Matchmaker: Yukimura Seiichi (Chapter 2)

Second Chapter: Bringing back the Past


“Okay, try moving around now,” the tailor ordered. Yukimura Satsuki nodded her head and moved around in her gown.

“It’s better,” she said as she tried sitting next. She twirled around in her peach, long, spaghetti-strap dress.

Masaki Yuna sighed and pushed her brown bangs away from her eyes. “You scared me,” she said to Satsuki. The other turned, tucking her straight black hair behind her ear, “Sorry.”

Yukimura Kaori stood up and smiled. “Well, that’s done, we don’t have to fix mine.” She said and looked at Satsuki. “You’re losing weight.”

Yuna laughed and nodded her head. “I’m the one all stressed out getting married, and you’re the one getting skinny. Unfair,”

Satsuki looked at them and frowned. “I’m not.” She objected. Then she smiled, “I just…got shrunk in the winter.”

Kaori laughed, “Right.” She said as she watched Satsuki going into the dressing room to change. The younger Yukimura looked at her brother’s fiancée. “So we’re all set right?”

Yuna nodded her head. Kaori smiled, “Cool, let’s get back. Niisan’s cooking.”

“Oh, I can’t see him,” Yuna said. Kaori blinked, “Why not? I never heard any rule saying you can’t see your fiancé two days before your marriage. Besides, there’s rehearsal dinner tomorrow night.”

Satsuki walked out of the dressing room, dressed in her white, off shoulder knit and jeans, holding her gown in one hand. She smiled. “Oh, I heard what happened yesterday.”

Kaori blinked. “What, what happened?”

Satsuki passed her gown to the tailor to wrap it up. “Well, since Yagyuu-san was supposed to manage the bachelor party, Niou-san dressed as him and took in charge.”

Kaori nodded her head, “I heard that. Niisan told me.”

Yuna looked at her, “Did you know that he invited a dozen of strippers to the party?” she said, rolling her eyes. Kaori’s eyes widened a little and a smile crept on her face. “That’s expected, coming from Niou-san,”

Satsuki nodded and laughed, “And I heard everyone were choking on their margaritas. And Sanada-san was outraged.” She continued laughing. “But since it’s Seiichi-san’s party, he couldn’t say anything.”

Yuna turned, “That’s because he was drunk and enjoying the show,” she explained. Satsuki looked at her and then nodded, “Yeah, and by then all of them were partly drunk anyway.”

Kaori looked half amused and disgusted. “Well, niisan’s came back home early, so I’m sure nothing happened.” Yuna nodded. “I know, he messaged me then that there were strippers, and I kind of knew it would happen already,”

“But you’re still upset?” Kaori asked. Yuna shook her head. “No. I just don’t plan on seeing him until the rehearsal dinner,”

Kaori looked lost so Satsuki leaned and whispered, “You see, when a man sees nude women everywhere, and they can’t have some…sugar,” she smiled, “When they see their partner after that, they’d instantly get turned on,” Satsuki laughed.

Kaori turned red, “Oh gross.” She said. Yuna laughed too. “Satsuki, where’s your modesty?” she laughed.

Satsuki laughed and shrugged, “It’s just us girls, we can drop it off,” she winked.

*


Satsuki looked around her, at the surrounding and the people attending the rehearsal dinner. She has attended a lot of posh dinners in the past, due to her boss’s invitation and businesses, but what really surprised her this time was the people that were there.

The posh decorations, the grand center pieces, the bouquet of flowers that filled the whole room and the extravagant food were already a norm to her. But seeing these people, these people that she hasn’t seen in years, was something different.

It was her cousin’s rehearsal dinner, and the place was filled with family members, family friends, colleagues and old friends.

More specifically, Yukimura Seiichi’s old tennis friends.

If she could describe it easily, she would say the whole Rikkaidai, Hyoutei, Seigaku and other old schools’ tennis regulars were there. Never mind the Rikkaidai members because she had seen them around, since Seiichi and them would sometimes meet.

And never mind her boss too, since she’d sees him at least once a week. But the other people, those that she had never talked too, those she only knew by faces and names, those who she has heard many successful stories of their jobs, those who were already living far away, seeing all of them made her remember back her past.

