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Recap

"Ryo-chan! Mommy's home!"

Ryoma himself was dumbstruck, his hand loosening its grip to Sakuno's, "M-Mom?"

End of Recap

0.0

Chapter 4: Meet Mom

And there stride a tall, blonde woman swishing her hips left and right as she hurriedly approached the two frozen figures on the mansion's driveway.

Sakuno's mind went blank. His mother was there because of her. 'Now what?'

"Ryo-chan!"

She heaved a deep breath to compose herself. Although she wanted to, she shouldn't be panicking at this moment. The more she do, the more it would make look suspicious. After all, there shouldn't be any problem for as long as Ryoma wouldn't say anything to his mother.

'Of course,' she almost forgot.

She took a quick glance toward the child and was surprised to see his staggered expression. His expression spoke for itself, he was thinking the same. He, too, was afraid that his mother would find out. Good, then all she had to do was remind him to shut his mouth.

"Your father said that she came to see your girlfriend." She discreetly whispered, closing their distance so he could hear. "Can I ask you a favor?" she hesitated; she wasn't even sure of what she wanted to say.

Stalling, she paused and pretended to wait for an answer. Though his anticipated silence never disappointed her, so she decided to continue, "Anou…can you please not tell her that I am your girlfriend for now? I mean, it's not like it's necessary for her to…know."

Of course it was necessary, but if lying was the only way for her to keep her college fee, then she would. Besides, their relationship was pretty much an agreement, nothing serious.

However, she wouldn't deny the fact that this matter was serious. Should she lie about their relationship, she would have to find a girl who Ryoma, junior, would present to his mother one way or another. Should she tell Ryoma's mother that they indeed had a relationship her employment would be terminated. And telling his mother that everything was a hoax was never an option either.

His mother wouldn't go all away from London (or Australia) and go to Japan only to find out that everything was a big joke. There was no way that this approaching woman would accept this fact. She would most probably get angry and fire her all at once.

She was so dead.

"Hi there!" she was startled, finally realizing that the woman was practically waving her hand right in front of her face.

Sakuno's eyes wandered for a moment before she faltered, "Oh…u-uhm."

The woman smiled knowingly and held her hand out, taking Sakuno's cold ones without permission, "I'm Echizen Kumiko, Ryoma's mother. Please to meet you!"

"P-Please to meet you!" she bowed her head low and closed her eyes in embarrassment. She couldn't believe how she stuttered like an idiot. "I'm really sorry for my inattentiveness."

The woman formed an 'o' with her mouth and laughed as the situation dawned upon her, "Don't worry, I won't eat you." she said and turned her attention toward her son, "Now let's go Ryo-chan?" she beckoned and grabbed her son's hand, tugging him towards the mansion.

She nearly sat on the driveway as she took in how her knees weakened. How that woman made her that nervous was just beyond her. Was it just her or did she really seemed intimidating?

She heaved a sigh; perhaps she should just let God take control.

0.0

Today had been a long day. Sakuno, as much as she didn't want to admit, had been constantly avoiding Ryoma's mother. There she was, hiding pathetically inside a dark storage room at the back of the mansion. She couldn't really help it. Although she attempted to act like nothing was wrong, she couldn't set aside the fact that everything wasn't right.

The back of her hand removed the sweat that was forming on her forehead. She couldn't really tell how long had she been hiding. But if they would only give her some time to think more, she would probably have the courage to go outside of her "comfort zone" and face Kumiko head on, as a babysitter and as Ryoma junior's girlfriend.

"Oi," she almost jumped at the sound of his voice.

She breathed deeply, instinctively moving a hand toward her chest, "Do you have to do that?" Really, she sounded edgy yet angry all the same.

He raised a brow, "Do what?"

And his act of innocence only irritated her more, "Don't startle me like that," she said exasperatingly. "Why are you here anyway?"

"I should be asking you the same question," he replied unfocused, his eyes and hands directed towards his phone; busy texting. At last, when he was finished, he shut his phone close and said frankly, "You're that coward, aren't you?"

'Unbelievable.' It was so preposterous that she wanted to gape."Eh?" she asked disbelievingly.

"My mom wouldn't do anything to you, and I doubt that she would do something even if she finds out that you're my girlfriend." he seemed so sure and confident that Sakuno found it hard to keep up.

