Chapter 37 Scars and Unworthiness!

Tezuka was first to open his eyes to see the full moon siting outside the window, he realized Sakuno was not on the seat right beside him, which made him panic instantly! He stood up abruptly and turned. Ready to start another full search, because he thought she was missing! Before he could march out of that door he notice the small framed girl who slept peacefully on the sofa.

Sakuno was fast asleep, he saw the roughly cut hair which served as a signature instead of her braids, and again he felt guilty he'd let it get that far. Slowly he went towards the sleeping form, his eyes looked at her slim figure. He bent down and inspected the burns on her hand, praying she would not open her eyes.

Her hands were still as tiny, but the bandages were nicely wrapped, he had no idea how bad the injuries could be if Kennichi had to lose a leg to such a temperature. Suddenly to his surprise, Sakuno shifted slightly... she seemed to be having a nightmare. Tezuka froze as he heard her sounding a bit distressed, he didn't know how to comfort her.

Sakuno seemed to be glad to show him, as her hands found Tezuka's neck and soon she was wrapping herself close to his neck. Tezuka felt scared to move, afraid she may think he was taking advantage of her, but she seemed to be relaxing into the small gap between his shoulder and his neck. Tezuka gulp for a moment, before he placed one of his hands on her shoulder and the other taken to stroking her head.

"It is ok Sakuno..."

He didn't know whether calling her surname would have made it sound any more soothing, so he resorted to using her given name. He did not recall ever using it but it sounded good when he said it. Sakuno was calming down, her breathing was evening out, but before Tezuka could register, Sakuno opened her eyes and her bright brown eyes illuminated by the moonlight stared at him.

"Tezu...ka sempai?"

Tezuka nodded as he laid her back down and tried tucking her to sleep, it seems as though she hasn't fully awaken so it was easier for him to ask her to go back to sleep.

"... You had a nightmare, but it is ok now. You can go back to sleep, it is alright now."

Sakuno obeyed without further ado, the moment her blanket covered her she turned around and sleep peacefully once more.

Tezuka walked outside and saw his sleeping regulars, he knew they must have been tired and worried as much as he was of the two sleeping figures inside the room. He then moved to see the veterinarian to understand how long more must Kennichi stay. He knew how dogs were in kennels when they were sick so kennichi would have been in some form of a cage, he'd rather take Kennichi home than to have him here being imprisoned.

"Well, he will just need to stay under our care until tomorrow and then he is free to go."

It seems the veterinarian was accomodating enough to oblige to Tezuka's questions. He was even kind enough to allow him and his team to stay and rest in the place until tomorrow morning. It was already 9 pm, but it seemed like no one was hungry, perhaps only Tezuka. He decided he would still go and buy some dinner in case any hungry regulars wake up. He also noted to himself to insist they go back to his house to rest.

As Tezuka walked down the quiet street, he was thinking about what he didn't think of earlier. No matter how many times, Sakuno assured him that it wasn't his fault, he could not shake it off that it was his fault Kennichi is without his leg and Sakuno burnt her hands and had her hair sliced off. Now what was left was a messy and uneven cut hair...

Saiyo was not the true culprit in his thoughts, she knew perhaps... she knew of his feelings towards Sakuno that was why she targetted her. If he wasn't in love or even interested in her, Saiyo would not have perceived her to be a threat. It was also his fault that Kennichi got so hurt... he hurt Kennichi's feelings by seperating them from him. He abandoned Kennichi once, and the next time he tried to be there to save them... he was too late.

He felt like he was unworthy... the confession was not appropriate. After everything he had done, she truly deserved better. Ryoma would probably never let it happen, he would have arrived on time, and he would have saved them. Everything that transpired today was an indirect result of what Tezuka did! Because of his feelings for her, did she get hurt and because he failed to protect what he cared about, Kennichi, his son... had to lose his leg. At his own cost!

"3000 yen thanks."

Tezuka placed the money down as he left carrying food to feed the hungry regulars and perhaps Sakuno as well. How he wished he didn't feel so strongly about her, because of how he feels... he'd rather someone reached in and ripped out his heart. It hurts so much to give up and yet it hurts so much to love the woman. She was so beautiful, kind and compassionate whereas he did nothing but to hurt her. He couldn't even protect her and Kennichi.

"Chiz, Buchou. You better have ponta in there."

To be Cont.

I swear to god, I mean no harm in making him so damned negative. . I am pissed off he had to be that way. Don't worry, there won't be any MORE of this.