It Began on the Streets
Response to reviewers:
weird1: That will be explained in later chapters! Don't worry it'll come!
katiebird: Glad you like!
shiyu: Thank you!
Masked Gundam: Cliffies are evil, but everyone still does it, anyways I've updated!
Emi Yuuji: I'm glad you like it!
NDebN: Glad you find it interesting!
ennov: Sorry for it being short but I try to keep the chapters even.
Hikari Ja'ne: I've continued!
Emethyst: Dang, I never noticed the connection. Crazy!
SnowBlizzard: You know Fuji...you'd never know!
Ishka: Thanks!
Part 4
It was a surprise to Oishi. This was a startling new development. He just hoped that he could hide it from Eiji who always manages to know if he was keeping something or not. He kept thinking if that man was really Echizen, wouldn't he remember them at all? Or maybe he had amnesia for the past twelve years he'd been missing. He sighed. He just hoped Fuji didn't find out yet. That would be disastrous for all. He stopped as he remembered.
He forgot to tell Tezuka that Atobe was coming over on Friday. He'd call him later when he got back. He had something to study for after all.
-X-
The past few days, Ryoma regarded Tezuka carefully. Sure this man was nice for letting him stay until he had his memories back, but he knew he was being watched. He felt his eyes on him. And he knew that the older man had an ulterior motive for his temporary stay. Ryoma did hear Oishi and Tezuka's brief conversation. They mentioned him or maybe someone else named Echizen Ryoma. That surname struck a familiarity inside of him. But he shrugged it off because it hurt to think of it. Since his stay, it seemed as if Tezuka knew him. When the man invited him to play tennis with his friends this coming weekend, it became suspicious. But curiosity stuck to him and he agreed. Since his stay, he'd been getting weird flashes of people he didn't recognize and a tennis court. Either Tezuka or someone else would be there. But he didn't dwell on it. It hurt to even bring it up.
He sighed before lying on his back after meditating. His life was so blurry to him. He could only remember this woman; she took care of him. But other than that he couldn't remember anything else. He glanced at the knife he found in his jacket. There was an engraving.
'To Ryoma, my golden son'It was a gift from his mother. That much he remembered. But was she really his mother, she always called him her child? He shook his head. He'd rather have his memories return slowly. He didn't want to think too much. He immediately sat up as the door busted open. He looked to see Yuki running up to him and jumping up giving him a hug.
"Come Ryoma-san, Papa said he'd take you shop for clothes!" she said excitedly. She took his hand and tugged on it. "Come, come Ryoma-san!"
"I'm coming," he said standing up and sheathing the knife hiding it behind him. He grabbed his sewed up jacket and left with the little girl. He'd figure out his suspicions later.
-X-
Tezuka, Yuki, and Ryoma were shopping. Ryoma did offer to get them himself but Tezuka insisted after he found out the first time how Ryoma got his first set of clothes. Ryoma apparently 'borrowed' someone's money and credit card. Tezuka immediately told him to return it and say 'sorry' to the person. But Ryoma didn't and just slipped it back in the person's pocket. All of it was done unnoticeably. Tezuka just shook his head and they continued.
Ryoma went off to one of the clothing stands in the store to pick out whatever he wanted, by order of Tezuka, of course. Apparently he couldn't find anything he wanted. They moved to another store. But only one caught his eye. He was sure Tezuka wouldn't approve by the other looks. They had displayed tattoo designs and had a dark brooding theme to it. But something screamed familiarity.
He walked in.
Tezuka noticed that Ryoma walked somewhere he didn't particularly like. He was about to stop him but Ryoma was already in before he could. He reluctantly followed with an awed daughter.
Ryoma looked around. This place was really familiar and had his taste in clothes. He picked up a couple of leather pants that had buckles at the thighs to hold certain 'things' in, like knives and guns and other things. He also picked out a couple of sleeveless black and white shirts. He also got some jeans that were loose at the legs. He also chose a suit jacket like the current one he was wearing, which was already ruined since three days ago. He walked up to the register seeing if they could hold it so he could go get Tezuka, but didn't get a chance to as the cashier saw him.
