Disclaimer: I don't own Prince of Tennis of any of its characters.
'I have noticed your frequent visits, Sakuno. Who are you seeing this often? The name Echizen Ryoma better not leave your lips.'
Sakuno silently scoffed at the memory. Her father, Ryuzaki Mayuri, was getting too strict with rules. She was almost twenty-three and he still attempted to overrule her decisions.
But it wasn't as though Sakuno was out of control or anything of the sort. The young woman did what was needed of her. After finishing her degree in International Affairs at Tokyo University, she immediately began work at her father's company. She was his secretary and now it was obvious working directly under him was the wrong choice.
Mayuri would watch her closely. He knew about her affairs with Echizen Ryoma, the fallen tennis player and disapproved. It was as though he was disapproving love, a concept he probably didn't comprehend.
Sakuno stopped walking and sighed at the restrains her lifestyle required; she had to constantly watch her behaviour otherwise rumours started by other families would ruin hers. It was frustrating.
Ryoma was her escape from her regular life – he wasn't financially stable but he didn't care. To him, living life to its full potential was important; a philosophy which became much more apparent after the death of his cousin and father two years ago.
Suddenly she lost her vision and felt a light pressure against her eyes. Smiling, she placed her hands over another pair of hands and lowered them then turned to find a smirking Ryoma.
"Ryoma-kun!"
They hugged. It wasn't their first but each one was different. This one lasted longer than usual which caused slight tension in Sakuno's mind.
"Is everything alright?"
He nodded and they released one another. Holding hands, they walked around the public park she had unknowingly stumbled into. The date was normal – they held hands and conversed about life in general. Well, mostly Ryoma talked and she listened. Sakuno always loved hearing what he had to say. At one point in time, it was the opposite.
"I want you to meet my mother."
She suddenly stopped walking to think about what he just said. They had been dating for almost ten months and they was the happiest months of her life. But it was known without a doubt to her that Ryuzaki Mayuri would not approve of this relationship.
So she never spoke about her family willingly. The topic would be awkward whenever brought up by accident or if Ryoma prodded. It was a fact that their economic statuses were completely different. His career path had taken a huge decline after the death of his family members while her father's business saw nothing but success.
So now, when he wanted her to meet his mother, Sakuno felt very happy but a tinge of anxiety troubled her. If she met his mother now, that must mean this relationship was taking a serious turn. What should she think of that?
"Yo! Sakuno!"
"A…ah, sorry, Ryoma-kun, I wasn't sure what to think…"
"I could see that. Don't think right now. Let's enjoy ourselves."
And so the afternoon was a wonderful break away from the world of the upper class. Eventually, Ryoma led her into the lower socioeconomic area of the city, the place where the Echizen family had to relocate to after the incident. It was a shame they had to live in this.
Once Sakuno offered a good sum of money for his mother to live in better conditions and that was the first and only time Ryoma had shown his anger. His pride was intact, a part of his personality that couldn't be removed.
He suddenly stopped at a weathered building and walked in, pulling her along. The once polished wooden steps now looked as though they would break if anymore weight was placed on it. The wallpaper was coming off and there were spiders and webs in almost every corner.
Ryoma didn't want to bring her here, knowing the standard of living she was accustomed to but Rinko really wanted to see this girl he was always talking about.
The two finally reached the top after awhile. There was only an awkward silence between the two; Sakuno wanted to prove that she could handle this environment. Her thoughts went immediately to the hygiene of the building but again, she kept silent.
He suddenly stopped again and she bumped into him, not expecting him to stop.
"Mou…" Ryoma looked over his shoulder, "Are you alright?" Sakuno rubbed her nose with her free hand and nodded. Ryoma grinned.
He turned to his left and opened a blue door, which had seen better days. "…Mom? Look who's here."
Sakuno was surprised by the inside of the apartment. The walls were painted a navy blue and the room was very neat. Nothing looked out of place, not a scrap of paper nor could a single ball of dust be seen. However, the objects inside looked worn as if gone through much abuse.
Ryoma led her to a room just to the right of the entrance. In a battered rocking chair sat an old woman, reading a book. Sakuno knew Rinko was only fifty, but she aged incredibly in the last few years and her appearance had her look sixty-five. It was surprising what hard work and negligence could do to a person.
