Hi, minna-san!! Urushi dess!! I've received lots of encouraging reviews!! Hontoni arigatou!! Sorry for not keeping my promise of updating the story soon. I've been having high fever and dehydration for the past few days...nearly hospitalize (Oh no). The weather here's too hot (atsui!!). Here's the next chapter dedicated to all of you:
Standard disclaimer: I don't own POT and Jubei!!
Review of chappie 4 Part II:
"Jubei-sama..." the voice repeated. Sakuno could finally realize the presence of the boy when she felt someone's tugging her skirt.
"YOU..." Sakuno shrugged.
Chapter 5 – The boy's identity revealed, a shoulder to cry on.
"Sakuno? What's wrong?? And who's the little boy?" Tomoka asked when she heard Sakuno's shrugging and stared at the little boy who stood beside Sakuno.
"Ah...nothing...Tomo-chan, excuse me!!" Sakuno quickly carried the boy with her and left Tomoka and the crowd of spectators.
"Sakuno??" Tomoka was dumbfounded.
"Ju...bei-sama!!" the boy stammered when Sakuno carried him and run as far away from the court as possible.
She ran into the forest nearby her school. Sakuno stop and panted for a while. She put the boy down and glared at the boy at first but later her eyes soften.
"Who...are you? Why is the eye-patch with you?" Sakuno asked softly not to rush the boy.
"A...Aiyunosuke...tomo shimass!! Chi chi no ue (ancient days in Japan, people used to address their father, ue means above) had ordered me to pass this to you!!" The boy answered softly.
"Aiyunosuke? Chi chi no ue? Who's your papa?" Sakuno asked again.
"My...father's name is Koinosuke!!" the boy answered.
"Koinosuke!?" Sakuno was shocked to hear about it. A year ago she, she stayed in Kyoto with his ghostwriter papa. Due to her father's career in writing samurais' stories, Sakuno's father rented a house in Kyoto to get more ideas.
It was during one faithful morning, where Sakuno first inherited the eye-patch from Koinosuke, the disciple of Yagyu Jubei. Back in 300 hundred years ago he gained immortality because of the grudges of Yagyu Jubei. He was told to search for the rightful successor to become the second generation of Yagyu Jubei and inherit the eye-patch to end the grudge.
Back then when Sakuno inherited the Yagyu's clan; the battles between the Yagyu's clan and the Ryujoji's clan lasted for many months. The grudges whereby, 300 years ago, the leader of Ryujoji Shinkage, Daigo Ryujoji challenged Jubei to a fight to prove whose the best sword master. He lost and after he passed away, all his anger and vengeance became the spirit, Taiko Daiyu. Taiko Daiyu survives only eventually to see the resurrection of Jubei and to finally defeat him.
Taiko Daiyu manipulated the Ryujoji's clan by ordering Hajime Ryujoji, the inheritor of their clan, to eliminate Jubei. Sakuno had fought several battles to protect her family and her friends. Even her father was dragged into the battle. Although nothing really happened to her father yet she was determined to leave Kyoto for good.
"You're Koinosuke's son?? I was...never told...that he's married!!" Sakuno said with bewilderment. Her body turns weak and fell on her knees.
"Ju...bei-sama, you know my father?" the boy asked peculiarly. Sakuno did not answer him. She only nodded weakly.
"S...sumi...masen...Jubei-sama?" the boy looked down and apologize to Sakuno.
"I..ie, I just thought that the grudge had been ended ever since the battle I fought last in Kyoto?!" Sakuno stammered.
"Where...where did you find that eye-patch?" Sakuno asked wearily.
"Three hundred years...I was waiting for my father everyday, hoping that he'll accomplish his mission and come home. Just one morning I woke up and realized that the eye-patch was in my hand" the boy explained.
'300 years, the boy waited for Koinosuke for 300 years?! For 300 years, Koinosuke left his family and went on to search for the inheritor of Jubei' Sakuno thought wearily, felt for the boy, she stood up and walk closer to him and wanted to give him a hug.
"I realized that the mission had been passed down to me...I thought father had never found Jubei-sama" he continued, his face's now plastering a grin. Sakuno stopped there, eyeing confusingly at the boy and the eye-patch that's in his hand.
