Hi! It's been a long time. I actually lost my muse for this story for a long time. Then someone PM'ed me a few days ago which convinced that I should really get this story wrapped up ASAP since a lot of people is waiting. So sorry, I'd try to finish this story soon. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

This chapter is dedicated to pissing off Ryoma as much as possible. Cheerios!

Chapter 8: The House

Tomoka had never in her life wanted nothing more than to just to tear precious hair out in frustration at this moment. She had gone to wake up Sakuno for breakfast the next day only to find said woman pacing inside the room, definitely wide awake and in an awful state of nervousness. She had immediately asked what was wrong, and her amnesiac friend plopped down on the bed and stared at her like the world was coming to an end. Tomoka raised a curious eyebrow and sat next to her troubled friend.

"Tomo-chan, there's something weird happening to me." Sakuno finally confided after a few tense minutes.

Tomoka just nodded and patted her friend comfortingly in the back, "Alright, what's eating at you first thing in the morning? Did you have another nightmare?" she asked.

Sakuno shook her head and turned her head away from her friend to hide her face, "Last night…well…last night something happened. About Ryoma-kun, ah! I mean Echizen-san!"

Now Tomoka was curious. When they had finally deemed they had already given the two ample time to talk or do something or make up, they had entered the house to find it already quiet and the two gone. They argued whether they would risk looking where the two went and seeing something they shouldn't witness ever or just wait until morning comes and the two eventually turn up for food. Well, after much deliberation, the group searched and found the two sleeping in their proper respective rooms. Very much separated. They don't know if they should be relieved or worried. But now as Tomoka observes an embarrassed blush on her friend's face, she can't rule out that nothing happened last night between the two. "What about him, Sakuno?" she tried to ask gently like she wasn't at all that alarmed. It couldn't have been anything bad or unwanted, seeing Sakuno's reaction.

"When I came inside, he was really angry. I was scared a little bit and then he looked…he really looked sad and hurt, Tomo-chan! I don't know why…but I'm sure it was because of me." Sakuno turned back to Tomoka with tears welling in her wide eyes, "I think I'm bothering him, but I don't know why, Tomo-chan! I have no idea how to fix this!" she confided, clasping her friend's hands tightly in hers, "And when he hugged me so tightly, I was thinking he was like a child. And then something…I said something on impulse."

Tomoka felt Sakuno's hands tremble slightly. She was actually at a loss for words. She had always known Sakuno was very sensitive and her accurate perception of the feelings of the people around her led her to develop a considerate and kind personality. And for Sakuno to take in that much information from her interaction with Ryoma last night, and being that she had forgotten him, Sakuno could only be confused. Tomoka felt sorry for her friend but Tomoka also knew that it was a sign of progress. Sakuno's slowly getting back her more innate abilities she could only have developed in the last eight years.

"I suddenly thought that I should call him 'Ryoma-kun'. I don't know why, but it just felt really right at that time. I don't even know where that came from…and when I heard myself call him that…it was like nostalgia…I think I called him that before." Sakuno turned to her friend, "Did I, Tomo-chan? I was told we all went to Seigaku middle school and high school. And seeing as grandmother knows him well, I assume he was at least acquainted with the both of us. Tell me, were I ever that familiar to him?"

"Sakuno-chan." Tomoka started. She wasn't sure how she should go about this, but she had been itching to tell her best friend a lot of things since she had learned she had woken up. She haven't really gotten a chance to talk like this to Sakuno since her friend had a fragile state of mind but Sakuno was getting stronger. And Tomoka thought, that maybe, just maybe, she could gamble and tell Sakuno what she had been wanting to tell her all this time. "You know, when I learned you had finally woken up, I don't even know if I could even believe it. I really thought I had lost you forever and it had taken me quite a while to get my life back to normal. Actually, even after two years, I was still grieving over you. Last time I saw you, you were over the moon with joy over some news and then Fuji-senpai comes to my house and tells me you were dead. Sakuno-chan, I felt like I had died, too!" Tomoka threw her arms around her best friend and held her tightly, "I wasn't even scared, I just felt so cold and alone like I'll never be happy again! I loved you very much! I missed you, Sakuno-chan, I've been missing you all these years!" she sobbed.

Sakuno returned the embrace, crying softly in her friend's shoulder, "I've missed you too, Tomo-chan! I'm here now, I'll never leave you again!"

