WARNING: Death of a character is in this chapter!
Disclaimer: All original characters and storyline belong to the brilliant Takeshi Konomi. Nothing in POT belongs to me. All storylines, OoC-ness, OCs, events, situations, venues and tournaments in this story are just figments of my imagination.
Thanks to princeoftennis .wikia .com for all the relevant information.
CAUTION: Characters may be out of original character-ness!
"xxxxx" Conversation
'xxxxx' Thoughts
xxxxxx Flashback
Current Age: Tezuka, Oishi, Eiji, Fuji, Takashi & Inui (18) Sakuno (16) Ryuzaki Sumire (53) Tezuka Kunikazu (74) Tezuka Kuniharu (50) Tezuka Ayano (47)
UNEXPECTED CHANGES
Chapter 1: Coming Home
"Excuse me, are you…um..Tezuka-san?"
"Yes, I am."
"That's great! Can I have your autograph please?" The young boy with shining eyes asked excitedly. He held out a pen and a tennis magazine toward the tall Japanese man with broad shoulders.
The eyes behind the young man's glasses softened as he nodded and fulfilled the request of his young fan.
"What's your name?"
"My name's Daisuke Isamu. I'm ten and I am learning to play tennis." The boy stated proudly as he watched his tennis idol sign the cover of the magazine where it showed the young man holding up the trophy he had won at the US Open.
To Daisuke-kun, Yudan sezu ni ikou!
Best wishes from Tezuka Kunimitsu
The boy thanked him loudly and ran off to show his autographed magazine to his smiling parents who were standing a few paces away.
Tezuka Kunimitsu headed toward the Baggage Claim area and immediately found his huge suitcase. With his precious tennis bag slung on his shoulder, he walked through the long hallway leading to the Arrival Hall.
"Tezuka!" "Buchou!" "Tezuka-buchou!"
His lips tilted into a small smile when he saw the small party meeting him at the airport.
"Welcome back, Tezuka." Oishi Shuichiro shook Tezuka's hand enthusiastically.
"We miss you, nyah, Tezuka." Oishi's doubles partner, Kikumaru Eiji winked at him while giving him a good pat on his shoulder.
"Tezuka, it's great to have you back." Fuji Syusuke gave him a warm smile.
"It's great to see you, Tezuka." Inui Sadaharu's glasses shone brightly as he shook Tezuka's free hand.
"It's been a long time, Tezuka." The mild mannered Kawamura Takashi smiled.
"Buchou, welcome back!" Momoshiro Takeshi cried tearfully.
"Fssh..Welcome back to Tokyo, Tezuka-buchou." Kaidoh Kaoru greeted him with his normally stern face but his eyes clearly showed his happiness in seeing his mentor.
The gang led their friend toward the car park while they talked about the Australian Open where Tezuka had won his first professional title. The event from the French Open where Echizen and Tezuka had battled for 3 hours in the Finals before Tezuka delivered the final winning smash was also deliberated. Finally, everyone gushed over the Wimbledon and the US Open where Tezuka had fought hard to claim each championship.
"Arigatou, minna. You guys don't have to be here to greet me, you know."
"When we heard from Ryuzaki-sensei you were coming home, we just had to come and get you." Fuji said and the others nodded in agreement.
"Honto, nyah! If not, you'll be mobbed by the press and fans, nyah. By the way, Tezuka, since when did you start wearing a cap, nyah?" Kikumaru eyed the red cap on Tezuka's head.
"Eiji-sempai, that's to protect his identity." Momoshiro told Eiji.
"Fssh..how would you know, Porcupine head? You've never worn one before!" Kaidoh tried to rile up his rival. A fight would have erupted between them if Inui hadn't warned them to behave or suffer his infamous juices.
"Actually, Echizen suggested it. Momoshiro is right. It's to disguise my identity but sometimes it doesn't work."
"How's Echizen, Tezuka? Was he sore about losing to you again?" Oishi asked worriedly.
"For an hour or so but he came back with a fiery promise to capture the Grand Slam title next year."
"Wow! Echizen is so determined." Takashi said with admiration.
"I envy him and you being able to play in all the Grand Slam tournaments against the top players." Fuji sighed.
Finally they reached the car park where a rented van was parked. Kawamura Takashi was driving the van away from the airport when a thought came to Tezuka.
Amidst the exciting chattering of the passengers, he asked Inui, "By the way, Inui, where's Ryuzaki-sensei? She promised to come for me at the airport but she isn't here."
All chattering died and he was surprised to see the faces of his friends fell.
"What's wrong?"Tezuka asked with growing curiosity.
All of them, except Takashi, shared uneasy looks before Inui cleared his throat and told him, "Ryuzaki-sensei is in the hospital, Tezuka."
He froze in shock, "What? What happened to her?"
"She has been having some health complications for the past few months, Tezuka." Oishi told him sadly.
"However, her body isn't responding to treatments. In fact, she's…" Fuji broke off. Tezuka could see Fuji and his friends were fighting back tears.