"Ryoma!" she said in surprise before giving him a crushing hug. He was startled. Did she know him?
"Who are you?" he asked as she pulled away. She looked at him in total shock.
"Ryoma, remember, it's me, Kasumi! I'm Kaori's sister! She's been worried about you! When you didn't show up to the house after your fight with Tatsuha, we've been worried. Kaori's tired as she exhausts herself looking for you."
"Kaori? Tatsuha? Who are they?"
"Don't you remember, Ryoma? You're the leader of the Double-edged gang! Look!"
Kasumi dragged him to a mirror at the back and took off his jacket and pulled his shirt up revealing a tattoo of a dagger that was on top of water that was reflecting it and a snake with two heads wrapping around them. It was imbedded at the top right of his back. He was surprised. He shook it off. Maybe it was there for another reason. He pulled his shirt down and took his jacket.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Can I pay for my stuff now?" he said walking out and back to the register to see Tezuka waiting there. Looks like he didn't have to call him. She reluctantly rang them up. She wanted to get some answers but he was with someone else who she recognized as Tezuka Kunimitsu owner of the billion-dollar company. She watched helplessly as Ryoma walked off with Tezuka. She had to contact Kaori but maybe later.
The three passed a pet shop since Yuki wanted to look at them. Ryoma just trailed behind. He too looked around. He laid eyes on a spotted Himalayan cat. This struck something in him.
"Don't worry Ryoma-san, we'll find him." A woman said.
"Karupin! Karupin!"
"Ryoma-san!" Ryoma got out of his daydream as Yuki called his name and tugged on his arm. "Is somet'ing wrong Ryoma-san?" she asked concerned. Ryoma shook his head. He then followed her out. Tezuka stopped for a moment to see where Ryoma was looking at. He saw a spotted Himalayan cat. It must've been why. He then left.
-X-
Tezuka was rather surprised that Ryoma suggested they go get some groceries. Ryoma insisted they do. His excuse was because since he was staying for a while, he'd make all the meals. Tezuka didn't argue mainly because the younger could cook better than him. Someone probably taught him how to survive. He noticed Ryoma's movements were always cautious.
When they reached home, Ryoma immediately set off to cook them lunch after changing into his new clothes. He asked what Tezuka preferred and he just answered anything. Ten minutes later the food was ready. It was roasted chicken, rice, and salad. Ryoma was still cooking something else but it'll take a while.
"Where did you learn to cook like this?" Tezuka asked, though still knowing Ryoma had amnesia.
"My mother taught me," Ryoma answered automatically. Tezuka regarded him thoughtfully before returning to his meal. Ryoma didn't eat anything. He was about to ask but the doorbell rang. Tezuka went to get it while Ryoma returned to the kitchen to see if the dish finished cooking. He still needed to stir it. For a rich guy, he could just hire a cook.
Tezuka, to say, was surprised at Atobe's sudden visit. Usually Atobe would inform him of it.
"Atobe, this is unexpected," Tezuka said letting the other in.
"What are you talking about? I asked Fuji to tell you," Atobe said as a maid grabbed his coat and hung it on the coat rack.
"He didn't. Are you hungry? We're still eating lunch." Tezuka offered.
"Did you finally hire a cook?"
"You could say that."
"Then ore-sama will join."
Tezuka sighed. Atobe's visit could be for the worst. He briefly heard from Inui that Fuji was together with Atobe, which meant… He kept his insecurities at the thought. It was no time to think about how his life might be ruined in the most brutal way. Not literally speaking but close enough. He just hoped Ryoma was somewhere else around the house. He sighed in relief, as Ryoma was not at the dinning table. He didn't want Atobe finding this out.
