AN: Had to post the chapter again. Thank you, Kiara for pointing out the mistakes. I nearly died of mortification. LOL.
I Kinda Sorta Like You
Ryuzaki Sakuno stared at the directions in her hand. She was supposed to take the train heading east and get off at the fourth stop to reach her destination, which was Kawamura-sempai's new sushi bar. The Seishun Gakuen regulars were supposed to meet there. It was a party for the return of Ryoma-kun. He was back from the States after winning the competition. She was invited to go along because she was the coach's granddaughter and a dedicated fan of Ryoma-kun's.
The regulars would head there straight after practice. Sakuno had to go home, finish her homework and bake some treats for Ryoma-kun as a part of her gift for him. So she was unable to go with her obaa-san, hence the reason why Sakuno had to take the subway train. Her obaa-san had made the directions quite clear so there was no chance what so ever that Sakuno would get lost. But when it came to Sakuno there was always a chance for error to occur.
Sakuno stood in the middle of the crowded subway. It was five thirty. She would reach her destination by six and then she wouldn't have to worry anymore because her obaa-san would ensure that she was back at home safely. It was a piece of cake. Now she just had to locate where East was.
"Excuse me!" Sakuno tried asking someone for help and they brushed her off. "Ahhh. Mou!" Sakuno pouted and looked around. She couldn't read the signs because of the crowd and her height. She looked down at Ryoma-kun's gift and sighed. 'Maybe it wasn't as easy as it seemed.' Sakuno headed in the general direction she thought east would be.
Echizen Ryoma frowned when he noticed that a certain pigtailed girl was heading towards the trains going South West. He believed that she of all people would be there at his welcome home party. His frown turned into a scowl at the thought of where else she might be headed.
'A date maybe?' He wondered as he stared at her clothes. She was dressed nicely. His scowl deepened and he decided to follow her. After all, the guest of honour was expected to arrive at seven. He had plenty of time to kill.
Sakuno's brows furrowed in confusion as she looked around the desolate streets of what she thought were Tokyo's East side.
'This doesn't make sense.' She thought. 'The Sushi Bar was supposed to be right beside the subway station.'
Instead of a Sushi Bar Sakuno found row after row of buildings that looked as if they would crumble if one were to simply blow on them. There weren't many people on the streets and those who were looked like pretty shady characters. She occasionally glanced over her shoulder for she felt as if someone were following her. She shook her head in an attempt to rid her paranoia. It hadn't worked. Sakuno squeezed Ryoma-kun's gift to her chest and continued walking down the street, still hoping that she would be able to find the Sushi Bar.
Ryoma sighed as he got up from his former position, which had been crouching behind a dumpster.
'Ryuzaki's too paranoid for her own good' Ryoma mused as he continued following her. He had already come to the conclusion that she was lost. It was just a matter of pride. He did not want to march up to Ryuzaki and help her because that would make him seem like a freaky stalker, which of course he wasn't.
'How come I always find myself in just plain weird situations?' Ryoma thought as he watched Ryuzaki clutch her stomach in what seemed to be immense pain.
'So hungry!' Sakuno clutched at her growling stomach and resisted the urge to cry out in frustration. She thought about the contents of her purse and her eyes watered.
She needed to find cheap food and fast before she passed out. She knew she shouldn't have let the other children sample her lunch but she couldn't help it when they practically begged.
Just when she thought she would drown in despair she noticed a sign at the front of one of the crusty buildings.
'Oyasama's Kitchen. Cheap food that tastes great. Located on the seventh floor.'
Sakuno smiled widely as she read the sign. 'Cheap food.' She continued to smile as she skipped towards her destination.
'What the hell was that stupid girl thinking?' Ryoma thought as he ran to catch up with her. 'The building that Ryuzaki had entered looked like it was inhabited by drug dealers. Or formerly inhabited by drug dealers' Ryoma thought as he noticed how deserted the place looked.
He heard the chime of an elevator and he ran as fast as he could. He made it just in time for the elevator door had closed a split second after he had entered it.
Sakuno let out a terrified shriek and dropped Ryoma's gift, she then noticed who the stranger that rushed into the elevator was.
"Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno asked. She stared at him in disbelief. 'Was it possible for someone to grow an inch and a half in a month?' She thought as she noticed that the crown of her head probably reached the tip of his nose.
He merely nodded. "Ryuzaki. Long time no see." He muttered in English. Before he could translate the elevator let out a screech and jerked to a stop in between the sixth and the seventh floor.
"What's going on?" Sakuno asked, trembling in fear when the lights went out. The faint red glow of the emergency light proved to be useless for Sakuno.
