Disclaimer: I do not own PoT.

Chapter 24: Time of choice and seperation

Ryoma Echizen was pretty aware of Misao's spying activities, he was pretty sure they all did not say anything unnaturally stupid. But the fact that Ryoma hasn't done anything was what worries him. Ryoma had a serious dilemma.

If he had told Tezuka about his suspicion then Sakuno would be safe from gossips and perhaps danger that was on coming from the scary fan clubs. He watched as Sakuno played tennis on the other court, somehow she looked less wobbly and less clumsy and when she was clumsy her clumsiness has a sort of beauty in it.

Sakuno turned her head towards the men's tennis courts, he hoped it was him that she has seen, but she smiled and waved... Ryoma tugged his cap lower as he jogged on. She was waving and smiling at Tezuka buchou. For once Ryoma had to weigh between removing his enemy or protecting Sakuno from what was about to happen.

Would he choose the future or will he choose the present? He refused to let it happen to Sakuno, if anything should happen... Ryoma could not imagine.

"Buchou,"

Ryoma addressed Tezuka as he tugged his cap lower. He noted that this MISAO girl has disappeared and now safe to talk. He gazed down and noticed Kennichi staring straight at Ryoma, waiting like buchou would have waited. Ryoma found himself annoyed that Kennichi turned out like buchou, if only he had spent more time with her and the project...

Then again, was it really his fault? Sakuno was always sent to Tezuka buchou's place when her grandmother was overseas. In his opinion it was as if it was fate that brought upon this to happen. He gripped his tennis racquet even harder than he had before.

If fate decided it wanted to tear him away from what was right fully his... 3 words... mada mada dane. He wouldn't back out on fate.

"Buchou, this morning there was a strange reporter asking Sakuno questions."

Tezuka raised his eyebrows at Ryoma's proclamation, he gazed at his watch as he frowned slightly. Why did Ryoma tell him this now? It was already very late and if anything had happened just before that, it would have been already too late.

Was this payback? Tezuka thought he ought to calm down, there was no way Ryoma was hesitating right?

"Thank you Echizen, I will deal with this accordingly."

Tezuka watched as Ryoma had disappeared before he turned to think about how he should tell Sakuno. The person may as well have left them if Ryoma perceives no threats. That may mean, Sakuno will be spending the night at her own house. He sighed. Wait... he sighed, and that was terrible. He had begun to feel accustom to her being there so often along with Kennichi that it would feel unnatural if she wasn't around.

"... It seems that you and I won't be living under the same house Kennichi."

Kennichi looked up before he wondered, why in the world did his father and his mother not live together? That is just plain strange, ever since he was born his parents have been together all the time, but now they were to split ways?

Kennichi did not cry then... but he wasn't ready for it to happen.

Ryoma who was walking away felt his blood boil slightly, why in the world did he say 'I' will deal with this accordingly?

He would... wouldn't he? After all the trouble Tezuka buchou had just dismissed it and said he would deal with it like she was his wife and he has all right to deal with any threats. Ryoma hated that confidence and responsible look on Tezuka's face.

Ryoma was going to confess to Sakuno, which may be the only chance. To wipe out anymore incurring ideas, perhaps take his responsibility. Sakuno would have him right? He was her original partner, thus she shouldn't disagree.

It was after practice when Sakuno went towards Tezuka to take Kennichi. Tezuka who knew she was coming asked her to come with him for a walk away from here. Sakuno who had just arrived was slightly puzzled and slightly embarrassed but she agreed.

Internally, her heart was pounding hard, Tezuka was asking to take a walk with her... this was the first time he had asked that since that weekend... Secretly against her determination to keep things friendly, she had hoped he would really like her not as a sister but as a girl and for his feelings as a man to a woman. It wasn't part of the plan, that she knew it was impossible with Tezuka sempai and it was probably one of her fantasies or dreams.

"...Ryuuzaki,"

Sakuno swore her heart nearly leaped out and bolted, she feared his voice when it sounded that way. It was as if he was making a choice against his feelings but it was the right choice to his belief. She would not really want to hear it but knowing Tezuka it would be best she hear it.

"Hai?"

"For these next few days, you can stay with my mother at your house."

