Saiken
Chapter 2
"Every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a type of heaven."
-Tryon Edwards
Present
Ryoma frowned as he stared at the ground. This was ridiculous. He was already uneasy about the whole thing …now it was just painful… What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he just stop thinking about all this? It was like his mind kept reeling back on its own…
One year later…
Ryoma rested his chin on the back of his hand, which in turn was supported by the arm of the couch. He stared ahead, bored. How long had he been waiting? Ten…no… fifteen minutes? Sighing, he closed his eyes and leaned back into the comfy couch. Yamamoto was seriously pushing his patience to the very edge. Sometimes he wondered why he ever hired the guy as his manager. The man was so bossy and demanding. Ryoma snorted. He dropped his propped up arm and tapped a finger on the arm rest.
He was waiting for the next nosy, annoying interviewer to get here. And till the moron finally showed up, he'd have to sit here, enduring this insufferable boredom. He had no choice in the matter. These people had been after him for the past five months or so. Eventually, Yamamoto had forced him to accept them. And now here he was, waiting for his last and fifteenth interview. He opened his eyes and glared at the man standing at the far end of the studio. Che. Ryoma would have loved to smack a tennis ball right into his smug little face.
Suddenly a young brunette burst into the room, panting. Ryoma glanced at his manager, questioningly. Yamamoto shrugged in response and he opened his mouth to question the young girl, who looked no older than eighteen.
"Excuse me mi—"
"I…I'm so…sorry," she said, catching her breath, "I had a little…" She paused, swallowing. "Trouble getting in. The guards wouldn't let me pass."
Ryoma eyed her sceptically. What was this teenager doing in here? Did she want an autograph? These high school girls were getting worse every day.
Yamamoto came forward. Addressing the girl, he said, "I'm sorry miss, but can I help you?"
Ryoma noticed that the girl went red as she said, apologetically, "O-oh…I'm s-sorry…My name is Katie Thompson. I'm from The Newsmaker…"
The girl was a journalist? Ryoma snorted inwardly. Was this supposed to be a joke? However, when he turned to look at Yamamoto, he was busy scanning through some papers, for her name.
Frowning, he raised his head, and stated, "Your name isn't there on the list."
The girl's face paled and her eyes turned wild with panic. "B-but, my editor c-called you yesterday...t-to inform you that I-I'd be coming, in p-place of my senior…"
Ryoma could see that she was on the verge of tears now. Her knees were wobbling and he knew it wasn't because of the harsh winter outside. Suddenly the image of a girl with twin braids flashed across his mind.
"Oh! That's right!" Yamamoto exclaimed, tapping his board. Scratching his cheek, he said sheepishly, "Sorry about that Ms. Thompson…I forgot to jot your name down here." He gave a strained laughed.
Ryoma smirked inwardly as he saw the sheer relief and brief annoyance that reflected in her bright brown eyes. Wait…Brown? He carefully studied the girl. And then it occurred to him. She was too young to be a journalist.
"How old are you anyway?" He demanded, a little too boldly.
She looked at him, for the first time, completely taken aback. A few minutes later, when he still didn't receive a response, Ryoma raised a brow in question. The girl blushed red again and lowered her gaze, boring her eyes into the floor.
"I-I'm twenty-eight." She mumbled. "And it's not so polite to ask a lady for her age…" she whispered to herself, a little ticked off.
But Ryoma heard it. He smirked. This woman's resemblance to her was just ridiculous. But she's not like that anymore, said the small voice in his head. That was true, in ways. She had changed. But still, they were similar, although, the journalist's hair was darker than hers.
And this woman was different from the rest of the people he'd seen all day. Ryoma could tell that she was a newbie. He turned in his seat, readjusting his positon. He had a feeling this interview would be less looked on, a bit amused, as the journalist; he couldn't remember her name, squirmed in her seat. Nervously, she took out a notepad and a pen.
Taking a breath, she started, "So... Mr. Echizen…"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
To say he was surprised would be the biggest understatement of the year. It was like the woman, if she could be called that, had turned into a totally different person. When she'd begun with the first four questions, she'd been so nervous, but now…she was firing away without mercy. Was he having fun? Sure…if he was a masochist.
The said woman was asking him thousands of questions about his storming into the world of tennis, his sudden rise to World Number 1(Ryoma eyed her sceptically) and how he'd started out initially. Right now, she was asking him how he felt about his fall to ranking number four. Ryoma mentally snorted. What kind of a stupid question was that? He replied with a slight. "Hn."
