The Princess of Tennis

The Truth Untold

As they walk down to the reserved room, Yukitsu has been quite. He is a child that is mature for his age, he never whines and act childish, even when his mother spoils and dote at him.

"To-san.." It was the first time he ever called to him first.

"Hmm?" 

"You know who is my father right?" He asked, this is not surprising, this just is always quick to catch up with the adults.

"Yes." Tokugawa replied.

"You're not going to ask me why I ask? Or why I mention it all of a sudden." He look up at the man who stands in the part of his father, he was there to fill the void, however he never crossed the line to own him as his own child.

"I know you have an idea already." He remembers the child to be watching one of the tournaments Tezuka has participated, the child has been intently watching every move and action on the screen. Both him and Yuuki knew that Yukitsu is longing for his real father and that he has a vague idea of who it is.

"Then mom..." he paused as to weighing his words if it right or not.

"We both knew and just waiting for you to be ready, you know its been hard for your mom as well." He is speechless, this is something new to him, all along he thought that his mother has been refraining to talk about his father and she doesn't want him to knew about the father.

But all along his mother knew it, what is the truth then?

As they reached the room, Tokugawa opened the door. The well lit room with the view facing the wide ocean, he saw a couple who happily conversing as they were seated at the table. The woman noticed and saw them.

"Ah, you're here!"

"Mom?" he called, that is when the back of the man turns and revealed the same stoic face he has seen a hundred time on the screen.

"Yukitsu, come here." As his mother smile at him, he knew that she is happy right now. Does this man made my mom really happy? He took a small step at a time, the gaze of that man is piercing through him, he can't even read his thoughts.

"I'm  sorry for the trouble of bringing him here, did you have a hard time looking for Yukitsu?"

"Not at all, he's a behave child I found him fast."

"Then would you like to eat with us?" The three men look at her.

"No, thanks./Of course not." Both Tezuka and Tokugawa replied in chorus. This make Yuuki laugh at them.

"I won't bother you then, even if you decline I have no desire to join you guys." Then he once left a gaze at Tezuka and closed the door.

"Mom, you're not gonna stop To-san?" He asked his mother.

"Haha, no let him be, maybe he is shy."

"To-san?" Tezuka look at her and put his arms crossed racing an eyebrow.

"What? This child learned English before Japanese, so his name is so long he has difficulty pronouncing it and ended up calling him To-san short for Tokugawa." She explains as she pat the head of Yukitsu.

"Right Kitsu?" she embraced the child and spoiling him this makes his flustered as he can feel the intent gaze of the man.

"So, who is this child?"

 "Mitsu, why are you frowning? Don't tell me you are jealous because I'm embracing another man?" Yuuki teases.

It was the first time he saw this man acted out of character, his ever stoic face not even when interviewed about a scandal, now is frowning and looks displeased.

"Even he is a child, he is still a boy and I assume you are calling him by his nickname."

His eyes widened by the shock, he is his mother's child and how could he get jealous between a mother and child kinship.

"Silly, Mitsu." his mother called him by his nickname, the first time he saw her mother make that endearing face to other than him.

"He is our son, sometimes your slow to pick up Mitsu."

The two of them look back and forth, Tezuka and Yukitsu has the same surprised expression.

"What?" Yuuki asked feigning ignorance and laugh at them, "You can't deny the resemblance between the two of you."

She looks so satisfied and happy as she watches the father and son eat at the dining, she has ever wished this to happen, the same seen she wished to see once she has her own family. They are quiet and weighing the mood and only Yuuki is in the lighter one.

"This is the last day of the cruise, once we get back we'll be heading back to our hotel room." Yuuki told Tezuka, she is holding his hand while on the other is Yukitsu who is still wary of the man beside his mother.

"Why stay there?" He asked.

"The old residence has been long left attended, even if I have a person to look after it, Yukitsu might get a bit uncomfortable." She looks at her child who is watching them intently.

"So, why not stay at my place then?" He offers.

"Your place?" She was surprised that he has kept a place in Japan, she thought he never has an intention to return back based on the news of him settling down in Germany.

"It was my parents house, they must be glad to see you again and..." he looked at Yukitsu and kneeled down, he look at the young boy which he cannot deny the resemblance to him.

"Yukitsu is your name right?" He asked him, he never dealt with kids before and not fond of them, but as he see the eyes of this boy, he just can't help it and the blood connection must have making it so.

"Y-Yes. Mom said it's her and father's name." it was the only fact her mother spilled to him, whenever he asked why name him such a strange name when he is actually born in an English country where a normal western name would do.

"It's nice and beautiful." Tezuka patted Yukitsu's head.

"My name is Kunimitsu, and my father and grandfather both have the suffix -mitsu in their name. You're mom did great naming you." He smiled. It was an acceptance.

"C-can I call you Dad?" His wide eyes that has the same color as Yuuki is expectant, he smiled at the child which of his own blood. he scooped up him and carries to his arm. Yukitsu felt so excited, he has been held and carried by Tokugawa before but this man who happens to be his father make him feel more lighter and exhilarating.

"Of course my child you can." He embrace the small limb he's carrying, and Yuuki watches at the heartwarming scene before her eyes.

"Yuuki, come here." He called to his beloved woman, the woman who gave birth to his child. At this moment, he promised to make up the time lost from their separation and pour all of his love.

"I will never let go of the hands that I love the most."