwell in other cities, but others stayed behind like her. In fact, many of the original group of people stayed. This was their home after all.
--
It was as if the forget-me-not bouquet was there to remind her that not all was lost, and there is always a promise; an expectation that awaits her, that even though they might all be living their own lives now, but someday, there will be a gathering of them all back together. One day, there will be a complete re-union.
'I wonder if he remembers'. As she thought to herself, she wonders, whether if the taller one of her two hopes remembers the promise he made to her before he left for Germany. 'What was it again?' Even she was hard-pressed in remembering the exact details of that promise. As she glanced back up to the shop window, she recalls that the promise was about flowers. 'Yes, he promised me flowers when he returns.' She grins, knowing how being him, it was so uncharacteristic to propose wanting to give her flowers. But a promise is still a promise, and it would be interesting to see him holding a bunch of flowers just for her.
She walks on, moving past the rows of shops, taking firm and collected steps. All that reminiscing has led her to an almost whimsical mood, and she wasn't ready to dwell on it any further. The past years have been enough; more than enough time had been spent thinking and re-thinking of how things could have been different. What is meant to happen will happen, and there is nothing she can do to change it. Besides, she's got a get-together to go to.
Thinking of how she is to see the rest of her team-mates, those who have remained in Tokyo was enough to lift her spirits. She is glad that despite everyone's busy schedules, those who could make it will always be there at their usual sushi restaurant, on the 7th of every month. At times there would be just a few of them, on other months, during the non-peak periods of the year, there would be more of them gathered there. She was one of the regulars; a few of them made up the constant group of people. And now, as she makes her way towards their favorite hang-out place, she tucks the memory of her two people neatly back into the corners of her mind and heart, save for one last question.
What was it again? The thought keeps flashing across her mind. For a reason unbeknownst to her, she just could not recall the specific type of flowers she had expected to receive from him. He didn't mention any particular type, but she just had a distinct knowledge of his gift. 'Roses? No, too common.'
She ponders again, knowing it's something more marked. 'Tiger lilies?' She almost scoffs at her second choice, knowing it's too extravagant for him. Besides, was it even possible to imagine someone of his stature carrying tiger lilies? 'No, it's something else. She believes it's something simpler, and yet explicit at the same time.
--
'Ah. I remember it now'.
Tulips. White Tulips with Apple Blossoms. Forgiveness entwined together with the promise of love and of home-coming.
And not to forget, he owes her a medal. For leaving her to seek greater heights in the sport he loves, and just simply for the sake of it. Well, it shouldn't be that hard for the once buchou of one of Japan's national teams to win a medal would it? Out of the four grand slam events for tennis, surely one medal a year should be more then possible.
Besides, she already knows he has a few titles with his name on it. The wonders of the media, albeit ignoring the other disadvantages of it. There has been more than enough media coverage on the press, the television, radio, and not to mention the constant updates from the rest of the team to let her be sure of the fact that she is about to receive a trophy from him.
She's just hoping he knows which one she prefers. However, she's not too worried over that. Despite his cool exterior, she knows he never takes for granted all the conversations they've had over the years. And that is precisely why she is willing to wait for him to return back to her. Because she knows clearly that he will never let her down. Moreover, he will never let his team down.
That's Tezuka Kunimitsu for you.