Opening Credits:
Haru no Ao
Sakura saku hi ni Omoi no hane wo todokete Negai wo sora ni hanatsu
Uta yo todoite Shouri no hana wo sakasete Itsu made mo inotteru
Kono akogare ga umareta basho e FENCE-goshi ni tatazumu
Kata wo narabete Aa Arukitai Amaete wa irarenai
BALL wo oikaketa hibi Muda ni wa dekinai tsuyoku naritai
Hanabira maite Kokoro wo ao ni someage Negai wo sora ni hanatsu
Omoi todoite Mirai mo yume mo kibou mo Kono te ni tsukamitoreru
Sakura saku hi ni Omoi no hane wo todokete Negai wo sora ni hanatsu
Omoi todoke yo Tsubasa Hirogete tobitate Koko kara mimamotteru
Episode seven: Christmas Special part one
Today was Sunday, another day when our favorite couple are on their day off from school or work. Ryoma is an international tennis star, and lately, his manager, Inui-senpai began to make his debut on the modeling world, much to the prince's dismay. Soon, according to Inui-senpai, Ryoma would be the next award-winning Hollywood actor. Like hell he'll ever let that happen.
Sakuno, his girlfriend on the other hand, only takes tennis as a hobby—but takes it really seriously. Her real profession is at arts, and sometimes modeling. Of course, Ryoma made sure that she's NEVER going to pose in front of a camera WITH A GUY, except for him, ESPECIALLY, if the pose is INTIMATE. Ryoma made sure that Sakuno's manager understood all of that (read: via death threats). She's also been discovered lately as a great singer, 'Flying Cherry' and 'Haru no ao' being one of the best she sang.
Come to think of it, Sakuno was really shy and she'll never pose in front of a camera wearing some sort of ridiculous outfit that fashion designers think as works of art (no offense). He remembered suddenly that he was the reason why she was now on the modeling industry. Yes, it was almost three years ago when Sakuno began modeling-
"Ryoma-kun, there you are," Sakuno said while descending the stairs. She looked at Ryoma, who was sitting on the couch, watching some sort of cartoon (read: Spongebob Squarepants). "I've been looking everywhere for you…"
Ryoma smirked, "Missed me?"
Sakuno blushed and ignored his comment. She sat down next to him and said, "There's only two more weeks before Christmas…"
Ryoma sighed and turned the television off. He placed the remote on the coffee table across them and leaned back on the couch, "So?"
Sakuno blushed, obviously indicating that she wants to say something but was too shy to say it, "So…" she began playing with her fingers.
Ah, Christmas. Back when he was younger, he didn't really care. He just wanted the holiday to get over with and turn things back to normal. He didn't like his relatives coming over, pestering him about how he was turning into a man, or how his tennis skills exactly match his father's. It was so darn annoying.
Keyword: was.
After he and Sakuno started dating five years ago, he suddenly felt the happiness of Christmas and his birthday. He only simply asked for kisses during the occasion from her, but she never failed to give him presents like scarves, lucky charms, home-made cookies and a gold wristwatch. Simple presents, yet it perfectly described how simple she is. (A/N: Ryoma, the last one was not a simple present)
And he remembered what he wanted this year. Yes –insert evil smirk here- a present that only Sakuno could give: two nights of non-stop love-making. Well, it's for his birthday and Christmas after all. Both different days. Period.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked.
"If… anou… m-maybe… c-can I m-make a request… for a C-Christmas present…?" she asked timidly.
"Sure," he replied, too suddenly for Sakuno's comfort. "What do you want?" He's going to request something for his birthday and Christmas too, so why not let her?
Sakuno gaped at Ryoma's sudden approval. "I-I want to spend it with Isumi-chan's friends at the orphanage she grew up from…"
"Sou darou ka… okay then-" he paused upon realizing Sakuno's request. She wants to spend Christmas with the rat and his friends!
"Really Ryoma-kun? Thank you!" she jumped to him and hugged him tightly. "I'm so grateful!"
"W-Wait! C-Can't you just ask for an international airline or a diamond necklace or a new mansion or something?" he blurted out.
