[Chapter 4 / ?] Falling Snow
Title: Falling Snow [Chapter 4/?]
Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Author: Saida
Pairing: TezuRyo
Notes: Wrote it last year and posted in www.fanfiction.net xD
Disclaimer: I do not own them..xD
Summary: What will Tezuka and Ryoma do to handle his new life? How will they go through the hardships and and obstacles in their future?
Yukimura sighed as he looked through Ryoma’s file containing his results. He threw the file on his desk and slumped down on his chair. When he threw the file, the results in it scattered on his desk. Earlier that evening, Renji had just dropped off the results to him. Of course, Yukimura didn’t tell his best friend whose urinary and blood test he was doing.
With his left hand on his forehead, Yukimura thought, ‘This results still didn’t give any leads except for the fact that Inui’s juice is indeed involved.’
FLASHBACK
“Come in,” Yukimura said when he heard a knock on his office door that evening.
The door opened and Yanagi appeared. He entered and closed the door behind him. “I’ve go the results,” he said, handing the results to Yukimura.
“Thanks a lot, Renji,” Yukimura said, giving his best friend a smile.
“I’m still curious about the owner though,” Yanagi said. “But I know there’s 99.9 chance that you won’t tell me who it is.”
“You’re right,” Yukimura replied.
“Well, whoever that person is, I’m 100 sure she’s an acquaintance of Sadaharu,” Yanagi said.
Yukimura inwardly smiled. ‘Thank goodness Renji is a strong believer of logic.’ Then, he raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say ‘she’s’ an acquaintance of Inui?”
“Because she drank Sadaharu’s Hormones Deluxe Juice,” Yanagi said.
“Could you repeat that?” Yukimura asked, looking seriously at Yanagi.
“Hormones Deluxe Juice, one of Sadaharu’s latest creation, which actually tastes good compare to the others. I found the ingredients used to make the juice inside the blood when I conducted the blood test.”
“Oh,” was the only thing that came out of Yukimura’s mouth.
“There’re more detailed explanation on the results I gave you,” Yanagi said. “I’ll have to leave now.”
“Okay,” Yukimura said. “Sorry I didn’t have anything to offer you now.”
“That’s okay,” Yanagi said. “Ja.”
END OF FLASHBACK
“But even if Ryoma did drank the juice, it won’t change any of his reproductive organs. It will only make his hormones high.” Yukimura massaged his head.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” came Yukimura’s exasperated sigh. The door opened and Sanada entered. “Oh Gen, it’s you.” Yukimura said. Quickly, he put a book on it so that Sanada couldn’t see Ryoma’s name. “What brings you here?”
“Last night was the opening ceremony for the U.S Open,” Sanada said. “I’ve taped it as you requested.”
Yukimura gave a smile. “Thanks.”
“The Echizen brothers’ gave an interesting interview last night,” Sanada said as he sat in front of Yukimura. “Unfortunately, Samurai Junior isn’t competing in this year’s championship.”
“That’s disappointing,” Yukimura said although he doesn’t sound regretful at all.
Sanada looked at Yukimura in the eye. “You knew about this from the beginning, didn’t you?”
“What makes you said that?” Yukimura asked.
“Because last week I saw you and Ryoma eating lunch together, the very same day we were supposed to have lunch together.”
“Are you suggesting that I cheated on you?” Yukimura asked, giving his innocent face.
Sanada didn’t know why, but he was filled with anger that night. “Seiichi, for once, could you be serious?” He slammed his hands on Yukimura’s desk. The book moved from its place, thus revealing the name on the file. Echizen Ryoma. Before Yukimura could cover it, Sanada had seen it first. “Seiichi…”
Yukimura sighed although he still has his trademark smile on his face. “You’ve seen the file.”
“R-Ryoma is your patient?”
Yukimura nodded his head.
“You’re not cheating on me?”
Yukimura looked bemused. “Now, where did you get that idea?”
Sanada sighed in relief. Then, he realized something. “Ryoma is your patient?”
“I think we had already cover that one up,” Yukimura replied.
“But you’re an OB,” Sanada said out loud. “Your patient are usually women, pregnant women. So why…” Suddenly everything clicked in his brain. “Ryoma is pregnant.”
“Since you figured it out yourself, I won’t be breaking any rules,” Yukimura said. “So, yes, he is pregnant.”
“But that’s…”
“Illogical?” Yukimura cut in.
“Yes,” Sanada said.
“Gen, you know that I’m interested in cases of male pregnancy, don’t you?”
“Yeah.”
“This is a great opportunity for me to do research and prove my theory.”
“So, this is for your own personal greed?” Sanada asked, feeling his anger arise yet again. He didn’t know why but he’s just feeling angry lately.
“Gen…”
Before Yukimura could say anything else, Sanada left and slammed the door behind him.
