Disclaimer: I do not own POT

Chapter 43: Golden Beaches

Everything happened in a blink of an eye, one moment Sakuno and her son were looking at the damaged house of their own and the next moment, they seemed to be under the sun in Fiji wondering how they'd got here. The next thing Sakuno knows, Akihiko was riding on top of Tezuka's shoulders as they waded through the sea towards the other guys in the water. Sakuno could not help it when she looked at the way Tezuka cared for her son… like Akihiko was his own… Sakuno recalled the conversation on their private flight over. Courtesy of Momoshiro who booked an entire airplane and the money came out of Tezuka's pocket of course.

"I understand that I should have asked you for permission first on the idea…However, I know for myself that if I do not have you within my protection, I can't relax. I need to see you and Akihiko safe or at least close… to feel alright. I do not want this to happen to you guys again."

Sakuno watched his face as he talked about what happened to her, it did send shivers down her spine and she watched the same fearful feeling in his eyes. Sakuno understood that it is very like Tezuka to do that… in fact for him to feel so protective of her isn't like anyone else in the world. It may not even be his family trait… it is just Kunimitsu. Sakuno remembered that her grandmother's dying wish was for him to take care of her… Sakuno felt a little troubled to accept his protection after not seeing him for so long… It made her wonder if she was going to continue to be a burden for him if she continues to stay in his life.

"Sakuno would you consider the proposal? I understand that there are many ways of luring Orochi out… but I need you under the same roof and authority to take you under my custody legally."

Sakuno could see the desperate appeal from Kunimitsu. Sometimes she feels that this incident had needn't involve more than herself and Akihiko… but Tezuka Kunimitsu seemed to take the incident on himself. She could see that by agreeing will give him reprieve… Sakuno would also admit that she would feel a lot better by simply being close to him. He was always going to be her hero, her protector… her crush a long time ago… but never the man who loved her. He was bound by his promise and the fact alone that it was his cousin, it felt like he was obligated to protect her…

Something cold touched her cheek and she looked up to see Fuji pressing a cold can onto her cheek.

"Something on your mind?"

Sakuno smiled gratefully at the cold soda can as she accepted it and responded

"Not really… it just seemed so surreal to see Akihiko and Kunimitsu having fun like that."

"Yeah, it seems Tezuka has some fatherly attributes."

"I don't know if that would be good for Akihiko or not…"

Sakuno unwitting said it out loud and it raised an eyebrow on Fuji's face as she said it. Sakuno covered her mouth and whispered out

"I didn't mean to say that out loud."

"Yet it was loud and clear. What is on your mind Sakuno?"

"I like that Akihiko and Kunimitsu are close and it is good that he has a positive father figure in his life would do Akihiko a world of good… but what happens when the whole Orochi ordeal blows over? I mean when Orochi is locked up for life and we snuff out his potential outside help… when all that is done and done… How do I explain to my son that we have to part from Kunimitsu?"

Fuji leaned back against the seat next to her and said thoughtfully

"Well many kids grow up alright with parents who separated but still meet up."

"… That would be okay if that was the case… but I think I want to just vanish from Kunimitsu…"

"Why? Are you still seeing the image of Orochi behind Kunimitsu?"

Fuji seemed very concerned about that, yet Sakuno looked at Kunimitsu and Akihiko playing together with the rest of the group as she said

"No. I see Kunimitsu as Kunimitsu… but Kunimitsu sees the image of Orochi and my grandmother behind me."

Fuji seemed skeptical as he said

"I don't think he sees that."

"I mean that I will always be the person he is obligated to look after, because of his promise to my grandmother and also because of what Orochi did. When we were somewhere Kunimitsu could not find us… he was looking like he was living life the way he wanted to… now his face looks a lot more haunted and worried… when we were all younger that wasn't what he looked like. I don't like being the cause of this."

Fuji looked at Sakuno thoughtfully as he wondered to himself, has she ever seen herself through Kunimitsu's eyes… had she ever seen the way he looks so tenderly at her like she hung the moon and the stars. Had she known how agonized he was when he looked around for her? Had she known his life without her? He was a man lost in the deep sea of work, career and more work… he lost humanity at certain points as he ploughed on to be the man everyone wants him to be… Sakuno seemed to bring him back to his baser feelings. She doesn't understand why Sumire chose Kunimitsu after all these years?

