IMPORTANT! I noticed a lot of you think we'll have a dark depressing turn of events somewhere. It is particularly understandable due to the foreshadowing in Chapter 16. But I planned a lot of events already and so far I see no such turns. xD Unless you angels want some more angst, then I'll consider. hahahha
Anyway, the start of a new story arc! THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT SO FAR, MINNA!
DISCLAIMER: I WISH I Own Prince of Tennis
…
CHAPTER XIX: Overture
YUKIMURA RESIDENCE
Echizen Rinko hummed as she folded the cloths. She just got back from the airport after seeing the Yukimura couple off. They said that they already messaged Seichi, and albeit he hadn't replied yet (probably due to class), they said it was no problem as they would return in a week or so anyway.
She hummed and continued what she was doing and, eventually, finally finished changing most of Ryoma's clothing! She couldn't live as a boy forever, right? Despite what Seichi said, Ryoma had do return to being a girl… at least in her own home now.
Riiiinngg
She flinched and looked around, forgetting where she left her phone. She looked and looked and then, after noticing idiotically placing her ears on the carpet, she finally saw it under the cabinet. She sighed and prepared herself for a few dust bunnies.
"Moshi, Moshi?" She answered.
"When are you gonna come home?" A lazy sounding voice from the other line said and it could be none other than her husband's. She stared at the ceiling for a few seconds.
"This Friday, like usual?"
"Ah. I guess you can go home for good though."
She blinked. "Hn?"
"I'm already working on Reina's paperwork. She'd be moving with you."
"…what?"
"What do you mean what?" He asked and Rinko knew very well where this was going. She didn't see how she could not see this earlier! Retiring from law practice must have had an effect on her reasoning skills.
"I refuse."
"Honey—"
"I'd go home alone if you miss me so much, but Reina will stay with Seichi."
"I refuse!" Nanjiroh yelled in aghast, surprised by her statement. "You're going to leave those two hormonal teenagers alone? NO WAY!"
"Then I will not leave."
"NO. You two girls will leave. They're engaged already! They could be set apart. At least until it's…safe."
"Not everyone has a perverted mind like you, Nanjiroh." Rinko said dismissively. "Those two are mature. They won't do anything such idiotic things."
"How do you know? It could be too late!" He said. "I can sense hormones like they're the smoke from a hormone factory!"
"…"
"It's true!"
Rinko shook her doubts away and stood firm. "I-It's not like they're not going to get married in a few years, anyway…"
Nanjiroh cried. "Riiinnkkkoooooo."
"I stand firm of my opinion."
"Che." Nanjiroh sniffed. "Wanna have a bet then?"
"…" Rinko kept silent for a while, before agreeing to end the nonsensical talk already. "Fine. So long as you promise not to intervene. Of course, that goes the same for me."
"Okay. If there's the slightest hint of them at least bordering the red line—then Reina will move here with me."
"Fine."
"Fine!" Nanjiroh replied before gesturing to close the line.
"Oh, and have a good day Hon~"
A few hours later, the limousine assigned to the household's youngest members finally arrived. Seichi was the first one to climb out, but the unknowing Ryoma almost got out as well and habitually headed to Yukimura's side. So they met in the middle of the way and this caught Ryoma by surprise.
"Che."
Yukimura slid his hand to the back of the limousine and she stared. "You know you're only my bodyguard by name now, right? It's disturbing to see the female party opening the door for her fiancé."
"Not to me." She said, but as they were already out, she decided not to take deeper the argument—especially when Yukimura was probably going to be the one to win. She just walked to the house with him but found her body stopping before she could move her legs further.
It did hurt when she stood, but somehow it got worse all-of-a-sudden. She tried to control the wincing of her eyes but when she lifted her head to Yukimura's direction she realized that he, unfortunately, saw it already.
"Does it still hurt?" He asked worriedly, and a second later—after realizing she was being lifted—she would realize it was rhetorical.
She gasped. "What are you—"
Yukimura ignored her, not in the mood to state the obvious. It was that moment that Ryoma realized she'd just have to succumb to this—it was embarrassing, but she had to admit the jolt of pain was there. It was bearable, given her tolerance to pain, but this felt much… better.
She stared at one of her hands, at the time resting on his shoulder. To think all these years—she had been used to seeing his back, at all times, in the same scene. This was a little overwhelming, even for her.
And then she imagined how they looked like—locking lips in the middle of the courts, in front of everyone.