At this, Sakuno pouted. "Mou, Ryoma-kun… I'm not a materialistic woman… and you already approved! Don't worry, you'll come with me, so everything is going to be fine, ne?" she flashed her cutest smile to him.
Ryoma stared at her for a second and sighed, "Are you sure you don't want me to buy you Europe instead?"
"Nope."
Ryoma sighed again. But this won't stop his determination of getting his presents this year! No matter what, he needs to make sure that Sakuno will still give him the presents he requested for those days!
_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_
"EH! YOU WANT TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH ME SAKUNO-SAMA!" Isumi yelled in surprise.
Sakuno smiled and nodded.
Then Isumi sparkled. Her eyes turned into hearts and unknowingly, she began to float!
"I'm also going, rat."
Isumi suddenly dropped on the ground and the sparkling aura she had immediately changed into dark gloomy ones.
Ryoma smirked and bent down to whisper something on Isumi's ear, "Like hell I'll let you be alone with her… considering you're a guy and all."
_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_
"WHAT! O'CHIBI'S GOING TO KYOTO!" Eiji yelled, making the food come out of his mouth.
Unfortunately, the victim of the bomb was Momo. His eyes turned into a straight line as he wiped his face with a towel to get rid of some rice that had disgustingly stuck into his face. "Disgusting, Eiji-senpai…"
"D-Demo Momo, you heard what Inui said! O'chibi and Saku-chan are going to Yunokawa Orphanage at Kyoto! KYOTO!" Eiji said.
"Yes, Kikumaru. We heard all of it. Now, sit down," Tezuka said in a scolding tone, making Eiji sit down.
They were having their regular monthly feast at Kawamura Sushi Shop. That's when Inui informed them that Sakuno asked Ryoma to go to the orphanage where Isumi used to grow up. He found their reactions unsatisfying and therefore, he continued.
"I've also recently found out from Renji that Isumi Akihara was actually a guy."
"Isumi?" they all asked in unison.
"Ah! The maid with Sakuno-chan before!" Fuji said after he remembered.
A flame of determination suddenly filled the blood of a certain red-haired acrobat. "YOU HEARD HIM! ISUMI-CHAN WAS ACTUALLY ISUMI-KUN! SO THAT MEANS WE MUST PROTECT O'CHIBI AND SAKU-CHAN'S RELATIONSHIP!" he said with added fire in the background.
Oishi brought out a fire extinguisher and 'extinguish' the 'fire' that was Eiji's flames of determination with a sweat drop.
"YOU WITH ME, MOMO?" he leaned so close to Momo, their noses almost touched.
Shadows suddenly covered Momo's eyes and after a few seconds, his background also turned into fire.
"I'M WITH YOU, SENPAI! WE MUST ALWAYS MAKE SURE THAT ECHIZEN WON'T DO SOMETHING STUPID AGAIN!"
Oishi turned his fire extinguisher to Momo's background.
Tezuka sighed.
Fuji smiled.
Inui wrote down something in his notebook.
Kaidoh hissed and sighed.
Taka smiled weakly.
Oishi turned the fire extinguisher off.
And Momo and Eiji's eyes were burning.
"LET'S GO TO KYOTO!"
_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_
"Here we are," Isumi said happily as she leads Ryoma and Sakuno to the door. "Welcome to Yunokawa Kojiin! Yunokojii for short!" (Kojiin- orphanage)
The door suddenly opened, revealing a wrinkled old woman wearing a black dress underneath a white plain apron. "Oh my, Isamu, you're home… and you brought company…" Looks like the old woman knows who Isumi really is…
Isumi (Isamu) paled and nervously shut the old woman's mouth with her hand.
"Isamu? Isn't that a boy's name?" Sakuno looked at Ryoma.
"Yes. It is a very manly name," Ryoma replied, smirking at Isumi's wretched state.
"Why did she call her Isamu then?" Sakuno asked again.
Isumi immediately went towards Sakuno, after whispering the whole story to the old woman, and said nervously, "Y-You see, Sakuno-sama… I h-have a twin brother- yes, a twin brother- named Isamu… obaa-san often mistake me for him… hehehe…"
Sakuno looked confusedly at the old woman, who sweat dropped and said, "Y-Yes… I always mistake those twins as each other. I apologize… wait-"
Sakuno stepped back when the old woman pointed her index finger at her, "Y-You're Ryuzaki Sakuno, the model!"
