Threads to Life Chapter 1: Catnip of Life, a Prince of Tennis + Gakuen Alice Crossover fanfic

Hi! MJ-san is back. Just been busy making grahams for the holiday! Want some? Tee hee hee... It will be continued until tomorrow evening. Well, this is my first Crossover fic. I hope that this will turn out fine. By the way, the other anime that the Prince of Tennis will be crossing-over with as the status says is the Gakuen Alice or Alice Academy. I hope you like the first chapter. Domo…

Chapter 1: Catnip of Life

Chapter Summary: It all started with she met Karupin and everything changed… then a light was dawned upon her.

She was the shy type of girl that everyone knew especially when her best friend spoke about it. When Tomoka sensed that she was being quiet, she would just nag her to make a noise or something. She was actually the conservative type that was aware of her surroundings.

She was even shy when she was with a certain tennis prodigy let alone to talk to him. Well, there were times that she would bring the courage to talk to him but he would just give him short answers which were hard to follow by another question.

As everyone thought of her, she was kind, quiet and indeed shy. But when she worried about someone especially when someone was injured during a match, she couldn't help but did the unexpected. No wonder that he was a little annoyed when she interrupted the game.

It was her first time doing that though for he was injured.

She couldn't blame him for she was just worrying about him. She was worried about her friends.

One day:

"Ne, Sakuno aren't you going home yet?" Tomoka asked her as she began packing her things on the table.

Sakuno looked at her before she shook her head, "It's my cleaning duty today. I need to stay for a little longer."

Tomoka shrugged and then stood up grabbing her own bag, "So, I'll be ahead then. I'll be at the court, okay?"

She watched her best friend scurried away from the area. She gave her one last smile before she looked around, "Just because my cleaning partner is absent today doesn't mean I can't do it alone." With that, she walked at the front row of the chair and began aligning them. After she was done with it, she went to the board and began erasing the words there. She was in the middle of cleaning the eraser when she noticed someone entered the room;

"Do you need something—R-Ryoma-kun!" She jolted as she turned around and was shocked when she saw him entering the room, "W-what are you doing here?"

The boy looked at her and frowned, "I forgot my bag?"

"Eh?" She looked at him wondering at what he said, "Isn't that… your room is next to this room?"

Ryoma stared at her, "I just noticed something."

"What is it?"

Ryoma didn't say after a few minutes of silence, "Where's your cleaning partner?"

She blinked twice, "S-she's absent today."

"Hmmm…" He said walking towards her.

Sakuno panicked a little especially when he looked at the window where she was cleaning the eraser, "A-aren't you going to get your bag?"

Ryoma looked below ignoring her question, "Ah… The practice."

"T-that's right, you don't want to be late from your practice, do you?"

Ryoma made a quick pace and exited the room, "Don't get lost."

Sakuno pouted at his remark, "I will not!" With that she continued cleaning for that day.

Saturday:

She was looking at her palm where the money was residing, "I forgot that I needed to buy the things alone today," She sighed as she closed her eyes, "Obaa-chan has to rest, give her a break."

She continued walking her way to the convenience store but she was beginning to worry. She mustn't thinking that, right? There was no way that she was losing her way again. There was no way.

"Mou, where is that convenience store!"

She was about to walk away when she heard something purring not far from her. Looking ahead of her, she spotted a small fur ball that was timidly walking towards her. She sweat dropped as she stared at it.

It was actually a cat… a Himalayan cat.

When the cat approached her, she couldn't help but giggle. She crouched in front of it, "Hi neko-san, are you lost?"

The cat just meowed at her before it purred at her feet, "I guess you are, huh?" She gently grabbed the cat, "Want me to take you to your master?"

She let out a giggle once again when the cat brushed its face to her arm, "You must be a comforting cat, I like you already."

As the cat felt a little alarmed, it jumped from her arms and runaway. Sakuno was taken by surprise by it;

"W-wait!"

She didn't waste time as she followed the cat which was running away. It was actually running across the street as it saw something familiar, "D-don't go there!" But the cat didn't listen to her. Panic rushed to her when she saw a fast car running towards the crossing cat. Without thinking, she ran faster just to reach the cat.

"Look!"

"Watch out!"

She ignored the commotion. All she did was to save the cat from being hit. She quickly grabbed the cat as she crossed the street and harshly landed on the ground… just in time to save the cat.

"Are you nuts! If you want to kill yourself do it with somebody else!" The driver of the car shouted. The car was just at her side and it was already making a commotion at that very moment.