The craziest thing was how relentless this woman was. Even though he kept giving one or two word replies, she kept asking him a million questions. It was a bit unnerving. But he had to give it to her. She sure was persistent. Che.
"We haven't been seeing you in tournaments for quite some time now….You even backed out of the ATP Masters Championship last month. Why is that?"
Ryoma felt his brow twitch. These annoying questions just never stopped….
"Yamamoto has already announced it. I am taking a break for a few months…"
"Would you say that your injury from the Australian Open semi-final had something to do with your break? It was quite a serious one."
Ryoma grunted, irritated. "No. I wanted a break so I took one….Am I done here?" he asked suddenly, snapping.
The woman looked up in surprise. Then she smiled, "I'm sorry, . Not quite…."
Just then, her face lit up into a wide grin.
Ryoma couldn't put his finger on it….but somehow that grin made him uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable.
"In our latest edition we decided to make things a little interesting…on our reader's demands. I hope you don't mind my asking."
Ryoma tapped the arm rest impatiently. Anything…..anything to get out of this hell hole…
"So, it's no secret that you're very popular with the ladies." Katie said casually, shrugging, "Our readers couldn't help wondering…You're social life seems to be…..well," She chuckled, "It seems to be non-existent."
Ryoma deadpanned. What?
Katie laughed. "Truly….it's something which shocks our female readers as well…."
Ok…he Echizen Ryoma was officially speechless. After hours of these torture sessions now he was being cornered by queries regarding his…love life? Was someone seriously out to get him?
Katie's voice was laced with amusement as she continued, "So we decided to ask you a couple of questions with regard to the matter…of course all these have been chosen from our reader's interests….Shall we?" She smirked evilly.
Ryoma blinked. Right then….Inui juice didn't seem so bad…
"What do you want in a girlfriend?"
He blinked again. Then, he raised a brow…. 'Are you kidding me?'
Katie laughed. "Oh come on! There has to be something…." Her eyes sparkled as she said, "Brunette? Chocolate brown eyes? Good cook?"
Ryoma felt his heart skip a beat. How did—No…she couldn't have—Could she?
"No?" Katie sighed in mock disappointment. Then, she smirked, "Well….I had to try….Guess I'm not your type…" She laughed again.
This woman was seriously pushing his sanity to extremes…. Ryoma combed his fingers through his tousled locks. He'd need some aspirin after this…
"Which makes me curious…Have you ever had a girlfriend? Or for that matter, Have you ever dated anyone?"
Ryoma sat back as he glared at her. "Hn."
Suddenly the smile seemed to vanish from her face. "What?" she asked, startled.
The tennis prodigy continued to glare at her.
Katie's eyes widened, then they narrowed and then, to Ryoma's horror, she broke out into a fit of laughter.
"You…hahaha….never….d-dated..hahaha…" Tears were rolling down her cheeks now.
Behind him, he could hear sounds of muffled laughter, from Yamamoto, undoubtedly. Ryoma felt a vein pop. Never… He would never agree to interviews again…And Yamamoto was dead….So dead…
"I'm so sor—hahaha….Give me a sec…" she managed through her hysterics.
Clearing her throat, Katie composed herself, and asked, "So…do you…um….do you… like girls?"
Silence seemed to engulf the entire studio. If it were possible, crickets would have chirped…
Suddenly, there was a loud crash. Yamamoto had fallen off his chair, laughing.
Ryoma sighed. By the time this was over, he'd have aged fifty years…
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Have you ever had a crush on someone?"
"Che."
"Ok…then, have you ever fallen in love?"
Ryoma felt his heart thump faster. What was with all these questions? He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Whatever happened to privacy and personal boundaries?
Ryoma sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He was so tired…of everything….Matches… Photo Shoots…. Ads…. Promotions… Trophies… Criticism….Gossip…. His world was just so suffocating….It was like being trapped in a room without any escape….
Ryoma looked up and eyed the woman sitting across from him, her face alert and lit up with curiosity. Her bright brown eyes seemed to almost sparkle with interest.
"H-happy Birthday Ryoma-kun!"
"Hai…." Ryoma found the word spewing out from his mouth before he could even realize what he was saying.
"Oh?" Katie exclaimed, with surprise and delight as she understood what he was saying. "And when was that?"
