Hullo! I am back with the final chapter. Thank you guys for being with me in this story for years. I really appreciate you waiting for this. Domo.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis and never ever will.
Squishyme - Thank you very much. I am glad that you love it. This is the last chapter. I hope you like it too. :)
Wind of SilentBell - Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. I am glad that you like the scene. I hope you like the last chapter too. :)
yukina-chan15 - Thank you for sharing your thoughts of each scene that you like from the last chapter with me. I hope you will like the final chapter. Thank you once again. Talk to you soon. :)
Lu-chanxo - Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am glad my story does that to you. I hope the final chapter will do it again. Thank you... :)
Jazzmire - I am glad that you like their story. I am not sure about the extension for Ryuji though but I'll open up the possibility if I get ideas or so. Thank you for the suggestion. :)
cposcabee - Hullo, yeah, I guess that is the advantage of writing short fics, it will end shortly. Tee hee hee... Yeah, this is the final chapter. I hope you like it. Domo... :)
Last Chapter: A Happy Beginning
Chapter Summary: Celebrating Ryuji's first birthday could be the beginning of his story.
The whole backyard was really crowded. Balloons, garlands and other decorations were being placed from trees, wood, tables and chairs and holding areas. A large banner with Ryuji's close up picture along with the greeting text was attached in front of the venue. Sakuno looked at the large text indicated next to her son's picture.
"Happy 1st Birthday, Ryuji"
A smile was tugged to her lips as she stared fondly at the simple message from the banner. Her attention went to the people who attended the party. Most of them were their old friends from different schools. There were also kids from the neighborhood her grandmother invited. They were the reasons why there were 'clowns' being invited. The kids were currently having fun watching the magic tricks the 'clowns' were doing. She giggled as they kept messing up but that made the children entertained.
"You seem to be having fun watching the show," Sumire said bopping her fist to her head as she walked past her, "You should be handling the food by now, you know."
She chuckled as she remembered her task. The tray of food was left abandoned to her hands as she followed her grandmother, "Gomen, I just got carried away."
"I would too," Sumire agreed as she grinned back at her, "The two look good for clowns. The kids love them."
"Momo-senpai and Kikumaru-senpai are into their roles," She walked to a table next to her, "Even Kin-chan has influenced by them."
"The kids sure love the show." Sumire shrugged as she started delivering the food.
Sakuno did the same. They busied themselves for a few minutes before she went to the celebrant who was watching a show with his grandparents. Ryuji was sitting on the carpeted floor. His focus was solely on show. She smiled as she approached them. Her son crawled to her the moment he saw her walking towards him. His hands extended to her waiting to be lifted. She gave him a grin before reaching down to grab him.
"You're sly, Ryuji-kun. I know you can walk now." She whispered as she poked his nose. Her son chuckled at the gesture.
"He has been waiting for you actually," Rinko said staring at her, "He wants to see the clowns."
"He keeps looking towards the stage," Nanjiroh said, "You should take him there."
"Aren't you going to watch?" She asked her parents-in-law.
"Nah, maybe later." Nanjiroh said leaning on the sofa.
"We'll go ahead then," She said turning around, "You guys can eat if you want. There's food already prepared."
"Don't mind us, dear," Rinko smiled at her, "We'll be fine."
She continued walking to the stage after nodding at them. Momoshiro and Kikumaru were making their magic tricks on big cards when Ryuji made his appearance known to the other kids.
"Oh look! The birthday boy is here!" Momoshiro called as he called their attention from the corner, "Come here on stage!"
"Yeah! Nya~ and where is the third clown go?" Kikumaru asked as he looked around.
Sakuno giggled as she walked towards the stage. She knew that the "third clown" would never show up until their show was over.
"That midget ran away!" Momoshiro hissed but loud enough for the kids to hear.
"Watch your words, good guy! Little kids are around ya!" Kikumaru warned hitting him on the head with a fan that just appeared nowhere. It actually made the whole stage laugh.
Ryuji also squealed as he clapped his hands. Kikumaru saw him and grabbed him from Sakuno.
"Okay kids! Who wants magic?" The acrobatic magician asked as he placed Ryuji on the table next to the hat, cards and small cups. The kids cheered as Kikumaru and Momoshiro started doing their 'magic'. Sakuno was also focused on their show. No one was paying attention to Ryuji until he reached for the hat and lifted it.