Wasn't he the one who looked so shocked of his mother's appearance just a while? If it wasn't because of the fact that he was afraid that his mother would find out about their so-called "relationship", what was he thinking back then?

"Just do your job," his voice cut through her train of thoughts. "If she really wants to know, then I guess we should just tell her."

She frowned; she couldn't really believe what she was hearing, "What? You mean you're not afraid?"

"Afraid of what?" he answered mockingly as if the idea itself was too outrageous to bear.

"Wait!" she said, holding her hand up as if to stop him from bombarding her with so much confusion. "You look afraid when you saw her. Why, if it's not about us?"

Instead of getting the answer she wanted, the child only grinned at her anxious expression and turned his back to face her, "Get out of this place and do your job. I didn't hire you to scamper away from my mother."

0.0

Sakuno restlessly rolled on her bed for the hundredth time, frowning and creasing her brows together. She just couldn't get it. He wouldn't explain it either.

Why did he always have to get the upper hand? Why did he always think or rather seem to know everything? Why did he have to act so mysterious and make things harder for her?

First, he was coincidentally her crush's son. And then there was this whole debacle about her being his girlfriend and the phone call right afterwards. And now his mother came all the way from London or Australia just to check on her, his "girlfriend."

All of it happened within four days; couldn't it get even more suspicious?

She turned to roll again to the other side of the bed. This whole affair was making her head ache and her night sleepless. The mere fact that he was a child, a nine-year-old child, caused the situation to be even more complicated.

What was Ryoma planning?

She closed her eyes in exhaustion. She had enough of it for today. For now, she would have to get her rest from the Echizen family. If she had known that her job wouldn't' be that easy, she could have quitted even before she started.

0.0

The sound of her beeping alarm clock brought Sakuno back from her dreamland to reality. Reality. The mere thought of it was enough to eradicate her smile from her face that she planned to wear throughout the whole day. Before she could have felt that relaxing feeling that people usually have from a night of sleep, which she doubted she had, she was already stressed how she would get out of her room without her having to face Ryoma's mother.

"Good morning Sakuno-chan!" a piercing voice greeted Sakuno in the hallways.

Thrilling- a very good way to start her morning.

"Echizen-sama?" she called with a foreboding feeling that she virtually sought to return back to her room and hide under her bed sheets.

"Yes! Yes! It's me. Kyoko told me about you. You're my son's babysitter, right?" Kumiko cheerfully replied, running excitedly towards her.

She nodded and answered, "Yes."

"I see," the woman said and clapped her hands together, much to Sakuno's surprise. "All right, let's go and have shopping, I have to know more about you."

"Wh-What?" her eyes widened at her statement.

'Know more about me?'

"Well, you know. My son already mentioned that you are his girlfriend. He already left for school so we will have the whole day to talk," she explained as if it was the brightest idea in the whole world.

And even before Sakuno had known it, she was already sitting inside the red, flashy car of the mother of her boyfriend and the wife of her crush, speeding through the highways, taking her to God knows where.

Sakuno took a glimpse sideward only to meet the expectant look of Kumiko. Okay, shoot her, but no matter how she thought about it, no matter how excited and clueless Kumiko might be, she still thought it was inappropriate and dangerous that she continue. Anyway, it was Ryoma junior's fault too. It was his entire fault. He just had to put her in all situations that he knew she wouldn't like in the very least.

"Uhm…Echizen-sama," she said, trying to remain calm and not shout "This is all you son's fault!" "You don't really have to take me to shopping. Besides—"

"Nonsense! You're my son's girlfriend, are you not?" Kumiko's words were so sharp that Sakuno's sentence was immediately halted.

"Yes, but technically speaking…" Sakuno tried to explain helplessly.

"Oh, I know!" Kumiko exclaimed, cutting her sentence yet again. "You're not into shopping, are you? Let's go to a restaurant then?" she asked, her eyes gleaming as it left its attention from the road.

"Look out, Echizen-sama!" Sakuno warned as they almost collided with a big truck. "Ow!" Sakuno muttered when her head bumped on the dashboard as Kumiko tried to "expertly" maneuver the car.

"I'm sorry, Sakuno-chan!" she apologized.

Maybe explaining while she was driving wouldn't do anything. Sakuno would have to hope that it would work later or better yet… she could go with the flow and pretend to be indeed this woman's son's girlfriend?

