Disclaimer: PoT is not mine.

Thanks to: All of my reviewers and to my beta, .

Please enjoy reading.

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

0.0

Chapter 5: The Confrontation

'It was nothing but a text message,' Sakuno tried to convince herself as she watched the raven haired boy reply to the message.

And here she thought that she already had enough to wonder about; she just had to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Initially, she had thought that the sender had made a mistake, which explained why the sender's number was unknown and resulted in the message being sent to Ryoma junior's phone. Butthe fact that he was replying back to the text made it seem bizarre.

"You're staring at me again," he sighed (he was back to his cool nature) as he diverted his gaze from his phone to stare back at her.

"Hu-Huh?"

He shrugged and shut his phone close, "Missed me?"

Sakuno blushed but answered a "No" nonetheless and returned her attention back to his phone to change the subject. "Who's that?" she inquired.

"You don't have to know," he replied and sat himself comfortably on the couch. "I'm hungry," he added. "Prepare my dinner."

She knew he was avoiding the subject but decided not to push it, "Okay," she answered as she bowed and turned to leave.

After reaching the other side of the door, Sakuno completely convinced herself that Ryoma-junior was right. She wanted to blame herself sometimes for not being assertive, but she guessed it couldn't be helped knowing that the child had all the right to remain silent. So she wouldn't dare ask. Besides, she knew that he wouldn't give her the proper and direct answer either.

"Sakuno-chan?" although Kumiko's high-pitched voice surprised her to no end, she was getting rather accustomed to it.

"Kumiko-sama," she greeted with a bow.

"What happened?" Kumiko wondered and leaned closer to examine Sakuno's pale face.

Instinctively, she pulled her head away, "No-Nothing," she replied.

"That little kid," the older woman muttered to herself. "He molested you, didn't he?" she assumed with a shriek, grasping Sakuno's shoulder with a tight grip.

Where Kumiko got the idea, she didn't know. "Wha-What?" she asked in bewilderment.

"Oh, he didn't?" Kumiko asked, sounding slightly disappointed, then hauled back to give Sakuno enough space to breathe. "Well, I thought it was his reason for asking me to go back to Australia right away. Oh my! I wonder what the two of you will be doing when I leave," she giggled to herself silently, her fingers touching her chin thoughtfully in a suggestive manner.

Sakuno flustered, she couldn't imagine that Kumiko even supported the idea.

Thinking that the topic was embarrassing Sakuno, Kumiko finally said, "You passed, Sakuno-chan," her eyes glinted as she tapped Sakuno's shoulder.

"I'll be going then!" Kumiko exclaimed, entering Ryoma's room. "Congratulations! Welcome to our family," was the last thing she said after she finally dashed off towards her son.

Sakuno smiled as she watched Kumiko's retreating figure. Although she was somehow saddened by the fact that her new found companion would leave soon, (she somehow enjoyed being with Kumiko after all) she still couldn't drop the thought of finally having a break from the whole ordeal.

Her face was dazed as she got herself ready to leave, reminiscing how she learned to lie frequently due to Ryoma junior's influence. It was a wonder that she, who was an open book as she was often called by her best friend, acquired the art of lying.

"Ryo-chan!"

Sakuno's steps were halted at Kumiko's booming voice from Ryoma's room.

"Mommy's going home tomorrow," she declared with a slight hint of sadness. "Won't you hug your dearest mother? I know you'll miss me."

It might have been late but it was then Sakuno realized that Kumiko carelessly left the door of Ryoma's room ajar.

'Eavesdropping is bad,' her conscience told her. 'Ryuuzaki Sakuno is not a nosy person.'

But instead of turning her back, she crouched down quietly and prompted to listen to their conversation. The opening might not be enough for her to see them but it was sufficient for her to hear their talk.

"Father texted me," she heard him reply.

"Ne, Ryo-chan," his mother called as she motioned for him to come closer. "Can you tell me something?"

Out of curiosity, Sakuno strained her ears to hear. And sure enough, curiosity killed the cat.

She didn't notice that she had been leaning on the door too much that it failed to support her weight.