Sakuno who could not understand what Tezuka had just said blinked once, Tezuka couldn't say it once more. It felt rather lonely and cold, and when it was Sakuno, these feelings seemed to be happening a lot. Tezuka Kunimitsu wasn't afraid of anything was afraid of parting with her. Perhaps he believed that way she would be easily taken away.

"...Ah... why?"

Tezuka looked at the trees near the school buildings as he said in a calm voice

"Because Echizen told me he saw a reporter, and my guess is that you have already met her."

Sakuno felt rather frightful to part, she was worried something inside her wouldn't be there. She did not want to part with him, and it was a selfish thought... She should have known her safety was more important after all she was under his guard and she was his sister like figure. But somehow it felt like she was being pushed away or a more scary thought was...

He noticed your feelings... and he wants nothing more to do with you than friendship

That plunged a knife into her heart but being a brave girl she did not cry in front of him. She would never tell him how much of what he said truly did hurt her. But the sadness and the loneliness was pouring out of her eyes and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"...Ok Tezuka sempai."

Tezuka could hear the sadness in her voice, it felt like she knew exactly how he felt about seperating... There was no such time for more problems, there were other more pressing issues. Such as the reporter that could still be on the loose.

Kennich who thought his mother would be the last barrier and fight back, didn't object Kennichi let out his frustration through pecking his parents for the first time. As he did that he made a lot of quacking. Sakuno had to take him into her arms. They both knew his pain and fear were exactly how they felt but playing the role as parents, they can't show him their weakness.

"We should head back now."

Sakuno merely nodded as she followed wordlessly, Kennichi's outrage was something her heart was doing at the very same moment, and Kennichi looked very sad... perhaps they were living together gave him all this hope and yearning? Because she felt exactly the same as Kennichi and she swore she never felt this way before... was it because she thought or believed she saw the same feelings being reflected back to both Kennichi and herself?

Tezuka while walking back begun thinking again... the sadness in her eyes were so strongly impacting him that he could still see it without looking at her, he couldn't even start on Kennichi's outburst, it almost ripped his heart out. She never said a word nor did she cry, she merely hung her head and refused to look at him, Kennichi was still busy crying and wailing.

His brain was hurting with the overload of things on his mind. For instance the Seigaku regulars were still staying over at his house, that damned reporter who seemed to have her nose in a very deep secret and finally Sakuno's mind.

Tezuka always thought he knew her, but now when he looked at her reaction to him lately... they aren't the same. They both were highly strung since the day of that romantic boat trip or even earlier.

He promised to act friendly, but where has that come in? He was even more distant than he hoped to achieve. She noticed but she was doing the same thing, he didn't like what they both are doing, but there was nothing to be done. It was his feelings... he knew she must have figured it out and now she is avoiding him.

Could it be the other way around?

whispered his heart, Tezuka took a moment to calm himself down. To reverse his thinking means that Sakuno didn't want to seperate as much as he did, and perhaps she was feeling an exact same feeling that has possessed him lately. More than sibling and perhaps something slipping into the category of love...

As if those thoughts were the remedy for his pain for he felt like his heart stopped aching even if it was for a mere moment. Before his mind decided to be a part of this conversation.

No, Tezuka you are loosing your grip of practicality, this was never practical. Think! Keep your guard up, notice the surroundings like how you watch your regulars play their games. You should know there is NO evidence of any of what you just thought about.

That was true, there was a chance she felt the seperation from a brother. She may have worried about Kennichi's welfare since he likes to keep them together. He then fell back into his mind as his mind whispered things that were facts.

Lets check reality, you are three years her senior, Kennichi is probably the only thing that links the two of you. She has been harbouring a crush on Ryoma for a long time and you knew that. He was there to protect her when you couldn't such as the reporter case and also the train incident. Most importantly, she was in love with him and he looks like he is beginning to like her.

Tezuka heaved a small sigh as he felt a pain on his shoulder reoccuring again. It always happened when he felt stressed... facts are usually more accurate than feelings. He was out of her league, inappropriate for her and probably didn't qualify to compete for her affections from the beginning. He will return to being the side viewer and when she needs help he'd be there in a heartbeat.

Problem is... why did living with Sakuno and Kennichi felt like the right thing to do? His mind was correct on one subject, Kennichi was one of the strongest link between himself and Sakuno and he truly loved Kennichi as much as he did for Sakuno.

To be Cont.

I will see to it that they don't get any longer, I do hope I can do that. = X