and delivery works better not face to face

 Title: and delivery works better not face to face

Fandom: Pokemon Special
Prompt: epistolary + unrequited love
Medium: fic
Chapters: 1/1
Wordcount: 1441
Rating: T
Warnings: none
Summary: Some of the love letters Gold never sent and did send to Crystal and some that she didn’t send and actually sent back.
Other notes: MangaQuestshipping. Written for trope_bingo Round 3. Set after Volume 42.

 

-----unsent----------------------------

Damn Crys, damn. Silver just told me what really happened while you two were searching for information together. Damn. I should have told you something while we were working together to help our senpais.

Like how amazing you are even though you’re so uptight – damn, I bet I’d get a slap for that, but it’s true and I’d love to help you relax, Crys- and how much knowledge you have without throwing it in everyone’s face like those people do.

-----unsent----------------------------

Or how damned pretty you look no matter what you were.

Or how I might have –damn, I don’t really want to say it in an email – I might have something with you when I first saw you in that boat how many years ago.

-----unsent----------------------------

Or how unconfident and uncool you can make me feel. But it’s okay.

-----unsent----------------------------

Damn, how uncool this is. This is not my style. Writing damned letters? This is not the stone age.

-----unsent----------------------------

Damn, Super Serious Gal,

You worried me back there. I mean, really. I know Silver would have taken care of you, but damn. Don’t worry me like that. It doesn’t feel good. I’d rather be the one looking after you. I should probably tell you one of these days.

Gold

-----unsent----------------------------

Crys,

And don’t let Eusine or some other bloke get your hands on you just because I haven’t told you my feelings yet!

Gold

-----unsent----------------------------

Crys,

Wrap those long legs of yours around me, babe.

Gold

-----unsent----------------------------

Crys,

Your legs looked smokin’ long in those overalls and tight socks.

Gold

-----sent----------------------------

Crys,

You didn’t let me say a few days ago when we finished getting Arceus: You looked good in your new clothes! (Really nice!) Want to model some more of your new clothes for me?

Gold

PS: I’m touched, you called me? Are you going to accept my offer of a date?

-----sent----------------------------

Gold,

This is the best time to say this: You are an idiot.

Also, a new Pokedex upgrade has been completed by Professor Oak. We all couldn’t reach you on your Pokegear, so hopefully Xatee can find you and give you this letter. (Can’t you stay in one place?) Silver also says he’s been using your TV since you aren’t around. Everyone’s passed by already to get theirs.

Crystal

-----unsent----------------------------

Crys,

Damn the Pokedex, it’s you I want.

I’ll be there in the morning.

Gold

-----unsent----------------------------

Super Serious Gal,

Seriously, you don’t miss me at all? I’m hurt. I’ll have to convince you of how much you miss me. And yeah, I mean that in every perverted way ever. And some nonperverted ways too, I guess.

Gold

-----sent----------------------------

Crys,

I’ll be there in the morning.

Gold

-----sent----------------------------

Gold,

At least you proved to Emerald that you were still alive even with your reckless ways. Don’t tell Professor Oak I told you, but he’s impressed with the number of Pokemon you’ve seen with your wandering around. Silver had a higher number though. It’s amazing how much he’s taught the Rhyperior Green lent him.  Green was very impressed when he saw his old Pokemon.

Your mom is really nice; I thanked her for the pie she sent over. Um, thank you for the egg. Professor Oak, Professor Elm, and I are looking forward to what Pokemon will come out.

You didn’t say where you’re off to. Do you know? Don’t tell me you’re watching the Kimono girls again in Ecruteak City just because Professor Oak hasn’t asked you to do anything yet.

Crystal

-----unsent----------------------------

I’m going to train hard so I don’t feel so pathetic next to you and Silver, Crys. Especially you, Crys. It’s kind of hard to be in love with such a super serious gal who is so good at what she does.

Gold

PS: Do you like super serious boys?

-----unsent----------------------------

Crystal,

Did you like traveling with Silver more than me? He’s kind of a super serious boy, though the red hair has this kind of bad boy appeal. But I also have that. The bad boy appeal, not the red hair.

Gold

-----sent----------------------------

Crys,

Are you going to stay cooped out in that lab forever? Come out, take a break from all your work at the labs, and explore with me! Even Emerald is exploring and he still looks less than ten years old.