There was silence, punctuated by their sniffles and whimpers until finally, Tomoka pulled away and wiped her face, "God, glad I finally got that out of the way!" Tomoka grinned.

Sakuno pouted, "I got caught up with you, again."

Tomoka was giggling. "Well, it was starting to weigh on my chest so let's get back to the real topic, alright?"

Sakuno smiled. Her best friend just had to put in some drama first before anything else. But that's also one of the reasons they were best friends. "So?"

Tomoka took a deep breath. "First, I want to lay down your current situation. You had just woken up from a two year coma, and had lost your memories of the last six years of your life before the 'accident'. You only remember your life until the end of primary school. Remembering gives you terrible headaches that make you faint and your grandmother had threatened us all not to torture you with too much information all at once. Now, Sakuno, I know you're confused about everything that's happening around you lately and that's alright. I'd be here for you, don't worry, I won't leave you to fend for yourself. I just want you to know that if you ever ask me, from this point on, any questions about our past, I will answer your questions with the truth. Trust me on that. But I will omit some things until you assure me that you can handle them, alright? I will never lie to you, I swear. So as for your question earlier, the answer is 'yes'. You had called him 'Ryoma-kun' throughout middle school and high school."

Sakuno nodded. So she was right. She was familiar with him. "What was my relationship with him like?" she ventured, wishing Tomoka would be convinced that she could handle whatever answer she throws back at her.

Tomoka had paused for what seemed like a long moment before she answered, "I have the answer. But it's something I'd like for him to tell you himself. But I'd tell you this," Tomoka held her gaze, as if willing her to believe whatever it is she had to divulge, "Whatever happens, whatever he does from now on, I want you to know that he's the person you can trust the most in the whole world. He will never hurt you. No matter how scary he may seem like, or how weird he may act like around you, promise me you'll try to put him down as gently as you can, please. If you really want to know what's bothering him, or know everything or anything about him at all, you go to him directly and ask, understood?" she paused again to wait for Sakuno to agree with her. So Sakuno had no choice but to nod her head in affirmation, "I know I'm confusing you again and I really have no right to keep your own life secret from you, but give me this favor as your best friend, Sakuno, please."

"Alright, Tomo-chan. I'll do that." Sakuno reassured her best friend.

Tomoka laughed a little, "Then I think I should tell you what's coming for you in the next few days. We're leaving here today and heading to Tokyo this afternoon. We're going to show you around to the places we used to go to in the past. It might help you remember little by little."

Sakuno smiled and nodded, "Hn. I think I'm ready for that."

Tomoka's advice helped ebb the awkwardness of meeting Ryoma again since that night. They had met for lunch and were able to make small talk though they did not mention what they were doing the night before. The group had talked about their plans after getting out of the island that afternoon. After getting Sakuno's permission to take her around, Fuji and Tomoka, the only people she had memories of, promised her that she'd accompany her if only to make her comfortable with her surroundings. Later, when they were all packed, Atobe called and told them to wait for the helicopter which would take them to wherever they please.

When the helicopter arrived, Momo and Eiji kept pushing and changing seats until Ryoma and Sakuno were made to sit next to each other, much to the chagrin of Ryoma and Sakuno's slight embarrassment. The two seniors had done their trick so blatantly that a slightly awkward tension had emanated from the secretly married couple.

"We have to drop by the airport. Ryoka and Ryota are coming in with the nanny in a few hours." Ryoma said, only if to break the ice when Sakuno started fidgeting in her seat. He dared to glance at her and was secretly stunned when he saw her positively cheerful expression. She was radiant with excitement, awkwardness and shyness completely gone from her features.

"That's great! I actually miss them so much already. They're both so adorable that being away from them is driving me nuts!" Sakuno declared, making all the people in the helicopter pause to look at her. Ryoma was in so much pain right now that he seriously considered jumping off the helicopter if that's what it would take to keep his damn hands off Sakuno when she's sporting a look that could only be described as 'motherly'. She's really trying his patience, this woman. And she doesn't even seem aware of it so Ryoma concludes that she's misunderstanding her maternal instincts for something else.

All the other passengers of the helicopter had to hold back their laughter as they watched Ryoma sit rigidly upright radiating murderous vibes all over his body while Sakuno sat next to him, innocently happy and oblivious. And thus, Ryoma Echizen completely regretted breaking the ice. He'd prefer the awkwardness than this frustration any day.