The kids awed and laughed at the same time when they saw a white rabbit underneath it.
"Cute!" Ryuji chuckled as he reached for the rabbit. Momoshiro and Kikumaru reached out to the animal making the kids laugh. Sakuno couldn't help herself but to giggle at the scene in front of her.
Kikumaru got the rabbit from him and tried hiding it behind him, "I wonder how'd the rabbit got in there in the first place?" He laughed awkwardly.
"You hid it there before we got started." Kintarou suddenly said who was at the end of the stage said making everyone laugh once again. It even intensified when Ryuji spread the cards with the understandable tricks and the long stick that could release flowers and clothes from the inside.
"Arrrrgh! Ryuji -kun! You are ruining the show!" Momoshiro grabbed the baby this time. The crowd was totally unstoppable now.
"Saa, everyone is having fun."
Sakuno turned around to see Fuji beside her. Rikkaidai's Yukimura and Shitenhonji's Shiraishi were next to him. They were followed with more kids. She wondered how her grandmother got to know these kids in their neighborhood for she really had no idea about them.
"They are quite entertaining," Yukimura smiled which was returned by Fuji, "Ryuji-kun sure is enjoying himself."
"And so is our own kid," Shiraishi sighed as they all knew who he was talking about, "As long as he does not making a mess and letting these kids have fun, I think it's fine to let him."
"Where's Echizen? I haven't seen him since this morning." Yukimura asked her.
Sakuno couldn't help but giggle, "I think he's avoiding his task."
"And let you do all the work?" Fuji frowned which he was rarely seen from him, "Not a good husband, is he?"
"Who are you calling 'not a good husband?'"
All heads turned to the last person who talked. Sakuno smiled as she approached her husband who was carrying big gifts with both hands. She kissed him on the cheek before helping him with the other gifts.
"You've been missing in action. They were looking for you." She said as she dropped the gifts next to the others on the table. Ryoma followed him and did the same.
"Been busy with these." He pointed the gifts for emphasizing.
"Where did they come from?" Sakuno asked.
"I got them from the station. They came from different friends."
"Aren't you going to help them?" Fuji asked pointing his teammates on the stage. Ryoma frowned as he looked at the same stage before cringing. He then shrugged his shoulders before pointing the gifts that he just carried.
"I was already helping."
Sakuno couldn't help but chuckle. Her husband really had ways on how to escape some... stuffs. He was wise in his own way.
"Ryuji-kun-don't go in there-arggh!"
The others laughed when Ryuji walked through a space from a magic box only to reveal a passage that wasn't supposed to know by the audience. But he revealed it still with his two wobbly feet.
"Saa, Ryuji-kun is indeed the star of the day." Fuji commented smiling in the process.
"He surely gets his father's... tackiness."
"What do you mean by that?" Ryoma glared at Yukimura but the latter just smiled and shrugged at the same time.
"Maybe it's better to get your child before he ruins everything." Shiraishi whispered to Sakuno's ear while they watched the other two making fun of her husband.
She giggled before walking where her son was. Ryuji was able to walk but he could only take several steps before falling on the ground. It was a bit entertaining when he was doing that on the stage. At the moment, he was sitting on the floor stage after 'revealing' one of the clown's tricks. When he saw her approaching, he immediately raised his hands and grinned widely at her.
"Mama!"
She reached out and lifted him up. She playfully touched Ryuji's nose making him squeal in the process, "You naughty boy." The kid just continued laughing.
"This show's a mess."
Ryoma murmured suddenly beside her. It seemed that he was done arguing with the others and approached them. Touyama Kintarou came to the rescue but it only made the performance worse than before. Cards, confettis and papers littered everywhere. Flowers flowed from who knew where. Momo and Eiji tried making the commotion a bit less hassle. She could even see Oishi-senpai shaking his head with his hands supporting it. Tezuka was massaging his temple as he watched the scene beside his vice captain.
At least the scene made the kids laugh.
A clap suddenly boomed from the crowd. All eyes even kids followed the sound came from and found it to Sumire Ryuzaki actually calling everyone's attention.
"Minna! Gather up! We are going to welcome my grandson with his first year living in this messy world! Come near the table now!"