Sakuno kept her thoughts to herself.
The woman lifted her eyes towards them and Sakuno could see a hint of sadness in those aged eyes. But the lines on her face disappeared when she saw who came in behind her son.
Ryoma had never seen his mother so happy. The last time she looked like that was when he graduated from high school with a career in hand. He gently pulled Sakuno next to him before pushing her lightly towards Rinko.
Sakuno felt a little nervous. This woman was smiling so much…just after seeing her. She felt a little odd; her own father was never that happy to see her.
"Hello, Echizen-san. I am Ryuzaki Sakuno, pleased to make your acquaintance." By now, she was kneeling and looked up a bit to the older women's eyes.
"Ara…so this is the girl my son is crazy for…" She looked her up and down, "Please, do call me mom, it feels nicer than Echizen-san…" The melancholy briefly returned then quickly disappeared. Rinko smiled at her and cupped Sakuno's chin in her hands.
Sakuno placed her hands on Rinko's lap. The long, white dress the lady wore didn't have a speck of dirt on it. The cleanliness surprised Sakuno, reminding her she needed to stop being so quick to judge.
"Of course…mom." It felt a little out of place calling her that. For an image of Sakuno's own mother popped into her head. Sora was the same age as Rinko, but she was well dressed and looked more like forty. Rinko then turned her gaze to Ryoma, who was leaning against the wall, arms folded. He was finally happy, and that's what mattered most to her.
"Ryoma…why don't you drop Sakuno home now? It's getting dark, her parents must be worried." He nodded and looked at Sakuno, "Let's go, Sakuno."
She nodded, not saying her parents would assume she's with the driver if she came home late. Bidding a final farewell to Rinko, Ryoma lead her out. For a reason the young woman didn't understand, a heavy feeling settled inside her chest.
"Sakuno…you won't make it back alone, you'll probably get lost."
"Trust me Ryoma! I'll be fine."
The young male shook his head, "No." They were at the park ten minutes away from her mansion. There were a few turns here and there but Sakuno knew her way around. She grew up and played around here after all.
His overprotective tendency sometimes caused hostility between them. It sometimes led to an argument about trust. Turning her cinnamon eyes to him, Sakuno asked him, "Ryoma…do you trust me?"
It was a thought which bothered her for some time and she regretted questioning it out loud for all to hear. She knew she wasn't going to receive an answer she was searching for. Instead of responding, he hugged her – his way of avoiding the topic.
Sakuno could feel her heart break a little on the inside, 'Isn't trust part of a relationship?' She wondered.
As they walked to the mansion, Ryoma held her hand tight, as an owner would when walking their untrained dog. Sakuno hated this atmosphere. When they finally reached the area, he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and hastily left.
She sighed and turned around to enter the black steel gates.
In the midst of removing her shoes, Sakuno was bombarded by her mother. The normally elegant woman was happier than usual, rushing her only daughter to sit on the nearest couch.
"Sakuno! You're finally home! I have wonderful news for you."
Ryuzaki Sora was wearing her best blue suit, an outfit worn to entertain their most important clients or business partners in the privacy of their home. When outside, greeting the world as Ryuzaki Sora, the woman was feminine through and through. Perhaps it was Sora's way of having these men take her much more seriously.
"We weren't due for guests this evening, mother. I would have stayed home to greet them if I had known."
"Oh you silly girl, these guests came especially to meet your father."
"Were they father's business partners?" Sora nodded.
"…Why are you so excited mother?" Sora had become restless, her smile widening to their limits.
The maid appeared and poured tea for both of them. Sakuno indicated for two teaspoons of sugar and waited while Sora took her first sip after being handed the tea.
"Yoshida-san came to visit this evening and my goodness, it was such a lovely surprise! We haven't seen the family since her poor husband passed away and you will never guess what she had to say."
"Which is why we're sitting down, mother."
If memory served her right, Yoshida-san was one of her father's business partners she last saw when thirteen. The Ryuzaki family had attended the funeral of her late husband then. There were also three children present – two sons and a daughter, whose names completely slipped her mind.
"Well, she came with a proposal. She said she wanted join our families in matrimony – she wants you to marry her eldest! Isn't that wonderful? And father agreed! You're getting married, Sakuno!"