'Oh no,' Sakuno thought horridly and shut her eyes tight, expecting the hard tiled floor to meet her face. 'God save me,' she prayed.

She waited.

And waited.

But the cold ground never met her.

Slowly, she opened her eyed only to find herself in the arms of— "Kumiko-sama?"

The woman smiled at her knowingly. She flushed red, "I-I'm sorry!" she apologized.

"And here I thought you're preparing my dinner," Ryoma scoffed. "Talk about privacy," he said with a frown.

Great. Now she was totally doomed. She made him angry.

"Come on, Ryo-chan," his mother interrupted. "She just tripped, ne, Sakuno-chan?" she added as she lifted Sakuno up from the ground.

"Eavesdropping isn't your job as I remember," he continued.

Sakuno's brows creased as her head hung low. She couldn't believe it, she couldn't even defend herself.

"I'm sorry," although she had to admit that she was really at fault. "I won't do it again," she whispered.

Instead of answering, the child merely sighed and went back to the lounger.

"Ryo-chan! How can you do this to your girlfriend?" his mother exclaimed incredulously.

"It's fine Kumiko-sama," she said with a forced smile, turning to leave and prepare his dinner.

Her duty, she thought bitterly.

0.0

Sakuno pouted, thinking hard.

After composing herself, she thought that she could finally understand. But no, she was still confused about the reason why Ryoma-junior was angry. She knew that eavesdropping on other people's conversation wasn't the best thing a person could do, but she already said she was sorry. He didn't have to rub it on her.

"I just don't understand him," she said to herself, her eyes unfocused as her hands sluggishly cut the ingredients before her.

"What don't you understand about him?" came Kumiko's voice behind Sakuno which almost caused her to drop the knife.

"Kumiko-sama?"

"Well," Kumiko trailed off, tracing the pattern of the tiles on the walls of the kitchen. "I don't really understand him either," for once she was serious.

"But don't worry!" she cried suddenly, causing Sakuno to jump.

Perhaps it would be best if she put the knife down.

Kumiko tilted her head in confusion then continued, "You'll get the answer somehow, sooner or later," she smiled reassuringly.

Oh Sakuno dearly hoped she would.

"Oh, he's here," Kumiko whispered. "Just let the love quarrel pass. I'm sure he'll eventually miss you. And then you'll find yourself with him all lovey-dovey again," she added, prodding her teasingly.

She was still on with it.

"Yes, Kumiko-sama," she replied. Trying to explain things to her was tad hopeless; she might as well give it up for today.

After she finally finished cooking, she proceeded to prepare the table for them all the while avoiding the eyes of the boy.

Kumiko's elbow nudged her son encouragingly, "Say sorry, Ryo-chan!" Sakuno heard Kumiko whisper as she served the rice before them.

"What?" Ryoma scowled at his mother's incessant thrusting. "Why do I need to apologize?" he asked, completely clueless.

"That's because –!" Kumiko exclaimed but found herself at a loss for words.

Sakuno then just started to pour their glasses water and laid the delicious curry she made.

"Anyway, just say sorry," Kumiko demanded.

Sakuno sighed, it seemed as if she wasn't even there, "I'll be going, Kumiko-sama," she informed them as she bowed to announce her departure.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Kumiko asked worriedly and turned to her son with a disapproving look on her face, "I told you to say sorry."

"A-Anou…It's fine, Kumiko-sama," she replied. If he didn't want to clear the misunderstanding, then let it be.

In the end, she was just his babysitter.

She forced herself to look up and repeated, "I'll be going then, good night."

"Ne," Ryoma called, boredom apparent in his tone, though it made Sakuno stop to face him nonetheless. "I don't have class tomorrow. Let's have a date."

"Wha-What?" she gaped at his sudden offer.

"Let's have a date tomorrow," he repeated, grinning at her shell-shocked face. "You're my girlfriend after all," he added.

His change of attitude was beyond her understanding.

But it wouldn't be enough for her to forget what he did earlier. "No," she replied, trying to send him obstinacy with a single reply.

Now it was his turn to ask, "What?"

