A/N: Hi guys, sorry for the long hiatus. I know it's unforgiveable but I am planning to upload every 1-2 weeks and I promise no longer than that. I wish I could promise every week but I am writing up my dissertation right now but could not wait to upload this so please enjoy the next installment of Changed.
They were wrong. Tezuka did not even crack a smile. Kikumaru was getting nervous. Why was not Sakuno here yet?
It was late in the afternoon at Seigaku Junior High and all the Seigaku regulars were gathered (besides Ryoma) at the tennis courts. They did this every 2 weeks for 2 years ago in attempt to get Tezuka out of the house more often. More often than not, Tezuka rejects the invitation, spouting off some random reason but the regulars know better. He just could not bring himself to go somewhere that remotely reminds him of her but he would still occasionally try for the sake of his regulars.
Inui and Fuji were careful to lure Tezuka to a part of the tennis courts that would not be seen if one entered through the normal entrance. This way, Sakuno would not run away before the two actually met. Kikumaru was on the lookout with Oishi. That way, they could pretend to talk while on the lookout to lessen the suspicion of their buchou.
"Do you think she's coming?" Kikumaru asked Oishi with a fake smile as if they were talking about something normal. Tezuka and the others were far enough to not hear what would be said but not far enough to not see their expressions and actions so they had to ACT like they were talking about something happy. Oishi only shrugged, straining a smile.
Tezuka glanced over at them occasionally, wondering what on earth would have Kikumaru and Oishi on edge so much. Taka was already here with the sushi so Kikumaru could not be waiting for that. The food was safe.
In all honesty, in the past, he would have thought that maybe they would surprise him with Sakuno or that Sakuno would one day attend one of these gatherings but after being disappointed for so many years, he had already kicked the idea to the curb. Thinking that whatever conclusion that would justify Kikumaru's nervousness was probably not worth it, he returned his attention to the conversation between Inui and Fuji. They tried to include him but he had no heart to enter the conversation but made the occasional "Hn" and "aa".
Suddenly, something happened in which Tezuka would remember for the rest of his life.
Fuji's phone rang.
In that small and brief moment that Fuji took out his phone, Tezuka swore that the name on the screen was…
"Hello?" Fuji answered, smiling normally as to hide his own nervousness in front of Tezuka. He was good at that but as he walked away from them, pretending to be excusing himself to take the call, he saw from the corner of his eyes that Tezuka had followed. Close enough to hear but far enough to give Fuji a bit of space. However, it was also close enough that Tezuka could come and punch him in a split second if he wanted to.
"Fuji-senpai, ano… I am outside the gates. I've been here for a while but it's locked?" Fuji mentally slapped himself on his forehead. Of course the gate had been locked and of course Kikumaru locked it after himself. He was usually the last one in but must have locked it out of nervousness of what would happen in today's events.
"Alright, Sakuno-chan." Fuji emphasized on her name so that Tezuka could hear it, "I'll send Kikumaru to go and open it for you."
"Uh.. Alright.." then then phone clicked. Immediately, Fuji was pushed to the tennis court gates with Tezuka's fist in his shirt. Fuji stared right back at Tezuka with his clear azure eyes as if challenging him. All the regulars turned their eyes to the two in silent. The tension in the air was high. Momoshiro and Taka wanted to intervene but Inui held his hand out, indicating for them not to move forward. It was a delicate situation. Fuji would be able to handle it but if any external parties intervene, accusations will be thrown and so will fists.
"Who was that?" Tezuka demanded, his fist tightening on Fuji's shirt. He swore that it was Her voice.
"You need to calm down and I need to tell Kikumaru to open the gate." Fuji's voice was steady and clear, a frown on his face, not of anger but of someone who is trying to calm down a child by intimidation.
"Don't f*** with me Fuji. What plans do you have now? She's not here and this is not funny." Tezuka growled, anger evident in his face but Fuji can tell. There was a craze look in his eyes that stemmed from fear. Fear of disappointment. At that moment, that fear translated to anger. He was like a wild animal, snapping ferociously in attempt to defend itself but everyone could tell. This animal, this king of tennis… He was badly wounded. He was tired, exhausted…
Lonely.
