Hye! Guys! I am with the last chapter now. Thank you for being with me for the past twelve days of Christmas season. Few of you reviewed on my fic but they were enough for me to continue writing. I told you, just one word coming from you, my RyoSaku fanfic will still be alive. Thank you very much. *bows head*
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Prince of Tennis and never will. I also do not own the songs, titled fic used here. Just love sharing them. Capiche?
Chapter 12: A Partridge in a Pear Tree
Chapter Summary: She expressed herself beyond words, beyond actions because he...
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me
Twelve drummers drumming!
Eleven pipers piping!
Ten lords-a-leaping!
Nine ladies dancing!
Eight maids-a-milking!
Seven swans-a-swimming!
Six geese-a-laying!
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds!
Three french hens!
Two turtle doves!
And a partridge in a pear tree!
~ 12 Days of Christmas - Various Artists ~
I asked this question to myself; Why would time fly really fast?
The next thing you'd know it was time to go and everything would be over. Waiting was like a torture, seconds were dragging really slow. You'd really be aware of every thing you'd do if there was some thing you'd expect to come. However, time flew by if you were really with something or someone next to you.
That was how I felt. With Ryoma-kun. I was with him one moment and the time flew really fast. I wasn't with him, it was lagging me behind. I dreaded this day to come.
The fifth of January marked the day.
The day that he would leave the land of the rising sun.
And without him felt like I was going to wait for him forever. I hadn't told him my thoughts. Not yet.
I was...
"Sakuno!"
From my dresser, I turned to the door where Tomo-chan emerged from. She immediately made her way to my dresser;
"What are you still doing here? We should go now!"
I frowned at her, "What are you talking about?"
Her eyes widened as she faced me liked I didn't actually know the news, "Today's Ryoma-sama's departure, duh!"
"But it'll be until later. Not now."
To my surprise, Tomo-chan grabbed my arm and pulled me up, "It was rescheduled this morning! So get up and see him!"
I was rather surprised to hear that. Without another persuasion, I was immediately on my feet and followed my best friend.
xxx
We made our way to the airport. And saw the rest of the team. I even daw Obaa-chan with them. I felt a bit upset when she didn't bother waking me up. I didn't even know that she was long gone from home.
"Sakuno, what took you so long?" Obaa-chan frowned at me. I returned the frown and looked at her.
"I didn't know that Ryoma-kun's departure was rescheduled this morning."
"I told you this morning. Didn't you hear me?" She said and sighed as she rubbed her forehead with her hand, "I thought you'd follow because I had to see them first."
I shook my head as I looked around. I only saw the team but not him, "W-Where is he?"
Momo-chan-senpai approached me and gave me a tap on my shoulder. I didn't like the look he was giving me right now, "Where is he, senpai?" I repeated my question.
"Gomen na, Ryuzaki-san," Oishi-senpai walked closer to us and answered my question instead, "Echizen left thirty minutes ago."
I couldn't find my voice the moment I heard that from senpai. They were looking at me, wearing worried looks, asking if I was fine. I could not reply to their questions as I just stared at the departure area. He didn't wait for me.
Ryoma-kun left without saying goodbye, without telling me anyhing. He didn't wait for me. My eyes dilated when I realized something;
Was it my fortune telling me right now? Was this the real meaning of my fortune for this year?
I hadn't told him yet. I started to blink my eyes and tried reassuring them, "I-I am fine. I guess, I'll see him when he comes back." My feet started to walk backwards.
"Where are you going, Sakuno?" Tomo-chan asked me when I turned to my heels.
"I-I need to go," I said smiling at her. At them, "I have something to do. See you later." My feet started to move faster until I sprinted out of the airport.
The area was white. The place was cold and slippery. Children were playing in the snow. The view was beautiful.
But I couldn't appreciate them no matter how hard I try. Songs were playing elsewhere. Children were singing along with the Christmas rhythm. People were happy but my eyes were blurry.
My hand went to my cheek and realized that a tear had started to fall. I was not aware before. I never had the idea of how important expressing my feelings to him. I never knew that my decisions would have their own consequences when done whether right or wrong. I had been admiring him for long.
I liked him for a while.
I have been loving him all this time.
I looked up and saw snow flakes started to fall above me. The place would be colder once again. I let tears fall down my face and how they froze the moment they moved.
I wanted to tell him my feelings. I wanted to reply to his words yesterday. I wanted to answer him.
But it was too late.
He was gone.
He would be here the next time but I already missed the chance. I finally understood my fortune now. I totally missed it without realizing that I did.
My eyes widened at the song that played next. I looked down and smiled to myself trying to wipe my tears away. I wanted to at least look presentable to these children in front of me who were singing the song. Watching them, I started singing along with them.
'Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
Like we true loving brethren,
Each other to embrace,
For the merry time of Christmas
Is coming on a-pace.
O tidings of comfort and joy,comfort and joy,...'
I continued walking, away from the crowd, away from the children, away from the song.
'O tidings of comfort and joy...'
I didn't know how long had I been walking. I felt hungry from walking randomly. I looked around only to realize that I was in a central park of Tokyo. Looking around, I found the biggest Christmas tree with some other children under it singing another Christmas song. There was a wall clock tower near the big tree and found out that it was already 1 in the afternoon.
I walked for over two hours and my feet brought me to this park. No wonder I felt hungry and tired.
Sighing, I decided to go home and fill my stomach with food. As I turned to my heels out of the park, I heard another familiar song and it made me stop short from walking and slowly turned around where the big tree was.
'On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love gave to me...'
I saw the children singing along with someone, rather a teenager sitting on a chair under the big tree. My eyes glued to the teenager that I didn't recognize at first.