Sakuno looked at the driver, "I—I am sorry!"

The driver didn't say anything as he started to lift his windshield up before he drove away from the area. Sakuno just followed the car and felt a little scared at what happened. She could hear the other people murmuring about the incident.

…About her saving the cat.

But she couldn't care less. She sighed as she looked at the cat in her arms. Its face was actually burying from her bare skin, "A-are you alright?"

"Karupin!"

She looked at the last person who talked last. The cat suddenly distanced itself from her. She was really shocked to see the person who was crouching in front of her, "R-R-Ryoma-kun?"

The cat had completely jumped on Ryoma as long as the boy crouched in front of her hugging it in the process, "You stupid cat! Where have you been?"

Sakuno couldn't believe what she was seeing, "T-that was your… cat?"

He looked at her and nodded.

She was shocked. It was the first time she saw him worry like that let alone to a cat.

"Why did you do that?"

"E-eh?!"

"Running to the street like that?" He said narrowing his eyes a little, "You could've been killed!"

She was a little shocked when he said that to her. Could he be worried about her? But it was impossible, "I… I just thought of saving the cat… that's all," She looked down as she blushed a little, "I just did it out of impulse."

"But still…" Ryoma said hugging the cat even more causing it to create a sound, "You really are unbelievable."

The incident was still a shock to her so she was still trembling. But she knew that she could understand his words, "I… I guess I am…"

"You're injured."

"E-eh?!"

Ryoma reached for her arm and gently grabbed it making her gasp, "It must've been when you landed on the ground a while ago."

She weakly smiled to ease the tense that she was feeling, "I-it's just a scratch."

"Can you stand?"

"Eh?"

Ryoma gently pulled her up causing her to stumble a little for he didn't wait for her answer. She held her breath when she landed on Ryoma. Good thing that the cat was between them or else she didn't know how to react. She slowly distanced herself from him when she thought that she could stand on her own.

"S-sorry about that." She looked down as she fidgeted.

"It's nothing."

Silenced erupted between them for a few seconds. If Karupin didn't catch their attention, they would've remained silent.

"Let's go."

She looked at him as he started to leave the area.

"To tend your wound."

"I—I told you, you don't have to—"

"It's the least I could do."

She blinked twice as she followed him with her eyes. When Ryoma turned and looked around, she came back to her senses. Without further argument, she followed the tennis prodigy.

Later on:

She sweat dropped. First she was shocked, then embarrassed then a bit shy. Why? She was with the Echizens at that very moment.

She was facing the mother, the father and the cousin. She couldn't look at them for they were looking at her.

"K-konnichiwa, R-Ryuzaki Sakuno desu," She bowed at them, "Yorushiku onegaishimasu!"

"Ahh… could it be that… you're that old hag's granddaughter?"

She sweat dropped as she lifted her head once again, "O-old hag?"

"Mind your manners, Nanjiroh!" The lady said hitting him and then looked at her, "Come in dear."

"Ojama shimasu…" She respectably bowed before she completely entered the house. Blush was present to her face. It was her first time visiting the tennis prodigy's house and she was not expecting that he would take her there. She shyly followed the other people inside but not until Ryoma grabbed her wrist and dragged her to a different direction.

"We'll be in my room!" He boringly announced.

Sakuno and his family members were surprised about his words. Sakuno secretly panicked. W-what did he say? He didn't say about us coming to his room, did he? W-why would he say that?

"You don't have to rush seishounen," Nanjiroh peeking downstairs, "You two are only twelve… I guess the girl too."

She could hear his father being hit by his mother and telling retorted remarks at him while Ryoma closed the door behind them at that time. She could hear his mother telling his father about her wound that she had probably seen when she entered the house. He audibly grunted as he went near the bed. Sakuno's panicky heart attacked her again now that they were inside his room.

…Just the two of them.

Well, with Karupin in his arms. He put the cat down as he opened a cabinet near his bed.

"Come here."

She flinched when he said that, "B-but—w-why—?"

Ryoma raised an eyebrow as she looked at him, "What do you mean why?"

Her eyes widened when she saw what was in Ryoma's hand. It was his first aid kid.

"Let's disinfect the wound in your arm," He said as he opened the lid of the kit, "Come and sit here."

She secretly sighed as she walked closer to him, "I… I see." As long as she sat next to him, the boy gently grabbed her arm and applied something to it. She couldn't help but feeling a little shy and embarrassed about it. Good thing that the cat walked to them and amazingly went to her lap. She tried to shift her attention to the cat as she brushed its hair.