"Yes, he did, but I thought it's suppose to be over. Just that day, the enemy came back and attacked me! And my...friends...they..." Sakuno declared weakly. Words from the assassin came back to haunt her.
"That...day, I noticed you when the eye-patch glowed when it's near you..." the boy whispered.
"I...I think you...should leave! I'm not going to have the eye-patch again!! Please go away!!" Sakuno's voice cracked as she beg, both her hands holding herself tightly.
"Ju...bei-sama?!" the boy exclaimed with disbelieve.
"I left Kyoto shortly after the battle. I'm scared that something might happened to my family again...I can't face the consequences, I wanted to be an ordinary girl, go to school and live as an ordinary girl...that's...why I'm here" Sakuno shrugged. Her face looks horrified when she reminisce the old memories.
"Jubei...sama" the boy was overwhelmed and was very upset when Sakuno asked him to leave.
Meanwhile - At Tennis Court D
"Game set, 6 games to 1, winner, Tezuka Kunimitsu!!" the umpire called out.
"Cheh...this is no fun, Tezuka, you're too mean!! It's just a game after all!!" Eiji hissed while complaining that Tezuka's taking the competition too serious.
Eiji had been using most of his acrobatic techniques to go against Tezuka but at the end he was not able to compete with Tezuka's infamous skill, drop shot and the Tezuka's Zone.
"Touzen da, it's a competition after all!! Eiji, you should train more to improve your strength!!" Tezuka replied sternly and gave Eiji few comments. He then walk over to Eiji and gave him a handshake.
"Nya...Tezuka??" Eiji was indeed a little flare up with Tezuka's comment but cooled down when he noticed that Ryuzaki-sensei's coming towards them.
"Tezuka, Eiji, that was a great game!!" the coach commented. Both Tezuka and Eiji bowed and greeted their coach.
"Sensei, I thought that you'd be in Court B?? Why are you here?" Eiji asked curiously.
"Hm...Oishi told me that Tezuka's looking for me, but when I'm here the game had already started. So I just sit over there and watch your game. So...what is it Tezuka??" the coach asked nonchalantly.
Tezuka raised his eyebrow when he heard what Ryuzaki-sensei had told him. 'Oishi? What was he thinking, telling sensei that I'm looking for her!!' he thought intensely.
"Hm, Tezuka, what's your problem? You don't seem to really know about this. I was suppose to thank Osakada for taking care of Sakuno last night, then Oishi informed me that you're looking for me!" Ryuzaki-sensei remarked.
Eiji shrugged, Tezuka's eyes widen when they heard what their sensei had said earlier. Eiji excused himself and pulled Tezuka away from their sensei. Ryuzaki-sensei furrowed her eyebrow and looked at both of her student from a certain distant.
"Nya...taihen...Tezuka, you gotta say something!" Eiji shrugged. Tezuka fumed. He closed his eyes and keep on listening to Eiji's 'what if' philosophy.
"I'll take care of it!" Tezuka said sternly and towards Ryuzaki-sensei!! Eiji too quickly followed Tezuka.
"Sensei...sorry for keeping you waiting. Actually I wanted to show you my new skill, but I was not able to perform it!!" Tezuka bowed and remarked with his usual cool tone.
"Hm...new skill? Why aren't you performing it?" Ryuzaki-sensei asked patiently.
"Still need some more improvement!!" Tezuka remarked, looking seriously at his coach.
'Way to go, Tezuka, with your stern facade, no wonder Ryuzaki-sensei believed in whatever you said!!' Eiji smirked and thought happily.
"I'm looking forward for your new skill and both of you must work hard, Tezuka, Eiji!!" Ryuzaki-sensei commented and gave a pat on Tezuka's shoulder. Both of them bowed at their coach.
"Well let's go and check on the others!!" Ryuzaki-sensei gestured both her student to follow her.
"Let's see, Kaidoh vs Oishi at Court A, Fuji vs Ryoma at Court B and Court C, Momo vs Kawamura!!" Ryuzaki-sensei read out the remaining competition written on her schedule.
"I want to see Fuji and ochibi's match!! Must be very exciting!!" Eiji exclaimed excitingly.
