Author's Note: There was a death in my family in late September, so I needed time to be with my family. An Aunt went home to the Lord in her sleep and she was 76.
I apologize for the long wait. So here's a new chapter for HLJ. Enjoy reading it and don't forget to write a review.
Disclaimer: Nothing in POT belongs to me. All OoC-ness, OCs, events, situations, venues and tournaments are just figments of my imagination.
Thanks to .com for all the relevant information.
CAUTION: Some plotlines won't be following the original storyline from manga, anime or movie! Characters may be out of original characterness!
"xxxxx" Conversation
'xxxxx' Thoughts
xxxxxxxFlashback
06. Hope, Love, Joy
16. The Pursuit – Part 3
A week later...on a Saturday.
"Nani?" Ryuzaki Sakuno gaped at a teddy bear sitting on her bed.
"It arrived this morning while you were out with Tomoka-chan. There's a card next to it." Her grandmother smiled knowingly and left.
The young girl walked over to pick up the cream-coloured furry bear and studied it. She admired its dark brown nose, rounded ears, black shiny eyes, friendly smile and the red bow-tie around its neck.
'Kawaii. Who sent you to me, Teddy-san?' Sakuno stroke the bear's head.
She remembered the card and saw it on her bed. There wasn't a name so she opened it. It revealed a card with bear paws prints surrounding two entwined pink hearts. Out of curiousity, she opened the card and read the words inside. Soon her eyes were tearing.
The way l love you...
I never really know how you feel
I can't read your mind
I just keep waiting
Take me to your heart
Show me where to start
Let me play the part of your first love.
Oh, l know how down deep you care for me
But are you ever gonna love me
The way l love you?
(Original Poem by Stephen Osei Acheampong)
Sakuno sat on her bed and clutched the bear and the card to her chest. She didn't know how long she sat there. No one has signed the card but she knew in her heart who wrote it and sent it with the bear.
'What should I do?' The warmth in her heart grew hotter when she read the words again and again. 'Do I love him or do I love Ryoma-kun? I'm still confused by my own feelings. I know I have to decide soon but I don't want to hurt him. Well, I guess this can keep for another day.'
After some time, she put the card into her treasure box and sat the bear near her pillow. She was about to leave her room when her mobile rang.
"Moshi, moshi!"
"Do you like the bear, Sakuno-chan?"
Her lips curled into a sweet smile. "Hai."
"What about the card?"
"Ari...arigato for the card but..."
His audible sigh interrupted her. "Please know that I'm not rushing you, Sakuno. I just want you to know my real feelings."
"Demo..." She could feel her cheeks heating up.
"Like the poem said, I will wait for you. You'll be surprised how patient I am when it comes to things or people important to me."
"Mnnn." She was too touched by his words to give an answer.
"Are you free next weekend, Sakuno-chan?"
"Eh? Umm...I think so."
"It's the weekend before the National Championship. I hope you could come to Kanagawa for a visit. So, what do you say? I want to see you too."
"A..a visit? Demo..."
"My Okasan and Otousan wanted to see you again. My little Imouto is also excited about meeting you after hearing about you."
"Is that so? Ano...I have to ask Obaasan about this."
"That's okay. Okasan had called Ryuzaki-sensei earlier and I believe she has given her permission."
"Nani?"
17. The Visit
The next weekend...
Yukimura Harumi hoped Ryuzaki Sakuno would become her daughter-in-law in the future. She had found the young girl to be gentle, kind and well-mannered. Seiichi had told her Sakuno can cook and bake too.
Earlier that morning, the whole family had welcomed her in their living room after her son, Seiichi had collected her from the train station. Seiichi had insisted on meeting her at the station. She found it endearing that he was so worried about Sakuno's clumsiness and poor sense of direction.
After the introductions, her daughter Hana had began asking her 20 questions. Her husband was amazed by her patience in answering Hana's questions. Then, Harumi showed Sakuno the guest bedroom. Once she had put down her overnight bag, Seiichi and Hana took her out to explore the neighbourhood.
