I'm really excited with the number of reviews! Dishing out chapter 6!
Sitting, Waiting and Wishing: Chapter 6He did not know how long they had been standing there, his arms wrapped tightly around her small waist. She did not know how long she had been crying, her comfort from the only pair of hands that kept her close.
Finally, she touched his arm gently and turned to look at him.
"Ano…Gomen Nasai." She apologized as she tried to brush her tears away. It was bad enough having to break down almost every other day in front of Fuji. It made her feel weak and vulnerable.
Fuji delicately brushed a straddling lock of hair from her face. The small gesture startled her and she tried to draw away.
"Sakuno."
"Eh…I think I'll go wash up…"
"Sakuno." He said her name in a more firm tone, his hand firmly on hers. "Give me a chance to make things right, will you?"
Sakuno's eyes registered shock as she tried to comprehend his sudden question. Much as she knew subtly that somehow, this would happen one day, she did not expect it to happen…now! It was too soon.
"I…"
"You apologize too much. Too much." Fuji said gently and she looked up at him, her brown eyes meeting soulful blue eyes.
She felt as though she was drowning in them. Those blue orbs. And suddenly, she felt a pair of warm lips meet hers, and to her surprise, she did not resist.
Perhaps it was time to stop being apologetic.
"Let's get something warm." Tezuka said as he led the way to a small café. Ryoma followed numbly behind and slid into a seat.
"Coffee?"
"Chocolate milk."
"They don't have chocolate milk here. It's either coffee or tea."
"Ponta."
"Echizhen. Coffee OR tea." Tezuka said with a hint of impatience. The younger man glared at him.
"Tea." Tezuka placed the respective orders and looked at Ryoma. A stony silence ensued as neither made an attempt to start a conversation. Finally, the jarring silence was too much, even for Tezuka and he spoke.
"Do you know what you did earlier was very hurting to Ryuuzaki-san?"
"It was a fair challenge."
"She's not a prize Echizhen."
"She's mine." The younger man said stubbornly.
"Acting like a teenager is not going to help the situation. You're 27 already."
"Buchou, you're 29 and you aren't even attached." Ryoma said flatly. Tezuka blinked. Their orders arrived just then, dispelling a little of the tension.
Ryoma took a sip of his tea and made a face. "You didn't add milk."
"You didn't ask." Tezuka said nonchantly and stirred his coffee. Ryoma pushed his cup aside and leaned forward, closing the gap between him and Tezuka. Tezuka raised an eyebrow.
"Tell me buchou, have you ever been in love?" Tezuka stopped stirring his coffee. He paused for a while, contemplating his answer.
"I don't think I need your advice on how I should deal with Sakuno then." Ryoma said, leaning back into his seat, looking as stubborn as ever.
"I have been, before." Ryoma looked up. "Surprise, surprise." Tezuka lifted the cup to his lips and drained it.
"With?"
"That's not for you to know." Tezuka set the cup down. "But what I do know I that loving a person is hard work. You don't expect the person to wait for you. You don't ignore the person. You don't try to selfishly possess the person."
"The greatest thing when you love someone, is that you learn to let the person go." Ryoma looked very surprised, although he tried hard to mask it. No one knew that the buchou of Seigaku Tennis, the famed stoic had actually loved once. Ryoma was particularly surprised that the buchou, his buchou rather, was capable of feelings. That was a gross underestimation there.
"Think about it Echizhen, and let's not get careless."
Tezuka sent his junior home and went on his way. He could see that the young man was still very troubled and perplexed by the whole issue.
He could hardly blame Ryoma anyway. Ryoma just lacked the capacity to think of such complex issues, such as love.
Plus, it was not everyday where you get Fuji thrown into the picture.
He let out a sigh as he walked off into the night. Perhaps he should not have flown back to Japan and just stayed in Germany, where he was happy and comfortable. Ah yes, comfortable was the key word here. Tezuka hated change and it was hard to play the role of a nanny to TWO people in addition.
He needed another coffee just thinking about the whole affair.
"Just drop me off here." He said crisply to his chauffeur and got out quickly. A blast of cold air hit him and he inhaled deeply.
"Eh Keigo-sama! What time do you want me to pick you up?" The chauffeur asked anxiously. Atobe waved his hand dismissively.
"Your services are no longer needed." With that, he shut the door and strutted off. It did feel good to be back in Japan again. After that blasted four months in New York which he had absolutely hated, it was nice to be back home.