Sakuno gulped and nodded.
"And you-" she now pointed her finger on Ryoma's face, "You're the legendary tennis player!"
Ryoma lowered the brim of his cap and muttered a low, "Hn."
The old woman turned to glare at Isumi. Isumi gulped and laughed nervously. "It's a long story, I suppose. Get inside, Echizen-san, Ryuzaki-san and I-SU-MI," the old woman said as she opened the door for them.
"Gomen, Mayoko-obaa-san… I didn't tell you sooner…" Isumi said as she walked beside Mayo-baa-san as she led the two international stars on the hallway.
Mayo-baa-san stopped in front of a wooden door and opened it, "This is the orphanage's lobby. You may stay here while I speak first with Isam- I mean Isumi."
She smiled gently as she closed the door, only to have her smile turn into a glare as she turned to Isumi, "ISAMU! WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING THESE PAST FEW MONTHS! I THOUGHT YOU WERE ONLY GOING TO WORK AT TOKYO AS A WAITER OR SOMETHING!"
Isumi shrunk literally as Mayo continued to scold her. After Mayo stopped, she finally answered, in a chibified form, "G-Gomenasai, Mayoko-chan! It's just… I know you're not going to let me go if you found out I applied to be a maid in Echizen's mansion. So I lied…"
Isumi sweat dropped when Mayoko continued to glare at her, "And what about the Isumi Akihara thing? Did you forget that your name is Isamu Akimoto?"
"But Mayoko-chan! You know I prefer to be called by my female name!"
"You are a guy!" And that female name is actually your…
"At first, I was a guy, but then I wanted to be a cross-dresser, and then I finally closed my male heart, and then I turned into a guy again!"
A vein popped on Mayoko's head. "THEN WHY ARE YOU STILL CALLING YOURSELF ISUMI!" And why chose that girl's name of all people?
"Because! The woman that I love," Isumi suddenly sparkled again, "thinks I'm a girl. And I don't want to risk the friendship we already had!"
Mayoko sighed and was about to reprimand her some more when Isumi suddenly yelled. "W-What is it now, Isamu?"
"Oh no! W-What if Sakuno-sama heard what we've been talking about! They're just inside this room!" she yelled in panic as she opened the door slowly.
Her eyes widened and turned into jealousy once she saw what is happening inside.
Sakuno was wearing earphones, listening to music while Ryoma continued to pick songs to play on his iPod for her to listen. Ryoma turned his head to look at Isumi; he smirked and said, "You were too loud. I was afraid Sakuno might hear you blurt out your own secret."
Isumi glared and was about to yell at him when a bunch of kids appeared out of nowhere and started tapping Ryoma and Sakuno's arms and legs. Sakuno opened her eyes and removed her earphones. She smiled at a young girl who was wearing pigtails and has brown hair. "Hello there, young lady. I'm Sakuno. What's your name?"
The young girl grinned and answered, "Eri desu!"
"Ne, Sakuno," a boy about the same age as Eri said to get Sakuno's attention, "carry me! You seem to have a soft body!"
Then, Ryoma carried the boy, a gleam of madness coming out of the prince's eyes as he grinned mischievously at the boy, "Mine."
The boy glared at him and bit his fingers, making Ryoma let go of him, "Sakuno! Carry me!" he said as he spread out his arms.
Sakuno forced a smile as she looked at Ryoma who was making the pain on his fingers go away, "All right!" she said as she sat the boy on her lap, "What's your name?"
"Eichii desu! Eri-chan no onii-chan!" he replied. (lit. Eri-chan's big brother)
Sakuno smiled happily as she noticed that the two were twins, "Cool! Eichii-kun and Eri-chan, yoroshiku!"
Speaking of twins…
"Ne, Isumi-chan, where's your twin brother?"
A bunch of other kids stared menacingly at Isumi who stood nervously by the door. "Isamu-onii-san is nearby," they said in unison; enjoying Isumi's pain. Apparently, they heard what Mayoko and Isumi were talking about earlier. Their Isamu-nii-san had transformed into Isumi-nee-chan. They're a bunch of little Fujis.
