[A/N] To all dearest readers of this story, please take time to re-read 'It's About Time' from the beginning as I've made changes in its construction. I hope that these changes improved the story as what I hoped. Though the plot stayed the same, I edited some details and events to better portray the characters.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. (Minus the plot of this story and the OCs).
o o o
Chapter 10
Restrained
*flashback*
During the Christmas vacation when Sakuno was finally a senior in High School, she was thrilled of the news that Ryoma is flying to Japan to celebrate with his family, as he always would every year. . . meaning she can see him this year too!
She hurriedly went home and changed clothes when the last day of school for the year ended, looking forward to coming to the airport to welcome him. For many years now, since occasionally coming to Japan, Sakuno would always be present in welcoming him home, though during Middle School, it was originally just one of Nanjiro's ways to tease his son, but now it has become a habit, more like a tradition.
When she went out again, waiting for Nanjiro to fetch her, she was meant to face a horrible confession.
A guy from another school was apparently waiting for her outside their gate, a bouquet of roses in his hand.
He inhaled deeply, "Ryuzaki Sakuno, I have admired you since our freshman years. We met at a tennis tournament when you came to our school with the Seigaku Team. Please be my girlfriend!" He exclaimed without pause, bowing low, while his arms extended for her to take the flowers.
However, Sakuno cannot take his confession, or his flowers at that. She politely rejected the guy, bowing formally, "I am sorry, but I believe someone else deserves you better."
"Why?" she heard the guy mumble.
"I'm sorry but I also have someone I like," she answered timidly.
His facial expression hardened and he was glaring at her. Suddenly scared, she wanted to retreat inside the house but she has locked the door and before she knew it, the guy hit her with the bouquet of roses and it slapped her face hard, its thorns leaving wounds where they came in contact with.
By the time Nanjiro has arrived, Sakuno was sobbing by the gate, shielding her face from something which is not there. When he checked, her pretty face had multiple cuts.
He rushed her to the hospital, and that day, Ryoma came home alone.
*flashback ends*
o o o
After the Echizen household and its guests had lunch, Sakuno helped Nanako with the dishes but was quick to say her goodbye as well. Obviously in a hurry, the elders didn't had much chance to ask her why.
She went home straight to get her things before finally heading out of their house, and go straight to Tokyo. On the way out, she dialled the Echizen household's phone to inform her grandma that she will be coming home again next week and that today she needed to come back to Tokyo immediately.
But when she opened the gate, she was met by the person she was rushing away from. He was on the act of knocking when the door swung open. In her surprise, she closed the gate on his face, but he was faster (and stupid) and stuck his hand by the frame so when she closed it, he was injured. He yelped in pain.
Alarmed, she opened it immediately and was fast to worry about Ryoma's hand.
"Oh my god! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, oh my god I'm sorry. What should I do?" She panicked, enough to make her teary eyed.
The dark-haired gentleman who was crouching in pain, tried to smile for her, "I'm fine, I'm fine." But she wouldn't have it.
"No, no. You're not fine. What if you're not fine? What if you can't play tennis anymore? No, no, please no. Let's go to the hospital." She was clearly in panic, her tears about to fall.
"Sakuno," he called gently. He met her eyes, "I'll be fine. Okay? But just stay with me."
She nodded obediently, oblivious to what he was meaning to say, tears flowing on her cheeks.
Ryoma laughed softly on her obedience and shallow tears and also for he knew that she probably missed the whole sense of his last sentence. But he brushed away her tears with his uninjured hand, still relieved and comforted despite the pain.
They went to the hospital, Sakuno driving Ryoma's Subaru, much to his surprise.
"You drive?" Ryoma wondered.
"Occasionally." She replied while securing her seatbelt, and then helping him with his, "better be safe," she whispered.
The passenger smiled to himself when he recalled.
Apparently, his injury was worse than he imagined, his forefinger and middle finger fractured and his knuckles battered as well.
As his guardian, Sakuno was taught how to bandage the injury properly.
While she was getting a tutorial, the rest of the family arrived in the hospital.
"Ryoma, what happened?" Ryomas's mom asked warily.
"Just fractured fingers and battered knuckles." He replied dryly, not wanting to worry his mom more.
He received a smack to his head, "those are serious injuries, you dumbass. . . and that wasn't what I was asking, how did this happen?"
"He still has his other hand," Nanjiro pointed out.
Realizing the presence of the Echizens and her grandma, Sakuno excused herself to greet the visitors, or more like to apologize.
