A/N: It's my 5th anniversary! I can't believe it's been this long already but it has :)
I'm happy to have come all this way with all of you faithful reviewers who stuck through the thick and thin with me. This mass update is for all of you as a thank you.
Thank you again and Read/Review for me as usual!
tsub4ki- You think they were a bit like them ne? But confidence is something I wanted to try out on someone else so Ayu was the outcome. SamJu was created for the most part because it was a pain to type it all out XD
Moonlit Crystals- I will try to put him in more as I'm almost done introducing and getting everyone used to the kids. Now I will bring the Original characters and Thrill back in more often.
MARYLOVER- Yes she's in trouble once Ryota and Ryoma find out. Perhaps Renji better watch his back more after that and yes, Thrill is on its way back because The kids have been implemented into everyone's mind so get ready to see the original cast return.
A Second Chance
Rated: M
Summary: After 15 years away, Ryoma is finally returning to Japan with his 2 kids to take care of his mother after his father's death. Although the place brought back painful memories, he never thought he would meet his old flame there again. Is there a chance they could rebuild what they once had?
Chapter XI: Step One
Tokyo, Japan
Echizen Residence
"Welcome home daddy…" Kanna said entering through the back to see her father settled on the couch.
"Those are?" Her father asked not looking at her but the two behind her.
Following her father's gaze to the twins; she smiled at them a bit tightly in warning before she turned back to her father.
"These are classmates of Ryota and mine daddy," Kanna informed as she sat down next to her dad.
"The Mitsurugi's are here to finish an English project with Ryota and me."
"Oh… yet you were unsupervised."Ryoma said giving both boys a good look-over.
"Which is why I rushed home," Ryota interrupted stepping into the living room.
"Well it seems you got here in record time too Echizen…" Renji commented. "Though it must've been a record run home huh?"
"Hn… don't compare me to a spoiled ass like you who needs drivers to drive you around." Ryota shot back.
"Should we get to the business at hand?" Ren interrupted though his eyes rested on Ryoma. He couldn't believe that the person he admired was actually the father of a snarky Ryota and shy Kanna. He seemed normal enough… yet this seemingly normal man had stood at the pinnacle of the tennis world but a few years ago.
"Practice dad?" Ryota asked watching his father kick his tennis racket up and catch it with his left hand.
"Just a bit… it seems I have some extra energy I haven't gotten rid of after the class." Ryoma said heading out. "Hopefully you'll all be done by dinner?"
"I hope so," Ryota muttered sitting down. "We might as well finish up and ship these two out of here."
"Ryota!" Kanna said with a frown. Really, her father and brother could be so obtuse when they didn't like anyone. "I'm sorry about the tension Mitsurugi-san…"
"I thought we agreed on being less formal Kanna-chan?" Ren reminded as he sat down to take out his own papers.
"Oh… that's right…" Kanna said shifting her gaze to her own bag… she could feel Renji's stare on her and she didn't think she wanted to meet it.
xXx
Ryoma
He didn't have to talk to the boys to know they were like challengers. The looks of both were ones he remembered from his tennis days. If he wasn't wrong, they seemed to view Ryota was a challenging man. Unless… they were after his Kanna…
"Hn…. They wouldn't dare…" Ryoma assured himself as he smashed the tennis ball against the side of the fence. If they did; they'd have more to deal with than just Ryota.
Besides that point though, he had other things that flooded his mind… starting with Syuusuke and ending with that annoying monkey-king.
xXx
Misturugi Residence
Later that night
"Okaeri,"
"Ah…" Ren and Renji muttered to their sister as they entered the house.
"Welcome back young masters," The butler said bowing to both.
"We're back," Ren said before reaching over to rub his little sister's head. This was a usual thing in the Mitsurugi household; no matter what time they walked in through the door. Ren was more than used to the butler ready to take his things to his room for him, his little sister rushing over to greet him and two lines of maids ready to bow and receive orders should he need to give it.