"I've got work to do tomorrow," she replied, struggling to sound polite yet defiant.

"Uhuh," Ryoma junior answered, challenging her. "And that is to take care of me."

"Exactly," Sakuno pointed out. "Not to date with you and become your girlfriend. I'm your babysitter you know."

Take that.

"All right, I'm firing you," he said and stood up as if it would intimidate her. "And then I'll hire you as my girlfriend. Deal?"

He was firing her. Could it get even more absurd?

"No deal," she answered boldly. "Whenever we have these deals I'm always at a disadvantage," she added immediately.

Then he smirked.

He smirked.

"Mada mada dane," she heard him whisper.

"Oh come on, Sakuno-chan!" Kumiko suddenly cried, interrupting their exchange. "That's Ryo-chan's way of saying sorry," she said laughing hard.

Then something hit her.

"So what do you say, Sakuno-chan?"

"Why am I saying sorry?" Ryoma junior interrupted, his brows crumpled together in bewilderment.

"Sakuno-chan?" Kumiko reiterated, waving a hand in front of Sakuno's vague expression.

0.0

The idea was ridiculous but for once, she thought that somehow she held the answer. At that very moment, Ryuuzaki Sakuno officially declared to herself that Ryoma junior, as she thought he was, wasn't Echizen Ryoma's son, but the man from her past himself. She couldn't remember where the idea came from but she thought it didn't really matter. Maybe because, deep down inside, she knew that her theory was rather too impossible. It was just a matter of saving herself from the agony of knowing that Echizen Ryoma already had a wife.

"Sakuno-chan, are you alright?" her eyes opened to meet Kumiko's anxious face close to hers.

Where was she?

She blinked twice and scanned the room, "What happened?" she asked, straining to lift herself up.

"You fainted, my dear," Kumiko said and helped Sakuno sit up properly. "The doctor said it was over fatigue. I really think you should rest."

He wasn't there, Sakuno noted, slightly disappointed, as her eyes continued to dart across the room.

"Sakuno-chan?" she heard Kumiko asked but couldn't find herself to respond.

She was too much held by the fact that Ryoma junior was…the Ryoma senior. No matter how she looked at it, the similarities were too striking to ignore anymore. Her assumption maybe too flawed but, as pathetic as it sounded, she strongly believed that she guessed it correctly this time.

Sakuno was already tempted to ask Kumiko but then decided against it. It would be too embarrassing on her part if she turned out wrong. She couldn't take the risk especially when she couldn't believe her own idea.

She didn't even know what to believe anymore.

Perhaps she was thinking too hard?

"Thank you for taking care of me," she forced a smile. "I'm alright, Kumiko-sama."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, finally convincing Kumiko that she could finally leave.

0.0

The next morning, Sakuno was awakened by the soft thuds that were knocking upon her door.

"Yes, yes, I'm coming!" she answered, struggling to keep her balance.

She had the feeling that she knew who it was even before opening the door, "Yo," he muttered lowly.

"Ryo-Ryoma-sama?" she asked, flushing red as she remembered the things she had been thinking last night.

"Hn," he replied, amusement glinting in his eyes. "What's this, forgetting our date?"

How could she?

"Ju-Just give me a second," she said in haste and closed the door.

She planned to go straight into the bathroom and do a quick shower but paused when she caught a glimpse of the clock on the bedside table.

7:00a.m., it read.

She didn't know if it was due to her lack of experience in dating that she wasn't aware that people could go to dates that early. Guys normally wouldn't set dates seven o'clock in the morning and she doubted that any girl would agree to that kind of arrangement either.

A groan escaped her lips as her feet started to haul her toward the bathroom. Even if she didn't want to, she didn't have a choice. If she wanted money for college, she might as well follow what the child wants.

'His mother's flight is scheduled today,' she stopped before she turned the knob of the bathroom as another idea occurred to her.

Of course. 'He should be with his mother,' she thought and nodded to herself.

With that in mind, she instinctively went back to the door and called, "Ryoma-sama?" her eyes were astounded when she saw his figure leaning on the brown carpeted wall across her room.

In fact, she was half-expecting him to have left already.

