Disclaimer: I do not own POT

Chapter 25 Meeting her

As the time ticked closer to eight o clock, one could tell that everyone in the room seemed to be a little antsy. Momoshiro kept pacing back and forth in the room while Kaidoh growled and glared at Momoshiro before throwing a pillow at him growling

"Sit down! Your pacing is making me irritated."

Momoshiro pulled the pillow away from his face as he muttered annoyed

"Well excuse me for being worried."

Oishi smiled as he kept his eyes on the clock and his ears listened out for any sound he could hear. Fuji smiled as he leaned against Momoshiro saying

"You know that is someone even more worried than you are…"

Momoshiro's eyes turned to look at Tezuka who was leaning against the wall near the balcony glass sliding doors. His eyes reflecting the lights of the city and one can't exactly see how he feels by just looking at him.

"Sorry."

Momoshiro mumbled and settled down only to see the door slowly swing open. In an instant everyone's heads snapped to the door and their hearts accelerated, none was faster than Tezuka's own heartbeat.

Tezuka had been on the edge an hour ago, he was worried that she felt that she couldn't do it. Or she had suddenly found out that it was his cousin that raped her and decided she didn't want to see him anymore and disappear… He worries that the voice he heard last night was his hallucination and he proceeded to check his phone logs every hour to make sure he heard her correctly. When he heard the door swing open, it felt like someone used a knife and sliced his ribcage to free him. His eyes were quick to zero-in on the person who entered the room.

Those sweet honey brown eyes timid and shy, they still look the same as they looked around the room and her heart shaped face broke into a soft smile, the smile Tezuka had seen over a dozen of times when they were back in high school. She definitely had grown in the few years, her body matured a little more and she was a little taller than she was in the past. Her hair now no longer in braids but in a sweet ponytail and it was the same color, the same dark brown hair slightly curly because she had used to have them in braids so often, now tumbled past her shoulders. A sense of relief came quick to him, she was the same… the very same. That all changed when they parted for Sakuno to final see him.

Tezuka could tell that there was something in her eyes, they widened at the sight of him and he could not hear his mind processing because his heart ached so painfully in his chest and his stomach knotted up. She was paling and sooner than he noticed what was happening, she fell onto the floor in a ball as she pushed her way back to the door and pressed her face into her knees and hands on her head as she gave a very scared and tortured scream that tore through the room and instantly ripped his entire being into shreds. Tezuka had been wrong, ever so wrong to think that everything will be alright. He wanted to get close and sooth her pain but he knew better because she broke down when he was there… she wasn't looking at him for relief, she was afraid of him. It was almost like she was looking at her rapist, and that was how he felt her looking at him…

Tezuka bit his lip hard almost as though it could draw blood as he was angry with himself and with his cousin. How could he? How could his cousin… it couldn't be… He knew that if he was in the room, she would not be able to calm down. With determination not to harm her, he turned around and went into his room, shutting the door with efforts not to slam it or cause a commotion but god knows he just wanted to slam and scream but he couldn't. Tezuka was Tezuka and he could not be angry or so sad… but he felt that way… that tears would threaten to come out. For it hurts to see the one you care dearly and swore to protect, look at you like you the one hurting them… then how could he make her feel differently? A dark thought murmured that he probably couldn't. No amount of comfort could change anything that had already happened. Orochi destroyed their friendship, and as much as he wanted to forever look away from Sakuno to save them both grief he knew better. Bound by his oath to Sumire, he would not leave her alone like he had last few years, secondly what his cousin did to her was his responsibility. He was responsible for what his cousin had done and he shall proceed to make sure that she will be well taken care of until she dies from natural death.

Tezuka squeezed his eyes shut in frustration and pain, the emotions swirling just underneath his face was coming to surface. Tezuka had sworn he would never be like his father who had broken down without a second's hesitation for his mother and never thought about the rest of them. His father ceased caring the moment his mother was in coma while he had no choice but to grow up and step into his father's shoes very quickly. He was not going to cave into these emotions no matter how much he wanted to… there was responsibilities and order and… so many other people relying on him.

Suddenly the door opened, Tezuka jerked his head to the direction of his door when he noticed that his visitor was not adult sized and instead it was a child size… That boy that he had taken back to Tomoka had stepped into the room, the boy's eyes were wide with curiosity and he was not showing any signs of distress with Sakuno's crying outside, for one he looked calm but the instant that Akihiko saw Tezuka… Akihiko then sat on the floor in an instant and the next thing Tezuka knew was…

"WAHHHHHHHHHHH wahhhhhhhhhhhh"

Akihiko bursts into tears, because Akihiko went from calm and curious into full lung bursting crying Tezuka at that point far too surprised to react at first, but then his mind jumped in to reason that he was probably looking for someone to comfort him and he probably was just as alarmed as everyone else was at how Sakuno suddenly started screaming and crying. Just as Tezuka reasoned it out in his head, that very next moment Tezuka gazed down at the crying Akihiko, he realized just whom this beautiful boy belonged to. Gently as he could, he picked up Akihiko into his own arms and Akihiko without hesitation wrapped his arms around Tezuka and buried his little face into Tezuka's shoulder.

Tezuka had wondered where his father drew his strength from, and he had always wondered why his father would cradle the young child Kunimitsu at times when it looked like he had the world's worries on his shoulders. Tezuka finally knew, it was because holding Akihiko that he remembered that there were younger fragile and precious things he had to protect, and no matter if he wanted to cry and scream himself the moment he held something so small in his arms, somehow it tapped into his inner strength and he allowed Akihiko to cry for himself and Tezuka as well. He couldn't believe how he could draw strength from someone so small, and as he sought to sooth the crying Akihiko he began to sooth his own self.

"Pain, pain go away…"

Akihiko had looked up and started using his small hand to pet Tezuka's cheek, through his watery tears he was singing so that the pain could go away? Tezuka had a funny feeling that Akihiko could sense his unhappiness.

"I am alright."

Tezuka knew that he was saying it for the benefit of them both, and that the instant Tezuka reassured him, Akihiko's face was taken over by relief and said

"Papa…"

Akihiko continue to snuggle onto Tezuka's shoulder, it was hard for Tezuka to tell him that he was not Akihiko's father… but Akihiko… Akihiko looked like he was three years old. Sakuno had not told him that she was married… then a dark thought occurred to him. Akihiko did not look just like Sakuno, he looked like a Tezuka. Tezuka looked closely at Akihiko who smiled at him and was also busy staring at Tezuka's face with glee. There was only one conclusion to draw from this, and that is… Sakuno after being raped by Orochi fell pregnant… Tezuka can only imagine the pain and thoughts and went through her head when she realized it, but Tezuka was relieved to say that the child did not remind him of Orochi at all and was this child despite all the odds, Sakuno's saving grace?

"Akihiko! Akihiko where are you?"

Akihiko looked towards the door and then wriggled in Tezuka's arms as he said

"Papa, I want down."

Tezuka placed him back down and Akihiko tottled back out of the door and into the living room. From the crack he could see Akihiko walking back up to Ann as Tomoka helped Sakuno out of their pent house suite, again he was reminded of how much pain his presence had been for her. But knowing that Sakuno had a child by Orochi lead him to confirm his decision… He had to make sure that Sakuno and Akihiko were well cared for and even if he had to do it from a distance. Tezuka determined that he will continue to look over them both because, it was his responsibility and that it was a promise he wanted to keep no matter what the cost is.

TBC...