Chapter 24: Breaking Point

Little Falcon: Hello everyone! Yes, you are definitely still sane and yes, I have posted another chapter. I'm trying to update whenever I can but my muse eludes me. With that said, I am happy and also sad to say that Challenging Fate is already concluding, maybe 2 or 3 more chapters more, but nonetheless I hope that you'll tell me what you think about this piece okay?

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!

A cool gentle breeze went passed her as she half-mindedly watched the championship game of the Girl's Tennis Team between her current university, Ryuugan and her former alma matter, Seigaku. A portion of her mind still remained standing on that marble floor as he walked away. You know what… I don't want to know anymore. His last words engraved a painful stigma in her that makes her feel that she's the greatest traitor in the world and that nothing and no one… can ever make it right.

Just an hour ago the Championship Games began for both male and female Division. Among all the teams vouching for the prestige of being called the best in Japan, only two Universities remained afloat, Ryuugan and Seigaku. The audience was divided but not the tension. The apparent lack of cheers and applause was evidence enough that even mere onlookers found it hard to breath with such pressure filling the air.

Her chestnut brown eyes coasted over the scoreboard. After two games, her teammates were gripping the fence as they earnestly begged a higher power for an intervention. Seigaku, it seems, has the upper hand with two consecutive wins and an imminent victory in just a few more points. This time, her upper classmen cannot blame her for anything at all. After all, they were the ones who decided that she was to play last. It had always been that way… they only let her play if they were down to the last straw.

"For the win!" Her best friend, Tomoka Osakada, said to herself but everyone understood what her voice did not reveal. Her serve was strong and quick. Her opponent, Ryuugan's team captain, Midori Yui, struggled to return the ball only to hit it too hard and send it flying outside the court.

There were a few seconds of eerie silence then the umpire blew his whistle. Cheers erupted from the audience as Seigaku's player jumped in the air triumphantly and Ryuugan's sank to her knees with tears in her eyes.

Her lips pressed into a tight smile before she threw her bag over her shoulder and ran off towards the other Championship match.

As the roaring applause reached her ears, her sprint turned into a walk and then finally to a complete stop. Her reason was instantly clouded by immense guilt. While the audiences from the girl's championship match rushed over to the other court, Sakuno remained rooted on her spot- not turning back nor moving forward.

What am I doing? I should see if everything is going as expected… because it all depends on… the rational tone in her head nagged but with just an image of his cold amber eyes everything went dead silent. Sakuno unconsciously gripped her shirt as her heart painfully clenched with just a vivid recall. Truthfully, she was worried about the Ryuugan prince but more so, she was afraid… afraid of Seigaku's prince… of what being around him may do to her resolve. Sakuno is already clinging on the last vestiges of her logic with just repeated remembrance of the last moment she had with him but she knew, more than anyone else that, that even just a glimpse at him will definitely make her resolve shatter in a heartbeat.

It took almost forever to urge her feet to remember how to walk. By the time she arrived, she instantly felt that shiver down her spine and right then and there, she knew that his eyes were on her. Even without looking, it was as if something was programmed inside her that made her pick him out from a crowd in an instant however, she resisted the impelling temptation to even turn his way. Instead, she ordered her sight to wander over the huge scoreboard.

It was one win against two in the match between the maroon and the blue. There was a brief exhilaration in finding out that Seigaku was about to Champion. Not a second later, complete horror washed over her to such an extent that she felt the blood draining from her face. Oh God… One more win and… everything will be over.

Her eyes shook they drifted towards the doubles that was about to decide whether her well-thought-of preparations would succeed or fail. Her knees felt like giving way as she saw the golden pair step forward and their respective opponents. No… her body was involuntarily trembling as her plan crumbled at her feet.

She knew that Seigaku would eventually be the over-all winner in this tournament but she expected Ryuugan to struggle until the final point. As it stands, she could easily foreshadow the outcome of this game. Seigaku will be victorious and Ryoma will no longer need to face Toushiro. For the countless time, Sakuno berated herself for never predicting this scenario. Now, she's left with nothing but a ruined delusion and a still ticking clock. When she finally got a hold of herself, she caught a glimpse of his fiery red hair as her gaze lifted towards his sapphire eyes; it dawned to her… what she has to do.

The moment she stepped into his line of vision, his heart skipped like it always does when he sees her however; it created tormenting recoil after as his mind replayed that event Ryoma-kun… I… he could already spell the next words that she would utter. Call me a coward all you like… but if running away is the only thing I can do to keep you then… I have no plans on stopping. It felt like being stabbed… and right now as he continued to wish that she'll look his way… and knowing that she won't… the knife plunged inside him was sadistically turned. A pain so severe it made the former a blessing. When he thought he his composure can't take anymore battering, Ryoma saw her gaze wander to the last person he wanted her to see. Like beholding something forbidden, he averted his eyes from hers as he gripped his racket with all the rage that he can muster.

I was counting on their match to drag the REAL Toushiro-sempai out. I was so sure that if he plays against Ryoma… he will… Their eyes shared a private conversation as the match in front of them was forgotten.

By the time he regained his bearings, the golden pair was only a point away from winning but what unnerved him is her disappearance… and as he strained to scan every face present… so is the Ryuugan prince. His insides turned while his body felt as if it was plummeting down a bottomless pit. The need to find her sent him sprinting away from the championship match with an unknown destination.