Atobe glanced at the food. It was a simple one but looked delicious nonetheless. He took a seat and the plate offered. But of course Atobe was not used to cutting his own food as he had workers do it for him. He cleared his throat. It seemed there was no one to help him. Tezuka hardly hired people to work in the house. When Atobe asked for a knife, Tezuka merely looked at the butter knife next to the fork. Atobe looked at him 'you've-got-to-be-kidding'.
"Don't you have a bigger knife?" Atobe said.
As soon as he said that a 'bigger' knife sailed through the opening between the kitchen and dinning room and cut a leg of the chicken with the knife stuck sideways. Atobe and Tezuka almost jumped. Tezuka just sighed and merely wondered what he'd gotten himself into. They both looked towards the big square opening in the wall. Ryoma was there, smirking, leaning on his arm. It was Atobe's turn to be shocked. It can't be… he thought.
"Is that knife big enough? Or if you don't prefer chicken I think we have some bananas lying around here somewhere. I remember monkey's being non-carnivorous," Ryoma said still with that smirk on his face. To Ryoma, for some reason, calling this guy a monkey seemed familiar but he just shrugged it off. It was amusing to say the least.
"Echizen! What do you think you're trying to pull?" Atobe blew up completely forgetting that maybe this was not true. Ryoma looked at him with narrowed eyes. That name again… he thought.
"I don't know who you are but that isn't my name," Ryoma responded before turning back around to wash some dishes. Atobe was bewildered beyond belief. This was not the Echizen he knew. Before he could enter the kitchen and give the younger a piece of his mind, Tezuka told him to sit down.
"When I asked if you hired a cook, I didn't know you hired a dead look-a-like!" Atobe exclaimed. Tezuka sighed. He had to explain now. He really wasn't having a good week.
"I don't know if it is him. But there are similarities," Tezuka began.
"A lot. If you wanted to know it was him why didn't you just DNA test him or something?"
"How would I do that?" Tezuka said sarcastically.
"Sarcasm doesn't become you. But you're right. Why don't you just ask the Double-edge gang?" Atobe seemed to forget about Ryoma in the kitchen. Tezuka was relieved, somewhat.
Unknown to them, Ryoma was listening to their conversation.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because they help you. Though they're costly but they do get the job done. I've been trying to contact the new boss, who apparently is out of the country on business, which my informant told me otherwise."
"Why would you hire them this time?"
"You know that businessman Tatsuha-san?"
Ryoma perked up at the name. He heard that cashier, whatever her name was, mention that name.
"Yes, he's a big shot around here."
"Yeah, but his competitive companies have started to…how to say it…go out of business. Apparently ours could be next any time. I've been trying to get the new boss so he could look into it. The former boss was also looking into it. But somehow found some trouble and died while on it protecting her son. My informant said that her son has taken her place. He'd been missing since five days ago. I heard-"
He was interrupted by a crash in the kitchen. Tezuka stood up.
"I'll see what it is." He said before walking in. Atobe, being curious stood outside the door listening in. Tezuka saw Ryoma picking up pieces of glass. Apparently it shattered. But he caught Ryoma's hand that was bleeding. Ryoma looked at him.
"It's bleeding." Tezuka simply said before helping Ryoma stand up and brought his hand under cold water, washing the blood away also checking for glass. Ryoma fought the urge to blush. He watched as Tezuka carefully but expertly pull out the big glass chunk in his skin while using his other hand to wipe the blood down with the water.
Atobe watched on amused. He couldn't wait to tell Fuji. But what he didn't know was that someone had heard him. This time, he jumped and squealed in freight as a knife was sharply imbedded on the floor next to his foot. Atobe decided to hightail it out before he had any more knives thrown at him.
Tezuka was displeased. He gripped Ryoma's wrist, dragging the younger to a room so he could get some bandages. Ryoma tripped a couple of times trying to keep up with the man's pace. Tezuka might reprimand him for this but he couldn't help but had fun scaring the visitor.
TBC---------------
BLK Angel of Destruction: This was supposed to be up yesterday but I forgot. So it's up today! Thanks for ur reviews! I really appreciate them!
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