"Auntie, Uncle, I AM REALLY SORRY FOR CAUSING YOUR SON SO MUCH PAIN!" She apologized bowing deeply.
The couple looked at it each other knowingly, Nanjiro replied, "Sakuno-chan, lift your head, it's not your fault that my son is lacking in many ways," glaring at his son, "I understand that you rejected him."
Sakuno tilted her head in confusion, but Mrs. Echizen continued, "I am truly saddened that you will not bear my grandchildren. . . how cute and good-looking would they be if it was you, but you need not apologize for dumping Ryoma."
Ryoma cleared his throat calling his parents' attention, "guys, she means this." He cleared, raising his injured hand.
Their faces lit up with realization and relief, then confusion next.
Nevertheless, as it was established, Sakuno would be Ryoma's guardian.
"He'll be back in his normal condition after a month, so you do not need to worry. He can still play tennis as long as he has his hands." The doctor reassured, Sakuno sighed in relief.
o o o
Sakuno drove Ryoma's car to Tokyo.
The ride was typically quiet but at least they now have a valid conversation starter.
"How's your injury?"
"Fine, I guess."
"Hm."
". . ."
". . ."
"You know, I can do the bandaging myself, so you should not bother about it."
"What? No. It was my fault it happened to you. I take full responsibility."
". . ."
"Or is Misaki a better choice?"
"Misaki?"
"Well, yeah, you might be less troubled if it was her, right?"
"She wasn't the one who closed the door on me."
"But she's a doctor, she might know better."
"Well, yes she is. But you're my guardian. And you just said you'll take full responsibility."
"But. . ."
"And didn't you promised to stay with me?"
"W-when did I . . .?" she asked frantically but blushed when she remembered.
Ryoma raised his brows and smirked at her.
"But you like her, don't you?"
"In the past. But why does it matter suddenly?" The lad answered straightforwardly.
"And I see you still have a good relationship with her." She pouted in her head.
"And I see you're jealous." He said sardonically.
"W-what?! N-no I'm not!" she replied, blushing.
Ryoma laughed, "Okay. I'm sorry,"
". . ."
"Did you see the tennis ball I left for you?" he asked randomly.
"Y-yes, I did."
"Did you understand?"
"Are you sure you left the right ball?"
He smiled, "stay with me until you figure out what it means." He said with utter seriousness in his tone, "or rather, I'll stay with you until then."
"What?"
"I couldn't live alone in this condition, can I?" smirking, he knew he won.
o o o
"Well, isn't this dejavu?" Sakuno wondered to herself as again, she watch three guys move in boxes as directed by a man with feline eyes and an injured hand.
He would help when he can but when he does, Sakuno steps in and grabs whatever he was carrying from him, so he stick with giving orders.
When there are no boxes left to carry, she then helped him out with the organization but he strongly forbade her to open one box which he kept under the bed.
When everything was done, she cooked lunch for them both, contenting Ryoma's stomach. While gobbling his hot curry, however, it spilled on his white shirt. Sakuno moved with urgency and told him to strip so the stain won't set long and so he won't be burnt.
Obediently, he did so but was finding it hard because of his injured hand, naturally the innocent Sakuno offered help.
He stood from his seat and bent forward so Sakuno could pull the shirt free. However, she wasn't prepared for the scene when he straightened. His biceps built for training, made her gulp and his usually hidden well-toned chest and abs almost claimed her consciousness.
Ryoma, observing Sakuno's reaction, teased, "Enjoying the view?"
She flushed bright red at the comment and went away squeezing the shirt at fault . . . which was suddenly stuck at the high-chair's backrest off-putting her mid-step. She was caught in Ryoma's arms and then hard-pressed in his half-naked glory.
She blushed redder, if that was even possible and tried pushing him away so she could run for her life but he was tightly embracing her.
Out of nowhere, she mumbled, "Ryoma-kun, you're hot. . ."
Ryoma blinked several times before she cleared, realizing her own words, "I-I mean your temperature! Your temperature! . . . W-what am I even saying?! I-it's not like that, well it is too, but I mean, that's not what I wanted to say!" pushing him away in the process. When his grip was finally loose, she finally run away.
Ryoma, frozen in his spot, blushed crimson red.
o o o
To be continued. . .
[A/N] read and review, please.cheng: Thanks for the wanting me to keep up the 'good' work. It's nice to know that you appreciate the story. I'll try to keep the flare burning. LOL
hyacinthjasmine22: here's the next chapter for you, hope you liked it.