"Well, let's go and check out the others first!!" Ryuzaki-sensei commented and gestured her two students to follow her.
Meanwhile - Scene at Court B...
"30 all!!" the umpire called out. The game had lasted for more than half an hour. All the audience were very excited by the match. Both Ryoma and Fuji were very exhausted. They've giving hard times to for each other.
"Time!!" the umpire called out when he saw Fuji gesturing to take a break.
Both players slowly walk towards the bench to grab for some refreshments. Just when they were about to sit, they realized someone's missing.
"Echizen, Sakuno's not there anymore!!" Fuji stated firmly when he scanned around the spectators and didn't see Sakuno was standing beside Tomoka earlier.
"Of course, she couldn't be there all the time, she have legs after all!!" Ryoma shot back.
"Iie, there must be something wrong!! She never leaves the court while watching the games!!" Fuji explained.
"Senpai, what are you trying to say?" Ryoma was a little confused, but he somehow he's trying to interpret what his senpai's saying.
"This morning, me and Tezuka noticed someone's following us!!" Fuji stated and head turn to look at Ryoma.
"So, you mean, Ryuzaki's in trouble again?" Ryoma asked nonchalantly, no to show his senpai that he actually concern.
"Ma ne, we'll have to find out from Osakada-san!!" with that Fuji stood up and walk towards to the fence. Ryoma too followed and walk beside Fuji.
Fuji waved at Osakada and she quickly walk towards them.
"Hai...Fuji-senpai? You're looking for me?" Tomoka asked melodically. She just felt so honored that Fuji wanted to talk to her. Moreover her Ryoma-sama is also with Fuji. Other girls just glared at her with green eyes.
"Hm, can you tell me where's Sakuno-chan going?" Fuji asked with his usual tone.
"Sakuno-chan?? Hey, Fuji-senpai, when did you started to call Sakuno by her name? Seem's like the rumours of both of you being an issue could be real!!" Tomoka remarked.
"Issue?? What issue?" Fuji furrowed his eyebrow with confusion.
"Hmm...Fuji-senpai don't hide, everythings revealed. Sakuno is a lucky girl!!" Tomoka clasped both her cheeks and gave her senpai a teasing stare.
"Osakada, we only want to know where Ryuzaki is? Can you let us know now?" Ryoma feeling slightly annoyed, especially the Fuji's and Sakuno's issue.
"Oh...Ryoma-sama...Of course, I'll answered every Ryoma-sama's questions happily and truthfully!!" Tomoka whimpered.
Fuji chuckled when he saw Ryoma's frustrated facade. Ryoma shot a dead glare at his senpai!
"I was quite surprised too. Earlier she was by my side, then I saw her carrying a boy at about 4-5 years old and left me here. She ran so fast as if I looked very scary" Tomoka sighed when she remembered Sakuno's weird action.
"A boy?" Fuji opened his eyes and stared seriously at Tomoka.
"Can you describe the boy, Osakada-san?" Fuji continued asking questions which earns Tomoka a curious stare.
"Well...not quite...but...he looks dirty, wearing a Yukata, and..." Tomoka scratched her head trying hard to recall the appearence of the boy.
'Just as I thought. The boy!! He was the one who gave Sakuno her eye-patch. He was the one who call Sakuno as Jubei!!' Fuji thought deeply.
"Osakada-san, can you show us which direction she went?" Fuji continued.
"Eto...I'm not quite sure, but I think she went that way..." Tomoka turned around and pointed at the direction where she last saw Sakuno.
"Hm...arigatou, Osakada-san..." Fuji thanked Tomoka and patted lightly on her head. He walked over to Ryoma and pulled him away and walks towards to the direction where Sakuno went.
"Wa...!!" Just when Tomoka was about to stop them, she realized that Fuji is talking to Ryoma.
"Echizen...we'll continue our game later. Please ask the umpire to call off this game.I'm afraid that something might happen to Sakuno. I'll go and look for while you'll inform Tezuka what had happened to Sakuno!!" Fuji commented.
"Why me? Can it be the other way round?" Ryoma protested.
"If that's the way you want" Fuji sighed and stared into Ryoma's eyes. Ryoma could tell that his senpai is slightly losing his patience.
