Disclaimer: I do not own PoT

Chapter 47: Sharing stories

The luncheon was different in comparison to the simple wedding they had. There was lots of off and music in a small ballroom in the hotel. Despite it only being a small group of friends and the simplicity of the wedding, it made the location much too grand and makes it feel empty due to the number of people occupying the space itself. But it was perfect because Kunimitsu could see Akihiko running around the area checking things out and both Sakuno and Kunimitsu can see him from here.

Sakuno had been spending that time catching up with the rest of the boys. It seems that Kawamura had inherited his father's sushi shop and that he had long stepped away from such grandeur that the other team members experienced. Ryoma naturally continued being a professional tennis player and he took a special break to come and join the festivities. Eiji decided to join in with gymnastics and he is now a gymnastic teacher in a prominent school… Inui as usual up to the unsavory but he is a dot com millionaire. Talking to Kawamura and Eiji had been refreshing because they were the two which pursued their dreams and despite not being rich, they were really happy. Kunimitsu was also catching up with old friends chatting away with Sakuno side by side, things were going great until Momoshiro sat down with his large plate of food and started to gobble food up as he always did.

"The place is amazing! The food taste great!"

Momoshiro exclaimed in simplistic joy much to the disgust of his friend Kaidoh who grumbled,

"Don't talk while eating...That's disgusting."

However much to Kaidoh's dismay, that only served to make Momoshiro angry as he exclaimed in annoyance with food spraying at Kaidoh's general direction

"What did you say?!"

"You heard him! He said it's disgusting!

Momoshiro looked up to see Ann showing a look of disgust on her face and he hung his head, despite him feeling like there wasn't anything wrong with the way he eats.

Sakuno easily came to the rescue as she placed a careful arm on Ann's shoulder and guided her away from potentially making someone cry in consequence to this petty argument. Kunimitsu merely sighed at the sight, as much as he is happy with his own happy ending, simply seeing that his family members not getting along well, doesn't quite sit well with him. Kaidoh, on the other hand, was relieved to have Momoshiro's disgusting eating habits far away from him as possible.

And now, that the food was eaten and everyone was mingling nicely, Momoshiro headed up on stage and announced that it was time for the married couple to take their first dance. Sakuno felt nervous because usually, the couple would have practised for months before their big day, but because they were in a rush, dance practice was the least of their concerns.

"Don't worry, I've got you. Remember the formal we had in high school?"

Sakuno remembered that day. Tomoka and Ann did not wait for her as they headed in and he was left alone outside. She hadn't been to an event like that before and she was so nervous because there would be millions of people watching and she had no idea what to do until Kunimitsu came out and they waltzed once. Sakuno would never admit it but she was so happy and so shocked at the same time that she was waltzing with the man she has a crush on at that point. Her heart could not stay still and... as she took Kunimitsu's hand, Sakuno realised that today was no different. Taking his hand always made her heart beat fast and as he pulled her close, she could smell his scent, a mix of oaky and spicy smell, it was different from when he was younger. But it just showed her that he was growing into a gorgeous man.

A slow song played and Kunimitsu waltzed her, it felt like they went back through time… where the moon was high in the sky and the skies were painted with stars. The music rang quietly in the background and Kunimitsu showed her how to dance for the first time. Sakuno usually kept her eyes trained on the ground with their feet, but Kunimitsu guided her eyes back at him as he whispered 'look at me, it's easier for you to just feel the beats…'

"You don't look down anymore…"

It seems that Kunimitsu was on the same page, caught up in the past. He was smiling a little and to her, that was a lot more than he usually does. Sakuno couldn't help but smile back as she whispered

"I was told it was easier this way."

Kunimitsu's eyes twinkled a little at those words and they continued to dance, oblivious to the rest of the world… for that song and that song is their moment. Once that song ended, they stood apart because they felt the small bundle wrapping his small arms around their legs. Sakuno smiled down at Akihiko who was keen on a three person dance, and Momoshiro smirked and said

"You got it man!"

Momoshiro turned up to a livelier beat and they danced in a small circle and Akihiko giggled cheerfully and for the first time to Sakuno, she realized that Akihiko never looked happier than this moment… but perhaps in more moments to come, he could learn to smile more like that. Then soon, everyone started dancing and they did a little mumbo as Momoshiro took Akihiko up high and he could see the small conga line that they were making with the amount of people they had.

Ann and Tomoka were laughing at the absurdity of a conga at a wedding. Oishi merely shook his head laughing and Fuji was at the end of the line with a video camera on hand. Kunimitsu couldn't control his facial expressions either, because conga was ludicrous and that Sakuno had roped him into it. Ryoma begrudgingly followed because Momoshiro dragged him through it and Kaidoh was pushed into the line by Momoshiro's insults, as much as he looked sour he was holding onto Tomoka's waist and one can catch the smirk on his face. Kawamura merely followed after Oishi and Eiji was in front of Oishi leaping up and down with energy. Inui was dragged in by Eiji at the end and they were in a conga line with the entire group. Sakuno could not imagine it… never in her life did she think that such an occasion could take place. Perhaps in her dreams, but all in all it was a wedding she would have always dreamed of.