While waiting for the traffic light to turn from red to green light, Tezuka sighed remembering the event with his family earlier that evening.
FLASHBACK
“Okaa-san, I’m home,” Kunimitsu said as he entered the Tezuka residence.
“Ah, Kunimitsu,” his mother said, coming out from the kitchen. Kunimitsu kissed his mother, and Ayana asked, “Are you staying for the night?”
“No, I can’t, okaa-san,” Kunimitsu said. When he sent Ryoma home earlier, he had promise to spent the night with Ryoma. “I just came to tell something to the family.”
“Well, at least stay till dinner,” Ayana told her son. “Everyone will be present at that time.”
“I will,” he answered, sighing inwardly. ‘At least I could tell all at once.”
DINNER TIME
As usual, Kunimitsu’s grandfather is seated at the head table, his father on his grandfather’s right side, and his mother beside his father and himself the opposite side of his parents.
As the Tezuka family is a traditionalist, they never spoke a word during dinner. They usually have quiet dinner. So, after dinner…
“Kunimitsu, Ayana said you have something to tell,” Kunikazu told his grandson. Kunimitsu nodded his head. “Then, speak up, my child.”
“Ojii-san, otou-san, okaa-san, I have someone in my life,” Kunimitsu started.
Suddenly, his father laughed. “I thought Kunimitsu was going to say something serious.”
Ayana smiled. “Who is she, dear?”
“It’s not-”
“No matter, why don’t you just bring her here tomorrow and let it be a surprise,” Kuniharu suggested, and then chuckled.
Now, no one will give it a second thought if someone said Kunimitsu receive his ‘seriousness’ genes from his grandfather.
“But-”
Kunikazu cut in before his grandson could say anything. “I think we could use your father’s suggestion, Kunimitsu. At least, our judgment won’t be affected by your sweet talk about your lover.”
“Hai, ojii-san,” he said, thinking, ‘Boy, they’re really going to be surprised.’
END OF FLASHBACK
Tezuka was brought out of his thought by the honking of cars. He put his hand out of the car’s window and gave an apologetic wave. He started to drive towards the Echizen residence.
The next morning, Rinko had made a grand feast for breakfast. Tezuka and Ryoma were dumbfounded when they entered the kitchen.
“Okaa-san, what’s going on?” Ryoma asked, as they sat at the table.
“Well, we haven’t celebrate the big news you told me yesterday,” Rinko said with a big smile, “so I thought I’ll make a feast.”
“Thank you, Rinko-san,” Tezuka said with a smile.
“Oh, shush, Kunimitsu,” Rinko said. “Just call me okaa-san, if you will.”
Tezuka just nodded. Rinko took a sit at the opposite side of them. “Now, dig in.”
“Sure,” Tezuka and Ryoma said. But, when Ryoma saw the sunny-side-up eggs, he felt nauseous and bolted to the toilet.
“Ara, what’s wrong with Ryoma?” Rinko asked worriedly.
Tezuka really felt guilty for doing this but he really have to…for now. “He had food poisoning, okaa-san,” Tezuka lied. “I’ll go check on him.” So, he went to Ryoma.
“I hope Ryoma’s alright,” said the worried mother.
AFTER BREAKFAST
“Kunimitsu, are you sure this is going to be alright?” Ryoma asked, looking at Tezuka. They were on their way to the Tezuka residence.
“Ojii-san did ask me to bring you over,” Tezuka told his spouse.
Ryoma shrug. “At least they know what’s hitting them.” That moment, Tezuka choked on air. Ryoma looked at Tezuka. “Mitsu, you did tell them, right?” Tezuka tried not to choke on air. With a new worried look on Ryoma’s face, he said, “Mitsu, you didn’t?!”
“I tried to but they really didn’t give me a chance,” Tezuka answered. Seeing that the worried look is still in his lover’s eyes, he sighed and pulled over at the side of the road. He whispered in Ryoma’s ear, “Don’t worry about it too much, Ryoma. I’ll always protect you and our baby.”
Ryoma nodded his head and Tezuka gave him a peck on the lips, and continued driving. But, despite everything Tezuka had said, Ryoma still wasn’t reassure.
TIME ELAPSE
Ryoma bit his lips, and finding the floor more interesting than anything else that moment. He and Kunimitsu are currently seated face-to-face to Kunimitsu’s parents. Ryoma can’t help feeling pressured and nervous by the looks he received from the older member of the Tezuka family. He looked at his husband, and thought, ‘I wish I dressed up like Kunimitsu.’
Kunimitsu was wearing a long-sleeved, white button-up shirt and black trousers, while his family was wearing kimonos. Ryoma, on the other hand, was wearing a t-shirt and khaki pants.
Ryoma was about to say something to Kunimitsu when Kunikazu, the head of the Tezuka family, said something. Ryoma knew he is an ignorant brat but he would like to give Kunimitsu’s elders a good impression.