Therefore, Fuji was willing to face him. He was willing to do whatever it takes as long as they get their openly-indifferent but inwardly-happy buchou back.
"She is not here now but she will be if you let me tell Kikumaru to open the gate" at the last part of the sentence, Fuji looked over at Kikumaru. Kikumaru assumed, nodded and ran with Oishi towards gates. Against his better judgement, Inui decided to intervene.
"Tezuka, you need to calm" Inui placed a hand on Tezuka's shoulder in which Tezuka flung it away and turned his angry attention to Inui. He was about let go of Fuji to go after Inui before Fuji reached out and held his arm tightly to a point that it's almost painful. Tezuka turned back to Fuji.
"Calm. Down." Fuji said slowly and sternly before returning his normal tone, "Sakuno would not want to see you like this. Is this how you want her to see you after all these years?"
"Ano… too late." It was Kikumaru who spoke. All the regulars turn their attention to the trio that had returned, especially to the one in the middle who had her eyes wide open and was backing away step by step.
Tezuka raked in every detail of her to his memory. She has changed but not so much that he does not recognize his Sakuno. Her mid back hair was now tied to a simple loose braid on the side, face fresh of make up except the pink gloss on her lips and the bit of mascara on her eyes. In his eyes, all his memories did not justify her beauty. However, there seemed to be something that did not fit in the picture. Who was the child behind her legs who was peeking behind her legs?
Nobody spoke. A bird chirped but that was about it and a random bush rolled by but that was about it. Nobody moved until the little one behind Sakuno decided to run forward to the middle of the court.
"Tahe!" Sakuno reached out for him but he ran right into the courts where all the regulars were. When she tried to follow, Oishi and Kikumaru held her back and Oishi shook his head at her.
"Let him." Sakuno froze for a while before she just turned back her attention to the little boy who was now approaching the other regulars. Instead of backing away like she did when she saw Tezuka, she now followed the little boy back to the courts with Oishi and Kikumaru behind her.
"You're uncle Taka" the little boy pointed at Taka. Before Taka could respond, the little boy had moved on, naming all of the regulars until he reached Tezuka.
"You're in okaa-san's picture on her phone." The little boy said steadily, furrowing his little eyebrows, "Kaa-san never told me your name but I don't like you. Kaa-san cries a lot when she looks at you." Tahe crossed his arms while looking up at the big tall man in front of him.
The big tall man that was his father.
Tezuka slowly turned his attention from the little boy to Sakuno who was now crying while she looked at her little boy and then back to the one that held her heart after all these years.
"Sakuno…?" Tezuka reached out but he was then distracted by little fists pounding on his legs. He looked down to see Tahe exerting all his strength to attack him.
"Don't make Okaa-san cry! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!" he shouted.
"Tahe, you do not speak like that to him! That is rude!" Sakuno moved forward in mother mode to pull her son back from Tezuka. Tahe went willingly but not before a small glare at Tezuka. He then turned his attention to his mother.
"If you do that again, santa won't get you any gifts for Christmas. Mark my words, Tahe. If you're a bad boy, he won't get you those tickets to the Wimbledon games." Sakuno scolded before her eyes softened, "but, if you be a good boy to kaa-san, she will let you eat some ice-cream tonight and some nice sushi that uncle Taka made, alright?"
Tahe glared at Tezuka again before turning his attention back to his mother and nodding.
"Good boy. Love you." Sakuno drew him into a hug and Tahe hugged her back.
"Love you, kaa-san.." the little boy muttered back, burying his little head into her shoulder.
Now that the tantrum was over, Sakuno then realized how close she was to Tezuka and from the angle she saw him in which was her son's height, Tezuka suddenly seemed very big while she felt very small but at the same time, she felt that Tezuka seemed weak. He was strong and yet he was weak. He was confused.
"Don't take him away from me." Sakuno mouthed desperately but strangely enough, it did not seem like Sakuno was speaking to him. Sakuno clung desperately onto the little boy that was the mirror image of his father (minus the glasses).
Several feet away, a suspicious figure whispered into his microphone.
"There's been a change of events…"