Ryoma blinked at her and then looked off to the side. When? When did he fall in love? It all seemed so long ago….and yet, he couldn't deny that he'd loved Sakuno for as long as he could rememeber. Ryoma flinched at the thought and frowned inwardly. These were things he'd been trying to avoid thinking about for the past couple of months. And as though to haunt him, they kept coming back….over and over again…
Ryoma adjusted his jacket and pulled it tighter. He scowled. It was so freezing cold outside and he didn't even have a scarf. It felt like he was a human popsicle. Ryoma cursed sliently in his head as he tugged at his cap. Where the heck was the stupid thing anyway…..he could have sworn he'd seen it somewhere in the corner of his….closet? He sighed… On second thought, maybe not.
Che. Some Christmas Eve he was having. Not to mention what a crappy birthday for him….Ryoma clenched his fist. He was going to kill Momo if this wasn't serious. That moron was ruining his evening….And as though to emphasise that Ryoma gave a sudden sneeze. Great. He grunted as he trudged his way through the white frosty snow.
All around family and friends were chatting happily and walking past. Holding large bags in both their hands….no doubt Christmas Shopping. They all were so happy and warm….cuddled up in their woollen scarves and sweaters…. Ryoma gritted his teeth. Why the heck was Kawamura-senpai's sushi shop so far away?
Suddenly he heard a crash from ahead. A girl was sprawled on the ground, a couple of bags around her. The girl groaned as she rubbed her sore back and tried to get up. Ryoma felt his heart pound harder as he recognised the familiar locks of auburn that flowed down her back….
"Ryuzaki." He said plainly, holding out a hand to her.
His heart skipped a beat as Sakuno lifted her head and looked up at him. But then, Ryoma felt a smirk coming on to his lips as he saw the way her face turned beet red and how her round brown eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
"R-r-r-ryoma-kun?"
Her expression was simply priceless. Really Ryuzaki was just so cute when she— Woah! Where the heck were his thoughts running off to? And cute? Where did that come from? Shaking out his thoughts, Ryoma found that Sakuno was still on the ground, staring up at him, in a daze…
He raised a brow at her as if to say,"You thinking of getting up anytime now?".
Sakuno seemed to turn into an even brighter shade of red, if that were even possible, on realising this. She hesitantly grasped Ryoma's hand with her small ones as he helped pull her up.
"T-t-thank you, R-r-yoma-kun."
"Hn." Ryoma pulled at his cap. Suddenly his face was feeling a little hotter…must have the—the weather…yeah….that's it…
"—chizen? Are you okay?"
Katie's concerned voice broke off his thoughts.
Ryoma watched her from the corner of his eyes. "High school….It was….in…high school," he said, slowly.
He was startled by the sound of a sudden chuckle.
"I just never expected you to be that type." she said, smiling.
Ryoma gave her a puzzled look. That type?
She laughed lightly, shaking head. "Oh…it's nothing. The—The 'High School- Sweetheart –type'. But….I guess…I should have known…. Always surprising….You are Echizen Ryoma after all." She chuckled again.
Ryoma blinked at her again and then his eyes wandered off to a random spot on the wall.
He looked down at the box and then back to Sakuno's blushing face.
"I-I-It's y-your present….I m-made it myself," her voice lowered as she said so, "It's not really that good…." She bit her lip and fixed her eyes on the ground.
Ryoma felt a sudden warmth in his heart which he found quite unexplainable. The thought that Ryuzaki had gone to the trouble of making a present for him, did weird things to his heart. He gently pulled it from her, which made Sakuno nearly jump.
Opening it, Ryoma felt his eyes widen in surprise. How—?
A smile spread across his lips. "No….it's not because I am who I am…..it's because she is the person she is….."
Katie blinked in wonder for a minute. That had been, by far, the longest sentence he'd said...
Then she smiled widely. Katie glanced down at her notepad and then looked up at Ryoma again. "I hope you won't mind this one last question… from your number one fan..." Her smile widened at the last few words.
Ryoma grunted. Hit me.
Katie grinned. "When you set out to become a tennis pro, at that young age of seventeen,….what was the goal that you'd set in your mind?"
Ryoma sat up a little in his chair. That was certainly a surprising question…. He definitely hadn't been expecting that…..His goal? At first?
He closed his eyes…Goal? Dream?
"I know Ryoma-kun is going to be World No. 1!"
Ryoma's shot open in shock…No.1….His goal…..
Slowly, he felt the corners of his mouth twitch slightly…Of course...how could he forget? Ryoma felt a wide smirk coming on…
Opening his eyes, he looked straight into Katie's eyes as he said, "Mada Mada Dane."
The words seemed to ring in his ears….How long had it been since he'd said that? It seemed like forever….