Instinctively, she flinched, making him pause his steps and stare at her worriedly. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"Reina…" He voiced out, and when she looked away, he sighed and changed directions—from going to the front door to the side gardens. He put her down on a bench. She looked down and he held her cheek up to gracefully lift it up so that she'd face him.
Such warm hands, she mused as she stared into his deep and beautiful orbs. And like he always did, he made her legs go soft and was thankful she was not standing in the first place. "I just remembered… we showed so much earlier that day, didn't we?"
"Does it matter?" He smiled. "At least everyone in the school knows we're in that kind of relationship." She twitched at that at the recollection. In the duration of the whole day, there had been ever more prying stares than usual and not to mention various emotions ran through the air.
For some odd reason, females and female-wanabees, were squeaking whenever they got close, shouting "Kya~ Favourite couple ever!" Some saying best yaoi pair or something similarly odd. At least they weren't hostile…
Even during Lunch, the team didn't lack in attempts to interrogate them. They still acted like usual, unsurprisingly, not caring one bit if they were homosexuals or not. Frankly, she would have felt disappointed if they did and she was especially thankful that they didn't.
Sanada and Niou remained the usual as well. She never glared at him (she willed herself not to react in any way) and he was apathetically the usual trickster, videotaping things here and there. Yagyuu reacted whenever Niou handled it incorrectly though, which led her to the though the camera was not even Niou's.
And just after Lunch break, Sanada whispered a silent 'Congratulations' and she smiled back.
She was pulled out of her trance by a soft and sensual feeling on her lips. She blinked.
"Welcome back." He said, his face only an in away from hers. "You were in quite a reverie over there."
"Ah. I remembered the whole day after everyone found out."
"Ah, lovely reactions they gave." He chuckled before slowly shifting to the side of her face. "Speaking of which, Sanada and Niou… did I imagine it or was there more than shock in their faces?"
She didn't know if he was teasing or was he annoyed. Perhaps it was both?
Wait a minute…
He shouldn't have seen their reactions in the first place!
But it was too late, it looked like she already showed some facial expression.
"…so?"
"You imagined it."
"Reina."
She smiled at him reassuredly and held his hand. "Shall we chat in the garden?"
"My garden?"
"Hai."
"Then that's not really reassuring." He said, almost pouting. "Considering you're trying to buffer whatever you're going to say using a context that I'm fond of."
Ryoma shook her head. "No. (not entirely) I just miss the place."And she paused, looking at him serenely.
"It had been years since I last went there, remember?"
…
As they stood at the door and went in, Seichi found himself looking around his own garden. He stole occasional glances of Ryoma as well. Years, was it, since she last entered? He knew it had been a long time, for whenever he wanted her to see something he couldn't quite voice it out. And whenever he had to be called out, some other servant usually did the task, but never Ryoma. As if she asked these servants to do what he asked for, instead.
For a moment there, he wondered why. But it never quite took him long to figure it out.
He realized she didn't want to spoil something he loved with her presence.
He flinched and she whipped her head to his direction in worry. He shook his head. "I'm glad you're here again." He said, ensuring she didn't misunderstand. "My garden missed you." He said quietly and she smiled, letting go of his hand.
"May I?"
"Hmn." He said and she started wondering around his small garden house. His eyes wandered wherever she went as well.
It was a small green house, but large for a personal one. The accessories like the benches were arranged symmetrically every 3 meters or so. It was exactly the same as the one he had in England. In fact, he specifically instructed the movers to move the very same type of plants and at precisely the same position. He didn't know why… until now.
A collection of Amaryllis, Aster, Borage, Heliotrope, Dahlia, and a few chosen colors of carnation were arranged in a dynamic way that now made so much sense. There was a foliage of asparagus as well. And… there was a bonsai of an Acacia right in the middle—like the altar to a church.
"Reina…" He smiled, looking at her, and he let various emotions seep through. Perhaps they were so much that he made Ryoma blush just by doing it. "I… consciously tried to push you away… so hard. I'm sorry."
"I understand."
"Of course you do. You always do. And even when you didn't." He said, looking at the bonsai. "You still remain on my side."
"And even when I am irrational… my feelings still manifested themselves, and in the place I loved so much as well." He let out a low, amused, chuckle from his gut. "It seems that even unconsciously, all I thought about was you."
She only stared, trying to comprehend his confession. She had no idea what he was saying though. Who would, anyway? So, he only smiled making her tilt her head in puzzlement.
"This Acacia meant secret love." He explained and looked at the plant softly. He chuckled at her growing blush and guided her around his collection of meaningful plants.