"Alright...I'll go, then I'll join you on the search, besides I don't think she'll go very far" Ryoma muttered and resigned from his protest. Fuji also told Ryoma to meet up at the place where the attack happened yesterday.
Without further delay, both of them splitted up. Everyone in Court B were shocked to hear that the call off. All the spectators were left dumbfounded when they witnessed the two most fascinating players of Seigaku had left the court, except Tomoka.
'Sakuno, why won't you tell me a thing?' Tomoka sighed and thought wearily. Not long after she too left the court and went back home. Somewhere around the corner of a certain building, a hidden shadow had been eyeing the depressed form of the girl.
"Osakada....Tomo...ka!! Hee...hee....hee...!!" the stranger smirked and vanished from the building.
Meanwhile...
Ryoma rushed as fast as he could to Court D and look for Tezuka. When he reached the court, he saw that it was deserted.
'Hm...sasugai bucho, should have know him better!!' Ryoma smirked and left the empty court and proceed to search for Tezuka somewhere else.
Just when he passed a few courts, he slowered his pace when he spotted Tezuka together with Ryuzaki-sensei and Eiji. They were watching the games between Oishi and Kaidoh. Ryoma resumed his usual walking form and slowly walks towards them and greet them.
Eiji quickly went over and gave Ryoma a big hug. "Oh...Ochibi...you're here already!"
"Hm...Ryoma?? Dou kai? Is your game over?" Ryuzaki-sensei asked curiously.
"Mada mada isuyo (A more polite way to say mada mada dane, to respect his coach)!! The game was called off!!" Ryoma exclaimed nonchalantly.
"What? How come? You don't seem to be pissed off by the call off!!" Ryuzaki asked stunningly.
"Hu...I...was, eto...want to talk to bucho..." Ryoma pulled down his hat, covering his eyes to hide his tense.
"Echizen...Sensei, please excuse us!!" Tezuka stated politely and gestured Ryoma to come with him. They walked a few distants away from their coach and Eiji.
Ryoma told Tezuka of what had happened. Tezuka's eyes widen a little. He had earlier warned Sakuno to be careful.
'Nya...troublesome..." Eiji sighed when he was stucked there with his coach especially she kept on asking why Tezuka and Echizen had to talk secretively.
"Alright, I'll asked Eiji to join the searching and if anyone of us find her, we'll bring her to the meeting place!!" Tezuka remarked sternly.
On the other hand...
'Sakuno...where are you?' Fuji had already searched a few places that he think she might be. He kept on searching and went into the nearby forest to check if Sakuno's there. He rested for a little while. The game which he had with Ryoma had exhausted the tennis prodigy. He then recalled what Sakuno had told him last night before falling asleep.
'I'll be strong and I'll protect...protect something that's important to me'
'Minna hontoni oyassashi dess (very kind). I've never realized that until now, when all of you are by my side, taking care of me!'
"Sakuno, you'll be okay..." Fuji whispered and looked around when he heard faint voices nearby. He recognised instantly that the faint voice belongs to Sakuno.
"Sa...Sakuno...!!" Fuji immediately followed the trail where the voice came from. He tore apart thick bushes to take a short cut.
"Please...please leave me alone!!" Sakuno bellowed.
"One year...I've been having nightmares of how I was to fight the battles. How my father freed me from the control of Yagyu's grudges. I was fighting my own father!! All my close friends were involved...why?? It's my fault...I dragged them into this!!" Sakuno broke down, tears flowing freely from her eyes.
"Ju...bei...sama!!" the boy eyed Sakuno wearily.
"I don't want...I don't want my father or anyone of my friends get hurt...can't you understands, I missed them, my friends and my father. I can't go back to Kyoto...the nightmares keeps on haunting me..." Sakuno said faintly.
"Gomen ne...Ju...bei...sama" the boy stammered. The boy too felt for her.
"I'm now staying happily with granny, she doesn't know about my past...so...please, bring the eye-patch and go away...don't come to me again!!" Sakuno begged.
Fuji who was now very close to Sakuno heard everythings she had said. He clenches his fist and looked wearily.
"Gomen ne..." the boy gave Sakuno a last apology and disappeared in front of Sakuno.
