My Maid

A/N: At last! The last chapter of this fic. This story is the longest in progress, I think. After this story, please tell me what you think about this story so I can improve my skills. So, please enjoy reading this one.

Ch 14: Where YOU and I Belong

"Soreto...."

"Aishiteru Sakuno."

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Sakuno plopped on the sofa, as she looked at herself in the mirror. She sighed as she leaned back, her legs drawn up to her chest.

Just an hour to go, the brown-haired woman would be married to a complete stranger. Not that stranger to her, because she was introduced to her future groom the day before. She still remembered how the man looked at her across the dinner table. He was staring at her. How she wanted to just slap the flirty face he put on as his eyes travelled up and down her figure off of him.

Fujiwara Gohan.

30-year old businessman, currently working with her stepfather about some unknown business. Jet-black hair that was cut short, thin eyebrows and long face.

Sakuno closed her eyes as she laid her head. Just another fifty minutes and her life will be over. No more novels to be published, no more Karupin to play with and no more Ryoma to care and love her for who she was. Her life was meaningless, that was what she felt as she stood in front of the mirror again.

"Gohan... what kind of name is that anyway? Lunch?"

She forced herself to smile for the wedding. But to no avail. She hated herself for forcing out a smile.

"Even if you fake it, your heart will ache more than it is now, Sakuno." An old voice spoke.

Sakuno turned around to face Ryuzaki Sumire. The two smiled at each other, Sakuno's was obviously forced. Sighing, Sumire embraced her granddaughter as she closed the distance between them. The younger Ryuzaki buried her face in Sumire's shoulder as the grandmother gently caressed her back.

"Iiyo, it's okay Sakuno. Obaa-chan is here." Sumire coaxed.

Laughing bitterly, Sakuno faced Sumire.

"Obaa-chan is always like this, always by my side."

Sumire's face was turned serious, her eyes searching Sakuno's lifeless ones. She couldn't bear to leave her granddaughter to some stranger. She loved Sakuno so much; she didn't want her to suffer.

"Sakuno," Sumire inhaled and mustered all her courage as she pulled Sakuno into an embrace.

"You know what's best for you. You still have time to go to Ryoma." She said those words firmly into Sakuno's ears.

As the older woman released her embrace, Sakuno stared at Sumire wide-eyed.

"Obaa-chan! B-But, how about the wedding? It's half an hour away! Maybe Ryoma's on a plane or somewhere, it's already late!"

Sumire smiled knowingly at her little darling.

"Who said it's late?" A familiar voice spoke as the door opened a fraction.

Mrs. Ryuzaki smiled proudly at her daughter, her grown up daughter. She wanted happiness for Sakuno but she couldn't give it to her. All she could do that time was just let Sakuno choose her own happiness.

Sakuno eyes lit up as she saw her mother support her. Yes, she was going to go to Ryoma. Maybe she had to take a plane to see him, but she knew that this was her chance of freedom.

"Obaa-chan, okaa-san, please take care of the wedding for me, okay?"

Sakuno slipped off her white shoes and took the tiara off her head as she rushed to the door when she knew there was only twenty minutes left.

Just as she opened the door, Mr. Ryuzaki stood outside, waiting for her with an angry face plastered. He walked slowly towards Sakuno, cold eyes piercing through Sakuno's brown ones.

"No one's leaving this wedding, especially you, Sakuno!" He spat out with rage.

Everyone stood still, Mrs. Ryuzaki started to have blurry eyes and Sumire was massaging her temples.

"Let your daughter alone, she can choose whatever she wants!" Sumire spat back at her nephew.

Ignoring his aunt Sumire, Mr. Ryuzaki gripped Sakuno by the wrist and pulled her inside the room.

"I want this wedding to be successful, and I don't want anyone to ruin my reputation! Now wear those shoes and be prepared!" He roared before he rushed out the waiting room.

Sakuno slumped on the sofa, her face as pale as ever.

She was going to die.

She was going to die of hatred.

Hatred towards her father.

(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)

Echizen Ryoma put on his cap as he took a last glance at his villa.

"Bye." He said to no one in particular.

A sigh escaped his lips as he throttled the ignition of his vehicle. Away from Japan, away from his memories. Memories of him and Sakuno.

Ryoma smirked bitterly as he drove away.

All about him leaving Japan with no one by his side seemed cliché to him.

(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)

People filled the church as the clock struck twelve afternoon.

"Congratulations, Ryuzaki-san." They said to Mr. Ryuzaki as they saw him waiting at the doors.

The Ryuzaki faked out smiles and laughter, as Sakuno was still inside the room, all dressed up beautifully on the outside but torn up in the inside. She didn't cry, she couldn't cry. There was nothing left in her, only a lifeless figure in a wedding gown, waiting to be married with a person she barely knew.

Ryuzaki Sakuno stood up and readied herself as the door was knocked twice, indicating that she was to come out to the altar.

The doors opened, revealing a beautifully dressed bride, in a long white gown with a sparkling tiara on her head and shiny pearls adorning her wrists and neck.