0.0

"So Sakuno-chan," Kumiko said after they entered and sat inside one of the most ostentatious Japanese restaurant that Sakuno had ever known. "How are you and my son?"

'She didn't compute the age gap?' Sakuno thought and let a forced smile etch her face. "We're fine, really. Uhm, going strong."

Wait, 'going strong' didn't sound so right or vague and Kumiko's nodding confirmed it, she was expecting to hear more, "I mean, you know, the child's pretty kind."

Ryoma's mother smiled, "Of course he is. I am his mom after all."

"Echizen-sama," Sakuno said and smiled nervously, before the situation goes out of hand, she would have to stop it. "I don't think—"

"Oh please Sakuno-chan!" Sakuno straightened at her voice. "You can call me auntie, no need for formalities! Or call me Kumiko, anything's fine. By the way, what are your hobbies?"

"M-My hobbies?" Sakuno asked uncertainly.

"Yeah, do you also play tennis? Like his father, Ryoma really likes tennis." Kumiko replied her eyes filled with interest and enthusiasm.

"Uhm…I play tennis before. But I have to quit when my grandmother died since I had to support myself to study," Sakuno answered; she couldn't really believe this, she was really having a heart-to-heart talk with her.

Kumiko put both her hands up to her mouth, her eyes now shocked, "I'm really sorry to hear that!" she exclaimed.

"I-It's fine," she replied, her eyes not meeting hers. "Kumiko-san?" she called her awkwardly.

"Yes?"

Although she knew that this would disappoint Kumiko and get herself in trouble, she had to be honest because her conscience wouldn't take it if this would go on. Even before this woman buy a mall for her son's girlfriend. She had to say to Ryoma's mother that everything was a set-up…that Ryoma made her to become his girlfriend for the fact that he had to avoid girls and that she had agreed because he promised her that he wouldn't associate her with his father anymore.

"E-Etou…" she said uncertainly. What would she say if Kumiko asked about her relationship with her husband? That she had and still has a crush on him? And that they had phone calls? No way.

She shook her head befuddling Kumiko, "What is it?"

No matter what, Sakuno had to say the truth, "Your son and I…"

"My son and you…?" Kumiko asked encouragingly.

"Are not—"

Just when she was about to continue speaking, Kumiko's phone rang. "Opps, an emergency. Wait there a second sweetie," Kumiko said, flipping the phone open.

"Hey, honeybunch!" she said excitingly. Honey…bunch?

'Ryoma-kun…' Sakuno thought almost enviously. Of course he was calling her to check if she was fine, unlike their phone calls.

"I'm fine," Kumiko smiled warmly. Geez, she's in love. "I'm here in a restaurant, talking with my future daughter-in-law."

'Future daughter-in-law?' Fabulous.

"Yes, hon. I'll take care," she said on the phone, pausing for a while and then adding, "I love you more."

Sakuno had to admit, that really hurt. And God, she was sinning! She was getting jealous over something when in fact she shouldn't be in the first place.

"So what are we talking about again?" Kumiko asked, interrupting her reverie.

"About…my hobbies," she said, her eyes dancing from the table cloth to the walls of the restaurant, not meeting Kumiko's curious stare. It was so simple, why couldn't she say the truth?

"Oh, aside from tennis and babysitting, what do you do?"

After a few moments of muddled thinking, Sakuno finally decided, "I'm really sorry, but I think—" but as soon as she was about to start and blurt what was really happening, the waiter came to take their order.

"Ma'am, may I get your orders please?" the waited inquired politely to the two of them.

She just always had to be interrupted. 'Is this a sign that I shouldn't tell her the truth?' Sakuno thought, staring at the waiter with a weird expression on her face.

But it would be unfair on Kumiko's part, especially if Sakuno was coveting her husband when she shouldn't be.

She looked up at the ceilings of the restaurant, struggling. Maybe this wasn't the right time. It might be the right time but she didn't want it to be. Besides, it wouldn't hurt pretending to be Ryoma's girlfriend for a while, would it?

So in the end, Ryuuzaki Sakuno chose to be dishonest.

After ordering, Kumiko's attention was back to their hanging conversation just a while, "So you're saying again?"

She got her glass of water and nervously diverted the discussion, "Oh, it's nothing. Uhm…can I ask you a question?"

The woman looked at her amusingly and replied, "You already did, but what is it?"

"How did you and your…husband met?" the thought came to her so sudden that she hadn't had the time to think if it was proper.