"Hm?"

"Uhm…you won't see your mother before she leaves?" she asked hesitantly.

"She already left while you're still snoring," he replied, looking confused at her sudden suggestion.

Oh great. "I guess that's wonderful. So…" she trailed off. "I'll be back," she added, pointing to her room.

The boy just stared at her with an unreadable expression in his eyes and waited for her to continue.

So she did, "Don't wait here. I think that… you can wait in your room."

Not paying heed to her sudden weirdness, he said nothing and proceeded in the direction of his room… which hardly surprised her. She knew that he would rather kill himself than waste his breath on her.

Very much like Echizen Ryoma.

She closed the door, forcing herself to take a break from all the weird thoughts. She was expecting too much without holding any evidence except for her wild imagination.

0.0

"Ouch," Sakuno whimpered, her hand on the right side of her head, as she slowly approached Ryoma junior's room.

She couldn't fathom where her clumsiness brought her, but she guessed it couldn't be helped. She was in such a rush that she tripped by her doorframe when she was about to exit her room, ending up with a small bump on her head.

Although it was Ryoma junior's fault too, she decided. If she wasn't conscious of the fact that the child woke up early and was waiting for her, this wouldn't have happened.

"I'm entering," Sakuno said when she reached his room and slowly opened the door, her right hand still on her head.

When she didn't receive an answer upon her calling, she walked slowly around the room, wondering where the child was.

"Ryoma-sama?" she called and was surprised to find a cat lying lazily beside the lounger.

This was the very first time she saw it. It was so white and adorable that she didn't find it odd when Kyoko-sensei had told her that Ryoma-junior was kind of protective to his cat.

Meow?

The cat sounded as if questioning her presence but she chose to ignore it. She should know better what would become of her when Ryoma finds out that she touched his precious cat, which brought her attention to the sleeping prince on the lounger…to his hair, his face and then his hand. Her eyes narrowed when she found the red phone gaping open in his hand.

This was definitely her chance.

Deliberately, she went behind the lounger and reached for the small gadget, her eyes all the while cautiously looking for any signs of awareness on his face.

Luckily, there were none.

Once the phone was in her possession, she immediately went searching for the mysterious text message that she hadn't had the chance to read the day before.

"Found you," she whispered, taking a glimpse towards the child. "Sorry, Ryoma-sama," was her silent apology.

Meow?

"Shh," she reprimanded the cat. "I just wanted to know."

She knew that guilt would hunt her down later but what could she do? He started it. Should he not have reacted too much yesterday when she took hold of his phone she wouldn't be doing this. If this would turn out to be nothing but an ordinary text message, she would have to reevaluate her hypothesis on the said matter.

So with all remorse she opened it.

I talked to her, she'll leave tomorrow. Whatever happens, just go on with the plan. It read.

Plan. Whatever that is supposed to mean. This only proved that there was something going on.

Meow?

The cat mewed yet again. This time, Ryoma junior stirred that she swiftly pushed the red button to put back the phone to its main screen and returned said object in his hand.

And before the child opened his eyes, Sakuno situated herself on the opposite couch and composed herself.

He started rubbing his eyes then stopped when he felt Sakuno's presence, "What happened?" he asked in a sleepy tone, confusing Sakuno.

'Did he notice?' she thought nervously.

He lifted his hand and pointed at her head, which, Sakuno realized, she still held and rubbing in the process. It still ached, she realized.

"I tripped," she confessed, a little too overwhelmed to lie anymore.

His brow rose, as if waiting for her to continue, but she said nothing so he prompted, "Too excited to meet me, eh?"

"N-No!" Sakuno protested, blushing slightly.

"Hn," he muttered, standing up from where he sat and moved towards her. "Do you still want to go out?" he asked, leaving Sakuno stiff and dumbfounded at the close proximity he created as he examined her head.

She closed her eyes; she was thinking too much. 'He's a kid, Sakuno!' shesaid to herself.

"Ne," he tilted her chin, forcing her to look at him, their faces just an inch away from each other. "You're blushing," he smirked.

"Wha-What?" she said, pulling away.