She felt Ryoma's hand place to her waist and guided her towards the center of the table. The moment she stepped in front of the table with Ryuji carrying her, the kid started to chuckle once again, pointing at the figure resting on top of the cake near the numbered one candle.
"Mcqueen! Get! Get! Get!"
The people started to laugh at Ryuji's reaction at the toy atop the cake. Sakuno gently pried his hand and chuckled at him, "Slow down baby, you'll get it later."
Ryuji surprisingly pouted as he crossed his arms over his chest. Sakuno and Ryoma looked at each other before she frowned at him.
"I am having none of them, Ryuji-kun."
"Better let the kid have the toy soon," Ryoma whispered before lighting the candle, "Let's get it done too."
"Minna! Let's sing a happy birthday song for our dear Ryuji-kun!" Nanjiroh announced making Ryoma glare at him. The crowd started to sing. Sakuno watched her son change expression as he looked around. Before the song ended, he was already all smiles.
"Happy first Birthday to you, Ryuji-kun!"
Sakuno and Ryoma guided their son to blow the candle but right after he did that, he had his sneaky hand snatched the toy straight from the cake, coating the both of them.
"Lightning Mcqueen!"
They started looking at him making a movement of a car driving in the air. The people were laughing but they didn't care. They had their own laughs as they started tickling their naughty son still clinging on the toy in his hands.
"You two should change. I'll take care of Ryuji for the meantime." Sumire said grabbing Ryuji from her. Ryoma grabbed her hand and tugged her inside the house.
xxx
"R-Ryoma-kun, slow down! Why are you in a hurry?" Sakuno called as she was still being dragged by her eager husband to the stairs.
Ryoma looked to his shoulder and smirked, "So we can have more time?" He turned to the corner and entered the first room.
"M-more time for what?" She was able to ask him before he closed the door and pinned her there. She yelp when she felt Ryoma's knee brushing the inside of her right thigh.
Her husband on the other hand, pinned her wrists to her side. His smirk never left his face as he leaned closer to her already blushing face, "For being sneaky with you."
It took moments before she understood what he was saying. Her eyes widened in realization as her flushed face intensified. She closed her eyes real tight when she felt him kissing her neck, "W-wait a moment-I-I am still sticky! And so you are-Anata!" She gasped as he nipped her sensitive flesh at the crook of her neck.
"That's good. I don't mind being... stickier."
"Mou! Ryoma-kun! We can't be gone from the party for long. Stop teasing me!" She was able to let go one of her wrists and tried pushing him away. Alas, her husband just wouldn't budge.
"I am not teasing you," Ryoma replied moving closer instead, "Also, I am tired of your honorifics. You should be... punished." He warned as he lifted his knee a bit higher between her thighs.
She blushed ten folds at that moment. She leaned her forehead to his hard chest as she bit her lower lip before murmuring, "P-pervert..."
"I am not. I am your husband." He teased.
"Mou!" She exclaimed. Her heart was beating really fast. And they hadn't done anything yet.
"Nee," Ryoma called but she didn't dare look. She felt him letting go of her other wrist before touching her cheek. That move made her look up, "Let's shower together."
Her eyes widened, "Ryoma-" She was stopped when he placed a finger to her lip.
"We won't be long," He said still smirking at her, "I promise." He gave her a quick kiss before pulling her inside the bathroom and locked themselves in.
xxx
"Took you so long to change," Momoshiro smirked as they both came down. Her face was blushing when her senpai looked at the both of them, "Ryuji-kun here almost finished all of the cakes."
Sakuno looked at her son who was sitting on the floor along with the other kids. The kids were a mess now that there were smudges of cakes on their faces and shirts. She looked at her grandmother who promised to take care of her son. She found her eating cakes with her parents-in-law. When she saw her, she immediately pointed to her son appearing not guilty at all.
"They seem to be enjoying it. Let them have fun."
She only looked at her before shaking her head. Her feet started walking towards her son where he was sitting. Ryuji saw her approaching and gave her a wide grin.
"I want more cake, mama!"
Sakuno lifted him up and poked his nose that was also smudged with the icing of the cake, "Enough being hyper for now Ryuji-kun. You'll have more later."
Her son pouted making her giggle. Ryoma was already beside her. He pinched his nose this time making his son yelp, "Do you want to take a bath, buddy?"