But apparently, it was only the beginning of all his frustration for the coming days. The second time that day that he found himself trying not to find a wall to break his head in was when they arrived at the airport and Sakuno caught sight of Marieta and the twins. Needless to say, she had squealed, ran over and proceeded to throw her arms around the twins and shower them with kisses. Ryota was excitedly babbling about his first time riding an airplane while Ryoka and Sakuno listened intently. Ryoma wanted nothing more than to join their little reunion and listen to his son talk incoherently.

A hand clamped down on his shoulder and squeezed and he turned to find Momo looking at him with understanding, "I don't think Sakuno-chan would think it's weird if you go over there right now." Ryoma seemed to contemplate for a moment before nodding and making his way towards his little family.

"I want to eat clouds! I really want one,- Tennis man! Look, Ryoka-chan! It's Tennis man!" Ryota excitedly pointed at him when Ryoma got close enough. The boy pulled away from Sakuno to run into Ryoma and clutch onto his shorts and look up at him with a wide grin and glittering chocolate eyes. "Hello, Tennis man!"

Ryoma must have looked a bit surprised when Sakuno giggled and pulled him out of his reverie, "He must have liked you a lot," she said, walking over to him carrying Ryoka in her arms. Ryoma nodded and picked up Ryota, who happily wrapped his tiny arms around Ryoma's shoulders.

"Really?" Ryoma asked the little boy, his hopes soaring that ,maybe, just maybe, he's done already started on the right foot in his mission of getting his family back.

Ryota nodded, and then a serious expression crossed his face before he leaned in closer to Ryoma's ear and must have wanted to whisper but apparently he can't, "Ryoka liked you more," he confided in all sincerity, leaving Ryoma feeling like his insides had melted from too much happiness.

Ryoma looked in front of him where Sakuno was standing with an apologetic smile on her face, Ryoka trying to burrow her face deeper into Sakuno's shoulder, "She's just shy, Echizen-san," and when she tried to pry the little girl for fear that she might not be able to breathe properly, Ryoka had shaken her head stubbornly and refused to look at any of them, "Look, Ryoka-chan, Tennis man wants to see you." but the girl wouldn't budge.

"I'm leaving," Ryoma said.

Ryoka instantly detached from Sakuno and turned to look at him with wide eyes and was surprised when Ryoma wasn't walking away but the man was closer than before, with his free hand reaching out towards her. Ryoka frowned and finally reached out to allow the man to carry her along with her twin. Ryoma smiled warmly when Ryoka wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulders. It was a bit crowded but he could suffocate for all he cared. He didn't see Sakuno's cheeks turn slightly red when she saw him smile.

"Heey~ I think we should get going before somebody gives you two a second look," Momo came up and said.

Ryoma nodded and carried the twins out of the airport into a waiting van, Sakuno and Marieta following behind with Tomoka. Momo, Eiji and Fuji were taking a different van which would take them home but promised to visit them soon.

After a little argument between the twins and Ryoma because of the twins refusing to sit in the children's car seats in favor of sitting on his lap, which Ryoma of course instantly lost when Ryoka stared him down much akin to what she does to her brother when he refuses to take a bath. Ryoma made a mental note to find a way to dodge that bullet if he ever hopes to teach the twins to listen to him.

The moment Sakuno laid eyes on the house, she had frozen. For a minute, Ryoma and Tomoka exchanged worried looks before Tomoka tugged on her best friend's wrist to jolt her out of her state. "Sorry, Tomo-chan, did I space out?" she asked.

Tomoka shook her head, "Not really. Are you alright?"

Sakuno gave her a reassuring smile, "Yes. I just thought this was the loveliest house I've ever seen. It looks very much like my dream house, actually." She watched as Ryoma and Marieta each carried a sleeping twin in their arms, "It's build in the exact same specifications, I can't believe such a house really existed. It makes me a bit sad that I'm not the only one who thought of that."