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords-a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,...
My eyes found the teenager's and mine widened when I finally recognized who it was.
It couldn't be.
He couldn't be here. He left ages ago. What was he doing here in the park, singing with the children under the big tree?
My feet found their way walking towards the big tree where he was. He stood up and he gestured the kids to run elsewhere. But my eyes were focusing only to him. I felt tears were beginning to threaten to fall so I willed myself not to.
"W-what are you doing here?" I asked whisperingly as I finally reached where he was, "I thought that you left."
"I did." He said looking straight to my eyes, "I just returned."
I blinked twice as I felt awkward at the stare he was giving me, "W-why?"
He took a step forward making my heart beat faster, "I forgot something."
My eyes widened as I felt that my face was blushing really hard. I tried distracting myself and looked around for the 'something' that he forgot, "Let's look around for it then." I was about to turn around when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me closer once again. I gasped audibly when he did that, "R-Ryoma-kun. W-wha--"
He lifted my wrist where the bracelet was. The light reflected the sign as he lifted it.
"I couldn't find a partridge but I hope the pear tree is enough."
"E?" I looked at the tree under us. I only realized that the tree was a pear one, "That was what you forgot?"
Instead of answering me, he pulled me further to the shades of the tree. He placed me on the trunk of the tree while he was just standing in front of me. My wrist was still locked to his hand.
"To surprise you but you found your way here." He smirked making me blush.
"H-how'd you know I'd be here. I was not aware myself." I whispered admitting it to him in the process.
He looked at me intensely once again, "I just knew it."
We stared for a couple of minutes before I looked down and felt shy. I realized what he was trying to do for sometime.
"The twelve days of Christmas," I slowly looked up at him and shock was totally visible in my face, "You were giving me the twelve days of Christmas."
He smirked wider as he leaned closer, "Took you long enough to figure that out."
I was really feeling overwhelmed at the time. Ryoma-kun did surprise me. For a couple of times. My heart couldn't stop panicking. I didn't even know what to say. I was not even aware that Ryoma-kun was fiddling with my bracelet.
"There's anothing thing I want to tell you." He said suddenly flipping the infinity sign showing my initials. He brushed it with his fingers.
"What is it?"
He didn't answer my question. His fingers were still brushing the initials of my name from the sign. I followed his movements and stared at the sign.
R.S
Ryoma-kun wanted to tell me something but what was it? I looked down at the initials and thought hard.
Then it clicked to.me.
With the realization, I slowly looked at him and saw him staring at me, "This... is not only my initials, is it?" I whispered and my heart beat fast even more, "These are initials."
"You nailed it." He smirked at me when I confirmed it. It wasn't just my initials, it was ours.
I was rendered speechless after that. The next thing I knew, I was throwing myself to him. I didn't care anymore. There was no way I'd miss this chance with him.
"You were confusing me before. You became extra nice to me. You protected me so many times--"
"I always do--"
"Let me finish!" I retorted gripping his shirt tight as I leaned to his chest, "You do things I did not expect you to do. You started to see me, do you not? Because I do. I have always been. I admired for long and I will admire you again."
I looked up and saw how surprised he was. My face was beet red. I knew I couldn't stop now. I'd miss a chance with him if I did.
"I..." I bit my lower lip and mustered a courage to say it but a finger stopped me from saying them.
"I know," He said smiling this time, "No need to explain it." Without warning, he replaced his finger with his own lips and brushed mine.
It sounded a bit weird but my world stopped turning. My breath hitched and my body tensed. Ryoma-kun was kissing me. He just stole my first kiss. It didn't take long before he broke the chaste kiss.
He had the smug look on his face as I looked at him, "I've been waiting long enough to do that."
I covered my mouth in an instinct. Everything was a shock for me. Things happened one after another. Ryoma-kun had a lot on his sleeves and I couldn't contain all them in.
"Ryoma-kun, s-stop surprising me." I closed my eyes tight and bit my lower lip.
"Can't," Ryoma-kun replied grabbing my hand once again, "I don't have much time."
He got my attention once again. Then I remembered that he was about to leave soon.
And this time for real.
"I know you'll come back," I looked at him fondly this time, "I'll be waiting."
He reached for my plait with his other hand and stared at me, "You must."
"Y-you are so bossy."
"I should."
"Ryoma-kun."
"I'll call you tonight."
"But you don't--"
"I have my resources."
"I should not be surprised." I pouted.
Ryoma-kun chuckled before he hugged me. I returned the hug after a few seconds. I felt at ease and contented.
We finally had an understanding.
A mutual one.
A loving one.
"I must go." Ryoma-kun whispered as he reluctantly released me.
"Ganbatte, Ryoma-kun," I said staring at his eyes, "I'll be cheering on you. Wherever you are."
"Un." He nodded before he turned around and started to walk. I sighed deeply as I watched his retreating back. I would really miss him but I knew that he would come back.
He would come back for me.
"Ne,"
"Hai..." I looked up and saw his head turn up to my location.
"Let's play snow ball again soon."
I chuckled to myself and nodded at him, "Okay."
He turned around once again and waved a hand. A smile was brought to my lips as I remembered something interesting. I would have wished for it but my own fortune beat me to it.
This was a great early birthday gift for me.
~ Owari ~
It was done. For real. What do you think of the final chapter?
Thank you for staying with me until the very end. One last request guys. If you are reading this, please let me know.
Pm me, inform me, vote for it, anything. Your simple action motivates me to continue. Thank you in advance.
~ MitsukiJunko with her 12 Days of Christmas - Signing off ~