"Elevator's stuck and the power's out." Ryoma stated the obvious, his eyes already adjusting to the minimal amount of light.
'How can he be so calm about it?' Sakuno silently wondered as she pounded against the elevator, her tiny fists barely making any noise against the steel door of the elevator.
Ryoma grabbed her wrists and gently pushed her down into a seated position, when he was done he dropped her wrists. She wrapped her arms around her shins and pressed her forehead against her knees.
"If you hadn't noticed earlier, this building's empty, there's no use calling for help. We'll have to wait until the power's turned back on." Ryoma said. He had no idea as to when the latter would happen. Hours, days even. He shook his head and slid down against the wall opposite to Ryuzaki. He stretched his legs and his running shoes brushed against her small toes. She was wearing sandals.
Sakuno said nothing and it remained eerily silent for a good half an hour before Ryoma heard the sniffle. He immediately felt guilty for not trying to make Sakuno comfortable. Girls always had silly fears.
"Are you afraid of the dark?" Ryoma asked Sakuno. She shook her head in denial but it was obvious that she was. He had to think of something to distract her with. The last thing he wanted was to have Sakuno crying. He had to find a way to calm her down because he was inexperienced when it came to comforting members of the opposite sex. In fact, the only being he knew how to comfort was his cat, Karupin.
He would stroke Karupin's fur when the cat showed signs of being sad. He stared at Ryuzaki's pig tail encased auburn hair. It was so shiny and it probably felt like silk. Maybe if he ran his fingers through the long, silky mass she would feel comforted. 'What did she look like with her hair down?' He immediately blushed at his thoughts and slapped himself for thinking of it. 'Where the hell did that come from?' Ryoma wondered and tugged on his hat.
"Are you alright Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno inquired. Her brow creased in concern, the expression on her face made Ryoma want to pinch her cheeks. Ryoma slapped himself again. "What's wrong? Did you just slap yourself?" Sakuno asked.
Ryoma flushed a deeper shade of red and pulled his hat lower. She couldn't see him due to her average eyesight but he still felt that he should hide his embarrassment. 'I have to find a way out of this elevator.' Ryoma clenched his fists and thought of an idea.
"Climb on my shoulders, Ryuzaki!" Ryoma commanded. He rolled his eyes when he saw that a pretty shade of pink had stained her cheeks. 'When the hell did I ever use pretty and pink in the same sentence?" Ryoma shook his head and repeated his command.
Sakuno hesitantly got up and walked towards where she thought he was. She bumped into him and he caught her around the waist before she was able plunge head first to the ground.
It was his first time to hold someone like that. Ryoma's grip tightened around Sakuno's waist and he was amazed at how tiny it was.
"Ano…Ryoma-kun." Sakuno whispered. Ryoma immediately let go of her and crouched in front of her.
'Why do I always wear skirts?' Sakuno asked herself as she climbed on top of Ryoma's shoulders.
"Push on the ceiling tile. Yes that one. Now try to take it off." Ryoma instructed. He grabbed Sakuno's thighs and jerked away as the ceiling tile came crashing down. 'As expected from Seigaku's number one klutz.' Ryoma thought as she grabbed his head to keep from falling off of him, he winced in pain. "Okay now climb up and pull me up once you are."
Sakuno wriggled up and Ryoma blushed at the sight he had just witnessed. It was pink with red hearts and white lace. It was also known as Ryuzaki's panties. 'Sakuno's…Panties.' Ryoma was unable to think of anything else.
"Ryoma-kun grab my hand." Sakuno snapped Ryoma out of his reverie. Ryoma did as he was told and sighed as Sakuno struggled to pull him up; he ended up landing on the floor.
'I'll just have to jump.' Ryoma sighed and sprang himself up. He managed to grab a hold of the ledge and he easily hoisted himself up while Sakuno stared in amazement.
"Ryoma-kun sugoi." Sakuno whispered as Ryoma tried to figure out an escape route, pointedly ignoring her.
"There's no chance we're getting out this way." Ryoma muttered and jumped to the ground, landing on a familiar position, the crouch. "Okay you come down next." Ryoma told Sakuno as he kicked the ceiling tile to one of the elevator's four corners.
Sakuno looked down the rectangular hole and closed her eyes. "It's so far down." She whispered.
"Don't worry, you won't fall." Ryoma sighed. Girls were so difficult.
Sakuno nodded and took a step towards the hole, she had miscalculated and now she fell. Ryoma managed to catch Sakuno just in time and he stumbled onto his bottom at the sudden surprise.