"…Just don't be too quick to judge things in Kunimitsu's perspective. You can't assume what he is thinking. Sometimes, you need to ask him how he feels… ask him what torments him… ask him what can make everything better. Taking the reins for yourself is just selfish. What if you leaving him makes it all worse? What if you go… and he turns into someone you no longer would say is him? Kunimitsu isn't one to shy away from duties, I give you that. But there is duties and then there are DUTIES… There is a difference."

Sakuno seemed to look at him deeply as she muttered

"There are times when you speak like you know what is happening a lot more than I do."

Fuji smiled cryptically

"Well there are times when I do. So it is frustrating as a bystander. Always live in the limelight, and perhaps that would take the edge off frustration."

"MAMA! Come play with us!"

Akihiko bounded towards Sakuno and she received her wet bundle of joy into her arms as she hugged him tightly and Kunimitsu trailed dutifully behind Akihiko as he looked down at Sakuno and said

"You should, in case you get a case of dehydration."

"Hence the soda."

Fuji raised his drink and then Momoshiro shot him a dirty look in response before he said

"Hurry up!"

Kunimitsu helped Sakuno up and his other hand automatically caught Akihiko climbing back up onto him. Kunimitsu eased his arm into a position holding him and with the other hand undoubtedly holding Sakuno's hand as he led the two most precious people in his life into the waters. Fuji smirked into his drink as he thought to himself, Sakuno must be pretty blind… and so is Kunimitsu. Life is just full of that you know… cliché like a romantic movie drama. Then again… they are the two most kind hearted people around. You'd think that it would make it the hardest two to get together… They'll need pushes…

Kunimitsu looked at the clock and it was ten at night, but everyone had decided to go to bed early. They had spent the better part of the day, having fun at the beach and Akihiko really took the energy right out of everyone… well except Momoshiro. But then a person challenged him into the game of cards, and he will be up all night with Fuji playing against all the group of men who has no idea what they were getting into.

Kunimitsu for some reason as tired as he was, he did not feel tired for some reason… there was feeling of anxiousness deep within his heart and he knew the way to make himself feel better. He opened the door and felt the nice chill of the wind brush against his skin as he exited the building and took a small leisurely walk around the building.

Well… not leisurely… but he does have a room in mind… away from potential threats… Then there it was…

Goodnight to you. Goodnight to me.
Now close your eyes and go to sleep.
Goodnight. Sleep tight. Sweet dreams tonight.
Goodnight. I love you.

Tezuka has seen it happen so many times today, and yet… it still gets to him. The way Sakuno cuddles her son close to her chest as she rocks him back and forth… the way she tenderly sweeps his hair back as she pressed kisses to his temple. There was something so mesmerizing about the whole way she cares for Akihiko… Akihiko was so precious to her and he felt like he wanted to be part of that scene. He looked upon them as Sakuno laid him down to bed, there is still that tenderness in her as she kissed him goodnight once more.

Tezuka did not know what possessed him to step a little ways away from where she could potentially see him. Sakuno looks like she could not just slip into bed like he did. Sakuno slowly came outside and it took his breath away… she had her hair down and her eyes sparkled as though she captured the moon and the stars in her eyes… it reminded him of the high school prom night.

Tezuka knew that she was coming to their prom night, and he noticed she wasn't inside just yet. After politely turning down the 10th girl who asked him to dance as he headed outside. What he found, almost knocked his breath away. There she sat… her evening gown was purple silk which framed her body beautifully and the way strands of her hair kissed her neck. Her eyes looked like was sprinkled with stardust and moons… she was stunning…

"A..Ah! Kunimitsu… I didn't… I was just really nervous."

He walked towards her as he raised his hand out and answered

"You don't have to be… we are all going to be with you as you walk in. You have nothing to be worried."

She looked at him with so much hope that… it made his heart pound really hard in his chest and for a moment… he felt so lost in them he was afraid of anyone else seeing her and catching what he did.

"But I am no good at dancing…"

She whispered and it felt like his heart trembled for some reason…She was the only one in his eyes and he swallowed as he asked

"Would you like me to show you how? Just before we go in?"