He stayed silent to absorb the bad news. "She's…dying, isn't she?" No one answered him but the sad looks on everyone's faces told him the truth.
"Which hospital is she staying in now?"
"She's at the Tokyo Metro Hospital, Tezuka in Room 550." Inui provided the information.
"Can we go there now?"
"Tezuka, why don't you have a rest first?" Oishi suggested but Tezuka waved off his suggestion and leaned over to the driver's seat. He asked Takashi to drive straight to the hospital.
Chapter 2: Sensei
"Welcome back, Tezuka." The weak voice and the thin frail body lying on the hospital bed made him realize how much Ryuzaki-sensei had changed.
He realised he hadn't spoken when she laughed softly, "Sorry for giving you such a shock, Tezuka."
"I don't know what to say, Sensei. I had to come to see you when I heard the news." He gave her a small smile by her bed where he was seated on a metal stool.
The older woman gave him a weak smile, "Thank you for coming and congratulations on winning your first Grand Slam. I always knew you'd stand at the top of the tennis world one day. Tezuka, I am so proud of you."
Tears choked his throat upon hearing such praises from his former teacher and coach who had encouraged and inspired him in so many ways. Tezuka was glad the others weren't here to see him about to spill tears.
"Arigatou, Sensei." He whispered with a bow from his seat.
"I have a request, Tezuka. Could you do something for me?"
"What is it, Sensei?"
"It's about my grand-daughter Sakuno."
Tezuka had almost forgotten about her grand-daughter. He could remember the petite brunette with two pigtails with a well-known crush on young Echizen Ryoma. "What about Sakuno, Sensei?"
"Tezuka, I'm her last living relative. There's no one else to take care of her. However, your Grandfather, Father and Mother had agreed to be her guardians until she reaches the age of maturity. So, please take care of her for me, Tezuka."
The pleading look from the older woman made him nod his head. There wasn't anything he wouldn't do for her especially now.
Ryuzaki Sumire relaxed on her bed knowing this young man as well as his family would keep their promises. She felt at peace, knowing her beloved grand-daughter would be taken care of.
"Tezuka-sempai?"
He was startled by the feminine voice from the doorway. His eyes widened in surprise even further to find a tall and pretty brunette holding a vase of red carnations looking at him with a welcoming smile.
"Welcome back to Japan, Tezuka-sempai. Obaasan had told the ex-Regulars and me about your homecoming."
His eyes behind his glasses followed her slender figure in a blue dress as she put down the vase on one of the side table. His breath caught in his throat when she approached him with graceful steps and her long glossy hair flowing behind her. When she finally stood before him, he realized she's only a head shorter than him.
"Congratulations on winning your first Grand Slam, Tezuka-sempai."
A slender hand came forward and he reacted accordingly to grip it in a handshake. His arm nearly jumped at the unexpected electricity travelling up his arm and warmed his heart. At this moment, he lifted his dark brown eyes to meet hers and felt something ZINGED between them.
Sumire smiled contentedly as the young couple quickly released their hands and looked away with blushing cheeks.
'Sakuno will be in good hands indeed.'
Chapter 3: Goodbye
Ryuzaki Sakuno had never felt so alone. Not since the accidental death of her parents when she was six years old. Now that feeling returned again when her grandmother drew her last breathe.
The hospital had sent Ryuzaki Sumire home to spend her final days with her grand-daughter. The Tezukas were there to lend her the support she needed.
She remembered how she had cried for hours beside her grandmother. Later she was gently escorted away from her grandmother's bedroom so that the body can be prepared by the professional morticians for the wake service.
At the wake service, she sat numbly on the first row accompanied by Tezuka Ayano. The Tezuka men with the assistance of many ex-Seigaku Regulars oversaw the greeting of all funeral guests, the handling of condolence money and the prayer rites. Most of them stayed with her to keep vigil with the deceased overnight including the Echizens.
The next day the funeral ceremony was carried out with much sadness, solemnness and tears. Many of the funeral guests were Ryuzaki Sumire's former colleagues and students. A few tennis coaches and ex-Regulars from other schools were also in attendance to pay their final respects to someone they highly admired.
Only a few people such as the Tezukas, the Echizens and the Seigaku ex-Regulars travelled with Sakuno as the coffin was transported in a hearse to a crematorium after the funeral ceremony.
Sakuno watched numbly with tears running down her cheeks as the coffin was rolled into the cremation chamber.
"Good-bye, Obaasan. I love you. Say Hai to Otousan and Okasan for me. Tell them I love them. I will see you all again one day." Sakuno whispered softly as the doors of the cremation chamber closed with a loud thud.
For an hour and a half, smoke rose up into the sky from the crematorium's really tall flue.
To Be Continued
Please review! All constructive criticism are welcomed but flames aren't!
All information and scenes about Japanese funeral were drawn from Wikipedia and the 2008 movie 'Departures'