Ryuji pried his father's fingers away before he replied to him, "I want cake!"
"You can have one slice after a bath," Sakuno gave in when she knew that her son was not going to listen, "That's the deal, Ryuji-kun."
Her son continued looking at her before letting out a breath and finally conceded, "Okay."
She smiled as she kissed the part of his face that wasn't smudged with the icing of the cake while her husband ruffled his hair.
"Good boy," Ryoma said afterwards then leaned closer to them, "Want to take a bath again?"
She immediately blushed and hit her husband's arm really hard, "Anata!"
The rest laughed after she did that. She didn't want to think but she had the idea what they were actually thinking about. Sighing, she walked away from her husband and the others while looking at the former, "Take care of the audience, will you?"
"Hai, hai."
Sakuno took Ryuji upstairs and went into their room and then in their own bathroom. For a child, Ryuji loved water when he felt like it. As Sakuno watched her son playing water from basin, she couldn't stop smiling. Her son was enjoying himself. Shaking her head, she could see her husband in his son. He was indeed Ryoma's boy. Chuckling to herself, she picked her son up deciding to keep her thoughts to herself.
She didn't want her husband to raise his ego... even more.
"Come here, buddy. Let's get you dress up for the next party." Sakuno said as she playfully rubbed her cheek to her son's own cheek.
Ryuji squealed as he felt his mother's cheek.
It took only a few minutes before Ryuji was ready to go back to his party. Sakuno brought him back downstairs and placed him with the other kids that were playing on the matted floor. She saw Ryoma speaking with his senpais at a table not far from where the kids were playing. She walked her way to them.
Ryoma saw her approaching making him prepare the seat next to him. She smiled at him showing him her gratitude before sitting down. From there, they all watched the kids play.
"The kids sure are energetic," Oishi commented who was sitting next to Tezuka, "They don't seem to get tired."
"They are kids. They have a lot of energy to spend. The kids know when to have fun." Kawamura explained who was sitting across the table, watching the kids as well.
"Where are the 'clowns' anyway?" Ryoma suddenly asked looking around the area. "I don't see them anywhere."
"Saa, aren't you supposed to be one of them?" Fuji looked at him who was sitting between Kawamura and Tezuka, hands were leaning on the table while smiling at him.
Her husband frowned at him before shrugging indifferently, "They can do without my help."
"Right..."
Sakuno tuned out the conversation between the boys and focused on the kids instead. They were playing on the makeshift playground that they specially built for the kids who would come for Ryuji's birthday. Her son was actively playing with the other kids.
Ryuji was quite sociable. He was the total opposite of her husband. According to Ryoma's parents, he tended to stay at a corner and stared at everyone. He would answer by nodding his head as 'yes' and shaking his head as 'no'. They could barely get some words out of him.
They were only thankful that her husband started communicating at something that would interest him.
Sports and games.
Ryuji was down to earth... and a bit mischievous. She knew that he was ever since the kiss incident they had. And also the way he behaved around people.
But that was fine. Their son could do anything he wanted. With the proper guidance of her grandmother, parents-in-law and friends, she knew that they would raise Ryuji well.
He would grow up as a fine young man.
A giggle slipped out of her lips as she thought of that. Ryuji was only a year old and she was already thinking that.
"What's so funny?"
Her smile was plastered to her face as she looked at her husband. He was actually frowning at her.
"Nothing," She said, shaking her head before looking back at where her son was playing, "Just thinking of the future."
"Aren't we established that already?" Ryoma asked her.
"There's nothing wrong with adding more, don't you think?" She said smiling at the kids. Yep, there was actually nothing wrong with that.
xxx
The rest of the day went by quickly. The kids enjoyed the party as well as the adult ones talking to the mothers and students. They started to go home since it was already late. The kids were tired. The guests from Osaka went home as well. Kintarou Touyama was totally hyper. He didn't want to leave yet but Shiraishi dragged him away from the family, scaring his with his poison or so.
Yukimura and his teammates also bid their goodbyes after helping them cleaning the whole mess. It was actually a whole lot mess. Sumire made sure that the Seigaku team would clean and there was no exemption to that.