"This would be good for you too...no more burden!!" Sakuno whispered and turned around when she heard footsteps approaching her.
"Da...re??" Sakuno shrugged and her eyes widen when she saw Fuji coming closer to her.
"It's me...Osakada-san told me that you went off with the boy." Fuji looked at her symphatically.
"I....I...sumi masen...sumi masen" Sakuno didn't know what to say. She only kept on apologizing to Fuji.
"Sakuno...stand up!!" Fuji ordered, his bright blue orbs stared into hers sending shivers down her spine. She had never seen Fuji staring at her like that before.
"I...I" she didn't take the challenge, instead she looked down.
"Sakuno...!!" Fuji kneeled infront of her and raised his right hand. Sakuno felt Fuji's hand placing just a few inches away from her face.
"Ne...Sakuno...still remember what you've told me last night?" Fuji asked sternly. Sakuno remains sullen.
"Last night you took my hand, saying that you'll protect things that is important to you!!" he continued.
"I...I...was..." Sakuno stammered remembering every single words she had told Fuji.
"I want to believe. Therefore, Sakuno, you must stand strong!!" Fuji remarked. Sakuno stared at Fuji's firm palm. She slowly raised her right hand and press towards Fuji's palm.
"I was...so...afraid, so...I acted cowardly...I wanted to hug him, but I don't have to courage, I chased him away!!" Sakuno shrugged and wept.
'Sakuno...knowing you makes me realize that I'm being blessed. I have my family by my side' Fuji took Sakuno's hand and gently pulled her towards him and hug her. 'You..because you're so small, yet you're not giving up, protecting everything which is important to you!. This hand, which can't hide anything at all, yet you still strive to protect' Fuji felt certain urges to hold her and confort her.
"Iyo...just cry out!! It's harder to hold back tears!!" Fuji whispered and gently stroke her back to comfort her.
Sakuno eyes widen at first but she didn't push away. She felt safe and at least she had a senpai whose willing to offer her a shoulder to cry on.Without holding back, she let her tears flow freely and soaked Fuji's shirt.
Just as when Fuji's still holding Sakuno in his arms, Ryoma who was hiding himself behind one of the log witnessed scene too.
"Ryu...zaki...?" Ryoma hissed and stared blankly at the blue sky.
TBC
Sakuno finally made her decision of not to get involve with the Yagyu's clan anymore. What will happened to Tomoka, when the dark shadow had an eyes on her. And Ryoma, how will react after seeing Fuji hugging Sakuno.
Preview of Chapter 6: Sakuno and Ryoma -the after-kiss effect!! Tomoka's weakness!!
Part:
"I know, you were not asleep back then when I kissed you!!" Ryoma declared nonchalantly.
"You...you...realized" Sakuno blushed furiously.
Part:
"She'll be your enemy!! Lend me your power!!" the dark shadow whispered.
"What...do...you...want!!" Tomoka shrugged.
AN: Hooray...minna-san, this chappie's completed. Sorry again for lots of OOCness!! And I would like to thank the following readers for their reviews:
The Eiji no neko-sama - Ara, sorry, was not able to reply your review previous. I'll try to fix the summary once again...thanks for your advice and please bear with my shortcomings.
Zazabeans-chan - Hora, this fics is dedicated to you too, and you too, please write more fics, I love reading ur fics too!!
Sourgreenapple-san - Thank you, I'm so happy when you said that the story's original and I'm so happy that you like my story.
glitterfairy - Ah...ha...ha, that was a very nice compliment of yours!! Thank you and hope you'll still support my story.
koori no tenshi-san - Ano sa...ano sa, I'm using a moving fingers style to type my scripts, LOL just kidding, sorry for the wait...please bear with my slo...ppy...ness
Zhu-zhu-san- Ha, urushi dess, thanks for your lovely compliments. Please keep reading my fics.
anime-obsession260 - Hi, sorry for keeping you waiting, here's the latest chappie, hope you'll not be disappointed by the OOCness.
Grace-chan - Thank you...thank you, I'm so happy, please continue reading, onegaishimass!!
And once again, I need to apologize if this chapter is not to standard. I hope everyone will send in their comments and I'll improve.
Owari
mi-chan