A:N/ I'm updating! YAYY :) I love you all for reviewing... Cliffie's are good, especially if it makes you want to review and COME BACK TO FIND OUTT:) Oh yes... This chapter is a dream sequence.. and I think it's a really weird chapter.. If I get flamed, I won't be surprised haha.. ANYWAYS.. I hope I don't make you guys hate this fic now! haha... I love all of you that have been with this since the beginning and anyone else who reads this.. Thanks a lot :)
Her footsteps echoed all around her, going tap, tap, tap, and her breaths a shallow, fast rhythm. She was lost in the darkness, floundering like a fish out of water. Unsteady hands groped around, hoping to find some sort of stability, a semblance of peace and understanding, but naught was to be found. Despairing, she dropped to the floor, tears leaking out of her eyes. Suddenly, the ground dropped from beneath her body, and she was falling, swallowed by the dark, the blackness.
"Tezuka!" she screamed, hoping, wishing, for help. Unbidden, his name came to her lips, and as if it was the magic word, blinding light engulfed her, impairing her sight. She was enveloped in light, and imaged. At first, she saw nothing, but rather felt the presence of moving images. How, she did not know…
"T-oo… br-iightt…" the words echoed around her, whispered by a hoarse voice. The blinding light dimmed, and she could see once again. To her surprise, she sat in what felt to be an expensive red leather chair. It was comfortable and warm where she was, albeit empty. Draped around where she sat were pieces of fabric, creating a curtain of a wall, as pure as new found snow, yet to be disturbed by human hands. They seemed so close to her, yet, when she reached out her hand to touch them, she could not, as they seemed to shy away from her, shirking from her touch.
Peace. She was so peaceful here.
Suddenly, the light began to dim again, and she began to feel a momentary panic, and as if this… place… knew that, the light returned, seeking to give comfort. She realized her foolish worries and made up her mind to trust this… light. Sensing her will to trust in it, the light once again began to dim, and she settled in the chair, snuggling into a teddy bear that had suddenly appeared along with a blanket as soft as the skin of a newborn baby. Once she was fully relaxed, she heard a little whirring noise, like one would hear at the movies. She glanced up, surprised by seeing an image about to appear in front of her, like when she went to the theatres to watch a film. The only difference was that it seemed this movie absorbed her into the scene. No matter where she turned, there seemed to be another part of the image. Deciding not to confuse herself, she focused on the 'screen' directly in front of her.
"Sakuno!" Tomoka yelled, trying to get her attention. "did you get lost again?"
"A-no… Gomen, gomen!" she heard herself say while she blushed profusedly.
"come on! We're going to be late for Ryoma-sama's next match!" she screeched once more for good measure.
"Somehow, she couldn't seem to tone down her voice," the girl watching observed.
Sakuno found her ears ringing, but she followed Tomoka along obediently, trying to catch up with the running girl with the two high pigtails, at the same time manoeuvring around with difficulty so she wouldn't find herself tripping on anything. The two took a seat close to the court and once Ryoma got onto the court to play, Tomoka started cheering for the young boy with the golden eyes. Her cheers seemed so loud that she seemed to be calling for help while being raped.
"Why does that girl have to scream so loud and annoyingly? What is so good about that boy anyways?" she thought.
The girl in the film, Sakuno, just blushed a bit more at the loud and distracting cheering her friend was being involved with. The scene faded away.
Another image started to appear. This time, Sakuno was in the Seigaku tennis courts, and she was entranced by a tennis match between two people. One had green-black hair with golden, feline eyes. He was rather short compared to the other, but he had a very captivating face. The other, taller one, had dirty blond hair, disarrayed but at the same time kept in order. It was set in slight spikes that flopped back down, and his face bore the weight of frameless glasses. He looked very mature and intelligent, and always in control. Both were concentrating on the ensuing match, which seemed to have gone on for a long time. Sweat graced their foreheads and bodies, and they looked to be quite exhausted, but neither let down their guard. The watching girl could feel Sakuno's worried gaze that was trained upon the players.