Gold

-----sent----------------------------

Gold,

Strange that you should ask: Professor Oak has asked me to go to a new region to capture new Pokemon – Unova. I’ve been preparing for it and instructing Emerald and the other people at the lab on what Professor Oak likes to keep his lab in order. I don’t think it will take long, but I guess we won’t be seeing each other for a while.

There are computers in every Pokemon Center – if you need or want to contact me my email address is crystal@profoaklabs.com. I’m not sure how good the Pokegear coverage in Unova is (or the rates).

Crystal

-----not sent by email----------------------------

Crystal,

Can’t Prof Oak get his Pokemon himself? Or is he too old? You should just stay and let me stay with you, you know. Not that I have a chance with you most of the time even if you were here.

Damn, it’s boring to get a Yahoo account.

Gold

-----sent by email----------------------------

Natch, Crystal, it only took a bit of fiddling around to get my own email address. I doubt Green will mind my piggybacking on his account. Besides, isn’t thegreatgold@viridiangym.com a cool email address?

I want souvenirs from Unova! And pictures of their idols!

Gold

-----sent by email----------------------------

Gold,

I don’t think I’ll have time to get souvenirs but who knows. We’ll see. I’ve already caught twenty pokemon in my first two days here. Hopefully it won’t take so long.

I have half a mind to tell Green what you’ve done – and how are you even accessing that kind of private email on the Pokemon Center PCs? I was expecting you to just get a Yahoo account. But I guess he’ll find out on his own.

The egg is taking a while to hatch. I brought it with me, but still nothing. I wonder what Pokemon is inside…

I met up with Black, one of the Pokedex owners in this region. He kind of reminds me of you.

I hope you’re not getting into trouble – Silver says he’s taking a break from bailing you out.

Crystal

-----not sent by email----------------------------

Crys,

Black? Let me find out who this guy is. And how does he remind you of me? Does that mean he’s devilishly handsome and witty?

You know you love me, you won’t tell Green.

There are some Pokemon that help hatch eggs faster. Not sure if there are in Unova, but there are. At least that’s what the Daycare Lady told me when I helped out for a while.

Gold

-----not sent by email----------------------------

Damn Crys,

I am so smashed. I love you, I love you, I love you.

I also want to do perverted things with you. And the nonperverted things. All the things. Except probably studying.

Gold

----- sent by email----------------------------

Crys,

Dump that Black and come back here. I love you even if you don’t care and damned if you haven’t figured it out yet.

AND IWANTTODOPERVERTEDTHINGS. WITH YOU. TO YOU. DAMN. THEM LEGS, MAN.

Gold

----- sent by email----------------------------

Crys,

Damn, I actually sent that. I’d claim Green sent it (by hacking into the email address I hacked his system for) but he can’t get drunk to save his life.

Gold

----- sent by email----------------------------

Crys?

----- sent by email----------------------------

Holy hell Crys, I’m the one who poured my guts out here. Am I going to have to rob Silver and get on the next boat/plane/whatever to Unova to straighten whatever hell happened?

That doesn’t seem like a bad plan.  I may have redecorated Green’s house. And Red’s. With toilet paper.

I better find Silver. Then Super Serious Gal, you are so going to listen to me.

Gold

----- sent by email----------------------------

Gold,

You are an idiot.

Also, Professor Oak wants to know what happened to his emergency supply of toilet paper.

Also, does your mother know you’re in a completely different region?

Crystal

PS: For all your charm, mister, you still need to flush with the toilet seat down. Else I’ll forget what you said earlier.

----- sent by email----------------------------

Oh, Crys, you damn well won’t forget.

And re: Professor Oak, I deny everything.

Gold

PS: Noted. 

Colors

 Was this what Genchirou felt while he was undergoing surgery? How his teammates felt? If he had been in their shoes, would he have let him undergo his experimental surgery?

“Yukimura-kun.” Seiichi turned to see Sakuno-chan’s grandmother, the formidable Ryuzaki-sensei, next to him. She had clearly gotten back from talking to the doctors.

“Ryuzaki-sensei,” he bowed lowly. “I-“

“It’s all right, Yukimura-kun. Let’s sit down. It’s not the best time to meet after a long time, but this will do.”