“Kunimitsu, we asked you to bring someone today but we didn’t expect you to bring your ex-teammate.”
His mother added in, “Yes, Kunimitsu, we were expecting you to bring the girl that you love.”
Ryoma was looking at Kunimitsu when the older guy said calmly, “There is no girl, okaa-san.”
“But yesterday…”
“Yes, I did say I have someone in my life,” Kunimitsu said, standing up. Ryoma did the same. Kunimitsu addressed the elders in his family. “Ojii-san, otou-san, okaa-san, I would like to introduce my spouse, Echizen Ryoma.”
‘Great way to break it to your elders, Mitsu,’ Ryoma thought. He bowed at Kunimitsu’s elders one by one.
“Ojii-san,” Kunimitsu said, looking at his grandfather after Ryoma was done bowing. Kunimitsu was being alert for he knew that his grandfather might make an unexpected act.
And Kunimitsu was right. His grandfather had move closer towards them and was about to introduce his palm to Ryoma’s cheek but Kunimitsu took the blow for his spouse.
“Mitsu, are you alright?” Ryoma asked his lover concernedly.
“Silence!” Kunikazu’s voice boomed.
“Ojii-san,” Kunimitsu said. His grandfather was really angry, evidence of anger in his eyes. His father has the same rage as well.
“No son of mine brings shame to the Tezuka name,” Kuniharu said. People have to look twice to believe that this is the easygoing Tezuka Kuniharu.
“I understand,” Kunimitsu said while Ryoma could only look from his husband to the elder Tezuka members.
“Anata…” Ayana said to her husband. “Please think before you do anything rash.”
“Kuniharu, do everything that needs to be done,” Kunikazu said. “I’m retiring to my room.” And Kunikazu left the scene.
“Please, anata,” Ayana begged, “He’s our only son.”
“Otou-san…” Kunimitsu said.
“Kunimitsu,” Kuniharu said sternly. “Will you or will you not leave Echizen?”
“No,” Kunimitsu said with full power. He put his hand around Ryoma’s waist. “I won’t leave Ryoma no matter what happen.”
“Then you leave me no choice,” Kuniharu said. “Leave this house.”
“Anata…” Ayana is now crying.
“Leave, now!” Kuniharu said. “And don’t you dare return.”
Kunimitsu looked at his father, still with respect. “I’ll do as you wish.” Kunimitsu took Ryoma’s hand and turned towards the door.
“Kunimitsu,” his mother cried out. She was about to rush towards him but was stopped by his father.
“Don’t go to him,” Kuniharu told his wife. “This is the path he chose.”
Kunimitsu nodded his head towards his parents and left the house with Ryoma beside him. Ryoma looked at him with regretful eyes.
“Mitsu…” he said under his breath.
“Ah, I really should give Ryoga and Kevin a knock on their head when I see them,” Nanako said, putting down her fork and knife. She just arrived from California last night and since that day she doesn’t have a meeting, Nanako was given a day off to have a tour of New York. So now, she’s having a breakfast in a lovely café in the city. Nanako sighed. She was about to drink her latte when she heard someone calling her.
“Are you Meino-san?”
Nanako looked up. “Fuji-san?”
“Yup,” Fuji Syuusuke said, with one of his trademark smile on his face. He was wearing a button-up t-shirt, trousers, and shawl around his neck. “May I have this seat?”
“Sure,” Nanako said.
Fuji sat down. “So, what are you doing here in New York, Meino-san?”
“Work, as usual,” Nanako said. “How’s modeling coming for you?”
“It’s great fun,” Fuji answered, “but it doesn’t give me the feeling I have when I won a game.”
“If you feel so, why didn’t become a tennis pro like Ryoma-san?” Nanako asked.
Fuji chuckled. “A seriously injured wrist.”
Nanako was about to ask Fuji something when a waiter came and asked for Fuji’s orders. After everything was dealt with, Fuji looked back at Nanako with a smile and said, “I’m sorry, Meino-san. So, what were you going to say?”
“It’s nothing,” Nanako replied. Suddenly, she felt her phone vibrated. Remembering that it was an alarm clock she had set up earlier, Nanako said, “I’m sorry, Fuji-san, but I need to go now.”
“Sure,” Fuji said. “But before you go,” Fuji’s eyes opened again, “I must ask, why didn’t Ryoma join the US Open this year?”
“Sorry, but I don’t know the answer to that question but two weeks before the US Open starts, Ryoma returned to Japan,” Nanako answered.
“Hmm, thank you, Meino-san,” Fuji said.
Nanako gave a nod, and then, she called a waiter, paid for her breakfast and left.
‘Ryoma, it’s not like you to miss the US Open,’ Fuji thought, his eyes opened. ‘I’ll confront you as soon I got to Japan.’