The rest of the guests also went home after receiving some souvenirs. That left the whole place awfully quiet afterwards. Ryuji immediately passed out as soon as she picked him up and carried him for a moment. His head was resting to her shoulder. The kid was totally exhausted after the fun he had the whole day. He never had the chance to open the gifts but that would do for another time.
Sumire approached her and gave her great-grandson a gentle kiss on Ryuji's head, "Take her upstairs now. I know you are both exhausted."
Sakuno gave an appreciative nod to her grandmother and to her parents-in-law before going upstairs. Ryuji was out cold when she placed him on his crib. She stared at her son for awhile, a smile was formed on her lips as she was doing that. He automatically grabbed his favorite toy stuffed car and snuggled into it. She reached out and brushed her son's hair before kissing him on his temple.
"Oyasumi, Ryuji-kun." She whispered as she tugged his blanket and tucked him in. She dimmed the light that was setting next to the crib before walking out of the room.
Ryoma opened the door to their room as she got out from their son's adjoining room.
"Everybody went home?" Sakuno asked her husband as she walked to their bed and sat on the edge.
"Aa," He answered as he walked inside and sat beside her, "There wasn't much to do."
She could only nod. With everybody helping with the party, it was easy to clean the whole area. No wonder that Ryoma was already in their room, preparing to rest for the night.
"Today was amazing," She whispered before sighing, "Ryuji-kun is growing up."
"He is," He looked at her, "Look how naughty he is now."
"Like his father?" She grinned as she looked back at him.
"I am not!"
"Oh yes, you are!"
"I am no-" He stopped arguing as she saw his face change from being defensive to playful, "Maybe I am." Without warning, he placed his hands to her shoulders and pulled her down to the bed, making her yelp in the process.
"R-Ryoma-k-" Her voice was cut short when her husband's lips crushed into hers. She was taken aback by the sudden movement before finally responding to him. They had been married for two years but he could steal her breath away like that.
Ryoma's kisses were always... amazing.
"I love you Sakuno," He said seriously when he parted from hers for a few inches away. Her hands were already pinned to her side by his keeping her slightly immobile, "Thank you for giving me Ryuji."
Her face was beet red when she heard that, "I-I love you too. A-a lot," She bit her lower lip as she looked at her husband, deciding to be a little mischievous as well, "A-and thank you for setting me up in a marriage trap."
Sakuno laughed when he grinned. It was totally epic if she were asked. That was her husband indeed. Always resourceful in his own way.
"Nee..."
"Hmm..."
Her husband didn't answer her right away. He hovered her as he placed his hands to her hips. As soon as he placed himself on top of her, his knee between hers, he leaned closer to her ear and whispered something.
"Let's give Ryuji a sister."
"Eh?!" Her eyes widened when she looked at his serious ones. She could feel the smile that was plastered on his lips and she knew that she wasn't over it yet.
"Or a brother."
Her face was beet red after he suggested that. She never had a chance when Ryoma playfully growled at her and ducked to her neck, giving her a 'bite'. That earned a squeal from her before it turned into bits of giggles. Their family had just started, but if her husband wanted another child, she wouldn't mind it. She could handle it. They could handle it.
For her family was extended to the Echizens.
Their lives were just starting and she was ready to welcome them.
As long as her husband was by her side.
~ Owari ~
Done! Deja Vu guys? You guessed the patterns right? I had everything upside downf from Sakuno's POV from The Marriage Complex to Ryoma's POV to Family Complex with their respective POVs switched at final chapters. I hope that made sense. Tee hee hee...
I hope you like the ending. I am sorry this took so long to finish this. I had so many distractions in my way. This is over. Thank you guys, for waiting and reading. I hope you like it.
Note: I'll continue writing Cherry Valentines once again. The next chapter will be for a while. I have to read the entire story first so I can continue where I left of. So I repeat, the next chapter will take a while. I will start posting the chapters of the story here on Wattpad. The first chapter is already posted actually. So please bear with me. Domo.
For those who read this fic of mine, with or without accounts, Thank you very much. I actually wanted to name everyone who commented from the last four chapters as I always do every final chapter of each fic but I was having a hard time with my connection. It was giving me a bad day. Sighs. Thank you once again. I really appreciate you guys. And if you have questions, just send me a message on my fb page. Domo.
~ MitsukiJunko with her Family Complex - signing off ~