“I-“ The Child of God, as he was known, was not supposed to break down, though the kind look in Ryuzaki-sensei’s eyes and the dreary sounds of the hospital were driving him to his limits.

“She was always talking about you, you know” said Ryuzaki-sensei. “Sakuno always talked about how kind you were to her, how much she was learning from you at Rikkai Dai.”

“I-“

“I couldn’t believe it myself, if not for the pictures she sent me of you two and your teammates. I was worried as to how she’d fit in Rikkai Dai, but she seemed to be very happy there.”

“She was,” said Seichi. “I-“

“Don’t worry, Yukimura-kun.” Ryuzaki-sensei’s voice was firm, even as her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. “Sakuno, though delicate, is strong. She’ll get through this.”

“She will,” Seichi agreed, not knowing how true his statement could be.

“Then she’ll introduce you to her parents,” said Ryuzaki-sensei firmly. “She had told them she wanted them to meet you so they had already made plans to come.”

***

They said twenty four hours.

Genchirou had come to convince him to eat and change clothes, to wash his face around the nineteenth hour.

“Was it like this then?”

Genchirou was silent for a long time.

“I believed in you,” the boy answered lowly. “We all did.”

***

At the twenty-fourth hour and still without any word, he slumped on the bench. Genchirou sat beside him, silently offering him support.

Ryuzaki-sensei came, not blinking at Genchirou’s presence. With red-rimmed eyes and a trembling smile she held out a piece of paper to him.

He blinked at the smiley face drawn with what looked like watercolor using one’s finger. Slightly wobbly, nothing that would be exhibited in any art competition, but it was the most beautiful thing that Yukimura Seiichi had ever seen.  

“She woke up about thirty minutes ago,” Ryuzaki-sensei said softly. “She was too tired to say much, but she drew this and asked me to give it to you if you were still here. The doctors said she’ll be fine, though she’ll likely sleep through the night. Go get some rest, Yukimura-kun.”

***

The next day, Seiichi came with some flowers from his garden.

“She’s been asking for you,” said Ryuzaki-sensei calmly.

“Ryuzaki-sensei and I will wait outside,” solemnly said Genchirou.

He nodded and knocked before opening the door.

She winced at the noise of the door, but when she opened her eyes and saw him, they softened. “Seiichi-“ she said weakly.

“Sakuno-chan,” he whispered, glancing at her parents who were at the corner of the room.

She blinked after following his gaze. “Ah, Papa, Mama, come and meet Seiichi.“ She gave his hand a comforting squeeze as her parents came near the bed. “He’s the one I wanted you to meet.”

He bowed. “It is an honor to meet Sakuno-chan’s parents.”

things are better when they aren't perfect

 Title: things are better when they aren’t perfect

Fandom: Prince of Tennis
Prompt: AU fantasy + secret twin/doppelganger
Medium: fic

Chapters: 1/2
Wordcount: 550
Rating: T
Warnings: none
Summary: Horio’s misaimed spell has some value, though it takes a while to see it.

First created: 3/31/2014

Last modified: 3/31/2014

Other notes: RyoSaku. Written for trope_bingo Round 3. Currently being revised - this is pretty much the first chapter of what looks to be three chapters.

 

Unsatisfied with her life, Ryuzaki Sakuno picks up a magic spellbook. Ignoring it, it is next found by Horio who attempts a spell. Emboldened by a success, he tries something else, a spell on Ryuzaki Sakuno. This backfires spectacularly. Somehow, Echizen Ryoma seems to be able to see through his spells.

 

It is free practice for the Seishun Gakuen Girls’ Tennis Team and Ryuzaki Sakuno is attempting to improve her form when she trips over a book.

“Spellbook of Useful Spells,” she read. The book’s pages were dusty and she sneezed before reading the cover again.

“Ehh? Spellbook?” She shook her head. Thanks to Tomo-chan lending her manga she knew what would happen if she gave in to her curiosity and opened this book.  Every time this happened in manga the spell the heroine would cast would make her life much, much worse and she would have to try to undo it.

“No, I don’t want to tempt fate,” she decided. (Except maybe have Ryoma-kun notice me as a girl, but that would be changing Ryoma-kun himself and she didn’t want that.)

Thus Ryuzaki Sakuno left the spell book in the bushes near the Boys’ Team’s Tennis Courts, somewhat happier by knowing she made the right choice.