After a while, everyone broke the conga line, with Tomoka dashing away from Kaidoh and he following after her. Momoshiro and Ann had disappeared to talk for a moment and then Eiji being the party animal broke out some awesome break dancing moves and Fuji records and Eiji asking Kawamura to show him some moves. Inui chuckling as he watched beside Fuji and Akhiko held by Oishi was watching the whole thing. Akihiko was impressed. Sakuno was worried about her friends but Kunimitsu placed a hand on her shoulder, and Sakuno looked back confused

"Sometimes it is better for them to talk it out. Don't worry, we will interfere when things get out of hand."

Sakuno smiled thankfully just as Akihiko grew tired of watching and decided to drag his new dad into the whole fiasco.

"Daddy! Daddy!"

Nothing warms Kunimitsu's heart like the way Akihiko called out to him and he followed after Akihiko once Sakuno encouraged them to walk off. Sakuno noticed that Ryoma reappeared with his favorite drink in hand.

"So… you two finally married."

Ryoma had easily walked towards her and sat down beside her. Sakuno smiled at Ryoma, she had always been fond of him. Since high school they have sorted out their differences and remained friends. Sakuno answered

"Yeah."

"I have always been envious you know."

Ryoma responded and Sakuno looked confusedly at Ryoma who seemed to look understandingly at Sakuno.

"Envious of what?"

Sakuno could not even think of anything that would make Ryoma envious about.

"How Tezuka always manages to change you."

Ryoma noticed Sakuno looking confused as he continued

"Not that you would notice, but when anything happens when I am around… you'd hide behind me… at first I thought it is okay because you do the same when Tezuka is around… but then I notice… If anything is really troubling you, you would talk to Tezuka about it. At times I don't know if you know, but it is like you trust that Tezuka will come and save you no matter what. It was almost as if you knew, he'd come. Even when we weren't sure… you'd knew he'd come to save you. Then you showed a lot of strength when it comes down to talking to Tezuka, like you know what to do with him when he is knocked down or unsure of anything. He does the same. I didn't know that you two have known each other since you two were so young… I didn't realize how much history lies between the two of you. I knew even if we tried to make it work, you weren't looking at me when you liked me… you were looking at a younger version of the man you've always loved. So I knew that it wouldn't work out. I use to wonder what would happen if we had agreed to go out, was I wrong? Would it have worked out? But I know why I've lost. Because after all these years, I stopped looking back or coming back to you, but Tezuka never stopped coming after you, protecting you… and loving you. That is why I lost even before it began."

"Ryoma…"

He smiled as he added

"Hey, I am over it. I have a girlfriend back in the states. But aren't we glad we closed our chapter?"

Sakuno could not hide the smile as she responded honestly

"Yes. I am very relieved."

"Hurry up Ryoma! Show us your US break dance!"

Ryoma rolled his eyes when he heard Eiji holler out and he placed his drink down and he shrugged

"That guy is still a crowd gatherer… If I don't go, he'll keep yelling."

Sakuno laughed a little at those words and she nodded

"Go."

Just as Ryoma headed over, Kunimitsu passed Akihiko back to Oishi and headed over to Sakuno. Sakuno smiled at Kunimitsu as he settled in Ryoma's emptied seat asking

"You good?"

"Yes. I am feeling great. Just realizing how happy I am with you."

Kunimitsu pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead as he responded

"Me too. Hey… once we get back, I think we should go visit your family grave. Need to pay our respects right?"

Sakuno felt touched by the sentiment as she added

"We need to go visit your family too. Your dad could definitely use a pick me up…"

Kunimitsu's eyes softened too as he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer as he answered

"Yes. Don't we all?"

Sakuno had always wondered why their touches didn't feel awkward or uncomfortable, but she remembered that they had always shared casual touches and she knew that she didn't mind it at all in the past, so why would she begin to mind it now? Maybe knowing the meaning behind the touches makes it so special. Just as they were enjoying a moment alone with each other, Sakuno noticed that Ann had slid back into the room and Momoshiro did the same, looking defeated. It seems that Sakuno wasn't the only one who noticed as Kunimitsu asked

"Divide and conquer?"

Sakuno smiled as it usually was the case in their team, there was always arguments and Sakuno naturally works out some of the problems and Kunimitsu tag teams with the other party. Sakuno responded

"Isn't it always?"

Kunimitsu and Sakuno shared a brief kiss before they each headed out to deal with the other. For life had always been that way for them, it was a system that worked and they never fail.

TBC...