Katie's eyes widened in astonishment.
"That's a really obvious question…."
She raised a brow in query.
"Che… I aim for nothing less than No.1."
Katie laughed out. "Of course, I should have guessed that…"
Beaming she said, "I'm sorry to ask you this , but I have one last request to ask of you…."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
"Well, how about that? Her son is your number one fan…A six year old kid…" Yamamoto chuckled, his shoulder shaking.
"Hn." Ryoma mumbled, smiling inwardly, as the car ground to a stop.
He swung his tennis bag over his shoulder as he stepped out of the sleek, black car.
"What time do you want me to pick you up?"
He glanced back at his manager and muttered, "I'll call."
Yamamoto nodded in understanding before sliding up the window.
Ryoma didn't wait for the car to pull out before he started making his way towards the courts. The weather outside was terribly cold but it wasn't snowing…..and Ryoma was definitely in the mood to have a few swings. Breaks were for losers….and he certainly wasn't one. Those morons had better watch out….he wouldn't show them any mercy…..
Ryoma pulled his scarf tighter around his neck. Somehow, it always seemed to smell of strawberries…..Always. He smiled slightly as he breathed in the soft, warm scent of it….Sakuno…
It was a greenish blue scarf. With soft tassels at the end and a black lining. At the end of the cloth, he could see a couple of sewn in characters. S.J
Samurai Junior. His golden eyes flashed dangerously as his trade mark smirk set into place.
Two years later…
Ryoma checked his watch again. Darn it. He was going to be late. He could already hear Momo's nagging in his head. He grunted slightly. Like he needed that. Ryoma took a sip from his can of Ponta. This was his what? Tenth can? He'd lost count. What did it matter…the point was that he was still dead tired. And he was itching for a nap. Ryoma frowned. The plan had been simple. Win match. Catch plane. Attend wedding. Go back. But…apparently, things weren't so simple. The time difference between Japan and America had been a teeny tiny detail that he'd missed out.
Ryoma groaned slightly, holding his head. This was not his day. However, it was someone else's. He sighed. Really…he couldn't believe it. He was attending their wedding. Theirs. But then he snorted. About time they got married. Gulping down the last of his Ponta, Ryoma set aside the empty can. He looked over his sunglasses, at the church ahead. He was there. Finally.
Parking his car, Ryoma got out, taking a box in his hands. He rushed up the stairs and went around to a group of guys standing on the side. He pulled on his poker face. They were all here…he'd definitely need it. The first one to notice him was Eiji, of course.
"He's here you guys!" he shouted, running to Ryoma. "Ochibi's here!"
Ryoma almost smiled at the nickname. Some things never got old.
However, he frowned at his senpai as he mumbled, "Che. Why do you still call me that?"
Eiji grinned widely. He reached out and ruffled Ryoma's hair, as he said, "Because to us, Ochibi will always be Ochibi…no matter how tall he gets."
Ryoma glared at him as he attempted to fix his hair.
Suddenly someone pushed past the senpais and exclaimed, "Echizen! You're finally here!"
Ryoma found himself face to face with his, well, best friend. "Hn."
"That's all you have to say?" Momo shouted, exasperated, "What the heck took you so long?"
Ryoma shrugged. "The match ended a little later than I thought so I had to catch another plane."
Momo stared at him incredulously. Then he laughed, shaking his head. "That's just like you. Always late." Smiling, he asked, "The rings?"
"Here." Ryoma held out the box. Momo had asked him to keep the rings when he and Ann had come to visit him last month. He still didn't know why though. Sure, he was the best man and all but…coming all the way to America and asking him to keep the rings?
Momo nodded. "Thanks man."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
He tore his gaze away from her…and then went back to staring at her. Again. He turned his head away. What the heck was he doing? Ryoma groaned as he thought about how desperate he must have seemed. It was just pathetic; how all he did was stare at her…..He was just clueless as to what he should tell her…. He couldn't do it. Still, Ryoma couldn't help himself from gazing at her. And every time he looked at her, he could feel a pang in his chest. He needed her…so much….
Ryoma ran a hand through his hair as he thought about the last two years…He'd fought his way back to No.1 and it was like, Sakuno was with him…the whole time… He couldn't explain it, but it felt like all those times in high school when she would stand in the side-lines silently praying for him….Once again, Ryoma felt his eyes searching for her..
Sakuno looked so beautiful. Her auburn hair was held in a bun with a hairpin. She was wearing an elegant, white, spaghetti-strapped cocktail dress with a black ribbon around the waist. It was like she was glowing, every time she smiled or laughed….And somehow, every time their eyes met, Ryoma felt it a little harder to breathe…..