"Itai." Ryoma muttered.
"Gomen Nasai!" Sakuno scrambled off of his lap. "Gomen Nasai." She repeated; her voice softer. "Gomen Nasai," Her whisper barely audible. Ryoma frowned as her eyes were soon glazed over with tears that taunted Ryoma by threatening to spill.
"Betsuni." He muttered and leaned against the elevator wall.
"Yes it is a problem. I'm lost and I'm stuck in an elevator with no power, I can't go pee, I have no food and I'm missing your welcome home party!" Sakuno exclaimed. Then her brows furrowed in confusion. "I was going to ask you this but I forgot, so what are you doing here with me Ryoma-kun?"
Ryoma was stunned by Sakuno's explosion. At first he was not going to answer but he weighed his options. 'Which was more unbearable: A crying girl or my embarrassment? A crying girl of course.' Ryoma concluded.
He sighed, admitting defeat. "I was following you." Ryoma mumbled. "I was wondering where you were going dressed up so nicely."
Sakuno was barely able to comprehend what Ryoma said because all she heard was 'I was following you.' She smiled and bit her bottom lip to keep her from giggling like a bimbo. Her moment of giddiness was completely washed a way when her stomach growled. Ryoma's stomach followed suit.
"I have Ponta but I doubt that that would help." Ryoma pulled a can out of his Seigaku Regular's jacket.
"Your gift!" Sakuno suddenly exclaimed. She crawled on all fours and finally located the package. She then handed it to Ryoma.
"I baked you some goodies. If you don't mind, we can share them. Although, it's perfectly alright if you wanted to eat them yourself, you must be hungry." Sakuno rambled.
"Stop that." Ryoma ordered, opening his gift: Some kind of book and some treats. He opened the box of treats and grabbed some pastries. He handed Sakuno the box.
"Arigatou." Sakuno murmured and they both stuffed their selves until they could eat no more.
"Here." Ryoma handed Sakuno the Ponta can that he had previously drank from.
Sakuno shot Ryoma an incredulous look, her eyes as wide as saucers. "You-you want to share with me?" Sakuno asked, her face clearly showing her disbelief.
"Or else I wouldn't have offered." Ryoma couldn't bite back the snide tone from his response, it came naturally when someone asked him something stupid and was usually reserved for his dad.
Sakuno blushed and gratefully accepted the can of Ponta, ignoring Ryoma's momentary meanness. She tried tipping the can above her mouth so her lips wouldn't make any contact with the can. She failed miserably when the cold liquid found it's self on her blouse and she immediately shoved the can back to Ryoma.
Ryoma watched half amused half annoyed at Sakuno's antics. If she was embarrassed by sharing a drink with him he could only imagine her reaction to him actually making contact with her lips.
'As if that would happen anytime soon. Ryuzaki-sensei would skin me alive if she only knew what went through my mind when Sakuno is involved.' Ryoma thought and returned the can. He couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction as he watched Sakuno sip from the same can he sipped from.
Sakuno finished the Ponta and placed the empty can beside her. She didn't want to engage in any sort of conversation with Ryoma remembering what happened the last time she tried to be direct. Sure, Ryoma didn't mean no harm but Sakuno still was a bit scared to speak up for fear of embarrassing herself.
The cramped space of the elevator was filled with silence again, a silence that Sakuno was much more comfortable with. She hadn't seen Ryoma in the longest time and now she managed to get stuck alone with him. She would have been grateful for the situation had it not been under such circumstances as this.
Ryoma attempted to stifle a yawn as he picked up the large book that Sakuno had intended to give him. He only now realized how tired he was from his trip back to Japan. He wasn't able to sleep on the plane and now he felt the repercussions of his foolishness. But Ryoma refused to give into his body's request for sleep and read the title of the book. "Tennis No Ohjisama" He rolled his eyes at the nickname and opened the book.
He felt his lips curve into a smile at the content of the book. It was filled with pictures of him, his tennis matches and him with the other Seigaku Regulars. He continued flipping through the pages and reading the odd little tidbits that Sakuno had written down. It looked as if she had put a lot of effort into her work.
Sakuno crawled over to Ryoma-kun when she heard the rustling of paper. Ryoma scooted over so Sakuno could also view her handy work. Sakuno smiled as Ryoma continued to flip through the pages in undisguised interest.
"Where did you get all these pictures?" Ryoma inquired and averted his gaze so he was staring intently at Sakuno's warm eyes.
"Chiba-san gave them to me." Sakuno replied softly, blushing at Ryoma's undivided attention.