"Gosh, she's an angel," She heard someone say.

"But she seems unhappy, don't you think?" Another voice was heard.

Mr. Ryuzaki tightened his grip onto Sakuno.

"Smile, Sakuno. Everyone's watching." He faked out a big one as he said so.

Sakuno faked out a bitter smile, one that made everyone wonder if the bride had been mistaken for someone else.

Sakuno looked up her future husband as he led out a hand to her.

"Come, dear." He said to Sakuno who just stood staring at the gloved hand.

'Wouldn't it be nice if this hand is Ryoma's?' She pondered. Her small hand was slowly lifted to meet the groom's.

"Make it quick," Her father whispered to the priest before retreating into his position.

After a nod, the priest smiled at the two people before him.

"Now, let's begin, shall we?"

(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)

"Well, here you are Ryoma." Blaine patted Ryoma's back.

He pointed towards the crowd of fans waiting behind the borders, holding banners of encouragement and some of them wearing farewell pointy hats made from recycled party hats. Ryoma smirked when he kind of saw a cinnamon-haired woman. He had hoped it was Sakuno, cheering 'Ryoma-kun, fight-oh!'

"Ryoma-kun can be number one!" she had said while handing him a tennis ball. How he regretted hitting the ball too high and got it stuck in a roof somewhere in America.

"Who're you looking for?" The manager asked Ryoma.

The tennis pro lowered his cap before muttering a 'betsuni'. Blaine squeezed his shoulder.

"So, I'll see you in the states tomorrow, okay? Chow!" He waved before he disappeared into the crowds.

"Mada mada dane," he muttered heavily as he slung his tennis bag onto his shoulder.

(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)

"Do you, Fujiwara Gohan, take Ryuzaki Sakuno to be your wedded wife?" The old priest asked before eyeing the said man from behind his spectacles.

"I do." Fujiwara smiled proudly, his eyes filled with confidence.

The priest smiled as he turned to Sakuno.

"Do you, Ryuzaki Sakuno, take Fujiwara Gohan to be your wedded husband?"

....................................

Silence...

Sakuno gazed at the priest, her eyes unreadable. Whispers filled the church as the bride stood at the altar, not moving an inch and not saying anything.

"Sakuno... she couldn't be serious..." Sumire said anxiously as her cold hands balled into a fist, her knuckles turning white.

"That girl..." Mr. Ryuzaki growled through gritted teeth.

Ryuzaki Sakuno closed her eyes.

"Oi, wake up!"

"Aishiteru, Sakuno."

.........................

'Yes, I know! I know what to do now, Ryoma!' Her eyelids opened.

Sakuno's eyes looked at the priest right into his eyes. After quite a while of silence, she spoke up.

"Minna, I'm sorry." She suddenly said.

Everybody gasped as she turned around and started taking off the tiara. Fujiwara grabbed her shoulder, his face showed embarrassment.

"Wait!" He exclaimed as Sakuno released herself from his grip.

She handed the tiara and the pearls to him before smiling apologetically at the dumbfounded man. She bowed slightly before she spoke up.

"Gomen." Was all she said as she ran out the church, the wedding gown still on her.

"Sakuno, come back here!" Mr. Ryuzaki stumbled as he tried to run after his stepdaughter. He punched the floor as Sakuno was nowhere in sight.

"NO!" he shouted.

The priest nodded secretively, "Yosh, do what you know what's best for you, my child."

"WHAT'S GOING ON?"

Everyone started to stand up, the church filled with confused voices.

"What's going on?"

"Where did the bride go?"

"Gosh, she ran away!"

"Is she planning to elope?"

Then every soul seemed to crowd Mr. Ryuzaki, demanding answers. The groom was left dumbfounded in a corner.

"SAKUNO, BABY! GO GET RYOMA!!!!" Tomoka shouted on a stool.

Then everyone silenced.

"Ryoma?!"

Suddenly the voice of the police siren broke through the air. Everybody panicked as a group of cops barged into the church and suddenly handcuffed Mr. Ryuzaki who was seen trying to slip away into the crowds.

"What's all this?!" Mr. Ryuzaki struggled as the cops started to take him away.

"You're charged with illegal smuggling of drugs and illegal distribution of heroin."

Cameras flashed as everyone created chaos. Amidst the sea of voices, Ryuzaki Sumire frowned as she saw Mrs. Ryuzaki bowing and thanking a police officer.

"Thank you, detective. It's been years till I found out." The woman bowed politely.

The said detective in a black leather jacket shook his head.

"No, I should thank you. I've been investigating this case for years. If it wasn't for you, another smuggler is on the loose." He bowed back and retreated to his car with the other cops.

"Mysterious Businessman finally shows his true colours!" A journalist snapped photos of Businessman Ryuzaki struggling desperately as he was shoved into a police car.

And that was the end for Mr. Ryuzaki.

Pathetic old man.

:)

(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)

Sakuno panted as she ran through a sea of people, in her wedding attire and high heels. Just as she arrived in front of the rotating doors of the airport, she took off her high heels and threw them away.