He rounded the corner towards his favourite café and reached for the door handle, only to be beaten to it by a mere fraction of a second. He glanced up in annoyance and saw…
"Tezuka?" He uttered in disbelief. The brown-haired man turned and his eyes widened. And they both stood there, looking at each other.
Silence ensued after the two of them sat down at a table, both clearly uncomfortable.
"So…" Atobe cleared his throat as they waited for their coffees. "How have you been?"
"Fine." Came the curt reply. Atobe frowned.
"That's all?"
"What do you expect to say? That I'm crushed, devastated etc?" Tezuka asked calmly. Their coffee arrived and Tezuka quickly took his cup.
"No…I meant…"Atobe faltered for words. Here he was, looking like a fool, stammering in front of the great Kunimitsu Tezuka.
"Cat got your tongue, Atobe?" The acid reply came.
"You didn't call me Atobe last time. It was Keigo, as far as I know and as far as I am concerned." Atobe retorted.
"That was a long time ago, Atobe." Tezuka frowned as he put in more sugar. The coffee tasted slightly weird.
"You don't put sugar." Atobe informed the latter when he noticed the stoic man trying to drink his coffee properly. He signaled for the waiter.
"Get me condensed milk." Was the curt order.
"Sugar is just fine."
"It tastes off. Sugar is never a good substitute for milk."
"Why do you even bother when I am not bothered?" Tezuka asked. The other man looked up and stared into his eyes.
"Because I still care." Much as Tezuka tried to deny it, those simple words still caused his heart to ache a little. But being the stoic he was, he tried to mask his feelings. The milk arrived and Atobe poured a little into Tezuka's mug, stirring the coffee for Tezuka.
'Try it." He offered and went back to his own coffee. He raised an eyebrow questioningly when he noticed the other had not taken up the coffee mug.
"I don't think it's necessary, Atobe." Tezuka said as he got up. "I have to get back."
"For goodness sake Tezuka!" Atobe snapped. "Can't you just sit down and have a coffee with me? And a proper conversation! Is that too much to ask?"
"…" Tezuka looked away, noticing the hurt on the other man's face.
"It's been a while…let's just sit and talk amicably." There was a pleading tone in that voice. It took Tezuka a bit of willpower to tear himself away from that powerful gaze which was all too-familiar.
"Enjoy your coffee, Atobe." Tezuka took out a note and put it on the table. "This is for my share." With that, he walked out.
Sakuno hummed a little happy tune as she chopped the vegetables. She was happy and she was contented. She had not felt that way for a very long time already.
"Sakuno? That smells good. Hmmmm…" Fuji popped his head into the kitchen and sniffed the air. He opened the pot of boiling soup only to have his hand slapped away.
"That's for dinner!"
"Come on, I can take a little swipe. I promise, just a small swipe…" And before Sakuno could do anything, he had pinched a small bit of meat from the pot.
"I can't do anything, right?" Sakuno smiled as she turned back. Fuji laughed and just then, the main door opened. Tezuka stormed in, heading straight for his room. The couple looked at each other and Fuji shrugged his shoulders.
"Better check on him lest he blows up." Sakuno nodded and Fuji left her to her preparations. He knocked softly on the door.
"Tezuka?"
"I'm not hungry. Don't bother me." Fuji turned the knob and stepped into the room.
"And may I know what caused my dear friend to be so upset?"
"I'm not upset." Tezuka shrugged as he took off his scarf.
"You can't fool me. It's Ryoma, is it?"
"No. Now, get out before I kick you out of my room."
"Then it's Atobe." Tezuka paused. Fuji rolled his eyes and settled himself on the bed. "I saw the news. Apparently he's back, for good."
Tezuka took a keen interest in his scarf suddenly.
"Tezuka, it is not going to work if you don't flush him out of your system. You can get another girl, I mean, guy easily!"
"That's not the point Fuji."
"Why can't you just lighten up?"
"Out."
"Tezuka…"
"Fuji, just this once. Out please." Tezuka took out his spectacles. "I'm tired."
Fuji looked at his friend and pursed his lips. "Ok, take a good rest then." The door shut with a soft click and Tezuka leaned back into the pillows.
All he wanted to do now was to sleep.
"Nya Ryoma! Open up!" Eiji pounded furiously on the door. "Ochibi!" The door opened suddenly and Momoshiro, who had been leaning on the door, stumbled forward.