***

The next person to come across the spellbook, poorly hidden in the bushes near the Seishun Gakuen Middle School Boys’ Team’s Tennis Courts was Satoshi Horio, on his way to practice.

“Ehh? Spellbook?” He flipped through the pages, eyes widening at the many different spells he read.

“Maybe this is my chance to get better!” He grinned, gleefully thinking of what he could do with the spellbook. Improve his grades, his tennis, maybe get a girlfriend, get Echizen to bow to him… “But first, maybe I should test one of these easier spells.” His finger stopped at a promising spell.

“Spell to make your reflexes heighten, lasting an hour. That sounds good.”

***

No one in Seishun Gakuen would forget that day. It was the day that Horio Satoshi avoided Inui juice, punishment laps, and somehow lasted long enough during practice to match Echizen Ryoma in tennis to reach 6-6.

While the spell had run out by the time the time-breaker rolled around and Echizen had soundly trounced him 7-0, it was still a great improvement, Horio noted. If he had cast the spell much later…

He couldn’t wait to go home and try out some more spells.

***

Horio was on top of the world. His homework was perfect (for once), he was praised by the English teacher when he read his essay out to the class (and for once not getting a smart remark by Echizen), and he relished Osakada’s disbelieving look when she heard of his lucky streak. He couldn’t wait to cast more spells.

He finally got an idea when he saw Ryuzaki Sakuno offering Echizen Ryoma a can of Ponta after their tennis practice.

“Echizen doesn’t know what he’s missing out on, with such a cute girl like Ryuzaki crushing on him. She should look at me instead, especially since I have four years of tennis experience and I have magic.” He blinked. “Magic.” He brought out the spellbook and started madly flipping through it. “I want Ryuzaki to get a crush on me instead, isn’t there some kind of love potion?”

Doppelganger spell

Concentrate on a person you would like to make a doppelganger of for ten minutes then go around a Cherry Blossom Tree (in bloom) three times repeating these words: Doppelganger, come to me, come to me, be free from who you be. The doppelganger of the person you were thinking of should appear.

Horio grinned. Surely this was good enough. A Ryuzaki for himself, maybe one that would make him bento and cheer him on (over Echizen) would be good. Maybe she’d be his girlfriend… Horio’s thoughts trailed off into imagining having Ryuzaki as his girlfriend.

After his daydream, he immediately closed the book and went in search of the nearest Cherry Blossom Tree, ignoring the fine print written below the spell:

Doppelganger may not act like original person. Doppelganger may try to take over original person if it pleases. Original person may feel ill after spell.

***

 

***

“Ryuzaki!”

Sakuno opened her eyes to see Echizen Ryoma’s face near hers.

“Ryoma-kun?”

“You suddenly collapsed after opening your can of Ponta,” he said, sitting down next to her.

She grimaced as she saw his regulars jacket drenched. “Gomen, Ryoma-kun, I’ll have your jacket cleaned!”

He shook his head. “Never mind that. Are you feeling okay?”

She nodded, trying to ignore the throbbing in her head. “I’m fine, Ryoma-kun.”

“You don’t look fine,” he said. “C’mon, I’ll take you home. Coach said she was staying late.”

“Aa,” she agreed, “Obaa-chan wanted to hammer out the details of the next practice games against Hyotei and Fudomine with the principal and the other coaches so their visit wouldn’t conflict with other teams coming. Demo, I can get home by myself-“ She winced as she almost tripped when she tried to stand.

“C’mon,” he said, steadying her. “Think of what Coach would do to me if I let you go like this.”

“Hai, arigatou, Ryoma-kun.”

***

The next day, Sakuno woke up to an alarm clock that read 9:00 am.

She screamed. “I’m late! Obaa-chan, why didn’t you wake me up?” She wondered if the Boys’ Tennis Team had special practice today hence her Obaa-chan leaving early and not waking her up.

She immediately ran into the bathroom, taking the quickest bath and dressed in her uniform. Her head hurt as she realized something very important.

“Where’s my school bag?”

***

 She tiptoed into the school, hopefully avoiding any hall monitors or teachers. She was very late, finally giving up on finding her tennis bag and school bag.

“Eep!” she cried, feeling someone walk into her. She opened her eyes to see her English teacher peering down at her.