As usual, nothing was out of place in the household. The hallway was neatly swept and the paintings that his mother collected had been dusted and the frame polished… nothing was out of place… not even on the maids and butlers that walked around the household.
"Onii…." Ayu said following Ren towards the stairs to the upper level. "I met SamJu today…"
"Really?" Ren said looking down at her trying to concentrate on the conversation though his mind was already working out his night schedule swiftly. "It must be a coincidence since I met him as well."
"Oh!" Ayu said with a smile. "I played a match with him and he says… I have potential to grow."
"So you lost to him? HA!" Renji said moving away to go upstairs. "You're far from pro imouto!"
"You-"
"That's good Ayu-chan…" Ren said before he left and went upstairs without another word to both his siblings. He was brooding over the fact as to why he didn't take the opportunity to have a match with him either.
'I did have the chance…' Ren thought with a slight frown. He was a bit curious how well he'd fare against an ex-pro
Unknown to Ren; Ayu was sulking from the swift and quick conversation they had. She was feeling a bit neglected since her brothers and parents were so busy…. They never had more than a few words for her before rushing to other places.
xXx
Fuji Residence
"Oji-san…" Yuu said walking into the living room. He didn't even mind the clutter of millions of papers scattered around with different designs. He was used to his uncle and mother pouring over different designs and so forth every night and day in the cozy living room.
"Yeah?" Fuji asked looking up from where he was seated. "Is there something you needed Yuu?"
"I don't really need anything… just more like…. wondering about something small." Yuu said with a slight smile to his uncle. He was used to talking with his uncle casually though people found his uncle quite intimidating. It was this man that practically raised him after his father's death and provided a safe place for him to grow up in and a job for his mother when they were left without anything the day his father died. Instead of intimidation and fear when faced with his uncle, he was filled with ease and comfort when talking to him.
"What is bothering you… I noticed you have been thinking a lot in the past few days as well." Fuji said putting his papers away to focus on his nephew. It had become a routine to drop everything and see to his sister-in-law and nephew's needs rather than his own and work no matter how pressing each issue was…. Perhaps that's why his marriage failed and his employees were always complaining about the numerous meeting he missed when his nephew was sick.
"It's about Echizen…" Yuu said straight-forwardly. "I want to know why you are brooding over the man and your connection to him."
"Am I brooding these days?" Fuji asked.
Yuu nodded. "As am i…."
"It's nothing to worry about… I figured what I do from this point have to be done seriously and slowly if I want to achieve what I want to at this point." Fuji said with a strength Yuu hadn't seen in a while.
"So what your trying to say is Echizen somehow means a lot to you?" Yuu asked.
"He does… maybe even more." Fuji said with hesitation. If he was going to try for a chance he'd have to stop denying everything and face it full force.
"You've changed…" Yuu finally uttered out.
"Have I?" Fuji asked looking at his nephew who smiled at him.
"Aa… for the better I think." Yuu said before excusing himself to leave the room
"Thank you," Fuji said feeling a sense of freedom inside him.
xXx
The Next Day
"Fuji-san?"
Fuji glanced up from his thoughts to see Ryoma's daughter in front of him with a small smile.
"Oh… Kanna-chan… ohayo." Fuji said with a smile as well. He had taken his walk and yet again, ended up closer to Ryoma's home than where he should be headed. He had been contemplating how he could take step one towards Ryoma when the opportunity hit him before he knew it…. Opportunity came in the form of Kanna.
"To you as well," Kanna said with a smile.
"Headed to school?" Fuji asked.
Kanna let out a small musical laugh as she motioned for him to join her on the front steps of the Echizen house. "Of course not; is there school on Sundays now?"
"Eh? Is it Sunday?" Fuji asked with a slight chuckle.
"It is…" Kanna said with a small smile. For some reason she was always hesitant to speak too much to people but with Fuji-san she felt naturally comfortable as if he was Ryota or her father. "Would you like to see some of my horrible art?" She offered seeing his eyes on the sketchbook she held in her hands.