An hour and a half later, they came back laughing and giggling. Harumi was glad that Hana got along so well with Sakuno. She could also see the adoration in her son's eyes whenever they rested on the brunette.
They all had a noisy but delicious lunch and she left the three young people doing the washing up while she went to the shops with her husband. No one was around when they eventually returned home
She tried hard not to giggle at the sight that greeted her when she walked into the garden behind her house. It seemed the warm afternoon and the delicious lunch they had early have made the young people more lethargic than usual.
Her son, Seiichi was sitting on the ground with his back leaning against the thick trunk of the garden's only tree. Sweet Ryuzaki Sakuno was sitting next to him with her head supported by his shoulder. Her daughter, Hana was sitting on Sakuno's lap with her head on Sakuno's chest and her legs laid across her brother's. At the moment, they were napping under the cool shade of the tree.
"Harumi!" Her husband called her but he was quickly hushed by his wife. Yukimura Satoru grinned too when his wife pointed out to him the charming scene in their garden.
"Anata, go and grab our camera. We have to capture this."
"Right away, dear."
Yukimura Seiichi was awaken by the "clicking" sound of a camera and hushed giggles and chuckles. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked up to find his parents grinning at him. There was a camera in his father's hands.
His legs and one of his shoulders felt heavy so he turned his head. His eyes widened and his cheeks turned red when he saw a sleeping Sakuno resting her head on his shoulder. His heart thumped faster when he remembered where he was. He shifted his gaze to find his little sister asleep in Sakuno's lap with her legs on top of his.
"You all look so peaceful together. I had to ask Otousan to take a few photos." His mother cooed.
"Seiichi, you should take a look later. The three of you look like a family." His father winked at him.
Seiichi had to agree with his father's assessment after he had taken another look at himself and the girls. 'A family, kah? If she loves me the way I love her, then this dream will become a reality in the future. For now..'
"Mmnn..." "Mmmn, Okasan?" The two girls began to stir.
Hana woke up first and unsteadily removed herself from Sakuno-neechan's laps. Her mother immediately took her into the house followed by her father.
Seiichi waited until Sakuno opened her sleepy eyes. He smiled indulgently when she sat upright quickly after realizing her position. He loved the blushes covering her cheeks.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Hai. Ano, where's Hana-chan?"
"She went into the house. Okasan and Otousan were here taking photos of the three of us sleeping."
"That's embarrassing." He couldn't help but chuckled when she cupped her cheeks in horror.
"I'm glad you came, Sakuno."
"Me, too. Your parents are so nice. As for Hana-chan, I've always wanted a little sister."
"What about me?" He asked longingly. She didn't answer him and he nearly frowned with uneasiness when she got up and walked toward the house.
"Yukimura-kun, I wouldn't have come if you aren't here."
Her words gladdened his heart and he followed her into his house.
18. The Parting
On Sunday afternoon...
The weekend flew by quickly. Yukimura Seiichi sighed with sadness as he watched a tearful Hana giving Sakuno a hug. His parents had said their good-byes and given Sakuno a hug earlier and were now watching the girls with fondness.
A couple of minutes later, it was his turn. He caught her hands in his and held on tightly. The weekend was too short. He wanted more time with her. At least he could see her again at the National Championship.
"Thank you for a lovely weekend, Yukimura-kun." Her shiny chocolaty eyes were fixed on their hands.
"No. I should be the one to say Thank-you. This weekend was memorable. I'm so glad you shared it with me and my family, Sakuno."
"It was wonderful for me too, Yukimura-kun."
He wanted to say more but the voice over the intercom announced the imminent departure of her train.
He reluctantly drew away and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "Have a safe journey home."
Looking at him with a tender smile, she nodded silently and boarded the train that's taking her back to Tokyo. She located her seat quickly and looked out the window to see the Yukimuras waving at her. Except for Yukimura-kun. The smile on his face looked more like a grimace and his eyes were shining with unshed tears.
They kept their eyes on each other until the train left the station far away. Sakuno sat on her seat with tears streaming from her eyes.
'Why is it so painful to leave him? What does this mean? Does this mean my heart has already decided?'
To Be Continued …
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