“Sensei! I’m sorry! I overslept!” she cried.

“Huh,” said her teacher, walking through her like she wasn’t there. “I thought I heard Ryuzaki’s voice, but that’s impossible. I just left her with the other students taking a test.”

She squeaked and ran to her classroom. Sure enough, she saw herself next to Horio scribbling on a paper.

She fainted.

***

This was officially the worst day of Ryuzaki Sakuno’s life.

No one could see her, it was weird to have people suddenly walk through her, and there was someone who looked exactly like her going through her day at school.

Worse, whoever it was wasn’t acting like her at all.

“Neh, Kenji-kun, would you mind-“

“Of course not, Ryuzaki-san! Just ask away!”

“Good.”

The person pretending to be her seemed to be more aggressive; she blushed when she heard her other self demand a pen from another boy who dazedly gave her one.

“Doesn’t anyone think something’s wrong?” She wished Tomo-chan was present, but she was in another class. She would only see her after school.

Her gaze turned to Ryoma-kun, who was frowning as he looked at the person who looked exactly like her.

She hoped she hadn’t done anything to Ryoma-kun. Or that the person that was pretending to be her hadn’t.

Her head hurt. She wondered if this was all just a dream.

Coated

Note: This has now also been revised (but still unposted) to become a long fic (with an explanation for the title). What is shown here are certain scenes.

 “I need your help, Kel.”

Kel blinked at Dom, who looked determined. “Dom?”

He nodded.

“Help in what?”

“I need to pretend to court you, Kel.”

Kel’s heart fluttered for a moment before she focused on the right word.

“Pretend?”

Dom bowed his head. “My father is sick; my parents would like to see me marrying or seriously courting someone before they die. They worry about me, being with the Own all the time. They think of my courting someone seriously as a rite of passage of sorts, otherwise they still see me like an overgrown boy playing soldier.”

“You are asking me to agree to a pretend courtship with you?” Kel groaned inside. This sounded like one of Neal’s absurd Gallan romance novels that he hid in the infirmary of New Hope that some of the refugees borrowed from time to time.

Dom nodded. “Please, Kel. You’re the only woman who’d understand.”

She sighed inwardly, ignoring the pang of her heart. The only woman who’d not assume that she could make him fall for her with this pretend arrangement, he means. She supposed he was right about that. She knew how much many of the court ladies and Riders gossiped about Dom’s good looks, good standing, and impeccable family connections, for all that he was not a first son.

“Kel, I want our children to play with each other and become good friends too.” She remembered Neal’s words. It was something she would have wanted too, but she had no time nor man to consider it with. (She would not count the daydreams she had sometimes of Dom for those were clearly futile. If he had liked her he would have just asked to court her instead of this pretending she was about to do for him as a favor.)

She supposes that it was time for her to try again at a relationship anyway, no matter the circumstances. Even if it would hurt her heart to pretend, she knew Dom wouldn’t let their acting go too far. Besides, it might help in her next real relationship when she had the time for one.

“All right. But I have some conditions.”

Dom nodded. “Of course, Kel.”

“One, we tell Neal the truth. I don’t want to lie to him about this, he’s my best friend and your cousin.”

“Agreed.”

“Two, if either of us wants to stop pretending because of circumstances the other person must respect it.”

“Like what circumstances?” Dom asked curiously.

“Like one of us finds someone we actually are interested in courting,” she said firmly. “Or our parents want us to meet someone. Things like that.”

After Dom had nodded somewhat jerkily, she continued. “I don’t want to lie to Lord Raoul and I don’t want to endanger your job. I would rather he knew about it.”

“That’s fine, Kel. He’d give me a hard talk anyway; I wouldn’t want to lie to him.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Hard talk?”

“Kel, you’re like a daughter to him, of course he’d worry if the dashing Sergeant who has broken many hearts swept you off your feet while under his command, no less.” He winked broadly at her.

“Many hearts, huh” she said dryly, ignoring the twinkle in his very blue eyes. “I’m sure Lord Raoul trusts me to keep my head even in such situations.” He had trusted her while she and Cleon were courting anyway; Dom should be no different.

“Still he will want to talk to me,” said Dom, “so I agree with you. Is there anyone you would not want to lie to?”