"Amaryllis is of Pride, Borage is of courage, Heliotrope of Devotion, and Dahlia of Elegance and dignity—" he paused and her eyes widened. "…All of which characteristics I saw in you, but refused to look at positively."
He let her breathe a bit and he looked away both to give her space and to help himself calm a bit. She was making such pretty faces he wondered what he would do if his heart was pushed a little more. He realized that he had always been attracted. There was something innately feminine about her, masked by her crossdressing and the actions that she showed. Now that he was aware of them, for some reason he doubted his ability to control them if they increase.
He let a minute or so pass and his eyes wandered around his beautiful garden again. It was really to distract himself. He smiled at a plant.
"Aster, is simply a symbol of love." He paused, without looking at her. "Carnation, in contrast,… could mean different things, depending on the color." He smiled recalling the different times he purchased the flowers, knowing full-well what they meant, albeit never thinking he actually applied them. He bought Aster when he was so confused that he needed something simple, and it seemed to have helped his sanity.
His hands ended up caressing the petals of the carnations. So beautiful yet so complex. Like Reina and these feelings. Yukimura proceeded to tell her what they meant. "White is sweet and … lovely." He found himself chuckling at how oddly and secretively true that was, but paused at the other colors.
"Mauve and red…" He blushed.
"Seichi?"
"Oh…"
He walked to the bonsai (hoping she'd dismiss his little moment) and soon Ryoma reached his location. "Perhaps I should replace it with a large set of ambrosia." He said and Ryoma stared.
"Why?"
"Because it's no longer applicable." He said, a little relieved for about a moment. After some thinking, his mood turned sour. (At that instant, he mentally concluded that he was thoroughly bi-polar, at least with Ryoma).
"Perhaps I should give this bonsai to someone who needs it."
"What… does it mean?"
"Ambrosia means reciprocated love." He paused. "Acacia means, on the other hand, means Secret Love." He said and suddenly looked at her seriously. "Perhaps I should give this to Sanada or some other…man. Depends.
"Mind enlightening me?"
She paled, and he realized the aura around him darkened once more. He frowned at himself, he disliked seeing her so scared, and more often than not, he was the one who caused it. He pushed her away, and yet he wanted her all for himself.
He wanted to curse, but instead, he found his head leaning down and resting on her shoulder. He forced himself to calm down, and soon, he let his arms surround her petite frame, embracing it lovingly.
"I'm sorry. I promise I'd be fine with whatever I hear." He whispered. "Don't be scared."
There was silence for a while until he felt her quiver, and soon a chuckle came out. He lifted his head and saw a very beautiful facial expression. He felt so… blessed to see it so often, despite doing so many wrong things. In the end, he could only ogle.
"I… it's not like that Seichi. I don't think I'd ever be attracted this way to any other man. And nor do I think they're attracted to me that way." She smiled.
"Why were you pale then?"
"Well…" she looked away and scratched her cheek. "There had been some… accidents."
"Tell me everything." He said and she gulped.
"Well, Sanada found out I'm a girl during one of our tennis practices at night, as you should know."
"Hmn." He said, specially till annoyed at that fact. "Continue." He said, keeping it as cool as possible.
"He found my wig."
"That's not enough reason. You could have denied it."
"I did. But there was this, like I said, accident." She said unconsciously looking down on his chest level, and somehow Seichi understood. He saw red. A very bloody shade of red.
"Seichi." "She said firmly. "It was an accident, remember?"
"…Right. I'm sorry. But." How the bloody hell was he supposed to calm? "So he blackmailed you to go on a date?"
"N-No."
"Then you came with him on your own consent?"
"Well… the person I went to Space Land with wasn't exactly Sanada…"
"…"
"…"
"Continue."
"Niou." She practically said inaudibly. "He found out when he overheard Sanada and I speak about it… it wasn—Seichi."
"Right." He narrowed his eyes. "And you got into an accident with him, too?"
She nodded and suddenly looked down, unable to look at him anymore. "Reina." He repeated. "How long is this going t—" He was cut off by Ryoma pulling him down for a light kiss.
"I'm sorry." When they parted and saw her apologetic expression, his eyes widened at a realization. He saw red.
"H-He kissed yo—"
Kiss
"Rein—"
Kiss
"That bas—"
Kiss
And finally, he managed to get enough strength to gently push her away. "Don't think this will calm me down. And… didn't that mean…, your first kiss?!"
And she kissed him again. "Reina."
"I'll stop if you stop bloody reminding me." She said, and frankly Seichi was already in it for another kiss.