Meanwhile, at a water fountain not far from the café, two guys are waiting. One of them has greening black hair. He was wearing a black sleeveless shirt under a white sleeveless jacket. The other guy has orange hair and was wearing yellow, frameless sunglasses. Yup, they are Kevin and Ryoga Echizen.
“What’s taking her so long?” Kevin grumbled. He looked at his wristwatch. It’s now 11.45 a.m and they were supposed to meet up at 11.30 a.m. When Ryoga didn’t answer him, Kevin turned to face his brother. His veins twitched when he saw that Ryoga was currently flirting with some girls. “Ryoga!!” Kevin yelled.
After saying goodbye to the girls, Ryoga looked at Kevin. “Hey, chill man. She’s just 15 minutes late. ‘Sides, there’re lots of things to do before she arrives,” he looked at all the pretty girls on the street while saying that.
“You and your sick past times,” Kevin muttered.
Ryoga heard him. “Hey, I resent that.”
Nanako arrived just a few minutes later. “Sorry I’m late guys,” she apologized.
“Finally,” Kevin said. “I think I’ll be sick if I listens to him,” pointing at Ryoga, “flirts with another girl.”
Ryoga smirked. “Oh, you’re just jealous.”
“I am SO not!” said Kevin.
Nanako giggled. Then, remembering something, she went in front of Ryoga and Kevin. After, she knocked Ryoga and Kevin on the head with her hands. Both tennis players were looking at Nanako with a look that says, ‘What-the-hell’? Nanako replied by giving them a stern look that says, ‘You-deserve-it’.
“Really guys, you shouldn’t reveal Ryoma’s whereabouts to everyone,” Nanako said.
“Why?” Ryoga smirked. “Did the reporters stomp the house?”
“No,” Nanako answered. “But you should think about your brother’s privacy. There must be a reason why he miss the US Open and also why he didn’t leave the house for three days since he got to Japan.”
Both Ryoga and Kevin looked at her with a look that’s equivalent to ‘…’ Then, a word escaped their lips, “Oh…”
“So, do you know what’s wrong with him?” Nanako asked.
“He didn’t tell us either,” Kevin answered.
Nanako sighed. “Oh well.” Then, she looked at them with a smile. “So, where are you taking me today?”
A big sweat drop appeared at the back of Ryoga’s and Kevin’s head as they thought, ‘Her mood changes fast.’
After leaving Tezuka’s parents’ house, they went to Tezuka’s apartment. Tezuka was in the kitchen, taking out the ingredients for their lunch when Ryoma hugged the older man from behind.
“Ryoma…” Tezuka said, when he felt Ryoma’s warmth around him.
“Did you regret choosing me instead of your family?” Ryoma asked, burying his face in Tezuka’s back.
“No,” Tezuka answered. “You’re my family too, Ryoma.”
Ryoma knew what Tezuka said was the truth, but the tennis pro also knew that Tezuka felt a little guilty to defy his family. After all, they were the one who raised him.
“Gomen,” Ryoma said.
Tezuka changed his position so now; he’s standing face to face with Ryoma. He embraced his spouse. “Don’t be,” Tezuka said. “You know I won’t change this for the world. Besides, you’ve sacrificed a lot for me already.” Tezuka lifted Ryoma’s chin up with his finger. “You knew…you knew I wanted a child. And…by carrying this baby, you have to let go of your career.”
“Because I love you more than tennis, Mitsu,” Ryoma said.
“And so do I,” Tezuka replied. He kissed Ryoma on the tip of his nose. “Why don’t you watch the television while I cook lunch?”
Ryoma nodded his head. He went to the living room and turned on the television. While cutting the salmon, something occurred to Tezuka.
“Ne, Ryoma, when is your next doctor’s appointment?”
“I don’t know,” Ryoma answered. “Yukimura-senpai hadn’t said anything.”
Tezuka said a silent, “Oh,” and continued cutting the salmon.
“Syuichiro, nya, don’t you think it’s weird that ochibi missed the missed the US Open?” Eiji said to his lover.
Oishi, who just returned with the fishes’ food, answered, “Yeah.” He gave the food to Eiji. “But the weird thing is why he didn’t tell Tezuka.”
Eiji put some fish food in the entire fish tank in his pet store. “Yeah, I agree, nya.”
Eiji now owns a pet store, like he always wished for. Since Oishi was always so busy with work at the hospital, he would visit Eiji’s pet store on weekends and help out his lover once in a while.
It was silent for a while. Suddenly, Eiji said “Aha!” so loudly, that Oishi accidentally dropped the book he was reading.
“What is it, Eiji?”
“Let’s make a reunion party,” Eiji answered, grinning madly at his koibito.
“That would be a very good idea, Eiji,” Oishi replied.
“And I know just the place to do it,” Eiji said, snapping his finger at the same time.
tbc