Her chestnut brown eyes stared directly as her distant opponent as she held the ball. A game that pressures the current personality into letting the REAL one out just so they can win. With a strong squeeze and a quick serve, the game began. A game that blurs the boundary between two personalities… that's when I'll strike.

"This is not going to be like the last time, Hime-sama," her opponent made sure to follow-up his threat by returning every attack she makes. A sadistic smirk lifted his lips as it was his turn to put the ball into play.

The dangerous glint in his blue eyes made her skin crawl. A voice at the back of her head warned her desperately. As soon as Toushiro hit the ball, her pupils dilated at the speed and inconsistent direction of the serve. Her racket managed to touch it, only to have it roll solidly on the side of her head. Aggressive tennis? This is how he chose to play? Her balance became a bit off as she steadied her gaze towards him. Technically, it wasn't against the rules but it takes a lot of confidence to discard moral conduct just for the sake of winning.

His feet ran towards a certain direction as if it had a mind of its own. Before he knew it, he was right in front of the farthest Tennis Court in the area. Sakuno was already out of breath, leaning on her knees while still standing on the playing area. Toushiro was in somewhat the same state but as far as stamina is considered, he was in a better shape. Sakuno… he withheld his voice and gripped the fence so tight it was misshapen.

Even without seeing, she knew he was there but she didn't allow herself to be waylaid. Instead, she focused solely on achieving her goal. In a change court, the black racket was replaced with a smaller, blue one. One would think that it was something ordinary but as soon as she resumed the game, her playing style transformed completely as if she was an entirely different person. This time her strokes were elegant yet powerful, her service was simple yet explosive. This drastic change surprised his opponent so much that he can't adapt so suddenly.

His vice-like hold on the fence loosened slowly as a proud smirk formed on his lips as he watched her play. As certain as he'll ever be, that style belongs to no one but her. However, the Seigaku Prince was caught unprepared when Sakuno stepped out of the court in the middle of a game.

"What are you doing? Where are you going?" Toushiro exasperated as he approached her.

Removing the baseball cap that hold her hair, a gentle wind made blew as she faced him. In her hand was the black racket, "We've been playing for more than twenty minutes…" she held it out with a weak smile.

His sapphire eyes widened in bewilderment. He was utterly unaware of the time when he was himself again. This time, he was so sure that everything is as it should be. His trembling hands received the racket as his vision was momentarily blurred by tears.

"Welcome back, Toushiro-senpai," the first thing he saw when everything was clear again, was Sakuno waving goodbye while running out of the court with her bag over her shoulder.

"I'm home…" The Ryuugan Prince placed a palm on his forehead as his tears continued to trickle down his chin. "Arigato… domo arigato gozaimasu… (Thank you… Thank you very much) Hime-chan," his chuckle mixed with his sobs as he gripped his old racket and let go of the other one.

His fear of losing her paralyzed him to a point that he could only stare at her as she exited the court and rode a waiting taxi. A rough tap on his shoulder taught his body to move again. Turning around, he came face-to-face with the other royalty of the court. Somehow, the aura he exudes now is different from the one before. There was neither glint of malice in his eyes nor coldness in his voice. "I could never thank her enough for what she has done for me…" By the time Toushiro was done explaining, Ryoma stepped back and berated himself a thousand times at his insensitivity. She was suffering so much and I didn't even have a hint.

As the cab wove through traffic effortlessly, Sakuno was rummaging through her bag while holding to phone to her ear with her shoulder. "Yes, I'm almost there. Relax," the voice on the other line doesn't sound too pleased before hanging-up. A pair of gleaming skates was taken out of the bag before her eyes caught a glimpse of a familiar face in front of a district hospital. "Stop the cab!"

"Mayumi-san?" She had to confirm if she was indeed seeing one of the most trusted maids in her former partner's household.

The distressed expression on the old woman's face was instantly lifted as she recognized her from afar. "Sakuno-sama!" Her calloused hands trembled as she held hers.

"Why are you here?"

"Its Tsubaki-sama!" For the second time today, she felt the blood drain from her face.

"WHY? What happened?" She immediately demanded to see the old woman who generously took her in.

"It's her heart. The doctor said she needs an operation," the old woman was sobbing as she led the way.

"AND? When will the operation start? What kind of…"

"The doctors can't touch her…"

"WHY THE HELL NOT?"

Mayumi's lips pressed into a thin line before hesitating to reply. "The operation costs a lot of money and…"

"So pay them! I'm sure the money from the bathhouse has…"

"Azuma-sama lost the bathhouse in a card game," the old lady spat and realized her rudeness before covering her mouth. "He says that he'll try to get the money but when we tried to search for him again, he was gone!"

Tears sprung immediately from her eyes. These tears weren't because of sadness at all but because of absolute anger. She blamed herself for letting this happen. One way or another, this was her fault. From outside the Intensive Care Unit, Sakuno saw Tsubaki hooked on some mechanical ventilator and several tubes inserted in her body.

"We can't delay the operation any longer. A few more hours, after that I can't ascertain her stability," the cardiologist informed in a clinical manner.

"I understand," Sakuno's eyes never left the sick woman's face. "Get her ready for surgery. I'll have the money in two hours,"

Little Falcon: Can you believe that this chapter gave me a hard time? Make my efforts count; read and review please.