Tomoka smiled a little. It hurt her heart to hear Sakuno say that and for Ryoma to hear that too. The house was commissioned by Ryoma to be built exactly like Sakuno's dreamhouse as his wedding gift to his new wife. It was also strategically located on the outskirts of Tokyo, far away from the prying eyes the celebrity couple had reluctantly put up with. It had a tennis court at the right side hidden by the trees. There was a small lake at the back of the house and a garden Sakuno used to tend to. But Ryoma had never used the house since Sakuno 'died', she looked up at the pristine white façade and gleaming windows, yet Ryoma had never neglected the upkeep of the house. Tomoka was sure the house was spotless, fully furnished, and the gardens well tended.

The house had four extra bedrooms aside from the master's bedroom, a nursery, a music room, a small library, a sun room, a living room in each floor and a large kitchen and dining area. It also had a garage where Sakuno's personal car and two more of Ryoma's cars, aside from the Ferrari he had left in Kyoto, were kept. The house was generally designed around the idea that Sakuno liked cooking and their friends liked intruding.

Tomoka dangled the key she had gotten from Ryoma while they were still waiting in Atobe's villa for the helicopter to arrive. He had led her aside and gave her the keys to his house and told her to say they were borrowing the house for themselves and Ryoma would stay at his own apartment in the city and just pick them up when they want to leave. When Tomoka asked why, Ryoma reasoned that it might be a little too much to encroach upon Sakuno's space when she barely really knew him and it would be weird for the two of them to suddenly live together in his house. He also added that since she doesn't know she was famous, Sakuno might accidentally wander outside with the twins and mobbed if they stayed in a hotel. It's not like they can just tell Sakuno and the twins they are not allowed to go outside for no reason at all so it would be better to stay in the suburbs where they can freely move away from the public. He told her not to worry since he had the property secured and a female guard stationed at the gate. He also said that all the rooms were free for them to use except the master's bedroom on reasons that he did not specifically mention and Tomoka did not try to pry.

So when Tomoka led Sakuno inside and started asking questions about the owner of the house, Tomoka told her that she had a rich friend that lent them the house for the mean time since it hasn't been lived in for a long time and Tomoka's house was too crowded and the Ryuzaki house in Tokyo had been sold a long time ago and the twins might find living in a hotel room in the middle of Tokyo a bit cramped since they're used to their grandmother's house's wide open spaces. Sakuno seemed to accept that explanation albeit a bit hesitantly since, as always, she didn't want to be a bother, but was instantly reassured by her best friend that it's the best for the twins.

Tomoka even pretended to instruct Ryoma and Marieta to put down the twins in the nursery. After that, Ryoma carried their bags and luggage to their rooms and put the children's bags in the nursery while Marieta watched over the twins and Sakuno and Tomoka went down to the kitchen. Seeing as they are properly settled, Ryoma went over to the kitchen to tell them he was leaving and picking them up tomorrow at nine in the morning to meet their seniors at Seigaku middle school.

"Please stay for dinner, Echizen-san. I insist!" Sakuno pleaded as she wiped her hands on an apron, "You've been a lot of help today so at least let me cook for you," she smiled pleadingly at him and whether she was doing it on purpose, Ryoma doesn't know but it surely won him over.

He tipped his cap down in agreement and tried to find something else to do as he waited. He did miss her cooking a lot. "Mada mada dane, Sakuno."

Later that afternoon, Ryoma tried to squeeze in a little bit of his routine practice. He had kept some tennis gear in a small room inside the garage. While Sakuno was busily preparing dinner with Tomoka and with the twins napping, there's not much he could do so he opted to train a little. It did help release his frustrations and stress about his situation. Albeit exhausted of all the emotional stress he'd been coping with lately, he's more than happy to have his family by his side now and is more determined than ever to keep them there. Once he had worked up quite a sweat, he picked up his bag and went back to the house.

He was just passing by the living room when he saw Marieta coming out of the Music room. When she noticed him, she bowed before asking him to watch the children for a minute as she goes upstairs to get some toys the children requested. She was actually going to call Tomoka-san but she guessed Echizen-san can manage the children on his own for just a short time. While Ryoma was a bit nervous at the prospect of taking care of children, a feat he had no prior experience of, he just convinced himself that nothing could possibly go horribly wrong with the three of them unsupervised for three to five minutes.