"I'd love to and I think it wouldn't be so horrible when a beautiful girl is drawing it." Fuji said with a smile as he accepted to book from her.
"I don't know if you'd still say that after looking at it." Kanna said with a small smile.
"I don't think my opinion will change Kanna…" Fuji said opening the first page to be introduced to Ryoma's family right off.
His eyes scanned the face of the unknown woman who loved Ryoma. It was the mother of the twins, the woman who was known as Ryoma's wife; the gentle, kind face of Echizen Lina. Kanna had captured her softness and love from the way she drew the eyes and from the way she drew Ryoma; though he held his own poker face, he looked proud of his family from the way his hands rested on his wife and son to the look in his golden eyes.
"That was before mama died…" Kanna said breaking Fuji out of his thoughts with her voice.
"Is that so?" Fuji finally said finding his own voice.
"Yes…" Kanna whispered out.
Unable to say anything more, Fuji turned the page to see Ryoma in a receiving position…turning it again there was another picture depicting a victory with Ryoma's trademark smirk… one he hadn't seen present in the Ryoma that existed now.
"Ne… wanna come in?" Kanna asked after Syuusuke flipped through her entire sketchbook… which wasn't much besides family and friends.
"I… guess?" Fuji said a bit hesitant in case he should run into Ryoma again.
"Don't worry, daddy's not home right now; he had things to do…. I want to show you the years you missed." Kanna said rushing in through the gate. "Do you want to know?"
"I do," Fuji said without a second thought. He wanted… needed to know what he missed out on… it was the only way he could understand.
xXx
Satohashi Modeling Agency
"The magazine was released yesterday," Sagawa informed Nakamuta as he stirred his coffee slowly.
"Oh… how was it?" Nakamuta asked. "The response for Renji, Ryota and Sakura I mean."
"The usual for Renji and Sakura…" Sagawa said looking up at Nakamuta.
"Oh… and Ryota?" Nakamuta asked. "After all… isn't the magazine released a bit early considering the fact that some of the pictures were just taken yesterday as well as the interview?"
"Hn… didn't change the fact that we've garnered over hundreds of requests to see more of him and know more about him… doesn't even change the fact that we've received overseas inquiry on Ryota as well as praise on how professional he is from his old agency… Nakamuta… you've caught a natural head-turner!"
Nakamuta laughed loudly before reaching over to pat Sagawa on the shoulders. "Who would've thought the boy was going to be right about you seeking him out for his own skills!"
"What else are you hiding from me Nakamuta Shuji?" Sagawa asked viewing the cunning old man who was not only a lucky man when finding talents but a sought-out photographer.
"Not much Segawa… I have cultivated my rose yet…"
"Rose?"Segawa asked with a lifted brow.
"Nakamuta-san… the photos…" Ayaka said walking in with a slight smile.
"Oh… thank you Ayaka…. Would you mind showing Sagawa a preview of my Rose." Nakamuta said with a small smile of his own.
"With pleasure," Ayaka said placing a photo in front of Sagawa.
Cautiously he glanced at it and saw an awkward girl posing with Renji. It was a simple pose, where Renji's intensity made the best of itself by capturing the girl's attention with only his eyes and touch. It looked like a confession scene where he placed her hand on his heart while his own covered her hands and he looked intently as her. Her face was honest with embarrassment but she had no sense of how to stand judging from how stiff she was…. Yet her face attracted the eye at the same time. She looked similar to Echizen Ryota actually….
"You consider this amateur your rose?" Sagawa asked in confusion. There were many girls prettier, cuter and more experienced than this girl.
"I do… because she is not blooming yet doesn't mean she's not a rose; it just means she's beginning." Nakamuta said with a smile. "You do not know Sagawa… but this girl you call an amateur has already drawn your attention in the photo; she is already a natural before she herself knows it, and though the thorns hides her away, I will brave it to open her true potential… which will be something like this…. Ayaka?" Nakamuta invited.
