Chapter 11

Almost Normal

A/N: Just snippets of how their lives are now, three months down the road from the whole new-year fiasco. Can you tell how things aren't fully normal?

"I know your not going to let him beat you!"

Atobe looked over his shoulder quickly at the women sitting at the edge of the court. His form hadn't changed from High School as he served the ball to a ready and waiting Ryoma. Rayah laughed and turned her attention back to her nephew, Kyo, who was trying to pull his twin brother's hair.

"Jeez Yuki, You and Yagyuu have some beautiful children. Their personalities are questionable, but they're extremely cute."

The blue-eyed woman blushed, "I'm sure yours and Atobe's children will be just as cute and questionable."

Rayah sighed wistfully and chuckled, "Yeah."

"Thirty love!" Yagyuu shouted from the other end of the court. Oishi scribbled away on his clipboard next to him.

Yuki readjusted Kai on her lap, "So how have you been Ray? You seem so happy."

"I am happy dammit." She giggled, "Just so much is going smoothly, there hasn't been any drama in almost two months. I'm liking the track record since then."

"Well, Yumi told me about the drugs you were taking. How's that?"

Rayah rolled her eyes, "They weren't drugs. Just sleeping pills."

"Are you still taking them?"

"Fifteen thirty!"

The woman ignored the question so Yuki pushed, "Rayah, are you still taking the pills?"

"Only when I travel with a time difference. I need some kind of sleep."

"Ray…"

"Don't Ray me. I. Am. Fine. This is as close to normal as I've been since Christmas."

Yuki shook her head, "Okay. Just be careful."

"Yeah yeah."

"Match point!"

Rayah laughed, "You're not gonna make it Kei! You're too old!"

"Ore-sama is not-!"

Ryoma grabbed the winning point while the older man wasn't paying attention. Rayah continued to laugh, "We still got it Ryo."

"Now princess you know that wasn't fair."

Keiko folded her arms and poked out her lips, "Auntie Rayah that wasn't very nice."

Yuki giggled as Rayah turned to her, "Your child says I'm not nice. Does she not know who she is?"

Yagyuu lifted his daughter into his arms, "It wasn't mean. It's strategy."

"Okay daddy."

Atobe puffed out his chest, "You wanted Ore-sama to lose, traitor."

Ryoma pushed through the taller males so he could be seen, "Mada mada dane. Can we eat now?"

Rayah plucked his forehead, "Your stomach is on autopilot."

"Ore-sama says food now rematch later."

"Your honor my client had no motive in poisoning his wife."

"And how is that Mr. Tezuka?"

"My client has a legitimate alibi. He was working during the time the maid called poison control. There was no way he could have made it from down town L.A. to the suburbs to poison his wife then make it all the way back to work. "

The judge shifted in her seat, "Go on. What was his lack of motive?"

"The motive here appears to be jealousy. The rumor is that Mrs. Rivers was cheating on my client. When in reality she was being stalked."

The courtroom gasped, Tezuka Kunimitsu had done it again. This is what he was known for as a defense lawyer. He could find the things no one else could and bring those wrongly accused back to whatever pronounced status they were at before their reputation was ruined.

The judge banged her mallet harshly against the wood before her, "Order! Order! Mr. Tezuka, if you would please inform the court of Mrs. Rivers stalker."

"Jonah Seamore."

Mr. Rivers stood form his seat next to Tezuka and looked behind him to his business partner, "Jonah?"

"It wasn't me David! I would never think of your wife as anything more than a friend."

The judge narrowed her sharp brown eyes on the man, "Mr. Seamore if you would please take the stand."

Tezuka took a sip of the water on the desk and put a hand on his client's shoulder. He relaxed and put his full faith in his lawyer to end this and end it now. His wife was in the hospital, recovering. Mr. Rivers wanted to be able to tell her that everything would be ok.

"Mr. Seamore. We all know that the only person who can tell us what happened to her is in the hospital, unable to speak because of the poison."

A flash of something covered the man's face and Tezuka jumped on it, "How do you feel about that?"

"Extremely upset. Elisa is an important friend."

"Elisa? So you and Mrs. Rivers are on a first name basis. If I recall, you and Mr. Rivers have only been partners for less than a year and friends for much less."

Jonah pulled on his collar a bit, "Yes, but we've dinned together several times and attended an abundance of business parties. I…"

"And what was your first thought when you came across Mrs. Rivers?"

"I thought she was…I thought she was beautiful! Is that really wrong?"

Tezuka gave one of his rare, small, and creepy smiles. I smile that said I'm going to win this, "Of course it isn't wrong Mr. Seamore. But did that feeling, that thought, ever go away?"

David Rivers was on the edge of his seat, waiting for his partner to say something, anything. And Tezuka's voice, his aura, it demanded the truth.

"No! It didn't go away! I fell in love with her and she wouldn't have it!"

"Jonah!"

"Shut up David! I have more money in this business relationship but she wanted you! If I couldn't have her than you didn't deserve her."

The judge had heard enough, "Jonah Seamore you are under arrest for the attempted murder of Elisa Rivers. Court is adjourned. Mr. Rivers, you are free to go."

Tezuka smoothed the wrinkles from his suit and this time put a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. He felt so good, he was back in his niche and could only attribute it to his now stress free life.

Tezuka's cell rang as he escaped the reporters and climbed into the black car that picked him up, "Hello?"

"Hey Kunimitsu. I was thinking dinner later. How about it?"

"I'm free."

Aiyumi giggled, "Then maybe we could try this new dessert I've heard so much about."

He couldn't resist the urge to roll his eyes, "What is it called?"

"Niharo Al A Mode."

"Princess?"

"Hm?"

Atobe put an arm around the woman's waist and pulled her closer to him, breathing in the scent of her hair, "What do you dream about?"

"Kei, what kind of question is that?"

"Just answer for Ore-sama."

Rayah sighed, "High school. Why?"

He didn't answer for a moment as he moved to kiss the back of her neck, "You walk around with your head in the clouds a lot. It worries me."

She bit her lip, "We're about to get married, I'm happy and daydreaming all the time because of that. Just relax."

"Do you miss Kunimitsu?"

"Honestly?"

"Please. Ore-sama would like an honest answer."

Rayah sat up in the bad and faced Atobe, "Yes. I do miss him, I have him to thank for most of who I am today. But I have you, so even though I do miss him, I don't need or want him back. I have you." She plucked his nose, "Now don't bring this shit up anymore."

Atobe laughed and knocked the woman back down and rolled on top of her, "You'll always be Ore-sama's princess?"

"Only if at some point I can be queen." She answered smartly.

"Of course."