Disclaimer:
Prince of tennis:I don't own P.O.T, its Takeshi Konomi's
Da vinci code: Absolutely not mine neither, its Dan Brown's
Romeo and Juliet: Not mine either, its William Shakespeare's
NOTE:
and im nto sure you'll love this chapter...so please tell me okay?! plus! the fun starts at the fourth chapter that im excited to write it already!!
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
YummieCreamy for the idead bout the pic, there's something more bout that picture, just watch out.
and to all the reviewers! thankies!
Credits:
The Da vinci code where i got some ideas specially,it educated about some french laguage.
Romeo and Juliet from this chapter on, i'll take some lines from the script, and use it, some theme maybe.
--Previously--
The next day…
Japan
Seishun Gakuen (Locker room)
7:30am
"and you thought you left it inside the-.." before Eiji could finish his sentence as he opened the door, a sly grin crept to his face as he glanced at Momoshiro beside him, as they both grinned at the sight.
They exchanged glances, as Momoshiro tip toed to his locker and discreetly opened it up to find what he was looking for, his new digital camera, Cannon ixus (red) 5 megapixel, that he left yesterday, as he scooted back at Eiji and captured the moment.
CLICK!
Chapter three: Providence
"O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,
As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.
The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,
And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.
Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night"
-ACT I Romeo and Juliet
"Now I got loads of burgers in my clutches!" laughed Momoshiro as he and Eiji ran out of the locker room, savoring the sweetness of the picture in their camera as they, now they've got something to ask for ransom from that chibisuke, he surely wouldn't want people to feed on his picture with that Ryuzaki girl, inside the locker room, sleeping, spending time with each other, and surely he wouldn't want that Ryuzaki girl being harassed by his fan clubs.
Sakuno suddenly blushed as she lowered her head as she spoke her words.
"Thank you Ryoma-kun..." she said shockingly without stuttering every word escaped from her lips, as she looked up at him, and forced a smile.
"And…Welcome back!" she removed Ryomas sweater, the Seigaku Tennis club sweater, and gave it back, but Ryoma refused.
"You'll need it." With that Ryoma exited the room, as he waved goodbye with his back facing Sakuno.
She smiled grimly, as she frowned again, this may be the last time she'll see him like this.
"Matte." She said, Ryoma stopped at his feet from the door.
As she picked up a racket resting on the bench, and pointed it at Ryomas back, as if mocking him in a match.
"When I come back, promise me…we'll have a match." She said with full of confidence traced in her voice, as she smiled again, this time, a real smile, this time full of hopes.
Ryoma smirked, could this be her? The girl with inferiority complex, now, challenging him in a match, this is gonna be fun, he's sure she won't be this confident if she's gonna fail, he knows it, he faced her, looked her in the eyes with pure honesty and excitement.
"Then, Come back soon."
Those words striked her like a smash, she doesn't know when, she doesn't know how she could come back to them, but she will.somehow she felt like choking herself right then and there…One EMPTY promise.
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Akacho Inc.
London, England
"Welcome back."said the man in white tux, as he stood beside the jaguar stretch limousine, together with the man in gray tuxedo as they both smiled, at the old man, who merely look like their range of age.
"Masaki,Ochiba…get ready, pick her up at the airport tomorrow." Jiroubu said as he get passed his two sons, Masaki and Ochiba, were his greedy sons, Jiroubu knew very well, that all that's left with him were his sons and his grand children, knowing his sons, giving them their birthright with their clan isn't a wise decision, that he decided he'll pick his grand children to claim his title, Sakuno his only choice.
Ochiba shoved his long Blonde hair as he flashed his dark green orbs at his younger brother Masaki who was glaring at nobody in particular, Ochiba has always been the one whose got genius plans, while Masaki got the brawns, the two worked successfully together, and they only favored one of Jiroubu's heir's, Sakurei, the daughter of their Eldest brother, particularly, their niece.
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DING!
Sumire's train of thoughts were shut off hearing the doorbell, she ran to the door and opened it up to see…
"Sakuno!"as she hugged her grad daughter tight,with her eyes shut, she felt her hug her back, as she hear sobs from her, she let her grand daughter's head oh her arms.