He entered the music room, closed the door behind him and looked around to situate where the twins were. He thought it was a boring room for children to be playing at. There was nothing in there but shelves of records, cassettes and discs of Sakuno's favorite artists and composers, a computer she used to record her music, a television and DVD player to watch concerts and a grand piano at the middle of the room. The twins were currently trying to pry open the lid on the piano keys but it was too heavy for them. Ryoma sighed and walked over to the two children. When they noticed him approaching, Ryoka paused her attempts while Ryota immediately clutched on his leg and said, "Tennis man! Open! Open! Please?" the little ended the plea with a toothy grin while Ryoka looked at him intently. Ryoma had to look at her twice. Her eyes were a bit shiny and if he really looked closely, her lips were in a miniscule pout. Was his daughter actually pleading so cutely?! Sad to say, she'd have him eating out of the palm of her hand soon enough just like her mother.

So Ryoma pushed the lid upwards and sat on the bench, placing Ryoka and Ryota on his lap. For a minute the three of them just stared quietly at the shiny black and white keys. Actually, Ryoma was expecting them to immediately press whatever button they could reach but the two didn't move though they looked fascinated enough. "Do you know what this is?" he asked the two. The piano was the first thing he assured was well kept in the house. It was essentially Sakuno's favorite thing in the house so even in her death, he had it kept spotless and fine tuned.

They both looked up at him, shook their heads and went back to staring at the keys. "This is a piano," he pressed a white key which visibly startled the two children slightly. "You press any of these keys and it produces a sound," he pressed another three simultaneously, the children let out small sounds of awe, "You press many keys at the same time and it produces a different sound." He played a piece he learned from Sakuno a long time ago, the children started clapping in glee when they recognized the tune of 'Mary had a little lamb', "And that's how music is created. Your mother-," he paused and he accidentally dropped his fingers on keys that produced a deep sound which surprised the children. "If you want to learn how to play, you can ask Sakuno-nee-chan to teach you. She's the best at playing the piano."

The children nodded but did not get off. After a few seconds of just staring again, Ryoka looked up at him and said, "Can you play another song, please?" Ryoma thought she really is very eager but is trying to not show it. And then his son joined the fray by looking at him with the big glassy chocolate eyes he got from his mother. It took Ryoma three seconds of staring into those eyes before sighing in defeat and spreading his fingers on the keys. Seriously, these children would ruin him someday.

It wasn't a nursery rhyme he played, nor any song out on the market. It was the first song Sakuno composed, arranged, and sang by herself. She had made it for the guests at their wedding, which consisted of all their friends and family. They had performed it at the reception at the garden at the back of this very house. 'They' meaning him and Sakuno. She had talked him into learning how to play it on the piano because he refused to be the one to sing. It was the most grueling two weeks of his life but well worth it. He was rather amazed that after two years he still knew how to play this song. From the bottom of my heart, I'm glad we met.I'll never forget your smiling face burnt into my memory. Though it seems I won't see your face say "thank you". I whispered softly to the court…

Ryoma let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. Well, he didn't expect that he'd ever have his own children hear him play a piece on the piano. Maybe when Sakuno recovers her memories, she could accompany his piano with the lyrics so their children can listen to it completely. "Did you like-," he was at a loss for words when he looked down at the twins to find the two looking up at him with tears rolling down their cheeks. But the two were not whimpering, just teary eyes fixed on him. He wondered since when they had been doing that and its seriously making him panic. If this was his children's reaction to just the music, then he better cancel the plan of Sakuno singing it. She had sung it so beautifully even Fuji-senpai had to hold back a tear.

"That song was really beautiful, Echizen-san. You have a very nice voice."

Ryoma threw a confused look at Marieta who was standing by the door holding a purple stuffed giraffe. Did she say voice?! "I was singing?" he asked for confirmation.

Marieta nodded, and walked over to pick up the twins from his lap. Once she had settled them on the floor, the two wiped their faces on her pant leg and Marieta just laughed when Ryota let out a small whimper.

Ryoma was positively embarrassed that he had accidentally sung the lyrics when he thought he was just imagining Sakuno singing it in his head as he played the piano. He stood up and tried to leave the room as quietly as possible without drawing attention from the twins when Ryoka's small voice broke through the air and abruptly stopped him from taking even one more step away from her.

"Daddy."

And that folks, is how to frustrate readers. Until next time.

The song Ryoma sung was called 'Thank you for..." and sung by his Seiyuu, Minagawa Junko go download it and listen! I liked that song a lot about 6 years ago hehe.