The junior and high school days where she would, no matter what, attend the Rikkaidai tennis matches, to support her school and her cousin’s team, of those days where she would see her cousin and his friends and their supposedly rivals, sitting down and having dinners together.

It also reminded her of her cousin’s sick days, lying in the hospital bed and looking pale. She remembered saying it was not fair, back then, to her cousin that he couldn’t enjoy his life.

She remembered how he would smile gently, despite the emptiness in his eyes, and tell her that good times will come.

Satsuki guessed it was right, because it was then that Seiichi had met with Yuna. If he was never sick, they wouldn’t have met and fell in love. After that, Satsuki had never seen her cousin’s empty eyes.

They were always full of mirth and love.

Seeing these people that brought the past back to her was bittersweet, it was sweet that it made her remember, but it felt bitter because she knew these teams weren’t completed. Nearly, anyway.

“Yen for your thought,” she heard someone said beside her, breaking her thoughts.

Satsuki turned and saw Niou Masaharu standing beside her, holding two glasses of wine, grinning at her. She smiled and took one of the glasses, “Thanks,” she said and took a sip. “I was just thinking that seeing these people reminded me of junior and high school days.”

Niou nodded his head as he took too a sip. “Yeah, it’s annoying actually,”

Satsuki looked at him amused. That was an answer she didn’t expect. “How so?”

“’Cuz you’re not supposed to see them until you’re old and gray,” Niou said. Satsuki looked at him and grinned. “You’re old, and gray,” she said pointing to his hair. Niou smirked at her, leaned over and took the glass of wine back.

“Hey,” Satsuki said, frowning when Niou handed the glass to a waiter nearby. Niou was still smirking, “You get drunk easily, I’m not taking any chances,”

“That’s good to hear,” Yukimura’s voice was heard behind them. He smiled at Niou, “I guess you already felt full after taking chances on those strippers,”

Niou laughed and sipped his wine, “Well, Marui’s the one who kept their numbers,”

Marui Bunta’s head perked up from the nearby dessert table and he frowned when he heard the conversation. “I did not.”

Satsuki smiled to herself, she liked watching her cousin and his old friends. They were something that she had gotten used to for many years, and already became her comfort, like her own blankee.

“Satsuki,” she heard someone calling her name. She turned her head away from watching Marui trying to deny Niou’s accusations, and saw Kaori looked at her shyly.

“I got lost trying to find the ladies room, accompany me?” she asked. Satsuki smiled and walked away from the group of guys that were now getting more attention and gathering more of their old friends.

“Too bad you weren’t there to take the pictures,” Niou said, winking to Fuji who was also present. The latter, laughed in return. “I don’t do rater R,”

“You should see the look on Sanada’s face,” Marui laughed. “Tarundaro!” he joked.

“You seem like you’re having fun,” a voice said behind him, “Talking about me.” Sanada Genichirou glared at the red head. Marui choked on the blueberry tart he was eating and smiled awkwardly. “Oh, hi.”

“Sanada,” Oshitari smiled, walking over towards the group and extending a hand. “It’s been a long time,” he said as both men shook hands. Sanada nodded his head.

“Congrats again, Yukimura,” Oshitari said and Yukimura smiled. “Guess you’re the first one to break the record huh?”

Yukimura chuckled. “Well, we’re not getting any younger,”

Marui nodded his head. “True that,” he said, popping another tart into his mouth. Yagyuu pushed is glass higher on his nose and smirked. “No wonder you were jotting down their numbers hurriedly.”

Marui glared. “I did not.”

Niou smirked. “So who wants to bet for who’s getting whipped next.”

Oshitari grinned, “I’m betting on Atobe.”

“As the last one,” Atobe Keigo added in, glaring at his old teammate and greeting the others.

“Well, even the new Samurai been whipped.” Fuji chuckled, pointing to Echizen Ryoma not too far away from them, talking to his old captain, a woman standing beside him.

“He beat us again huh,” Momoshiro who stood beside Fuji laughed. Then he blinked his eyes.

“Eh, Yukimura-san,” Momoshiro started, “You didn’t invite Kirihara over? I heard he’s returning,” he said and grinned. “Wanted to see how those two would react when they see each other.”