Instead of answering her question, he replied, "I'll get ice," and then disappeared behind the door.

As soon as he disappeared, she let out a deep breath that she hadn't noticed she held long. Her heart was pounding fast and violent. She couldn't tell if it was because of her knowledge of the text message or because he acted abnormally romantic when he checked the bump on her head.

She shook her head, no matter how she looked at it; she couldn't possibly fall in love with a kid. No, not when she didn't even have the slightest proof that he was Echizen Ryoma whom she had a crush on before.

"Oi," her thoughts were cut off sharply. "Still daydreaming about me?" he asked, occupying the space beside her.

Sakuno's eyes narrowed at this. 'How could a nine-year-old child think like that?'

"I was kidding," he said, as if sensing her suspicion.

'Right,' Sakuno put on a straight face so that the child wouldn't notice her mistrust.

"Where does it hurt?" he inquired, motioning for her to lower her head.

"Right here," Sakuno replied, pointing to where the throbbing part was.

To Sakuno's surprise, Ryoma junior patted his lap, "Lie your head here," he ordered.

"Eh?" she asked in confusion.

"It'll be easier that way," he explained.

'Oh,' Sakuno thought, finally realizing what he meant, and followed his words.

"Here?" Ryoma asked, his hand touching the bump.

Sakuno nodded, "Ye-Yes," her cheeks were flaming, she was tingling at the mere contact.

It was wrong, she knew it. She was not far from being a pedophile. He was just an innocent child and she felt like she was taking advantage of it.

"Ouch!" she cried when she felt the child press the ice on her head hard. "What was that for?" she asked almost whining.

"My mom said that it's best that you feel pain when it heals," he stated, lifting her from his lap. "She said that you'll learn and won't repeat the same mistake again."

When his gaze returned to the figure beside him, he almost jumped back at Sakuno's intent gaze, "What?"

"You're not Ryoma-kun, right?" she asked.

Instead of replying, the child merely stared at her so she continued, "This may sound ridiculous but I'm really starting to think that you are Echizen Ryoma," she shook her head. "The older one, I mean. And somehow…you magically turned to a nine-year-old kid."

"And you deduce this how?" the child asked, restraining a laugh.

"We-Well, you have a lot of similarities," she stuttered. "How you think… it's as if you're not a nine-year-old child. The way you act, the way you talk, everything."

He raised a brow, "And that proves I'm your Ryoma-kun?"

"No," she muttered.

He sighed, his eyes showing regret, "I wish I am, but I'm not," he finally answered, smiling, not a smirk but a genuine smile. "I'm his son remember? I must be like him."

Sakuno was silent for a few moments until finally, Ryoma decided to rise from his seat and grab her hand, "Let's go. We have a date."

"Eh?"

0.0

She smiled to herself knowing how crazy her idea was. It somehow relieved her that Ryoma-junior answered her properly though. For once, even if he seemed as if he would suddenly break to fits of laughter, he attempted to hold it back and it felt…warm in her opinion.

"I guess I'm stupid eh?" Sakuno said to break the silence as they made their way down the stairs.

"You bet," he replied with a nod.

She tried not fall flat at his bluntness. But she guessed it wasn't questionable anymore. He was after all, Echizen Ryoma's son.

Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by the bell ringing from the main entrance.

"I-I'll get it!" she volunteered and hurriedly went to the door to greet the early guest. "Good morn—"

"Who is it?" Ryoma junior asked, coming close to take a peek. As soon as he met the visitor, his eyes went wide, his gaze moving back and forth from Sakuno to his…

"O-Otou-san?"

Who would have thought that the surprises had just begun?

To be continued…

A/N: I'm really sorry for the delay. I had a hard time with characterization and gosh…well, I didn't want to present a chapter with horrible grammar again. I hope that this would not disappoint you. I tried to keep them in character as possible and reread the chapter for like…so many times so please don't shoot me.

I hope you enjoyed reading. I know the chapter was somewhat empty (or that's what I think) but the next chapters won't be complete without this so…yeah.

Thanks for reading this chapter and please be kind by telling me what you think. :)