Disclaimer: I do not own PoT. Kennichi you poor kid, I created you... I know that

Chapter 30: Protection

Tezuka guided Sakuno to a quiet area far away from people, he looked around to make sure they were really alone this time. He then looked solemnly at Sakuno's serenely sad face, with one of his hands on her cheek he leaned closer...

"What is wrong Ryuuzaki?"

Sakuno nearly had a heart attack with his sudden way of comforting and caring. The way he touched her made her feel loved and cared for. Not that the rest couldn't do so... but he managed to remove half of the pain she carried while she walked in fear.

She was afraid yes, but it wasn't for her own self only. She was very afraid the way Misao described Tezuka's fans. Kennichi was safer somewhere else, she didn't want anyone to get hurt especially Kennichi. She'd rather die than to see Kennichi get hurt and her instinct tells her if he keeps following her... he will! She felt very guilty as well, she had hurt Ryoma by rejecting him when accepting it would have perhaps eased things down.

Tezuka has seen fear in many people before, but Sakuno's fear was rather overwhelming. Her tears were coming down like fountains. Every drop went right through his heart. He hated how this situation had to occur.

Apart from guarding her, he couldn't come up with anything else that would appease their souls. He couldn't let her get hurt no matter what the cost is. It was not because he cared or loved her, it was because he didn't know if his eyes and heart can take in the sight and still look her in the eye ever again.

He knew if he would have to see Sakuno ever drip a drop of blood because of these maniac fan girls, he rather drop a galleon of his own blood first. That was how much he cared...

"Ryuuzaki-san, are you afraid?"

Sakuno would lying if she said she wasn't but she grabbed his hand as she held onto it and whispered with tears still free flowing from her eyes.

"Yes... I am afraid. But what I am afraid of even more is Ken-kun and the rest of you. I... I caused all of this to happen...Tezuka sempai..."

Tezuka took her into his arms as he held her tight in his embrace as he rubbed circles on her back. Sakuno pressed into Tezuka's chest could hear his warm and strong beats of his heart, she knew she shouldn't cry. The rest of them are more worried about her than she is of herself. By choosing to burden Tezuka she had unwillingly caused him to worry even more.

Before she could utter another sound, Tezuka had cut in before she can profusely apologize.

"I will protect you Ryuuzaki... I promise you... I will try... You didn't cause things to happen. It takes two to tango..."

Sakuno couldn't tell which relieved her more... his promise made her entirety believe him. She would trust him to keep her safe. That she knew very well, even if he didn't say so she would believe him to save her.

It takes two to tango, his analogy explains that the team reciprocated thus it wasn't one person's mistake. He removed her fears as her tears stopped appearing, little did she know that Saiyo was there at the scene. Her fingers curled into a ball clenching fist, oh she would make sure that Ryuuzaki Sakuno gets the pain in her life.

To be Cont.

It must be the shortest of the few of the late chapters. Onwards!