As she let go of her grand mother, as she looked at her with teary eyes as she forced a smile on her face.
"I'll be leaving tomorrow."she said with a slight grim on her face, leaving will never be easy for her, specially, when there's no coming back, but she doesn't have any choice, the letter alone says it all, staying here won't do her any good, messing up with the head of the Yakuza clan is suicide, and its better to commit suicide alone than to commit suicide together with the people she cared for.
They sat at the sofa with mere silence between them, as Sakuno grabbed the envelope again and started to re-read the contents, the paper was signed with an Emblem she doubt their family emblem, at the back of the envelope was the same and addressed to her, everything was made formal.
To my dearest grand daughter
Its been 10 long years since I last saw you, back when the time you were born, and until now, you're grown up to be a young lady, I still have that sin that I know you can never forgive me for, my grandchild, Sakuno, from the time your father left until the day he died, your father,devoted his life to everything he does, his perseverance and devotion took us to greater heights, but then I lost him, he left me you. That I have chosen you to claim my title, As much as I hated to, you cannot refuse, Im afraid that if you refuse I'll be using any kind of force to get you here, and I know you cannot refuse , "Sub rosa"
Together with this envelope were all the papers that you will need along your trip to get here, I'll be expecting you.
Jiroubu Yushihiro
She felt her grip weaken, somehow, she doesn't understand, everything were in scribbles, she just wished this was just her lucid imagination, that man, he's desperate, her father, the business, the flight, everything went all wrong, she never get to spend time with his father, the only memory she had was a bitter one, the day he left her and her mom, for a young two year old girl, its amazing she could still remember that moment, simply because it her turning point, the point when a child learns how to handle her emotions, it shaped her to the way she was now, more than anyone who surrounds her, nobody had enever asked, why is she the way she was,this man, he might not knew how to break sensitive matters gently that it took him small piece of letter just to destroy her fantasy.
"S-Sub rosa?" were all the words that come out from her mouth,her voiced refused to come out, she was shaking, her hands could be mistakenly identified as an ice cube, her eyes wide waiting for Sumire to reply, she was living in a lie for 10 long years, those years, she lived in peace, normal, and how come this piece of paper could destroy her little paradise, where she learned how to dream, where she learned how to love, her world would just crumble right before her very eyes, she just wished that when she closed her eyes, everything would just go back to normal,but wishing too hard was all she could do, this is reality, and this reality was hers to face.
She doubted herself, where should she start? how would she tell her? What words should she use? Is this the right thing to do? She doesn't know, whatever should happen now, one thing's for sure, its her right to know.
"Your father, he's a wonderful man, he and your mother, They wanted all the best for you..." Sumire started, she wanted to confirm this fact to Sakuno, whatever she needs to know, she should realize that the presence of love was always there, that her parents always loved her, though her fate was now about to engulf her in eternal suffering, as she though it will, Her mother always wanted her to live at peace, that she accepted the day when her husband left her and Sakuno,not knowing what lies ahead of them, she took the responsibility of raising Sakuno, with the help of her mother Sumire
"And I believe its time for you to read this," She said as she got something from the side table, a pink old notebook, which she believes so, as the thing she should pass on to Sakuno .
Her eyes couldn't believe this, Her Obaachan got this for her? The last time she saw this notebook was when she was five years old before her mom died, as her hands were shaking at the sight, could this be it, her mom's diary, lying in her hands, its made of coarse red velvet with hardbound cover, with thick metal surrounding it as twin circles were engrave in it as if it's the key to open the book
"Your mom, she wanted me to give you this in the right time…and I truly think you need it now." she said, as she lowered her head,
"She had that notebook, ever since she met your father until you were born, she knew this day would come…."she finished with a sigh, Sumire herself didn't dare to open that notebook, perhaps, she wasn't permitted to...
Sakuno looked anxiously at Sumire, how will she open the book without a key, the book was thick enough to threshold memories that can never be detailed by human memory, her fingers traveled at its cover, words were engraved on the book like an arc.
"Sub rosa"
As a petal rose was stamped under it, so that was it, this is the bait.