The sun had started to set, and the descending sun brought on a chill. Sakuno shivered, wanting to go home, but worrying about the two. Eventually, though, she fell asleep watching the yet unfinished match – she was just TOO cold! Unknowingly, she had fallen prey to hypothermia. Just then, a tentative truce had been called between the two players. They both knew that if they continued on, their bodies would just slowly die out from the sheer exhaustion and dehydration. Their limits had been reached, and this match would just have to be ended another day. When leaving, Ryoma saw Sakuno's sleeping form by a chance glance, but he did nothing. He figured that her business did not involve him, and he left.
Tezuka went to drink some water and wash off, but on his way back, he saw Sakuno lying on the benches sleeping. He felt the cold, and worried, he went to her side, trying to wake her up from her deep slumber. When she did not respond, he impulsively lifter her up into his arms, and brought her to his house. He knew that no one would be home that night to ask unnecessary questions. He wrapped her up in blankets, hoping to warm very cold body, and lay her onto his bed. Sitting there, the girl watching saw the doubts that were in his eyes. Surprisingly, she heard his thoughts.
Why did I do this? He asked himself. Ryuusaki-sensei's granddaughter and I do not even know each other that well, and what would Ryuusaki say when she woke up and saw me? Even more importantly, how would she feel waking up in a stranger's house, away from her family? I don't want her to feel uncomfortable in my presence… He broke off, gasping. Where had that thought come from? I barely know her! Why would I care how she feels in my presence, as long as no one dies in my care? I wish I had not acted to impulsively... He heard a sound coming from her, so he turned back to observe what was happening. Studying her face, he found her surprisingly good-looking. She is quite… pretty. But whatever he was thinking fled from his mind, when she opened her eyes and stared at him.
"Ryuusaki-chan?" he began, seeing that she was awake.
"Buchou?" her tiny voice whispered "A-no... w-what am I d-doing here?" her question was met by a brief silence, followed by his brisk reply in the form of a recitation of 'the facts.' Once again, there was an awkward silence. (GAY BABIES ARE BORNN! YAOI LOVE! LOL) Sakuno found herself staring at this… stranger. It was true though, as they were strangers. He is quite handsome, even if he is strict and serious… Oh… why am I thinking of Buchou like this? Sakuno blushed again at her 'unseemly thoughts.' I am in love with Ryoma-kun, so I shouldn't be thinking about other people… right? But she couldn't stop herself from staring and appreciating. A strange pounding began somewhere in the vicinity of her chest, and she realized that it was her heart. She thought it was becoming very loud, but for some reason, Tezuka couldn't seem to hear it. He was lost in his own thoughts.
"Buchou?" Sakuno surprised herself by speaking and breaking the silence first. She was not the only one surprised, as Tezuka found himself jumping at the sound of her voice. Rushing out of embarrassment, Sakuno stuttered even more. "a-a-arigat-tou… I know th-that i-if you h-hadn't n-n-noticed me, I might n-not be alive right now… G-gomen f-for t-troubling you…" As she talked, her stutter began to fade and she gave him a sweet smile, and added, "It is very late now… perhaps I should head back home…"
"You are no bother. It is far too late for you to get home by yourself, so I will walk you home." This was spoken brusquely, the tone of voice he used when commanding laps.
"A-ano, it's alright Buchou… I can go home by myself…"
"No, I will walk you home… unless you would rather stay here overnight and go back home in the morning? You can call home to Ryuusaki-sensei and tell her you won't be going home tonight. I could explain to her and I'm sure she'll let you stay…" he trailed off, realizing he was speaking… a lot. Why am I asking her to stay? Why am I talking so much? How could I explain to Ryuusaki-sensei… especially when there is no one home…
A/N: Review PLEASE. :)