Kel shook her head. “It wouldn’t be an effective pretending if we told most anyone. Also, I don’t think we can avoid gossip, especially since that is your intention, but I want us to act professional when we are on duty.”

Dom nodded. “Of course, Kel. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable. Anything else?”

She shook her head.

He exhaled in relief, grasping her hand firmly. “So is this a deal?”

She nodded.

***

They started off very discreetly, Kel thought, perhaps for her sake. At first none of their friends suspected that Dom’s requesting Kel’s help to work on paperwork or Kel’s seeking him out after Third Company’s sparring sessions were anything out of the ordinary, leading Kel to think that nothing really had changed between them.

But then a ball came and Dom asked her, only dancing with her through the night, causing much gossip in the King’s Own, the Queen’s Riders, and the court.

***

It wasn’t much of a surprise that Lord Raoul caught her the day after the ball after her dawn exercises. It must have been hard for him to wake up so early, especially with Buri in the Palace also, she said fondly.

“Kel, do you mind having breakfast in my chambers?”

“No, milord.”

It is after Squire Alan had scurried away that Raoul broaches the matter.

“Kel, Sergeant Domitan has informed me that you are pretending to court each other.”

“Yes, milord. It is a favor to Dom for his parents.”

“He has explained himself, but how do you feel about that?”

Kel shook her head. “It’s just a favor for a friend.”

“I wager it’s not a favor you’d do for just any friend,” Raoul said slowly.

She shrugged. “Dom’s been looking out for me since I was your squire and he’s been a really good friend to me throughout the years. I just wanted to help him since he was troubled.”

Raoul looked at her and sighed. “If you say so, Kel. Dom seems more mature for it and his work has improved, but of course I was worried. If you…” he turned red, “If you ever want to discuss this or anything again with me, just say so.”

“Of course, milord.” She wondered why Lord Raoul seemed so curious about the arrangement. It was, after all, just a protracted version of what Buri and he had tried at his Great Aunt’s party how many Midwinters ago at her suggestion.

She blinked. They had begun a spontaneous relationship that was a long time coming that night. Maybe that was what he was worried about.

She shook her head. Dom didn’t feel that way about her and she trusted her head to be calm enough not to entertain any farfetched fantasies about Dom starting to care about her with this pretend arrangement of theirs. They were both old enough not to confuse friendship with romance.

***

One perk of this pretend courtship was that Dom was always willing to escort her to the balls Kel was starting to hate. (Perhaps Lord Raoul was more of an influence on her than she thought.) There was no more need to gracefully and tactfully refuse well-meaning friends’ attempts at matchmaking. (There was however more teasing from her friends about Dom, and she didn’t need to pretend to feel some tenderness for him.) She didn’t dislike dancing, especially with Dom being such a good dancer, though she disliked the gossiping that would occur after she and Dom had entered the ballroom.

“Why is he with her? He could do so much better!”

“He doesn’t even flirt with other girls! She must have scared him into only flirting with her with all those muscles and her sword skills!”

Kel rolled her eyes. As if Dom would stop flirting just because he was scared of a spar with her.  Dom was rather good about the whole thing, winking at her and making her laugh as they did things expected of those courting. He’s probably had lots of experience with that, she thought wryly.

It was heartwarming to have Dom not flirting with the ladies though. He was really a good actor, she reflected.

She would probably miss it terribly when he eventually broke it off, she thought, when he kissed her cheek after saying goodnight. Still, she was learning. Lalasa would be happy at the number of dresses she would have to ask from her.

***

“Your sergeant seems very attentive,” remarked Inness one night as they were walking through the palace after dinner. “He’s not what I expected, from what I’ve heard the barracks.”

Kel almost remarked that he wasn’t her sergeant but caught herself in time. “Is it bad?”

“No,” said her brother. “I’m just surprised.”

“That someone has shown interest in me?”

“I was aware of Cleon and you courting, you know” her brother said wryly. “But I feel that your courtship with Masbolle is more likely to be successful.”

Kel raised her eyebrow.

Inness, used to the Yamani ways, continued. “You both don’t mind when you’re separated by distance and duty but don’t forget you are still in a relationship. Very mature way of handling a relationship. I do hear things.”

“Perhaps it was because Cleon and I were children,” Kel said. “And with him, things were out of our control.”