"…"
Nothing of the sort came though, and she just tightened her hold on his shirt. "Every time I remember… only a kiss from you could make it all go away."
Oh.
But still. Just imagining it for a millisecond made his blood boil. And Niou? He couldn't have guessed!
"Forgive me?"
And in the end, he let his forehead rest against hers.
How could he not?
Rinko watched the two kids enter the house. It was already dark then, and she mused they must have stayed outside for a while. She asked them to get ready already for dinner and they obliged. But then as the kids climbed up the stairs… she remembered something.
She climbed up and followed her daughter to her room.
"Mom? Where're my boy's clothes?" Right on cue.
Rinko totally forgot about her replacing her clothes! But then she mused, it was too late to change plans then. She already sold most of her boy's clothes and kept just the right number since she still had to go out the house as a boy (yes she had an idea Seichi would object).
But that would mean Seichi would have a harder time controlling himself.
But then… she promised not to intervene? Should any promises to Nanjiroh be null and void? It certainly would make sense at the moment.
"I thought that you've been living as a boy of years now. Surely you don't want to start acting like one in the end? You're an engaged girl for goodness sakes!"
"Is there anything wrong?"
"Besides, I don't think Seichi'll do things he's not supposed to do just because you wore girl's clothes."She turned her head to his direction and yelled, "Isn't that right, Seichi?"
"…hmn?"
"I'm making Ryoma wear girl's clothes inside the house. Isn't that fabulous?"
He didn't answer, but not because (unfortunately) he was too cool to react. His throat was just literally jammed then. That moment, Rinko was having doubts on how much he could control himself. After all, her daughter was freakishly beautiful for her own good!
Seichi, sensing her discerning stare, composed himself quickly and let out a calm and amicable smile.
"Of course."
…
Sigh
It was after dinner then, and Seichi sat on his bed, his back on the headboard, and he was writing things down in the diary. He was writing so much, and his hand seemed to be especially vehement that day as well—and not of anger, rather of enthusiasm.
It was rare…
But his writing slowed down the moment he got to that night's dinner. It was the second time he saw her in a dress, and it was a little longer than the school uniform. Its effect on him, was not any less.
He knew about these feelings of course—He loved her in the platonic way, but naturally something else would rouse. And considering the meanings of those carnations that he knew very well since back then…? He realized it had been there for a while.
Her charm back then was masked by her boyishness, too. But… what now?
He seriously started doubting his self control.
His mind wandered and relived all those moments where they were close, where they touched, and blush crept up his face. This was becoming more embarrassing, but he willed himself to keep writing. Letting it out, at least in his diary, surely would help this feelings get under control—like it always did.
But as he was in the middle of a very intimate point of writing, the door opened abruptly, and he instinctively hid the diary under his pillow.
"You should have knocked."
"I did. 4 times." His fiancé narrowed her eyes. "What was that?"
"What?"
She still had her eyes narrowed and she looked at him before finally closing the door. "That little book under your pillow."
"Homework." He said, keeping an imminent gulp at bay. He watched her walk closer to him in her simple and humble—yet all the same enticing—beige pajamas.
"Is there anything you want?"
"I was just going to say good night. But then I saw it." She said pointing at his pillow. "I thought we agreed to tell each other everything?"
"I told you it was my homework." He said and she sighed before doing what he did to her before—lifting his chin up. She leaned down and let one of her ankles support her weight as it bended on his bed.
"You're lying."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because we did it for years."
She frowned and leaned in closer (Seichi, albeit he didn't show it, was willing his insides to calm vehemently). Her arms raised and was then on the headboard, supporting her weight as well. Her other arm on her hip, and she was basically caging Seichi in as well.
An eye for an eye.
And they both knew it worked every time.
...
Long seconds passed by and neither spoke. Seichi remained frozen, to the point that he didn't realize Ryoma's hand was already creeping down the pillow. The moment he realized that she was already opening his diary she must have already read several sentences.
He whipped his head and saw she was reading his latest page!
He quickly moved but Ryoma was agile, she managed to avoid the book getting stolen and she gestured to get down the bed, when Seichi managed grab her shoulder and—
THUMP
He was pinning her down.
They gasped and stared at each other, and Seichi couldn't help but lean down and whisper to her ears. "I told you it's just homework."
And when he separated he didn't realize she was reading behind his back (literally) and her eyes went wide at something. He felt her drop his diary and moved to gape at him.
She blushed. "I-I—"
"This is all your fault, you know." He whispered before placing a chaste kiss on her lips. He parted and saw that beautiful shade of red on her face. It was embarrassing to have her read that, but it was the truth anyway. Besides, it was not like he could control himself at the moment.