The ex-Rikkaidai regulars paused and turned to look at their old buchou. Yukimura nodded and smiled. “He’s back, but he just returned to Kanagawa today and spending time with his parents,”

Marui grinned, “Can’t wait to see that seaweed hair again.” Niou nodded, “We have to make him feel at home, ne Yagyuu?”

Yukimura smiled, watching his friends’ excited reactions when they speak of their old junior. Then he turned to Atobe, as if he had suddenly remembered something important.

“Speaking about this,” Yukimura smiled, watching a waiter passing by with a tray of glasses of wine “There is something I have to discuss with you Atobe.”

Atobe raised an eyebrow as Yukimura handed him a glass of wine and smiled in return.

*

It had been more than a year since Akaya returned to his house. The last time he was in Kanagawa, heck in Japan even, was when his niece Aoko was born.

All these times he’s been living in hotels, traveling and training all over the world. It’s not like he doesn’t have a house of his own, he does; an apartment in the heart of Tokyo, that he bought using his winnings money, but he rarely returns.

But at times when he does, especially now, he felt it was worth it and really special. Seeing his parents, hugging his dad and eating his mom food and sleeping in his old room, it made him felt relaxed.

And it had been a long time since he was this relaxed.

His door was knocked, awakening him from his reverie. He looked up from his bed and found his mother standing in front of the door; a smile etched oh her face and a folded towel on her right hand.

“Here’s a clean towel,” she handed him the checkers print towel and Akaya inhaled the familiar scent of detergent and softener and put the towel on the right side of his bed. He grinned up at his mother and mouthed ‘Thank you.’

Mariko chuckled. “You’re speaking in English,” she pointed out and Akaya shrugged. “Not really. Marco made me. Said he was doesn’t want to hire any translator. I’ll say his too stingy.” Akaya hmphed and crossed his arms. “I only take up until basics conversation for payback.”

Mariko scowled, “Mou Akaya. It would do you good if you did.” She was placing her hands on her hips and Akaya absently rubbed the back of his head. “Nah. Marco’s a lot worse than my high school English teacher. He was too demanding.”

“It sounds like you still enjoy tormenting people,” sighed Mariko. “You don’t realize that people are worried for you, do you?”

“I’m not a little boy,” Akaya said and scoot over as his mother sat at the other end. “I can handle myself fine,” he declared. “I get myself up there and I know how to handle it.”

Mariko shook her head, chuckling. Her hand touched his knee and she felt him flinched slightly. Akaya pouted as she apologized. “People keep forgetting I’m injured,” he murmured. Mariko rolled her eyes.

“Tomorrow’s the big day huh?” she asked. Akaya nodded his head. “Can’t wait to see them,” he grinned.

His mom sighed. “You purposely avoided the rehearsal dinner tonight so you can surprise your old friends tomorrow?”

Akaya nodded proudly. “Yup! Give them more suspense to see me,”

His mom shook her head, “It’s Yukimura-san’s wedding you know, not yours,” she paused and then smiled. “Speaking about that, when are you going to have yours?”

Akaya felt himself getting woozy from the question. “What? Marriage?” he laughed. “Not now,”
“When then?”

Akaya thought for a second and then shrugged. “I don’t know…when I’m finally number one, maybe,”

His mother smiled and nodded her head. “I’ll keep that promise then,” she said and left his room.

Akaya stared at the clean towel and lied down on his bed, covering his face with the same towel. The smell brought him back to his younger days and he closed his eyes and began to recall them.

He remembered the yellow and back Regular jackets. He remembered the seven seniors that were always with him back then.

He remembered Yukimura’s warm smile, Sanada and his stern frown. He remembered Yanagi’s calm face no matter in what situation. He remembered Marui popping a bubble gum, Jackal smiling sympathetically at him whenever Sanada scolded him. He remembered Niou’s silver ponytail and Yagyuu’s smirk whenever they both were up to no good.

And he vaguely remembered the presence of a girl, black, straight, shoulder length hair and chocolate eyes looking at him irritated, yet the corner of her thin lips turned, amused.

Akaya smiled to himself. He can’t wait for tomorrow.

TBC

-written by Ra1