A/N: Hi guys. Sorry that I've been gone. The past two weeks I have been really busy submitting my master's thesis as well as moving to a new city for my first job! Anyway, I know this story isn't awfully interesting but I am grateful for those that are reading and this story is written more from my own satisfaction of completing this but please enjoy!
"Kaa-san, can we go to the park?" Tahe asked after lunch. Sakuno bit her tongue before replying him. Oishi and Tezuka noticed her hesitant behavior and Oishi decided to rescue Sakuno.
"Tahe-kun, if you like, we have a large backyard behind the house. There is a trampoline over there that Eiji-jii-san plays with if you like." Tahe's eyes lit up with joy before dancing around Oishi, taking his hand and dragging him out of the kitchen, "Yes, I want. I want. I want," over and over again ("mou, don't steal my Shuichiro, Tahe-chan!" the redhead cried as he followed closely behind). Sakuno immediately grabbed onto Tezuka's hand and started dragging him towards the direction of their son and friends. This confused Tezuka slightly as whilst they were getting more comfortable around each other, he would not have thought that Sakuno would so boldly drag him out by the hand. He allowed it anyway and let her lead them to the direction of their friends. Once they got out of the house, they saw the three boys jumping on trampoline that was probably larger than necessary for a single person to use. Must be Kikumaru's doing. Sakuno let out a sigh of relief before realising she was still clinging onto her ex-boyfriend's hand.
"S-Sorry Kunimitsu!" the slip of his name rolled off her tongue and when she caught herself, she turned bright red.
"It's alright." Tezuka replied, secretly pleased to have inadvertently lowered Sakuno's guard (or shocked her) into calling him by his given name. Tezuka then walked over to the porch of the house and sat down. He patted the space next to him. Sakuno followed the non-verbal invitation and sat next to him, near but not touching. Both of them turned to look at their laughing son and the two men that were playing with him. A peaceful and comfortable silence envelope them.
"You said you will talk to me what is going." Tezuka inquired, turning his head to look at Sakuno. He saw the auburn hair girl tensed up and refusing to look at him, "You promised, Sakuno." He reminded her. Sakuno sighed, "Yes, I did."
There was a little bit of silence only broken by the three that were not participating in the conversation.
"It-"
"OKAA-SAN!" The serenity was broken and both parents turned their heads quickly towards the cry of their son. They saw the little boy on the trampoline, curled up with his uncles squatting worryingly over him. Sakuno immediately ran over while the two men took Tahe off the trampoline to the ground and Tezuka followed suit.
"What happened?" Sakuno cried, "Are you okay, Tahe-chan!?"
"Okaa-chan, it hurts." Tears were streaming down his little cheeks as his right arm was holding onto his left arm painfully.
"He landed badly on the trampoline while Shuichiro and I were in the air. I'm so sorry, Saku-" "You were supposed to watch him!" Sakuno screamed at Kikumaru, panic setting in.
"I'm sorry, Sakuno. It just-" "I can't believe you! Why would you-" Sakuno was cut off when Tezuka placed a hand over her mouth and pulled her slightly away from Kikumaru.
"Stop it, Sakuno. We need to get Tahe to the hospital now." Tezuka said firmly. Sakuno then felt a tiny hand grab onto her ankle.
"Mama, I'm sorry. Please help me, Mama." Tahe pleaded, tears streaming down his face. Sakuno dropped onto her knees, wanting to hold her little boy tight but worried on how she could touch Tahe without causing too much pain.
"We'll bring him to the hospital." Oishi decided quickly, running inside to grab his keys.
"Hey, baby. Mommy's here. You're going to be okay." Sakuno decided that it was safe to stroke her little boy's head as tears started streaming down her eyes. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"We need to move him, Sakuno." Tezuka said.
"I-I-I can't. I'm not s-strong e-e-enough. I'll jostle him to mu-much." Sakuno cried, "shhh… Baby, d-don't worry. You'll be o-o-ok."
"Mama, make it go away." Tahe cried, clutching his left arm.
"I'm sorry, baby, I cant…" Sakuno cried, feeling so helpless as her son was in pain.
"I will take him." Tezuka announced, moving to the other side of Tahe, "Tahe, look at me." He called his son. Tahe turned his dark brown eyes towards his father, "This may hurt a little but I need to pick you up so we can go to the hospital, okay?" Tahe's eyes widened in fear as tears started to stream down faster
"I don't want it to hurt anymore!" Tahe cried.