"Gosh, these are killing me!"

The people who passed by her looked at her with weird faces as they saw a woman in a wedding gown in an airport. Without shoes on top of that! Some were even looking around for a camera crew.

Sakuno looked around for Ryoma, maybe a glimpse of his raven hair or his white cap.

"KYAA! IT'S RYOMA-SAMA!" A piercing shriek sounded from a crowd of people picked up Sakuno's senses.

Her heart pounded as she saw the trademark cap. Sakuno pushed herself through the crowd of people till she saw Ryoma with his tennis bag and white cap.

"Gomenasai!" She apologised at a security guard before she forced herself through them.

She took a deep breath, and...

"Ryoma!"

(-)(-)(-)(-)(-)

Ryoma's head hung as he walked into the entrance. The sounds of shouting fans were ignored, it seemed like their voices were not heard. All he heard was Sakuno's soothing voice calling his name in his ears. Her laughter, her smiles were all in his head as his steps slowly brought him to his destiny. A destiny without Sakuno by his side.

"Ryoma!"

He smirked bitterly. He could even hear her voice right then.

"Ryoma, wait!" her voice called out again.

Her voice sounded very real to him. It sounded near to him. Maybe Sakuno had affected him drastically... Another step towards the entrance...

"ECHIZEN RYOMA! STOP RIGHT THERE!"

Ryoma stopped in his tracks.

His eyes widened, his heartbeat fastened.

"Sakuno?" he turned around, his cap suddenly fell over his eyes, blocking his view.

The crowd of fans was suddenly silent. Then there was the sound of security guards and the fans creating a ruckus... then he heard HER.

"Miss, please stand behind the border."

"Wait, I need to see him! He knows me!"

Ryoma lifted his cap and saw Sakuno pushing one of his bodyguards. She bowed quickly before she rushed to the dumbfounded Ryoma.

Sakuno suddenly stopped as she saw him. Ryoma's hazel orbs met Sakuno's brown ones.

The crowd was suddenly silenced, as the two seemed engrossed with each other.

Sakuno who had her hair down created a mess out of herself. The hem of her gown was a little torn and had stains on it, her hair was sticking onto her neck and her chin had a stain of lipstick. And she was barefoot.

But to Ryoma, Sakuno looked beautiful. She looked prettier when she smiled tiredly at him, her eyes suddenly seemed watery.

"Sakuno..." He said, his voice low that it was only audible to Sakuno.

Sakuno bit her lip before she plunged herself into Ryoma. Everybody gasped.

Ryoma looked down at Sakuno as she buried her face onto him, her small hands punching his lean chest.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Sakuno looked at him, her eyes gazing deeply into his ones.

"Ryoma no baka... I ran away!"

"Chotto, you ran away! The wedding!" Ryoma blurted as his hands shook Sakuno by her shoulders.

Sakuno laughed shyly and showed her ring finger where a ring used to be.

"Who do you think I am?" She smiled warmly at Ryoma.

The people around them whispered and some too photos of the mysterious woman talking to Ryoma. But the whole situation seemed like a blur to Ryoma.

Then reality struck him.

His head seemed much lighter as he saw how determined Sakuno was. How she bravely ran away to the airport barefooted. Gently, he wrapped his arms around Sakuno's waist and pulled her nearer. A kiss was planted onto the lucky woman's head as he whispered to her.

"You're the idiot one, you're not even wearing shoes. And what a mess you are."

The tennis prince smirked as he wiped off the smudge on Sakuno's chin. The crowd whistled teasingly at them and started taking photos of them at such a close distance. Sakuno, realizing the whole situation, suddenly had a tinge of pink across her cheeks.

"E-Eto... Ryoma, they're looking..."

Ryoma raised a brow. He smirked as Sakuno's blush deepened when he lifted her chin and tilted his head to kiss her.

"How about being my wife?" he whispered against her lips.

Sakuno, still blushing, smiled back shyly.

Taking it as a yes, Ryoma closed the distance between them and sealed their vow with a warm kiss.

Some people had their hands on their chests while their eyes turning watery. Some even cried at the romantic scene and the couple's way of ending the drama with a kiss. In PUBLIC.

"WAAA! Echizen Ryoma kissing his future wife in public!" A journalist shouted out as he took a picture of the two lovebirds.

Ryoma smirked his trademark naughty smirk. A brow lifted as Sakuno tilted her head questioningly at him.

"Wha- EHHH?" She exclaimed as Ryoma lifted her off the floor bridal style.

"Now, let's get going." He smirked as Sakuno smiled shyly in his arms.

Everybody started cheering as the two disappeared from sight.

~Owari

A/N: Yosh, finished, FINALLY! I think this fic is the biggest success so far 'cos it took like two years to finish this, right? I even thought of giving up before but I tried so hard to make up the ending. So, that's all for My Maid, sorry if there are some OOCness here 'cos I can't help it. Hope ya guys enjoy this fic and freely send reviews for this story. Again, Arigatou Gozaimasu!