Ayaka moved forward again and placed another photo in front of Sagawa. It was the same pose… only with Ryota. The same girl was no longer the blushing, stiff girl but she was relaxed, glaring playfully at the boy…. The same pose was transformed from confession scene to a playful couple just from a different male model. Though that was amazing, it was the fact that the girl still drew the viewer's attention and her expression was one they labeled Murata Lina with. "A Thousand Faces"
She was able to draw out the situation, create the situation and with grooming… she could become the next….
"She's-"Sagawa said realizing at the moment that she could be who he was connecting her too.
"That's right… my rose is Echizen Kanna… the next sensation to hit soon."
Sagawa didn't answer as he stared at the two pictures…. As if in a trance though, he looked up and glared at Nakamuta.
"Nakamuta-sensei… you bastard!"
Nakamuta merely laughed loudly… a revolution in modeling was about to begin again!
xXx
Echizen Residence
That Night
Fuji didn't know what to say as he flipped through Echizen Lina's sketchbook. Through her drawings, he was able to relive each moment he missed in Ryoma's life…. From his piano playing to his modeling to his victories and the birth of Ryota and Kanna; he relived each moment of happiness as he etched the wondrous looks of Ryoma holding his newborn daughter and son to the challenging smirk he extended to his five year old son who stood on the opposite side of the tennis court ready to receive his first serve from his father.
"Interesting?" Kanna asked walking into the living room with more tea. "Grandma says your welcome to stay for dinner since Ryota and dad are taking forever at practice."
"What are they practicing for?" Fuji asked setting the sketchbook aside.
"Ryota's entering the tennis team at Seigaku and daddy dragged him to do warm-ups for tomorrow in case he's slacked off." Kanna said with a slight smile.
"Sounds like your daddy all right…" Fuji thought in happiness as he remembered how Ryoma's insisted on having matches at least once every other day or so just to satisfy his restlessness.
"Doesn't it?" Rinko asked coming in with snacks. "Ryoma hasn't changed much at all."
"I guess he hasn't in some ways." Fuji agreed with a smile.
"Ne okaa-san-"
Fuji froze slightly as he heard Ryoma's voice enter the hall and near the living room.
"I'm in here," Rinko said pretending not to notice the tension in Fuji as soon as her son's voice was heard. She was quite curious as to what was affecting the two of them after all this time.
"I was just wondering if-" Ryoma stopped as he focused on the person sitting between his mother and daughter. He had wondered if he dreamed their last encounter or not because he swore he broke it off… so why was it that Fuji was sitting in his house having tea with his daughter and mother as if their last meeting hadn't happen at all?
"Hi," Fuji offered first since he found his strength and resolve to settle this distance first.
It was only when Ryoma was absolutely sure that this was all real that he moved forward towards the table and asked a bit tightly to speak to Fuji privately.
Fuji didn't resist either as he followed Ryoma out of the room willingly. He knew this confrontation was bound to happen and it was better now than never so he was ready…. Hopefully.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ryoma asked angrily launching right in without hesitation.
"I was having tea-"
"I know that!" Ryoma snapped.
"Then why ask?" Fuji asked with a smile.
"Don't play with me Syuusuke!" Ryoma bit out. "Why are you hanging around here after I specifically told you we were over?"
"I was invited…" Fuji said trying to conceal a slimmer of happiness in him. Ryoma had converted to calling him Fuji to create distance recently but when Ryoma called him Syuusuke… he was that sure that Ryoma still held something besides hate for him.
"It doesn't matter if you were, you can refuse can't you?" Ryoma ranted out.
"I didn't want to." Fuji said truthfully. "You said that what separated us was your family and children… your obligations… well; if I can adapt to that then we can work out "us" too right?"
"Syuusuke…. Your annoying nature just doesn't change!" Ryoma said as his eyes darkened in anger at his response. After all this time he still hadn't lost the teasing, annoying, illogical reasons that makes Syuusuke… well, Syuusuke.