And then…there was the little angel held in her arms that Sakuno was rocking back and forth. Ryoma felt an ache in his heart as he fixed his eyes on the tiny form. Her small, round face was rosy cheeked and blissfully at peace. She was sleeping so soundly….Not a care in the world. Ryoma's eyes smouldered. Her cute little pink lips seemed to form a big "O", her tiny little nose was shiny and slightly pink and her long, thick lashes hid her eyes.
Sakura.
That was her name and it suited her so well. She was as fair, delicate and beautiful as a cherry flower. Ryoma couldn't explain it…but his heart yearned for her. He wanted to hold her in his arms; to play with her. He wanted to love her…He wanted to—
Ryoma sighed as he rested his head on his hand. All these feelings were draining him….He didn't have the strength for them…not now atleast. If only he just….somehow, talk to her….But what? He picked up his glass of champagne and took a sip. Really, what a sight he must've been…
"Yo!" Momo greeted with a grin, as he plopped down in a seat across from Ryoma.
He grunted in response.
Momo chuckled before he said, "Well, hi there Mr. Grumpy. What the heck are you doing sitting around like an old coot?"
Mr. Grumpy? It was amazing how much Momo hadn't changed.
"Mada Mada Dane."
Momo rolled his eyes. "I was wondering when you were gonna say that. What is it now?" He quirked a brow in question as an amused grin played on his lips.
"I'm not the moron who went ahead and signed up for legal slavery." Ryoma smirked.
To his surprise, Momo exploded into laughter.
Wiping a tear from his eye, Momo replied, "You know Echizen, you're a hypocrite. Why else would you be sitting here, like a love sick little boy, and stare at Sakuno-chan all evening?" He burst into another round of laughter.
Ryoma glared at him. Would Ann kill him if her husband had a black eye for their honey moon? But then again, who was he kidding, Momo was right.
"Hey Echizen, you know why Ann and I came all the way there?"
Ryoma watched Momo out of the corner of his eyes.
Momo took a sip at his champagne and then continued, "Besides sight-seeing, it was because we wanted to make sure that you'd show up…. Seeing as how you chickened out of Horio's….. but on second thought, that had been a pretty smart move…"
Wanted to make sure? Why?
Momo smiled as he looked at their "ochibi". "Look, she's been through a lot and…she's had to fight it all on her own. If you really love her…just…go...Talk to her. You'll never know if you don't try."
Ryoma sighed mentally. Great. Now he was getting advice on his love life….from Momo. How messed up was he? But then again, this was the second time one of his senpais had told him to talk it out.
The last time he tried…. Things had ended ugly.
"Well, good luck Echizen. And I bet you already know it….but," he glanced in Sakuno's direction, "she's a keeper."
Momo gave him a wink as he got up and left.
Ryoma stared at his distorted face in the silver ware. Then he sighed and got up as well.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Ryoma breathed in the cool night air. His head was just a mess and he had no clue as to what he could say to Sakuno. He'd heard about everything from Ann, Momo and Horio. That bastard. He should have kicked the snot out of him when he'd had the chance.
But he was long gone and the divorce had been settled. Yet again, Ryoma felt horrible as he realised that he hadn't been there for her. Really, did he even deserve to have her? What if Sakuno was just sick of him by now?
Before he could ponder further on that, Ryoma felt his phone buzzing in his pocket. Whipping it out, he checked the ID. A frown crawled its way to his lips.
Taking the call, he said, "What is it mom?"
Echizen Rinko laughed from the other end. "What? Can't a mother call her son?"
Ryoma resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
"You'd better not have rolled your eyes."
His mother was sometimes scary….
"So how did it go?"
"Just like any other wedding."
Rinko chuckled. "Not that, silly boy. I'm sure Momo-kun's wedding was great. I meant Sakuno-chan."
Ryoma's heart skipped a beat. Sakuno?How did it go…with Sakuno?
After a few more seconds of silence, his mother sighed. "You haven't talked to her, have you?"
Ryoma felt a scowl coming on to his face. What was it with people telling him to go talk to her? All this "talking" business was hard enough for him, what with his speech-o-phobia. But "talking" to Sakuno? That was even harder? Why couldn't they understand that?
"Sometimes I wonder if you really are our son, Ryoma. No doubt you got your tennis skills from your father….but not being able to talk to a girl? Not that I want you to be like you father… Honey, if you love her then why don't you just tell her that?"