"What is it?" Ryoma asked irritably.
"You're alive!" Eiji cried out, hugging the poor guy for dear life. "You didn't pick up your phone and we thought you died or something nya!"
"Kikumaru-sempai…you're…strangling…me…" Eiji released his tight grip on the young man and ruffled his hair affectionately.
"I'm fine. Buchou is back, by the way."
"He talked to you!" Momoshiro exclaimed.
"We had coffee. Ponta anyone?"
"What did he tell you?"
"Nothing. Now, are you guys staying or not? I have training tomorrow and I want to go and sleep early." Momoshiro and Eiji traded surprise looks.
"Nya Ryoma, you can tell us your problems…"
"Yeah, that's what buddies are for!"
"I won't kill myself. Mada mada dane." Ryoma said flatly. "Now, you guys staying?"
"WE STAY NYA!" Eiji exclaimed happily and Ryoma sighed.
Sakuno picked up her cellphone. It was late and she did want to catch up on some reading. It had been ringing for a while and her heart did a twist when she realized that it was Ryoma who was calling. She hesitated but answered it.
"Sakuno, you're still awake?"
"Yes, Ryoma?"
"Are you free to meet now?"
"It's nearly 2am."
"Just for a while." Sakuno sighed.
"Ok."
She grabbed her coat and left the house.
Ryoma sat on the bench, their favourite bench. Eiji and Momoshiro had fallen asleep after playing 'Dead or Alive' and yelling at each other for cheating etc.
"Hey." Ryoma montioned for Sakuno to sit next to him. She sat down apprehensively and waited for him to yell at her or something.
"I'm sorry for today. I was acting like a total jerk."
"I don't blame you." She nodded stiffly.
"I just wanted to give this back to you. You didn't take it with you when you left." He reached into his pocket and took out a pink scarf. Sakuno recognized the scarf immediately.
"Sakuno, let's go." Ryoma had tugged her hand but she continued looking at the window display.
"Let me just see it for a little while more." She pleaded. The scarf was beautiful. It was a sheer pink, the fabric was light and she knew then that she wanted it more than anything.
"If you want it, go and buy it. Mada mada dane." Sakuno frowned and shook her head.
"It's too expensive." She gave a little sigh. She knew the price very well for she had been stopping by the shop ever so often just to take a look at the scarf. Sakuno did not go after branded goods but this scarf simply too her breath away. "Let's go." Her eyes lingered on the scarf and she left reluctantly.
The Christmas that year had been particularly memorable. Ryoma had won the Christmas Cup, a prestigious tournament and for once, they spent Christmas back in Japan. They sat on their bench in the park and she had laid her head contentedly on his shoulder.
"Sakuno, isn't Christmas tomorrow?"
"Yeah. Why?" Ryoma glanced at his watch.
"It's 11.59 pm already."
"1 more minute to Christmas!" She exclaimed. "Let's count down, Ryoma! 46…45…43…"
"9…8…7…6…5…4…3…2…1…Merry Christmas Ryoma!"
"What? No present?" Ryoma had asked, pretending to be cross.
"I didn't bring it down!" Sakuno pouted a little.
"I have yours." Sakuno was surprised and Ryoma grinned. He reached into his pocket and pulled a nicely wrapped package out. "Open it."
"Arigatou, Ryoma." She touched the package. It was something soft. She eagerly tore the wrapping paper and her eyes widened when she realized what it was.
The pink scarf lay in her lap and she touched it carefully, as though it was going to disappear anytime soon.
"But it's so expensive…" She murmured.
"The weather's chilly, and I don't want you to catch a chill." Ryoma chuckled as he took the scarf from her and gently tied it round her neck. "Here, you look nice."
She smiled and kissed him.
Ryoma took it and gently put it around her neck, looking at it longingly. He tied a small knot and kissed her forehead gently.
"You won't get a chill now." He got up and left.
Sakuno felt her heart tearing as she watched him go. That was it? That was all he had to say to her? She bit her lip as she touched the scarf round her neck gently.
Ryoma blinked tears away and he took in a sharp breath, continuing his walk home, alone.
I almost had you but I guess that doesn't cut it.
Almost loved you but I wish you wouldn't love me too.
Reviews are muchly appreciated! RyoSaku or FujiSaku? Let's see as the story unravels.