"Really? Where?"
Ryoma stood up and violently grabbed Eichii away from Sakuno. He smirked as he replied, "Maybe he's in this room, ne Akihara?"
Isumi started to sweat continuously.
"Ryoma-kun? Have you met Isamu-kun already?"
"Kind of," he grinned sheepishly at Isumi.
_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_
Fortunately for Isumi, Sakuno bought the idea that Isamu was away on a trip and will not be returning for another twenty years or so. And that he was an anti-social bastard, who never wants to communicate with anyone besides the people in Yunokojii. She's pretty gullible after all.
They now sat around the dining table, with bowls of soup prepared for each of them. There are twelve seats on either side of the table and one on each end. All twenty-six of them eating dinner together. "Ryoma-kun," Sakuno whispered, "I think we should let the maids and butlers eat with us when we get home. We have a huge table after all."
"No," he bluntly replied as he sipped his soup, "Seconds please," he said to Mayoko as he held the empty bowl in front of her. Sakuno nudged him at what he did, "Ryoma-kun, be more polite! They needed the food more than you do!"
Ryoma sighed and stood up, "Fine. Mayoko-san, I'll donate thirty percent of my current overall income for the orphanage every year. In return, you must use the money for the right thing: upgrade everything; from food to architecture." Unlucky for them of he didn't join any tournaments nor did some modeling work this year. It means they'll receive nothing… or will they? Ryoma really have no idea how much he earns a year, whether he played in tournaments or not.
Everyone gaped at Ryoma's sudden proposal.
"What?" Ryoma asked densely as he stared at the gaping people surrounding him.
He decided to donate more or less thirty million dollars for the orphanage every year if it meant he was having a proper meal during his nine days of stay in the orphanage! What, is this guy made of money?
"A-Anou… Ryoma-kun?"
"Saa, I'll call Koyuki to make the transfer of money now," he said as he puts out his cell phone. "I'll hire some professional chefs on the way, as well."
"R-Ryoma-kun…"
"WHOA! ONII-CHAN IS FILTHY RICH!" the children yelled.
"Dunno my current balance is for this year, though. Didn't play in tournaments much since I went back to school. You might only receive fifty million for this year, 's that okay?" he asked nonchalantly at the gaping Mayoko.
Mayoko was speechless and could only nod. Ryoma smirked and said that they'll only need to sign some paperwork to make it official (and legal) and everything will be fine.
Sakuno sighed. Ryoma's at it again.
_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_
"No! Even though you donated –gulp- fifty million dollars (which is waaaaaaaaay more than enough to last for twenty years or more) to the orphanage, I will still not allow you to sleep in the same room with Sakuno-sama!" Isumi protested as she fed a baby a bottle of milk.
Ryoma, Sakuno and some children were at the orphanage's mini library. Sakuno was reading to the children the 'Beauty and the Beast' story as they gathered in front of her. Ryoma, meanwhile, was sitting on a couch reading a thick book with his eyeglasses on. He nonchalantly ignored Isumi's protest.
"Are you even listening to me!" Isumi yelled.
"Ne Isamu," Ryoma said her real name, making her glare daggers at him, "You seem to be forgetting that I am your master. I hired you (technically, his mom) and you better show me respect, if you don't want me to fire you."
Isamu- Isumi glanced at Sakuno's direction.
Sakuno noticed and smiled at her.
Isumi smiled back and sighed as she turned to Ryoma's direction, "Moushi wake arimasen," she apologized as she bowed.
After a few minutes, Sakuno noticed that the children were getting sleepy. She smiled as she asked help from Mayoko and Isumi to bring the kids back to their room.
The only ones left in the room now were Ryoma, Sakuno and Mayoko. Isumi went to her room and slept already. Mayoko smiled gently as she served the two guests some tea. "Thank you, Ryuzaki-san, Echizen-san, for taking care of Isumi for me," she said.
Sakuno sipped some tea before she replied, "It's okay. I'm sorry for our intrusion, though."