"I love you." He said. "And unfortunately, I seem to be wanting you too."
She didn't answer, but that soft expression was there—pushing him to oblivion. He kissed her again, this time a little deeper.
And deeper…
And deeper…
The next thing he knew, he was placing butterfly kisses on her neck, and she let out a musical moan that he mused he could listen to forever.
But—
BAM!
The door opened, and they both flinched—quickly stopping whatever they were doing. They stared and their eyes widened…
Rinko looked very shocked indeed.
.
.
END OF CHAPTER XIX
Coming Soon:
CHAPTER XX: Decision
REPLIES TO ANGELS
ChocoMickey- Waaa. So sorry to have made you wait so long and I'm glad it was good enough. xD Nyahah. I'm happy you liked those parts as well! *hugs* Thanks for the review. xD
DragonFire Princess- They will for the most part! As you will see in the chapter there will be a short amount of time wherein they won't. xD Hope it's alright and thx for the comment!
Mintleafeon- haha. Yeah! I can only imagine the shock and terror in their faces. And yeah, I hope I can figure out a happy enough ending for him. In the meantime, hug him? xD Thx for the comment!
xDarkxKurokox- Hahaha. Halt! xD Sanada is ours, remember? Loooool. And I did? I tend to do mix their names a lot. xD I'm off to change it! And yeah! I've always known you're from PH tho. *cackles* I'm a born stalker, Kabayan! *high five* And thanks for the review!
Quwer- Hahahah. *fangirls with you* Thank you for the review and I can only hope the aftermath managed to satisfy your expectations. xD You can tell me otherwise of course, and thanks for the comment!
BrokenBlackCat- Hahaha. Yes, cliffhanger! xD And hai~ He did! Not 100% sure what to do with the shots yet, but he got them alrighT! xD Thanks for the comment~
Deadlycute17- Thank you for the review and I'm glad you liked it! I'm thinking atm about the pairing, I have one in mind but *hush* xD.
JuRy28- Ahahaha. And… I made you wait again. T_T Gomen nasai. And hai~ as I will show in this chapter, your guess is correct. Hehehe. Thanks for the comment btw!
Ethelra- Yay! I'm glad you thought so (since a lot seems to lose interest since chapter 17 lol) and it's a great thing to read. Thanks for the review!
Natasya Ivashkov- Thank you for the review! And hehe. It's awesome to hear that you think the chapter's sweet, awesome, and powerful all at the same time! xDD *hugs*
SeraphelArchangelaClaudia- Hahahah. Yes, yes they did kiss! xD *fangirls with you* haha. Thank you for the comment!
Yuki Masaharu- Darn it! I'm blushing so much here—yo! Hahah. I'm very happy that you thought so! And yeah, I wish my muses will not leave me, they sleep often though. xD And I'll try to update like before and thanks for the review~!
YukimuraRika- Thank you for the review! xD I'm so glad you thought it was a cute chapter. Hehe. Hope to keep it up and I will do my best to keep updating!
Shanagi95- D'aw. Don't be conflicted! Us fangirls can always go and hug him, ne? xD and hahahah. Was niou that annoying? xD If so, feel free to punch him lol. Thx for the comment!
Guest [4/29/12] – Hahah. Glad you liked their game and kiss! xD I'm sure they'll be flattered as well lol. And Hai~ Poor sanada. Hope I can make it better for him somehow. xD Thanks for the review! :)
FranscoiseLaraLapis- Oh that guest above was you? Hahahaha. No biggie. xD I like it actually, it increased the review count. Hahahha. Thanks again for the reviews!
Nemesia23- Thank you for the review. I am so happy to know that you found it captivating all the way now and I hope I can keep it up. Of course, feel free to tell me if I've lost my way. xD Thanks for the review!
Xiiaogurlz – I am so glad to hear from you, then! xD Thank you for reviewing! And yes~! The next few chaps will be focusing Sensual pair. *wink* thanks for the review!
Darkspider- Sanada's fine~ Somehow. xDD But we'll hug him anyway! Hahah. And not yet. They wouldn't find out about her gender for now. Hehehehe. Thank you for the review~
JigokuTenshi834- Hahaha. We sure hope not! Then again, we can play nurses if they all had heart attacks. xDDD Thanks for the review!
AnImEfEN- Thank you for the review~! xD So glad you liked it! Hehe. And btw, I am planning on doing short stories on the earlier generation(s) but they'll be part of this story. Hope they'll turn out nicely! xD
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