"Your right…" Fuji agreed cornering Ryoma against the wall as he opened his blue eyes and met Ryoma's golden ones. "So my love for you can't change either…"
"It already has," Ryoma insisted childishly.
"And that is where you're wrong…" Fuji said as he bent his head and covered Ryoma's lips with his own. Though he didn't expect a response, he wanted to know the feeling once more and he was ready to receive the result of the hasty kiss as well… whether it was Ryoma's hate or punch. To Fuji's surprise though, the lips beneath his moved against his and forced his lips to open as Ryoma's tongue invaded. The attacked was becoming the attacker, and yet both found out something.
The flames had never died; the love was still very much there to Fuji's joy and Ryoma's terror.
A/N: More to come in later chapters :)
Atobe Keigo- Heir to the Atobe empire and pops in and out to bother Ryoma.
Ayaka- A hair/make-up artist that works with Renji
Echizen Kanna- Ryoma's insecure daughter
Echizen Rinko- Ryoma's mother
Echizen Ryoma- Main character, part-time tennis instructor, living through his own scars
Echizen Ryota- Ryoma's cocky son
Fuji Chihiro- Syuusuke sister-in-law and interior decorator
Fuji Syuusuke- Main character, architect, trying to fix wrongs
Fuji Yuu- 3rd year, fukubuchou of Seigaku tennis team and Yuuta's son
Fuji Yuuta- Regular salaryman who still can't appreciate his smiling brother's presence
Hachimoto Sakura- 3rd year Hyoutei student and model
Hajime Chii- Ryota and Kanna's homeroom and English teacher
Hanasato Gin- 3rd year all rounder, generally he's quiet and doesn't say much
Hirazono Eiri- 3rd year doubles player. He's generally nice and thoughtful
Horio Heero- 2nd year student in the tennis club aiming to be a regular and dislikes Ryota
Horio Satoshi- The most annoying of the Ichinen trio who happened to reproduce
Horio Tomoka- Loud and annoying mother to Heero
Ichirou Kamui- A doctor from Fuji's past
Inui Sadaharu- Athletic advisor stationed around Tokyo
Kaidoh Kaoru- Athlete
Kawamura Takashi- Owns Kawamura sushi shop and is going to marry Sakuno
Kikumaru Eiji- works at a pt shop and bothers Ryoma periodically
Minato Sae- 3rd year president of the art club and Muroshiki Sho's girlfriend
Mitsurugi Ren- Older twin to Renji who fixes Renji's mistakes who is also the buchou of the tennis team and Student body president.
Mitsurugi Renji- 2nd year smart heartbreaker and part-time model
Mitsurugi Ayu- eight year old sister to the twins
Mitsurugi Asako- Mother to the three.
Muroshiki Sho- 3rd year doubles player who has quite an imagination and very talkative.
Momoshiro Aki-1st year student at Seigaku high
Momoshiro Ami- Momo and an's three year old daughter
Momoshiro An- Part-time worker at her husband's sports club and full time mom
Momoshiro Takeshi- Owner of a local sports club and employs Ryoma
Momoshiro Tetsuya- 2nd year tennis player siming for a regular spot. Befriends Kanna and is uaually cheerful.
Oishi Syuichiroh-Chemistry teacher at Seigaku
Oshitari Yuushi- Hangs around Atobe when he appear. The new Kabaji?
Ryuzaki Sakuno- Taka's pregnant fiancée who has grown from the blushing, stuttering student Ryoma remembers
Ryuzaki Sumire- Sakuno's grandma who has yet to give up her passion as a tennis coach.
Tezuka Azumi- Tezuka's wife who runs a restaurant/teahouse
Tezuka Kazuki- 1st year student in the tennis club. Generally not as stoic as his father but tends to keep to himself and doesn't say much unless he needs
Tezuka Kunimitsu- working as a lawyer.