“Indeed,” said Inness. “But that didn’t stop me from lecturing him when I found out that you were courting. You could have told me.”

“Inness!”

“I don’t feel like I should lecture Masbolle yet,” said Inness. “Do warn me if I need to, so I can bring Anders along. He’s been wanting to talk to you too about your sergeant, but you can’t seem to find time to get to Mindelan.”

Kel kept her face still. She wondered what Anders would have to say about Dom. “I don’t think I’ll be able to visit Mindelan for a while yet.”

“Still, Kel, you do suit each other.”

Colors

Note: As of now this has now become something like the 30th chapter or so of a possibly epic length coming of age Yukimura/Sakuno fic (still unposted, but will hopefully make this scene believable). 

He stared blankly at the operating room doors he had just watched Ryuzaki Sakuno be wheeled into. His heart felt like it was about to burst from worry.

Was this what Genchirou felt while he was undergoing surgery? How his teammates felt? If he had been in their shoes, would he have let him undergo his experimental surgery?

“Yukimura-kun.” Seiichi turned to see Sakuno-chan’s grandmother, the formidable Ryuzaki-sensei, next to him. She had clearly gotten back from talking to the doctors.

“Ryuzaki-sensei,” he bowed lowly. “I-“

“It’s all right, Yukimura-kun. Let’s sit down. It’s not the best time to meet after a long time, but this will do.”

“I-“ The Child of God, as he was known, was not supposed to break down, though the kind look in Ryuzaki-sensei’s eyes and the dreary sounds of the hospital were driving him to his limits.

“She was always talking about you, you know” said Ryuzaki-sensei. “Sakuno always talked about how kind you were to her, how much she was learning from you at Rikkai Dai.”

“I-“

“I couldn’t believe it myself, if not for the pictures she sent me of you two and your teammates. I was worried as to how she’d fit in Rikkai Dai, but she seemed to be very happy there.”

“She was,” said Seichi. “I-“

“Don’t worry, Yukimura-kun.” Ryuzaki-sensei’s voice was firm, even as her eyes were glassy with unshed tears. “Sakuno, though delicate, is strong. She’ll get through this.”

“She will,” Seichi agreed, not knowing how true his statement could be.

“Then she’ll introduce you to her parents,” said Ryuzaki-sensei firmly. “She had told them she wanted them to meet you so they had already made plans to come.”

***

They said twenty four hours.

Genchirou had come to convince him to eat and change clothes, to wash his face around the nineteenth hour.

“Was it like this then?”

Genchirou was silent for a long time.

“I believed in you,” the boy answered lowly. “We all did.”

***

At the twenty-fourth hour and still without any word, he slumped on the bench. Genchirou sat beside him, silently offering him support.

Ryuzaki-sensei came, not blinking at Genchirou’s presence. With red-rimmed eyes and a trembling smile she held out a piece of paper to him.

He blinked at the smiley face drawn with what looked like watercolor using one’s finger. Slightly wobbly, nothing that would be exhibited in any art competition, but it was the most beautiful thing that Yukimura Seiichi had ever seen.  

“She woke up about thirty minutes ago,” Ryuzaki-sensei said softly. “She was too tired to say much, but she drew this and asked me to give it to you if you were still here. The doctors said she’ll be fine, though she’ll likely sleep through the night. Go get some rest, Yukimura-kun.”

He exhaled before letting Genchirou pull him up.

He would bring flowers tomorrow for her.

***

The next day, Seiichi came with some flowers from his garden.

“She’s been asking for you,” said Ryuzaki-sensei calmly.

“Ryuzaki-sensei and I will wait outside,” solemnly said Genchirou.

He nodded and knocked before opening the door.

She winced at the noise of the door, but when she opened her eyes and saw him, they softened. “Seiichi-“ she said weakly.

“Sakuno-chan,” he whispered, glancing at her parents who were at the corner of the room.

She blinked after following his gaze. “Ah, Papa, Mama, come and meet Seiichi.“ She gave his hand a comforting squeeze as her parents came near the bed. “He’s the one I wanted you to meet.”

He bowed. “It is an honor to meet Sakuno-chan’s parents.”

“It is our honor to meet you, Yukimura-kun” said Sakuno-chan’s mother. “We’ve heard so much about you from Sakuno-chan.”