A/N: I have decided to commit to uploading every Sunday from now onwards. I'm expecting this story to have maybe 7-10 more chapters? Anyways, I actually have the next chapter finished off already so don't worry about not having a chapter next week. Also, I do know what I'm going to write in the next chapter after that so there shouldn't be a writer's block again.
"Where did you go?"
Sakuno's arms hugged herself and she felt herself feeling very small. Tezuka wanted no more than to pull her into his arms and feel her warmth that he had missed so much but he knew that now was not the right time. Instead, he allowed himself to place his hand on the dip of her back, trying to convince himself that she was actually there and not some dream (or nightmare). In secrecy, he even pinched himself several times just in case it was a dream and he was going to wake up, alone and dejected again. Too many times had that happened.
The regulars had decided to let the couple talk it out in the locker rooms while they distract Tahe with what else? Tennis.
"I was in Fukuoka… Then Osaka… Then Hokkaido…and then back here in Tokyo…" Sakuno answered in a small voice. Tezuka was taking everything in until he realised something.
"How did you afford it?" Ever since she left, nothing was taken out of their joint account even after later he did not sign to separate their accounts so their joint account still exists but it was never touched by her. That was her livelihood and he knew it. Thus, he kept it open in hopes to be able to contribute even slightly to her having a good life but also in hopes to get information to her location to when she would use the account.
In response to his question, Sakuno just shrugged, not looking at him but at the floor and not really saying anything. After a few minutes of silence, Tezuka spoke again.
"I could've helped you with him. I could've helped you with our son. We talked about this. We talked about children." Tezuka was trying very hard to understand. He wanted an explanation.
"I know." Was Sakuno's cryptic answer.
"THEN WHY DID YOU NOT EVEN LET ME KNOW THAT I HAD A SON?!" Tezuka raised his voice, moving to stand in front of the only woman he loved, anger masking the hurt and confusion in his voice. Sakuno again, did not reply but just started sobbing quietly into her hands, her shoulders seemed smaller than even as she sobs wracked her body. Tezuka knew then that he had gotten too far and any further, she might walk out of his life again and never see her. His regulars explained to him that they only found her purely by chance and it was very likely that she will disappear again if he pushed too hard. So instead, he took a deep breath to steady himself before pulling her small body against his, finally feeling the softness and the warmth that he has missed for years.
"I love you," Tezuka said quietly. Sakuno clenched her hands into his shirt and she started sobbing into his chest, letting out all the hurt she has endured in the past years when she desperately tried to convince herself that she would be okay without him.
"I know." Tezuka's heart wrenched itself and it was difficult to breath when he did not hear her say it back to him. He responded by holding her tightly which might have been hurting her but he did not know. He only knows that this was the most alive he felt in years and he could not lose her again.
Tezuka felt her bury her head into the crook of his neck and breath heavily. Before long, he felt her tears running down his neck.
"Do you still love me?" he asked quietly. Her only answer was her burying herself even closer to him, arms drawn even tighter around him like she was never going to see him again after this. The locker room drowned in her sobs and the drops of tears that slid down the man's face and hit the bare skin on her neck.
After what seemed like hours, Sakuno unraveled her arms from around him and slightly pushed him away with her shaking hands. Tezuka did not want to but he relented and pulled away but still kept his arms around her while they stared at each other, memorizing every detail and committing it to memory. Even the feel of her warmth and body against him would be something he will remember from this day forward.
"You're not telling me anything," Tezuka commented, looking into her eyes. A sad smile appeared on her face as she shook her head. "You're leaving again after this aren't you?" With this, Sakuno could not stop her tears as they fell as she leaned upwards to kiss him on cheek. Very much like a kiss goodbye but Tezuka turned his head at the last minute to capture her lips with his. They did not deepen the kiss but just kissed like it was their first but none of the awkwardness. All too soon, Sakuno broke away.
"Don't leave me again. Please." Tezuka begged. After a few seconds has passed, Sakuno finally spoke.
"You don't usually talk this much." A sad smile appeared on her face as she cupped his face with one hand.
"I'm sorry I didn't make you happy." Sakuno shook her head.
"You're wrong…" Sakuno smiled sadly at him and continued, "The first few years were the happiest years of my life… Sure, now I have Tahe with me but nothing can compare to those years. I know that things didn't work out but the feelings then were true and genuine and the happiness you gave me will last through the years and it is enough. At least, I have to keep telling myself that. We did have a good thing. Probably much better than most couples would ever get to experience but…" Sakuno looked away, took a deep breath before she continued. "…but not only was our relationship on the rocks, there is so much that is against us. We can't do this again, Tezuka."
"Is there nothing I can do?" Tezuka was now grasping at straws and if it wasn't for the silence in the locker room, he would never have heard her reply.
"I wish there was…"
"Sakuno-chan! Tahe-chan…!" Kikumaru burst into the locker room. Under normal circumstances, he would have blushed red from head to toe to catch his buchou and his…baby mama? during such a sensitive and delicate moment but the panic in his eyes quickly alerted the young mother.
"What's wrong?!" With more strength than she thought she had, she easily broke out of Tezuka's hold, adrenaline running through her body. Without even waiting for Oishi's reply, she ran out of the room to the tennis courts and cold set into her body when she saw her little boy in Fuji's arms. What came out of her mouth next confused everyone.
"What did they do?!"