"Thanks."

"E-eh?"

"For saving Karupin today," He said applying the ointment to her arm, "Despite that, that wasn't the nice thing you did there."

"G-Gomen," She looked down as she couldn't look at him, "I know that it wasn't. It's just that… my body was acting on its own."

She heard him sigh so she looked at him;

"You're definitely a weirdo," He smirked as he looked at her, "…weirdo in a good way."

She was able to pout at him, "Mou! Ryoma-kun…" Well, that a compliment that he rarely gave her… let alone to spend time longer than they had at that very moment.

"Heh," He only said as he finished tending her wound. Sakuno thanked him afterwards. Karupin kept purring on her lap. Ryoma couldn't help but stare at it, "Karupin likes you."

She flinched when he said that, "Y-you think so?"

"It never approaches someone besides a family member."

"R-really?" She looked at the cat. She stared at the amber eyes of the cat. It was giving her the same treatment as Ryoma's. She couldn't help but blush at that moment. She brushed the cat's hair as it began purring at her touch, "Karupin, that's your cat's name?"

"Un," He said and then grabbed something near him, "Use this to play with it."

She looked at him and saw what he was holding. It was a catnip, Karupin's toy thing. She slowly nodded as she reached for the catnip in his hand and much to her amusement, the cat did enjoy playing with her.

She couldn't help but giggle. What happened to her that day was indeed memorable for her. Speaking of the day, she knew that she had to do something. Raking her brain in it, shock registered to her brain;

"Oh no! I totally forgot!" She suddenly stood up making the cat and its owner flinch at her sudden action, "I—I still need to do the shopping today!" She immediately went to the door not forgetting to look at him, "R-Ryoma-kun, thank you once again. I'll see you on Monday."

"Wait!"

She was halted at her actions.

"I'll go with you."

"W-what?"

"We need to explain to Ryuzaki-sensei about what happened to you today," He said walking towards her, "I'll help you do the shopping before that."

She wasn't able to say anything when Ryoma already went down and told everyone that he would go somewhere else. She couldn't understand what was happening anymore. She only knew one thing.

The day was indeed memorable for her.

Sunday Night:

He was on his way home that night after some rallying practice from a street tennis court. He was pretty tired but it was worth it. No one could ever take tennis from him… no matter who you were.

If it was tennis then it was tennis.

But if it was something else, he would think about it.

…Like the savior of his cat for instance.

Just the moment he thought about her, something that caught his eyes. It was inside a store but the display on the glass window caught his attention.

It was a necklace with two different colored stones, the white and green ones. Somehow, the stones were drawing him closer for an unknown reason.

Staring at it, he unconsciously thought of a certain braided-pigtailed girl. For some reason he was thinking of something and no one knew what he was thinking at that moment.

Monday!

She went to school early that day. She always did because of a reason. She wanted to watch the regulars practice before the first period would start that day. Tomoka would always nag her to wake up early to cheer for the team and because of her persistence, she ended up doing it.

"It's good for a morning walk anyway." She whispered to herself as she had that thought as her resolve. She walked faster so that she could reach the school in time. She didn't want to take the risk of being lost once again. As she turned to a corner, shock was visible to her face.

Ahead of her was the tennis prodigy that she was always cheering on, standing near the post. His hat was covering half of his face so she didn't know his reaction.

"R-Ryoma-kun?" She undoubtedly called out to him. The boy looked at her when he heard her voice.

"Chissu…"

Blush suddenly appeared to her face, "W-what are you doing here? A-aren't you supposed to be practicing at this time?"

Ryoma walked closer to her, "I've got enough time for that," He stopped and suddenly jerked his hand in front of her, "Here."

She blinked her eyes twice as she stared at his hand, "W-what is it?"

"Let out your hand." He ordered.

She stared back at him and gave him a curious look. Not knowing his intentions, she still raised her hand just like what he told her. Just as she lifted her hand, the boy dropped something to her palm that he had been holding. She was taken by surprise as she immediately closed it.

"It's my token of gratitude."

"E-eh?" She was shocked when he said that. She then stared back at her palm and opened it. Her eyes widened when she saw what he gave her.

It was a necklace that had two stones, the white stone and the green stone. It was pretty cute as she stared at it but she was still wondering why Ryoma would give her something like that. The boy had already thanked her about saving his cat the other day so she couldn't think of another reason, "B-but you already thanked me."