"I know, son but once we get to the hospital, you will get better, okay? Please just endure it for a little bit." Tezuka pleaded, his own panic leaking out. To his relief, Tahe reluctantly nodded his tiny head. Carefully, Tezuka gathered Tahe into his arms, Tahe crying out in pain which wrung the hearts of Tezuka and Sakuno in the process.
"Alright. Good boy." Tezuka comforted as he walked as quickly but steadily as possible through the house to the car. Sakuno was next to him as to be next to Tahe when possible when getting through the house. Kikumaru silently locked the house as they went through the back and then front door. Oishi was already in the car. Kikumaru silently got into the front seat whereas Sakuno and Tezuka sat at the back.
HOSPITAL
"He has a fractured arm right along the radius but since he is young, I don't think that it will be an issue of it healing completely and being able to regain all his functions. A cast will have to be put in temporarily and he will have to stay the night for us to monitor in but give it about 6-8 weeks and he should be as good as new." Dr Juuyo explained. He was the doctor that handled all the issues regarding the Tezuka family's health. Sakuno nearly collapsed in relief, squeezing the hand of Tezuka who was sitting next to her.
"Thank you," Sakuno said gratefully.
"I did not do it for you." Dr Juuyo did not even bother to look at Sakuno when he said this. Tezuka was slightly alarmed by the attitude to which his family's doctor has adopted towards Sakuno. Sakuno, however, did not seem to either notice or care as she was still filled with relief over the news that her son would be okay.
"Excuse me, Juuyo-sensei. I do not appreciate your attitude towards my fiancee." At this, both Sakuno and Dr Juuyo's head snapped towards the professional tennis player who was now radiating anger. Dr Juuyo reclined in fear.
"Fi-Fiancee?" He stammered out. Tezuka ignored this.
"Apologise to her." Tezuka demanded.
"Ryu-Ryuuzaki-san, I'm so sorry for the rudeness of my behaviour." Dr Juuyo stammered out.
"No, it's alright, Juuyo-sensei! Ano- which room is Tahe in?" Sakuno quickly changed the subject.
"Ro-Room 237" Sakuno nodded, thanked him and dragged Tezuka out of the examining room. Her head whipped around to look at Tezuka.
"What was that?" she demanded.
"Slip of tongue." Tezuka answered swiftly.
"He is going to tell your family." Sakuno bit her lower lip in worry.
"They will not care. They have not cared for the length of time that we were together." Tezuka did not see the justification regarding Sakuno's worry, "I will explain it to them when I see them again." Sakuno's frightened eyes then turned to him before she walked away swiftly towards Room 237. Tezuka followed behind her quickly, confused.
"Sakuno, what is wrong?" Sakuno continued ignoring him until they reached Room 237. Tahe was now asleep with Oishi and Kikumaru sitting on the sofa next to him, Kikumaru continuing to seem down and Oishi murmuring words of comfort to him. When he saw Sakuno enter the room, he rose and walked over to her.
"Blaming Kikumaru is wrong. You have no right to pin all of this blame to him. I was there too." Oishi growled, barely holding back his anger.
"I'm sorry." Sakuno apologised before turning to the direction of the redhead on the sofa that was now looking at her, "I'm also sorry to you, Kikumaru-senpai. I-I panicked. When I saw Tahe hurt, I didn't know what to think and I was so worried, I-"
"It's okay, Sakuno-chan. I should've been more attentive as well." Oishi put a hand on Kikumaru's shoulder and clarified, "We should have been more attentive." Kikumaru shot a look of gratefulness towards Oishi.
"So, can we still play with him after this?" Kikumaru asked carefully. Sakuno giggled tiredly, worn from the emotional day, "I think Tahe will be really upset if I said no." At this, Kikumaru smiled which in turn made Oishi smile in relief at the upturn of mood of his partner.
"While all this is nice and happy, might I interrupt?" all the adults in the room turned towards the figure standing at the entrance of the room.
"Sanrio-san?" Tezuka wondered aloud, recognising his family's lawyer.
"Ryuuzaki Sakuno-san, Tezuka Kuniharu and Tezuka Ayano have decided to fight for full custody of your son."