Ryoma chocked on air. How—How—How had his mother? Wait, never mind that. How was he supposed to say that….Just be all…Sakuno…I love you. And then expect her to fall into his arms? Yeah…right. He mentally snorted.
"Hn."
His mother sighed. "Oh Ryo, you know I'd love to see you get married one day and Sakuno is really the only—"
There was some crackling on the other end and suddenly the call ended.
Huh? Ryoma looked at the screen, confused.
Weird. Maybe he should call back.
Ryoma tried calling back but all he got was a voice .
He sighed as he pocketed the phone. His mother's words seemed to ring in his ears. Just tell her how he felt, huh?
Ryoma threw a glance over his shoulder at the ball room before he turned around and walked towards it. He was Echizen Ryoma after all and he never backed out of a challenge.
But just as he took a step inside, his phone buzzed again.
Moms. Ryoma rolled his eyes.
"What now—"
"Ryoma? Oh thank god!" The voice broke out into a shuddered sob.
"Nanako?"
There were more sobs from the other end. "R-ryoma….I-I don't know….w-w-w-hat h-happened…She—She just…fell." His cousin took in a long wheezy breath and continued, "I called t-the a-ambulance…they said they'd b-be here soon…But—But….Ryoma….I'm scared…"
What the heck was going on? What was she saying? Jeez, why the heck had his dad chosen to go on a fishing trip this week?
"Look Nanako…what is it?" he enquired, his eyebrows pinching in worry.
She sniffled again. "It's—It's a-aunt Rinko…"
Suddenly, Ryoma felt the blood drain from his face.
"What?"
"Sh—she was talking over the phone and then, she just toppled over the chair."
Ryoma looked at his watch. 7:30. If he hurried he could catch the plane to Los Angeles.
Walking briskly towards the main entrance, Ryoma explained, "I'm on my way. I'll be there in a couple of hours. Where are you taking her?"
Ryoma nodded as Nanako stumbled through the line. Having said that, he shut his phone and fastened his pace towards the huge doors. There was no time for goodbyes…and Sakuno….
Before he could think about that, Ryoma eyed the cab that had stopped just across the street. He picked up the pace and rushed down the stairs. He would have to return that rental later... but now…
"Taxi. Tokyo Airport. Fast."
Leaning back in his seat, Ryoma sighed.
Sakuno…wait for me…. I'll definitely come back for you.
Present
Ryoma sighed. He was almost there and now his head was full of those disturbing memories… How was he supposed to talk her with all these stupid things floating around in his head? Then again…..it wasn't like he was going to be all chatty with Sakuno…He trudged along, trying to delay getting there.
It had taken nearly a year for his mother to whip back up to shape after that stroke. By the time he got things settled, Sakuno had already left for Paris to study at some famous cooking school there. And then… he'd just backed out. Sakuno was trying so hard to stay on her feet, fight her own battles….Living her dreams. How could he not respect that? It would have been just wrong to barge into her life like that.
But maybe… tonight…he could finally tell her. Ryoma sighed. A slight drizzle had begun.
Just then, he noticed the figure of a little girl, running, towards him. Why was a little kid out here, all alone? Ryoma frowned. Her little feet were desperately trying to go faster. As the girl came to a stop under a street light, he was finally able to see her properly. Her short auburn hair was tied on either side with a small white ribbon and she wore a small frilly peach coloured dress, with a large ribbon behind. He frowned as he saw that her little frame was shaking all over and that her skin was too pale. And then, suddenly, the girl collapsed.
Ryoma didn't know why, but the sight of her collapsed figure, sent a wave of panic through his body. He rushed forward and gently picked her up, holding her close to his chest. She was so small and frail.
She peeked open her eyes. Ryoma was shocked to find himself looking into a pair of eyes that exactly mirrored his. And then, it dawned on him. She was—
"Please….Please help me…" the girl pleaded, breaking his thoughts, "My mommy…she needs help. Please…." Her tiny voice reduced to a feeble squeak.
Ryoma drew in a sharp breath. What? Did he hear that right?
"Sakura….what's wrong?" he questioned, softly, "Where's your mom?"
Sakura hiccupped and sobbed out, "M-mommy….n-needs help…S-someone…"
Ryoma froze. But he was quickly brought out of his shock, as the body in his arms went limp. He stared down at her tiny, angelic face, perplexed. And then, before he even knew what he was doing, Ryoma found himself running. Faster than he'd ever run in his entire life.