Sakuno seemed to smile so brightly at him as though he was her hero. He took her hand and found that his hand shook as he placed it on her waist. She was so tiny and so petite… he felt any pressure on her would break her. A song blasted out from the doors of the place and slowly they waltzed together under the moonlight and that one moment… his heart shook so hard it would be the moonlight illness he thought about. As the song ended…she slowly removed her arms as she said

"It was really nice…"

Kunimitsu was ready to admit to anyone that it was the moonlight that caught him in this fever… he pulled her back in and wrapped his arms around her tenderly and for a moment it filled him with happiness and fulfillment only to end with the sinking feeling of guilt as he drew away and said

"A dance traditionally ends with a hug of appreciation."

Great. He spoke nonsense that day, but Sakuno laughed a little and that became a night he could never forget.

Gods… all these years and she never changed. She held such a strong presence in his heart… that image made him feel things he doesn't even know what. It made him take two steps out as he tried to make himself present.

"!"

Sakuno was surprised for a moment before she realized that it was Kunimitsu.

"I am so sorry to surprise you like that… I just couldn't sleep."

Sakuno seemed to look at him for a moment and then she said

"Wait a minute."

Sakuno left the balcony and shut the windows too… Kunimitsu was confused but he listened and soon he could hear the soft sounds of feet hitting the soft grass underneath them. Sakuno seemed to be a little out of breath as she headed out to meet him, and Kunimitsu easily waited for her to get her breath back as they walked a little around the building.

"It feels surreal right?"

Sakuno asked aloud, and he turned to regard her for a moment as he responded

"Yes. It has been a while since all of the old gang was out like this. This is good… I think we all needed a break from work."

"Akihiko really enjoyed it too. I've never mentioned it but thank you so much for always taking the role as his father… If it starts to get too difficult or uncomfortable…"

"No. It isn't at all…I just hope I am doing an adequate job of it."

Kunimitsu had no idea what made him jump in to defend himself so badly but he does really like that little boy and he wants to continue to be close to the boy as he wishes to remain close with Sakuno. Until all the threats are over, until then… and then she could be free to choose anyone she wants. He recalled she used to like Ryoma Echizen a lot… Perhaps come a day, she would fall in love with a man and would like to have an appropriate love and family life with the man she loves. Tezuka and hope it isn't going to happen so soon… perhaps down the 10 year mark? Hopefully? But a beautiful woman like her, it would be hard to find someone who wouldn't love her. It was Sakuno's voice which broke his thoughts.

"…So this marriage thing… we just need to announce it?"

"I apologize but we may need to have that legalized so that when challenged I will still have the power of the law behind me."

"But… wouldn't it ruin your chances with the special someone in your life?"

Special someone? Kunimitsu came up blank with those words, he was really confused but then he said reassuringly

"I am currently not seeing anyone and do not have interest in dating at the moment."

"Ah… I guess I am relieved…that I am not inconveniencing you in any way."

"You aren't inconveniencing me in any way and I doubt you ever will."

Sakuno smiled at that, but there seemed to be something hidden in that smile but he could not put his finger on it. After walking for a bit he said

"I was thinking to officiate our marriage here in a day or two, if that isn't too soon or too big a push…."

Sakuno thought about it for a bit as she asked

"If you are okay, I am okay. As you said… you have nothing going on right now… I have Akihiko only and therefore, I am alright."

Kunimitsu didn't know that he could feel relieved about it and perhaps that is what Sakuno felt earlier? But his relief do not stem from the same reasons as hers did.

"Great… then we will have to see to everything. It will be simple. So we may have to start looking into venues and make sure we get it officiated properly and I am sure there are paperwork to be done on getting married overseas. We'll have to look into that."

"Okay."

Sakuno agreed easily and they walked in companionable silence for a bit. Kunimitsu doesn't know why walking with her had such an effect of calmness and that he felt drowsy afterwards, but he did and Sakuno apparently felt the same way as he walked her back to his room before he walked back into his room and collapsed easily. Being around her had always had that effect on him where it makes him calm and his body eases itself. His mind abandoned him and he leapt into the sandman's arms.

TBC...