*
Chapter 7
Sakuno
*
The following morning the two who had slept ever so peacefully was awoken by the sound of Tezuka's mobile ringtone. Since he had slept on the edge, his quick movement of turning over caused him to fall off the bed with a big bang. In the midst of falling he grabbed onto something, anything to keep himself from falling. But he only grabbed Sakuno's wrist and jerked her awake ( Not like his big bang didn't). For Tezuka to cause such a commotion it was embarrassing. Sakuno sat up and rubbed her eye, while her other wrist was still held on by Tezuka who lay on the floor quite unaware of what happened.
She burst into light laughter when she saw him sprawled on the ground, but he simply leaped up and answered his phone.
"Hai…..sensei….hai…hai…wakatta." Phone flipped shut he turned around to her. "Your grandmother will be over shortly. Go wash up." With the he strided out and down the stairs. She sat there feeling confused.
'I guess he's back to his old self…' She shrugged and proceeded to make his bed and wash up. As she descended she heard her grandmother's voice. She ran the rest of the way into the sitting room.
"Sakuno, daijoubu kai…" her grandmother cried and went to hug her.
"Hai daijoubu desu…" she hugged just as tightly in return. "Tezuka saved and took care of me obaachan."
"Tezuka ah"
"Um I mean Tezuka sama- uh buchoo."
"Arigato Tezuka-kun."
"It's nothing."
"Let's get you home now. Sakuno. Thank you again Tezuka kun." She shook her head in disbelief. He nodded. Ryuzaki sensei took Sakuno's hand and guided her to the door.
Just before they reached the door she turned around and gave him a timid smile, then bowed at him with gratitude.
***
"Sakuno are you really okay?" her grandmother asked when they were at home. She nodded.
"Tezuka came to my rescue before anything could have happened. I only have a few scratches. I'm ok." She answered earnestly.
"You poor child. I can't believe such a thing happened. I left a message on the phone last night, saying I won't be home until this morning. I assumed that you got it or you were sleeping. I never thought it was…." Ryuzaki sensei trailed off.
"It's ok obaa-chan. Tezuka took care of me. See? He even bandaged me up." Her grandmother raised her eyebrows.
"Tezuka did that? And why are you calling him Tezuka."
"I….he told me to. We talked last night and yeah. He's really very nice….well he was." Once again her grandmother raised her eyebrows. Then she patted Sakuno on the head.
"Go wash up and get dressed. You look ridiculous in that."
*
Remainder of the day…
*
Sakuno found that she couldn't concentrate on anything. Mostly because of what happened, and she was a little sore in the face and her scratches hurt, but her thoughts kept on wandering about Tezuka.
'I haven't thought about anyone since Ryoma kun, and that's been a while. I guess liking Ryoma-kun and not getting anything in return, not even friendship really put me off.'
She thought about this odd feeling as she lay in her bedroom on her futon surrounded by her cute pillows. She then flipped open her little red phone, in silly hope and anticipation that maybe he might call her.
'Here. My number…call me if you need help.' He had said.
Tezuka
As the wind blew through his elegant brown hair while he sat on his back porch, he sat (as usual) expressionless, quiet and thinking. He didn't want to think about her, but allowed himself to often drift over her every now and then. He felt that after today, they wouldn't really be in contact any more, although they did exchange numbers.
"Here's mine." She had said, "call me if you ever feel bored." She had joked. Still…he flipped open his black cell phone in hope she might feel impulsive and call. When he saw no call and no messages, he closed it shut, rested his head against the sliding door frame and closed his eyes