"Oh…" Kumiko muttered. "Well, we met when I was looking for a person to coach me in tennis."

He coached her before, too.

"And then when I looked in his beautiful golden eyes," she continued dreamily. "I knew it was him. We knew we were meant for each other."

Great. Now she got even more envy. He never felt that way to her, had he?

"And then after that, time went fast and I hadn't even realized that we were already married," she laughed at her own statement as if it was a private joke.

"Really?" although Sakuno tried to sound enthusiastic, Kumiko didn't miss the sadness in her eyes.

"Why? Had you had a fight with my son?" she sounded too concerned that Sakuno almost laughed.

'You have no idea.'

"No," she said, waving her arms about. "Ryoma is a good boy."

Kumiko smiled and replied, "Well, I'll just hope that's true. Let's eat!"

She couldn't believe this. That child really influenced her so much that she was starting to lie more often. But what could she do? She wouldn't have the courage the say that both her and Ryoma were lying and obviously would never have the courage to tell the woman in front of her that she still likes her husband and that they had a couple of phone calls even before she came. Not to mention that he frequently taught her tennis personally, too.

But whatever, things would work out for as long as she follows Ryoma's lead. It had to work out because she had gone enough trouble. If it weren't for her college plans, she wouldn't have to endure these.

"So Sakuno, what interests you about Ryoma?" Kumiko suddenly asked.

Sakuno shot her head up from the food that she was busily eating, 'She's really serious?' "Well, he's mysterious and…I like his eyes."

"Well," she replied with pride, "I know right? Hmm…but you see, I have noticed…is he not too young for you?" Finally, she noticed.

"That's one thing that I liked about him," she lied. "I remember when he asks me to be his girlfriend, he said, 'Age doesn't matter.' " At least this time, it was half true.

Kumiko smiled, "Well then, I'm happy for you!"

Sakuno felt relieved. She just had to lie until she comes back to the arms of her loving husband in London…or Australia.

"Kumiko-san, do you mind if I ask you another question?" Sakuno said when she finished her plate. This time, she wasn't too uncomfortable talking with Kumiko that she was able to ask when the said woman said that she didn't mind, "How old are you?"

Kumiko laughed, "I'm thirty, why do you ask?"

'Thi-Thirty? Doesn't that mean that she's six years older than Ryoma-kun?'

"Thirty?" she said out loud. She couldn't fathom it. Ryoma liked older women?

"Yeah, I look younger, don't I?" she said smugly, flipping her hair and adding before Sakuno could have answered, "Thank you for the compliment!"

"O-Of course," she replied nervously.

0.0

After a whole day of getting to know Ryoma's mother, Sakuno could swear that she couldn't lie anymore. She couldn't really count how many times she told stories that did not exist at all. Just like their date in a nearby amusement park where he bought her an ice cream that truly melted her heart out. But anyway, Sakuno could say that it was worth it. Ryoma's mother had after all decided that she would return to Australia.

Speaking of which, it confirmed that Ryoma, his father, was indeed in Australia. Ryoma, junior, was lying. Which reminded her that they have to have the talk. She had to know why he had to do it, why he decided so suddenly to reveal their relationship to his mother. And a lot more. She had to ask him so many things, clarify them.

"Ryoma-sama?" she called as she entered him room.

'He's still not here?' she asked herself but was answered when she found his phone atop his bedside table.

Just when she was about to give up searching inside his room, the phone suddenly beeped, catching her attention. Though it wasn't a call but rather…a text from an unknown number according to the caller ID, that is. Out of curiosity, she flipped the phone open to read the message but was shocked that it had its password.

'Really, is he hiding something?' she thought, wondering if she could guess the pin.

"Ryuuzaki!"

She nearly dropped the small gadget she was holding when she heard a yell of someone from the door.

It was Ryoma, his cool and mysterious aura gone as he hurriedly came to her to snatch his phone away.

"Did you read it?" he asked and immediately checked.

…To be continued

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Date Published: November 1, 2009

Edited: November 2, 2009

Re-edited: January 10, 2010

A/N: I know that the changes didn't help that much, but I hope that I at least fixed some errors? Thanks for supporting the story up to this point :D I really hope that you enjoyed reading this chapter. I promise to do the fifth chapter as soon as I can. Thank you again!

Thanks to Kemi-chan for the lovely beta.