He turned around before he said his words, "That necklace is not enough if you ask me," He started walking away from her, "Compared to the life that you are willing to sacrifice."

Her eyes widened when he said that to her. Could it be that he was worried about her… for real? He was right after all. If something bad did happen to her, she knew that he would blame himself because it was his cat after all. She was doing the actions first before she thought things first. And that was really reckless of her.

"What are you still doing there?"

She was surprised once again. She looked ahead of her just to see him looking at his shoulder.

"You're going to school, right?"

Blinking for several times, she remembered what she was about to do in the first place, "R-right," She immediately ran towards him and followed him afterwards, "A-arigatou, Ryoma-kun."

They continued their way to the school having satisfaction on their faces.

Three days later:

She was wearing it inside her uniform and she was aware that Ryoma knew that she did. She wanted him to know that the gift was really important for her.

It was his first gift that he gave to her after all.

"Sakuno!" Tomoka called out to her, "We're here!"

"Tomoka-chan!" She ran to their direction. Tomoka was viewing the match between Momo and Inui. The match was a tough one for it was unusual, "They are having a match?"

"Un," Tomoka said, "Momo-chan-senpai is actually winning."

"Sugoi," She looked at the court as well, "Both of them."

They continued watching the game. Tomoka had begun bickering with her 'best friend' at that moment making everyone sweat drop. Ryoma and Kaidoh had finished practicing from the court B and were watching at their match right now.

It was then that Sakuno noticed something. W-why do I feel… chill at the moment? She looked around as if she was sensing something. Tomoka noticed her;

"What's wrong?"

"S-something's… I—I don't know but," She said as she continued looking nowhere, "I feel nervous of something."

"Huh?" Tomoka tilted her head not getting what she was saying.

"I am sorry but I need to go somewhere." With that she started to run.

"S-Sakuno!" She called out to her but she was already far away, "What's happening to her?"

Ryoma watched her run away from the location and went out of the court. He was wondering about the girl's odd behavior although he didn't pay that much attention to her… before.

xxx

Her heart was beating fast and she didn't know the reason. Something inside her was heating up and she couldn't explain it. What surprised her was the sudden light covered her body.

"W-what?!" Her eyes widened as she observed herself. It wasn't her body who was glowing, it was the pendants. The stones from her necklace were glowing, "W-what is happening?"

Before she could understand everything; a portal-like thingy appeared just above her. The light was pretty bright that it was almost blinded her. She was able to stare at it and her eyes widened when she spotted a figure from the light. The figure was slowly forming in front of her.

It was a person that was slowly coming out from the bright light. Her eyes were still widened as she looked at the person. The person had black hair and scarlet eyes. What shocked her was the fire in his hand and his fierce expression on his face.

"Give me back those alices!"

She was able to take a step back and covered herself with her hands. What she didn't know was the light from the stones had intensely grown brightly than before. When the boy hit her from above the light just reflected it causing the both of them to fall back at different directions.

Sakuno was terrified at the event. She didn't know what was happening. The light that the boy came from was slowly fading. The light from the stones engulfed her as she watched the stones slowly entered her body. She gasped as she couldn't explain the feeling. Blinking twice, she examined herself after that.

She felt normal just like before, "W-what was that? W-wha—"

"You, who are you?"

She looked at the boy who was kneeling in front of her. His face was cold… colder than Ryoma. He was scary as she thought. She couldn't find her voice at that time.

"Give those back," The boy stood up catching his breath this time, "If you don't want me to burn you."

Her eyes widened once again when the boy created a fire ball in his hand. His eyes were scary and the way he looked at her felt like wanting to kill her without hesitation.

She didn't know what was happening but she knew that she was facing a bigger trouble at that very moment. A trouble that was very impossible to believe.

Done! Pilot chapter was… well, what did you think? It is my first time writing a crossover fic. I was not satisfied with th first chapter though… and with the preview scenes I gave you before. Please, have mercy… if you like it… I'll continue this, if you don't I'll end this in five chapters only… Domo…

Actually, I didn't know what to call this fic until the very last seconds. I am running out of title fic that fits a story with it. So in the end, I decided to call this 'Threads to Life' I hope it sounds nice though…

Reviews please… I guess you know the boy that Sakuno is currently facing at the moment, right? Tell me your thoughts… Domo…

Before Anything else...

Happy Birthday Echizen Ryoma Takeuchi!

Next Chapter: Stones and Alices