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Having Momoshiro and Eiji beside him giggling and muttering some tease on him, staring at that picture on his camera, then Ryoma would call this day, the Judgement day, nosy little creatures, how cold a little piece of picture bug Ryoma the whole day? Man! The two just don't give up! Still following him like his tail.
"Eiji-senpai, what do you say we print this picture out and update the Ryoma-kun fansclub?" said Momoshiro as he grinned at Eiji, so this is how they mock the little chibisuke, the little prince of tennis, as he groaned hearing the conversation of the two, as he rolled his eyes in pure annoyance.
"OOOHH….THAT WAS SOME GREAT IDEA MOMO! BUT I THINK BUUURGERS SOUNDS BETTER!!!" Eiji said as he shifted his head beside Ryomas ear, as Momoshiro placed the picture in front of Ryoma as he raised his eyebrows.
"So that's what you held me hostage for?" He said as he smirked, like it really even matters to him, yeah, Ryuzaki is nice, that's all, and she's got long braids for tennis which is nicer unbraided, and she's really shy, and she's really good in cooking, that he loves her bentos, oh yeah I doesn't matter.
"Oh…poor Ryuzaki-chan…what would the 'Ryoma-sama' fans club do to her when then saw this?…owww…some people here just can't let that cute little girl be harassed…oh well, good thing me and Momo knows how to take care of a girl."Said Eiji as he flashed that twinkling smile on some girl at the hallway as she squealed, so Eiji and Momo taking care of Sakuno, and Ryoma's fans club harassing her, is almost the same, but the first one is the worst.
Ryoma shut his eyes, and muttered something as he grabbed the picture away from Momo's clutches, the thought of those consequences makes him feel responsible, everything happened that night was all coincidence, he never thought he'll get trapped under the cold rain, and so does she, seems like he's in the same situation, trapped with two horrible hostage takers, ready to do anything for free lunch.
"Mada mada dane."that's all he said as he proceeded inside his classroom.
The two hearing this jumped in joy as they said in unison "O'chibi!!!see ya!!" as they both ran in victory, ahh!! Sweet price of a camera!
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"You're still going to school today?" Sumire asked, as if this is the last day she'll ever see Sakuno again, there's no assurance she's coming back, but there would be a chance since the main branch of the Akacho Inc. is in Japan, but knowing Jiroubu, he would probably take Sakuno away from Japan completely.
She sifted through her skirt as she dusted her uniform off, and faced the mirror, as she braided her hair, hearing her Obaa-chan's query, she smiled.
"Hai, I'll watch the practice games later, I'll surely miss it." She said as she looked back at her Obaa-chan, traces of doubts were on her face like a portrait hanged up for centuries over an white flatted wall.
Sumire frowned, Sakuno…cheerful as she was, she was weak in handling her emotions, but now, all she could do is smile at her misfortune, this is her, Sumire wished she could still watch her Sakuno grow into complete bloom, but it seems like fate has decided before she could, and fate has given her 24 hours to spend with her beloved Sakuno. She picked up her keys, as she wore her sweater, ready to leave the house as she loaded Sakuno's luggage over the trunk, she looked at Sakuno,she's walking out from the door of the house where she made lots of memories worth keeping, but now, she's walking out for good, she doesn't know what Jiroubu is planning to do, but one thing is for sure, she won't let Sakuno suffer, if that's the case, she would rather get killed but taking Sakuno back to the life she used to live.
"Then, lets go." She said as she smiled back, trying to make this day the best memory she could pack in her memory, as she leave Japan.
"Hai!" she said as she took a glance at the sweater resting of the chair, her eyes soften as she gladly took it, and folded it neatly as she put in a neat paper bag, as she proceeded to the door and took a last glance to the house,she'll be home for dinner, her last dinner.
As her journey to the past will start as the sun rose tomorrow morning, the past, which holds her future, the future she barely even know, the present she thought was true, the present she would want to live with, but this is the present which she considered her fantasy, as tomorrow refuse to shine, the memories of her fantasy would still stay, until then she would have to face her challenge, like a tennis match.
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A.N: I really need some beta-reader! Any volunteer? I'd gladly accept it! Just visit my journal, check the link on my profile…I really need it! I think so…
Vocabulary:
Sub rosa (Secrets)