Disclaimer: I do not own PoT.

Chapter 29: Warning Bells

Misao had appeared next to Sakuno once she arrived, which nearly alerted all the Seigaku regulars, but Sakuno gave them a smile and assuage them to let her talk to Misao. Misao saw what the Seigaku regulars did today and they did what usually made the fans angrier... They protected her like what she had foreseen most of the Seigaku regulars would do.

"Sato-san..."

Sakuno looked at Misao in a way Misao would call questioning way. Misao ever since she posted the news already regretted what she did, but she could not undo what she has done. Unfortunately, unlike Sakuno, Misao doesn't have the Seigaku regulars to provide protection, so she had to do it to save her own skin. If she posted a lie, her reputation would fall and the fan girls would target her first if they found out that it was a lie.

"You have to understand Ryuuzaki-san. I had to do it to save myself and my reputation. I do not have people to protect me."

Sakuno did not see Misao in that light at all, she wanted to find out why did Misao sell her out. If Misao would be in the middle of this mess she would really suffer then Sakuno was glad that this was ok to save her neck.

Misao could see the look of understanding on her face and broke down to cry. Fuji did humiliate her when she stalked them last time and now with the pressure and her guilt about causing Sakuno any trouble it weighed down on her like a 100 ton brick.

"Sato-san... please don't cry..."

Misao choked and hiccupped as she looked up to see Sakuno's kind and compassionate eyes. It worked more guilt into her being as she felt that she had hurt a saint and a lovely one at that! She was softly soothed and lulled into ease when Sakuno wrapped her arms around Misao and comforted her constantly.

The Seigaku regulars all shot guilty looks at one another... they were all so worked up about looking after Sakuno they had went too far with their practical joke. They realized that women are really delicate creatures at chosen times and some of them are born delicate. Misao was just a delicate person with feelings.

"You know Sato-san... if you cried because of everything, it shows that you have a good heart... So don't be upset. You are a very kind girl forced into a situation you didn't hope to be in."

Misao wiped her tears away as she laughed awkwardly. She felt slightly more relieved than she felt all day. She smiled at Sakuno, and she didn't want to admit it... perhaps she would be perfect for Tezuka sempai. As far as she researched he was a man with plenty of burdens and forced to make decisions that sometimes turn out wrong.

He will definitely need someone supportive like her to keep him in the right mindset. Some reason, it was as if Tezuka and Sakuno would play the best parents she would have ever seen. The child would be really a mix of then two would form what one call a child with perfect upbringing.

Why does she like the both of them? It was because she saw the sad look in Sakuno's eyes every time she looked at Tezuka. And with every look it was filled with longing, and the w ay Tezuka replies back was to constantly check on her. His eyes filled with worry and protectiveness.

"Sato-san, it is my responsibility as the captain of the Seigaku tennis team to apologise first and foremost of our behaviour towards you."

Misao blinked as she saw the whole group right behind him all bowing in the same fashion as they all screamed after Tezuka

"Sorry!"

Misao smiled back at them, she was right. They would be great parents in one way or another, but what about Ryoma? She had seen him confess and she knew how serious the issue had become. She felt bad about Ryoma but sometimes chances don't last forever. You deny them once and you deny them twice but chances won't always stay open for you.

Once the whole team went back to training Misao realizing why she was here in the first place quickly turned towards Sakuno in an urgent way. Startling Sakuno in the process, Kennichi perceived it to be unintentionally and perhaps what she had to contribute would be important.

"I heard the fan clubs scheming. They know now that they can't tag you after class, they are either skipping class to get to you earlier than the team or that they might ambush you during class. These girls aren't kind hearted. Especially Tezuka's fanclub leader 3rd year Saiyo... she is really nasty so I implore you and this is my warning to you... Please please PLEASE! Do not ever leave without anyone, because these fans are on berserk now. They are pretty dangerous!"

Sakuno smiled and thanked Misao, but Misao called it a return favor for being such a kind girl. Sakuno blushed at her compliments. But she knew she and Misao would be able to get along just fine in the future. That was after she had dealt with the fan clubs anger, she looked down at Kennichi and stroked his yellow fur.

"Kennichi, you better stay with your father... it is too dangerous. I don't want you dead."

Kennichi did not move, but she tried to get Kennichi to listen. Kennichi did not want to be like his father who abandoned them when they needed him, so he refused. She clung to him close to her breast as her breathing was slightly shaken. It was like a phase of fear, all Kennichi had to do was wait for the tide to go out.

"Just promise me Kennichi, if something drastic happens, I want you to run."

Kennichi didn't respond but at the sight of his mother's sad eyes he gave a small quack in return. He promised he will find father with all his power!

Tezuka did see her look somewhat distressed, he was worried about Sakuno. She was being very strong for everyone here. The fact that she was slightly more at ease gave everyone more hope nothing will happen. But when she clung to Kennichi as if she was going to break down he knew, she couldn't do this alone.

"Ryuuzaki, we need to talk."

Sakuno left Kennichi with Oishi, Kennichi wanted to follow, because he doesn't seem to trust what his parents ever had to have 'adult' or 'teen' talk! Last time he let them go together and make a decision, it ended with his father breaking off close contact with them. He dare not think but perhaps she would get Kennichi to stay with his father. He would resent it. He would resent his own father... if he did that to him.

To be Cont.

Thriller? Umm I don't want anyone dying on me. I may be charged of murder _ Well not really technically now.