Ryoma merely nodded and went back to the scrapbook stifling another yawn.
Sakuno held her breath when Ryoma reached the final page. It was the picture of Ryoma and her at Kawamura-sempai's old sushi bar. She wondered if he would get angry or embarrassed. Sakuno squeezed her eyes shut and braced herself for Ryoma's reaction.
The sound of soft snoring caused Sakuno's lids to snap open. Ryoma's neck was craned at an odd angle and he was fast asleep. Sakuno sighed in relief and felt sorry for Ryoma.
"He must be so tired from his trip." Sakuno murmured to herself. "He looks uncomfortable." She mused aloud and with a daringness that shocked even her own self she grabbed Ryoma's shoulders and gently laid his head on her lap. She dragged herself and Ryoma back until her back was pressed against one of the four corners of the elevator.
Sakuno smiled down at Ryoma's sleeping face. She gently ran her fingers through his hair and her smile widened when Ryoma sighed happily. She continued her ministrations for what seemed like hours and had to pause only to stifle one of her own yawns.
She couldn't help but allow her fingers trail down to Ryoma's face. Sakuno cupped his cheek, the pad of her thumb traced circular patterns on his smooth face. Ryoma unconsciously rubbed his cheek against Sakuno's hand and she blushed, retracting her hand as if it had been burned.
"Oyasumi Ryoma-kun." Sakuno whispered and delivered a swift kiss to Ryoma's cheek in a final act of courage. Little did she know that Ryoma was awake and remained so while she drifted off to the land of sleep.
Once Ryoma was certain that Sakuno was asleep his eyes snapped open and he forced himself into a seated position. He touched the cheek that Sakuno kissed and blushed. 'She kissed me.' Ryoma thought, an embarrassed smile plastered on his face. His smile wiped off his face when he saw how uncomfortable Sakuno looked. Her lap had been so nice and he decided he had to return the favour since he did receive a good night's sleep.
Ryoma shifted Sakuno onto his lap and her body welcomed his warmth as she curled into a seated position as if she belonged there. Her head was tucked under his chin and her face was pressed against his neck. Ryoma managed to shed himself of his jacket and he spread it over Sakuno's sleeping form. After he was sure that she was comfortable, he wrapped his arms around her.
'It's just to keep the jacket from slipping off of her.' He thought, trying to defend his actions. It felt so right and he couldn't help but think that she belonged nowhere else as he dozed off for a second time.
Ryoma woke up to the flickering of lights. He thought his father was trying to annoy him.
"Baka Oyaji." Ryoma hissed.
"Mmmmmm," Was the only response that he received.
Karupin nuzzled Ryoma's neck and he rewarded his cat by running his fingers through Karupin's hair?
Ryoma's eyes widened when he remembered all that happened the night before. If it were possible, his eyes widened even more so when he heard the elevator making weird noises. The lights still flickered on and off.
"Sakuno wake up!" Ryoma shook the girl awake. Her sleepy eyes looked up to him and he felt his breath lodge uncomfortably in his throat at the mere sight of her.
"What's going on Ryoma-kun?" Sakuno asked, her frightened eyes taking in the flickering lights and her ears picking up the odd noises the elevator was making.
The elevator lurched up, stopped and returned back to its position in between the sixth and seventh floor.
Sakuno cried out and Ryoma tightened his arms around her. Sakuno clung to him and let her tears fall freely.
"We're going to die, aren't we?" Sakuno asked Ryoma. He couldn't respond. "I can't believe it's going to end like this. I expected it 70 years from now. You know, after our grandchildren were married and after we became great grandparents." Sakuno gasped when she realized what she had said and clapped a hand over her mouth.
Ryoma watched as a whirlwind of facial expressions crossed over Sakuno's face. If it had been any other time he would've found this highly amusing.
"I kinda sorta like you!" Sakuno finally exclaimed and wrapped her arms around Ryoma's neck as she felt the elevator plunge downwards.
"I kinda sorta like your hair! Don't ever cut it!" Ryoma responded just as passionately as he squeezed her. "I kinda sorta like you too." He whispered as an afterthought, resigned to their irrevocable fate.
And that was how The Prince of Tennis died, holding his princess in his arms.
THE END
AN: NO I'm just kidding about the last sentence. It's a two part or three. The next part should be out next week, if I'm motivated. Raises eyebrows hopefully Hope you enjoyed it and please tell me what you think I have a bunch of RyomaxSakuno ideas and I shall make them more than ideas if you are interested so please let me know. Bye for now!
Tebasaki