"Oh, no need to apologize! And you're not intruding at all! The children looked happy when they saw new faces arrive at the Yunokojii earlier."
"How's business?" Ryoma asked as he continued reading his book.
Mayoko's saddened expression was enough answer for the two of them.
Sakuno tried to ease up the tension, "A-Anyway… Ryoma-kun offered to give the Yunokojii fifty million dollars every year, so business should hike up, right?"
At that statement, Mayoko's eyes flickered, "Oh yes, it just might! Considering the amount of money Echizen-san donated, we could also advertise Yunokojii as one of the orphanages Echizen-san often visits!"
"But you should renovate the house first," Ryoma said.
Sakuno smiled and Mayoko nodded, "Hontou ni arigatou gozaimasu, Echizen-san!"
"Hn."
"Anyway, seems like you're pretty close with Isumi-chan. Are you the one who took care of her when she was young?" Sakuno asked as she stared at the window.
"Yes. Isumi is a pretty hard working boy- I mean girl. She always thinks of the other children first before herself. Sure, she may be aggressive most of the time, but she has a really sensitive heart. She just masked herself as tough so that no one will pick on her friends."
"Isumi-chan… she wanted to be her friends' protector?"
"Right," Mayoko sipped her tea before she said, "By the way she acts now… it's as if she didn't have such a tragic past."
Their surroundings fell into a deep silence.
"T-Tragic past?"
Ryoma looked up from his book to focus on what Mayoko is about to say.
"Yes. She was born in a normal family before… that happened…"
_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_
"Onii-chan!" a little cheerful girl called out to her big brother. She had long straight blonde hair and emerald eyes, similar to her twin brother who just sat under a tree near her. Their emerald eyes met, and the older one smiled back at his sister.
"Isumi," the older one said, "Be careful where you run around, you might stumble and hurt yourself," he said in a gentle tone.
The little girl pouted cutely and huffed, "Mou, onii-chan! I'm already eleven years old! I can take care of myself!" the little girl pointed her index finger at the older boy, "And you're the same age as I, don't act like you're ten years older!"
"The way I act is more mature than you, that's for sure, Isumi," the boy answered back, but his eyes showed gentleness.
The little girl turned her back disapprovingly, "Mou, Isamu-nii-chan, so mean!"
The older boy laughed. He ran his hand through his curly blonde hair and leaned back on the tree he was resting under. "And Isumi-chan is so cute," he pictured himself pinching his little sister's cheeks, teasing her even more.
"Mou!" Isumi yelled in frustration. Then, Isamu showed his little sister the magazine he was reading. He opened a page where it featured a twelve-year-old boy wearing a Fila cap, while holding his red racket. Surrounding him were other middle-school students celebrating their win at the Kantou tournament, against Rikkai University.
"Consider this as my apology, imouto-chan," Isamu said in a teasing tone. He noticed that the little girl did not bother to turn around to face him so he said, "This issue features Echizen Ryoma's win at the Kantou Tournament. You think they'll win at the nationals?"
Then, as quick as a bullet, his little sister came snatching the magazine from his hands, "Of course he'll win! Ryoma-sama is the best!" she said with hearts coming out from her body.
Isamu smiled again.
Ending Credits:
Egao no Ryuu
Itsumo no wake up sukoshi mae
CURTAIN no mukou wa Mabushii Morning call
Ugokidasu yo Ichinichi ga
Kyou wa So Nani ga okiru
Sunadokei no you ni Hitotsubu hitotsubu
Nagareteku Tsuioku wa
Itsu no ma ni ka Bokura wa yattekita
Furikaeru to Tookute
Futo kizukeba Hitori ja nai kara ne
Egao no riyuu Kimi ga iru kara
_-_-_-_PoT_-_-_-_
A/N: That would be the end of Christmas special part one! Stay tuned for part two! Oh, and in case you are confused... you'll find out everything in the next part: who the Isumi in the flashback is, and who Isamu is. But I guess you guys already know :) And if there are more questions, I'll answer it on the next update :D
P.S. I've decided to use 'she' to refer Isumi the rat. Except when Ryoma is teasing her. Please review, onegaishimasu!
Disclaimer always applies.
